Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-30

my most seems 10 me q HlOSt hinu duo
honorable gentleman. Pardon me If
quite fail to catch your meaning"
You wish me to explain?" answered
Heron, dryly. "Well, then, Colonel Riv-
ers cannot regard me without preju-
dice, because he is in love with his
ward, Miss Sergia Pole!"
In my amazement I nearly tumbled
off the wall.
with sergia-your promised wife?'
I cried.
Eyes. Who can blame him? Not
T." Mr.. Heron's equanimity was GER
tainly admirable. II say, Miss Ferrers
there is something that I want to tell
you. I dined with your grandfather
Judge Ferrers, two days ago."
My heart gave leap.
'I hope you found him quite well,
I said, gazing dejectedly down at Cos
sack, who was crouching among the
pine-needles in penitent quiet.
"Yes, but a little shaken by the loss
Of his sister. She died very suddenly
I suppose somebody had the decency
to send you an account Of her death?''
tried hard to keep my voice steady.
"No-only a brief dispatch. I was
not even allowed to attend the fun
eral"
"Deuced shame!" cried Heron. 81
told the Judge as much!"
"Oh, did you?" I queried, gratefully.
"Ry my soul, you have been shame
fully treated" he stormed. More than
once I have tried to speak for you, but
he will not listen-he is like adamant;
nothing but death, I fear, can change
him."
And does he still want to make you
his heir?" I asked, dubiously.
The blood arose in his sallow face.
"Yes. 1t Is not easy to change the
mind Of such a man when 1t is once
made up. But"-with extraordinary
energy-"fn Gods name, Miss Ferrers,
don't say that you think me capable
of lending myself to any design that
would rob you Of your birthright-that
would do you greater injustice than
you have already suffered
"Oh, no, no." interrupted. Il have
not forgotten your attitude, Mr.: Heron,
in that one interview which I had with
my grandfather six years ago."
He seized my hand, and carried 1t to
his lips.
Thank you a thousand times" he
said; then we both heard faint cough,
and saw in the path under the pines
the maid Jael, standing in waiting
attitude, demure and respectful.
Heron dropped my hand as though
1t had been hot shot.
IF you please, Miss Ferrers," said
Jael, Colonel Rivers sent me to find
you. Breakfast is waiting, and Miss
Pole has come downstairs. and Is ask
Ing for you"
Heron lifted his hat. went up the
path with Jael, deeply mortified that
Sergia's maid should have surprised
me with my hand to the lips Of Ser
gia's lover.
| Il.
dred," I said, with my head held high.
| Jael bowed but did not answer. With
majestic stride she followed me up
the walk over the brown pine-needles.
There was something royal about the
creature, servant though she was
something sphinx-like, too.
was just stepping from the dewy
shadow Of the pines into the open sun
shine Of the garden, when she called
my name:
Miss Ferrers, If you please, I would
like to ask you a question. Do you
mean to stay long at Wolfsden?"
81 cannot tell now, Jael-some weeks,
perhaps" answered.
The girls olive face grew tragic-she
made an imploring gesture.
| For your life, don't tell Miss Pole
what I'm about to say" she painted;
don't tell Mr.. Francis Heron! I dare
not speak, Miss Ferrers, till you prom
ise."
| 81 promise" said I, amazed at her
strange look and manner.
Then listen!" Jael went on, in an
impressive whisper. "Wolfsden is nc
place for you-you must not stay here
Miss Ferrers!-you cannot stay-in
safety! Believe me. for I know OF
what I speak There was that In Mr.
Francis Heron's face just now which
ought to have told you that you could
not stay: Sergia Poles lover has nc
right to look at another woman with
his heart in his eyes!"
| felt the hot blood in my face.
"Jael, you are very impertinent!"
We had both stopped on the verge
of the sunny garden. The girl hung
her head humbly.
II don't mean to be that, miss-God
forbid! But / have made up my mind
to serve you, and so 1 speak boldly
Leave Wolfsden-leave it at once! Nc
matter where you go-any place Is
safer than this. Evil Is coming here
miss, and If you wait for it, you will be
destroyed! Men'-bitterly-"can af-
ford to be bold; but when the odds are
against a woman. 1t Is better for heI
to run from danger than to stand and
brave it,
| 1 knew nothing about this girl-she
was but a menial in the house; yet, as
l looked up into her dark, intense face
i I could not fail to see that she was
terribly in earnest-that no trivial mo-
tive had led her to speak to me like
this.
"Jael," 1 said, trying to smile, "young
as am, 1 have encountered so much
evil that it now wears familiar aspect
In what shape is it coming to VOLTS
den? Speak plainly. Are those dread
full Blackbirds plotting real harm
against Colonel Rivers?"
She gave a start Of surprise, and
looked at me with a narrow, oblique