Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-30
CHAPTER XXXII.


I'm the afternoon Of the next day
Hillyer returned. Leaving his
horse at the door, he went up
to Georges room. His trousers
were bespattered with mud and COW
cred with the white hairs Of his shed
ding horse.
"Tve had trip Of it, George" he
said, his face glowing, ''but was well
repaid. You couldn't guess whar I've
been"
"How could II" said Buckley. with a
smile.
T've got heap to tell you." the old
man ran on, with enthusiasm. He sat
down on the edge Of the wounded
mans bed. "Trabue's death worried
the life mighty nigh out O. me tell l
tuck a notion all at once that the bite
O. the dog couldn't be any wuss'n the
bark, an that I'd better 60 see that
old woman myself an tell 'er the plain
truth. 1 reckon I prayed prayer fer
every mile O. the way, my boy. l didn't
know whar she lived an had to go by
directions to find 'er. l got to the foot
O. Bald mountain Jest about dark last
night, an feller that lived on the stoe
O. the road give me directions how to
reach her house. | thought they was
plain enough, but purity soon it got as
dark as pitch, an l was as bad as a
blind man on a blind boss. One thing
the man said, though, was that as soon
as | got mile or two up the road ID
see the light from her kitchen fire. He
said it could he seed fer miles-that
she never was knowed to shet 'er door
this time O. year.
"Well. sir, got then to prayln' fer
sight O. the light. | begged the AL
mighty to let it shine out as sign l
was forgiven fer my crime. but it was
slow a-comin', an when it did come
said to myself that man was Il fool
to ask the Lord to make sign out o
some'n' that wasn't any more'n natu-
raj. so I wasn't much comforted over
that. Howsomever, I did feel little
mite better. 1t seemed so steady an
bright an peaceful away up thar among
the stars, above them rough rocks an
deep gullies. l started right fer 1t.
The road got so bad had to git down
an lead my boss. Sometimes we'd have
to step over trees that lay across the
way, an then thar I'D be branch or
q creek to ford an fences to let down
an briers an rocks an steep places.
But kept up my heart. Sometimes the
light I'D be out O. sight completely. an
then ag'in it nd blaze up steady an
strong like promise writ in fire.
81 got to prayin' more hopeful. Ever
time the light I'D fare up out o the
gloom my sperits I'D rise. till after
awhile felt as light as feather. l
sung an shouted an prayed an hugged
. nv boss. 1t seemed like was climbin'
up to God. The light on the mountain
was his presence. Once I fell down a
steep bank in the dark, but wasn't
hurt, an then ag'in slipped on some
rocks while was crossin' branch an
got wet to the waist. but when scram-
bled out the light was a-shinin' bright
er than ever. Finally l crossed OLD
field an seed the open door OF her
house. A dog run out barkin', but l
wasn't no more afeard Of i'm than the
apostles was O snakes. / walked
straight at i'm, called to i'm in firm,
friendly voice, an patted i'm on the
head, an he licked my hand an pranced
about in front O. me like was old
acquaintance he was glad to see. Mrs.
Hambright was at the fireplace cookin'
some'n' t eat when got thar, an she
invited me in. I went in an shook
hands an set down in the chair sne
give me, an she put more wood on the
fire, fer she seed was wet.
"'You don't know me, Mrs. Ham,
bright says I.
"'No,' says she, 4 don't know you'
sir: but that don't make no difference.
I take in a lots O. folks that GIT De-
nighted up here Nobody would be
mean enough to rob ur harm woman
as old as l am
".That's So, says 1. Her head was
as white as cotton, an she was all bent
over. but she had the sweetest, most
patient face ever seed. 1t made me
feel easier about tellin' 'er who I was
an what I'd come fer, but acknowl-
edge I was afeard. Then she proposed
TO set the table, fer she said she know
cd was famished, but I wouldn't let
'er.
".No: wait says /, wait till I've
told you who l am, Mrs. Hambright,'
saws l, an couldn't look at 'er then
I'm Hiram Hillyer, the man who TUCK
yore pore boys life.'
"I seed 'er sorter jump little, an
then she got as still as q grave rock
was afeared to look at 'er. All my
new found hope seemed to be leakln
ont O. me. | bowed my head an walt
ed fer 'er verdict. God knows l was
miserable, but l was prayin'-prayin
fer pardon-prayin' both to her an God
She was still q long time. reckon
she was studyin' up what to say to
me. Then she spoke. Did you come
away out here jest to see me, MIR. Hill
yer?' she aXed in a trembly voice, an
I nodded, still afeard to meet her eye
Il come to make confession an I'M
plore you to pardon me- said.
"'Pardon you? she said, slowlike an
saft.
esquire Trabues dead I told 'er
He died two days ago.
81 heard he was low she said, an
was sorry to hear 1t, fer he was
good man, but is that all you wanted
to tell me|