Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-01-25


time. So deep hush was over the land and
sea that she could almost hear the beating of
her heart, as she stood there and lived again
the Joy, the pain, of meeting and-parting
A sound of voices and approaching foot
steps broke upon her ears at last. She turned
toward the road Agroup of men, some armed
with guns, others following as lockers on, was
drawing near her. She moved within the door.
A man, seemingly the leader, stepped from
among the group, and addressed her,
Howard Rayne, a fugitive from justice, is
concealed in that church," he said. II am
come to arrest him with force of arms, if
need he. order you to show me his hiding
place J"
She laughed lnockingly, and slammed the
heavy door, almost in his face. The light of a
deadly purpose was in her eyes, as she walked
to the end of the church and drew loaded pis-
tol from beneath bench. Rayne, who had
heard what had been said, and who followed
her movements with his eyes, looked in alarm
at her revengeful face.
"Dolly ~ he said, 'why do you not let them
come in? What do you mean to do?'
ITO defend YOU! size cried iercely. sLet
them come in !! will not !"
The crowd outside, amazed and stupefied at
the suddenness of the girls action, had drawn
few feet away, to consult together. AS she
again went to the door, the leader came for
ward He saw her through crevice in the
wall, and spoke:
''Will you open the door I pledge my
word you shall not be harmed !" Then, mott
cling her determined look, "will you open, or
shall we break in ?"
'You shall not enter !" she cried, disregard
ing Raynes pleadings. "Never, while l live !"
An angry word fell from the mans lips. He
threw himself heavily against the door. 1t
shook but did not give way. Dolly could have
touched him with her hand, as she aimed the
pistol through the crevice and fired.
The man sank back with fierce cry of rage
and pain. Selling his gun, another fired aim
lessly into the church Dolly looked at her
lover, fearfully, the bullet had missed him.,
but the burning wad had struck a cushion
few feet behind, and it was kindling into Il
blaze. If she could only keep her assailants
away for moment more
The men outside were attending to their
wounded chief. They would not make anoth-
er attempt to enter the church until he recov-
cred consciousness. 1t would he safe to leave
her place now. She went back to Rayne and
knelt beside him. Observing gladly that the
flames, fed by the dry resinous floor and sea-
soned benches hemmed them in on two sides.
Rayne greeted her almost angrily. "What
have you done 20 he cried. "You have no
right to resist the men are doing their duty 20
Then he caught sight of the fire which was
stay here! Go save yourself ~ and he push
ed her away from him with all his strength.
She frightened her hold upon his hand and
would not 60. 81 said should die with you,"
she reminded him.
The fire was all about them nOw.' 1t had
climbed upward to the rafters, and the walls
were all ablaze The hot breath of the flame
was in their faces. They could feel it coming
nearer every moment.
A shout arose from the crowd outside
''The church is burning! Save them!" The
door shook with the blows which were rained
upon it, but did not yield. The windows had
been broken in. One man, more courageous
than his fellows, and determined to rescue the
girl and her lover, forced his way in and gaZed
about him for monet. He saw at once
that he could not pass the fiery wall which
stretched around the doomed pair, and half
suffocating, went out again and left them to
| their fate.
Dolly still knelt at her companions side.
'slt is better so," she answered. ''HoW could
l live without you ? In death we shall not be
divided"
The patient eyes of the sick man filled with
happy tears, and the trembling lips parted for
moment as if to speak of the brighter glory
that was soon to I've. Her arms were about
his neck AS he sat upright, her head was OH
his breast. Their lips met in long, lingering
kiss kiss of remuneration, yet of pledging
and renewal kiss which was a sacrament
''The end is very near" she whispered, as
the clouds of smoke and flame were hurled
against them, land then"
The floor beneath them trembled visibly.
The great beams overhead shook and ground
together moment, and then the roof fell.
A shower of sparks shot upward from the
burning pile. The end had come.-Portland
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