Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-02-15
CHAPTER XII.

sW pat tnat ! e8cialueu olu hr. 1VoBeio
starting excitedly from hisseat at the table,
upsettiug his coffee and turning the sugar
dish over. CAS- I am a living man, here
comes the Yankees!
The Lord have mercy on US! exclaimed
Mrs. Rogers, as a roar of field artillery and
a running fire of musketry broke upon the
Silly Sabbath morning. They are fighting
down at the old bridge!
what madness = said the old man, walk
ing excitedly about the room. 'Why not
surrender at once, and throw ourselves upon
Sherman's protection. What can six hun
dred men do against such an army? By
Jupiter just listen to that!'
'Let them fight, by all means, said Susan
enthusiastically. The position is excellent
and who knows but what something may be
accomplished? If the worst comes, our
men can fall back under cover of the smoke
occasioned from the burning of the CON-
missary buildings, which, am Informed,
will be fred in such an emergency
LET them fghtl' said Mr. Rogers, in q
towering passion and pray what sort Of
fight will battery of artillery, supported
by single regiment of infantry, make of
it? You talk nonsense absolute nom
sensen
But, papa said Ellen, 'the infantry reg
iment numbers over seven hundred men
alone; 80 there must be more than six hun
dred down at the bridge altogether
sAnd pray, child, who has posted you on
such subjects, that you seem to know so
much about it asked Mr.. Rogers.
i only know the number of the infantry
regiment said Ellen, 'and Captain Faulke.
ner told me that much
sOh! the redoubtable Captain Faulkener
is down at the bridge, eh? We need have
no fears then,' said the old man ironically.
tYes,' said Ellen, sthe captain is down at
the bridge and will do his duty, as be
thinks of the old man and bel pless women
who stand shivering here
Mr.. Rogers looked at Ellen few moments
in silence then coughing quick, restless
and impatient cough, hurriedly left the
room.
Now whose pen can describe the thoughts
and feelings, the anxieties and fears, the
suspense and terrors, of these three women's
minds, as they silently sat there, listening
to the rattling of musketry and the sulen
roar of artillery? Not l, dear reader; but
you, whose hearts have experienced the bit.
terness of such an ordeal, the horrors Of
such an hour or day.
X X
Come yuh, Miss Ellen come yuh,
quick ? shouted Aristotle. please God !!
enty dis Cap'n Faulkener, dat dem bucra
man, bringing ober yuh?'
Ellen rushed breathlessly out upon the
piazza, and, sure enough, Captain Faulke-
ner was walking slowly and with painful ef-
fort between two soldiers, who supported
his feeble, dusty, besmeared and bloody
form.
lit is lit is!' screamed Ellen and,
with q wildly beating heart, she ran down
the walk to meet the party at the gate.
sOh, julius Julius!' exclaimed Ellen,
swbere have they wounded you ?-out, how
pale you are e!-are you much hurt, dear Z
.No-a mere scratch-a mere f f flesh
wo-wound,' be replied, with much difficulty.
Come here, Aristotle said Ellen, in a
tone of the most acute anxiety, 'come here,
and lift Captain Faulkeuer in the house
Gently now so, that will do =
sGiVe me wa-water, water, said the
wounded man.
sPoor fellow !-give him some water,
said Eller to Susan, who now appeared upon
the piazza, pale as death, and with an ex-
preston of countenauce perfectly wretched
and broken. hearted.
sHere is water, Captain Faulkener,' said
Susan with voice almost iDaudible from
suppressed emotion; and as he greedily
swallowed the cooling draught and looked
thankfully up into her face, she said, as
terrible thought flashed across her mind,
you are in much pain, are you not"
The captain replied by a groan and a
sigh.
Take him into my room,' said Ellen
Come, papa, and help Aristotle to lift him
up
This is my place, dear Ellen said Su.
san, as the captain was laid upon Ellen's
bed, and his wound attended to by the fam.
lily physician, who bad been sent for. 'Let
me do all for him, Ellen
After the wound had been dressed by the
surgeon, and proper restoratives admins.
tered to the sufferer, he revived consldera.
oily and seemed more at ease. Ellen and
Susan nursed him tenderly all the livelong
day and all the ensuing night, with the as
sstance of Aristotle, who had become much
} attached to the captain, and proved an in
dispensable addition to the corps of nurses
upon the present occasion.
oh, Ellen! said Susan, as she looked
upon her patient, now sound asleep, and
to all appearances free from pain, show that
undivulged secret, that strange mystery, re-
, garding your conduct towards this poor fel
low, and his towards you-how it worries
r and distracts me
} Dear Susan, replied Ellen, dismiss these
: doubts and distrusts from your mind. They
do him great injustice, and -
sOur men are falling back! exclaimed