Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-11-21
come, and I was mighty nigh getting

"And ye didn't" said Terry, highly
interested. 1.-THE Interpretations Of hiv-
en- are past findin out"
"Fire's stood my friend, I say. l had
my pipe-greasers ain't the id mar
tinets you have here-and spark went
into the straw. 1t blazed in an instant
There was hi to pay, with the guard
and greasers and prisoners running
every which way. The prison had lit
tie tower, like that, yonder," said he,
pointing to the wooden structure above
the old guardhouse. II saw my chance
in the confusion and ran for it. 1t was
stone and never took fire, and I got safe
ly away at night and vamoosed the
country and read afterward how the
flames had devoured the rufflanly MUIR
derer Roy and here he caught him.
self, with sudden gulp, seeing Rorke's
suspicious eyes on him."
"Eh, Graice? Roy, ye were sayin.
"M.rderer, roisterer and rascal, Tom
Graice," he went on. $50 I've nothing
tb fear from fire."
Rorke eyed him long and distrustful-
ly, grunting audible comment on the
story, to which some Of the men had lis.
tened in absorbed interest, while others
were busily removing the picture and
setting it in place upon the wall. Then,
as it was fairly hung, Crow Knife step
ped back across the room. his eyes rev.
erently fixed upon the fine, soldierly
face. Graice, meantime. after hurried
glance about him, had drawn a flask
from his vest pocket and had lifted it to
his lips, when Rorke grabbed it.
II thought so, ye mad Drained gab-
blerl Yell be drunk before the days
half over. Get up and look at the pic
ture, man. It's lookin at ye straight
and stern"
"Who-who's looking at me? What
id rot are you talking?" shuddered
Graice.
1.-The colonel is, and as if he didn't
relish the sight. Small blame to him.
"It's q saying Of my people" " said
Crow in his slow, solemn tone, "Whom
the eyes Of the dead call must rise and
follow"
"You croaking''- hissed Graice,
leaping to his feet and rushing at the
Indian, but Rorke threw himself be-
tween them.
"Play wild fire when ye may, man,
but niver wild tame tiger. Hush, now.
Go out this door and cool that crazy
head of yers. Here come the ladies'"
Instantly the excited group scattered,
the men resuming their work as though
at no time thought of crime or quarrel
had entered there, but Rorke's heart
was humping hard as he went to his sta
tion. First to enter were Captain Leale
and Mrs. Daunton, though the blithe
voices and CHEEKY laughter of the others
could be heard without. Evidently there
was fun at Kitty's expense, and Leale
had seized the opportunity to draw
Helen to one side. They were talking
earnestly as they entered.
"It seems providential that Wills
first station should bring his mother
back to the old home Here and now at
least she should be safe from all shock.
especially with your care to guard her,
Mrs. Daunton. She said to me only
yesterday: Helen came to me only
little over year ago. but I think have
needed her for years. She is dear to me,
almost as my own daughter.
"God bless her for those words, said
Helen, deeply moved. II came to her
as dependent. but she has taught me
a new definition Of motherhood. "
Motherhood has its sorrowful mean
ing for Mrs. Farrar," said Leale grave
ly, his handsome dark eyes fixed upon
her face. HAS she never spoken to you
about Royle, her eldest SOM"
"She has sometimes mentioned him..
said Helen, with great constraint. But
she can hardly bear to speak of him,
and I know the bitter sorrow he brought
to every one who loved him, but, she
added quickly, as though eager to
change the subject, 'how cozy and
warm and Christmasy it looks and
smellsl shall have another new defini-
tion-what Christmas means. We learn
many definitions, do we not, as life goes
on, and sometimes fate is good to us and
let's us learn the happiest last. "
And you have learned sad one OF
Christmas?"
"Ii A very sad one. My own baby
died in my arms on Christmas eve"
Leale bent earnestly toward the sad,
sweet face, deep emotion in his own,
but at the moment Ellis entered, follow
ed closely by Ormsby. She bowed in
eviden6 constraint at sight Of the couple
already there and looked as though she
would gladly have turned about again.
After her came Will and Kitty and
other young people of the post, all eager
and intent on inspecting the prepara-
tions being made, all full of compli-
ments to Rorke for the success attending
his labors, all full Of admiration of the
portrait, which they grouped about and
admired, while Ellis hung her fathers
saber underneath. And then once again
the whole party, chatting merrily, went
drifting out into the crisp air and glo-
rious sunshine, leaving, glowering after
them from the doorway of the little
loom that opened off the main hall, the
i'll favored, i'll liked soldier Graice.
Two minutes later, and no one could
eYnlain how IL started or what was its