Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-15

lead her."
"Oh, that will be NICE" she cried
Mice for Moll. l wish could go with
you. It's beautiful all down that way;
high rocks and pools with fish in them
1t isn't so awfully far, either. l have
walked it many time"
"Alone?" l asked, tugging at the
string.
That doesn't matter. It's the dis
tance I'm talking about. Why, you
haven't asked me to 60"
But 1 ask you now," I said, dragging
the bag toward the door.
mo, l won't go now," she replied
making way for me to come out.
Wont you, please?"
| mo, not since I have come to think
about it. I'd have to walk along al
the time with my hands to my ears
for 1 just know you'd say something
1 don't want to hear. You are as cruel
as you can be, lately"
| l had taken up the bag to throw II
across the mare, but I dropped it upon
the log step.
You'll burst it if you don't mind
Mr.. Hawes."
But 1 handle 1t more tenderly than
you do my heart" cried. You have
thrown my heart down in the dust and
are trying to burst It,"
Her hands flew to her ears. "Oh,
knew you were going to say something
mean. But can't hear you now. Isn't
it an advantage to say what you please
and not hear word? You can do this
way If you want to. No, won't go
really, can't. mustn't leave mother
She ran away toward the house, and
stood watching her until she was hid
den behind the old mans "stockade.' u
Torturer she was, sometimes with her
dignity, but worse with her whimsical
childish ways, when she seemed to
dance on the outer edge Of my life,
daring me to catch her in my arms.
But was it not my size that made her
feel like a child? 1t must have been,
for whenever she spoke of Chyd she
was deeply serious. / was resentful
as led the old mare toward the mill
| Oh, l understood 1t all. She had seen
that l sought to punish her, had read
me as we sat together at the table, and
now she was torturing me. Well,
would give her no further opportunity;
would let her lead young Lundsford
into her mind and out again, just as
it suited her fancy.
| The coves and hooks and quiet pools
that lay along the stream were dream
full; there was not a mighty rock nor
bold surprising bluff to startle one
with it's grandeur, but at the end of
every view was the promise Of a rest
ing place and never was the fancy led
to disappointment. Now gurgle and
drip, now perfect calm, the elm leaf
motionless, the bird dreaming. And
had history marched down that quiet
vale a thousand years ago and tinged
the water with the blood of man, how
sweetly verse would sing its beauty,
from what distances would come the
poet and the artist, the rich man seek
ing rest-all would flock to marvel and
to praise Ah we care but little for
| what nature has done, until man has
placed his stamp upon 1t.
l loitered and mused upon going to
the mill and upon returning home. And
when came within sight of the
house l halted suddenly, wondering
whether I had forgotten something.
Yes, l had. l had forgotten my re-
solve to be cool and dignified under the
reading eyes of that girl. l led the
mare to the rear end of the passage and
had taken off the bag of meal when
| Guinea came out.
"Mr. Hawes," she said, Il wish you
would forgive me for the way l acted
last night and this morning. Now let
us be good friends, friends in trouble,
and let us hereafter talk with sense and
| without restraint. l am going to be
frank with you, for l don't see why l
should be cramped. l am not going to
pretend not to know-know something,
and you must wait; we must all wait
for-for anything that Is to come.
hardly know what I am saying, but you
understand me-"
She held out her hand, and took it,
TREMENDOUSLY at first, but I held 1t with
firm and manly honesty as I looked
into her eyes. Yes, I understand you,
and it shall be as you say. I have been
strong with every one but you, and
am going to show you that can be
your friend. Wait a moment. You
know what l think, but I will not hint
at it again. 1t was mean Of me-yes,
I must say tit was mean Of me to
jibe you. But I'll not do 1t again. If
you only knew what my early life was.
| l was the victim Of size, an awkward
boy, the jest of a neighborhood; and
while might have outlived some of
my awkwardness, 1 am still sensitive
for l carry scars"
"Awkward," she laughed. 'Why,
don't see how you could have been
called awkward. Everybody at the
| SGlcIdl SDOht VI Ii'" SAS@N~]N-
were. and really it would make you
vain if were to tell you all that was
said"
The old man came round the house,
and Guinea sprang back. l was still
holding her hand. "Hah," he grunted
Got home all right. eh? Parker was
over here just now and said that the
trial had been set for next Thursday
not quite q week from now, you un-
| derstand He seems to think we are
goin' to pull through all right; said
that you've made friends with every
body in the town. That's good, both
for now and also for after while
when YOU set in as a lawyer. l tell
you. Parker's visit helped us nightly
and Susan has eat a right smart snack
and | didn't know how hungry | was
till right then. You better go to town
tomorrow"
| l went in early the next morning
and found nothing to serve as basis