Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-08
By OPIE READ.

Alf would go with me, for the corn
was laid by, but l could not find him..
His mother told me that he had put on
his Sunday clothes and that she had
seen him going down the road. And
SO l went alone. The house was done,
and what a change from the pile of old
logs! The walls were painted white
and the blinds were green. The BUSH
es were cleared off, and the scorched
trees had been cut down, split up and
hauled away. 1 have never seen a
neater picture and in it l saw not only
the progress of the people, but the
respect in which they held me.
1 had come out Of the woods on
my way home and was on a high
piece of grazing land not far from the
house when l saw a man ride up to
the yard fence, dismount, tie his horse
and go into the house. This within it
self was nothing, for had seen many
of the neighbors come and go, but
sudden chill seized upon me now, and
there shook, though the heat Of June
lay upon the land; and it was some
time before l could go forward, stumb-
ling, quaking, with my eyes fixed upon
the horse tied at the fence. In the
yard behind the house l came upon
Mrs. Jucklin, gathering up white gar
ments that had been spread to dry
upon the althea bushes. "Chyd Lunds-
ford has come" she said, and 1 replied:
Yes, l know it,"
l stepped upon the passage and pass
ed the sitting room door without look
ing in: I sat down in a rocking chair
that had been placed near the stair
way, sat there and listened to a girls
laugh and the low humble Of mans
voice. Let us go out where it's cool
er," heard Guinea say, and got up
with my head in whirl.
Mr.. Hawes, this is Mr.. Lundsford."
Glad to meet you, sir" 1 said, TAX
ing hold of something-his hand, 1 sup
pose. 1 was urged to sit down again;
Guinea said that she would bring two
more chairs. and when I had dropped
backed between the arms Of the rock
el l looked at the man standing there,
and a sort of glad disappointment
cleared my vision and placed him be-
fore me in a strong light. He was
short, almost fat, and in his thin, whit
ish hair there was a hint at coming
badness. The close attention that ne
had been compelled to give practical
things, the saving of bones, the trac-
ing of nerves, the undoing Of mans
machinery, had given him the cynical
look Of hard materialist. But when
he stepped back to take the chair
which Guinea had brought I saw that
he moved easily, that he was cool and
knew we'll how to handle himself. And
this drove away the meager joy of
my glad disappointment.
Il hear you are going to take up
school Monday" he said. Rather late
to begin school just now, should
think"
Under ordinary circumstances it
would be regarded as late in the sea-
son." answered, but we have been so
interrupted that We now decide to have
no vacation"
"I guess you are right. Had pref
ty close shave with those fellows,
didn't you? Ought to have killed them
right there I've seen Scott. Though
he was a pretty bright fellow, natural
y; rather witty. Would make a first
rate subject on the slab"
Because you thought him witty,
sir?" l asked.
"Of course not; but because he Is
good specimen-big fellow" He look
ed at me and l thought that he was
measuring my chest. Yes" he con-
tinued, ought to have killed them.
Mans got TO take care Of himself,
you know, and he can't make 1t his
business to show mercy. Most all the
virtues now are back-woods qualities"
Il don't believe that" Guinea spoke
up. Every day we read of the gen.
erosity of the world"
oh" he said, passing his short fin
gers through his thin hair, you read
about it, and people who want to shine
as generous creatures take particular
pains that you shall read about 1t.
You've a great deal to learn, my dear
little woman"
And perhaps there Is a great deal
that she doesn't care to learn" l ven-
tured to suggest; and l quickly looked
hnA 40
another mistake. l had not, her quiet
smile told me, and I felt bold enough
to have thrown him over the fence.
What we wish to know and what
we ought to know are two different
matters" he said. But hold that we
ought to know the truth, no difference
what the truth may be. I want facts;
I don't want paint. l don't want to
all the way through"
But" said l, "the gilt on the dome
doesn't prove that the dome is rotten;
it may be strong with seasoned wood
and ribs Of iron"
Yes" he drawled, that's all very
good. very we'll put, but it means moth
ing. BY the way. before we get into
discussion let me invite you over to
our house tonight. Quite a number
Of young people will drop in. Not eX-
actly the night. you know; but the old
idea that white people shouldn't go out
of a Saturday night. the night reserv-
ed for negroes, is all nonsense. So, I
have asked them to come. All will
come. I suppose, and 80 will our little
spring branch nymph."
Il didn't suppose that you believed
in nymphs, now that you have gone
out and learned that everything is
| false" Guinea spoke up.
Il don't believe in painted ones" he
replied, but you are not painted"
Il shall be pleased to come" l re-
marked, and then l asked him how
long he expected TO remain at home.
"Oh. about a month, l should think
am gradually getting along and l
don't want to go to school all my life.
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