Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-01
CHAPTER ".


LA RoCHEFoUcALD.
Long and lingeringly did little Bes-
sic Craig look out into the moonlight
Sadly and almost tearfully she watch
ed the waning moon, and felt he would
not come. Yet, still she paced the Ill
tie walk, and softly she would open
the gate and peer anxiously out. Al
length, weary with hope deferred she
ran for a little distance, down the
road. Suddenly her eye brightens ana
her form grows more erect; surely she
heard voices. Then a shade OF dis
appointment steals over her pretty
FACET could not be Bowen-he would
come alone, and she wanders on IN
thoughtless dreaminess, wondering
what delays him. Ere she was aware
the voices approach; a turn OF the
road will bring the speakers into sight,
and for the first time. she feels that
she has gone too far. The road, straight
now as an arrow. and the bright
moonlight, will surely discover her.
She hesitates but a moment, when
plunging into the bushes, which line
either side of the road, she hastily
concealed herself.
Hal. said one, what Is that? /
surely heard a rustling!" They stop
ned and listened, and Bessie feared
the beating of her heart would betray
her
1T was only a squirrel" replied the
other, 81 hear nothing"
There 1t is. again." said his COM
rade, as a cracking branch broke be-
meath her. Again they listened.
"Pshaw!" replied the other, you
would be frightened at your own
shadow-it is only a squirrel in the
trees. I'll swear you expect to see the
Whig cavalry bust on you as they did
this morning Come on, man, and don't
be such q coward"
mol" replied the first speaker, still
listening, "let us wait awhile and see
what'll come Of it'll do no harm
to watch"
Watch away, then. I'm going for
water; I'm most dead with thirst.
That house ought to be about here
somewhere. Where in the mischief
has 1t gone to-
Don't be In such a confounded hur-
ry Tom; I'll go in a minute-let's see
If anything turns up. If Ferris thought
we had let any one slip past US to
.ha Uylf1 m nm ba mould think nothing
of stringing US both up"
What's got into Ferris anyhow, late
ly? He was bully enough before. but
he's a. perfect bull dog now" replied
his comrade. why he got hold Of
some cock and bull story about the
Wings rising in the upper part Of the
state, beating CORVALLIS with one hand
and Ferguson with the other, and with
one foot In Charleston and the other
in the mountains, making clear sweep
Of the state. He's such a cursed
braggart nobody believes him. and his
temper, never very sweet, Is now
worse than the DEVILS"
well. hope tonight's work will
put him in better humor. They say
the captain Is to pay him handsome
ly II they catch the Whig trooper"
Yes, to the tune Of five hundred
or more. Ferris would sell his soul
for gold. You know he was bought out
Of the Whig ranks, and II they catch
him, It will go hard with him-traitor
and spy BOTH"
THE captains mighty anxious about
Davie. II 1t was Marion himself, he
could not run more risk. Why, he's
almost In the hornets nest. I don't
see the use Of running ones neck into
halter for a paltry Whig major"
You don't! l reckon II you saw
girl with land and niggers and gold,
more than you could count In the
case, and nothing between you and
her but a 'paltry Whig major you
would understand It,"
"Phew! That's the way the wind
blows Is 1t? Well. I reckon he's got
to trap him. Well, l reckon he's got
him, hard and fast, tonight"
"Yes, Ferris has worked like seven
devils. He's got some private spite
to settle In the matter, too. Ellick
Bowen, the majors captain. has got
the better of Ferris two or three times.
in fight and not only that, but he
blames Bowen for taking his girl from
him, and he hates him like thunder.
Now, Ferris knows that 1t will most
kill Bowen for anything to happen to
the major: so as he can't reach Bowen,
he'll have his vengeance out OF what
ever will hurt him worst"
How did Ferris know that Davie
would be there tonight"
He didn't know it at all; but after
we got whipped today. he recrossed
the river and lodged after the Wings
thinking Bowen would stop to see his
sweetheart. who lives about here some
where and heard him say he would
shoot him IL the ball passed through
the girls heart. But Bowen didn't
stop, and while Ferris was lodging
for him. who should ride past but Ma
jor Davie. Ferris says he had his nm
ger on the trigger to pull, but he STOP
ped-thinking 1t would hurt Bowen
worse to find him hung-so he won
an hour or two's respite. and ex-
changed bullet for halter.
We'll. come on, let's go. don't
care If they hang him as high as Ha-
man. Where is that house? I'm most
famished for water" And the parties
moved on.
Bessie waited until after their foot
steps had died away. Then plungine
into the woods, she hastily ran, under
their shades, and reaching the back
door of the cottage, found she had
outrun the Tory sentinels. 1t was the
work Of a moment to empty every drop
of water from the pail, while In breath
less haste, she detailed to her father
the events we have just narrated.
Now, dear father" said she, dc
not wait to expostulate-do not deny
me-saddle a horse quickly-leaVe
him In the woods at the back OF the
house-make what delay you can ir
going to the spring for water. ano
leave the rest for me-"
al