Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-04-01


"Horrible, horrible?" said Bessie, covering
her face with her hands.
"Yes, and what I'm to do with you, chiel,
I Gamma say. My heart faints at the thought
of the terror to which you will be exposed. y
81 will not leave you, father" said Bessie,
firmly.
"Deed, Bessie, dinna what to do ; but I'm
thinking you'll be better at the Mansion
House"
at is useless to persuade me, father. You
see yourself they are not free from the in
suits Of these lawless men, and I am as safe
here with you as I am anywhere l cannot
60. DO not grieve me by asking, dear faith.
err" said little Bessie, in her coaxing way.
"As you like lassie. Dear knows Gamma
find it in my heart to send you from me
now"
Bessie now busted herself about her usual
household duties, and though interrupted fire.
quently by rude guests, still the day promised
to pass without other danger than the ter
ror these coarse visitors inspired. Late in
the evening, Andrew gathered, from the re-
marks of the passers, that the Americans were
in hot pursuit, and would likely come up
with the enemy on the following day.
"It is positive madness" said one, "to at
tempt forcing Ferguson from that position.
He commands the whole hill, and each COL
umn of the wbigs, as it advances, will be swept
by his guns till not man remains He's
got a body of regulars there, too, that would
face thousand devils if they were command.
ed to do it. tell you, there's small chance
for those hunting. shirt fellows below. Why
Ferguson could crush them by only rolling
the stones down."
Such conversations and the like were not
calculated to quiet Andrews mind ; yet just
as little did they intimidate hopeful little
Bessie. With quiet smile and many an
inward prayer, for we'll she knew Ellick was
there, did she pursue her duties. AS evening
advanced the confusion became greater, and
the ribald oaths and obscene songs of the
brutal rabble, more than once startled and
shocked Bessie's ears. Still she bravely kept
up her courage, and setting the table for the
evening meal, prepared it with the usual
tidy despatch.
II am afraid you are no better, father"
said Bessie, who had twice called the old man
before he had answered.
eyes, lassie dear, better and more COM
Portable since the morn," replied the old man.
"If get "a nights rest, with Gods blessing,
| will be the same as ever, and may He bless
and keep us" said he, as he reverently bow
ed his head, asking the customary blessing on
the food provided. They had scarcely set
down ere the door was rudely thrown open
and party of troopers, headed by Ferris,
entered.
"Just in tme," said he, with coarse oath.
"Come, Bessie" said he, familiarly laying
his hand on her shoulders. "Give us some
supper, girl the best the house will afford"
Now Bessie was neither patient nor pru-
dent, and quick to resent such conduct and
language from the man whom she hated
above all others in the world, she replied
"Ill never wait on you, Reuben Ferris,
nor any like you but know you'll take
what you want. There are the keys; wait on
yourself" and throwing them on the table,
she entered her own room and closed the
door.
"a spicy jade" said one of the men.
"Let her alone" said Ferris. "Ill deal
with her presently"
II trust, sirs," said Andrew, in pale alarm
at Bessie's imprudent words and the swag-
gering impudence of the party, "that you
will think nothing of the hasty speech Of q
silly lassie. You are welcome to whatever
my poor house Affords and / will wait upon
you better than foolish girl"
"I'll swear if it amt the deaf Scotchman,
Tom! You can hear we'll enough now, you
grey.headed hypocrite," said trooper, with
an oath.
"Ha! what is that Tom ?" asked Ferris
in SURPRISE at the indignant astonishment of
his companions.
"We came here, the night of your big expe-
dtion against Major Dsvie, up at the Mansion
House." laughed Tom-with whom and his
companions, Ferris bunglng business was
standing joke-"and found the old sinner so
deaf and psalm singing, as not to be able to
hear anything we said to him. You have re-
covered wonderfully since that time, friend"
eyes, and I'll be sworn he was the very
man that carried the news to the Wing camp"
said Ferris, in gathering wrath.
eff thought so, I'd make him dance on
nothing, pretty soon" said the trooper a reck-
less and cruel bully, who was match for
Ferris in every crime. "But no, it could not
have been, for there was no one here but him
self"
mo one but himself! Where was Bessie ?"
said Ferris, with his keen grey eyes fixed on
the man.
"His child? Oh she had gone to see
friend" said the trooper, who could not un-
derstand the gathering cloud on Ferris brow.
"She had, had she?" thundered Ferris.
"Now," said Ferris, with terrible oath, "she
will pay dearly for that visit. Tell me where
she went" cried he, starting up and grasping
the throat of Andrew, cor I'll choke every
drop Of blood out of you"
There was low gurgling sound, and Fer
ris, not aware himself, in his fury, of the
giant grip that was sufFocating the old man,
was startled by piercing shrek, and Bessie,
who had been an anxious listener of the fore
going conversation, rushed from the adjoining
room and threw her arms around her father.
With furious curse, the wretch dashed the
old man from his hand, and dragging the girl
from the now llsensible body, thundered out
$50 it was you, my little Miss, that done
Bowen the good deed of carrying tales to him,
was it?"
"My father, my dear father" cried the girl,
wrenching herself from the rufhan's grasp;
and, kneelug by the side of the still PROSTATE
form, called on him in piercing tones to speak
to her. He was not dead, but partially stran-
gled and stunned. He slowly opened his eyes,
and with difficulty raised himself from the
floor.
"Are you hurt, father, dear?" cried Bessie,
as she bent over him in fearful anxiety.
81 Gamma say, my child. I feel very
strange-here-" said he, hesitatingly press
ing his hand to his head. 81 think, child, /