Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-29
IN THE DEBATABLE Land.
Rx xEDwARD .. ELLIS.

The answer that Lieutenant Oakman
gave to these puzzling questions could
not have been surpassed in wisdom
Isle is woman.
But he had put his hand to the plow.
and it was too late to turn back. He
had resolved to get out of the neighbor-
hood without delay. and. valuable as
feet horse would have been to him.
nothing could have induced him to ac-
cept the favor at the hands of Miss FL
bridge.
Passing forward among the trees. he
made wide circuit beyond and finally
vaulted the low fence into the highway
over a portion of which he had ridden
when he left General Sherman's army
to enter upon the most memorable ex-
perience of his life.
He was now in the vivid moonlight
Looking up at the sky. he saw that the
ragged. feecy clouds had drifted past
and the orb was swimming through the
clear space. with its rays free and un-
obstructed. as they promised to be for
several hours to come. The stiffness re-
mained as impressive as before Not
twinkle of light cleaned in any direc-
ton, but from some distant point came
the faint Growing of cock. who. after
repeating the call several times, was
answered by another from a spot still
more remote.
Probably these fowls on awaking at
night recalled the fact that they were
still alive after the passage Of Sher-
mans army near them and they could
not help Growing" over their good for
tune
The officers pause at the side of the
highway was brief he struck off at a
swinging pace, but had gone less than
a hundred yards when he was checked
by ghostly
Hello. darl
The voice was from the rear. In
stinctively drawing his pistol the lieu
tenant wheeled about to meet the new
danger
Pete. the old negro slave, was lead
ing handsome mottled pony. bridled
and saddled. through gap in the
fence. Oakman calmly waited until he
came up. when he asked brusquely:
-s~'Well. Pete. what do you want with
Eme2''
Reckon yo' knows. boss. Miss Adele
done send me wild her boss Jack a-sayin
dat 20 am to take him wild 20 an ride
like blazes. an 20 needn't be 'tickler to
send him back. bein as yo' may not hab
de chance
The animal was a beautiful pony,
and would have borne his rider with
the speed of the wind He was beyond
value to the fugitive. who folded his
arms, looked sternly at the African and
said in measured tones
"Give my thanks and compliments
to Miss Eldridge and tell her that, mas
much as Captain Trenholm expressed
his displeasure last evening at the idea
of my using her horse, could not al
low her to run the risk of offending
him
Pete stood moment in silence, with
one hand holding the bit Of the superb
beast Then he scratched that part of
his crown which showed through the
opening in his hat
~ knows boss. dat yo' hab said sum-
fin. but de debbil himself can't make
out de meanin oh it .
Lieutenant Oakman was too much in
earnest to smile He simplified his Ian
guage and made it clear that he de-
clined to make use of Miss Eldridge's
horse, for reasons explicitly set forth.
Pete nodded his head and grunted.
Made angry by his own meanness, the
officer turned about and strode off with
out another word. He had gone but
little way. when Pete called to him.
well. what is it2'' demanded Oak
man. turning impatiently around.
II forgot to tole 20 sumfn.
"Be quick about it
when dat Union army marched
trough Jawgy. it luff behind de all fired
est fool dat eber come out OBJ Yankee
land Good night. bossl'