Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-02

The high Rock Tower loomed up al
ways in his sight, reminding him o
bis responsibility for Drew's death
Sometimes it looked to him like an i'm
mense gravestone set up over the body
of the man whom he had virtually
murdered.
| At other times it seemed on the
point of falling, as if it would crush
him in vengeance. But somehow he
could not resolve to move away from
lit. There was a fascination that held
him. Besides, he kept trying to per
suade himself that, after all, he was
not really guilty, and if he left the
place it would be an admission oi
guilt.
Many years went by. Luke Hard
ing married and Julia Drew married
Pennel lived down the old suspicious
of his neighbors, and finally died in
outward peace and respectability. An
incredible change came over the rough
settlement. Hundreds of new people
gathered there, and Rock Tower grew
to be fourishing civilized town, with
mills, factories, stores in abundance,
and railroad station. But, notwith.
standing all the change and move
ments and the migrations of former
inhabitants, the descendants of Pennel
Harding and Salmon Drew remained
fixed there, owning some of the most
valuable property in the place close
around the foot of the rocky height.
In the hustle of American life, feuds
between families sometimes find it
hard to perpetuate themselves but
this case was one of the exceptions.
The great-granddaughter of Pennel,
Losette Harding, and Drew's great
grandson, Arthur Forester, were
brought up in strict obedience to the
rooted hostility of the two houses.
But, as fate would have it, Arthur,
who was hourishing young merchant
of the place, fell in love with Losette-
the one woman in the world with
whom he was expressly forbidden to
fall in love.
Little by little he contrived to make
advances and let her know of his pas
sion. They met from time to time,
secretly; but the burden Of the old
feud, and the knowledge that Lo-
sette's father would oppose their
union implacably, hung over them
with a weight of dread that seemed
destined to overpower them. Curl
ously enough, the only place in which
they could see one another, secure
from observation, was on the high land
above Rock Tower, which still remain
ed wild, difficult of access, and little
frequented. One day when they bad
met there, Arthur, looking down at the
roofs of the prosperous village below,
said to Losette:
"How far away the rest of the world
seems when we are up here. Ought
not we to be able to rise above all the
selfish motive and the old quarrels
that control US down tbere?"
eyes, oh yes," said Losette, "if it
were only as easy as climbing to this
place "But," she added, with a shud-
der, "You forget what happened here
the crime!"
"Crime ?" he repeated. "Who knows
that it was one ?" I have always
thought it was simply an accident"
Losette trembled. "But I can prove
to you that it was not an accident, "
she faltered. "You ought to know.
] must tell you"
"Tell me what" he asked anxiously.
"This," answered Lostte, drawing a
paper from her pocket. "Once, when
I was looking over some old things at
home, I found the confession which
my greatgrandfather left at his death.
1t was never made public, and it seems
to have been forgotten in our own
family. Perhaps, even my father
doesn't know of it. But here is the
copy made. See !"
Forester glanced at the writing and
read the revelation of old Pennel's
guilty wish to slay his neighbor-how
he had threatened him and hurried
him to that backward step over the
rock, which had caused his death. AT
first he remained silent; then he said,
"what does it matter after all, Los
cite ?"
"Matter !" cried the girl. ut mat
ters this, that I'm the direct descend
ant of-oh, don't make me say it!'
(She bowed her head.) "Of a man
who was murderer ~
"No; you shall not say so ~ For
rester exclaimed. "You must take
back that word and forget it. This
old history is passed and gone. 1t is
like legend. 1t has nothing to do
with US. The Harding blood has
mingled with other stock in the last
two generations. 1t is no longer the
same. And look at me. l do not
even bear my greatgrandfather's name.
We belong to new race. We live
for ourselves. Why should the past
overshadow US always"
"Why," retorted Losette, "should
this cliff always overhang Rock Tower?
1 tell you it is destiny. We can't
escape from the shadow of that old
misdeed until there has been some ex-
piation, and there has been none yet.
dare not marry you with this curse
pnrouinp mo T cannot Arthur