Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-03
CHAPTER I.
The Outcast.
ESTABLISHED 1855.
Mol Dill"

from one Of the long rows of seats thai
stretched across the sewing-room o.
the reformatory at Deer Island, anC
the last Of six women whose names hac
been called.
Your term Of Imprisonment expires
today" said the matron addressing the
dubious group; you will now make
ready to leave the island"
No expression of joy or eagerness
or even a temperate satisfaction, ruff
fed the stolidity of Moll Dills dark
treacherous face. She stood with the
searching sunlight streaming full upor
her through high window of the sew.
ing-room, haggard, gloomy-eyed wo.
man, in the regulation dress Of the in.
stitution, blue cotton gown and lone
apron tied around her neck, and reach.
ing almost to her feet Old, no doubt
she was in sin, but at the utmost she
had not seen more than forty years OF
life. A knot Of fine, rich hair, Slightly
tinged with gray, was twisted about
her well-shaped- head her features
We're deltcate, her hands slender and
handsomely nodded. Evidently this
woman was we'll born; she had once
stood, perhaps, inside the pale of good
society. Despite the ravages of want
and dissipation, traces of rare beauty
still fingered in her face. BY what
dark disasters she had reached her
present level, God and her own heart
alone knew. In the institution her
record ran about like this:
Committed for drunkenness. Sui
len, slothful and often refractory. A
hopeless character"
With the air of sulkiness habitual tc
her, Moll Dill followed her five COM
panions to the clothingroom, where
she doffed her prison garb and put or
the garments she had worn wher
brought to the island, three months be-
fore-an old, black dress, a faded
shawl and a battered bonnet. Here
she also received the trifles found
upon her at that time-a sagged purse
containing a few pennies and the cheap
tin-type Of a child In the reception
room Of the institution these six crea-
tures-women, but with all the glory
and grace of womanhood stamped out
of them forever-stood ready for de-
parture.
"Come." called the officer whose
duty it was to see them fairly dismiss
ed from the island, and in single file
they stepped out into the open sun
shine of the day.
Moll Dill was the last. Unobserved
under her jaded shawl, she shook a
indicative fist at the big, red build
ings where she had been chafed and
fumed and cursed herself and all the
world for twelve weary weeks. 1t was
her only farewell; then she tramped Of
in the footsteps Of her fellow prison
ers along the wide graveled road lead
ing to the wharf on the Point Spirly
side of the island.
There a flight of wooden steps de-
.scended to the water, and black ano
green row-boat, manned by four oars
men. waited to receive the procession
The six women, still attended by the
officer, scrambled into it, Moll last
and the boat pushed off across thai
boisterous little channel known as
Shirley Gut, to the mainland which
Governor Shirley Of Massachusetts,
with rowing galleys and rich uniform:
md saluting cannon from Castle Will
liam. came down from Boston to chris.
ten after his own august self one fail
autumn day in the year 1853.
The tide was running violently. More
than one prisoner, in attempting to es
cape by swimming the Gut. which
might we'll be called another Rivel
Styx, has been swept out to death II
the wild sea beyond.
The boat rose and fell on the strons
swell, and grated, at last, against the
beach. The six women leaped ashore
free, with Deer Island and its whole
some restraints behind them, and be-
fore them the long dusty road stretch
ing back to the want and sin and de-
spair Of the great city.
Good by, ladies'" called one Of tn,
boatmen, derisively. "Good-by-for
season. We shall soon see you again.
A volley of vituperation answered
him. Moll Dill alone said nothing-sh'
was already walking away up th'
beach.
Point Shirley, called in the old rec
ords of Boston "Pulen Poynte,' be-
cause Of the tow-ropes used by tn
early fishermen in surmounting the ed
dies of the channel. is a small uninter
esting place. 1t boasts few houses
some black chimneys and blacke
heaps of Stag" pertaining to its de-
funct copper works and a solitar!
gray hotel, where fish and game din
ners of fine flavor and formidable pric'
are served in the summer season t
wealthy Boston. The drive from tn
hot. stirling city along a road border
Ing the bay is an agreeable matter
q summer day, and the stylish turn
outs of these lovers of good cheer. com
ing and going. alone give life and colo
to the dull sDot.
AS Moll Dill, the released prisoner o
Deer Island. crossed the beach AM
struck into the open road, a carriage
drawn by superb pair of bloodeC
horses and driven by servant in hv
cry. came swinging round bend II
the way. knocking the outcast violent
" to one side A ready oath leaped u
her lips. but froze there unuttered' a.
from the. shadow of her battered bon
net her angry eyes flashed up to tn
vehicle and rested upon its one occu
pant-a man. pale. smooth-shaven
dressed in an elegant summery cos
tune. and having n cold, aristocratl'
face. placid of brow and arrogant o
lip-a man with wealth and impor
tance stamped so plainly upon him tina
he who ran could read-a man wh'
leaned slightly over the side of tn
open carriage to stare in displease'
amaze at the miserable figure whici
Id