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

| let him dream, for / knew the sweet
ness Cf a melancholy reverie. Some
times the soul is impatient Of the body's
dogged hold on life, and steals away to
view it's future domain, to draw in
advance upon it's coming freedom-now
lingering, now swifter than a hawk
and then it comes back and we say
that we have been absent minded. Alf
started-his soul had returned. And
weren't you surprised to see them drive
toward town?" he asked.
who, your parents and Guinea
They didn't; they drove toward the
railway station"
But they came to town, my dear
boy-were here in this Jail. They must
have driven round to deceive you, for
they knew that you would want to
come with them, and they deceived
you to spare you the pain of seeing US
| together. And I'm glad you were
spared, though mother stood it much
better than l expected. But this was
Lecause she firmly believes I'll be clear
| Gu. hey ldNSIl DSSll SOllC q NoS
while-there's a station not far from
| this town. Father played another trick
on you. Yesterday, when he came to
town to deed over the land, he left you
doing in the wagon and slipped off
round here. l was surprised, for had
| positively ordered him not to come.
But he set me to laughing before he
got in. open that door by the order of
the sheriff. he cried at the jailer.
Here's the order; look at it, but don't
you look at me. Fight you in min
it. And then he came in, and the first
thing he told me was that they had
gaffs on. He said that he had fought
hard to keep mother from coming, at
night when the rest were asleep; and
swCre that she must not come, but
she did. Bill, you brought me mes
sage that sent me to heaven; and now
| let me ask If you know that Guinea
loves you There, don't say word
you know it. She told me, standing
where you are now-told me every
thing, and what a talker she is when
once she is started. Bat you must let
her have her way, and she will come to
you, holding out her hands. Have you
seen Miliie?"
| mo, net since that night. But am
going 20 see her."
Then l told him that Chyd had come
to the house, reproduced the scene,
and Alfs merriment rang throughout
the Jail.
Yes" he said, you can go over
| there all right enough. The general
likes you, anyway. 1 don't know what
he thinks of me-still sizes me as a
boy, l suppose; and if he were to
come in here now l believe he would
Isk me what father was doing. But it
makes no difference what he thinks.
he judge tells me that you are going
TO study law with him. Jumped into
an interesting case right at once, didn't
you?"
| We talked long time and we laugh
ed a great deal, for we were in a para
disc, although in jail And 1 left him
with a promise that l would soon bring
! him a direct wCrd from Millie.
| found Conkwright in his office, with
his slippered feet on a table. He bade
me come in, and he said nothing more,
but sat there pressing his closed eye
| lids with his thumb and re-finger.
How square a chin he had and how
rugged was his face, trenched with the
deep ruts of many a combat. His, had
been life of turmoil and Of fight. He
was not born Ct the aristocracy. l had
heard that he was the son of Yankee
clock peddler. But to success he had
fought his way, over many an aristo-
cratic failure.
Judge, have you finally decided that
may come into your office?"
Thought we settled that at first,
ne replied, without opening his eyes.
Yes, you may come in; glad to have
you, and, by the way, I've got some
work | want you to do right now. A
woman was in here today to see if
could get her husband out Of the PEN
| itentiary l don't know but / helped
put him there-believe l did, was
busy when she came in, and when she
went away l remembered how poorly
| she was dressed, and l am afraid that
| didn't speak to her as kindly as
| hould have She lives at the south
end of the street behind the Jail, left
| hand side, believe. Look in that vest
| hanging up there and you'll find tWen-
| ty dollars in the pocket, right hand
| side, | think Take the money and slip
| down to that woman's house and give
it to her But don't let anyone see you
| md don't tell her who sent it. Might
tell her that the state sent it as wages
lue for overtime put in by her hus-
Gand. And you needn't come back this
evening, for it's time to close up"
l looked back at him as l stepped
Dut He had not changed his position
and his eyes were still closed. And
this was my first work as student
Of the lava brave beginning, the
agent of a noble design. l found the
place without having to make inqui-
ry, and a wretched hut it was. The
woman was shabby and two ragged
children were lying on the floor.
gave her the twenty dcllars-1 did
more, | gave her part Of the money
which Perdue had given me. l eX-
lplained that her husband had worked
lovertime and that the state, following
an old custom. had sent her the wages
f his extra labor She was not very
II good -natured woman; she said that
the state and the rest of us ought tC
lie ashamed of ourselves for having
robbed her Of her husband, and she
declared that if she ever got money
enough she would sue old Conkwright
and the sheriff and everybody else.
was glad enough to quit that wretched
and depressing scene; and in the cco
# the evening l strolled about the
town. The business part Of the place
was mean. but further out there were
hands omp old residences, pillared and
vine-clad. And in front Of the most