Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-15

| uedI dl OHly tISSS piS uei phi
sans for sentinels."
They sat down on the ledge of rock
which formed their cave-house and
gazed over the marvellous panorama
of world transformed into blue bill
lowy mountains, flying clouds and tur,
quoise skies. Over it all brooded the
deep solemn silence Of eternity. Not a
sound reached the ear from earth or
air. Far up in the sky an eagle poised
and looked below in silence. Not q
house could be seen as far as the eye
could reached; only here and there
white patch on the dark blue noun
tain side showed like a farmers scar
that had~'t healed. These were the
fields of farmers on the lower ranges,
but their houses were hidden among
the trees.
Nan was leaning back on her elbow
on the blanket Stuart had spread for
her, watching his face change its
mood with each flying cloud.
Our luck is wonderful today, Man,"
he said at last. 1.-The guides say this
is one Of the rarest days a traveller
ever finds on this peak. We might
come hundred times and never strike
it again."
"Why?" she asked lazily.
"The airs so crisp and clear A
mountain fifty miles away seems a
stones throw. We've but to sweep
the horizon with single turn Of the
head and see six states Of the Ur'on.
Eastward stretches North Carolina to
the coast, to the north there in that
bristling line of lower hills stands old
Virginia. To the west loom the noun
tains Of Tennessee and Kentucky and
southwark rise the crags of western
Georgia and South Carolina-but it
don't seem so wonderful to you, l sup
pose.
why not?"
you must see most of it from your
windows every day."
But not with your eyes, JIM" she
cried. Il have everything and have
nothing. There is no meaning to any
thing we do or see or possess If the
one thing we desire is withheld"
II might have made that speech,
Man," he said thoughtfully. TT sounds
strange on your lips"
with my houses in town and coun-
try, with every whim Of body and soul
apparently gratified, perhaps it does
sound strange. But suppose that all
this madness of luxury, at which you
wonder, is but the vain effort Of a
hungry hearth"
The man was silent. The question
was too dangerous to try to answer,
too dangerous to leave unanswered.
You haven't answered" she insist
ed.
mo. Answers to such questions
don't come so glibly here in these ST.
lent places, Man," he responded seri-
ously.
That's why 1 brought you here"
she confessed. Besides, 1 knew you
loved this wild spot The memory Of
your rapture that day, sixteen years
ago, mas never leIt me.
You used to love such places. too"
he said looking away over the blue bill
lows. What deep-toned eternal
things they spoke! How small and
contemplate the struggle of the in
sects in those valleys below!"
Come back to my question" the
woman insisted, with quiet determine
ton. You are not a coward. The
time has come in our lives when we
should begin to see things as they
are"
I've been trying to do that for a
long time" he answered sorrowfully.
And haven't succeeded" she added
promptly. 1.-The trouble is, Jim, that
life is a tissue Of lies. We are born in
lies, grow up in lies, live and move and
have our being in lies. Our highest
wisdom is the law of hypocrisy which
we call diplomacy. I've round that So
ciety is one living lie. We say good
morning and wish we could murder
the man we greet. We say call again
and wish it may be never. We live
two lives or we don't live at alone
outward and visible, the other secret.
We must be true to one and laugh at
the other. I'm growing sick Of lies!"
Stuart looked at her flushed face
with deepening thrill of the drama
of the soul its quick changing express
sion shadowed.
"Well?"
I've grown to feel Of late" she went
on rapidly, that it's shame to dodge.
The only law my husband has ever
known is to take what he wants. I've
the right to live my own life. We
must each of us choose our world, the
one of conventions and shams or the
big one that's beyond-the world of
reality, where free men and women
live and work in freedom while youth
and daring lead the way"
She paused and Stuart's lips parted
in amazement Never had he heard
such eloquence from the woman be-
fore him. Words leaped from her
heart, quivering with emotion, her
whole being stirred to its depths.
"Jim," she went on falteringly, I'm
lonely and heart-sick. I'm trying to
tell you that l want your love; that
can't live any longer without it."
Her head sank low and sob caught
her voice.
There I've told you've no pride
left. Tell me that you love me.
want to hear it a thousand times.
want it, right or wrong!"
She paused a moment and looked
through a tear into his pale, serious
face