Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-06-14
God bless YOU"

everybody else Is cursing me today.
though I'm merely doing my duty"
We all moved through the door. the
| lieutenant leading. Just then | felt
clutch at my shoulder and. turning,
saw Brainard. his face tear stained and
most woebegone. Hamilton CHANGED to
see him. too. stopped, stared and ex-
/ claimed:
"Eh? What's this|
"This Is a SURPRISE" said l. Hes
one of us after ALL"
THANK heavenw exclaimed Hamil-
| ton.
was so pleased at this remark that
| was hours In comprehending the en-.
tire meaning of 1t. which was that
there was n woman In the case. Mean
while Hamilton named the hotel to
which we would 20 and where the lieu.
tenant could notify us when 1t was
time to start. We ut once telegraphed
our families and while awaiting them
made some hasty goodby visits to
friends in the city. Two hours later
we felt as criminals condemned to
death must feel during the final visit
Of their friends. My father-bless bis
dear. thoughtful heart-brought down
the entire family and the dog besides.
Had 1t not been for that dogs efforts
to explore the hotel and Neds efforts
to bring him back there would have
been little relief from the gloom Of
which all Of us were full. Brainard's
mother seemed to suffer worst Of all.
She had gone through the agony Of CIV
ing her son away only to get him back
again forever. she supposed. Now be
was q soldier once more. and at scarce
ly an hours notice she was to lose him.
My own misery was doubled by her
sorrow. for was not to blame for his
being in uniform?
My cousin May tried to put some
cheer into the party. and as she always
laughed heartily at the slightest provo
cation It was impossible not to be af-
fected by her spirits. She made CHEEKY
though modest replies to some gallant
speeches which Hamilton addressed to
her, and she told Mrs. Brainard to
think how much more Cbarley's quick
wits would be to the nation than the
guns of q dozen common men. She
scarcely spoke word to Charley him
self, however. and he looked at her
ouly slyly. for. as he told me after
ward. be had caught glimpse Of him.
self In q hotel mirror and felt like q
scarecrow.
A message from the lieutenant broke
up our party. Cloyne departing first.
followed by Hamilton and his friends.
l had to drag myself away from my
mothers arms and then tear Brainard
away from his mother. hope l may
never again see such picture Of DESC
lation as that couple made while tax
ing last look at each other. 1t SEEM
ed as If sense of my own RESPONSE
biity would kill me, but suddenly
Cousin May relieved the feelings Of all
present by throwing her arms around
Charley's neck and exclaiming:
"You poor. troubled little fellow,
your mother shan't be lonesome while
you are away"
How we got out Of that room-Why
we did not fall dead ut the final part
iug-I do not know. To my memory
that is still the most dismal day of the
entire war. We took pains not to tell
our families where our rendezvous was
or by what streets we would depart.
We did not know ourselves. Just
uuarter Of all hour afterwurd. how
ever. as we tramped down Broadway.
Il dog sprang upon me, and as turned
TO cast him of | saw it was mine
that little Ned was right behind him,
and NV father was following Ned.