Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-08

while there was a smile on his wrin.
kled, tanned old face such as had not
been seen there for many days. He
was happy. and no wonder! He had
worked and hoped and longed for this
all those four long years.
1t was Sim who broke the silence.
Taking Louisa's head between his
hands. he raised it gently unit: their
eyes met. Then he saw that she, too.
had suffered.
Poor little girlv he said tenderly.
ut has been hard. cruelty hard. for
you"
"Yes," she sighed. hard and dark,
but it has been harder for you. Poor
Sim!
"And ycu pity me too"
She drew closer to him and met his
eyes with hers in look full Of tender
ness.
ut Is not that. Sim." she whispered.
"It is not pity"
He began to tremble. All, could it be
that heaven was about to open right
before him, with all its light and glory.
after this long, weary night Of bitter
desolation? He dared not hope. 1t
was too much to expect. In husky, ca
ger tones he said:
Louisa. tell me, what Is it,"
1T is love-"
Then to Sim Banks all the glory and
Joys Of earth and heaven were unfold.
ed. and in one moment all the dark sor-
rows and pains Of the past, all the
threatened dangers Of the future. pass
ed away as dream. That was the
one moment of supreme bliss in his
life.
Holding her close to his heart. be
said:
"Loueesy. is it really true? Can it be
possible"
"It is" she replied. 1T is all true. |
love you. l have loved you for q long
time. How could help it after all
your goodness to me and the way you
did when you went away?
Sim looked at her wonderingly.
81 don't understand" he said. "1 on
ly tried to do my duty the best could.
It wasn't much"
at was much to me. 1t was enough
to show me that you are the noblest
and best man in the world, and love
you with my whole heart and SOUL"
Sim was too happy to speak, so he
stood silently stroking her hair. alb
sorbing the joy with which the very
air seemed impregnated. After little
while she said:
"And now, Sim. can you ever for
give me after all have made you suf-
fer%
"Forgive you. Loueesy" he exclaim,
ed. God knows l never had hard
thought for you all never blamed you
for anything in my life"
"No, but for all that, Sim, was
wicked"
"You was not to blame. What you
done you couldn't help. You was not
to blame one bit"
She nestled her head on his shoulder
and drew long sigh Of happy relief.
81 know now," she said, ''that |
never loved before-not with such love
as this"
Some there were who watched this
reunion of husband and wife with
curiosity, some who watched 1t with
JOY and two who watched it with
malice and envy. These last were
Mary Mann and Jim Thorn. They
did not forget that Sim was under
arrest and that probably the gallows
or the state prison awaited him. but
in spite of that they would have de-
prived him or the happiness Of this
brief moment
Sam Morgan was rejoiced, yet trou-
bled. He was happy to see Sim and
Louisa joined in love, but lie, too, re-
membered the future and what it like
" held for SIM Turning to Pap Samp-
son, he whispered:
"I'd give the world if Sim was only
free. 1t seems so hard to take him
from his wife now."
"Sim's innocent" Pap replied, IAN
don't b'licvc he'll have to suffer"
81 wish could b'lieve that, Pap, but
! I can't. don't see no reason for
hope
I'll hope to the last, Sam. reason or
no reason. 1t pears like the squire
an them others is stayin long time.
don't it!'
docs so. That feller must "a had
heap of business with 'cm. I'd give
puntv to know what it Is"
"Mcbby We'll know right soon now.
for see 'em a-comin."
Presently the squire entered the
roon1 followed closely by Jason Rob-
erts and Hicks. The squire looked
very solemn, and his face was almost
sad. Hicks was quiet and impassiye,
but Jason was smiling all over The
squire walked to his seat, and Hicks
followed and sat near him. Neither Of
them spoke to anybody. Jason, how
ever, stopped long enough to whisper
q word to Sim. What that word was
no one knew, but they all saw that 1t
caused Sim to start and look wonder
ingly around.
The squire put on his spectacles, took
q paper from his pocket and unfoldcd
it. Then he looked around over oil