Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-19

ed the old cynic.
Don't ask me to share It," said the
younger man, emphatically.
The father WINGED, his lips trembled,
and he answered brokenly:
my boy, this Is the bitterest hour
of my life that has had little to make
1t sweet. To hear such words from
you is more than can bear. I am an
old MAI now-my sands are nearly
run. But two human beings love me,
and love but two. On you and your
sister I have lavished all the treasures
of MANNED and strangled soul-and 1t
has come to this! Read the notice
which one of your friends thrust into
the window Of my bedroom last
night"
He handed Phil a piece of paper on
which was written:
"1he Old club-footed beast who has
sneaked i-to our town, pretending to
search for health, in reality the leader
given forty-eight hours to vacate the
house and rid this community Of his
prese-ce. tx. K. K"
."Are you an officer Of the Union Lea
gue?" Phil asked in surprise.
"I am it's soul"
| How could a southerner discover
this, IL your own children didn't know
lite"
by their spies who have joined the
League"
And do the rank and file know the
Black Pope at the head of the order?"
mo. but high officials do"
Does Lynch?"
| Certainly"
Then he Is the scoundrel who placed
that note II your room. 1t Is a clumsy
attempt to forge an order of the Klan.
The white man does not live In this
town capable of that act. know these
people"
my boy, you are bewitched by the
smiles of woman to deny your own
flesh and blood"
Nonsense, father-you are possess
ed by an idea which has become an
insane mania
will you respect my wishes?" the
old mar broke in, angrily.
81 will not" was the clear answer
Phil turned and left the room, and the
old mans massive head sank on his
breast in helpless baffled rage and
grief
He was more successful in his ap-
real to Elsie. He convinced her OF
the genuineness of the threat against
him. The brutal reference to his lame
-ess reused the girls soul. When the
old man crushed by Phirs desertion.
broke down the last reserve of his
strange cold nature, tore his wounded
heart open to her, cried In agony over
his deformity, his lameness, and the
a. guish with which he saw the threat
ened ruin Of his life work, she threw
her arms around his neck in flood Of
tears and cried:
Hush, father, I will not desert you.
II viii never leave you, or wed without
your blessing II I find that my lover
was in any way responsible for
this insult, I'll tear his image out OF
my heart sand never speak his name
again!"
She wrote a note to Ben, asking him
to meet her at sundown on horseback
at Lovers Leap.
Ben was elated at the unexpected re-
quest. He was hungry for an hour
with his sweetheart, whom he had not
Sc en- save for a moment since the
storm Of excitement broke following
the discovery of the crime.
He hastened through his work OF or
de ring the movement OF the Klan for
the nigi and determined to surprise
Elsie by meeting her in his uniform Of
Grand Dragon.
Secure in her loyalty, he would de-
libc rately thus put his life in her
hands. Using the water Of a brook in
the woods for a mirror, he adjusted his
yellow sash and pushed the two re-
volvers back under the cape out Of
sight, sayi e to himself with laugh:
"Betray me? Well If she does, life
would not be worth the living!"
When Elsie had recovered from the
first shock of surprise at the white
horse ard rider waiting for her
under the shadows of the old beech,
her surprise gave way to grief at the
certainty of his guilt, and the great
ness of his love in thus placing his life
without a question In her hands.
He tied the horses in the woods, and
they sat down on the rustic.
He removed his helmet cap, threw
back the white cape showing the scar
let lining, and the two golden circles
with their flaming crosses on his
breast, with boyish pride. The cos
tune was becoming to his slender
graceful figure. and he knew it.
You see, sweetheart, / hold high
RI in the Empire" he whispered.
From beneath his cape he drew a
long bundle which he unrolled. 1t was
a triangular flag of brilliant yellow
dyed in scarlet In the centre Of the
| VpllO" BEOuIlu was bhS h6eiS ~ -
huge black dragon with fiery red eyes
a-d tongue. Around it was a Latin
motto worked in scarlet; "quod SEM
per, quod ubique, quod alb omnibus
what always. what everywhere, what
by all has been held to be true. 1.-THE
battle flag of the Klan," he said; "the
standard Of the Grand Dragon"
Elsie seized his hand and kissed 1t
unable to speak.
why so serious tonight?"
do YOU love me very much?" she
answered.
Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay his life at the feet Of his
beloved" he responded, tenderly.
Yes. yes; know-and that is why
you are breaking my heart. When first
I met you-it seems now ages and
ages ago-I was a vain, willed,
pert little thing"
It's not so. took you for an an
gel-you were one. You are one to-
night"