Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-04
CHAPTER TX.


1t must have been daylight before
worried my way into sleep that SEEM
ed jagged and sharp-cornered with
many an evil turn; and when l awoke
the sun was shining. looked out, and
far across the field l saw ALI, walking
behind his p.Jw. The hour was late
for one to rise in the country, for the
sun was far shove the tops Of the trees.
But l cared not for any impression that
might be made by my apparent lazi-
ness: my head was heavy and my
heart was crushed. No sound came
from below, and after dressing-and
how mean my clothes did look-l sat
down at my writing desk-sat and
mused lust as had seen Guinea Sit
ting, with her elbows on the table ana
with her chin in her hands. And All
would ask the old man to tell me some
thing. Tell me what?
went down stairs. Mrs. Jucklin
was sweeping the yard. She put down
her broom upon seeing me and came
forward, wiping her hands. began to
apologize for being so late. "Oh' tnat
makes no difference" she said. "Alf
told us not to wake you. l will go in
and fix you something to eat"
Now, don't put yourself to any trou-
bic. for. really. I couldn't eat a bite;
I'm not very we'll. Where Is Mr.. Juck-
lin?"
why, you must eat something.
He's gone to the blacksmith shop;
broke the point off his plow against
rock and had to go and get 1t fixed.
He ought to be back by now. 1t amt
but q little ways down the road. Are
YOU goin' over there? Well. if you see
him tell him that Guinea and are
goin' to see Mrs Parker and won't be
back till evenin' Tell him that we'll
leave everything on the table"
Down the road l went, looking for
the blacksmith shop, and had not gone
far before l saw the old man coming,
with his plow on his shoulder. He was
talking to himself and did not see me
until spoke to him. Let me take
lIldl pION, SeRiN' N''N -
I'm stronger than you"
IT reckon you are right" he replied,
looking up at me with grin, but
can tote il all right enough"
But l took the plow from him, and
walked along with it on my shoulder
waiting for him to say something.
You haven't seen Alf this mornin'
have you?" he asked,
NO; l was asleep when he got up
Why?"
Well, Jest wanted to know. ALI takes
same strange notions into his head
once in a long while, and he had one
this mornin'. Told me to tell you suth-
in that very few folks know. Don't
know why. unless he thinks more OF
you than he does Of any other young
man. Never saw him take to person
as he has to you. And I reckon l bet
ter tell you But hate to talk about
It,"
We walked on in silence, and in my
impatience shifted the plow from one
shoulder to the other. I'll take it when
YOU git tired Of it," he said. Now, 1t
may be putty hard for you to under
stand the situation, and I'm free to
say that I can't make it so very plain,
hut I'll do the best l can. One day, a
long time ago. old General Lundsford
came to me-long after l had wallow-
cu him. you understand. And now as
to that wallowin', why, he could have
killed me if he had wanted to. He's
game. Well he came to me- and about
as nearly as l can ricollect said this:
My son Chydister. strong headed little
rascal that he is, VOWS an declares that
when he grows up he is goin' to marry
your daughter Guinea. I'll be frank
with you and tell you that l didn't
approve Of IT, and l secuted the idea
not that your daughter amt as good as
anv girl but because I don't mind tell
in you, I've got family name to keep
up. told him this, but he was sol
young and so headStrong that he swore
that it made no difference 10 him. You
know they have played together, up
and down the branch, and he thinks
there aint nobody like her. Well, sir
he kept on talkin about it until /
knowed that he was set, and that there
wasn't any use To try to turn him, so
| began to think it over seriously. That
boy is my life's blood, and l want tol
please him in every way l can, and
don't want him to marry beneath him.
I'm goin' TO make a doctor out of him
the very best that can be made, and
his companion must be an educated Wo-
man. They are goin' TO marry when
they grow up in spite Of anything we
can do. and now I've got request to
make of you. know that you wouldn't
let me give you a cent Of money, but as
an honest man you cant refuse to let me
lend you enough money to send your
daughter to school along with my own
daughter; and whenever you think that
YOU are able to pay me back, all right
and if you never are able. 1t will still
hr all right
The old man paused, and now walk
I'd along carrying the plow in front
Of me, stumbling. seeing no road, car
ing not whittier my feet might wander
I'll take it now" he said. reaching for
the plow. You don't know how to-
tote it. nohow."
pushed him back and said: Go on
with Your story
| was walking SO fast that he was
almost trotting 10 keep up with me.
Right there l was weak he said. i
thought Of what a bright creature my
girl was. thought Of what education
would do for her. thought that could
soon pay back the money, and agreed.
And | want to tell you that it has been
hot ashes on me ever since They are
goin' to marry all right enough, but 1t
gals me to think that had to send her
out TO have her educated at another
mans expense-cuts me TO think that
she wasn't good enough for any man
lust as | could give her to him. And
I'm goin' TO pay back that money II
have to sell this strip of poor dirt,