Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-20

Alice. "I'll put the silver and everything
else in there. Are you not anxious about
your own things? Don't you want to 60 and
see after them now?
No, my dear; I have already taken the
precaution of hiding my few valuables, in my
orchard; and as for the house, my presence
would not save it. I am glad that came
over here. I may be ofsome assistance to you
at any rate we can encourage one another"
Taking Carly with her, whom she trustee
implicitly, Alice hastened to the back garden
and deposited box containing the article:
she desired to save in the place she had desg
mated then they filled up the hole. carefully
removing the loose earth scattered about, ano
throwing dead leaves and twigs upon it tt
conceal all traces of their work.
They had scarcely finished when the sounc
of voices and horses hoofs, mingled with
bursts of uproarious laughter and snatches o.
songs, warned them of the approach Of some
of the soldiers. Alice hurried through the
back.door into the house, closely followed by
the trembling Carly, who clung to her now
| like her shadow. IL few moments more
the blaze of torches cast ruddy glow ovel
the house and the surrounding trees, as par
ty of mounted men drew up before the gate
"Open the door, DEAR" said Mrs. Morton tc
Alice "don't let them make unnecessary
noise in getting in, on account of your aunt.
Alice accordingly unlocked the front door
and put it slightly ajar. The men were now
dismounting, with the evident intention of en-
tering. Mrs. Morton stayed in the parlor
and bid Alice 60 to Mrs. Delatour, who was
now awake, and not to come out of her cham
ber; and she would try and keep the men
from disturbing them. Mrs. Delatour had
been told of their approach, as gently as pos
sible so as not to excite her fears; but she
was thoroughly alarmed, and the sense of her
own hel plessness increased her terror. Alice
though her own heart was beating with fear
spoke encouragiugly to her, and maintained
as far as possible an appearance of calmness
which i'll accorded with her true feelings.
The soldiers, who thus rudely interrupted
the repose of the quiet household, were sci
Of stragglers, uncomnanded by any officer
They were all more or less intoxicated, and
evidently bent on committing all the depre
datons in their power. In answer to Mrs
Morton's inquiry of what they had come tc
seek, they bid her hold her tongue, and push
ing her rudely aside, commenced search fol
plunder, breaking locks, mutilating furniture
and fingng various articles out OF the win
dows, regardless of all remonstrance.
II say, where do you keep your plate p
asked one of them, seizing Mrs. Morton by
the arm.
"This is not my house." she replied, "and
do not know where any Of the articles are
kept"
'Don't you? Well, guess we'll have tt
find out for ourselves. Come along, you wool
ly African" he added, colaring staring ne
gro boy, who stood near, "and show us where
your mssus' silver is hid"
The boy protested that he did not know
which was quite true but they pulled him
roughly off, declaring that they did not be-
lieve him, and would soon make him tell
One, who remained in the parlor approached
handsome mirror which hung over the man
telpiece, and with the hilt of his sword shiv
cred it into dozen pieces. Another hacked
the rosewood chairs, and tore the lace curtain:
which draped the windows, until the pretty
sittingroom presented q scene of ruin anC
destruction.
Alice was sitting by Mrs. Delatours bed
trying to soothe her fears, when the door was
suddenly opened, and dark-bearded visage
thrust in.
"Hallo are there more of you in here 2
he exclaimed. Then turning, with his hanc
on the lock, he called loudly to some of his
companions, "Come here, fellows, there's &
jolly pretty girl hiding in here. She's sight
worth seeing"
At this encomium, Alice shrank, timidly
into the shadow of the bed curtain but the
man strobe up to her, and taking her by the
hand, endeavored to draw her forward, ex
claiming, "Don't he bashful, little rosebud
but come into the light and let's have good
look at YOU You need not be afraid, nobody
will hurt you
Alice finding that resistance would only ex
pose her to fresh insult, stood up, and replied
with as much composure as she could assume
II am not at all afraid Of you; but you
must leave this room, as this lady is very ILL
and you will make her worse"
"Oh! we wont hurt the old soul but i'll OF
not, she'll have to be up and stirring, present
ly," rejoined another, who had come In
"Let's feel her pulse-Im doctor, and car
tell whether exertion will be good for her OF
not" Then approaching the bed, he woue
have seized the invalid's wrist, but Alice reso
lutely placed herself in his way.
"Do not touch her." she exclaimed, with
flashing eyes, and the man, with laugh
turned on his heel, and said something in 8
low tone, to his companion.
Call right-no time to be lost" was the re
ply. "Come, young lady, you must both gel
out of here"
"This lady cannot be moved, replied Alice
"It might endanger her life"
~ guess it won't endanger her life as much
as her staying here would; so if you know
what's good for her, do as we tell you"
"What are you going to do ?" asked Alice
"Never mind you'll see directly. Come
bundle up, old girl !; we are wasting time talk
ing"
Mrs. Delatour was unable, from sheer terror
to remonstrate She looked in helpless bewil
derment from one to the other of her persecu
tors, clinging meanwhile to Alice's hand as ii
for protection.
"Ifyou are men, and not fiends," exclaimed
Mrs. Morton, who had now come to Alce's
assistance, "go away from here and exercise
your brutality elsewhere. Do you wish to
commit murder?"
One of the men turned upon her and bid
her hold her tongue, adding, with all oath toe
impious to record, that if they didn't all clear
ont they'd soon find the house too hot to hold
them. This was literally true; for having
ransacked the premises and finding nothing
that they cared to remove, some of the party
had applied their torches to the rear Of the
building, which was already in blaze. There
was no alternative but to remove the invalid
as quickly as possible to place of compare.