Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-10-03
THE MIDLANDERS
By CHARLES TENNEY JACKSON
Author Of Che De, Of Souls, My Brother. Keepe. Etc.
copyright 1919. The Bobbs-Merrin Company,

waysi I never could understand wha'
moved me SO about her-the delight she
gave me. And you, boy-you thought
he whispered it-"she'd come be.
tween us! Why, she loved you always
put It away in her mighty pride
but loved you always! Why, with al
her laughter and her playing I never
dreamed of loving her as you did. on
the wonder of It! She led me on to
her land Of joy!"
BE still" the younger man mutter-
ed. "She's trying to say something
Home! She's home now" Harlans
ewes went to his mother cool, fair, lis
tening by the bedside; he tipped his
arm down about Aurelie's head to
watch the fleck Of crimson on her lips
Home, mother!"
The mother put her hand upon his
shoulder; the other on Aurelies brow
you'd better go now. The doctors are
here. She's shot low in the side. Will
you leave her a moment?"
Curran was moving to the door. But
Harlan, as he tried to rise, found Au-
relies fingers stealing through his
hair: he was listening to his name
upon her lips. r...
Mrs. Van Hart was with Curran as
he passed out. With gesture she held
out her hand to him. There are things
beyond us all, Mr.. Curran. Depths OF
life that move and sweep us all to
things we have never dreamed-that
we can not evade or compromise. And
30 we accept-with courage and with
gladness. I am sorry-humbly sorry
will you believe me?"
He looked long at her and his face
did not soften.
"A word from you-a kind word
any little gracious act would have
changed it all. Would have given her
to Harlan long ago and saved US this
It's hard to forget"-his brief smile
came bitterly: "All this life OF hers
that you held cheap. unworthy-her
love for your son kept her good and
fine and simple through it all
and that meant nothing to YOU"
Pm sorry" the mother whispered
HE will have his way-and we accept,
Some day shall we tell her all?"
"Yes. But not now"
why not now?" The mother stirred
in the doorway.
"She is not so badly hurt, they say
And Harlan is trying to explain. What
is greater than the truth for her?"
Curran stared at her, holding her
cool fingrs for an instant, then looking
in the half dark Of the room.
Tell herr" he muttered. Then drew
back. But a sound from within came
to him. Aurelie's tired smile had end
ed in a sigh with Harlan's murmurings
The physicians had stood apart.
Curran went in. The mother In the
hall, coming nearer from the telephone
presently, heard a cry, then all their
voices low and awed. She looked in as
she passed, for she would not enter
The men were on either side Of the bed
holding Aurelie's hands. Mrs. Van
Hart could not hear what they said
the girl lying white-faced and still, and
the men bending to her.
But after a while Curran rose and
came out The mother in the hall saw
him pass, and the glitter Of tears was
on his cheeks. He found Janet in the
window seat as he reached the door
The mother heard his voice rise Joyful
ly.
"She said that dreams come true
JANET Yes-good dreams. child dreams
like those that sent her out to find an!
love me- Oh, you should have heard
her say it, Janet! Father-the proud
ness of 1t on her lips!"
Janet went with him out into the
bleak night.
Where are you going, Wiley?"
Il don't know. Yes-back to the shoI
my old shop. I thought of leaving
selling out, for no one'll ever under.
stand. But I'll stay I'll fight it out
Face 1t all with sile ,ce-the defeat anc
questions-and fight it out-for Azure
lies sake It's safer-it's better for her
Janet"
They were passing High street, along
| which a few people were still coming
| The thousands had melted away from
the tragic field out the creek road. They
crossed the square, and at the corner
of his office he stopped. The light!
were coming here and there in th'
stores, but the place seemed yet de-
serted, so still that the creak Of the
| frosty trees on the bluff came down t.
them. Curran paused while Janet tor'
/ the hem from her skirt and bound again
his forehead where a buck-shot hat
furrowed it.
What an election day!" she whis
pered. II don't think half the count!
vote was cast, Wiley. But there's th'
| Mercury journal carrier coming from
the interurban-and the polls closed a
| six"
| He had no word as he watched he
buy a paper from the boy. When sh
turned, he had gone in the News offic
and was looking at the grimy old pres
and the worn cases.
Come here, Wiley!"
"Yes?" He went over and looke'
down with somber eyes to the sheet sh
had spread upon his desk.
The Lindstrom story" had five col
umns of the front. But across the othe
two was this head:
| "Concede Curran's Election"
He looked up at Janet with mutter
Election? Didn't they see the New
last night?"
mo. Come out in the back yard, WI
ley"
He followed to where she pointed t
the heap of burned paper half-wa,
along the path to his cottage.
For the first time in fifty year
there was no issue of the News thi
week." She was laughing at his be
wilderment TO morrow. when tn
excitement is over, peop!ell wonde