The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-11-07

course, the law must be enforced
What else? I cannot remain here, a
menace to all of you. I must go to
Molokai."
Uncle Tom glanced furtively around.
"No," lie whispered. "Not Molokai,
TO hasten your death, where you will
suffer and I cannot reach you. Not
that, Tom, dear. There are the noun
tains, Tom. It has been done before.
had friend once who had it, and
they hid him in the mountains and
cared for him all through"
"Until he died?"
eyes"
"But he died, just the same, and
they risked their own lives"
"Don't talk like that, Tom, my
boy" said my uncle. "I can't see you
60 to Molokai. I can't do it. And
yet, anyhow; you are SO well and
strong. How horrible to have you of
there, where I can't see you. No, mol"
cit is a horrible thought, Uncle
Tom" I said, gloomily. ''If to you.
much more 80 to me. But what good
would it do to hide in the mountains?
T would surely be discovered, and you
would perhaps be punished for dis,
obeying the law. And am not we'll
or strong. I am getting weaker all
the time. At Molokai I would have
care, as we'll as in the mountains
more, for you could not be with me
always. And there's another thing.
Now am the same in looks as ever.
You know what will be after time.
I prefer to take leave of you, Gordon
and my other friends now, and have
them remember me as I am"
"Don't, Tom, ooy, DON'T" said my
uncle, breaking down and sobbing.
eff You go to Molokai I will go with
you and remain"
''Not one step! You will not run
in any danger. There is Winnie to
think of. She may be found. Gordon
will pursue the search. It seems hope
less, I know, but it may be all right
yet"
We sat sobbing, we two men.
You who think you have known sor-
row and think your manhood is proof
against the weakness of tears, place
yourself in the position of leper
about to separate from all he holds
dear, still with his faculties and ener.
gies, and to isolate himself among tha
horrors and miseries Of that settlement
Of which have spoken before. With
my uncle's double grief. my own heart.
sche over Winnie, and now the thought
of my own sufferings, I was in the
depths of woe.
Gordon had to be told.
I sent for him one day, and he came
Gathering up the valley, full Of vigot
and energy. He strode across the
porch to where I sat-half reclining
waiting for him. Uncle Tom could
not stand the interview, and went in.
ide.
"Hello, Tom," hailed Gordon.
What, off your feed? HIP" He put
out his hand.
"Keep away" I said. "Sit down
pver there. Don't touch me-"
"Why, what is the matter? You
look fit to drop"
"I am. Gordon, I'm leper."
"No! Now He sat and stared at
me. "You are mistaken, surely" he
said in a moment.
"No mistake about it. I have the
marks and the symptoms"
"But for the love of heaven, Tom,
how could you get it?"
sI got it from that fellow who bit
me the day we had the fight up the
Falley."
"True!" said Gordon. ''I had for.
gotten that"
"I am going to Molokai."
"No! I say nop' he replied vehem.
emily. "You shallnot! We will hide
you! Your uncle and I will keep your
'eefs.; .so. It cannot be. Youl would
simply run great risk yourselves, and
would do me no good. We have
talked all that over. Tomorrow the
eper ship leaves Honolulu for Molo'
kai, and I am going.
"Why not stay wita Warren
awhile?"
"Wby prolong the agony Of part.
ing?"
"Why. it is horrible" said GorIon,
getting up and pacing back and forth.
HIS sword clanked at his heels. He
Jared the porch at every step, so heav-
ily did he send his heels into the
wooden platform.
eyes, it is horrible enough" Isaid.
"Before I go want you to promise
me two things"
tsI,u ,,ron,isa q hnndred-a thon-