Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-16
DICK CHANGERS
- KISMET -
By CAPT. H. D. SMITH,
U. s. REVENUE SERVICE

"And I have neither hope nor light;
For me the sun grows wan ana gray
And the drear shadows OF the nignt
Stream far into the golden day.
The poets lines faithfully portray
ed the utter mystery and despair that
welled up through Dick Changers
heart as he tore along the highway
leading from his native village, where
for eighteen years he had lived quiet
uneventful life.
Dick was the only son Of the widow
Granger. whose husband had been lost
at sea ten years before. The boy had
been bewailing his lot in life, COM
planning bitterly to his mother.
"It is easy enough to talk, mother,
about resignation. l have heard tnat
preached all the days Of my life, but
fail to see that 1t helps things at all.
Do I not spring from better stock
than the squire's son? You told me
that my ancestors fought in the Revo-
luton, were in the Continental navy,
and, again, they wore sword In 1917.
Is it strange that should have a de-
sire for a different kind Of life than
offers in this dull, obscure placer"
His mother answered him soothing
ly, and as he left the room her parting
words rang in his ears: You are
good boy, Dick, and God will bless you
for it."
u,,,a-,, ,,,ord oaature kiss and caress
were stamped vividly upon his mind, to
be recalled amid wild sobs and bitter
anguish with despair and desperation
tugging at his heart.
From his mothers presence he had
sailed forth to meet Unexpectedly a
pretty village maiden, Jennie Ray
mond, who in the depths of his young,
honest heart he loved with all the
strength and passion Of his nature. 1t
was a somewhat lonely spot, which fact
may have emboldened Tom Mason, the
squire's eldest son, to overtake and
torment the village maiden.
With the strength and activity OF
PANTHER, Dick, who had taken In the
situation at a glance, was by her side,
and, striking straight from the should
er, the we'll dressed young reprobate
measured his length on the snow-clad
earth. In falling his head struck the
Jagged edge Of a rock, inflicting an
ugly wound on the temple, from which
the blood slowly oozer. The fact, white
and colorless, was upturned towards
the leaden sky, from which flakes OF
snow were beginning to fall.
With dilated eyes, Jennie impulsive-
ly clasped her hands, as she whisper
ed:
Dick, Dick, fear you have killed
him."
KILLED him!" echoed che widows
son, as he hastily knelt and thrust his
hand over Tom. Mason's heart. My
Cod" and Dick staggered to his feet.
Jennie's eyes were fastened upon his.
Years elapsed before she effaced from
her memory the despair and horror
there depicted.
In vain he tried to resuscitate the
PROSTATE lad; not single heart-throD
could he detect.
"Oh, Jennie" he groaned, must 1
hang, when I did not mean to do 1t?
But he is dead, dead--and I-oh, moth
er, mother, what will become of me?
What will become of you? 1t will
break her heart, and my father-my
father, who is in heaven, look down on
your poor boy and forgive him!
Il must go, Jennie. must get away.
Oh, if could only think, but I am a
boy, friendless, poor boy, and-and-
good-by Jennie; kiss mother for me,
Just like that. Tell her all about it,
and be good to her. shall never for
get you. Say to her will come back,
some time, some time"