Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-21
"Did they have prisoner with them?" aske

{ "a prisoner! / didn't notice any"
"How many were there of them?"
"Four came to the door,"
/ -Four? There was six of 'em besides the loo
tenant with eppylets on his shoulder. Was he witt
'em?''
eyes, he was one of the four.
'sWhat did they want?'
'They asked for something to eat and drink
"Did you give them anything?"
Fl II had to. I thought could make out by Civ
ling them bread and milk, but they told me if
didn't bring em cake and cider, they'd hunt thu
house through till they found 'em. So 1 had tt
give 'em some gingerbread I'd just made enough
to last week. and they ate the whole Of it, besides
carrying off the only barrel of cider had. Iwist
I'd got some left to offer you Mr.. Stebbins. I'd 6
good deal rather give it to you than to them"
THANK ye, Miss Higgins" said the peddler
!, whose country habits led him to make no differ
ence between the title of married and an unmar
ried lady shouldn' have cared if they left me
little, for feel consumedly thirsty"
'sI've got some milk if you can relish it, D." said
the widow, with whom the peddler was specia
favorite.
II guess could, " said Jock. There's one kind
of milk that you are always provided with, Mis-:
Higgins, and that is the milk of human kindness. u
'Thank you, Mr.. Stebbins. I rally shouldn't
know how to turn away from feler creetur in dis
tress, unless he was Brtisher. But lor what has
become of your pack"
'Thats jest what I'd like to know, Miss Hig
gins.
''You don't say you've lost it?" said the widow
sympathizingly
eyes, but do, and know who S got it, too."
'Who is it p
s'It's them British varmints, and I'm glad you
asked the question, Miss Higgins, because it re-
minds me of my duty and mustn't stop to waste
time, but be after them"
'Don't go and resk your life foolishly, Mr.. Steb-
bins, said the widow anxiousy. "What can you
do agin so many?"
"Well, Miss Higgins, don't expect [ could lick
'em all in free fight, though shouldn't be afeard
to tackle two or three of the rapscallions, but l
rather guess I'm a match for them in craft, and
its in that way that expect to get the better OF
yet
sBut you must be cautious, MI. Stebbins."
''That' jest what calc late to do, Miss Higgins.
And I'll tell ye what, when get back my dudS,
there's handkerchief amongst em that I'll give
you to pay for your friendliness. "
The old lady, who had spice Of vanity, over
loaded the peddler with thanks which he broke in
upon by asking, "Now, III be greatly obliged to
ye, Miss Higgins, if yell jest let me know which
way the critters went
"They went up that way" said the widow,
pointing up the road.
'Then must be on their tracks at once. Good
bye, Miss Higgins, I hope to bring you that hand
kercher before long"
And the peddler, passing over the threshold, be-
gan to stride up the road with free step, which
carried him over the ground at rapid rate.
Leaving him to pursue his course, we go back
to the prisoner whom he had left in durance vile,
bound hand and foot under the tree.
1t would be difficult to tell which feeling was
most predominant, that of anger or shame, at his
unexpected discontinue.
For British officer to be thus easily overcome,
and that by Yankee peddler, was an insuferable
disgrace, and this disgrace would be doubled it it
should be known.
Upon one thing he was resolved, and that was,
to give the pedder short shrift and speedy death,
if ever he got him in his power but it was neces-
sary preliminary to this that he should himself be
liberated.
He strove to free his hands, since, this done,
he would have little difficulty in loosing his feet also.
But this was thing more easily attempted than
done. Jock, the peddler, was pretty well used to
tying knots, and he had secured Major Anlory
with degree of fidelity which made it matter Of
absolute impossibility for him to unloose the cord
that bound him.
"Plague take It'll" he exclaimed, in great vexa-
ton, after trying without success for half an hour
or more. 'The william took good heed that
should not get away easily; hope to serve him a
similar turn sometime. If somebody would only
come along on whom could call for assistance. "
As if in answer to this wish Of Major Amory, he
heard light step approaching scarcely minute
after he had given expression to his wish.
He turned about with sudden hope, but it is
questionable whether he felt more rehef or vexa-
ton when he discovered in the person approach
ing, his fair hostess, Elinor Westyet.
To be caught in this plight by young lady, and
especially one who he felt did not sympathize with
his politics. was an added humiliation which, how.
ever, there seemed to be no way to avoid
He had half mind not to make his presence
known, but this was impossible, since Elinor came
directly towards him. She had come because it
was pleasant to her, again to be in the neighbor-
hood where she had so recently seen her lover and
with very little thought of making the discovery
which awaited her.
When she saw and recognized the English off,
Ger she started, and exclaimed in surprise, "Majo1
Amory, and boundF'
"Even so," said the Major, with tinge Of bit
terness, such is the fate of war, Miss Westvelt.
"But, how did this happen?' asked EEnor, per-
picked
Major Amory did not propose by any means to
tell the truth. That would be too humiiating.-
He had already, on the spur of the moment, con-
cocted a fiction which would answer to redeem him
from pusilanimity, and even rebound to his credit
What it was, will straightway appear.
"How did this happen?" asked Elinor again
while he was arranging in his mind what he pro-
posed to say. -,
j 'Tn tell you, Miss Westvelt But first, vii
you be kind enough to sever these cords which
confne my hands in manner, and with stric
ture by no means comfortable
d II have no knife" said Elinor.
'sMy sword will unite the Gordian knot, if yor
7 do not fear to use it. "
Elinor, with slight shudder, which was not 81
5 much due to her womanly sensibiity, as tht
l.. k1 cln h.