Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-04-04

little childs sake. Good Lord, forgive
me! She could not battle with the
world in poverty, only helpless, weak
girl. He is strong; he is young; he is
ambitious. It will all work out right
for him. He will carve out name and
q fortune for himself. But-but-I an
going to met them. am going to see
Lucetta, Rufus, all of them. What shal
say? What can tell them? Unfaith
full friend, false steward, sinful mani
hear them crying it in chorus. Thomas
forgive me! Lucetta, don't turn youl
dear face away from me! Rufus, friend
of my boyhood."
He opened his eyes with start. His
first fully conscious gaze fell upor
Olvia's face. Its drawn, frightened
look startled him. He grasped her wrist
with a force that panied her.
"I have been doing. Did talk In my
sleep? Did say anything silly, as
sleep takers always do?"
"You talked little, father, just lit
tie. There, dear. Don't stare at ME so
You look as If you were angry with
me. 1t is only l, father, your loving lit
tie daughter. There Is no one else here
no one at all"
81 know, know-only you, poor lit
tie lonely girl; only you, my precious
one."
She answered him with a patheti!
little boast.
"Oh, / could have half the town If
wanted to! Everybody has been beg
ging to help nurse you. Everybody
holds you in such high esteem, dearest
But we don't want them"
"But we don't want them," he echoed
duly. mo, we don't want them. II
won't last very much longer, my child
I am just waiting to see Thomas, and
then / will CO."
"Father, father, have you no thought
for me" The wall escaped her un
guarded lips with piercing shrlllness.
"No thought for you? God forgive
me, Olivia, there has been room In my
brain for no one but you. For you, an6
you alone, have liv :, have labored
and"-his voice dropped to a tired
whisper-"yes, slnned."
"Sinned? Father, take that one wore
back. l know you do not mean 1t
Take 1t back In pity for me. DOM
leave 1t to me as horrible puzzle
It will torture me all the rest Of my
days. Death Is not the very worst
that can befal us, father. Leave me
the reverence for you that has gilded
all my young life, father. / know
you have loved me too well. Perhaps
in your tenderness for me you waxet
careless of others interests. That was
all, papa. / am sure that was all"
She was on her knees by the bed
Her slight frame was quivering under
the storm of emotions no longer un
der her control. The dying man laii
his hand on her bowed head. Wher
he spoke, his voice was calm and sol
emn, but very weak.
"True, child, death Is not the wors
that can befall. l have confessed
everything to my Maker. had mean
to confess to Thomas, but my strength
ebbs fast. / doubt If / shall be here
when he comes. The temptation tt
secure your future against the posi-
bility Of want was too mighty for me
Olivia. My idolatrous love for vol
turned my boasted strength into weak
ness. Opportunity was my undoing.'
81 will make restitution, father. Ht
shall have everything"
"And blacken my name In the grave
Restitution lies in one direction only
At least my failing senses can point
out no other course. You alone cal
right the great wrong 1 have done Ru
fus' son."
II, father~
"Don't speak. Listen to me. Would
you help me undo what have done
for your sakep
She shiyered as If an ague had seiz
ed her. but her gaze never left his
face.
"You know I would, father! Oh
you know there is nothing I would MOI
do for your dear sake!'
"a few weeks ago could not have
humbled myself before my own limo
cent child as am doing now. my dear
but when the shores Of eternity seen
actually in sight the mortal visior
broadens, and we can slough all tha