Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-31

year ago. II said ! would not marry
until Harold came back, and / will not,
was her unvarying reply to all my per-
suasions. Loving and gentle as she was
in all else. upon that point she was.as OBJ
stinate as a-woman. And Annie Bunk
er was equally faithful to the memory
of her lost lover. She would accept no
young mans attentions, went into socie-
ty very reluctantly and rarely. scorned
her fathers hints that it was 'about
time to marry if she had not made up
her mind to die an old maid" and, in
short, comported herself like the ideal
widow-the one we read of. but 30 GEL
dom see.
In September Of the year following my
partners disappearance Mr.. Bunker per-
suaded me to go with him out to Ohio to
look at a woolen mill near the city OF
Hamilton which was for sale on tempt
ing terros. He had an idea that If re-
stricted to certain line of products and
properly managed it could be made to
pay we'll, and l may say events proved
bis views correct.
We reached Hamilton on Friday.
The man we were to meet, not expecting
us before the next week, had gone to
Cincinnati, but was due to return on Sat
urday. He did not do so, however, and
time hung heavily on our hands. On
Sunday we drove out to big camp
meeting which was being held in asplen-
did grove little way from the town.
That morning, for the first time in weeks,
rain threatened, and its coming was anx-
iously hoped for by every one, for the
country was suffering from severe and
protracted drought. Streams were dried
up, wells empty, meadows sere and
brown, roads deep in dust and over all
glowing brazen skies cruelty cloudless.
But that Sunday there was change for
the better. Dark clouds were banking
up on the northwestern horizon. wind
was rising family III puffs, and one could
feel the electricity in the air.
believe there were not less than 5000
persons in the grove that day wnen
Mr.. Bunker and I reached it. Every
seat was occupied in the great quadran-
gle Of benches before the rough stand
erected for the preachers and exhorters,
yet hundreds were left standing, like a
wide fringe about the seated congrega-
ton. Bunker and 1. getting there little
late, were in the fringe. Two enormous
tents fanked the central square, but
nothing was going on in them. An IN
endurable heat seemed to have collected
itself under the canvas. Several wall
tents, temporary residences of "presid-
ing elders" preachers or managers of
some sort, as we presumed, were clus-
tered in a group little distance back of
the open air pulpit. Overhead giant trees
spread their great boughs, making q
thick canopy of foliage through which
only here and there the suns rays shot
down like diaphanous bars of gold. Al
together the scene was brilliant, beau
tiful and impressive one, even if only re-
garded as mere spectacle.
Though the clouds continued to gather
higher and higher in the northwest, and
the intermittent gusts, swaying the tree
tops and rustling their myriad leaves,
caused sounds like tremendous expectant
sighs to sweep through the forest, the
rain still seemed to be far Of, and some
fear was entertained that it might elbow
over" or "pass around" About noon
the air grew cool and humid with the
breath of the coming storm, but it was
not until the middle Of the afternoon
that the tempest burst upon the camp.
Then it seemed as sudden as the firing
of gun. In an instant darkness like
that of night fell upon us, and for few
seconds the wind ceased, stiffness reigned,
and all nature seemed hushed and wait
ing. Then fierce glare of electric fire
flashed forth, lighting up all the vistas
of the forest, deafening crash of thun-
der shook the armament, and the wei
come rain came down not by drops. but
in masses like the fall of cataracts.
Screaming, laughing, shouting, racing,
struggling and tumbling over each other
the instantly drenched multitude ran to
the two great tents. crowding them to
repletion. Many, hopeless of getting un-
der cover there. sought other temporary
shelters, some even imprudently taking
refuge close to the trunks of the big
trees. Lamps fixed on square frar es
about the center poles of the tents were
lighted, and services recommended i'm
mediately. Never have l been particl-
pant in anrthing so thrilling and awe
inspiring as that combination of worship
and tempest. Outside the monarchs OF
the forest were lashed to and fro like
whips by the might of the gale. occa-
sionally breaking and falling with sounds
like detonations that could be heard even
through the tremendous roars of thun-
der reverberating constantly, peal upon
peal. The vast volumes of descending
rain seemed to have choral voice OF
their own. vieing with the thunder's in
tensity, and in successive moments alter
mated Cimmerian gloom and the light
ning's binding glare. Inside thousand
voices, vibrant with excitement. joined
in that thrilling hymn:
The chariot! the chariot Its wheels roll In
AS the Lord cometh down in the pomp Of his
ire.
Lol self moving it drives on its pathway OF
cloud,
And the heavens with the burden Of Godhead
are bowed.