Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1893-02-22

in the heat of the discussion to grasp the
wary Nelse by the shoulder and was
pushing him before her to the kitchen
doorway, near which they were stand
ing. "You jes lemme ketch you hang
in on to dat front gate agin, projeekin
wild Yanks, will you? An if ever heah
word out O your black mouf bout
Mars Frank gittin' away I'll skin you
like a eel, boy. You heah me, don't
your
AS the pair disappeared Mrs. Helen
lifted her anxious eyes to her daughter s
face. "Glen, do you think he told
them?" she whispered.
81 am afraid he did, dear, but moth
er, don't give up so. They must have
learned it sooner or later. They have
made no move as yet to search for
him, and he is out of their reach now, or
soon will be. He knows every foot of
these woods and hills, and there are
plenty of doors open to him. He will
not lack for food and shelter. Besides,
we can still communicate with him, and
they will surely not be stationed long
in this out of the way place. What Il
mercy he escaped them"
"But, oh, my child! think of the fear
full outrages these struggling bands Of
soldiers have committed through the
country. On, if l had but been wise
enough to have sent you away, and kept
only Missy with me!'
"Now, mother, listen. l am not
afraid of whole regiment Of Yankees,
and what in the world would you have
done without me? You must come right
in now and have cup of tea and lie
down, and if Missy's nap is out I'll
bring her down to keep you company
while I watch the movements of the
blue coated gentry over in the grove 4
little and keep my eye on Nelse, for he'll
slip through Maum Betsey's fingers like
an eel, sure enough"
But when her mother had been COM
fortably established on the sitting room
sofa with Missy, warm and rosy from
her afternoon nap, chattering happily
beside her, Glen's lighthearted show of
fearlessness forsook her. Her anxiety
took the form of restless wanderings o:
the house, whose every window e
manding view of the grove opposite,
drew her in turn like magnet.
1t was a fine old house of red brick,
standing we'll back from the high road,
surrounded by clustering trees and ap-
preached by an avenue of magnificent
cedars; but the grounds were no longer
trim and well kept, and the numerous
outbuildings were dilapidated and va
cant. An air of neglect and loneliness
enhanced by its remote situation from
any town or village, hung about the
place, and it's interior corresponded but
too we'll with this external desolation.
There had evidently been but few
modern additions to the household be-
longings in late years. The furniture
was still handsome, but old and massive,
and the brilliant hues Of the Turkey car
pets and the rich curtains had faded to
sober and neutral tints The bare floors
in some Of the rooms were actually more
cheerful, for they were waxed and rub
bed until they shone like mirrors, and
when the fires were lighted in the open
freplaces the flames glistened upon shin
ing oak and danced on the polished sur
face of old mahogany and multiplied
themselves in the big brass andirons,
that shone in rivalry of the brass candle
sticks upon the high, old fashioned man.
tells.
AsGlen wandered restlessly from room
to room, her home seemed to wear new
and unfamiliar aspect to her startled
eyes. Suppose it should be invaded? 1t
had always been so sure and peaceful a
haven. Remote and secluded, only the
rumors of war had disturbed its inmates,
and the one member of the immediate
family who had ever been called upon to
Weld to its demands had thus far been
singularly preserved from danger. But
its grim shadow had taken all the color
out of the girls life. All her opportuni-
ties had been sacrificed to it. Every
promise of her opening girlhood had
been blighted by it.
"You were to have gone to school in
Philadelphia, dear" her mother would
say sometimes, passing her hand over
Glen's fine head caressingly, "and then
abroad, if it had not been for the war;
your father and 1 had planned it all.
Or, "There is no hope af your COM
ing out, or of our entertaining for you,
as we would once have done. 1t would
all have been so different if it had not
been for the war"
Of course these were but minor con-
siderations, and the girl unselhshly felt
them to be such. Were there not al
ways graver consequences to be Ia
mented? Had not this Unsuitable war
snatched from them their all, whitened
her mothers hair with untimely snow,
and torn son and brother from their
arms? And just before her, as she
reached the hall, was sadder evidence
than these of its terrors.
The hall was a fine old entrance to Il
fine old house. Its oal;en floor and rich
wainscot cleaned in the evening light,
and q curiously carved settle ran around
three of its sides.
A few high backed chairs and one or
two old tables with quaint spindle legs
constituted its lneager furniture, but its
noble proportions and rich carvings re-
deemed it from baroness, and it was
sweet with the pine cones and wild flow
ers of which Glen had yesterday ritied
the woods. A bowl filled with early
violets and pale primroses was placed
directly beneath Il portrait draped with
the sad Confederate flag, and looking mp
at the boyish face above her with al! the
fiery tragedy of hopeless self devotion
written upon it, Glen read once more
through a mist of tears the inscription
beneath:
"Captain Helen, brave soldier and q
gallant commander, fell in leading
charge at the battle of Antietam, Sept.
II, 1862"
AS she turned away, her eyes instinc-
lively seeking the window opposite
which commanded view of her foes, she
started with surprise and terror. a man
in the uniform of Union cavalry officer
was making his way up the long avenue
to the house.
CHAPTER II.
Before she had time to collect herself
she heard the jingle of spurs outside.
and peremprny hand knocked at the
door. 1t WI; barred and bolted. Be-
fore Glen had C,nssed the floor to open
it she was herself again. AS she stood