Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-31

! never sing II tO Hlul. udNe uol SuhS
1t before in long time. do not know
why thought of it tonight"
81 do. 1t was just my heart speaking
to yours, Lisle. Will you be offended,
boy. If tell you that you have got q
voice like q woman's-just like the
voice Of a woman whom l used to
know, the sweetest and best woman
who ever lived? She was my sister,
Lisle, and she used to sing that song
to me. liked It because her name
was Alice, like the song. It's a good
many years since saw her. Lisle. and
I don't know whether she Is alive or
lead. Don't you see. kid. why my CAL
lous old heart filled up with tears so
that it would have burst If hadn't
shed fewT
81 am sorry. Craig. very sorry, that
I selected that song"
"Don't you be sorry; be glad. 1t
saved me from one of my fits. for one
of 'em has been coming on ever since
l have been here"
"Shall sing something else for you"
"No: don't sing: don't play. | don't
want to get the taste Of that one out
of my mouth. Sit here and talk with
me. We won't have another evening
together for a long time-maybe nev.
er."
"Why do you say that"
'T'm going to light out In the morn
ing before that fit comes on. You
think am older than your father. don't
you"
81 should say that you are. by sev.
eral years"
"Well. | reckon | am in some ways.
It comes Of having fits. | suppose. hut
Dick Maxwell Is five years older than
I am. He's 4S or thereabout. according
to his say look about So, but I'm
only 43. Do you know what ! am get
ting atT'
"No."
"This: I'm preaching. lad. Every one
Of those years that rest on my head
without having come into my life was
put there by a piece Of scoundrelism
that | committed when was just the
aaSe that you are 0ow. .snd hasda.aa aas,
more excuse for getting into 1t than
you have now either. don't say that
you'll ever get into place where you
may be likely to do anything that ain't
right. but If you do there will be time
to think-there always Is. for thinking
Is mighty quick work - and II that
time ever does come you remember
what | have said just now and stop
long enough to hum that song over to
yourself before you cut loose from the
outfit and 60 1t alone. Life amt going
to be all roses for you. Llsle Maxwell,
and don't you forget 1t! Your father
hasn't brought you up right. to my way
of thinking. You needn't get huffy. !
amt criticising him. I'm analyzing
you. You don't know any more about
the world outside Of this ranch than a
hog knows about skating. and that
amt much to speak of. I've been
watching you while I've been here.
and there are a.whole lot Of things that
you have got to learn between now and
the time when you will have to go 1t
alone. and nobody ever knows when
that time Is coming. It's just like a
blamed lnjun and draws a bead on
your vitals from behind bush or a
rock when you amt looking. and It's a
dead shot every time You can't throw
loop over circumstance and drag 1t
along q willing captive. like we did that
steer. It's got way Of slipping out
and roping you instead. and you've got
to post yourself about things SO that
you will be ready to keep one hand out
in Just about the same way that you
poked yours through the loop Of Jim
| Cummings RATA over In the Smoky. /
don't wonder that some Of the boys
have said that yon look like woman.
You do. and you do not You do be-
cause you have got tender heSrt. like
q womans. and 1t sticks out through
your masculine garb just as plain as
daylight when you amt thinking. Dick
Maxwell has trained you right enough
as far as he has gone. for all | know,
but he's a good ways from going far
enough. want you to make me q
promise. Llsle."
"Wbat sort Of promise. Craig"
You'll be 81 some day. and when
the day comes that sees you that old |
want you to promise that you will ride
over to my ranch and see me. Will
your
Certainly. will ride over great
many times in the meanwhile, too. If
you care to have me-"
That's all right. OF course care to
have you. but want you to remember
that promise anyhow"
"I'll remember it."
land now. while we've got a chance
to talk. | want to say one thing more
to you about women. This idea that
you've got that they are denominations
on the face of the earth Is all wrong. II
your dad did teach 1t to you, and some
day III prove it to you. I've been look
ing through your library. and there
amt n book there that will tell you q
blamed thing about them--not one. 10
my way Of thinking you ought to have
q few, even if you read 'em against the
wishes of the old man. They won't
hurt you any, and In my opinion they
will do you lot of good. DO you
know where that old corral Is. down In
the southwest corner Of my ranch"
"Yes."
"Well, next Sunday you ride over
there. 1t amt much more than doz-