Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-12-28


"Tell me something about yourself.
What's your name3"
"Souri."
"Souri what?"
"Slack."
"Oh, yesl You're one of the Stacks,
you told me. Isn't Souri, q singular
name for girl?'
"Waal, dad, he KEN from Missouri.
So thet's what he named me-"
"Have you mother!
"Yas."
brothers and sisters%
"Henery and Jakey."
"How old are theyT'
"Henery, he's bout twenty-five. He's
in Jim Browns company O east Ten
nessee cavalry"
"What? Union cavalryf'
"Yas."
"You mean regiment, not company. l
know Brown we'll. How old is your
other brother?"
"Jakey, he's thirteen"
cat homer"
"Yas."
"What are you going to do with me
when you get me to your home"
"Take y to the barn, reckon"
"Why not to the house? Aren't your
folks all right? thought you said they
were Union"
"Ob, they're all Union. But mebbe
they mought suspect at the tavern
(seein I'm gone 'thout sayen goodby and
knowen I'm Union) thet I've put y up
to somep'n or TUX y hum"
"Souri," said Mark meditatively, "do
you know that since l met you have
been"-
dozen job O thinken?"
you've hit it exactly"
"What 'bout!''
"Ive been thinking that you're no.
body's fool"
The girl laughed, or rather chuckled.
She enjoyed the compliment and was too
unsophisticated to pretend that she did
not.
They soon struck dirt road leading
directly south, which they followed till
they came to the Sequatchie river, strik-
ing ford at the same time. Souri, led
the way into the ford, Mark following.
Her pony was used to such crossings,
this one in particular, while Marks horse
preferred to feel his way slowly; conse-
quently Souri, reached the opposite bank
before Mark had got half way over.
1t was now night, but it was clear, and
half moon cast its faint light upon the
land and the river. Mark suddenly
looked up from the water and saw Souri,
on the bank watching him. Had he
been near enough he would have seen
anxiety depicted on every feature of her
face.
Keep up the stream" she called,
pointing at the same time.
He turned his horses head as she di-
rected, but soon lowering his eyes to the
water began to 80 down stream again.
"Look at me-" she called: "don't look
at the water. Its runnen makes it
seem sif y war goen straight when yer
goen crooked. Thars ledge O rocks
below thar and deep water beyond"
Mark fixed his eyes on his guide, and
turning his horses head toward her
urged her forward. She picked her way
slowly, as if conscious of danger, and at
last coming to the brink stepped quickly
out of the water and shook herself.
"What makes you tremble so?" he
asked of Souri,.
81 ain't," she said, coloring.
"Is that dangerous ford?'
"Ef I'd a-tumbled often the ledge y'd
a drownded."
"I've done some scouting before this,
but see now that l haven't learned to
cross a current till today. Next time
I'll look out for something on shore to
steer by"
Another ten minutes brought them
home. They came upon the house from
its rear. 1t fronted on the road running
northward and faced east. Souri, led
the way to Il rickety barn, where both
horses were stabbed. She left Mark in
the barn while she went into the house
to inform the inmates of his presence.
Presently she came out.
dad lows y mought come in fur a
spell 'thout much resk. They won't know
O y'r bein hyar yet awhile. Least
aways thar's no hurry. But dad reckons
y mought sleep in the barn with one
eve Open."