Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-26
after the disuuiet of the day. His wife

after the disquiet Of the day. His wife
was there to greet him, and Alice and
Clara and Bess clung about him as he
took off his coat and came into the
beautiful room where a cheerful fire
was blazing. Will came down stairs
as his father came in, and in the brief
interval before supper was ready Mr..
Hardy related the scenes Of the day.
They were all shocked to hear Of
Scoville's death, and Mrs. Hardy at
once began to discuss some plans for
relieving the family. Bess volunteered
to give up half her room to one Of the
children, and Alice quietly outlined a
plan which Immediately appeared to
her father businesslike and feasible.
In the midst Of this discussion supper
was announced. and they all sat down.
"Where is George?" asked Mr.. Hardy.
Ordinarily he would have gone on with
the meal without any reference to the
boy, because he was so often absent
from the table. Tonight he felt an ir-
resistible longing to have all bis chill
dren with him.
"He said he was invited out to sup
per with the Bramleys," said Clara.
Mr.. Hardy received the announce
ment in silence. He felt the bitterness
of such Indifference on the part of his
older son. "Whatw he said to himself.
"When he knows had such a little
while left, could he not be at home"
Then almost Immediately flashed into
him the self reproach even stronger
than his condemnation Of his boy.
"How much have done for him these
last ten years to win his love and pro-
tect him from evil"
After supper Mr.. Hardy sat down by
his wife, and in the very act he blush
ed with shame at the thought that he
could not recall when he had spent an
evening thus. He looked into her face
and asked gently:
"Mary, what do you want me to do?
Shall read as we used to In the old
days"
"No; let US talk together" replied
Mrs. Hardy. bravely driving back her
tears. II cannot realize what 1t all
means. have been praying all day.
Do you still have the impression you
had this morning"
MARY, l am If anything even more
convinced that God has spoken to me.
The impression has been deepening
with me all day. When I looked into
Door Scoville's face, the terrible nature
of my past selfish life almost over
whelmed me. Oh, why have | abused
Gods goodness to me so awfully"
There was silence q moment Then
Mr.. Hardy grew more calm. He began
to discuss what he would do the second
day. He related more fully the inter-
view with the men in the shop and his
visits to the injured. He drew Clara to
him and began to inquire into her trou-
bles in such a tender, loving way that
ClGra's proud. passionate. willful ma
ture broke down, and she sobbed out
her story to him as she had to her
mother the night before.
Mr.. Hardy promised Clara that he
would see James the next day. 1t was
true that James Caxton had only q
week before approached Mr.. Hardy
and told him in very manful fashion OF
his love for his daughter, but Mr.. Har-
dy had treated it as child's affair, and
In accordance with his usual policy In
family matters had simply told Clara
and Bess to discontinue their visits at
the old neighbor's. But now that he
heard the story from the lips OF his
own daughter he saw the seriousness
Of it. and crowding back all his former
pride and hatred Of the elder CaXton he
promised Clara to see James the next
day.
Clara clung to her father In loving
surprise She was bewildered. as were
all the rest. by the strange event that
had happened to her father, but she
never had so felt his love before. and,
forgetting for awhile the significance
Of his wonderful dream. she felt happy
In his presence and in his affection for
her.
The evening had sped on with sur
prising rapidity while all these matters
were bu. discussed. and as 1t drew
near to u..uuight again Robert Hardy
felt almost happy in the atmosphere or
that home and the thought that he
could still for little while create JOY
for those who loved him. Suddenly he
spoke of his other son:
IL wish George would come In. Then
our family circle would be complete.
But it is bedtime for you. Bess. and all
Of us, for that matter"
1t was just then that steps were
heard on the front porch, and voices
were heard as if talking in whispers.
The bell rang. Mr.. Hardy rose to 60
to the door. His wife clung to him ter
rifed
"Oh. don't 60. Robert! am afraid
for YOU"
"Why, Mary, it cannot be anything
to harm me. Don't be alarmed"
Nevertheless he was little startled.
The day had been trying one for him.
He went to the door. his wife and the
children following him close behind.
He threw it wide open. and there. sup
ported by two Of his companions. one
of thom the Young man Mr.. Hardy