Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-08-27

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O., THURSDAY
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b sealously and thoroughly IF there was any dee
l. Of cruelty which they failed to commit, the om
sion was not chargeable to their want of incnatio,
e They were relied upon to render the population
those portions Of the country that were overrur
g heartily sick Of the war They succeeded In srou,
ing adherence and hate that win inAame the bloc
o of thousands yet unborn, when the story of th
atrocities that marked the war is whispered in thei
!. teara - =.
D In obedience to the command of his Captain
Sergeant Jones advanced towards the faithful sav
: and prepared to put tie moose around her neck.
Y ''This is a kind of necklace you hain't worn yet
1 guess" said tie sergeant, - he was making
rtready. "It arn't fine, But itn last you lifetime
Hold down your hands, you old she-devil, you o
J III put pair Of bracelets On to You. Hold Zen
r down, Isayl" IT. -
J, Old Hannah had t6rownap her hands as Ser
geant Jones approached, and now, rendered des
perate by terror she began to struggle for her Life
d The soldiers of whom some twenty were within
the parlor, shouted and applauded, and in viii
slang encouraged her to renewal Of her franti
efforts at selfpreseryshon that excited their mer
Iriment and laughter. Captain Train stood by Will
Ia flushed and excited brow, watching the strug
gles'of the poor negro to keep the noose:fom be
ling forced around her neck. To his followers i
was q spectacle that afforded fun and merriment
but as for himself, his cruelty was an earnest pas
sion like that of the tiger that has feasted on hu
man blood until it's playfulness has been converted
into the most remorseless Of instincts His thicl
brutal lips seemed too stiff and immovable to TAXI
upon themselves smile. BE looked like one stu
pid from wine, and too morose by nature ever tt
laugh. His rayless blue eyes, from under then
heavy brows, turned like those Of tiger as bt
watched the struggling woman hboring IN mute
despair to escape the fate that seemed prepared
for her. After q few seconds he roared out to two
his ruf6ans an angry command to seize and hold
her hands; and as the rope was passed over hel
head and drawn around her neck, she uttered q
wild and piercing shrek and fell back half ffautine
and exhausted
The staircase creaked under light but rapid
tread, and in moment-for she it was who was
ministering at the side of her wounded father
Auttered, yet with firm and determined eye, gil
ded, like thing of light, among the rude and saw
age men who were making mockery of the agony
of her old nurse
There was moment Of unconscious silence 81
she stepped into the midst Of the soldiers lately SC
rude and boisterous. Those who had sprung for
ward to lend assistance to their two comrades, in
fixing the halter around the neck of the half fran.
tic negro, released their hold, and drawing back,
stood abashed at her presence. A few who had
not yet lost all sense Of shame, and to whom long
course of evil conduct had still left some manly in.
stincts unperyerted, shrank back behind more
hardened comrades, to hide them from the glance
of the eye Of the startled being who came among
them like an apparition- an unwelcome one.
There are very few men hardened in vice to such
a.degree as to be beyond the influence of virtu-
ous and beautiful woman. Virtue, alone, has its
power but beauty has an almost magic power that
man, mvrvror pure in charaetgfs provoke
rude and ribald jest, where beauty stands like a
crowned queen receiving the homage Of all as her
just due.
Nellie Danvers stood for moment, hesitating
and doubtful, when she found 80 many rudely star
ing eyes turned upon her. Summoned by the
scream of the old woman who had borne her her
arms during the helpless hours of infancy, she had
impulsively rushed to her aid, but now when she
found herself in the presence of armed men, with
none but hardened and brutal faces around her,
her heart almost failed. They stood like pack of
sullen wolves, overawed and covering under thein
fuence Of some strange spell, which word or q
gesture might dissolve, leaving them again to the
influence of brutal and groveling instincts.
She stood moment glancing around, irreso-
lutey, but her eye flashed whents glance fell upon
the faithful servant in the hands Of strangers, and
with halter around her neck. The courage of
woman is irresistible when it is kindled by her SYM
pathies.. She made one or two rapid steps forward
towards old Hannah, who fell sobbing at her feet
and caught up the hem of her garment In her hand,
as drowning man will catch at fiail willow that
droops its tender stem into the stream. She
turned and faced, with an unquaiing eye, the bru-
tai officer who stood playing with the hilt Of his
sword, and whose eye fell and wandered away when
her glance encountered his.
"What has this poor woman done, to merit such
treatment at the hands of men who belong to an
honorable profession2" asked she in tone that
implied wonder and indignation.
'This is no place for you, madam" faltered out
Captain Train, trying to gather courage from the
faces of his men.
pardon me, sr," replied Nellie, in calm and
measured tone-''but if my place be not here in
my fathers house. and by the side Of faithful SER
want who needs my intercession, know not where
it can be. May ask what grave offence she has
committed to be treated thus?"'
"You had better retire to your room, madam,
Or and the Captain, with an eye where an un-
expressed threat lay lurking, glanced around upon
the rufianly crew that stood looking on in wonder
at the daring of the brave girl.
"I am but doing my duty here, sir, and l trust
in One who is well able to protect me, was Mel
lies calm reply to this covert threat
81 am in command here, {" replied Captain Train,
with grim smile; land ifyou are safe, you owe it
to my protection and forbearance. But, madam,
you are wasting time-I must and will have the
truth from this woman"
''She will tell you the truth without being sub
iected to barbarous and savage treatment replied
Nellie Danvers, with just dash Of Indignation in
her tone 'sif it be mere matter Of plate into