The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-01-05
MI.
Continued.

SOulluuSu.
AS neither knew the wilderness
paths, progress was slow; but they
pressed steadily forward till the dis
lance seemed to lengthen intermin-
ably. Then Jacqueline spoke.
Surely, we are both lost now"
she said. II think w are walking
in a circle. Let US call again to Vic"
St. George raised a shout, which
was answered by Vic in person. At
q swift trot the girl came through
the thickets and screeched at sight of
st. George.
Goodness mel You here, sir? I've
been hunting high and low for Miss
Hatton-thought she'd got skairt and
turned back. Come along-it's the
house. I can see it from the edge of
the wood"
The trio emerged from the island
wilderness and stood on the level Of
scattered igneous rock above Philip
Trevor's hermitage. There the calam-
ity of the night was fully revealed to
all.
The stone house, Quilted and black
ened, was still squirting jets Of flame
from fallen roof and rafter; but the
stone walls remained firm-a grim
ruin, indeed, like the nest of a sea
eagle that hunters had harried. The
little party drew near to it in silence,
looking vainly round for the dispos-
sessed inmates. Not q vestige of life
was anywhere visible. The swapping
of the fire, the falling of the debris,
the swish of waves on the neighbor-
ing lodges, were the only sounds that
greeted their ears. Vic's keen eye
turned to the pier. The sloop was
gone!
She pointed seward. St. George
and Jacqueline looked, and saw a sail
fitting southwark, like a great bird.
Before a rising wind, it dipped into
the gray distance, and seemed to
melt away with the line of far leaden
sea.
There they go!" shouted Vic.
"Goodby to your hopes of a fortune,
Miss Hatton, dear! They're all left
the island-burned the house and
taken themselves off by the light Of
it,"
Jacqueline's eyes followed the. van
ishing sail, and filed with bitter
tears.
Diseases deperate grown,
BY desperate appliance are relieved,
Or not at ALL"
she quoted. Philip Trevor is the
very man to adopt this heroic meas
ure!"
Vic turned to St. George.
Fear of you and of Miss Hatton is
at the bottom of the whole business"
she said. II knew last night he was
ready for anything. Say, I'll wager
my head Joe Raby is sailing that
sloop! Let's go to his hut"
In gloomy silence St. George
stalked after the two girls. He was
burning with rage. His enemy had
baked and defeated him.
AS the party neared the shippers
dwelling they saw that the door stood
open. Eaby's sea chest and various
other things had vanished from the
interior; but in their place sat a
woman, groaning and rocking herself
in pain. 1t was the Portuguese cook.
Goodness gracious, Juana!" cried
Vic, as she bounced into the hut, why
didn't you make off with the others?
Who set the house on fire? And why
did they all go, and leave you be-
hindu"
The woman's swarthy face lighted
a. sight Of the former house maid.
She was badly burned about the arms
and hands, and was nursing her hurts
with moans and lamentations. She
replied to Vic in a patois that st.
George and Jacqueline did not under
stand; but they saw Vic's expressive
face grow black with dismay.
"0h, my soul" she cried, in hor-
ror, as she turned to her companions,
"Juana says that Raby has gone alone
in the sloop. Mr.. Trevor and his wife
are-are-in the stone house,"
%Jacqueline dared not ever glance
toward st. George. Her limbs began
to shake under her. Constant asso-
citation with Juana had made Vic IA
miliar with her broken speech. She
piled the grooming woman with ques-
lions, and interpreted her replies to
the others. The cook was gesticulat-
ing wildly with her burned hands.
She says" quoth Vic, that very
late last night Mr.. Trevor was talking
with some one outside the house
oh, Lord, twas me! When he came
in he went to his wife's room, and
the pair had high words. Juana woke
from sleep, and heard them quarrel
ing. Of late Mrs. Trevor has been
kept under lock and key. Cook heard
something thrown down violently in
the poor lady's Characteristic thinks
it was a lamp. In q few minutes the
house was ablaze. She says Mr.. Ire
vor brought his wife out of her room
in his arms, and then ran to his
library to secure papers or money
has a safe built there in the wall. He
was never seen again. Cook found
Mrs. Trevor. wrapped in a white
dressiN5-gown, standing at a window,
and calml, locking out en- the sea.
'7uana implored her to leave the
house-to make haste. She even
seized and tried to drag her by force,