Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-19
CHAPTER II.

Lieutenant Edward Harraden of His
Majesty's 50th Regiment of Foot-a tine
yo1ng fellow, with far more of the hearty
Squire about him than Of the typical officer
of the day, was waiting that afternoon at a
very familiar spot, situated just about half
way between the town and the barracks on
Mount Pleasant. OF course he was waiting
for Marjorie; and as punctuality isas rigid
a virtue in love as in war, he had not to
wait long before he espied light active
form, furs and ribbons flying, making the
best of it's way toward him through the
deep snow, and in a few seconds was press
ing his own honest face against the dimples
and bushes of Marjorie's.
ooh, Edward!" cried the breathless girl:
"Such fun before dinner! You know my
tutor-Old Candlestick, as you call him
we'll, now, what do you think he has been
and done?"
"Can't think, my darling" replied the
young officer.
s'Well what would you think was the
most unlikely thing in the world that he
would do?!
"Well," said the young Englishman, after
a pause. for, being a ponderous man, he was
a ponderous thinker, 81 should think the
most unlikely thing he could do would be
to make love to you"
90, YOU clever man ~ exclaimed Marjorie {;
"that's just what he has been doing. The
impudence! could have boxed his ears, as
he stood there like great fish. And you
shonld have seen his face when l told him
what 1 thought ofhim! Because, you know
he has been and sneaked to my father about
our acquaintance and you know that just
as red rag maddens bull, SO does red
may imagine, Edward, what talking-to !
got last nj ght! If I'd been thief, could
not have got worse"
"Well, never mind, my pet" said the Of
ficer; ohe'll get over it. All the good folks
around here look upon us as fiends. Give a
dog bad name, you know, and the rest OF
it. We hear plenty of it, and we've heard
more than usual lately"
"But, my love, what are we to do?" urged
Marjorie, plaintively.
"Why, my DEAR" replied her swain, "al-
though Pm an Englishman, l can't help
seeing that his horrid war will soon be over.
Your people must be- free sooner or later
and although bear the kings commission,
I don't see why they shouldn't be; and
can't think it right that two peoples of the
same blood and language should be cutting
each others throats. as we have for the last
seven years been doing. And then all evil
feelings will disappear; and | will go to
YOUR father and tell him that love you, and
that want you for my wife. And if he re-
fuses, why-why, We'll run away; and II
he says all right, why, then it's all right: ,,
"What a clever old dear you are!' said
Marjorie, looking up in the young fellows
handsome face, with proud admiration
elbow wish, Marjorie" he said, "that
YOUR father wasn't such prejudiced, strait
laced old fellow. We're going to keep oul
Christmas in such style up at the Mount
but it'll be funny without amy girls but i
he'd only let you come, all the other people
would follow his example, for he's rather 8
big man, isn't he?"
mo Pm afraid you won't get much Vir
ginia beauty up there" said Marjorie
FsYou should hear how the women all talk
against your people, just as much for fash
ion, believe, as from genuine principle
But should like to come"
And so they sauntered on, chatting the
too fast hours of the daylight away, unit
the lieutenant was reminded that his wa:
the night-guard and they went back to the
Halfway Tree, as they called their trystins
place, and with one fond kiss, they parted.
After nightfall, the preparations for the
com de main were carried on quietly bu
actively in Alexandria, and no one wa!
more active or energetic than the sturdy olt
farmer of Braddock's. He hastily swallow
ed his tea, much to the surprise of Marjorie
who was accustomed to see him lnger Owe
that meal as an important epoch of the day
and was out into the town and about tht
farms, enlisting recruits, holding consulta
ton with his brother-conspirators, buying
ND all the muskets and pixies and sWOrd
and ammunition he could lay his hands up
on, stirring up the lazy, cheering the few
who were Respondent, doing, in fact, tn
work of two men, despite his load of sixt.
years.
AS may be imagined Marjorie was mucl
alarmed at the strange state of affairs a
home-at the strings of carts and gangs o
men laden with arms and mysterious pack
ages which continued to pass in and out O
the garden from dusk until after midnight