Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-03

ever set-a day that he himself had
helped to go out, not with lingering
light of gold in the west, but to grow
dark and die in cloud. What a con-
trast to his own youth! How proud
and happy was the face Of the boy,
and how full Of admiration were the
countenances Of the negroes! Jim
came in to light the chandelier.
You needn't light up just yet"
hastily interposed the Governor. q
like the darkness. Leave me alone
Long he sat there rapt in medita-
ton. The twilight shadows deepened
about him. One by one the pictures
faded out and the walls grew black.
Low in the west a single star blazed
fercely just above the tops OF the
dark magnolias, which seemed to
reach up to the sky.
who lighted that starr" he ask
ed aloud, and started at the sound OF
his own voice. To his high-wrought
Imagination it seemed like friendly
signal fire, a heavenly beacon-light
set to shape the wavering course OF
one who otherwise might go astray.
1T doesn't give much light" he So
liloquized, but a man doesn't need
much light to steer by If he really
tries to go straight ahead"
Big Jim, perplexed and worried by
the long continued silence in the dark
ened room, several times opened the
door slightly; but no voice bade him
enter and he softly withdrew in deep
er anxiety than ever. The Governor
was fighting the battle Of his life.
Shrouded by the kindly mantle Of
darkness he was squaring accounts
with his own soul and figure the pro-
blem as he would, he could not strike
an honorable trial balance except by
crediting himself with a sacrifice such
as no man in his position ever made
before 1t was a long, hard-fought
battle When it was ended, the Gov
ernor's furrowed cheeks were wet;
but his personal accounts had been
balanced.
"Mistah Willetts wants t see yo',
sah," suddenly announced Jim, EVIL
IDENTIFY delighted by any legitimate
excuse to interrupt the long silence.
1t was some time before the Govern
or made answer. When at last he
did so, there was an unwonted note
of firmness in his voice.
Let him come in," he said.
shall 1 light up, sah?"
NO"
Willetts was greatly surprised
when he found himself thrust for
ward into a room which was pitch
dark save for a few struggling rays
from window which merely served
to accentuate the blackness on either
side.
What are you doing?" he cried,
familiarly. Playing Love in the
Dark?"
Find a chair and sit down." said
a stern voice near the window. Nov,
then, what do you want?"
II called at the office several times
this afternoon, Governor, but didn't
find you in," Willetts began, 80 I
thought I'd run up for few minutes
tonight"
There was no response, except an
inarticulate grunt from the darkness,
which might have meant anything or
nothing
THE election is drawing near"
continued the log-roller after a brief
pause, land the opposition is putting
up so hot a fight that we can't afford
to overlook a bet. 1t won't do to take
any chances this time. I've been
talking the matter over with some Of
the boys and we've rather agreed that
the safest way for us Is to handle the
voting right from the start. A few
soldiers stationed around each ballot
box would make the matter easy
enough for us. Early in the day
few men ought to get shot-poor
white trash would probably fill the
bill all right. OF course, we could
show, you know, that there was an
attempt made to seize the ballOt-box
and that the soldiers were forced to
fire upon the mob 70 preserve the
purity of the elective franchise. The
effect would be immense"
Here Willetts slapped himself on
the leg and laughed uproariously, as
If he were thoroughly enjoying
good joke. But he had monopoly
of the merriment. Better look af-
ter this, right away" he added. when
his hilarity had subsidized Have Lum-
mers draw up an order for the troops
tomorrow morning and start the ball
rolling"
"And there's another matter, too"
he went on. I'VE must have a fair
and square returning board to pass
upon the election results. There is
bound to be a good deal of illegal vo-