The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-03-16
4. In an instant Hophin was on the terrace.
One rapid glance drank in the whole scene


|ntes; clear, calm and beautiful. Myriads of
lktays sparklcd in the deep blue heavens, form
|tngst rctinuc of the crescent moon slowly
/ lHHpg from the waves of "thc Great Sea-" At
EEsS@ extremity of the terrace female slaves were
'sqdfed on straw mats, and spoke in low muir
nAtfs; at the other end, Ezcla, unveiled and
refining OH cushions, sang, i'll low, soft voice,
ofH of Dayid's canticles. Ammic. was seated
attcr feet, and their attitudes changed not at
th5 prcscGcc of i,iophin! Ezcla sang. Am
! imfl gazcd on her, and listened but Hophin,
, nfh voice, as from the tomb, slowly articu-
l.tb, "Why have you left the house of Rach
cllefore came to come conduct you litlior Z"
" My lord" replied Ezcla. the tears, clinging
to- her silkcn cyc-lids, ''Rachcl is much better
The night was growing late, and Ammcl ac
canpanied mo home"
'HHAmmiel, Amnicl!" repeated IIophin, using
the word as stimulant to his rage, ''and what
brought Ammicl thithcr?"
palesand trembling Ezcla answered not; but
Aprnicl, starting to his feet, replied, "My
fasher?i l went to meet you and Ezcla but,
not finding you at Rachcrs house, we believed
that you had cturncd home in our advance,
and therefore We FASTENED home to rejoin you"
TT is we'll, coldly observed lIophin, seating
himself on the cushions, and conccalng under
!. tranquil air, the suspicious gnawing at his
hcart. Drawing Ezcla to his side, and passing
his arm around her waist, till his fingers
pressed insiduously upon the lfe.pulsc of her
spotlcss breast, he continucd-"AmnIiel, my
son, thou art now eighteen years Of agc!!'
Since the last moon" replied Ammicl, i'll
pcrplcxity.
'sAmmicl, thou art now man. 1t were
foul Shame to pass thy days in the apartments
of women"
.,AYhat would my father say? am an or
phan.t On earth, have no other friend than
yoG Gpnd. Ezcla, added he. sadly looking at the
yol1ag woman, who smiled as sadly i'll return.
rs1se.. fArn,ssed t,shtly the arm of Ezeln.
that she uttered cry Of pain. Regardless of
this. her husband stcrnly continucd:
''Tle king of lsrcal now lives in peace, but
peace has need of soldiers even as war
Now [ understand my father" proudly re-
piled .Ammicl. Let it be ,o-,norrow-lc it
be this hour, am ready to depart"
"No, no, Ammicl' suddenly exclaimed
lizcla, leave not this roof Choose some other
profession than The cruel one Of war"
Woman" Numbered IIophn, give your
advice when asked
The silence which succeeded the loud and
furious words, weighed heavily sven on the
slaves. crouchiny in Whispering groups at the
other extremity Of the terrace.
Ezekiel, the Captain of the kings guard, is
my friend and kinsmar. lie vii! receive YOU
Tomorrow in his corps. Ammic, You depart
tomorrow.
"To-morrow % involuntarily sighed Ezcla.
"Wcll. what next? l'ray continue This
may be the last opportunity and llophin
smiled maliciousy
You hurt me, my lord said Ezcla in a
low voice. (,is roniard-hilt pressed rudcly
against her sidc),-'you hurt nc, and she
cndcavorcd to discnga.5c her person from his
coil.
Stay" shouted iIolhin, and the adjoining
terraces rcvcrbcratcd succcssivcly the sound.
E.zcla seemed pctrilicd to beautiful statue.
y flash of Indignation cleaned from the large
blue eyes Of the orphan. but supprcssing his
emotion, he demanded at what hour he should
receive his instructions.
NJ two hours after sunrise, colliy replied
Iiophin. Without another word lIophin.