Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-01
Phil was silent, and the doctor went

| Phil was silent, and the doctor went
on dreamily:
"The day my boy Richard was killed
at Gettysburg, l saw him lying dead in
field near house. ! saw some SOL
diers bury him in the corner Of that
field, and then an old man go to the
grave, dig up his body, cart 1t away
into the woods, and throw II into a
ditch. I saw 1t before heard Of the
battle or knew that he was in 1t. He
was reported killed, and his body has
never been found. 1t Is The one un-
speakable horror Of the war to me. I'll
never get over 1t.
How very strange!" exclaimed Phil.
And yet the war was nothing, my
boy, to the horrors feel clutching the
| throat of the south today. I'm glad
you and your father are down here.
Your disinterested view Of things may
help us at Washington when we need
| 1t most. The south seems to have no
friend at Court"
your younger men I find, are hope
full. DOCTOR" said Phil.
Yes, the young never see danger
until it's time to die. I'm not a pessi-
mist, but I was happier In jail. Scores
Of my old friends have given up In
despair and died. Delicate and cultur-
ed women are living on cowpeas, corn
bread and molasses-and Of such quail
ity they would not have fed 1t to a
slave. Children go to bed hungry.
Droves Of. brutal negroes roam at large,
stealing, numbering, and threatening
blacker crimes. We are under the heel
Of petty military tyrants, few OF whom
ever smelled gunpowder in a battle.
At the approaching election, not de-
cent white man In this county can
take the Infamous test-oath. I am dis
franchised because I gave a cup OF
boys on the battlefield. My slaves
are all voters. There will be a negro
majority of more than one hundred
thousand in this state. Desperadoes
are here teaching these negroes inso-
lence and crime in their secret socie-
ties. The future Is a nightmare"
"You have my sympathy, sir" said
Phil, warmly extending his hand.
These Reconstruction Acts, conceived
in sin and brought forth in iniquity.
can bring only shame and disgrace un-
our laws. / hope 1t will not be neces-
sary to do 1t in blood"
The doctor was deeply touched. He
could not be mistaken In the genuine
ness Of any mans feeling. He never
dreamed this earnest straightforward
Yankee youngster was In love with
Margaret, and It would have made no
difference in the accuracy Of his judg-
ment.
your sentiments do you honor sir
he said, with grave courtesy. And
you honor US and our town with your
presence and friendship"
AS Phil hurried home In warm
glow of sympathy for the people whose
hospitality had made him their friend
and champion, he encountered negro
trooper standing on the corner, watch
ing the Cameron house with furtive
glance.
Instinctively he stopped, surveyed the
man from head to foot and asked:
whats the trouble?"
None er yo' business" the negro an
swered, slouching across to the oppo-
site side Of the street.
Phil watched him with disgust. He
had the short, heavy-set neck OF the
lower order of animals. His skin was
coal black, his lips so thick they curled
both ways up and down with crooked
blood marks across them. His nose
was fiat, and its enormous nostrils
seemed in perpetual dilation. The sin
lister bead eyes, with brown splotches
in their whites, were set wide apart
and cleaned ape-like under his scant
brows. His enormous cheek-bones and
laws seemed to protrude beyond the
ears and almost hide them. r.ss
"That we should send such soldiers
here to flaunt our uniform In the faces
of these peoplei" he exclaimed, with
bitterness.
He met Ben hrrrying home from
visit to Elsie. The two young soldiers
whose prejudices had melted In the
90 hof haNnT11a
friends.
Phil laughed and winked:
"Tll meet you tonight around the
family altar!"
When he reached home, Ben saw,
slouching in front Of the house, walk
ing back and forth and glancing FUR
lively behind him, the negro trooper
whom his friend had passed.
He walked quickly in front OF him
and blinking his eyes rapidly, said:
Didn't I tell you, Gus, not to let me
catch you hanging around this mouse
again."
The negro drew himself up, pulling
Is blue uniform into position as MS
body stretched out Of its habitual
slouch, and answered.:
my name amt Gus.
Ben gave a quick little chuckle and
leaned back against the palings, MS
hand resting on one that was loose.
He glanced at the negro carelessly
and said:
well, Augustus Caesar, I give your
majesty thirty seconds to move on the
block"
Gus first impulse was to run, but
remembering himself he drew back his
shoulders and said:
IT reckon de streets Is free"
"Yes, and so Is kindling wood!
Quick as a flash Of lightning the pal
ing suddenly left the fence and broke
three times In such bewildering rapid
ity on the negros head he forgot every
hing he ever knew or thought he knew
save one thing-the way to run. he
didn't fly, but he made remarkable
use of the facilities with which he mad
been endowed.
Ben watched him disappear toward
the camp.
He picked up the pieces Of paling'
pulled strand of black wool from
splinter looked at It curiously ana
said: ,,,
"A sprig Of his majestcys hair-Ill
doubtless remember him without it!'
TO BE CONTINUED.