The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-06-18
Ten Minutes to Twelve.
Continued from First Page

Continued from First Page.l
hest marI, as he doubtless knew. The
preacher would be up to the notch also:
Uncle Jef-Miss ROYALS old carriage
driver-had gone for him at daybreak.
The wedding was evervbody's wedding,
Phyl said. And it looked like il; for
the whole neighborhood wanted to take
hand. Phyl was mighty popular, and
then people felt so sorry for her"
Royal, curiously enough, felt nettled
through al his perplexity, and then re
allied with an inward touch of alnuse-
Inent that he was appropriafins not only
John Royals position, but what might
naturally be John Royals feelings under
the circumstances.
Atapoint where the road forked young
Brandon suddenly drew up his horse and
handed the reins to his companion.
Held her "A minute. please he said.
and faced about TO the wood on the right,
put both hands to his mouth. and gave
vent to 4 long drawn eddying howl.
which echoed and re-echoed among the
trees with a peculiarly penetrating ca
dence. 1t was like nothing which Royal,
for ali his experience of India rs, .'loavers"
and coyotes, had ever heard in his life
before, and. had lie but knowa it, was
simply a differentiation Of the old rebel
YELL" still used among the mountains as
d signal.
In ND ~ t1.xl md "A
lad dropped back to his seat and put out
his hand for the reins.
What was that for!' demanded
Royal, feeling that he was getting all of
adventure he could possibly desire.
Spotswood laughed, and turned his
horse into the road to the left. ITO let
'em know it's Ill right and we've gone
on to the church," he explained. I'VE
were afraid something might happen to
prevent your coming, in spite of what
you wrote Phyl. And it wouldn't have
done for her to go to the chnrch and no
wedding after all, you know. She'd
have been mortified, even il you couldn't
help it. Women are different from us"
with protective assumption. Their
feelings have got to be allowed for. Tom
and put up that job. He had little
niger on horseback in the woods there,
! and when | whooped he was to gallop
back to the house and tell 'em. There's
short cut that way. If you hadn't
come I'd have howled twice. They'll get
| to the church almost as soon as we will. "
! The lads consideration touched Royal.
In his frontier experience the life had
| been too free from conventionality, and
human Independence had been too read
lily and practically recognized, for him to
wonder over the interest these people APP
peared to take in each others concerns
and the trouble they voluntarily put
| themselves to in each others behalf.
That seemed 20 him legitimate and nat
ural, but at the same time it increased
the difficulty of the position. In their
love and care for the girl these people
would doubtless demand not only elab-
crate explanation Of his plan, but some
sort of credentials for himself before they
would allow SO unprecedented thing as
marriage by proxy to take place. The
bucolic mind did not assimilate ideas
readily, nor was it avid of experiment
And what could they know of the an
guish, the insistence of the poor fellow
dying down there in Matoacca? If only
he had time to make them feel the pathos
of those last words John Royal had ut
4 tered as they shook hands ere his OWE
departure: MAN, see to it that you dc
your work well! I'm trusting with you
what 1 value more than life Don't fai
me! Help me to save her from poverty
from dependence.
- They eooraod TO ring in his ears, tC
beat on his heart, to grasp and hold and
compel him like sentient things.
Helooked at his watch. Three-quarter
of an hour to expound his scheme, com
bat objections, satisfy curiosity, allaJ
scruples and get through the marriage
ceremony. It could not be done. Nc
thought of abandoning his plan crossed
his mind; he simply readjusted it. He
would marry the young lady first and
make the explanation afterward. So ia,
he had been accepted as John Royals
self instead of John Royals representa-
tive-any changes in appearance appar
emily accounted for by the lapse of six
years in intercourse. He must carry out
/
have been performed, after which, Of
course, must come the explanation. The
spirit of adventure was strong in him
and he was conscious of the thrill az
actor knows when his cast is on the
razor edge between success and failure
and may be made or marred by an ex
preston or a gesture.
The lad, busy with his horse and in
/. tent on speed, was silent. The road left
the woods and emerged on to lovely
plateau, gently rolling and studded with
groups of superb trees-oak, hickory
maple and sweet gum. 1t was sheltered
by hills and carpeted with short grass
which showed green even in December
Near the center, amid clump of oaks
: stood quaint, picturesque stone church
with pointed windows and ivy covered
walls. 1t was inclosed by stone fence
and the space inside was evidently uset
for burying ground. Under the trees
| outside the inclOs1re, a spring gushet
. forth, near which were racks for horse
and a place where the animals nigh
, drink. Royal noticed several vehicles
spring wagons mostly, standing about
anu HORSES, d ooAcHoi 50, SOIuc lieu W LII
racks and some to swinging limbs, &C
cording as their dispositions were sedat,
or nervous.
Spotswood drove round to a side gate
and negro came and took the horse
He looked smiling and important, ant
bowed affably to Royal, half extending
8 his hand, which Royal grasped and cor
| daily shook, not knowing him, of course
but assembling.
Il MANY folks inside, Uncle jeff" tn,
. boy questioned, indicating at the sam,
; moment by gesture to his companion
the spot where Miss Royal had BEEF
buried.
''Tol'r'ble smart, sir; de body's fullin
: up, an dar's right smart sprinklin' il