Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-22

power. Does Hamilton possess these
requisites? Perhaps not; but no other
does; and he approximates to the
standard, II he does not exactly come
up to its measure. In this world we
cannot have things as we wish, and
the deepest art Is displayed In making
the best use Of the materials at hand
He may fail, and some more fortunate
soldier may succeed In converting his
sword into a scepter. In that case,
shall have played the wrong card, and
must mend 4: as may. The rebellion
may be crushed out by Great Britain
and a scaffold become the common
doom Of the chief adventurers. That
chance Is a remote one, and, at any
rate, 1t Is one against which I cannot
provide. II successful, he may do as
others have done before him, and re-
pay my services by consigning me to
exile or a dungeon. This Is the least
Of my apprehensions; not because
have faith in his gratitude, or the
gratitude Of anything but dogs and ele-
plants, but because It will be poor
management II I do not make myself
indispensable to him, no matter, to
what height he may climb. Let him
attain the goal of his ambition, and
mine will be likewise won."
Here the dark schemer rose to his
feet placed his elbow against the man
tle-piece, rested his forehead In his
open hand, and seemed to gaze intent
ly on the sparks that flew upward
from the blazing brands. After awhile
he turned to the table, poured out a
glass Of wine, which he slipped at in
tervals until II was emptied, and, re-
placing the wine glass on the table,
resumed his former attitude.
II may be travelling too fast" he
said. beginning his self-colloquy where
he had left off. II may underestimate
the danger to be apprehended from
Hamilton's want Of faith. He treas
ured up that story Of the private Will
liams too carefully, and was altogeth-
er to reluctant to tell 1t. That was
a rod he was keeping in pickle for my
benefit, in the event that I grew rest
i've; and in truth 1t would have done
more to tame me than he Is aware Of,
If Adelaide Clifton's brain and heart had
not been made Of such sensitive ma
terial as to wither at the breath Of an
improbable calumny. I do not think
he will use 1t now. l could retaliate
fearfuly by revealing the cause OF her
melancholy fate. Yet 1t shows he may
prove treacherous when his safety al
lows It, Others, too, over whom he
has no influence, may get wind Of the
story. Williams must be hunted up.
I must make a journey to st. Croix,
and happily the probable occupation of
this city by the British will leave me
leisure enough. Whatever Captain
Hamilton may know, he shall not retain
the power to prove anything dangerous
to my safety, IL gold or steel will suf-
flee to silence his witness"
His mind once made up James Bill
lings wasted no more thought upon the
subject. Helping himself again to the
wine, he sought his couch and slept as
soundly as II no dark crime stained his
past life, no present scheme troubled
his subtle brain. The habit Of watch
fulness created by a lifetime Of dan
sleep, and his very dreams were regu-
lated at pleasure. No fearful groans,
no incoherent expressions, no contor-
ton Of the features, betrayed what was
passing in that marble breast. His
body, like the mausoleum Of the dead,
gave no outward token Of the gnaWing
worm or the decaying carcass. Who
can tell how much of this was lnsen-
much was the mastery
of a steady will over the body's weak
ness and the minds infirmities? Ac-
cording to the creed Of the moralist,
torturing thoughts ought to have been
his companions In every hour OF SOIL
tude Perhaps they were; for he was
no infidel, no believer in the dark creed
that whatever we do has been appoint
ed beforehand; that no free Will is
granted US; and no sin attaches to the
darkest Of our crimes. He believed In
the existence of a God; he believed In
a hereafter; and sought by no sophisti-
cal reasoning to escape the conviction
that he was to be judged there accord
ing to the deeds done in the body"
His calmness may therefore have been
nothing more than the art Of conceal
ing well-an art more easily acquired
than we are willing to believe. There
Is no greater mistake than the COM
monty received opinion that guilt Will
show itself in the countenance. An In
experienced offender who, In an un-
guarded moment, has been hurried in
to crime, is indeed apt to permit the
blush of shame to mantle his cheek;
but IL Is the most uncertain Of all the
evidences of guilt, for that blush Is
lust as likely to be called up by indig-
nation at a wrongful accusation as by
confusion at detection. The hardened
criminal, who has long trod the mazes
of vice, defies your scrutiny and laughs
at the crack Drained theories Of Lava
ter. There Is a higher perfection OF
wickedness still. There is an adaman
tine hardness of heart, which fright
ems away the wholesome though pain
full reflections that are sent In mercy
to turn the sinner to repentance. II
lives on unawed, unshaken, In the
midst of horrors that would blast
bosom less deeply cursed. and smiles
at pangs it never felt. For such spirits
earth has no punishment; their SEN
tence is reserved for the world to
come.
AS we have said, James Billings was
sleeping like an infant, although his
mind had been for the last three hours
completely occupied by crimes COM
mitted or intended. He had just In
formed his guilty confederate of the
death of one victim Of their dark plot
tings. and agreed with him upon a
nraoiSalv cirrilar scheme which might