Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-24
By OPIE READ.
CHAPTER V-Continued.

did not think that she was at all 10 De
compared with Guinea. The general
yelled for Henry to bring him another
coal, and when his pipe had been re-
lighted he turned to me and said:
You don't find the old North State as
she once was, sir All, Lord. the RUIN
that has gone on in this world since
can remember. And yet they say we
are becoming more civilized. POUNDS
sir, do you call it civilization to see
hundreds of fields turned out to per-
simmon bushes and broom sedge
Look over there" he added, waving MS
hand. Il have seen the time when
that was almost a garden What do
YOU want?" The last remark was ad-
dressed to the negro boy who had sud-
denly appeared. Dinner? Yes, yes.
Come. Mr. Hawes, and you, Alf. This
way. Get OUT" A dog had come be-
tween him and the door. "Devilish
dogs are about to take the place, but
they are no account, not one of them.
Lie around here and let the rabbits eat
up the pea vines. Even the dogs have
degenerated along with everything
else"
walked with the general, and look
ing back, l was pleased to see that All
had summoned courage enough to fol-
low along beside the girl. We were
shown into a long dining room. with
great height of ceiling. The house had
been built in a proud old day, and all
about me noted dim and faded ele-
gance. The general bade us sit down.
and l noticed that his tone was soften
ed. He mumbled a blessing over
great hunk of mutton and, broadly
smiling upon me, told me that he was
glad to welcome me to his board. The
school teacher" said he, ''modifies and
refines our native crudeness. Yes, sir,
YOU have a great work, a work that
YOU may be proud of Had education
more broadly prevailed, had the people
north and south better understood one
another. there would have been no
bloody disruption. Now, gentlemen, l
must request you to help yourselves.
remembering that such as | have Is
freely yours. When age comes on
apace there is nothing more inspiring
than to see the young and the vigorous
gathered about us. And it is thus that
the evening Of live is frightened. Hen
~. pass the bread to Mr.. Jucklin, and
the peas. the very first of this back
ward season, assure you. Mr.. Hawes.
can YOU recall the face of your noble
grandfather"
No, general; he died many years
before l can remember"
"A pity, I assure you, for what is
more squirting to our ambition than to
recall the features of noted relative.
Some of this lettuce, Mr.. Hawes? A
sleepy, but withal a soothing, dish. My
daughter, 1 must request you to help
yourself. Charming weather we have,
Mr.. Halves, with the essence of youth
and hope in the air"
How completely had his manner
changed His eyes, which had seemed
hard and cold when he had waved his
hand and looked out over the yellow
sedge grass. were beaming now with
kindly light. and his voice, which had
thought was coarse and gruff, was
vibrant with notes of stirring sympa-
thy. Alf, heartened by the old gentle
mans streaming courtesy, spoke a low
word to the girl who sat beside him.
with one
ear politely lent to the familiar ta& OF
her father.
After dinner we were shown into tn"
library. wherein were many law books,
and the general, catching the longing
glance that l shot at them. turned with
bewitching patronage, bowed and said:
You have expressed your determi-
nation to become acquainted with the
law and to practice the wiles Of its
logic; and so. if you can make no bet
ter arrangements, 1 pray, sir, that you
make this room your office"
Alfs eyes bulged out at this, doubt
less looking upon me as the most for
tunate man alive. and in my country
bluntneSs l blurted: You are the
kindest man l ever saw"
In this room we talked for two hours
rr more. and the afternOon-or the
evening. as we say in the South-was
well pronounced when l declared that
il was time for US to go. Alf looked up
surprised. and in a voice sad with ap-
neal. he asked if it were very late. l
could have given him the exact time.
hut was afraid to take out my grand
fathers watch-afraid that the general
and his daughter might think that l
was seeking to make a display. so l
simply said: Yes. time that we were
going"
Don't be i'm a hurry. gentlemen the
general protested: don't let trivial
matter rob us of your society
Alf pulled back. but l insisted. and
50 we took our leave. The old gentle
man came out upon the porch with US.
Henry" he yelled. turning about.
who the devil left that gate open? G"
and shut it. you lazy ScoundreL Those
Infamous newcomers over on the creek
take nv place for public highway.
And I hope to be hung up by the heels
if don't fill the last one Of them full
of shot"
I'll never forget you" Alf remarked
ay we walked along. down through the
meadow. You have stood by me. and
YOU bet your life / don't forget such
things. OF course. l have known the
old man ever since l can remember
but he never treated me 50 well be-
fore And when the time comes. II l
can get in that dining room l don't
believe he'll refuse me. It's blamed
big pity that I can't talk as you can
but you just stick to me and will talk
all right after n while
oh. I'll stick to YOU | replied, nut
didn't notice that l talked in WaN
- amount to anything. l felt as stu
r,id as an ass looks What did the girl
say? You were talking 10 her very
earnestly over hv the window.
ITO save nv life. I can't recall any