Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-08
less he's blindfolded. They'll all be
b,,rrnad N


"Oh! no." the girl cried in agony.
They'd trample you to death II you
tried to get them out. 1t can't be
helped. It's too late"
AS Ben looked back at the gather
ering crowd. Marion suddenly snatch
ed horse blanket, lying at the door
ran with the speed of a deer to the
pond, plunged in, sprang out, and sped
back to the open door Of Queens STALL
through which her shrill cry could be
heard above the others.
AS the girl ran toward the burning
building, her thin white dress clinging
close to her exquisite form. she looked
like the marble figure of a sylph by
the hand Of some great master into
which God had suddenly breathed the
breath Of life.
AS they saw her purpose, cry OF
horror rose from the crowd, her moth
ers scream loud above the rest.
Ben rushed to catch her, shouting:
"Marion! Marion! She'll trample
you to DEATH"
He was too late. She leaped into the
stall. The crowd held their breath.
There was a moment Of awful sus-
pense, and the mare sprang through the
open door with the little white figure
clinging to her name and holding the
blanket over her head.
A cheer rang above the roar Of the
flames. The girl did not loose her hold
until her beautiful pet was led to a
place Of safety, while she clung to her
neck and laughed and cried for Joy.
First her mother, then Margaret. Mrs.
Cameron. and Elsie took her in their
arms. ....
AS Ben approached the group, Elsie
whispered to him: kiss her!"
Ben took her hand, his eyes full of
unshed tears, and said:
"The bravest deed a woman ever did
you're a heroine, Marion!"
Before she knew 1t, he stopped and
kissed her.
She was very still for moment,
smiled. trembled from head to foot,
blushed scarlet, took her mother by the
hand and without word hurried to
the house.
Poor Becky was whining among the
excited crowd and sought in vain for
Marion. At last she got Margarets at
tention, caught her dress in her teeth
and led her to corner Of the lot,
where she had laid side by side her
puppies. smothered to death. She stood
and looked at them with her tail droop-
ing, the picture of despair. Margaret
burst into tears and called Ben.
He bent and put his arm around the
settlers neck and stroked her head
with his hand. Looking up at his
sister. he said:
Don't tell Marion Of this. She can't
stand any more tonight"
The crowd had all dispersed, and the
flames had died down for want Of fuel.
The odor Of roasting flesh, pungent and
acrid,. still fingered a sharp reminder
Of the tragedy.
Ben stood on the back porch, talking
in low tones to his father.
/. "Wfii you Join us now, sir? We need
the name and influence of men Of your
standing"
my boy, we will pray that God may
right US. It's better to endure awhile
The sober common sense Of the Nation
will yet save us, We must appeal to
It,"
Eight more fires were seen from
town tonight"
"You only guess their origin"
"I know their origin. 1t was done by
the League at a signal as a celebra-
ton Of the election and threat Of ter
ror to the county. One Of our men
concealed a faithful negro under the
floor of the school house and heard the
plot Matched. We expected 1t month
ago-but hoped they had given 1t up
Even so, my boy, a secret society
such as you have planned means a con-
spiracy that may bring exile or death
I hate lawlessness and disorder. We
have had enough Of it. Your clan
means ultimately martial law. At least
we will get rid of these soldiers by this
election. They have done their worst
TO me, but we may save others by pa
tience."
Its the only way, sir. The next step
will be a black hand on a white wo-
mans throat"
The doctor frowned. Let us hope
for the best. Your clan Is the last act
of desperation"
But IL everything else fail, and this
creeping horror becomes a fact-then
what?"
my boy we will pray that God may
never let us live to see the day."
TO BE CONTINUED.