Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-29
God grant he may prevent blood

she'd" said the father. "Go inside and
stay with your mother"
When Doctor Cameron entered the
parior, Stoneman hobbled painfully to
meet him. his face ashen, and his
breath rafting in his throat as IL his
soul were being strangled.
You are my enemy, Doctor" he
said, taking his hand, "but you are a
pious man. have been called an in
fidel-I am only a wilful sinner-I have
slain my own son, unless God AL
mighty, who can raise the dead, shall
save him! You are the man at whom
aimed the blow that has fallen on
my head. I wish to confess to you and
set myself right before God. He may
hear my cry. and have mercy on me-"
He gasped for breath, sank into his
seat, looked around, and said:
"Will you close the door,"
The doctor complied with his request
and returned.
I'VE all wear masks, Doctor" began
the trembling voice. Beneath lie the
secrets Of love and hate from which
actions move. My will alone forged the
chains of negro rule. Three forces
moved me-party success, vicious
woman, and the quenchless desire for
personal vengeance. When ! first fell
victim to the wiles of the yellow
vampire who kept my house, l dreamed
Of lifting her to my level. And when
felt myself sinking into the black abyss
Of animalism, !, whose soul had learned
the pathway Of the stars and held high
converse with the great spirits Of the
ages"
He paused. looked up in terror, and
whispered:
What's that noise? Isn't 1t the dis
tant beat of horses hoofs?"
NO" said the doctor listening; "ft's
the roar of the falls we hear, from q
sudden change of the wind"
'Tm done now," Stoneman went on,
slowly fumbling his hands. MY life
has been a failure. The dice Of God
are always loaded"
His great head dropped lower, and
he continued:
"Mightiest of all was my motive OF
revenge. Fierce business and political
feuds wrecked my iron-mills. shoul-
dered their vast debts. and paid the
last mortgage Of hundred thousand
dollars the week before Lee invaded
my state. / stood on the hill in the
darkness, cried, raved, cursed, while /
watched his troops lay those mills In
ashes. Then and there I swore that I'd
live until l ground the south beneath
my heel! When I got back to my
house, they had buried a Confederate
soldier in the field. dug his body up,
carted 1t to the woods, and threw 1t
into a ditch"
The hand Of the white-haired south
erner suddenly gripped old Stoneman's
throat-and then relaxed. His head
sank on his breast, and he cried In
anguish:
God be mercifu to me a sinner!
Would l, too seek revenge!"
Stoneman looked at the doctor. dazed
by his sudden onslaught and collapse.
Yes, he was somebody's boy down
here" he went on, "who was loved
perhaps even as love-I don't blame
you. See, in the inside pocket next to
my heart l carry the pictures OF Phil
and Elsie taken from babyhood up all
set in a little book. They don't know
this-nor does the world dream I've
been so soft hearted"
He drew a miniature album from his
pocket and fumbled 1t aimlessly:
you know Phil was my first-born-"
His voice broke. and he looked at
the doctor helplessly.
The southerner slipped his arm
around the old mans shoulders and be-
gan a tender and reverent prayer.
The sudden thunder Of a squad OF
cavalry with clanking sabres swept by
the hotel toward the Jail.
Stoneman scrambled to his feet, stag
gered. and caught a chair.
ITS no use" he groaned. they've
down-the lights are going out have
MT a friend! It's dark and cold-rm
alone, and at d-has-hidden-
is-face-from-me!"
Voices were heard without, and the
tramp of heavy feet on the steps.
Stoneman clutched the doctors
arm in agony:
stop them!-Stop them! Don't let
them bring him in here!"
He sank limp into the chair and star
ed at the door as 1t swung open and
Phil walked in, with Ben and Elsie by
his side in full clansman disguise.
The old man leaped to his feet and
gasped
1.-The Klan-The Klan! No? Yes!
It's true glory to God. they've saved
my boy!-Phil-Phil!"
How did you rescue him." Doctor
Cameron asked Ben.
Had a squadron lying in wait on
every road that led from town. The
captain thought a thousand men were
on him. and surrendered without a
shot"
At twelve o'clock, Ben stood at the
gate with Elsie.
Your fate hangs in the balance of
this election tonight" she said. "Pll
share it with you, success or failure,
life or death"
Success. not failure" he answered,
firmly. THE Grand Dragons of six
states have already wired victory. Look
at our lights on the mountains! They
are ablaze-range on range our signals
gleam until the Fiery Cross is lost
among the stars!"
What does 1t mean?" she whispered.
That am a successful revolutionist
that Civilization has been saved,
and the south redeemed from shame. y
THE END. ~