Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-07-02
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER VIII.-CoNrrNUD.
Sitting on the piazza, that abutted against tn
gable end of Matte Meyers establishment, it wa
easy to overlook the diapidated structure that ha
been pointed out to Victor as Nicholas Brack's a
bode. It was on the opposite side Of the street
about sixty or seventy yards lower down; and II
the yard which was enclosed by board fence, rot
ten and decayed, and in some places nearly gone
girl could be seen busted at her work about tn
Door motherless Nellie, busy at the domestic drudge
~ which falls to the lot of poverty. A ragget
little boy, of eight or ten years old, was by ne
side, giving what little assistance he could to th'
industrious but overtasked creature.
McGregor' s face expressed some painful feelings
''This is very sad affair me- said he, speak:
ing to Victor "Brack and Walsh must necessari
" die for their offence. With Walsh it matter
not; feel no emotion of pity or compassion to-
should meet his fate without delay. But Brack il
a poor, weak, thoughtless creature, led astray BY
Others rather than by an unusually bad heart
Hear how merrily that poor overtaxed daughter o.
his sings over her work, unconscious that the hano
of fate is laid on her guilty father know the
Door creature, so blithe and cheerful has tender
and affectionate heart and that it will be crushed
when the blow falls on him. have made specia
enquiries about Brack, and am told that, degra
ded as he is, he is in his way, alhough an improv
ident, a very fond father. 1 should like to save
him, but fear it would be wrong"
II scarcely know why it is, responded victor
'sbut do feel the deepest pity for Brack and fol
his daughter; although have never seen her.
1t is strange that one should feel 50 interested III
one who is altogether a stranger. think 1t must
have been the changed tone of Brack, when he
began to speak of his daughter at the jewelry
store, that had its effect upon me.
YES; it was that, and the fate that you felt to
be impending over her father, rejoined the lieu
tenant. "You saw, from the tone Of the man,
that, degraded as he was, there were some sweet
home affections that were still dear to him and
YOU saw the ruin topping to its fall, to crush him
and his household charities. 1t seems the act OF
an unreasoning madman, but men, far superior to
Brack, daily dragdown shame andruin upon them
selves and all that love them"
Lieutenant" said Victor, suddenly changing
the conversation, "How many men has Harvey
Haley with him, to assist in making arrests I"
"0nly two," replied McGregor, but they are
picked men; we can get detail from the Provost
guard, if We need more. BY the way that Ser
McGregor was leaning back in his chair against
the railing of the piazza, his feet upon the rounds
of his chair, his shoulders bent, and his head
dropping One foot was resting on his knee, and
he was toying indolently with a pen-knife, which
now and then, he polished upon his boot With
head askant, his blue eyes were opened wide and
turned upon Victor watchfuly as he spoke One
who looked carefully, might have seen anincipien
smile upon his lip. -,
Harvey is an uneducated man and in humble
circumstances, returned Victor, but, tor all that
nature made him gentleman. He IS not, how
ever, sergeant, but simple private. he only
Joined his company yesterday"
The smile deepened upon McGregor's lips.
''You are mistaken, Victor" said McGregor
emphaticaly, ''your friend, Harvey, Is sergeant.
Victor looked into the face of McGregor with s
surprised and doubtful look. He saw the smile
there, and intuitively OWNED its meaning:
"He has received an appointment thenF asked
EYES," answered the lieutenant, 81 noticed hi:
brave and intelligent conduct yesterday, and after
parting from you, reported it to Colonel Giles
This morning I mentioned the affair again, ano
knowing how warmly you were interested in hi!
behalf, begged the colonel to promote him when
ever he could. He sent for Captain Carberry, anc
there being two vacancies in the companys list o1
non-commissoned officers, Harvey Haley at once
receivedan appointment, with his Captains cheer
full consent He had no intimation of his ap
pointment until delivered him written orders to
day. Do you think it will be any qualification tt
him2"
81 am very sure he viii be highly grsti6ed,'
answered Victor "He is an old soldier, arc
knows the advantages of even ap humble position
like that. feel very grateful to you, lieutenant
for securing it for Harvey. He is discreet man
and very intelligent and reliable"
The conversation between the two friends was
half hour later, interrupted by the announce
ment that their dinner was ready to be served up
They preferred dining out in the piazza, WHERE
they then sat, and the table was spread there BY
the two red checked, fat daughters of old Matte
Meyer, galantly assisted by the lieutenant anc
Victor. A roast duck, broiled ham andeggs rice
fresh loaves of bread and butter, and beef steaks
with cups of we'll made Coffee were set before
the hungry soldiers, who fell to work with will
not, however, till the lieutenant of artillery had
piously invoked blessing upon it: True, the din
ner was not such as might have delighted an epi
cure, but the young soldiers were not disposed tt
long after more recherche viands
'SThis differs from some dinners have eaten il
nv time" said the lieutenant, laying down hi
knife and fork, after having feasted heartily.
''It is plain, but STILL tits we'll cooked and good,
rejoined Victor.
"Good! Yes, you might well say so, after beinl
in the army two years, and living on such ration
as have sometimes been compelled to eat. II
the campaign on the Shenandoah, just before tn
Maryland campaign, for three days had only min
ears of hard corn, and water from the spring t
subsist on Well might we implore Gods bles
sing on our scanty and unsuitable fare there, TO
without his special blessing, man and horse woul'
have failed ,. ,,
"Now, we will take glass Of wine together,
said Victor, as he, too, ceased from eating; AN
then we will try to run Madame Isolette's tra
again"
The glasses were filed with the ruby wine, ant
the friends, pledging each other, Withdrew iron
the table. Victor settled the score with old Mat
ties better-half paying far less than he expected
and rejoined the lieutanant who had resumed III
indolent and easy attitude in the corner.
After few minutes conversation, Victor sud
denly rose, remembering the uncalled for ring a
the Jewellers store. Promising to return in a
hours time, at farthest, he took his hat and hui
ried away.
He had scarcely turned the corner, before tn
lieutenant, who was growing impatient tor som
further development, and who frequently glance
towards the old building where Brack lived, say
the gate open aud young girl, Of about fifteen
come forth, and crossing the street, advance alon
the sidewalk towards where he was sitting. Whe
she came, he noted her closely He was struck b
her large, sad radiant eyes, that seemed to shin
with light not of earth, and by the extreme sen
sbility impressed upon her features. Intellect an
maturity beyond her years, and an emotional ma
ture so keen and exquisite that it was ever mos
senstiyely alive to impressions Of pain or gladness
were written upon her face. In the, palaces {
mobiles, with pleasing sights and gentle voices
round her, voices not to chide and to repr0Ve, pt
to soothe, and console and comfort; with ever a