Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-01

lanything so familiar as fatigue. l will
Inot attempt to analyze this feeling
which made Lurline Bannottie's Sunday
morning ride almost a dream, so far
las the impressions Of the outside world
lwere concerned-however real refiec-
ltion and memory and hope made it, fol
the task is beyond me; l am only sure
lof one thing about tit was not re-
lmorse-it was not remorse!
Lurline Bannottie directed that her
team be carefully attended to-that
they be prudently watered and
thoughtfully fed-that they be kept
from injuring themselves by overeat-
ling or drinking after their long task
and enforced abstinence.
Il shall remain until some time on
Monday or Tuesday" she said, and
give them plenty Of time to rest after
the hard work they've done"
How far have you driven them?"
asked the hotel proprietor.
"As far as from Blankford," she re-
piled, which was the truth. as far as it
lwent, much as it lacked Of being the
whole truth.
when did you start?"
She told him.
He did not doubt her in any respect.
Why should he? Many a man. had
lhe started from Blankford at the time
she did. and taken the direct route,
with the roads in the condition In
which they were, would not have ar
rived Eefore late on Sunday morning.;
some men would have turned back;
and she was "Only a woman" as he
said to himself.
So he heard the truth she told-and
believed it to be the whole truth. Why
should he not? He let only woman"
cover any surprise or doubt he might
Ihave found proper or natural-as
though only a woman" has not, again
and again, since the time of the first
woman, done the weakest, wickedest,
most awful things which stain the
pages of the worlds history-as well
as the strongest, bravest, best, most
devoted, most self-sacrificing and most
saintlike deeds proving beyond all
controversy or doubt that in the hu-
man heart there still fingers a spark
kindled by the Divine.
only Il woman" Yes, "only a wo-
man." What do you suppose her wo-
mans heart prompted her weak hands
to do, last night, at BoOmville, in Bar
ron's Bank?
| Having first disposed Of the matter
of the comfort of her team (Holy Writ
assures us that "the merciful man is
lmerciful to his beaSt"-while we learn
from Geometry that the converse of a
| proposition is not necessarily true be-
cause the proposition itself isD she
went inside and ordered food and drink
and a comfortable room for herself.
She ate heartily; she seemed to enjoy
her meal After it was over, she drew
a lounge before the fire and lay down
to rest. l have no doubt she could
easily have lain awake-for though
tired, she had not lost her enormous
power of will-if she had really de-
sired and tried. But the fact is that
she was sound asleep within a minute
from the time her head touched the
pillow. She looked we'll asleep. One
dainty palm-the one with which she
had pushed shut the inner door of the
bank-supported her rosy cheek. Her
long lashes seemed to shut the world
out from her Sight-as though she had
drawn back from something wicked or
impure which had offended her there.
One hand-the one she had kissed at
the bridge when she allowed herself to
say Lyman'S mOcking farewell-hung
over the edge of the lounge and show
ed it's graceful shape to the greatest
advantage. Her smile remained on her
face-aS much of it as could rest on
cheeks and lips when the glory of her
ewes was veiled by slumber; perhaps
that was because she had left her door
unlocked and slightly ajar-because
she never let even sleep throw her off
her guard, unless she was certain she
would not be intruded upon; while,
perhaps-it was simply because she
was Lurine Bannottie.
Left her door unlocked and partly
ajar do you ask?
Certainly why not? What had she
to fear? Why should she make pre-
tense, even to herself, that she did
hear?
But the diamonds, and the bank bills,
and all else in Lyman'S valise?
| All You have not forgotten them.
Neither had Lurlne Bannottie. She
had placed the valise in the closet of
her room. She had locked that door
which gave her security; she had left
her rOomdoor as l have Said-Whlch
rendered curiosity or suspicion impos-
sible. And she had the key of her
lcloset-door where it could not be tax
en- without waking her. And she had
a revolver handily near to the shapely
fingers which looked as though they
were made for light touches and ten
der caresses-and for nothing else. A
tender hand may be strong hand;
rest assured that Miss Bannottie would
mot have given up that valise that day
while she had life enough left to fight
for it.
But. you protest, how could one sit
down and cattle down and sleep-so
near the scene of so horrible a crime
as che had committed? l cannot tell
YOU. l do not know. l do not and
cannot understand it, l have only tc
tell you the facts, leaving to you the
task of explaining them.
Many would have fled until the horses
fell dead in the road-and then, fam
ishing for food and maddened with
thirst, have despairingly gone on on
foot. welcoming night for the security
of its darkness, and storm for the
perils it placed in the path OF pursuit
Many would have rested only wher
mountains, seas deserts, were between
them and what they had done. Man!
would have gone away TO some place
; where their names had never beer