Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER II.

muir as of a mother bending over
cradle, and they were gone.
CHAPTER II.
THE EYES OF THE JUNGLE.
Elsie stood dreaming for a moment
in the shadow of the arbor-vitae
breathing the sensuous perfumed all
and listening to the distant music OF
the falls, her heart quivering in pity
for the anguish Of which she had beer
a witress. Again the spectral cry OF
she noted for the first time the curious
cluck with which the bird punctuated
each call. A sense Of dim forebodine
oppressed her.
She wondered II the chatter Of Mar
ion about the girl in Nashville were
only a child's guess or more. She
laughed softly at the absurdity Of the
idea. Never since she had first looked
into Ben Cameron's face did she fee
surer of the honesty and earpestness
Of his love than today in this quiet
home of his native village. 1t must be
the queer call of the bird which ap-
pealed to superstitions she did no:
know were hidden within her being.
|
was startled at the tread of two men
approaching the gate.
The taller, more powerful-lookine
man put his hand on the latch and
paused.
ALLOW no white man to order you
around. Remember you are freeman
and as good as any pale-face who
walks this EARTH
She recognized the voice Of Silas
Lynch.
Ben Cameron dare me to come
about de house." said the other voice.
What did he say?"
He say, wild his eyes batten' des like
lightnen, Eff I ketch you hangin
you en- stomp de life ou:en ye.'"
well you tell him that your name
Is Augustus, not Gus and that the
United States troops quartered in this
| town will be with him soon after the
stomping begins. You wear its uni
form. Give the white trash In this
town to understand that they are not
even citizens of the nation. AS SOW
ereign voter you, once their slave are
not only their equal-you are their
| master"
| Dat 1 will!' was the firm answer
The negro to whom Lynch spoke dis
|
Marion and her mother, and the figure
of the handsome mulatto passed rapid
ly up the walk, ascended the steps and
knocked at the door.
| Elsie followed him.
my father Is too much fatigued with
his journey to be seen now, you must
call tomorrow" she said.
The negro lifted his hat and bowed:
"Ah, we are delighted to welcome
you, Miss Stoneman, to our lard! Your
father asked me to call Immediately on
his arrival. have but obeyed his or
ders"
Elsie shrank from the familiarity of
his manner and the tones of authority
and patronage with which he spoke.
He cannot be seen al this hour,
she answered, shortly.
Perhaps you will present my card
thCn-Say that I am at his service, and
let him appoint the time at which
shall return?"
She did not invite him in. but with
easy assurance he took his seat on the
ioggle- board beside the door and
awaited her return.
Against her urgent protest, StonemaT
ordered Lynch to be shown at once to
his bedroom.
When the door was closed, the old
|
his visitor or moving his position In
bed. asked:
Are you following my Instructions"
ITO the letter sir"
You are initiating the negroes into
the League and teaching them the new
catechsm?'
with remarkable success. It's Sc
crecy and ritual appeal TO them. With
in six months we shall have the whole
race under our control almost to q
man."
almost to a man?"
I'VE find some so attached to theiI
former masters that reason Is impossi-
BILE with them. Even threats and the
promise Of forty acres Of land have nc
influence"
| The old man snorted with contempt.
IF anything could reconcile me to
the Satanic Institution it Is the char
acter of the wretches who submit tC
1t and kiss the hand that strikes. At
ter all. a slave deserves to be q slave
The man who Is mean enough to wear
chains ought to wear them. You must
teach, teach, teach, these blacks hounds
to know they are men, not brutes!"
The old man paused a moment, and
his restless hands fumbled the cover.
Your first task, as told you In the
beginning. Is to teach every negro tc
stand erect in the presence of his for
mer master and assert his manhood
Unless he does this, the south will bris-
tie with bayonets in vain. The mar
who believes he Is a dog, is one. The
man who believes himself a king, may
become one. Stop this snivelling and
sneaking round the back doors. 1 car
do nothing, God Almighty can dc
nothing, for a coward. Fix this as the
first law of your own life. Lift W
your head! The world Is yours. Take
; 1t. Beat this into the skulls of youl
people, If you do 1t with an axe. Teach
them the military drill at once. I'll see
that Washington sends the guns. The
state. when under your control. car
furnish the powder"
1T will surprise you to k"ow the
thoroughness with which this has beer
done already by the League" sale
} Lynch. THE white master believed hi
could vote the negro as he worked hin
in the fields during the war. The Lea
/, que. with its blue flaming altar, under
the shadows Of night, has wrought {
/ miracle The negro Is the enemy Of hi:
former master and will be for all time,
, For the present" said the old man
meditatively, mot a word to living
soul as to my connection with thi:
work. When the time Is ripe, I'll show
my hand.
, Elsie entered, protesting against heI
fathers talking longer and showed
, Lynch to the door.
, He paused on the moonlit porch anc
, tried to engage her in familiar talk.
, She cut him short, and he left reluc
family.
, AS he bowed his thick neck II
pompous courtesy, she caught will
shiver the odor of pomade on hi!
black alf-kinked hair. He stopped OF
the lower step, looked back with smil
ing insolence. and gazed intently a
J her beauty. The girl shrank from th'
! gleam Of the jungle in his eyes ant
hurried within.
She found her father sunk in stu
por. Her cry brought the young sur