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

widowed mother bowed in anguish beneath
the rod.
CHAPTER XIX.
AN INCIDENT OF sHERMAN's RAID NOT MEN
TONED IN HISTORY.
"Marion, is there candle in the house
The room is so dark. l cannot see you at all. .
1t was Mrs. Deatour's feeble, broken voice
that spoke. Alice rose from her seat by the
bedside, and bending over the pillow, answered
tenderly-
"There is light burning in the room
auntie. Iput it in corner on the floor, that
it might not hurt your eyes. Do you want ii
on the table ?"
Eyes 1 don't like the dark; it gives me
such gloomy thoughts"
Alice accordingly put the candle in the de-
sired position, and then returned to her seat
beside the invalid. The shock of Gervais
death had completely unhinged Mrs. Della
tours whole nervous system. Her strength
had barely suficed for the endurance of hel
homeward journey, and no sooner had she
reached Elmwood than she was prostrated by
6t of illness, the result of which, for some
days, seemed so doubtful as to create the great
est anxiety in Alce's mind. Lately, she had
appeared decidedly better, though still SC
feeble as to require constant attention, and
Alice never left her bedside, save to attend tc
some necessary household duty, or to snatch
few hours of indispensable repose, while
some trustworthy friend or domestic took hel
place.
During the past day her improvement had
been more marked than usual, and Alice, this
evening, felt proportionately cheered and en-
couraged.
"Poor child, how weary and worn out you
must be-" she remarked, laying her thin hand
caressingly on that of the devoted girl. "To'
night, l hope you will have good, long rest
for you need it sadly"
81 shall sleep the better for seeing you SC
much BETTER" rejoned Alice. "Mrs. Morton
is coming over after tea, to stay all night
have had the couch prepared for her in your
dressing ROOM"
II am glad of it, for your sake. I don't
think I need any ore with me, but know il
| were alone you would not be satisfied"
"No indeed" said Alice, kissing her fore
head. "You are not by any means strong
enough to discard nightly attendance yet
Do you feel like having your tea and bit OF
toast now?"
The invalid assented, and Alice brought the
simple meal, and watched her partake of ii
with more appetite than she had yet display
ed, remarking with much satisfaction as she
removed the empty plate and cup
81 shall have famous report to make tc
DR.. Stevens in the morning! A good nights
Sleep and some breakfast tomorrow, will
quite set you up again"
After dusk Mrs Morton, kind neighbour
who had also lost a dear and only son in bat
tie, and could fully sympathize with Mrs
Delatour in her bereavement, came over tc
fulfill her promise Of remaining at Elmwood
for the night. Alice felt very weary, and al
an early hour retired to bed, and was soon in
sound sleep.
She was suddenly aroused by the noisy
opening of her room-door, and the frightened
exclamation of Carly, the maid, who had
rushed in halfdressed, ,witha light in her hand
"Miss Marion! Miss Marion for the Lords
sake wake up! They're coming! they're
coming!"
Coming! Who2 What do you mean
What's the matter cried Alice, starting
confusedly up.
"The soldiers, ma'am-the Yankees They're
over to the village now, and they're burning
and destroying everything Oh Lord ! Oh
heavenly Master!' calculated the terrified
girl, "we'll all be murdered and destroyed. u
Alice was greatly alarmed, but she saw the
necessity of preserving her composure, at least
outwardly. "Hush, Carly" she said, earnest
ly; "please don't disturb Mrs. Delatour you
know how weak she is. Are you sure this
news is true?"
"True2 Jim and Spencer seen 'em with
their own eyes; the parsonage house is in a
blaze, and you can hear them whooping and
hollering from the road. Oh! maam, can't
we hide somewhere out in the woods? May
be they won't find us there"
"They won't trouble you" said Alice, who
was hurrying on her clothes; "you need not
be afraid. Has any one told Mrs. Delatour
Is Mrs. Morton with her?"
"N1rs. Morton came out to hear what was
the matter; missis was asleep, | reckon, cause
she seemed quiet"
"I'm glad Of that she must not be disturb
ed, if we can possibly hell 1t. Perhaps those
horrid soldiers won't come this way. Please,
Carly, be as quiet as you can; know | can
rely on you to hel p me-"
"Oh! yes, Miss Marion, III stay by you, "
said the girl, who was devotedly attached to
her mistress and Alice, as indeed were all of
Mrs. Delatours domestics, and who felt her
courage rise at the sight of Alices calmness
forced though it was. "If only they don't
burn us out!"
"They would not-they could not be SO
brutal, with sickness in the house." cried AL.
ice. But she had heard of even greater out
RACES being committed by the lawless soldiery
and her heart by no means responded to the
assurance of her lips. Being now dressed
she FASTENED in quest of Mrs Morton, from
whom she learned that the invalid still slept
and the two ladies held an anxious and hur
rled consultation as to their best mode of ac
tion.
Il advise you to hide all the silver and
other articles of value about the house" said
Mrs. Morton. "They will most likely come
in search Of plunder. Don't keep any arti
cles ofjewelry about you you will only be
| f,roal tr rivo tbon, ~