Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-06
tolls, little Hazel, as no other woman

The mystery OF love Is lHeAphCdpic
I had won him-I knew not how-bu,
he was mine, and with the return OF
Colonel Rivers to Wolfsden our en-
gagement would be announced.
When we Joined the rest of the
household at breakfast was sure thai
everybody must read my secret In my
face. But luckily I remained unno-
ticed. Colonel Rivers was greatly miss
ed at the table, and his absence de-
plored. In one breath Mrs. Van Wer'
expressed fervent desires for his
speedy return, and in the next present
ed us with a programme for the morn
ing.
I'VE might go to the service at st
Johns, in the town." she said. But
would 1t not be more picturesque te
hear Mr.. Vivian preach to the Black
birds in an open field by the river
He Is said to possess wonderful hold
upon the masses"
"By all means let it be Mr. Vivian
said Sergia. Hazel shall share the
pony-c cart with me. The rest OF you''
with languid smile, may divide
yourselves as you like"
We made ready at once, Sir Grimm
much to his disgust, I fear-set on
in an open carriage with Miss Carbury
and Mrs. Van Vert. Sergia and fol-
lowed in the pony-cart. The professor
preferred to make the distance on his
own lean legs. We rolled along quiet
road by the riverside. A thin haze tenn
pered the ardor of the summer sun. A
smell of wild roses and green things
growing filled the air. The ugly, black
river had subsided betwixt its banks
and was now moving peacefully to-
ward the sea. We descended into q
hollow, where a squalid little village
clustered-this was the NEST" Of the
Blackbirds. Here we found the preach
ing ground-a barren field, sparsely
dotted with stunted philippines.
BY the time we reached the spot
services had commenced. The VOLTS
den guests drew quietly up on the out
skirts of the crowd and made observa-
tions.
Hundreds Of souls were gathered In
the place, some lounging in the long
grass, some erect and attentive, all
bearing the stamp Of the common
people. On a bit Of rising ground,
which lifted him little above his con-
gregation, stood the central object OF
interest-Graham Vivian, with uncov-
cred head, reading from an open book
the Word of Life.
From my seat in the pony-cart
looked and saw Francis Heron, grim
as a figure in bronze, leaning against
a tree near the preacher-Jael, the
maid. seated on a broken stone wall,
side by side with a toothless old hag,
like one of Macbeth's witches. The
girl was hanging breathlessly on VI
VANS words. Her intense, adoring
face startled me. The hag beside her
plucked now and then at her gown, as
IL to draw the girls attention, but new
er once did Jaers sloe-black eyes wav-
er in their fixed gaze.
"She looks at Mr.. Vivian as though
he were god," I whispered to sergia.
He is very popular with the lower
orders" she answered. 1.-The Wolfsden
servants are continually begging for
the privilege of listening to him.
gave Jael permission to be Off before
me this morning. See that fellow at
her feet-I am sure it must be Joe
Bagley, her Blackbird lover!"
The person indicated lay stretched on
the ground near Jael, chewing straws
like Nebuchadnezzar. He was very
powerful of limb and rugged Of feat
ure. He wore red handkerchief knot
ted about his thick throat and bat
tered hat tilted back on his round, bull
let head. 1t was the very man that I
had seen on the preceding night at the
dining room window with Mrs. Steele.
who is the dreadful old woman
holding to Jael's gown" said to Ser
gia-
Sal Bagley-the mother Of the rogue
Joe. wonder II she could not speak
with certainty upon the quality OF
Colonel Rivers's early fruits and vege-
tables. She is said to be uncommonly
wicked"
do you quite like to see Jael on IA
"Candidly-no. But I have it from
Jaels own lips that she Is trying hard
to reform her lover. You might not
think it. but Jael is decidedly religious
Observe the manner in which she
watches Mr.. Vivian"
Sir Griffin left the carriage to the
professor. He started up, like Jonahs
gourd, at the wheel Of the pony-cart
"Beastly arrangements" he whis-
pered in my ear-"made, one would
think, expressly to part us. Odd SER
vice, Is it not? No church nor organ,
no choristers nor prayer books. Rath-
er an impressive fellow. though, that
Vivian. My darling
"Hush!" I whispered. I'VE must
not talk in meeting"
A hymn was sung; Vivian's voice
a magnificent, cultivated tenor-led.
The people Joined heartily with him.
Mingling with the others, yet separate
and unlike, heard a woman's strong
contralto, which Immediately awaken
ed my liveliest curiosity. 1t was Jael,
and with her whole soul she was sing
ing.
"'Once for ALL o sinner, receive It!
Once for all, o brother believe 1t!
Cling to the Cross, the burden Will
fall
Christ hath redeemed us once for
all!'"
The stunted pines murmured in the
south wind; insects droned in the grass
spears; the overlapping shadows Of the
summer clouds wandered like unan-
chored dreams across the field. The
strange faces, the ringing voices, i'm
pressed me deeply. Then hush fell,
and Graham Vivian opened the Book
and read his text: Whatsoever man
soweth, that shall he also reap"
III M