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

punishment inflicted on him by Lieutenant Nc
Gregor, and giving way again to alarm and appre'
hension, as often as he recalled to mind the por
tentous and earnest words Of the lieutenant, and
the quiet searching gaze Of his eye, SO terrible tt
one conscious of his own guiltiness More thar
once, Brack halfresolved to discontinue his dan
gerous trips to the feet; and, had he been O. man
Of strong will, hisresolution would have been fixed:
but, unfortunately for him, he was yielding crea:
ture of impulse, and how, be asked himself could
he refuse arequest urged by the quiet and inhexl'
often ventured himself in service the most haz
ardous in which soldier can engage. The words
of Lieutenant McGregor, spoken at random, as
Brack conjectured, had called up before his mind
the dangers that beset such life as he was lead.
ing, vividly and pointedly. He felt like man
walking over mine that, at any moment, might
be sprung, and which his own feet might explode.
Never before had he felt so disquieted. There was
an instructive sense Of danger that made his heart
heavy and apprehensive.
II will give it up" said he, to himself. Miss
Flsolette must get some one else cannot risk my
life any more, in carrying dispatches to the feet
will tell her so, plainly. It is wrong to be an In
former for the enemy, and L know it. Miss Iso-
lette knows it, and she knows it would break poor
Nellies heart if I was caught and sentenced, and
ytG ollc luSlSLS VII lily SUiuSs IHc plChCt ouOOtuS
is nothing That is risk enough it is true, but il
being caught and hung as a deserer and spy, and
die hated and cursed by the whole country !; and
even Nellie, poor SOUL would be pointed at as the
spys daughter No, gentlemen" said Brack,
waxing warm in his soliloquy, II don't 60 any
more, and you can swear to that. But, - said the
unfortunate man to himself, as the current Of his
thoughts took another direction IF the risk; is
great, and it isn't exactly right to be carrying let
ters to the feet, it has, 80 far paidme pretty well
and my next trip will pay still better. One hun
dred dollars, and that paid down in gold counting
ten Confederate dollars for one, is more than could
get in the army for six years pay. That is some,
thing worth thinking about, and all that earned in
twenty-four hours. Gentlemen, Nick Brack amt
fool enough to let such chance slip, and you can
swear to that l don't know that the letters
carry ever made the Confederacy lose man, or
dollar but do know they pay me mighty well.
ing down to the feet, than riding ''the Confede-
rate grey" at eleven dollars month, paid in rot
ten Confederate bills that amt worth ten cents on
the dollar"
Thus debating the question with himself as he
went along, the unfortunate man soon passed the
bridge, and exhibiting his pass to the guard, fol-
lowed the street ND as far as old Matte Meyers
shop, turned to the right down the cross street,
and was soon at his own door. -y.5,I
Nellie, who was on the lookout for her father,
eagerly ran to meet him.
"And you didn't get my message, Nellie, about
bringing dinner for me, said Brack. ,"'Well. it
didn't matter; feared Tim Hinton wouldn't take
the trouble to come by, but as / got off to come
home it saved you some trouble ....... o.,
eyes, father, got your message" answered
thpfV hoo ri NO, xuaro
put your dinner away for you. s .
"Why, child, how could you hear was coming,
when didn't know it, myself, two minutes before
I left camp?' asked Brack.
''The lieutenant who commands your company,
told me, replied Nellie. II was going to carry
your dinner to you, and he told me he would give
you leave of absence, and that you would not fai
to be here at sunset"
"What?" asked Brack, quickly, and with brow
that manifested some displeasure- ''has Lieuten.
ant McGregor been here-at my house
"No, father" replied Nellie, timidly, 81 saw
him at Matte Meyers shop"
'How came he to know anything about you,
asked Brack, somewhat sharply. Nellie, you
ought not to be talking with young men, soldiers
especially, at public places. But how did he know
who you were p ...
The tears started to NelEe's eyes, at this hasty
and undeserved reproof; and she gave simple
recital of the manner in which Lieutenant Nc
Gregor discovered her to be Brack's daug ghter
He heard me tell Matte Meyer was going over
to camp, to carry your dinner, and know it was
out of kindness, and to save me long. walk, that
he told ME he was going over, and would give you
leave Of absence to return at sunset"
'Ah! that was all, then" said Brack, sooth-
ingly "But wonder how Lieutenant McGregor
could have known you were my daughter?'
II suppose, sir, he must have heard old Matte
call me by my name" answered Nellie. II am
sure, thank him for saving me long and useless
walk"
81 wish he had been good enough to save me a
long and useless ride" muttered Brack. what
have you got for dinner, Nellie? I must eat and
be gone again.
'Surely, you will not leave home before morn.
ing, father" said Nellie, entreatingly. II have
good dinner for you, and if you win stay at home,
I will try to cook you one Of the incest suppers
you ever had. bought some mutton and some
onions to-day, to give you nice supper and l
will boil some rice, and give you some genuine
coffee, hot and strong"
''Ah Nellie, can't stay for SUPPER" replied
Brack. 81 must take my dinner and away on i'm
portant business, but when I get back, tomorrow
night, II be ready for your supper, Nellie Give
me my dinner, now, and let me CO.
With sigh of genuine sorrow and grief, Nellie
went in, and soon placed the meal upon the table.
True, it was not sumptuous repast, but by sew.
ing for one, washing and securing for another, and
by stinting herself and her brother, Nellie man
aged to set before her father, whenever he took his
me,.., at home, fare somewhat better than most
men of his station could boast of in those days of
destitution and want.
Brack followed his daughter into the back-room
where the table was set, and, with sharp apPe;;
tite, fell to work. As soon as he had concluded
his repast, and had laid down his knife and fork,
Nellie silently handed him the note she had that
day received from Isolette DeVere
Brack read it hastily-it was but three or four
lines-and muttered aloud:
miss Isolette is very urgent this time-she
wrote yesterday, and she writes again to-day, that
must on no account fail.
':Father," asked Nellie, pausing before him,
who is Miss 1solette-what is her other name z
"Brack laughed aloud.
"What Nellie" said he, you've been at her
house so often, and never yet learned her name
Why thought you knew her name as we'll as
your own. 1t is DeVere-Isolette DeVere. How
happened you never to have learned her name
until now?" -. ..s -.
IT never thought of asking until to-day, when
old Matte =! begged me to find out for hin" an
'Old Matte? Why does he wish to know her
name, wonder?' asked Brack. :,
"Only curiosity, suppose" replied Nellie; Il
was buying some eggs for Miss Bolette, and he
asked me her full name:
"WeD don't say anything to him about her, Mel
lie," answered Brack, whom even this little cir
cumstance somewhat disquieted. The less you
have to say about her, to any one, the better
No1l;o Noror oapt;on bar ~ m q