Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-23

nursed me like a brother. I shall urge
him to remain with me indefinitely, for
find him a person of extraordinary
worth.
HE Is an American, who has won
glory in the tented field, but Is now
wandering about the world in search
Of consolation for a recent family al
fliction-the death Of a young wife.
but for you, Rivers said to him
one day, my little girl in Amertca
would now be an orphan. must write
and bid her remember your name
henceforth in all her prayers
so / charge you, my dear Sergia
not to forget that this man, Colone
Rivers, has placed me under great oo:
legations, which you and l must nole
ourselves ready to discharge whenever
the opportunity offers"
Sergia's voice was wont to wax louc
in moments of excitement. Now she
fairly shouted: "All day, in my heart
I have been praying for blessings to
alight on Pitt Rivers, my fathers new
friend"
Somewhere at hand we both heard
quick, indrawn breath, and, turning
we saw Miss Dee standing not a yard
from the window, with an intensely
eager, listening look on her face.
We did not need to be told that she
had heard the reading of Sergia's letter
and that, for some unknown reason
she was deeply interested therein.
'Eavesdropper!" muttered Sergia.
'Is not Colonel Pitt Rivers hero.
Miss Dee?" l cried, insolently.
She paid no need to the query, but
began to look around as though In
search Of something.
Young ladies'" she purred, In the
soft refined voice peculiar to her, Il
left portfolio of sketches in the class
room this morning-may I ask IL you
have seen it?"'
Sergia darted out Of her window
seat, snatched the portfolio from a
neighboring form, and in the act spill
ed its entire contents on the floor.
"How clumsy of mel" she cried, in
a mock -penitent voice, and we both
stopped to gather up the scattered
sketches. They were mostly from ma
ture, and cleverly done-Miss Dee was
urideniably clever. I glanced them
over involuntarily as I dropped them
back in the portfolio. One-the last to
leave my hand-was a pencil drawing
of a small cottage, with dormer win
dows and a little porch standing In
walled garden, on the brink Of tiny
lake. Everything was there-the old
iron gate, the crumbling brick wall,
the trees crowding above 1.-THE weedy
walk winding up to the house.
paused in the act of relinquishing the
sketch, and uttered wild scream.
"Give that to me instantly, Miss Fert
rers!" commanded the drawing teach
er, with ring of alarm in her voice.
I held the sketch out Of her reach
and fairly shrieked:
1T is Lake Cottage! Oh! / know
you, at last-I know you, Miss Dee!-
you are that dreadful gray woman who
had part in my mothers murder!"
For the truth had burst upon me all
in a moment. She simply opened her
topaz eyes and stared.
"You poor child!" she said, in q
soothing tone, 'wfat are you talking
about"
Lake Cottage! 1t is Lake Cottage
I say!" was my frantic answer. II
saw you once at this very gate. You
spoke to me there, only the day before
my mothers DEATH"
She regarded me with a sort Of pa
tient astonishment.
"Is Lake Cottage the name Of the
place." she queried, gently. Once
long ago, I went upon sketching tour
through a country village. That draw
ing is one of many made at that time,
1 could not locate the spot now-I saw
it but once. AS for being the gray
woman"-she smiled faintly-'I am
sure you must be laboring under some
delusion, Miss Ferrers. I have not the
slightest knowledge Of that person, nor
Of your Observation-Disclosures did
you call it?"
"Murder!" 1 answered, unconvinced
mo, no! 1t is not delusion! You are
the woman that flung the message
through the gate I shall tell Nine
Deland"
Sergia, who had been listening, dunn
founded, to the conversation, threw
her arms around me and cried:
Whatever Hazel says must be true
1 am sure madame ought to be told. :.
Miss Dee looked annoyed, but she
kept her temper perfectly.
MY dear Miss Ferris" she said, you
should make no charge against any
person without proper proofs to sus-
tain it. You do not look spiteful OF
malicious, yet one or the other you
must be, or you could not wish to in
jure an innocent woman, who depends
upon her work for daily bread"
I began to sob Historically.
MY mother!-you are the woman
who knows about my mothers death
Patty would recognize you, too, If she
were here. When you first came to
the school 1 was sure that l had seen
you before, but could not tell where
or under what circumstances"
who is Patty?" demanded Miss Dee
My mothers servant, who lived with
her at the time of the murder"
Il see," said Miss Dee, with dignity
that your family history has been
somewhat unpleasant. will not ques-
tion you about it, as it does not in any
way concern me; but If it will ease
your mind, poor child, tell Nine. Deland
whatever you like-bring any charge
against me that pleases you. Perhaps
she may convince you Of your error
If cannot"
She took the tell-tale sketch from
my hand, restored it to the portfolio
and went out of the classroom.
hurried to Nine. Deland and told
my story. She listened in grave amaze
ment.
Did your aunt, Miss Helena Ferrers
ever see the person whom you call the