Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-05-30

70.
late hour Mrs. Elliott and the children were
persuaded to take little rest, and about four
o'clock Conway's head sank back and she
slept as soundly in her easy chair as if it had
been bed of down. Grace alone was left to
keep vigil, while the long, cloudy winter night
wore away. Anxious thoughts for her father
filled her mind, and her heart was lifted in
prayer for bis safety.
The early rousing of the soldiers was a
change, if not relief and then her mothers
gentle, "Grace, my dear, 60 and lie down
you have had long, lonely night shall
not sleep again, so you can take good nap, "
was like music after the silent hours she had
passed.
She went and lay down, but the troubled
doze into which she was soon sinking was
broken by loud calls from Hess, the cook, to
come down and open the door. She had no
coffee in the kitchen-dem mean white Yam
KEGS done tuck every grain, an eff she didn't
git breakfast fore dey was rootin' roun', dere
wouldn't be a thing lef-case one on EN- tole
her thousan' worse ones was comm to-day
Lance was reused, and Hess came bcstling
in. She was an old woman, and had been
head cook for over forty years. Of late she
had been training couple of her grandchil-
dren to take her place, but she never gave up
the control, and now they were gone.
"Where's all dem gals, an John and joel p
"Dunno; deys gone, specs" and Lance
glanced toward the encampment.
"Jes' like dem fool niggers. Dey blieves
everything dem soldiers say. Dey better wait
an see if deys good family or not, fore dey
goes runnin' offwid white mems. know desc
folks wot comes an goes, an tears up, an steals
from, spectacle black people, amt much no
how. You amt gwine of, fool-like, too?"
"No, maum Hess, Use gwine stay till Mass
Jack comes back. Dat Yankee officer wot
stays in de settin' room, told us if we didn't
min de wife people he'd give us smoke. Maud
an Clara dey jes laugh after he gone, an say
de oder men say deys as free as him, an to
clar out eff dey wanted to, an dey went soon
as dark come"
The conversation was interrupted by the
entrance of Mrs. Elliott.
"Well, maum Hess, you haven't left us?"
mo, Miss Georgia, me an my ole man
neber leave till we's carried off in our cofins.
We's got some sense yet; we knows wen we's
whole-footed. It's dem w;te niggers wot don't
know wen dey's we'll off"
"Have they all gomez"
"Ebery one, ma'am."
II hope they will never have cause to regret
it. Have you any thing to cook for break
fast"
eyes, Misses. Dat captain yonder sent
plenty Of beef from his own wagon, an deres
lots of tings in de smoke-house an store-room.
Dem guards is mighty polite"
"Then makejust what you please, and bring
in breakfast as soon as it is ready"
Although they had eaten little the day be-
fore, Stuart was the only one with an appe-
tite, and Hess grumbled that they could eat
no6n no more
In the course of the morning, Mrs. Elliott
sent for Captain Clinton. He was out; but
two other officers were in the room, and Lance,
who had rarely been sent with messages when
quicker and brighter servants were about,
gave it in such way they hardly knew wheth-
er Clinton was meant, particularly, or any
officer.
"It don't matter" said one; "I should like
to see who it is Clinton has moved heaven and
earth to protect. If it is the family 1 think,
I'd see the house burned over their heads be-
fore I'd raise finger for them."
"It will be rude to force ourselves into their
presence. I'm sure its Clinton they want"
replied the other.
"Come along, Major. I'm going anyhow,
and you might as we'll see the fun. So come
on" and the two men crossed the wide passage
to the parlor. Mrs. Elliott was seated in an
arm chair, with Conway standing on one side
and Grace the other. She looked up in cold
surprise and scarcely acknowledged the bows
of the two men but nothing daunted, the one
who had taken the lead began
"As Captain Clinton had gone out for a
short time and left Major Vincent and my
self-Col. Ford-in his place, we have answer.
ed your summons and come to receive your
commands" and the speaker drew up chair
and sat down.
Mrs. Elliott rose Indignantly, Conway's
scorn was whitening, and Grace raised her
head with the Elliott pride which so rarely
showed itself in her.
Colonel Ford's manner was enough to rouse
them ; he, too, had recognized Claude Elliott
by his portrait, and the smouldering fire of an
old college feud gave wrathful, insulting
tone to his words.
II have no commands except for you to
leave the room"
Colonel Ford's face was livid, but there
was frmness and majesty in Mrs. Elliott's
appearance not to be resisted, and he went out
80 humiliated that even his curses were re-
strained till he reached the sitting-room.
Major Vincent had not spoken; he bowed dep
recatingly, and followed the Colonel. Ford
would not meet Clinton when he saw him
coming, but dashed out like madman. That
be had drawn contempt on himself only added
to his rage. Major Vincent gave Clinton
brief account of what had passed.
"It is strange" said Clinton. "Col. Ford
knows what belongs to good manners and is
generally extremely polite"
"Some old grudge, guess, for he intimated