Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1893-02-01
CHA CHI 4 TT f f eAAN00GA. 4
BY F. A. mitchell, LATE U. S. A.
Copyright, 1892, by American Press Association.

civilized warfare by this cruel blockade
intending to starve us into subsection
i suppose we must take what we can
get. I repeat it, we must take what we
can get, madam"
Marks eyes flashed with we'll feigned
indignation.
ut is our duty to bear our depriva-
tions cheerfully," said Mrs. Fain. "We
shall gain our independence at last, and
that should be an incentive"
'It should, madam, and let me tell
you we are about to see stirring times
and great successes. This region has
become of especial military Importance.
Our forces will be in front of Nashville,
perhaps Louisville, very soon, while
General Lee can't fail with such noble
men as he has in his army--the very
flower of the south-the flower of the
south, madaln-he can't fail, say, to
drive the Yankees out of Virginia"
"You are very hopeful"
While Mark was thus performing,
Laura stood with downcast eyes, and if
her mother had not been so interested
in the hopeful words of the garrulous
South Carolinian she would have noticed
slow heaving of her daughters bosom,
with here and there slight spasmodic
action.
"And now, madam" said Mark, may
l beg a nights lodging? fear it is too
late to find my party"
Certainly, sir. Call Miranda, my
dear"
Miranda was summoned and directed
to show the gentleman to the guest
chamber on the second floor in the front
of the house.
Mark went with the servant and re-
mained in his room long enough to have
made toilet and then sauntered down
stairs. At the door of the parlor in
which Mrs. Fain and her daughter were
sitting, he paused, as if waiting for an
invitation to enter. This was given him,
but he did not stay long. For hot
blooded South Carolinian, he seemed not
to bear the heat well, and manifested a
desire to get out on to the veranda. In
deed he had wholesome dread of the
light. Besides he desired to be where
he could converse with Laura.
IF l may beg you to excuse me, la
dies" he said, II will 60 out for little
fresh air."
He strolled out into the night and
walked back and forth on the veranda.
Laura" said Mrs. Fain, "go out and
entertain Mr.. Rhett I'm afraid of the
night air myself"
"Do you think it essential, mammal"
"Certainly l do. South Carolinians are
especially particular about the enter
tainment of their guests, and wouldn't
have it 60 back to Charleston that we
had been remiss for the world"
Laura obeyed her mother and Joined
the guest on the veranda.
Mark lifted his hat respectfully to her.
"The moon is rising" he remarked.
81 see the waxing light. If you will
come this way" going to the end of the
veranda, "you can see it better"
Laura followed him to the position,
where they were out of hearing.
The relief from keeping Mark con-
cealed in the garret, the success of the
imposition of the spurious South Caro-
linan on her mother, Marks talent for
playing his part, all combined to place
Laura Fain in an exhilarated frame of
mind. Like most women she admired
daring, and like most women appre-
ciated that daring in one in whom she
was interested in proportion to the ex-
tent of the danger attending it.
"You are safe for the present" she
said, her eyes glistening in the moon
light and bright spot on each cheek.
"Thanks to your courage and ingenu-
ity."
"Oh, no; no! That's absurd! For you
to speak of my couragel Do you know
that the recklessness with which you
put your neck into halter is as unintel-
ligible to me as mathematics would be to
one of our servants"
For the cause" said Mark, lone
ought to-
"Nonsense! The cause! You love
these dangers"
There is a fascination in them, ad-
NIT. So long as there is one chance for
me, no matter how many there are
against me-so long as have an arm or
a weapon to fight with am man.
When cornered and taken l am the veri-
est coward in the world. While in prison
in Chattanooga | moaned and whined
like frightened child. The truth is
that danger is fascinating only either be-
fore it is encountered or after it has
passed. When | am in it want to get
out of it.; when | am out of it want to
get in it again" =.
II don't believe you know the mean
ing Of the word fear"
Indeed you are mistaken. If l did
not feel fear there would be no fascina-
tion in danger"
"Then you have way with you of
making people do what you like. When
you We're here before you fascinated all
the servants. You completely captivated
Uncle Daniel, who has talked of no one
else since"
"Daniel is a good man. He'll be of
use to me yet"
eyes, of use to you. You use every
one either openly or by deception. l
almost fancied you were professor
somebody, just now, when you were de-
ceiving poor mamma. You reminded
me of Mephistopheles for all the world"
"You fatter," said Mark in irony.
"You are Mephistopheles. You come
here and compel me to harbor you. You
are seeking to injure the cause favor,
and I give you my brothers clothes,
when that brother is fighting for that
cause. Why do I not send for some one
to come and take you?"
"On account of your native lowell
ness"
"You are very devil"
81 never regarded myself a saint"
"And the worst of it is," she went on,
her eyes sparkling all the while, and
talking rapidly, ''that such deviltry is
especially fascinating to Inc. l would
love to be man. would do what you
do. l would belong to the cavalry. I
would be scout. would be a.
"Spy!"
"Anything l had the courage to be. l
would delight in battles, in charges, i'll
heavens!"
The exclamation was occasioned by a
horseman who had approached while
they were talking. They had not no
ticed him till he had opened the gate and
was half way between it and the house.
Laura sank into seat; all color left her
cheeks and her heart seemed to stop
beating.
Don't be frightened" said Mark
bending over her and whispering i'll her
ear. "It is only private soldier. He
is not after me, and if he is he can't