Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-19

Il -
mill folks were a lawless lot-forevel
in revolt. They ended by burning th'
mills over his head-he lost his life II
the fire. Go to the North Pole-to the
Equator-anywhere- give Blacl
River wide BERTH"
The boy answered with the impa'
thence Of one who Is used to having his
own sweet way, and does not relish
outside interference.
ST have no hankering for the NORTH
Pole, sir, nor the Equator thank
you for your counsel, and the interest
you feel in my fathers son; but I am
going to rebuild Heron's Mills, and sci
up my lares and penates in the old
house at Heroncroft, as soon as leave
Harvard"
Just powers! Whom the gods de-
sign to kill they first make mad
wonder IL the character Of Black River
natives has improved since your faith
er's time?"
81 fear not. They are said to be q
set of disreputable vagrants."
And you fancy, lad, that you can
take them in hand, revive the indus
tries which they wantonly destroyed
and put a wholesome check upon their
lawlessness?"
Exactly, sir!"
Rubbish! Your father and I were
sworn friends from boyhood. For his
sake, / try to dissuade you from this
absurd scheme, Heron"
Pardon me, sir, am not to be dis
suaded. / am mulish by nature, as you
know. I look upon the whole matter
as a duty. I think my father would
approve Of
He was burnt in his mills. You
will meet a similar fate"
THAT remains to be seen, sir"
The next instant Aunt Ferrers had
moved forward into the room, drawing
me with her. The beautiful inlaid floor
seemed rising to meet us. My heart
beat fast, but thought Of my mother
and I went straight up to the gentle
man with the eyebrows, and made him
little curtsey.
Il am your granddaughter, sir"
said. 81 am Hazel Ferrers, and If you
please, / have come to see you."
Francis Heron stopped short in the
midst Of his sentence. Both men
stared. Then my grandfather pushed
back his plate Of grapes. An appall-
ing look, like
Lightning in sudden spleen un--
folded"
swept his face. With those stiff gray
brows making sinister shadows over
his eyes, he glared, not at me, but at
poor Aunt Helena.
What damnable trick is this?" he
shouted, in a voice that promised i'll fol
my cause. Who brought this child
into the house, Helena?"
'I!" she answered, firmly. Phillip
you see before you poor Constances
little daughter-your one only grand
child, bone of your bone and flesh OF
your flesh. Have you no welcome to
give herr"
Judge Ferrers arose from his chair
On his feet he was even more fright
full than when seated. Unconsciously
as it seemed, Francis Heron arose al
so. He appeared to be holding his
breath, as though he perceived the ali
around him charged with dynamite.
Helena" sneered my grandfather
still glaring straight over my head
"how Is it that I, who never had son.
am requested to welcome a grandchild
called Ferrers-the maternal, not the
paternal, name? Why such very un-
common arrangement"
She was a gentle, timid woman, but
she flushed angrily.
Are you ignorant of your daugh-
ters misfortunes, that you ask that
question Philip? Oh, shame! shame!
Surely your rightful heiress, the last
scion of your house, may be permitted
to shelter herself beneath your name?'
MY rightful heiress!" he echoed, in
a hard, dry voice. "Ah, now I have
the key to this trumpery bit Of melo-
drama! You have somehow discovered
that my will is written"
Again the color arose in her delicate
old face.
Phillip, blood ought to be thicker
than water. Constance Is my niece
If you have ceased to love her, have
not. 1 must and will speak for her
She is living in poverty, obscurity, and
worse yet, danger, all Of which you car
change, If you will, to plenty, protection
and safety. Have you not punished
that unhappy girl enough? Have yor
not kept her in exile long enough
Look at this child-your own flesh ano
blood-what has she ever done amissi
If you have made a will and disinher-
tied her-if you have robbed her Of hel
rthright-consigned her in her help
less childhood to the mercies of the
world-I tell you to your face, Judge
Ferrers. you have done a wicked, cruel
shameful thing!"
An ugly, apoplectic purple surgeo
over her aquiline face. He extended
his arm suddenly, as if to smite the
bold little woman. Frightened by hi!
gesture, started back, and fell ovel
a chair, PROSTATE on the slippery floor
Instantly Francis Heron, who had mo-
yet spoken a word, darted round the
table, snatched me up and set me or
my feet. Quivering with wrath, my
grandfather addressed himself agair
to Aunt Helena
Your niece has only herself to thanh
for her poverty and suffering. In de.
fiance of my authority, she made hel
choice twelve years agone, and sh'
may abide by it to the end Of her days
for neither by stratagem, nor in any
other way, will she wrest forgiveness:
from me. Let her send no offering o.
her shameful marriage to this house
for I acknowledge no kinship with it
1t is quite true that my will is made
it is also true that not dollar Of m!
money will she or her child ever re-