Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-12

should gild the path Of forgiveness and
forgetfulness with ease and pleasure
until conscience sIumbered, love renew.
ed itself and retribution was forgotteni
Yet here was Jim-poor, simple, hon.
est Jim-repulsing the golden bride
which she had felt ought to bridge the
chasm Of shame yawning between their
honorable poverty and her own repug.
nant splendor There is nothing so inac.
cessible as virtue under certain contin-
gencies. Clothe it in rags, pinch it with
penury, grind it beneath worldly
scorn, yet its hollow eyes and wasted
features illumine the vale Of humility
like diamonds in the mire, cleaning
unsullied from out the filth Of their
surroundings upon the spurious glitter,
that envies through all it's false exalta-
tion the purity no tongue can smirch
and from which it stands forever barred.
She did not reply at once. Jim, total.
ly unawed as yet, hitched at his gal
luses' and went through sundry awk-
ward movements for no apparent cause
whatever.
"Who is she, pap?" whispered Ann,
who had interposed Jim's body between
herself and the object Of her curiosity.
"Waal, honey" said Jim, slightly en-
barrassed by the directness of the in
quiry, "this lady is-she-waal, hit
seems like she was onct'-
"Child, I am your mother-your
own, only mother, as I told you beforeP'
exclaimed the woman. Then with sud.
den abandon she clasped little AIMS
face between her hands and kissed her
once, twice, thrice. The child shrank
back, frightened, while Jim coolly in,
terposed his own bulk between them,
saying:
"Thar, now, thar! AIMS ways and
mine air turrible defer'nt from your'n
now, and We mout as well git outen
yer. Ye hev got yer money, and little
Ann and me hev concluded that we jest
Ip'intedly don't want any smidgeon on
lit"
but, Jim, Jim, think what money
can dol want your love. want my
child's love. I don't deserve it, but my
heart yearns for you both. And-and I
can make your hard lives so easy and
pleasant now. 1t is all yours
"That thar'l do now" 1t is notice
able that while she called him Jim re-.
peatedly he never mentioned her name.
"We're purity poor, me and Ann, but
we're honest, and we hev got little
mite of pride left yet. Ye needn't loom
off any more on that subjeck, reckon.
Ye did yer level best ter bodacioushus-
ly ruin both on US, but the good Lord
hoped us ter git through somehow. We
uns hain't got nary grudge ag'in ye, yet
we p'intedly can't take up with yer
lprojeck.
A momentary silence ensued, while the
man and woman surveyed each other. In
the long suffering blacksmith's eyes the
wife read no answering tenderness to
the seductive appeal that glistened in
her own. Then gradually came the con-
viction that all these years Of neglect
| had uuenched forever the old love and
hardened patience into Indifference.
AS she realized the futility of her
efforts her heart sank within her. The
longing that had brought her 2,00O
miles to repair the past was merged in
greater pain than any that had yet
come to her. But the pride she had long
nursed came to her assistance now. She
resolved to show her weakness no more
where humility invoked only reproach.
Her gaze grew cold and collected, and
she Withdrew step as she said indiffer-
emily:
"Well, sir, you doubtless know what
is best for yourself and-our child. l
feel that I have no right to insist on
anything that is repugnant to you. Be-
lieve one thing, thought was not for
myself alone that I have offered you
wealth and ease. but" her lip would
culver though she bit it fie1cely, "it
was to make amends to you for the sake
of her. ;"
She pointed to little Ann. Jim be-
came embarrassed, though he knew not
why. While he stood fumbling at his
hat the lady, with sudden movement,
kissed the child, and as Jim was about
to speak said hurriedly:
"Say no more. Icannot bear it. Leave
me. If you are ever in trouble and need
money-for her-here is an address
where you can always obtain it while l
have it. Go-now, please.
She pointed rather imperiously to-
ward the door. Jim hesitated, cleared
his throat, spit recklessly on the carpet,
then took AIMS hand, saying:
Lies go, honey. She air right. Hit
air the best all round, reckon. d" Then
to his wife: Don't think as I amt
pestered about ye, or that we uns wishes
ye any harm. But I jest can't hope
doin what believe ter be right jest
can't hope it. Goodby, Darthuly."
1t was the first time he had called her
by name. She almost broke down, and
motioned for them to 90, which they
did, Jim leading little Ann, who. still
looked back uncomprehendingly.
AS the door closed behind them the
wretched wife and mother stood like
one in a trance until the shambling