Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-03-02

ODScureQ from view. ueu ue SnooA
himself out of the dream into which
he had fallen. He was pale now, and
his eyebrows were drawn together as
the count held out the pistol.
"Ah, yesW he said as though he had
forgotten. "There goes the woman
who will never become your wife,"
THAT shall be decided at once" was
the retort Of the prince.
"She will marry the gentleman back
at the inn."
"a fine husband he will make, truly"
replied the prince. HE not only de-
serts her, but forsakes her champion.
But that Is neither here nor there. We
shall not 20 through any polite formal
ities," his eyes swapping viciously.
The two combatants took their
places in the center Of the road. The
pistol arm of each hung at the side Of
the body.
care you ready, gentlemen% asked
the count, the barest tremor In his
voice.
"Yes." said the prince. Hillars SIM
ply nodded.
when l have counted three, you
will be at liberty to fire. One!
The arms raised slowly till the pis.
tolls were OH the level Of the eyes.
1.-TWO"
The innkeeper saw Hillars move his
lips. That was the only sign.
"Threew
The pistols exploded simultaneously.
The right arm of the prince swung
back violently, the smoking pistol fly
ing from his hand. Suddenly one OF
the horses gave a snort Of pain and
terror and bolted down the road. No
attention was given to the horse. The
others were watching Hillars. he
stood perfectly motionless. All at once
the pistol fell from his hand. Then
both hands few instinctively to bis
breast. There was an expression OF
surprise on his face. His eyes closed,
his knees bent forward and he sank
into the road a huddled heap. The
prince shrugged, sigh Of relief fell
from the counts half parted lips. while
the innkeeper ran toward the fallen
man.
"Are you hurt, prince?" asked the
count.
1.-The cursed fool has blown off my
elboww was the answer. "Bind 1t up
with your handkerchief and help me
on with my coat. There Is nothing
more to do. If he Is not dead. be soon
will be, so it's all the same"
When the princes arm was sufti-
ciently bandaged SO as to stop the flow
of blood, the count assisted him to
mount, jumped on his own horse and
the two cantered off, leaving the inn
keeper, Hillars' head propped up on
his knee, starring after them with a
dull rage In his faded blue eyes. The
remaining horse was grazing q short
distance away. Now and then he lifted
his head and gazed lnQuiringly at the
two figures in the road.
"Is 1t bad, herr?" the innkeeper ask
ed.
Every. Get back to the inn. ! don't
want to peter out here" Then he
tainted.
It required some time and all the Inn
keepers strength to put Hillars on the
horse. When this was accomplished,
he turned the horses head toward the
inn. And that was all
"Dan? said 1.
The lids of his eyes rolled wearily
back.
"Is there anything can do for you"
"Bury me-"
It was very sad. "Where?" asked.
"Did you see the little cemetery on
the bill, across the valley? Put me
there. 1t is a wild, forgotten place.
'Tis only my body. Who cares what
becomes of that? AS for the other, the
soul, who can say? have never been
a good man. Still believe In God. |
am tired-tired and cold. What fan
cies a man has In death! A moment
back saw my father. There was a
wan, sweet faced woman standing
close beside him; perhaps my mother
| never saw her before. Ah. me. these
chimeras we set our hearts upon. these
worldly hopes! Well, Jack, it's curtain
and no encore. But am not afraid to
die. | have wronged no man or wom-
an. have been my own enemy. What
shall say. Jack? All. yes! God have
mercy on my soul! And this sudden
coldness. this sudden ease from pain.
Is death!'
There was a flutter Of the eyelids, a
sigh. and this poor hotsam. this drift.
wood which had never known harbor
In all it's years. this friend Of mine,
this inSeparable comrade. passed out.
There were hot tears in my eyes as
stood up and gazed down at this mys'
terry called death, and while did so a
hand. horny and hard. closed over
mine. The lnnkeeper, with blinking
eyes. stood al my side.
"Ah. herr" he said. who would not
die like thatY'
And we buried him on the hillside
just Us the sun swept aside the rosy
curtain of dawn. The wind. laden
with fresh morning perfumes, blew up
joyously from the river. From where
| stood could see the drab walls Of
the barracks. The windows sparkled
and flashed rs the gray mists sailed
heavenward and vanished. The hill
with its long GRASSES resembled green
sea. The thick forests across the riv-
er, almost black at the waters edge,
turned Il fainter and more delicate hue
as they receded till far away they look
ed like mottled glass. Only yesterday
he had laughed with me. talked and