Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-03-27

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reached it. A kind voice cried through
the darkness:
"Thank God, you is in time, Miss
Rob! here um say your pappy amt
gwine stay much longer way frum heab-
en-.
Rob leaned far over her horse's neck.
The house was still half mile away.
She whispered low to the strainipg
beast: "Gol Col My daddy is dyingl"
As though the good creature compre.
hended, it stretched itself in long leaps
that left other company behind. Wrath
like she crossed the fields, sped up the
avenue, sprang down and ran to the
wide front chamber, where lights and
moving figures told her she would find
Jer precious charge.
He lay easily, propped with pillows
no winter than his face. Cerintha sat
beside him, holding his chill hand. a
little way off Brother Walton read the
Twenty-third Psalm in the voice Of one
who knows himself in holy rlace.
The blind mans face was transfg'
ured with soft, tender smile. As the
minister's voice died away he began to
repeat in a clear, happy tone: "There
shall be no more night there, neither
any weeping, for the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sins Of the
world, shall wipe all tears from their
eyes.
Rob ran to him and began to soy in
her old, merry voice, Here am, dad
dy, home with news to-
She could not 90 on. He had caught
the shake in her voice and put out his
arms to her, with luminous smile
Little daughter, it has come at last
the light, the beautiful light" he
said, stroking her hair, as her head fell
on his breast. After a minute he went
on: "That is my brave darling! She is
sorry-ah, so sorry-to lose her daddy,
but she will not let her sobs break up
this everlasting peace. Little comrade,
it is hard to leave you, even for heaven.
But, darling. your mother is there. You
will not think grew cowardly and did
not want to stayf"
"No, daddy. You have been brave,
the very bravest man in the world"
Rob said, forcing her words to be steady.
"Life has not been too easy for either
of us. 1t seems little bit selfish, your
leaving me alone, but I can 60, too,
some day."
"But not for a long time" be said,
patting her hand. "You have Roscoe.
Promise me you will keep and cherish
it always. For awhile you will be lone
ly. But, daughter, the light has come,
and in it / see clearly many, many
things. Call the Talbots-the colonel
and Jack. I want them. There is some
thing I must say. :"
"Here, old friend, just beside you"
Colonel Talbot said, taking the dying
hand in a close, brotherly grasp. Rob
knelt still at the bedside. Jack bent
above her as he, too, answered the sum-
mons. Her father motioned her to rise
and stand beside the young man.
"Jack," he said, the words coming
hard, "answer me now, as though you
stood facing the judgment bar, do you
love my child?"
"Better than my life, my SOUL, Jack
said huskily.
The blind man softly smiled. "She
has loved you all her life," he said.
"Into your hands commit her. May
the Lord God keep and bless you bothr'
"Amen, amenl" said Brother Walton
and Colonel Talbot in one breath. c.
rintha Payne sobbed aloud, and Jack
drew his sweetheart within his arms,
saying brokenly:
"And have loved her all her lifeP'
With last flicker Of strength the
blind man drew their hands together
and held them minute. Then his fin.
gers loosed their hold, his head dropped,
and those watching saw that his dark
ness had ended iu the perfect day.