Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-03-18
CHAPTER III.-CoNTINUED.

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"You are not 6t yet, Bessie; sit down and
rest Ferris is gone; don't be afraid" And
he drew her to the bank. Still she wept bit
terly. .. .-....... .-.
"Be calm, Bessie; you have no farther
cause for fear. will see you safe home, and
you must promise me not to venture out alone
again"
"Oh Ellick." she sobbed, "it is not so much
that I'm afraid, as I'm afraid you'll think i'll
of me-" And still the flushed face was hid
from him.
all of you, Bessie! Never" said the SOL
dier, with warmth, as he took her hand.
With sudden impulse she turned, and
looking up at him in mingled joy and love,
threw herself into his arms.
"Tell me again, Ellick," she whispered; !;
"for, oh !! feared you would be vexed at my
treatment yesterday at the church, though it
was both pride and shame made me do it, and
l feared you might think my silly words then,
had made Ferris meet me here. And, Oh If
you hadn't come," and she shuddered.
IL was at the minister's and felt uneasy for
you, Bessie, fearing you might be so thought
less as to come alone. DreadingI scarcely
know what, came out to you"
1T was Gods care Of me, father will say"
said the maiden, reverently. "And Ellick,
will you forgive me for yesterday" she said.
submissively, as she timidly raised her head.
Who could look in those blue eyes, still swim
ming in tears, and not forgive her?
"Indeed, l will, dear Bessie" he said, as he
fondly kissed her, "if you promise never to
venture out alone again"
II can easily promise that" she said, smi.
ling in perfect reinsurance. "for l doubt If
father will ever trust me; and as he'll be un.
easy now, we had better be going on"
"And what will you do with your bucket,
Bessie?"
"Oh! you can put it in the shade Of the
branch there; it will keep cool in the water,
and put the basket under yon thicke!t, and
when you come back you can carry them. /
promised them this evening, and like to be
as good as my word"
"That's right, Bessie! shan't object to
your being always as good as your word; but
what sort of soldiers wife will you make if
you scream as loud when the British are on
you, as you did this evening?'' he said, as he
drew her hand through his arm, and, clasping
it, walked leisurely on.
."Oh but I'll do better. when I'm =" -
"Well! When what, Bessie?' he laugh
ingly said.
"When I'm your wife, Ellick," she hravely
spoke, though her face was crimsoned. "lll
never he ashamed of it again, and if any one
asks me who I love best in all the world, Ill
say Ellick Bowen and though her voice
trembled as we'll as the hand that rested in
his, and though she could not look at him,
she persevered in finishing. He threw his
arms around her and she went on
"I'll be afraid now Of nothing, Ellick, that
1 know you don't think i'll Of me; and III
never give you cause again. I would rather
meet q whole army Of British, than Reuben
Ferris. Oh! hate him and dread him so !;
and when he looks at me" and she shuddered
and turned pale.
"Never mind him. Bessie. Let us talk Of
something else. Did you see Miss Ellen, this
morningw
'"Yes; we were up at the Mansion, and Miss
EllenIs trying hard to get the old gentleman
to provide means for the outfit of those troop
ers I know she has deprived herself of
good deal to- furnish the boys that Joined
some time ago, aud has no means of her own,
or she would not wait on the old man. It's
strange she eau get all she wants from him
but that, and he grows; so fretful and impa-
tieut, and so frightened, too, that she is afraid
to press it. When will, Major Davie be
DOWN."
81 don't know, Bessie why do you ask ?
Is Miss Ellen wanting to snow?'
"She did not ask me" said Bessie, too hon.
est to betray secret that was not her own,
and discovered only by her woman's intuition.
"It's hard to tell where Major Davie will
be; he's here, there and, away. We've got a
great troop, Bessie. The boys have never
been beat yet, and1 don't believe would know
when they weEs%hipped. If it were not that
I thought Ircould take twenty fellows with
me when 60, would not be tagging here
The most of them have, have only been
waiting for leader"
evil Ferris 60, now?"
II don't think he had ever much notion of
it. If there was Tory clan about here, I
would suspect him but he's as cunning as
the savage, he IS"
"Don't trust him, Ellick father never put
confidence in him, and now, he'll not like him
any better"
Hell not give US the chance, I'm thinking;
and l want no such-well, won't say bad
words before you, Bessie, but I'll not have
him in my company. Your father would say
such wretch would be curse upon our
arms-but here we are at the homestead. 1t
looks like Bessie's home, and that says more
than anything else. How sweet and dear it
is," he said, as his eye sought hers.
In few words, old Andrew was made &C.
quainted with the evenings adventure, and
as they sat down to their frugal meal, the old
man, with more than usual fervor, blessed God
for his care, while his tones grew deeper as
he prayed the Lord might take speedy ven
geance on their enemies Such picture of
rural comfort as was presented in that hum
BILE dwelling! The table was spread in the
cool passage; the evening air, laden with the
fragrance of the honeysuckle and flowers,
passed gently through. Bessie's table, with
its cloth Of spotless purity, was spread with
the dainties (the best. and choicest after all
of the farmhouse. There was her print of
golden butter, loaf of light wheaton bread,
chicken broiled to the incest brown, eggs
poached and daintily set off with sprigs of
parsely, the biscuits smoking hot, and gen.
uine hoe. cake of Carolina memory. Added
to this, was bowl of sweet clabber, with its
cream untouched and milk cooled by day s
repose in the spring house also dish of nice
fresh honey, so that one might suppose; on
seeing such tempting dainties, that they were
literally in land flowing with milk and
honey.
The patriarch and father sat at the head
of the board, giving utterance to words Of
homely wisdom or prudent counsel, while