Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-08-08

Johns look, but she was strangely gay.
She came past the pedler, touching his
thin hand lightly. Mon anil" she
bent her head with quick grace, you
| look tired-is it so? You should have
been with me-and Knute, too, and
Peter. The leaves-they never were so
| prettyi"
She crossed to the silent boys, the
maple wreaths rustling on her gown.
| "Eh, Peter! It's all from the big sugar
tree where we killed the badger last
winter-and you froze your fingers
while we were chopping." She lifted
the skirt of leaves with her laughing:
Brother, isn't 1t like princess on
me?"
She held herself to be admired by
them. Albert put down his documents,
his pale eyes shining. This girl! Cath
Ollie, French, rebel-God knew what
she stood flame in the dreariness Of
their lives!
John came in, took off his rough coat
and hung 1t behind the wood-box over
the boys heads. His gaunt face was
heavy in the light of the little lamp;
he came to stand before Albert, look
ing down at the pedler's pitiful busi-
ness.
"And what's that on the Lords day,
Albert MANI" his deep voice queried
It's not an example for my children
after prayers"
The pedler sniveIed and smirked
conciliatingly; they had of late begun
to fear Johns Puritanism. "Eh, the
business, John! I was just casting
over it for tomorrow. To lay out my
route beforehand, that saves sight of
tramping, and it's to be colder"
It's no work for the day." growled
John. Didn't Brother Rutherford just
now warn us against such unholi-
ness?" He turned to his sons: Come,
Peter-Knute-it's soon to bed for you.
Bring in the kindling and be Off" He
was not unkindly-he was but man
in whom a wrong was burning its way
steadily to a cloistered and spiritual
purity; the laws harsh enigma, the
murk Of his days jailing-they were to
him a martyrs portion; they had set
him apart in the world; God had smote
him for some reason or other, and he
accepted. He sat watching the silent
urchins, the mumbling pedler pulling
his cuffs down over his thin wrists.
The mother passed with the baby, and
John put hand softly to its head, but
the rasp of his palm drew a sickly wall.
He drew back silently, in some pathos
at his failure. When she had gone into
the chamber, his eyes slowly went to
Aurelie, whom he could see before the
mirror of her little white dresser in
her room. She was patting the sugar
leaves around his shoulders, admiring,
reluctant to take them off.
My girl" John called. Come here"
She did not move; he saw her face.
harden. Come here" She turned and
looked at him. "Aurelie, I called you,
girl"
What is it?" But at his silent gaz-
ing she came out obediently. He look
ed again long at her, the daughter Of
Jezebel, whose eyes did not fear to
meet him. Where have you benz"
IN the hills"
Whom did you meet?"
mo one. Just Uncle Michigan and
me-"
81 heard this morning-and Brother
Andrews told me-that you were on
the creek road talking with some one
in a red machine?"
"Yes-this morning" She did not
falter; she was as stolid as he.
The McFetridge motor car, snort
ing, grinning, scarlet devil charging, Of
a Sunday, about the stiffness Of the
roadside was ruthless in his analysis,
for he knew. "They brought you home
from town this morning-but they
dared not come to the door,"
NO" she retorted. 1T was just a
little ride"
"Ah, Lord" the wife cried from the
chamber, "the girl, she'll have her
name up more than il was! The pa
pers and all-Lord save us! And ridin'
with a Jew on Sunday morning!"
BE STILL" John went on stolidly. Il
hear more than that. Girl. can you
pray with us all tonight?"
"Pray?"
with a clean soul?"
She looked at his eyes, the deep eyes
| of a prophet, and she could not an
| swer; she paled and muttered, and
half-turned to look at the little rosary
hanging over the frame of her dresser
among her trinkets.
81 hear" he continued with an aw-
| full deliberation as one who had fore
| ordained his judgment and his course.
that you are going OH the stage!"
She started-she could not imagine
| that he knew. And yet all the town
must know, must be amazed at this
| freak Of the McFetridge twins. Papa
Lindstrom," she said with sudden
| DIlSutUtSS, VIII you w ''N'
will be a fine thing for us all-the
money 1 can make!"
| "Answerl" he shouted, and stung
the table with his blow: "the TRUTH"
Yes" she answered steadily. her
eyes going to hard rebellion.
| May God strike you dead first!"
| Knute looked up dumb and shiver-
ing. The mother put her head from
the bedroom. "Ah, John" she cried,
she's a good girl with 1t all. John!"
BE still" he said. This beauty of
hers-Td burn 1t off her if could" He
got up and paced the kitchen, his lined
| face twitching. Cleanse her, Lord"
he muttered, put this foul thing from
her, Lord" And from the woman sob
bing now in the chamber came a wall
| ing "Amen!"
The girl stood in her robe of autumn
leaves. Mother, the money l could
earn! And you know how we all need
money"
John stopped before her: "Helrs
/ He clIlipn =