Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-30

thought, he preferred to talk with Mar
tin. He stepped down from the ter
race and started off toward the stables
in quest Of that faithful watchman.
The garden was very still. An ever
green hedge as tall as the baronets
comely head, bordered the path he had
taken. AS he TRAPPED along by this
verdant screen, putting thoughtfully at
his cigar, he was not a little startled
to hear his own name softly pronounc-
ed.
"Sir Griffin Hopewood!"
He stopped.
"Who calls me?" he demanded. The
answer came from the other side Of the
evergreens.
"a friend. Stop where you are, Sir
Griffin, and I will speak few words
to you in confidence"
A feminine voice. sweet and refined
no servants certainly. What hocus-
pocus was at work in Wolfsden to-
night? Annoyed, yet curious, Sir Grif-
fin attempted to part the barrier of
green twigs-it resisted him firmly.
He tried to look over its top-all was
darkness there. The owner Of the
voice uttered a quick protest.
Hold, sir! If that is your game,
shall run away, and you will be the
loser. You walk abroad late, even for
a lover. Have you been gambling again
with Colonel Rivers?'
"The deuce!" muttered Sir Griffin.
Permit me to offer you bit Of ad-
vice." continued the unseen party.
"Quit America, at least this portion of
it, as soon as possible. You made a
great mistake, sir, when you came to
Wolfsden, in answer to Rivers's invita-
ton. You had played with him In Par
is-you knew the man, and something
of the marvellous luck that attends him
everywhere. Bahi you are. at best, but
a tame hare, Sir Griffin! Go back
now to England, and marry your cous-
in, Lady Penelope, and forget the YAM
kee who was caught you in her tolls
here at Black River!"
Sir Grifin's face burned angrily.
Your voice betrays your sex. For
what purpose, madam, do you hide thus
from sight, and attack me in the
dark?"
"Ungrafeful man! You are angry
because I try to serve you! You
cannot see that am really your friend.
Perhaps you think me Blackbird.
have good reasons for hiding in the
dark-one is, that I may speak my
mind in covert, but must remain silent
in open field. Listen now, and keep
your temper. You are desperately In
love. You adore Miss Ferrers; but you
will never marry her! Cooler days will
come, and calmer judgment. You think
that you have already been shocked
enough; but a new and darker revela-
ton awaits you-how you will receive
It remains to be seen. Sir Griffin, you
come Of a race as old as the Tudors.
Did you ever hear Of an ancestor who
could choose for a wife the daughter
of a professional thief? Did the Hope
wood blood ever mix with a stream so
tainted? Not even Circe could have
tempted your father, or your fathers
father, to so disgrace himself. 1t seems
that you crossed the Atlantic only to
bring shame to your family name-to
break the heart of the present Lady
Hopewood. Wait! Your foolish infat-
uation will soon be shaken to its very
foundation-before another month goes
by you will be in England again, tread
ing your native heath, a sadder and
wiser man."
This was more than human patience
could endure. What creature at Wolfs-
den dared to talk to him like this!
With a bound he cleared that tall
hedge; but the party on the other side
was too quick for him. He thrust an
arm into the darkness, and clutched at
something that slipped softly away,
leaving a portion of itself in his grasp
Sir Griffin felt that it would be use
less to pursue the fugitive, so, with an
exclamation OF disgust, he resumed his
walk, holding the trophy obtained In
his plunge across the hedge. When he
reached the lamp which burned before
the stables, he found that his prize
was a feminine wrap of dark-blue cloth,
with the dew Of the evergreens upon
it, He called to Martin, who was just
coming forth from the stable door.
"Halloo! Martin-do you know OF
anybody at Wolfsden who wears a gar
ment like this?"
Martin examined the wrap closely.
"Yes. sir-Tve seen it before-Tll take
my Bible oath that it is the property
of Jael-Miss Poles maid"
"Ah! a servant of the house? Is
she a malicious person, Martin given
to walking in the shrubbery late al
night?"
We'll, sir, she walks in the shrub
berry. more's the pity" acknowledged
Martin, "and she isn't always particular
about the company she keeps there;
but l never thought her malicious"
Sir Griffin tossed him the blue wrap
Give that back to her. Martini he
said, "and tell her that another offense
like the one which she committed to-
night will be brought Immediately to
the ear of her employers"
He was more irritated and annoyed
than he cared to show. Had his love
affairs and Miss Ferrers's history be-
come the talk of the Wolfsden htch-
en-? He winched at the bare thought
But, strange to say, the party behind
the hedge had not talked like a servant
| What could Miss Poles waiting maid
know Of his ancestry-of his cousin
Lady Penelope-of the horror that his
American mesalliance was likely to Gre
ate Hope Hall? More than all, what
was the new and darker revelation that
was to be made concerning Hazel Fer
rers?
by the way, Martin" said Sir Grif-
| fin, striving to assume a sang-froid
which he did not feel. "has any person
a yuopnan for instance-been hurt al