Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-15
CHAPTER XXI.
Conclusion.


persimmon tree in an old field came the
trill of a nocking-bird. Two happy
men were riding toward an old home.
And here is where he fell" said ALI.
Il am tempted to get down and pray.
Bill you don't know what it is to be
freed from the conviction that you have
killed a man. He might not have died
then if it had not been for me, but,
thank God, didn't kill him. Yes, here
is where l eased him down. remem-
bered afterward that l had not seen
drop of his blood and l was deeply
thankful for it. We can almost see the
generals house from here. You saw
the old man today when he came up
and shook hands with me. He hardly
knew what he was about, and he said
All what's your father doing" But
his eyes were full of tears and he had
to wipe them when l told him that
was going to buy the old Morton place
He thinks you are a great man, BIZ,
and l honor him for it. Tonight we
will sleep in our room and early to-
morrow morning I'm going over to see
Millie. Do you think l ought to go
tonight? No, l will wait and dream
over it,"
In the old room we sat and peace
fully smoked our pipes. And after
had gone to bed, and when l thought
Alf was asleep, heard him talking to
himself. No, it was not talk, it was
loI pf
er. 1 said nothing and I sank to sleep,
and strange, mystic words were in my
ears, soothing me down to forgetful
slumber.
We were aroused early at morning
by the rattle of a wagon at the door
The old people-Guinea had come back.
Alf dressed quickly and ran down stairs,
and l stuffed my ears tmat l might hear
no sound from below. After a long
time, and while I sat looking out of the
window, the old man came up.
by jings, must have got that dis
patch of yourn before you sent it.
Mighty glad to see you again. But
don't go down stairs yet. Everybody
down there is as foolish as a chicken
with his neck wrung. l tell you the
Lord works things out in his own way.
Sometimes we may think that we could
run things better, but 1 don't believe
we could! and, thurfore, say kiver to
kiver. All, Lord, what time we have
had. Yes, sir, a time if there ever was
one. Alf has jest told me what you
intend to do, but if you think that you
are goin to crowd a lot Of money off
on me you are wrong. Give US this old
house and see that we don't need moth
in'-but, of course, you'll do that. II
thought I'd let 'em fight to finish up
wander, but l didn't They looked at
me so pitiful that called an old fellerI
that happened to be passin' along and
told him that he might have 'em. I've
got to have a Sam and a Bob. Old
Craighead, that lives about ten miles
from here, has some of the finest in
the world. Always wanted 'em. but
they were so high that couldn't tip
toe and reach 'em. Reckon you could
fix it so could git coupler"
You shall have as many as you
want-all of them"
I'm a thousand times obleeged to
you. Yes, sir; sometimes we think we
could run things better than He does.
but don't reckon we could. We seen
Young Lundsford as we driv along jest
now. And l think he'll be over here
putty soon, but don't you worry. No,
sir, we amt got nothin' to worry about
now. Believe it would push us to
scratch up a worry don't you? BY
j!ngs, though, l hardly know what to
do; I step around here like a blind
sheep in barn, as the feller says.
Well, it's gettin' pretty quiet down
there now. Alf got away as soon as he
could, and has gone over to the gener-
ais. Hush a mint. Thought l heard
Chyd's voice. Well, I'm going to poke
round little, and it's not worth while
to tell you to make yourself at home"
He went out. and heard him hum
ming a tune as he tramped slowly down
the stairs. l took a seat. near the win
dow. Voices reached me, and looking
down through the branches Of a mul-
berry tree, l saw Guinea sitting on
bench and near her stood Chyd Lunds-
ford. In his hand he held a switch and
with it he was slowly cutting at
bloom on a vine that grew about the
tree. He was talking, Guineas face
was turned upward and her hands were
clasped behind her head l could look
down into her eyes. but she did not see
me. and felt a sense Of self reprOach
at thus watching her. listening for her
to speak, and thought to get up, but
my legs refused to move, and l sat
there, looking down into her eyes. Her
face was pale and her lips, which had
seemed to me in bloom with the rich
Juice of life, were now drawn thin.
"Of course, l was wrong" he said
but I'm not the first man that ever
did a wrong. And l should think that
as a broad minded and generous wo-
man you could forgive me. l don't think
that you can find any man who would
take any better care Of you than
would. I've got no romance about me,
and why should I have? l can just
remember seeing the trail Of that Mon
ster called advancement-that mighty
thing called progress, though in the
guise Of war and that thing swallowed
the romance of this country. say
that l can remember seeing the fading
trail. but l know its history and l know
that if ii did not swallow romance il
should have done so. l don't suppose
could ever think as much Of any wO
man as l do of you. and l know that
no woman could make my house so
bright and cheerful. l was afraid of
any complication that might hurt nv
prospects as a physician, nv standing
in the opinion Of a careful and discrim-
mating public: so. Influenced by that
sense Of self protection, broke our en-
gagement. But now l beg Of you to
renew It."
lpneS'" Sba said WithOut