Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-13

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a strong man, good looking, too, but
nobody could ever make me believe he
had any call ter go an dash in that
burnin cabin jest ter git out poor ole
niger that had nursed him when he
was baby. She didn't live but year
after all. An look at him-blipd an
crippled, that beam fallin on his back,
besides the burns be got. He ought ter
of thought of his own family. 1t would
be really his fault whatever happened
ter that girl of his. "
Rob's mother had died at her birth,
and there were five little mounds beside
the long one in the graveyard back of
the orchard. All the other children had
gone before. With her latest breath the
dying woman had whispered, "Call her
BY your name, Robert, darling, and
bring herewith you-safe-across the
river.
So from the beginning Rob had been
her fathers comfort, companion, coun-
selor. She had come to 8 years old when
he was stricken and took her place as
head of the house with the quaintest
childish dignity. Everybody said how
pitiful it was to see her pattering about,
keys in hand, to note her watchful care
for her father in every detail or to heal
her piping ohild's voice stumbling mu
sically through chapters Of the Bible.
Mighty few Of them knew what hero
ism the reading had entailed. To the
day of her fathers blindness Rob had
refused to learn even her letters Il
hate old books. Iwon't learn and be shut
up in school all day." she had said pas
sionately. But when she saw her father
lingering the big Bible and murmuring
snatches Of its contents it made her
throat swell, her lips culver. Yet she
said nothing then beyond telling him
breathlessly Of the little chickens and
the teeny new calf. But three Sundays
later she came, saying shyly, IF you
like, pappy, can read you some Bible
now" And with that she began the
Twenty.third Psalm and went through
| it without break.
"Do you like it, pappy? Does it sound
good and help your" she asked very low
when she had done. Mr.. McGregor
could not speak. He put his arms about
his child and answered her with rain
of kisses.
"Can you read, really?" be asked aft
er awhile. cit seems too good to be true.
How did you learn?"
II don't know-only that much. Jack
Talbot is teaching me. He comes Sum-
days when you are asleep. Imost know
the letters now, but they are hard, and /
did not want you to wait 80 long for
your Bible, so he read this over and over
till knew it all. am glad you like it.
But, oh, pappy, don't cryl Rob will
take care of you until-until we both
can 60 to the green pastures and the still
waters"
my darling, my precious child" the
father groaned, burying his face in her
silken hair. II think it would be sig
nal mercy Of God if we might 60 to him
now"
The mood passed, as such moods do.
In the sunshine Of Rob's presence her
father learned to half forget his blind
ness. She grew and strengthened and
became wise beyond her years. With
love as the incentive nothing came hard.
Though she still forswore school, once
the letter learning was over she grew so
fond of books that by mousing in the
library she got sufficient if unusual
education. Then, too, she could sew,
knit and look after housewifely affairs,
to say nothing Of riding. dancing and
shooting to equal perfection.
Naturally the good folk whose ideal
Of young womanly perfection was Miss
Winfold looked half askance at poor
Rob- It was the shooting which most
condemned her, albeit the root Of her
reprehensible proficiency was the wish
to keep her father supplied with game
when he craved it. There were frequent
intervals when he relished nothing else
Mrs. Winfold in such case would have
appealed successfully to the chivalry of
her neighbors. Rob took up her father g
gun, as she had taken his other burdens,
without whining or moaning over the
necessity which laid them upon her
shoulders.
Long before she came to 19 she was a
parsonage noted, gossiped over-if the
truth must be told often belied-
throughout the length and breadth of
Walnut Greek. She was so bravelyi so
unconventionallyt truthful at all points
save one-it was not strange the air was
filled with tales of her social daring.
For example, she said openly she loved
to dance, best Of all to waltz, when
she had Jack Talbot for a partner. "
Mrs Winfold found that speech simply
shameless. Dear Alice never went be-
yond the basket cotillon and had scru-
pIes even az to that. Waltz! Not she!
She had been too well brought up and
knew too entirely what a modest girl
owed to herself and society.
Yet-such is the depravity OF the hu'
man mind, even in Walnut Creek
there were not wanting people who said
that Miss Winfold's scruples were fine
thing for her possible partners. She was
80 springless and wooden they must
needs have carried her. Then, too, con-
trast with Rob might evoke comment to
ruff1e even her amiatility. Things were