Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-08-18


with unusual solempity, and Malcom's
energetic handshake made Raleigh
laugh. Faith followed, and Malcom
Joined In, and the excitement Of that
sudden meeting passed into question
and answer.
"Its a long way from the deck Of
that steamer to this studio" said NAL
com Stanley. "But truth Is stranger
than fiction-at least any fiction / ever
read" And then he went on to give
Faith some account Of his life since
the time when Malcom Kirk had left
him with his aunt in London.
The aunt had died when he was 2
years old, and he had been adopted in
to the family Of distant relative, tax
ing the name Of Malcom at his aunts
request In loving memory Of his queer
nurse. The money that Kirk had rails
ed on board the steamer had been for.
tunately invested. On coming Of age
this fund enabled the young man to fit
himself for an engineer. He had risen
steadily and had at last been promoted
to place of great responsibility. The
company for which he worked had in
terests in the United States, and NAL
com had come over to superintend the
opening Of some mines in Colorado and
New Mexico. His business interests
had made him acquainted with Mr..
Fulton, and it was through him that
he had made the acquaintance Of Mr..
Raleigh and finally purchased the pic
ture, with the intention Of giving 1t to
Malcom Kirk. The artist had insisted
on practically giving large share Of
the value of the picture to Stanley, and
the latter had planned a surprise for
Kirk on his way west.
All this and more did Faith hear
wonderingly. The short winter day
was going by. and Raleigh suddenly
interrupted the conversation.
1--WE shall have to give up our trip to
Kenwood today. Faith"
"And l must be getting back to my
workw cried Faith, rising. She was
like one who had been in dream Of
the day. 1t all seemed so strange
the studio, the artist the picture, the
big. hearty. honest young Englishman.
She found it hard to realize that she
was actually in the heart Of the great.
rushing. prosaic. selfish city. All this
was so like O story, like things one
reads about, but so seldom knows In
the real life.
IF your father were only here now
said Raleigh. whose romantic tempera.
ment was moved deeply by the events
Of the day, "this room would contain
all the elements Of genuine story"
AS he spoke they all three turned in
stinctively toward the entrance Of the
other room. There stood Malcom Kirk,
his tall. heavy figure filling up the
opening and his homely, loving face
showing unusual emotion.
"Fatherr' cried Faith. and the next
minute she was In his arms. sobbiug
and exclaiming.
Then she stepped back. a little
ashamed Of her sudden outburst as
she remembered the presence of the
two men behind her, but she kept hold
of Malcom's hand and drew him into
the studio.
"How did you come here. father?
We had no idea
"It's not long story, my dear"
said Malcom.
"Mr. Raleigh, how do you do? It's
a long time since l saw you on the
deck Of that steamer" Malcom point
ed to the picture, and still his great
brown eyes rested on Malcolm Stanley.
who was standing there pale and ex.
cited.
Raleigh took Kinks hand and shook
1t heartily. He then turned quickly to
Stanley.
"You ought to know this gentleman,
Mr.. Kirk. You met him before did"
Kirk stepped toward Stanley. Both
men were deeply moved.
"You were with my mother when she
died. Mr.. Kirk" said Stanley in voice
that trembled little.
"If we were Russians, we would EN-.
brace each other now," cried Malcolm
Kirk, "but as you are an Englishman
and | am an American l suppose q
handshake Is the nearest we can get to
It."
AS he said 1t he grasped Stanley's
big palm, which went out to meet his,
and Raleigh said afterward he was
sure he heard the bones snap, but nei-
ther man WINGED.
'"The heart goes with It," said NAL
com Stanley, admiring Kirk out Of his
honest face with loving look.
Kirk drew back little and gazed at
the stalwart young figure. Then he
glanced at the painting.
81 would not like to take the contract
of holding you in my arms now, as I
did then. But. as I remember, you
were a very good baby"
$50 he is now." said Raleigh, who
had turned his face toward the easel
to hide his emotion.
That made Faith laugh, and the rest
Joined her, and the tension Of feeling
broke, and they all grew more at ease.
For several minutes questions and an
swers flew fast in the now darkening
studio.