Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-01

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at Is the hand OF a murderer"
| life has auoneu TOT your rashness have
heard your sin, and, looking back on
the past that has resulted from it, feel
that reparation has been made But, be
that as, it may, know this, my father,
my heart has gone out more and more
to you for this confidence. God pity the
man who ever refuses the hand Of the
old father that cared for him as you
have for me. Do not draw it away.
shall take it See, father, seel / am
pressing that right hand to my lips as
often did when a child, and / am bath
ing it white with the tears Of my love "
Louis Kyle did take the trembling
hand and he did kiss it, and the hot
tears Of his pitying love fell on it like
cleansing hyssop
"Oh, my son, my son! o God, thank
theel''
The father turned as one turns from
the darkness in which he has been CROP
ing to the golden ray that pierces the
gloom and marks the pathway up to the
light His arms were about his boy
again his baby boy, though the cheeks
he pressed were bronzed and bearded.
And they knelt there side by side, their
hands clasped and their heads bowed
and their suppressed sobs breaking the
stiffness
So they. were ueeling when Nora
and her mother came back and softly
entered the room and bowed down be.
side them Louis was the first to rise,
and he reached down and lifted his IA
ther up beside him, and there was a
light on Valentine Kyle's face that had
never been there before. The burden
had fallen off, and he felt as one who
has come to the mountain tops from the
stygian depths
"My brother Frederick. said MIR
Kyle, as we shall continue to call Val.
entine Weldon, after all had composed
themselves, sat the time of the great
war was a strng Union man, and as
strongly advocated the other side. Up
to this there never had been misun-
derstanding between us-even Us boys
we never quarreled, as the best Of broth
ers are apt to do But at the beginning
of that terrible war men were seized
with excitement, and the stronger the
past love the stronger seemed the hate
that famed up between those that took
opposite views.
81 never knew Frederick to drink be-
fore that day, and l, ever excitable and
impetuous, had never drunk SO much.
was not myself. A friend had presented
me with a sword, and in my mad van
ity 1 had strapped it to my side and
wore it as rode home with my brother
We got into a dispute about the north
and south. He was cool, so cool that it
maddened me- A storm came up, and
by the flashing Of the lightning could
see his pale face and cleaning eyes,
and, as God is my judge, when we halt
ed on the banks Of Beaver creek to soc
if the rain had swollen the ford,
thought / saw pistol in Frederick s
hand Too late learned my mistake.
Excepting that cursed sword / was un-
armed. How drew it and how, by the
lightning's fash, I saw it splitting
down his face seems like the memory of
fevered dream.
"He fell from his horse with a cry of
o God, my brother!' The next instant
was down and beside him. l hurled
the sword into the current Ifelt his face
and the blood spurted out on my right
arm. From forehead to chin the blade
had cut. By the lightning CLEAN I saw
that he was dead. l heard horsemen be-
hind me and craven fear came upon
me- l flung myself into the saddle and
dashed into the stream Preached home
told my wife all; kissed my baby boys
and fed into the mountains. There I
remained for months without taking
part in the conflict that was raging
around me. :"
"Then it was that you knew Of the
Blanchards, said Louis, coming back
to subject that would assert itself.
"Dr Blanchari's wife was my sister
Mary, your aunt" replied Mr.. Kyle.
"And these young ladies and Howard
Blanchard are our cousin?"
"They are. :"
"And it is because of your misfortune
for a terrible misfortune it was, rather
than a wrong-that you do not wish
your relatives to know of your where
abouts, and why you want me to keep
away from them:"
eyes, Louis, that and more, replied
Mr.. Kyle.
"What more?'
"Perhaps I should not tell you, but
it is better that you should know all. "
Mr.. Kyle hesitated and his wife said,