Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-23
DAUGHTERS OF cA&h
BY Eta w. PIERCE

Wildly; i saw no newspapers.
Nor l." added Aunt Deb.
"Faugh!" cried Jim Hart, in a sud-
den, disgusted conviction; you may
be sure that you didn't kill the scoun-
drel-wounded him, perhaps, but moth
ing more. The fuss that Is made over
the shooting of a man in these parts
H. something sickening, and you
wouldn't have escaped like this If he
had met his just desert. Mr.. Guy Fleet
wood bears a charmed life. Well, II
may be my good luck to meet him la
ter Gomez" his voice growing stern
almost brutal; face the situation, girl
and prove yourself game! 1t won't do
to show the white feather now, or to
talk about love, or the giving up OF
yourself to the authorities" Then,
bringing his hand savagely down on
the table, II arrived here tonight 1t
seems, in time to prevent you from
making a fool Of yourself!"
But Esther slipped forward and lay
groveling on the floor before him.
HE is dead!" repeated the unreason-
able young creature. II saw him fall.
He is dead, and it matters nothing
what becomes of me now! Oh, Guy!
Oh, Guy! My love-my love!"
AS he looked down upon her, moan
ing there on the floor, with her face
in the dust, 1t seemed as though he
were about to spurn her with his foot.
He checked himself, however, and turn
ed to poor Aunt Deb.
Leave her to come out Of this tam
trum at her leisure" he said. Have
you anything in the larder, Concordia
A piece of Cinderville hake or had
dock, or any similar trifle? Your salt
air revives my old taste for such fare.
Hark!" lifting his head with evident
pleasure: that's the sound Of the sea
on the rocks, isn't it? Many a year
has come and gone since 1 heard 1t
last"
Aunt Deb, with her anxious eyes on
the PROSTATE, motionless Esther, an
swered:
came, a stranger to Cinderville, and
fell in love with our Drusie, and mar
ried her against the will Of your peo-
pie, as you yourself said. I guess the
tea is still hot in the pot, and, by
good luck there's fish in the cupboard.
l. I'll get you a bite directly. The world
seems to have gone well with you, Jim
i s'pose you've made a mint Of mon
ey in them mines. You've got the look
of a prosperous man."
81 have prospered fairly well,' an
swered the returned wanderer, his
eyes following her as she began to
bring forth such cheer as she had from
her cupboard and arrange the dishes
on the table Esther has been amply
provided for, and you we'll paid for all
your trouble with her, eh?"
YES" she acknowledged.
why the deuce didn't you keep her
out Of this marriage muddle, Concor-
dia?"
"I couldn't, Jim; twas all done un-
beknown to me. She headstrong-
would have her own way in every
thing. Mr.. Fleetwood asked gram
ther and me for Essie, and we said
mo- and much good that did! l wish
she had been in the west with you"
He laughed.
with me? You are what you al
ways was-a simpleton, Concordia.
What could 1 do with such a girl In
the west? She seems to be a whole
handful even here"
Aunt Deb regarded him doubtfully
I s'pose you've come east for good,
Jim?"
NO" he answered; II shall remain
but a few days. All, your supper is
ready will move up!"
Jim Hart, born gentleman, returned
miner, drew his chair to the table, and
proceeded to partake Of the fare which
Aunt Deb had spread thereon. All
the time Esther was lying face down.
ward on the floor. Her father paid no
more heed to her than if she had been
q.
ed his paternal affection. He had not
seen his child since her babyhood, and
la western mining region is scarcely
the place to cultivate the finer feelings
Of a mans nature. He ate very slow
ly, then moved leisurely back from the
table.
Your Cinderville fish has lost its
flavor" he said. 1T does not taste as
It used to in the years gone by, Con-
cordia: or. perhaps, l have outgrown
my love for it." Suddenly he bent and
touched the girl on the floor. "Get
lup!" he said, in tone that made Aunt
Deb jump, so stern it was and pitiless;
I've something to say to you"
A shlver crept over the lovely, pros
trate figure; then. as if conscious that
she had met her master, she struggled
to her feet.
II am going to take you away from
lCinderville." he began; "now-this
very night"
"Whither?" she queried, impassively
1
plantations. Sit down. You look like
a ghost ra her than a live woman
standing there-you make me vastly
uncomfortable" waving his hand witt
imratience.
She sat down.
You have never known your faith
er's people. Esther, but they exist II
another state, and the time has come
for YOU to make theii acquaintance.
must now take you from Concordia
here. and carry you away to my owr
kindred"
She answered not a word-onlS
looked at him with woful, despairine
eyes.
"They are an aristocratic lot" he
said, with a shrug of the shoulders
My marriage with your mother or
Tended them deeply. After her deatf
l went west. as you know, and there
as you do not know l contracted
second marriage. and became the faith
er of another daughter"
| "Jim Hart" gasped Aunt Deb, ir