Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-20

feeling it move slowly downward over
my shoulder. I could hear no breath
ing, no rustic Of garments near me.
In the dead silence got feeling
that the hand touching me had no body
behind it I was beyond the reach Of
fear--I was in way prepared for
anything but the deep. heart-shaking
horror that sank under the cold,
damp touch Of those fingers. They
laid hold of my elbow firmly, lifting
as If u indicate that / was to rise.
l did so, moving Forward passively as
It drew me on. To my astonishment
I was unable to hear my own football
or that Of my conductor. thought
we were walking upon soft earth.
Crossing our path in front Of me I
could see, in the darkness, cleaning
line. We moved slowly, standing still
as our toes covered 1t. Then suddenly
light flashed from before and below
us. A cold sweat. came out upon me;
I staggered back.to strong hands that
were laid upon my shoulders, forcing
me to the line again. BY that fash Of
light I could see that was standing on
the very brink Of some black abyss
indeed, my toes had crossed the edge
of 1t. The light came again, flicker
ing and then settling into a steady
glow. The opening seemed to have a
grassy bottom some 10 feet below. In
front of me the soil bristled, on that
lower level, with some black and
pointed plant: there were at least a
score Of them. AS I looked I saw they
were not plants, but a square Of bay
onets thrust, points up, in the ground.
A curse came out of my hot mouth,
and then dozen voices Knocked 1t,
going fainter, like a dying echo. A
tall figure IN q winding-sheet, its face
covered, was leaning over me.
'To hesitate Is to die" it whispered.
Courage may save you"
Then skeleton hand came out of
the winding-sheet, pointing down at
the square OF bristling bayonets. The
figure put its mouth to my ear.
"Jump!" It whispered, and the bare
bones of the dead fingers stirred i'm
patiently.
Some seconds of brief silence fol-
lowed. l.eoulde near them slowly drip
ping out of eternity in the tick OF
watch near me. I felt the stare OF
many eyes invisible to me. A broad
beam of bright light shot through the
gloom, resting full upon my face. /
started back upon the strong hands
behind me. Then l felt my muscles
tighten as ] began TO measure the fall
and to wonder II I could clear the
bayonets. I had no doubt l was to
die shortly, and it mattered not to
me how, bound as was, so that 1t
came soon. For a breath of silence my
soul went up to the feet Of God for
help and hope. Then bent my knees
and leaped. saw much as my body
went rushing through the air an
empty grave, its heap Of earth be-
side it, an island of light, walled
with candles, in a sea of gloom,
faces showing dimly in the edge
of the darkness. THANK God!
shall clear the bayonets," l
thought, and struck heavily on soft
mat, covered over with green turf, a
little beyond that bristling bed. l
staggered backward, falling upon 1t.
To my surprise, it bent beneath me.
They were no bayonets, but only shells
Of painted paper. got to my feet
none the worse for jumping, and as
dumfounded as ever man could be.
stood on q lot of broken turf with
which wide floor had been overlaid.
Boards and timbers were cut away, and
the grave dug beneath them. l saw
one face among others in the gloom
beyond the candle rows-that OF his
lordship. He was coming up little
flight of stairs to where stood. He
moved the candles, making a small
passage, and came up to me.
You're a brave man." said he, in
that low, careless tone OF his.
"And you a coward" was my an
swer, for the sight of him had made
me burn With anger.
DO commit yourself on a point
like thlt," said he, quickly, for, you
know, We are not we'll acquainted.
like your pluck, and I offer you what
Is given to few here-an explanation.
He paused, lighting cigarette.
stood looking at him. The cold po-
liteness of manner with which he had
taken my taunt, his perfect self-mas-
teIy, filed me with wonder. He was
no callow youth, that man, whoever
he might be. He was boring at the
floor with the end of a timber cane
as he continued to address me.
Now, look here" he went on, with
little gesture of his left hand, be-
tween the fingers of which cigarette
was burning. you are now IN the
temple of patriotic society acting witn
no letters patent, but in the good cause
of his Most Excellent Majesty King
George ILL.,, to whom be health anc
happiness"
As he spoke the name he raised his
hat, and a cheer came from all SIDES
Of us.
1T is gathered this night" he con-
timed, ito avenge the death OF Lore
Rdnley, a friend of his Majesty, ana o.
many here present, and an honoree
mamber of this order. For his deatl
yob, and you alone, are responsible
and, we suspect, under circumstances
Of no credit to your sword. Many o.
our people have been cut on IRON IRON
their comrades and slain by coWardl!
stlalth, have been led into ambush ane
crhelly cut to pieces by Overwhelming
number have been shut in prison ane
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