Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-18

| three times as bloody"
| "Oh, l have come out Of no hard
feelings, sir. Ladies, would you and
our friend, Mr.. Halves, mind retir-
ing?"
They are goin' to stay here, SIR
! the old man replied, rolling up his
sleeves.
"All right just as you will, sir. Mr..
Jucklin, years ago we entered into an
arrangement"
| And l have cursed myself ever
since!" the old man exclaimed.
Just wait until I get through, II
you please. We entered into an ar
rangement prompted by boys fancy
and warmed by q fathers over indulg-
ence l know that this Is sore time
to come to you, and 1 don't want to
appear unkind, for my aim is tender,
though my determination is just.
Young hearts may whisper to each 9TH
| er, and that whispering may be music,
sir; but in this life there are duties too
stern to be melted and turned aside by
melody. And, sir, one Of the most
sacred duties that can fall to the trust
of a man is to see that the family
name, which Is to survive after he has
folded his hands in eternal stiffness
pardon my devious methods, for l as
sure you that my windings proceed
from a kindness Of heart--I say that
my duty now is to those who may bear
my name in the future. [ trust that
I am now sufficiently started to speak
plainly. l doubt the real worth and
sterling integrity of your stock, Mr..
Jucklin, but an agreement that we once
made must be set aside"
He stood with his broad hat in his
hand and out of it he grabbed hand
kerchief and wiped his face. Old Linn
gazed steadily ct him. My words
sound cold and formal" the general
continued, "and I wish that they might
be warmer and more at ease, but in
vain have l tempered with them. The
short Of it all is, and 1 have striven
not to say it bluntly-is that the en-
gagement which has held us in pros
pective relationship is hereby broken;
but by this I do not mean that your
son is guilty of murder, for in his heart
he may see himself justified but de-
cision of court has-and I wish l could
find a softer means of saying it-court
has pronounced him guilty, and that
places the marriage out of the ques-
ton. Bear with me just moment
more, for 1 assure you that I am suf-
fering keenly with you, that my heart
Is in sorrowful unison with your own.
Family pride may be regarded hobby
in this day when refinement and res
pectablity are sneered at, but it Is a
virtuous hobby, and 1 have held 1t so
long that l cannot put it down. And
now, in so far as there Is any question
of q financial obligation, We will turn
our backs upon it and forget that 1t
ever existed"
He put his handkerchief into his hat,
changed his hat to his other hand and
stood looking at Jucklin; and l had
expected to see the old man leap of
the floor in a rage, but l cannot recall
ever having seen a cooler show of In
difference Il put gaffs on 'em early
this mornin' an kept 'em waitin' for the
finish, and when it come it come soon"
he said.
Mr.. Juckln, had hoped to make
myself sufficiently clear. l have come,
sir, to break the engagement that was
foolishly arranged by us to bind your
daughter and my son."
Bob died first, but Sam could jest
stagger, and he huttered against me
and covered my hands with his blood;
and l must apologize for not washin'
'em, but it is not too late to make some
sort of amends. 1 will wipe 'em on
your jaws, sir"
He sprang forward, but l caught
him. You must be perfectly cool and
perfectly sensible, Mr.. Jucklin," said,
as quickly as l could, holding him.
Remember that he is in your house"
And this quieted him. Even the
most pronounced backwoodsman In the
south is sometimes graced with sud-
den and almost marvellous courtesy,
the unconscious revival of a long lost
dignity; and this came upon the old
man, and, bowling low, he said:
Il humbly beg your pardon, sir"
And 1 should be brute not to grant
It," the general replied, bowling in turn
But 1 hope that reason rather than
the fact of my being under your roof
will govern your conduct"
During this time, and indeed, from
the moment when the general had en-
tered the room, Guinea stood beside
the rocking chair in which her mother
was seated; no change had come over
her countenance, but with one hand
resting on the back Of the chair she
had remained motionless, with the eX-
ception that she placed her hand on
her mothers head at the moment when
1 caught the old man in my arms. l
saw this, though her motion was swift,
for | was looking at her rather than
at her father. And now the general
turned to the girl.
My DEAR" he said She frowned
slightly, but her lips parted with a
cold smile that came out of her heart.
MY dear child, it is hard for me to
say this to you, for l feel that you
can but regard me a feelingless mon
ster that would rend an innocent ana
loving heart, and God knows that l
now beg your forgiveness. but in this
life cruel things must be done, done
that those who come after us may feel
no sting of reproach cast by an exact
ing society. am an old man, my dear,
and shall soon be taken to the burial
ground where my father sleeps in hon
or. They left me n proud name ana l
| must not soil it, The oldest stone
there is above a breast that braved old
Cromwells pikemen--the noble heart
of q cavalier beat i'm that bOSom-and
can you ask"
Il have asked nothing, general.