Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-10-05


beans or make coffee The mess break
fast was ruined. This is something like.
Nobody, alive or dead, ever made hash
like you, mother, and this is coffee, not
bootleg. Say, mother, you're pale.
What have you been doing to yourself"
"I?'' she answered, and the soft,
sweet pink spread on her cheek. "I'm
all right, Martin. Are you off duty to-
day?"
He shook his head.
"No such luck-guard," he answer
ed, and bent hungrily over his plate.
Mother Revell paled again and trem-
bled.
"Guardr' she said at last. "Why,
Martin. you were on the night before
last"
Cant help it. Schiedermann's gone
sick, Foley's acting sergeant major,
McMillan's on detached service mend
ing telegraph wires, Fairleigh's S provost
sergeant and so on. There's only Bob
Otis and | for duty-one night in"
Its shame!" she cried. jumping
up in a passion of fear. "You can't
You must notr'
why. mother?'
"You-Ill go and speak to the
major!'
What on earth-mother, you know
such things often happen. It's all in
the five years Don't get excited"
"You-you'll be ILL.,. ." She began to
cry It'll tire you out"
Mother. he said. stepping to her side
and petting her, lyon are i'll. Why, you,
of all people, know one night in is no
hardship 1t won't last Look here I'm
going to ask the hospital steward to
send you down tonic, and don't you
move from your stove today. I'll run
up and see you at dinner time. Now, l
must hurry and clean my belts bit. "
He left her shaking silently. but turn
ed ut the open door.
THAT hangdog road agent is to be
sent to tho railway tomorrow. The sher-
if will take charge of him there"
Mother Revell huddled up in her
chair as the door closed behind her and
became nervous bundle Of anxious
fears.
"Tonight!'' she muttered. HE must
escape tonight, and Martin on guard! If
he should fail, if the guard shoots him
ii son shoot his father down. Oh, obi
And If he succeeds Martin will Oe tried
for allowing the escape, for neglect of
duty, and lie reduced 1t will ruin his
chance of promotion. Oh, ohP
She sat, stunned, until the bugles on
the parade ground announced guard
mount. She stole to the window and
watched. Crash went the band. All the
familiar, stirring maneuvers were per-
formed in the bright winter sun. The
band ceased, the adjutant and sergeant
major salutcd. the shrill bugles ad-
vanced, and the new guard marched on
to the guardroom, the tall and bright
eyed young sergeant i'll command. She
could hear his clear voice even when he
was out of sight at the distant guard
house: New guard! Present armsP'
Evening stable call and the troopers
in white stable dress trotting at double
time through the frosty air of the fail
ing day-supper call-retreat and the
sunset gun. Martin ran in to see her and
found her so white he resolved to bring
the post surgeon in the morning. Dark
ness, but she lit no lamp, and at last
came tattoo and taps to usher in windy
night, with white clouds swiftly cross
ing the half moon. Night-the final
click of the billiard balls in the club,
the final song at Captain Vests even
ing party, the first silent round Of the
officer of the day. The sentry at the
guardhouse lifted up his voice, "No. /,
10 o'clock!' and from the corral, from
the cavalry stables. from the haystacks
and from the distant sawmill came the
swift replies of lonely sentinels,
"Twelve o'clock, and all's wellP
Mother Revell rose up, unable to wait
longer, to bear suspense. She stole from
the house. Well she knew the old post
and how to hide in the shadows and