Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-23

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flame, but the owner Of the abode hat
considerably taken himself out Of tht
way. The moment Esther regained hel
senses Shirlaw moved quietly bacl
from her. She staggered to her feet
she spoke no word, but ner eyes sought
his in wild inquiry. He saw that Il
was best to tell her all, and at once.
HE is dead!" he said, turning his
face aside.
They hung him."
mo. He had left one charge In his
revolver. AS the lariat touched his
neck, he sent that last bullet through
his own heart.
She wrung her hands in dumb an
guish.
For many weeks past" continued
Shirlaw, in a low voice, BLACK Dave
has not been heard Of in the west
Credulous people thought him dead
possibly, reformed. You and l kne"
where he was passing that time! But
a few days ago another daring robbery
proved that Dave was still alive, and
at his old business. The exasperated
vigilants sent scouts out, and gathered
information which made them conf
dent that he would attack the stage
tonight. I did not learn this fact TIL
after your departure from Diamond
City. l mounted fresh horse at once
and followed the coach, but failed to
overtake it, as you know, till the fight
was in progress"
She leaned helplessly against the
rude logs Of the cabin. The misery
the shame, the horror Of 1t all over
powered her. Victor Shirlaw seemed
to comprehend something Of what was
passing in her heart. He waited for
her to speak.
WAS it known at Rookwood who
and what my father was?" she shud-
dered, at last.
Cyril WYE knew; knew, for 1 had
once encountered him in the west,
Your Uncle Philip had also strong
suspicious of the truth. Yes, I may
say, the Yves were we'll aware that
Happy Valley ranch was no longer in
Gilbert's possession, and that the call
ing he pursued in the west was robbery
and murder"
"Then my cousin Cyril deceived me
purposely."
without doubt. 1t is his nature to
deceive"
"And my sister-Mignon?"
He WINGED.
she was as ignorant as yourself of
the truth"
And this is why you ceased to love
her!"
NO" corrected Shirlaw sadly. "I
acknowledge that the thought Of any
marriage connection with Gilbert WYE
was most distasteful to me. butt
ceased to love Mignon, because I begaa 4
TO love you!"
How can you talk like this?" she
cried, wildly. WAS 1 not his daugh-
ter as we'll as Mignon-equally dis
eraced. equally tainted? If you shranN
from her because of her father, why
did you not, for the same reason turn
from me?"
Because you were Esther! can Of
fer you no other explanation" he
groaned.
She ran suddenly toward the cabin
door. He guessed her purpose and
seized a torch from the rude stone
hearth.
"Wait!" he cried, "let me go with
you, Esther" And together they step
ped forth into the night-the night of
"a western wilderness. Vast, silent, op-
pressive and bright with the rays OF
moon shining over far lonely heights
The air was full Of the odor Of pine
needles, and the noise Of a swollen
water-course plunging through some
ravine near by.
By a narrow footpath Shirlaw and
his companion swiftly descended the
hill to the scene Of the fight.
They found Gilbert wye stretched in
an open space by the roadside, with
the moonlight falling on his upturned
face. His Derringer lay at his side
The murmur Of the pines was the only
sound that broke the silence. The
stage had vanished, the vigilants had
vanished. Esther made no cry OF
moan. She knelt quietly and wiped
the blood stains from his face.
Are you sure that he is dead?" she
said to Shirlaw.
He put a hand on Gilbert Yves
heart.
Yes" he answered. 81 have bar
gained with the miners at the cabin to
bury him decently. For your sake. he
shall not be left to the gray wolves
There is something in this breast
pocket. Do you wish to know what II
is?"
She made a gesture of assent, and
Shirlaw. from Gilbert Yves deerskir
Jacket drew a leather case made fol
holding letters and photographs. and
stamped on one side with mans
name. He gave this to Esther. She
took it, shuddering, looked-read, then
uttered a wild cry, for the name shin
ing in gilt there on the case and fully
revealed by Shirlaw's torch, was thai
of her husband, Guy Fleetwood"
This, the only part of Fleetwoods
stolen possessions which the road
agent had retained, at the time of tina,
night attack long months before, now
passed. strange to say, into the hands
of Fleetwoods wife from the lifeless
body of her wretched, her crimina
father.
Guy Fleetwood" Esther repeated the
name like one in a dream. "Oh, wha'
can this mean?" she sobbed.
Inside the leather case were the las'
letters which MignOn had written tt
her father in the past happy summer
also a cabinet photograph. scribbled or
the back with these words:
Dearest Cousin Guy-Behold me
and my bosom friend. Mignon wye
posing in our latest school tableau.
am sure you will admire us both.
Maud"
From the card two faces looked w