Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-07
CHAPTER II.
TIN GREAT HEART

The next morning, Wnen Elsie reaCn-
ed the obscure boarding house at
which Mrs. Cameron stopped tre
mother had gone to the market to buy
q bunch of roses to place beside her
boys cot.
AS Elsie awaited her return, the
practical little Yankee maid thought
with pang Of the tenderness and fol-
ly Of such people. She knew this
mother had scarcely enough to eat, but
to her bread was of small Importance,
flowers necessary to life. After all, 1t
was very sweet, this foolishness OF
these southern people, and It somehow
made her homesick.
How can tell her!" she sighed.
And yet / must"
She had only waited a moment when
Mrs. Cameron suddenly entered with
her daughter. She threw her flowers
on the table, sprang forward to meet
Elsie, seized her hands and called to
Margaret.
How good Of you to come so soon!
This, Margaret, is our dear little friend
who has been so good to Ben and to
me-"
Margaret took Elsie's hand and long
ed to throw her arms around her neck,
but something in the quiet dignity of
the northern girls manner held her
back. She only smiled tenderly
through her big dark eyes, and softly
said:
I'VE love you! Ben was my last
brother. We were playmates and
chums. My heart broke when he ran
away to the front. How can we thank
you and your brother!"
I'm sure we've done nothing more
than you would have done for US" said
Elsie, as Mrs. Cameron left the room.
Yes, I know, but we can never tell
you how grateful we are to you. We
feel that you have saved Ben's life and
ours. The war has been one long hor-
ror to us since my first brother was
killed. But now it's over, and we have
Ben left, and our hearts have been cry
ing for joy all night"
II hoped my brother, Captain Phil
Stoneman, would be here today to
meet you and help me, but he can't
reach Washington before Friday
HE caught Ben In his arms!" cried
Margaret. II know he's brave, and you
must be proud OF him."
Doctor Barnes says they are as
much alike as twins-only Phil Is not
quite so tall and has blond hair like
mine"
You will let me see him and thank
him the moment he comes?"
Hurry, Margaret" cheerily cried
Mrs. Cameron, re-entering the parlor.
Get ready. we must go at once to the
hospital"
Margaret turned and with stately
grace hurried from the room. The
old dress she wore as unconscious OF
its shabbiness as though 1t were roy
al robe. - =. -.
oil q
eagerly.
.Elsie's warm amber eyes grew misty
for a moment, and the fair skin with
it's gorgeous rose-tints Of the mort
paled. She hesitated, tried to speak,
and was silent.
The sensitive soul Of the southern
woman read the message OF sorrow
words had not framed.
TEL me quickly! The doctor has
not concealed his true condition from
me"
mo, he is certain to recover"
What then?"
"Worse-he Is condemned to death
by court-martial."
Condemned to death a wounded
prisoner Of war;" she whispered slow
ly, with blanched face.
Yes, he was accused Of violating
the rules of war as a guerilla raider In
the invasion Of Pennsylvania"
Absurd and monstrous He was
on General Jeb Stuart's staff and could
have acted only under his orders. He
Joined the infantry after Stuarts
death, and rose to be a colonel, though
but a boy. There's some terrible mis-
take!"
UNLESS we can obtain his pardon"
Elsie went on in even, restrained tones,
there is no hope. We must appeal
to the president"
The mothers lips trembled, and she
seemed about to faint.
Gould see the presidents" she ask
ed, recovering herself with an effort.
He has Just reached Washington
from the front, and Is thronged by
thousands. 1t will be difficult
The mothers lips were moving In ST.
lent prayer, and her eyes were tightly
closed to keep back the tears.
Can you help me. dear?" she asked
piteously.
Yes" was the quick response.
You see," she went on, Il feel SO
helpless. 1 have never been to the
White House or seen the president
and don't know how to go about see
ing him or how to ask him-and-l am
afraid of Mr.. Lincoln! I have heard
"Tll do my best. Mrs. Cameron. we
must go at once to the White House
and try to see him."
The mother lifted the girls hand and
stroked it gently.
child! she could not endure TINS
When we return, we may have better
news. 1t can't be worse. I'll send
her on an errand."
She took up the bouquet Of gorgeous
roses with sigh, buried her face In
the fresh perfume. as II to gam
strength in their beauty and frag-
rance, and left the room.
In a few moments she had returned
and was on her way with Elsie to the
White House.
It was a beautiful spring morning
this eleventh day Of April, 1865. The
glorious sunshine, the shimmering
green of the grass, the warm breezes
and the shouts Of victory rnocked the
mothers anguish.
At the White House gates they pass
ed the blue sentry pacing silently back
and forth who merely glanced at them
with keen eyes and said nothing. In
the steady beat of his feet the mother
could hear the tramp Of soldiers lead
ing her boy to the place Of death!
A great lump rose III neT lllIodt oS
she caught the first view of the Exc
cutive Mansion cleaning white and ST.
lent and ghostlike among the budding
| trees The tall columns Of the greal
facade, spotless as snow, the spray ol
the fountain. the marble walls, pure
dazzling and cold seemed to her the
gateway to some great tomb In when
her own dead and the dead of all the
people lay! To her the fair white pal.
ace, basking there in the sunlight ano
| budding grass. shrub and tree, was the
Judgment House of Fate. She though,
of all the weary feet that had climbed
it's fateful steps In hope to return IT
despair, Of its fierce dramas on whicf
the lives of millions had hung, ano
her heart grew sick.
A long line Of people already stretch
| ed from the entrance under the porticc
far out across the park, awaiting theil
turn to see the president.
Mrs. Cameron placed her hand raj
| teringly on Elsie's shoulder.
Look, my dear, what a crowd al
ready! Must we wait in line?"
mo. I can get you past the thront
with my fathers name"
"Will 1t be very difficult to reacf
the PRESIDENT"
| mo it's very easy. Guards anc
sentinels annoy him. He frets until
they are removed. An assassin or man