Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-10

ture, covered the sun OF DIS nopes Win
human blood. They drove cut into an
open space where cotton-felds
stretched out on one side. Behind them
now loomed the white facade OF Carn-
leigh. A score Of negroes were picking
cotton beyond the rail fencs, but they
did not look up. Ronald was congratu-
lating himself on this, knowing that
the sheriff lived only little further on,
but his elation on this score was short
Of life, 4or just then horssman ap-
peared In front Of them. 1t was Capt.
Wrinkle, riding like an Englishman, ris-
ing and falling in his stirru2s. Az his
trotting horse brought him swiftly
nearer he lifted his hat and bowed to
Evelyn. Evidently he had recognized
Ronald and he showed much surprise.
Looking back our hero saw that he had
refined his horse in and was staring
after them in a bewildered fashion.
Evelyn gave her companion q COM
prehensive glance. "Never mind" she
said, "he'll tell everybody he knows
that he has seen US together, but you
and have other things to think about.
Will my love console you at ALP"
"More than anything In the world"
"Well, remember" they are now in
sight of the sheriff's house, FIVE
roomed erection with g porch over
which clambered q wealth Of vines,
remember that shall be thinking Of
you every minute"
Thank you for that" be said, and
added: ~ might as we'll get out here
and walk up to the house."
Her only answer was to whip up the
pony; her face was pinchcd by pain as
she drew up at the gate in front Of the
house. He got out.
"Good-by," he sal.
She held out her hand.
"Good-by," she echoed, and as he took
her hand he felt her quiveIing fingers
tighten round his own. II am going to
pray for you night and day." she said.
And then she turned her pony and drove
slowly homeward. AS he wss entering
the gate. he saw her stop and look
back; then she signaled him to come to
her. Obeying, he found her face wet
with tears.
"Is there nothing can Dc for your
she questioned.
He reflected, and then:
IF you should happen to meet David
on your way back. please tell him what
/ have done, and that I came to the
sheriff"
~ wish It were something harder"
she said, pressing her hant kerchief to
her twitching lips. "Oh, It is SO awful
there is so little to hope for-you see
you are so despondent!"
He could not deny this last charge;
her very words seemed to add weight
to his gloom Lifting his hat, he
turned away.
There was an open passage between
the two front rooms Of 'be sheriff's
house, and at q washtub, on little
back porch, battling stick In hand, be
saw Mrs. Ratcliff. She was about 80
years OF age. but might easily have
proved that she was third older, il
her appearance had been taken as teoti-
mony.
Ronald raped on the door-facing to
attract her attention, and when she
Iool.,d up he asked her if lsr husband
was at home.
HE was jest this minute she said,
coming forward and wiping her hands
on her apron. "He took bis gun jest
now and went into the strip of woods
down thar at the foot O. the field. Is it
anything important"
II came 10 turn myself over to him,
Mrs. Ratcliff; if you could send for
him, perhaps he would like for you TO
do it."
.I could blow the dinner horn," she
betrayed no surprise, if she felt any,
over his announcement. 1T might
wake the baby, but I reckon l could
quiet it down ag'in."
She gave him seat in the passage
and took his hat and laid Ii, according
to rules of hospitality, on her bed in
the room on the left. Then she reached
up for the cows horn, which hung on
nail on the porch.
Have you got yoreself in trouble,
Mr.. Fanshaw?" she asked, ss she raised
the horn to her lips.
"I've killed Sydney Hart, Mrs. Rat
cliff" He gave this explanation after
a slight hesitation, for he feared that
being a woman and alone with him 1t
might upset her nerves.
"You don't say" she CALCULATED;
"well, I'll be switched"
She did not seem more surprised than
il he had told her that he had had a
tooth extracted, and then he remem-
bered that she had been Ratcliff's COM
panion in many rough experience.
One night when he was taking three
desperadoes to Jail and had stopped at
home for refreshments, he found that
the mountain streams ahead were SO
much swollen by recent rains that he
could not 60 on, and there was nothing
open to him but to convert their COM
pany room into a temporary prison.
Mrs. Ratcliff sat up till daybreak with
a shotgun on one knee, and a restless
baby on the other, and remarked after
wards that she didn't sleep half the
night.
Ronald watched her as she stood like
an Amazon in the doorway and gave
two long echoing blasts on the horn
Then she came back to him.
"Well reckon you had obleeged to
do it," as she looked into the room on
the right at the little box cradle. Mr.
Ratcliff lowed you an sgd would have
a taste O. one another's gore fore long;
he lowed he'd never seed man with
wore reckless nerve, an that Hart never
would sleep till he'd bucked agfn it."
The baby being quiet, she stepped
back to the door. II see Mr.. Ratclift
comm lickity-split through the broom
sedge. We agreed when thar was any
thing important fur me to blow twice;
1 reckon he'll think the house is afire'
My lal did you ever see body ske'
daddle like that? You'd think hoop
snake was at his heels! Nothin' ain't
the matter!" (she shouted this to her
husband); "you are wanted-thats
a,1io Che s}ood IN the doorway and