The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-29

cnance OF returning TO my own people
then only by hanging you.
Glow? l do not understand you. y
''Look at the red coat you wear. A
spy!r says Tarleton, who knows no
mercy. Hang him at once!' and you are
hanged -
had forgotten the coat, which, hav-
ing served NE we'll twice, might serve
me very i'll the third time
81 must get rid Of this coat soon, % /
said. Then l added as an afterthought:
sBut what is it to you were l hanged?
1t would be only one more wicked rebel
meeting the fate that he deserves. Why
should you put yourself to trouble for
me::''
looked back over my shoulder,
though I may not have had the appear
ance of looking / saw flush as Of the
morning that was around US overspread
her face, and she looked afar over my
head, her eyes shining with something
had not seen there before. I asked her
no more, but the morning continued to
grow into splendor and radiance pass
ing all previous knowledge of mine.
The sun crept up, and the light reach
ed all the earth, west as we'll as the
east. We were still in the red clay road,
winding among lone hills and deserted
fields and patches of primitive forests
We came to brook of cool, clear wa
ter, babbling over the stones.
"Here we rest I said, ''and eat
breakfast. Jump down, Julia. %
She sprang down, ard all three drank
at the brook-Julia, Old Put and I
Then we ate the remains Of our provi-
sions, while the horse found some ten
der stems Of grass by the brookside.
81 think we had better leave the road
now,' said, ''for this is the enemy's
country, and 1 do not want to meet any
more of Tarleton's S men,
It was my purpose to make circuit
around Tarleton and join Morgan, and
she made no objection, but suggested
that she walk with me.
"I am tired Of riding" she said,
''and it will be good for the horse too. !"
I threw the bride reins over Old
Puts head, told him to follow US, and
we started on our great curve around
Tarleton. Being Charleston man, l
knew very little of that part of the
country, but in my campaigning with
Greene and Morgan had obtained some
idea of the lay Of the land, and I knew
the general course l ought to follow.
Besides, felt very good, and was full
Of enthusiasm. But little Of the coun-
try had been cultivated, and as the for
est was not dense there was nothing to
stay our progress We marched steadily
on, and what impressed US most was the
desolation cf the land But thinly peo-
pied in the first place, everybody here,
as in the country through which we
had travelled the day previous. had fed
before the advance Of the armies. We
passed two abandoned cabins in the
scanty fields. but saw no other sign Of
human habitation. Yet it did not sad.
den me. The sunshine was beautiful,
and tie old world was fresh and young,
''In few years, Julia, - said,
"when TIE last of Tarleton's raiders is
sent across tie sea OR to his final home
and we win our freedom, all this Will be
peaceful and populated. y
She said nothirg-nothing about the
valor of the English and the speedy de-
struction Of the rebels-but looked
abroad over tie country with kindlins
eyes. It was fair to see, even in winter.
with its rolling hills and slopias val
leys and streams Of sparkling water,
fit place for a noble race Of freemen to
grow But just then it was the most
unhappy part Of all our continent. Nei-
ther man nor woman could expect mercy
where Tarleton's raiders came, and al
the books will tell you, ans tell you
rightly, that the war was more feTo-
cious in the south than in TIE north
and most ferocious of all on the soil Of
South Carolina. Where partisan bands
ravage and fight and the people Of the
soil themselves are set and imbittered
against each other then war is seen at
its worst.