Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-05-04

his pocket two silver pieces and gazed on them
with swelling pride Finally he asked: .
"Why don't you cry, Joe Mann why don't
you cry ?"
The blacksmith glowered on him from under
frowning brow.
"I'd cry if l was you, Joe," said the idiot
'I'd cry if Richard Ross stole my gal"
With a sound that was half a roar of rage,
half groan of pain, Joe sprung upon him,
and in an instant had borne him to the floor,
and set his knee upon the idiots breast
In another moment he might have killed
the boy, but that the idiots helplessness and
terror made him pause and recalled him to
himself. A thought struck him:
'sRichard Ross. He gave me money to say
it,
''The low hound ~ shrieked Joe. "Heaven
have mercy on his soul!'
He released Crazy Sam, and went about his
work again quite calmly but the pallor OF
his face was awful to see.
When evening drew on he picked up long,
rusty knife blade, and fitted it in stout ham
die. Then he stepped to his grindstone, and
sharpened and ground the rusty uiade.
All but Joe was ess4nged There was des-
pair and murder in his noble heart.
The night fell; and he stood, knife in hand,
silently waiting.
'sRichard Ross leaves her home at ten," he
muttered, land goes through the lonely road
through the wood"
When it came nine he could wait no longer,
but sped away to his ambush. Behind two
trees, growing close together, which complete
ly hid him. he crouched and listened.
He had all hour to wait. TIE silence was
awful No bird sung among the trees, and
the leaves hung lifeless, stirred by no breath
of wind.
Joe pressed his hand to his forehead and
found it burning hot. He began to be afraid
he knew not Of what, perhaps of his own soul
He felt his murderous purpose weakening. He
rose and walked about the wood and thought
upon his wrongs This gave him new resolve,
and he returned to his hiding place, and
crouched again. But again his terror was
renewed, and the hand which heh the knife
trembled. The village clock struck ten, and
at every stroke he shuddered.
He heard footsteps on the road. Nearer,
nearer, came the man for whom he waited.
For moment Joe's mind seemed gone. Be-
fore his eyes he saw great sea of blood.
From him fell great drops Of cold sweat.
Nearer the footsteps came. His brain cleared
and he could dimly see the young man few
feet from him. He gazed through the trees
upon him like the eye of God. With shrek
of fear he flung the knife from him and fled
from murder.
1t was over, and blood was not upon his
soul.
All that night he lay like one dead on the
floor of his little shop. The morning sun,
forcing it's way through the dusty window,
fell upon him there. Miserable as the MAN
was, it saw no better sight than this crushed
soul saved from crime.
But some one brighter than the sunlight
entered at the door. 1t was Nellie. She saw
him there upon the floor and her blue eyes
filed with tears. She bent over him and
touched him gently.
sJoe! dear Joe % she called.
He sprang to his feet, gazed on her coldly,
and would have fled, but she restrained him.
''Joe," she said, 81 have hoped-I have
pleaded Il have prayed-1 have won. Take
me in your arms"
Not yet did he understand her, and she
added:
''Father has learned to pity you and me,
Joe, and says we may be husband and wife.
Richard Ross has gone forever"
So Joe took her in his arms, all is repentance,
and JOY burst forth in flood of tears.