Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-11
Au @tigiual Starg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer
AMOS BARTON
Fly l., d. OZMOND.
CHAPTER I.

''And so, Susie, you are really going to
be married? ?"
$50 it seems, Annette"
"Well. you don't look as cheerful as a
prospective bride might do. Don't you
feel happy?"
"Oh-well! Pm not unhappy, l sup
pose."
81 should think not! Why, Amos Bar
ton is worth his weight in gold, if what
folks say is true"
$50 am told, but fancy reports on the
subject are exaggerated"
"Anyhow, he's very rich, isn't he?"
"Oh yes, he's very rich"
p "What change it will be for you, from
poverty and hard work to a life of luxury!"
II suppose it will he a change"
"Goodness! what an odd girl you are, to
take the whole thing SO coolly. If l were
in your place, should be just as excited -
and there YOU sit, stitching away at little
Jacks apron as if it was the all-engrossing
subject of your thoughts"
$50 it is, at present. Beside, may not
have chance to make many more aprons
for Jack, and so-you see"
"Why, Susie Dean, do believe you are
crying. Did make you cry! I'm sure l
never meant to-there, Susie, please don't.
What is the matter?" And Annette Ford
ham, the prettiest, best-hearted, most heed
less girl in West Ridley, went down on her
knees to coax and soothe her friend, who had
suddenly given away to most unexpected
and Ito Annette's mind) most unaccounta-
BILE burst of tears. Jacks check apron was
brought into requisition for handkerchief
to dry the flowing drops which caused a
revulsion of feeling and made Susie laugh
Historically; but it was evident even to
Annette's shallow brain that some deep un-
dercurrent of feeling was working in her
friends heart, and she puzzled herself vain
ly for few moments in trying to find its
source.
She never puzzled herself long over any.
thing, as it was too much trouble, and If
there was thing she hated it was trouble.
She therefore made an attempt to change
the subject, talked vaguely and received
monsylabic replies, and in very short time
jumped up and took her leave.
"Queer girl, Susie" she soliloquized as
she walked slowly homewards, tanning her,
self with her large straw hat. should
think she'd be delighted. Why, she'sa real
drudge at home, and when she marries
Amos Barton, she'll have nothing in the
world to do. I kno,D he is millionaire,
though she talks so coolly about his money.
should suspect her of shaming Indifference
only Susie never shams. She was never
like the rest of US girls, and that's fact.
But why on earth does she marry him II
she doesn't want to ? that's what can't un-
derstand."
All, pretty, foolish Annette! there are
many things that you cannot understand.
For instance, you cannot look into old Will
liam Deans heart and read there the re-
morse, the misery, that has been eating
into it for years. You cannot imagine the
unconfessed sin that lies like stone upon
his conscience. You don't know that the
magic power of gold would ease him Of
that burden by enabling him to make res
titution, even at this late day. Least of all
do you suspect that Susie, the quiet, simple,
matter of fact girl, as people think her,
having found out her fathers secret, is CO.
ing to sacrifice herself to restore his peace
) of mind. For Amos Barton knows of this
trouble too, and will make everything right
provided Susie will become his wife. He
is not a hard man or even an unworthy
man. He cannot be said to have taken an
unfair advantage of Dean or of his daugh-
ter, in this matter, for Susie has never by
word or sign breathed to any one the Sc
cret fact that she is averse to the marriage,
that she shudders at her lovers approach,
and shrinks from the very sound of his
name.
Walking on, with ALL sorts of butterfly
fancies fitting through her head, Annette
was unaware that she had company on
the road, and started violently as broad
shouldered, good-looking young farmer in
slouch hat and holiday suit of blue over
took her with CHEEKY "Good-evening."
''Gracious, Tom Morton! sit you where
did you spring from? You scared me al:
most to DEATH"
are you from at this late hour, may ask ?"
sFrom the Deans. l wanted to ask Susie
about her engagement"
"Her-achat 2"
"Her engagement. Didn't you know
about it before? Oh, forgot, you've been
away, and besides, it isn't talked of yet. I
shouldn't wonder, however, if the we'd
ding came off pretty soon, because Mr.. Bar
ton won't stay here long, and of course he'll
want to take Susie with him when he
leaves. But Susie is queer about it, and
doesn't seem much interested. / can't un-
derstand her at all. You know Amos Bar
ton, don't you?"
Young Morton did not answer her; he
did not even hear the question. He had
turned quite white, and a dazed look was
on his face.
''Don't you ?" repeated Annette.
"What?-I beg your pardon"
81 asked if you knew Amos Barton"
''Barton? Oh yes-that is-no, can'tsay
l. uO. HdNc oScil Hliu. IOu uluSG thSuSS
me, I just remember that have forgotten
something, and will have to 60 back" He
touched his hat and left her.
"'Just remember that you've forgotten
something.' What elegant English! You
are not very polite, Mr.. Morton, to leave
me in the road this way, when it's growing
dark" murmured Annette, as she stood
still where he had left her, gazing in wonder
after his rapidly retreating figure. "Con-
sidering you've been absent for six weeks,
you might have been little less impatient
to get rid of one of your home friends"
She walked on with heightened color, and
a pout on her pretty lips, for she was not
used to being cavalierly treated, and Tom
Morton's attentions were valued by all the
West Ridley girls.
AS to the young farmer himself, he hur-
ried away with his brain in Whirl, and
every vein in his body tingling. "Amos
Barton Amos Barton!" he kept on re-
peating to himself. ut can't be true! She
is too pure, too good to cheat me. She'd
never go back on her word. 1don't believe
chattering, and Annette Fordham is fool
and believes everything. Why, good God,
it would kill me ifit was true!"
No, Tom, it would not kill you. People
don't easily die of disappointment or wound
ed love, and hearts are hard to break. But
it would 60 hard with you, tor, you have
loved Susie this many day, ana until now
have never doubted her faith. That is an
other of the many things that pretty, silly
Annette does not suspect.
But now-"No, 1 don't doubt her now.
Nobody shall make me. III go to her this
4. f~ovSo hnr NV,