Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-11
By OPIE READ.

the law" He caught up his hat. Tell
them at morning; make it as soft as
you can-tell them how l love that
girl-tell them that AN crazy. Don't
mold me, Bill. I must go. God bless
you"
He pulled away from me and went
down stairs so easily that he made
scarcely a sound l followed him, beg
ged him to let me go with him, but,
creeping back half way up the stairs,
he said: You can be of more service
10 me here. Tell them and tomorrow
you can see me in Jail. l don't want
them to come and take me there. Do
as 1 tell you, Bill. Don't let the folks
see me in jail. Go on back"
went back to the room and sat there
all night, and at morning 1 heard the
old man unlock the smoke-house, heard
his wife singing hymn. l knew that
they expected me at early breakfast, so
that l could reach the school house in
time, for my new session was to begin
that morning. So the sun was not
risen when l went down stairs. But
nature held up a pink rose in the east,
and the hilltops were glowing, while
the valleys were yet dark. Guinea
came out of the sitting room, and see
ing me in the passage, walking as If
| were afraid of disturbing some one,
laughed at me- why, what makes
you slip along that way? You act as
if you were the first one up. Why, L
have already gathered you some flow
ers to take to school. And you won't
even thank me. Why, Mr. Hawes,
what on earth is the matter?"
I held up my hand. There will be
no school today" 1 said. Don't say
word, please"
But what's the matter?" she asked,
with a look of fright
Come out here under the tree. Will
you promise not to scream if I tell you
something?"
But what can you tell me to make
me scream? OH
I'm not going to speak of myself"
broke in, fearing that she might think
that 1 was going to tell her of my love.
Come out here, please"
She followed me to the bench under
the tree and she stood there nervously
gazing at me as l sat down, waiting
for me to speak and vet afraid to hear
me.
What is it, please? But don't tell
ne anything bad-I don't want to hear
anything bad"
But you must hear this. Alf--Alf
has had a quarrel with Dan Stuart. 1t
was worse than a quarrel, and has"
Killed him." she said, gazing at me.
Don't tell me anything"
She sat down beside me and hid her
face. "Alf has gone to town to give
himself up, and we must tell your faith
.r and mother. 1t wasn't murder-it
was self defense. You go and tell your
mother, tell her as quietly AS you
;an. see your father out yonder.
I will tell him. Tell her that they got
nto quarrel last night"
She went away without looking back
IT me, without letting me see her face
md as I passed the corner Of theI
house l heard her talking and before
I reached the old man I heard cry
from that poor old woman.
Old Lin was at the door of his
"stockade," Oiling the lock. "Devilish
thing don't work WE'LL" he said. "a
Da,AJck is generally the best lock or
the worst; you never can tell which.
f l could jest git drap of the grease
into the key-hole I'd soon fix it. But
t won't go in, YOU see. BY jngs, the
devil has his own way about half the
time. and his influence is mighty pow
,rful the other half. Now, were gittin
It it. reckon we'd better go on to
breakfast though. 1 almost forgot that
YOU had to go to your school. Why,
nan, what the deuce is the matter with
;ou this mornin'?"
He dropped the chain to which the
'ock was fastened and looked steadily
1t me. whats gone wrong, man."
I'm not going to school today" an
swered, endeavoring to be calm.
What's the matter? House burnt
Town again?"
Worse than that, Mr.. Jucklin.
Aft"
What about him." he broke in, ner-
vously grabbing the chain.
Did you know that he was in love
With Millie Lundsford?" I asked now
determined to be calm.
We'll, what Of 1t? Young folks are
II and out Of love with each other
mighty nigh every day in this neigh
oorhood. Is that Susan callin' me-
Sc there in a minute" he shouted.
Hasn't had a row with the old general,
has he?"
NO, but with Dan Stuart. They
luarreled last night and fought and
Dan was killed"
His shoulders dropped; he spoke not,
out he jerked the chain, the gate flew
open and he stepped inside and shut
[ with a slam; and l heard him fumb-
ing with the fastening that held the
door of the coop. l strobe away as fast
is l could, went to the school house
o dismiss the children and to tell them
hat | knew not when the session would
oe resumed. And when l returned ev-
erything was quiet. The old man was
| slowly walking up and down the spring
house path, evidently waiting for me.
Tell me all about it," he said, when
came up: tell me from the begnnin'
to end"
And l told him just as ALI had told
| ne He listened with his mouth half
open, rolling up his shirt sleeves and
then rolling them down again. as If
he knew not what TO do with himself.
Well" he said, when ] was done,
Il don't know that l can blame him,
poor feller, but they'll hang him"
do you think SOP" l cried, with
start. for I had not dwelt upon that
possibility; it had not occurred to me.
so wrapt had been In thinking Of his
Dwn mental distress and the heart
| L .F n,