Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-22

"Shet upp angrtly interrupted Aunt
Mdrcie.
NV mother has already assured you
that you are welcome so long as you
choose to remain with us.
II cannot express my thankfulness,
said the lieutenant with deep feeling
.'Since l entered your state as an ene-
my. what right had to look for such
kindnessH'
1.-The right of those who profess the
faith of the good Samaritan. replied
the mother "God knows | have suffer
ed enough at the hands Of your people
My father and brother have given up
their lives. one at Gettysburg and the
other in front of Richmond. But we are
civilized creatures. and when my hus-
band was a prisoner Of the Unionists
he was treated as | hope to treat you.
II remember General Eldridge well,
said the lieutenant gently mo Drawer
officer lives helped to capture him.
and my opinion is that of all who knew
him | was glad when he was exchang-
ed. though. cleverly added the officer
II know it is just such as he that help
prolong the war shall avail myself
of your kindness to the extent of per-
haps week.
"Shet upl" angrily interrupted Aunt
Marcie "Yo' bain't got muffin to say
how long yo's gwine to be heah. III
fix dat -
LAS you please, aunty," meekly re-
sponded the invalid. who blushed more
fercely than before. because at that
moment his eyes and those Of Miss FL
bridge met. and each smiled.
Into the room walked at that mo-
ment a tall. severely featured woman
of perhaps 25 or 80 years Of age. She
came through the front door. as if she
were a neighbor She was attired In
black. and the light gray eyes, the thin
lips and the rigid figure were those of
one who knows little of the quality of
mercy
This is Miss Hartman. Miss FL
bridge made haste to say. mentioning at
the same time the name of Lieutenant
Oakman and the misfortune that made
him temporary guest in that home.
The officer partly rose from the cush-
ioned chair in which he had been seat
ed bowed low and expressed his pleas
ure at the meeting Miss Hartman
looked angrily' at him without the
slightest inclination of her head or ac-
acknowledgement of the introduction. The
thin lips closed for moment. and then
with strange glitter in her steely eyes
she turned to the mistress of the home
The words that followed seemed to be
shot out like bullets from between the
lips
Mrs Eldridge do you mean to let
that man stay hereT
'Such is my intention. replied the
elder with dignity. land have yet to
learn that it is any concern of yours
"Humph. and you claim to be a
southern womanI'
~ do and therefore Christian wo.
man
There was an ominous flash in the
eyes CT the daughter who here inter
posed
Miss Hartman. were not certain
that you have forgotten your self COM
mand and that you will soon be asham-
ed of this, | should not permit you to
remain in this room.
ASHAMED of myself repeated the
woman with scorn, Never 1t is you
who will regret to your dying day hav-
ing given shelter to one who comes to
slay our people and burn our homes If
l had my way, should not permit him
to remain another minute under this
roof =
Madam, interposed Lieutenant
Oakman, 81 judge you are native of
the north. "
81 am" replied the woman. turning
ferociously upon him
"Your words and manner led me to
suspect it.
"And l am ashamed of my misfor-
tune, which cannot be helped. y
"No more ashamed than the north is
of such daughters as you, and the woe
full grief of it all is that the north is
equally helpless in its misfortune.