Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-22

far away, but they were housed during
the afternoon by furious downpour Of
rain. Evening came and still Little
Dave had not returned. The old man
would step to the door occasionally and
gaze anxiously down the darkening
road. II am afraid" said he, "that
Caney fork has riz 80 that he can't git
back. I hope he won't try, for If be
does the horses will be Grounded
shure." They sat up until late and
then, convinced that the boy had put up
somewhere for the night, went to bed.
It seemed to Andrews that he had just
fallen asleep when he was awakened by
voices down stairs.
"You don't mean to say that you
tried to git across the creek" the old
man exclaimed.
81 did git across the creek"
"But whar are them hosses?"
"I didn't try to drive 'em through.
The creek was 80 high that I left them
at Perdue's.
GLOW did you git across?'
II swum."
"Is that how you bruised yo' face~
eyes, agin the driftwood and bresh.
"It is a thousand wonders you hadn't
Grounded. Why the deuce didn't yon
stay at Perdue's ruther than swim that
creek and trudge all the way back here
afoot?"
"'Cause wanted to come home"
"Little Dave, it do look to me like
you've lost about ali the sense You ever
had. Waal, as soon as you git breakfast
iu~the mornin-though I reckon you
better wait a hour or SO till the creek
runs down-you git on old Joe and 90
right back after that wagon and team" !"
"Will Miss Madam 60 too?"
"Look here, boy; what the devil Is
the matter with your
"Pap, oh, pap" the old woman call
ed.
"Waal, what is it. 'Lizabuth?"
"You mustn't talk thater way"
"That's all right; you 60 to sleep.
You oughter staid with the hosses, Lit
tie Dave, and you must go right back as
soon as ever the creek runs down"
"Will Andrews go if Miss Madam
don't?"
"What in the name of-go to bed. I
don't want to hear another word out OF
you"
Little Dave did not sit down to break
fast with the family the next morning,
and Andrews did not see him until the
forenoon was we'll spent, when the boy,
silent and with sudden pallor Of counte-
nance, mounted an old horse and started
off down the road. The old man, hum
ming tune improvised by the bubbing
kindness of his heart, went to his work
of chopping sassafras sprouts from the
corners of the fence, but his wife, still
troubled over the possible condemnation
Of her soul, and fearful that her guest
had not spoken from the heart when be
complimented her ability to fry chick
On, sighed distressingly as she worked
in the kitchen.
"Mother," said Miss Madam, II do
hope you amt goin to have another
spell. Here Of late you don't mo- than
git out of one till you are into another. "
Don't talk to me about spells, child.
You don't know what spell is. 1t do
seem to me like I git less and less hap
piness out of this life as the years roll
on, and what will become Of me after
awhile the Lord only knows.
II think we've all got something to
be happy for, mother. I never was as
happy in my life as am now, and it
seems that I get happier and happier
every day."
Supper was over long before Little
Dave returned, and when he did come
he walked through the house without
stopping, and, paying no attention to a
remark addressed to him by Mrs. Brad
shaw, went into the yard, looking about
and listening as he walked with strange
cautiousness. Suddenly he halted, and
then, turning, went toward the woods
lot and stopped behind a tree. Andrews
was sitting OH smooth log, where the
cattle came to lick salt, and Miss Mad
am was standing near him. The moon
was shining, and a small pond, which
the ducks kept in state Of trouble all
day, seemed to smile in thankfulness
for an evening Of rest.
"And do you think that you would
continue to love me, no matter what
might happen?" Andrews asked.
"Oh, nothing could happen to change
me. You must know that. You know
that p
"Come on, all hands, it's bedtime"
old man Bradshaw shouted from the
house.
The next morning, when Bradshaw
raped on the stairway, there came no
reply from above. He raped again,
louder than before, and then went up
stairs. Andrews was not there, nor had
the bed been occupied. The old man,