Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-09

The memory of that fatr Utston aods OH
that remained to him of her.
TALLY to Bufford, who ventured the
vague opinion that "she would come
round after awhile, like they all do. !"
Jim loaded up and set out. His steers
were half way down the road to the
ferry, when Darthuly came running aft
er him, with the baby in her arms She
caught his hand and exclaimed.
"Take us along, Jim. I can't bear ter
see you a-leavin this mornin somehow. "
"Why, how's thish yer, Darthuly!
Jest bit ago ye didn't keer ter 60.
Bein as ye've got that pesky headache,
I reckon ye'd better stay. Teeters' gal
is a-goin ter stay ternight, and Mr..
Bufford'll be thar ter keep the buggers
off, and 1 shall sartinly git back termor-
rer. Why, honey-why-durn me eft I
can understand women ennyhowP'
She was sobbing upon his arm, but
would give no reason for this strange
behavior, and Jim, after some hurried
cogitation, concluded that she was "a
gittin little teched in the head"-
vague complaint, embracing pretty
much every phase Of emotional disturb
ance peculiar to females.
"Thar now, Darthuly, ye git right
back ter the house and lay down awhile.
Git Jane Teeters ter help ye cook, and
let that thar washin alone until I gets
back"
Thus soothing and petting her. yet
puzzled in mind, though utterly unsus-
picious Of the real cause Of her agita-
tion, he finally got away, leaving her
standing on a projecting rock, gazing
with tear blinded eyes after him.
"Be back today?" queried Bufford
from the stillhouse door as be passed.
"Reckon not The steers can't hardly
make hit in day."
He crossed the river on the fiat, and
as his wagon disappeared round bold
bend of the cliffs he, following behind,
looked back. His wife still stood upon
the rock, her baby playing at her feet
and her bright calico dress fluttering IN
the breeze blowing down sweet and cool
from the mountains.
The memory of that fair vision was
all that remained to him of her, except
the child, for eight long years.
He returned on the following day to a
ruined and deserted home. Dick Bufford
and Darthuly had disappeared. There
was q motherless babe crying upon the
bed and scrap of paper left upon tho ta-
BILE telling him that he had no wife; that
she was gone with another; that she
was sorry, but could not help it; that
he must regard her as one dead; that
he would care for the child, for its own
sake if not for hers, whose heart was
deservedly breaking; that her past life
had been impure; that she had deceived
him. vet had believed she loved him,
until the tempter came clothed with the
power and glamour of former triumph
over her youthful trust and love, to lure
her back to sin and ruin.
When he at last arose, crushed, mis-
erable, yet dumbly patient, he threw
the wretched apology into the fire and.
gathering his babe IN his arms, sootheo
it through the night, while fighting OH
by grim endurance his own pain until
morning came again.
Silently he endured the flow of neigh
borly comment and consolation, and
quietly he went about his double duties,
with O stoicism apparently untouched
by tenderness, except when alone with
his child.
He never inquired after or searcheo