Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-19
She 1Das standing near the steps, and at
her side tDIs her daughter

She ,Das standing near the steps. and at
her side tDGs her daughter.
skilled attention. and delay in receiv.
ing such might imperil the life Of the
prisoner
His captors were roughly considerate
but he repressed the evidence Of suffer
ing so resolutely that they did not sus.
pect his distress.
The three were within 100 yards OF
the building when Jim Ackers called
halt. Facing the prisoner, he asked
"Yank. who are your
Lieutenant Oakman gave his name
and rank
I'm free to allow that Tim and me
like your looks You We got sand. and |
respect that sort Of chap. even If his
uniform is the color Of yourn. II you
warn't hurt. we'd take you to where
that scout Of yourn has been took. But
you We been winged. and in these days
when we're in the saddle or on the
jump all the time. you'd be only
bother | s'pose we could exchange you
after awhile. but that too. is null
sance Consequently. as aforesaid. the
easiest way out is to take your parole
Lieutenant Oakman nodded to signi-
fy he understood.
II presume you intend to leave me
at this houser'
Ackers in turn nodded
lit will be unpleasant to the inmates
to have an enemy. even if wounded.
thrust upon them as guest.
"Don't give yourself any worriment
about that That our part Of the bust
ness Now. let's have the parole.
There was not much formality about
it Lieutenant Oakman merely gave
his word of honor to consider himself a
lawful prisoner of war. and. if recap
tured by his own friends, he would not
take up arms against the Southern Con-
federacy until regularly exchanged
While the simple proceedings were
under way the negro boy Rastus was
observed standing near the end Of the
mansion some rods distant attentively
watching them. When they were
through. he beckoned with great vigor
and the party passed under the shade
trees. around the end of the long. low
structure and ascended the ample porch
Mrs General Eldridge, calm. matron-
ly and still handsome. was prepared for
what was coming. for she had rightly
interpreted the astounding message Of
Rastus In her severely plain dress and
the silvery hair brushed away from her
smooth forehead. she was standing near
the steps. and at her side was her
daughter, as calm and collected as her
parent If the thunder Of war had not
long been heard among these southern
homes. the years of dread expectancy
and anguish had burned its woeful les
son into every heart.
The young woman was barely out OF
her teens. but her mind had been ma
tured far beyond her years in the bit
terest of all schools.
It was too early for the silver to
show in the silken mass Of hair that In
its midnight blackness rivaled the eyes
and the dark complexion glowed with
a health and strength that forbade the
shadow of wrinkle She was of slight
stature, showing in feature the best
physical characteristics of each parent
Jim Ackers, who did all the talking
for himself and comrade, presented the
prisoner to the ladies and explained his
wishes At the moment of confronting
them the lieutenant removed his cap
and stood with barred head blushlng
deeply
.'This Is wholly involuntary on my
part. he hastened to explain ut
pains me inexpressibly to be forced thus
upon you. If you have the slightest oh.
lection. beg you to say so and l shall
not cross your threshold.
MIR Ackers knew when he brought
you here that you would be received