Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-09-10

= NOW, u0u IyOu pccu .S1I1tl cVieu Aauthus AZ
grily. Feeling fully assured that her prisone,
would not now, in sheer dePeration, break mp tht
contents Of the closet, she was again disposed t
exercise her authority to its full extent inguardins
the property Of her master from tie profane touct
|of peddler She was inclined again to hint a
the existence Of ratsbane in the closet and that i
might by some accident have become mingled
with the savory viands, the odors Of which Until
lated her prisoners palate but her previous false
hood had 80 far overshot tsmak, andled to results
so little anticipated, that sprofting by her late ex
perience, abe mentally resolved to: adhere to tht
truth. - - 7
sNow, don't you tech nsne Of them things, !" e1
postulated the old woman. TITS mighty near al
that 5 been left on the place, and no yankee ped
dler shall take the bread out Of Miss Nellie and
Mass Toms mouth, while Loan helpit Qon''
you put your hand on dem tings ~" =
ST can't find 'em, " urged The voice within, in !
tone of disappointment. -. ,.,g =s
SITS well enough you can't If you want any
thing said Hannah,- throwing out hint which
might enable her to work 90 tie fears Of her pris
oner, "you must 20 long to the kitchen If the
guard win let yon and eat in there. % - -.
"Hoh your horse, old WomanP cried the pris
oner, upon whom the tearors Of this imaginary
guard had BEEN completely lost 2 ssf'ye found the
ham and turkey, and dutn the kitchen, I say
Where's your bread, or have you got any here?'
Old Hannah was struck dumb at the insolence
and etfrontsry Of yankee peddler, who could dare
to be jolly and enjoy himself under such circum
stances. It was time for her to take some decided
steps to prevent the raYenous peddler from de-
vouring all the food which she had 50 carefully hid
by, for the moTow's necessifess- -,,. ..
nNever you mind thebread, criedshe, with an
angry toss Of the head. "I'Il bring you sauce fol
your ham and turkey that won't help your appe
tite much. You low.down, cheatin' infermoui
peddler, to come into white mans house, and be
one of the first families u " fsinny. and carry or
like you was in an oyster ceIari III callde guard
and he Il put his bagonet into you y ~
"Hold on, my good mauma," cried the voice, BE-
seechingly. Here's my pocketbook-my knife
everything I've got only let me out" .s....,.
Old Hannah however, was resolute in her pur
pose, and not to be shaken by either bribes or en-
treaties. With her underlip protruding in wrath
she strobe towards the rear Of the passage whers
the fight of steps TO the upper story began, to
port the contumacious conduct of her prisoner and
request that Victor should forthwith remove hin
from the closet and hold him uBder guard. She
had nearly reached the foot Of the stairway, wher
four soldiers, gliding into the passage like shadows
from the darkness of the porch, gathered around
her. She was too much frightened by the sudder
apparition of armed men, to cry out or to flee
They advanced promptly, and surrounding her,
dered her to be quiet ~ ?, -,
''Tell me quickly and truly" said their. leader
who was no other than our old acquaintance, Hsr
vey Haley, are there any yankee soldiers in this
house?'
"What if these be yankee soldiers in disguise,
was the thought that at this moment came upper
most in the mind of the alarmed domestic. She
looked bewildered-she hesitated, and her roved
in her fear from one:to the other: Herglance tel
upon Prescott, whom she instantly recognized.
"God bress de dear boyP' exclaimed she, al
mcst falling upon Prescott's neck in her e1uber
ant joy, at finding she was not again in the hands
of federal soldiers. "Bress de Lord desc our OWE
people!''
"Where is Victor Garnett, who came with me
to-nightr asked Prescott, freeing himself from hel
hands. "Have the yankees captured him. ,
"Bress your dear soul i-no;" answered Hannah
gleefuly. "He took one of dem he's got him in
mass Toms bed room now, with his foot on him
Just like de man in de picture on de flag, that dc
ladies give to mass Tom and his rigiment.
''Show me the way to him." exclaimed Harvey
Haley, delighted to hearof his escape -.
cup dem steps, mossa," " replied Hannah indl
eating the way with her fore-6nger- TO the right
when you reach the landing place: Youwin see
light in de room, sir. "
Harvey went up the staircase swiftly, clearing
two or three steps at bound. -" -
-"Victor is q lucky fellow" said Prescott. y
feared, as I leaped out and left him behind, thai
he was bound to go up the spout. The yankees
didn't search the house" ias
"Why, mossa, if dey didn't sarch, nobody ebe'
sarch," replied Hannah, in full sympathy with he1
auditors. ''Dey 60 ebery where--break open box
es, bureaus and trunks--stiok ebery bed wid dere
swords. If dey bin run we an eberyting through
a riddle, dey oouldn'ter sarched more closer der
dey did,"
''How did they miss seeing Victor, then p asked
Prescott. ....-
"Oh, bress you! dey did see him, and walked
around him eber so many times, and when all wa:
gone but one, he Knocked him heels over head ane
got him prisoner dere yet. But, forgot my chile
I take one prisoner, too, and got him safe" ane
the smile of exultation and triumph with which old
Hannah made this announcement, was refreshing
to behold.
"Well must say you are game old hen,
said Robin Lassiter, ''and he must have been g
downright dung.hill of the meanest stock, to have
shown you the white feather. Whereaway have
you got him cooped up?" a:a-....
"He's locked up safe enough in that closet mos
sa, replied old Hannah, indicating, with her fin
ger, the place where be was incarcerated. HE
used to come around here before the war with al
sorts of peddler's stuff, cheating US black folks
He cheated me out of so much that I had ruthel
to take him than whole regiment. And viii yot
believe it?-he'd no sooner got locked in the close
than he went sarchin round and round-just like .
yankee-and went to drinkin' that old brandy tha
mossa never brings out but upon 'strordinary Ca
sions. Yes, mossa, be had the face to 60 to drink
in it like it was ornary whiskey.
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