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

Nothing that nave VIII De 100 Soou ioI
him or for his. It's very brave and
sweet of you to stay and meet them:
I'm doing 1t to please Marion. She
suggested ii last night, sitting out on
he porch in the twilight. She slipped
her arm around me and said:
Mama, we must welcome them, and
make them feel at home. He Is very i'll
They will be tired and homesick. Sup
pose Ii were you and /, and we were
taking my papa to strange place.
When the Stonemans arrived, the old
man was too i'll and nervous from the
fatigue of the long journey to notice
his surroundings or to be conscious OF
the restful beauty Of the cottage into
which they carried him. His room
looked out over the valley of the river
for miles, and the glimpse he got OF
rs broad fertile acres only confirmed
his ideas Of the "slaveholding dig
archy" It was his life-purpose to crush.
Over the mantel hung a steel engrav-
ing Of Calhoun. He fell asleep with his
deep, sunken eyes resting on 1t and a
cynical smile playing about his grim
mouth.
Margaret and Mrs. Cameron had met
the Stonemans and their physician al
the train. and taken Elsie and her faith
er in the old weather-beaten family
carriage to the Lenoir cottage, apol-
ogizing for Ben's absence.
He has gone to Nashville on some
important legal business, and the doc
tor is ailing, but as the head Of the clan
Cameron he told me to welcome your
father to the hospitality Of the county,
and beg him to let us know II he could
be Of help"
The old man, who sat in stupor of
exhaustion made no response, and Ell
sic FASTENED to say:
I'VE appreciate your kindness more
than l can tell you, Mrs. Cameron.
trust father will be better in a day or
Two, when he will thank you. The trip
has been more than he could bear"
Il am expecting Ben home this
week." the mother whispered. Il need
not tell you that he will be delighted
at your coming"
Elsie smiled and blushed.
And I'll expect Captain Stoneman 10
see me very soon." said Margaret, soft
ly. You will not forget to tell him
for me?"
Hes a very retiring young man"
said Elsie, land pretends to be busy
about our baggage just now. I'm sure
he will find the way"
Elsie fell In love at sight with Marion
and her mother. Their easy genial
manners, the geHulneness Of their well
come. and the simple kindness with
which they sought to make her feel at
home put her heart into a warm glow.
Mrs. Lenoir explained the conven-
fences of the place and apologized for
its defects, the results of the war.
Il am sorry about the window-cur
tains-we have used them all for
dresses. Marion Is a genius with a
needle. and we took the last pair out
Of the parlor to make dress for a
birthday party. The year before, we
used the ones In my room for a cos
for our rector-you know were Epis-
copalians-strayed up here for our
health from Charleston among these
good Scotch Presbyterians."
I'VE will soon place curtains at the
windows" said Elsie, cheerfully.
1.-The carpets were sent to the SOL
diers for blankets during the war. 1t
was all we could do for our poor boys,
except to cut my hair and sell II. You
see my hair hasn't grown out yet.
sent II to Richmond the last year of
the war felt l must do something
when my neighbors were giving so
much. You know Mrs. Cameron lost
'our boys"
Il prefer the floors bare" Elsie re-
pied. We will get few rugs"
She hooked at the girlish hair hang
ing in ringlets about Mrs. Lenoir's
handsome face, smiled pathetically and
asked:
Did you really make such sacrifices
ror .'our cause?"
Yes, indeed l was glad when the
war was ended for some things. We
certainly needed a few pins, needles,
and buttons, to say nothing Of cup
Of coffee or tea"
Il trust you will never lack for any
thing again." said Elsie, kindly.
You will bring us good luck" Mrs.
L~noir RESPONDED. Your coming is
so fortunate. The cotton tax congress
levied was so heavy this year we
were going to lose everything. Such a
tax when we are all about to starve!
DR.. Cameron says 1t was an act of
stupid vengeance on the south, and
that no other farmers in America have
their crops taxed by the national gov
ernment. I am so glad your father has
come. He Is not hunting for an office
He can help us, maybe"
II am sure he WILL" answered Elsie,
thoughtfuuy.
Marion ran up the steps, lightly, her
hair dishevelled and face flushed.
Now Mama. it's almost sundown:
you get ready TO go. want her awhile
to show her about my things"
She took Elsie by the hand and led
her into the lawn, while her mother
paid a visit to each room, and made ur
the last bundle of odds and ends she
meant to carry to the hotel.
Il hope you will love the place as
We do" said the girl, simply.
II :hink IT very beautiful and rest
full" Elsie replied. This wilderness OF
flowers looks like fairyland You have
roses running on the porch around the
whole length of the house"
YES, papa was crazy over the trail
ing roses, and kept planting them until
the house seems just a frame built to
hold them. wi h roof on 1t. But you
can see the river through the arches
from three sides. Ben Cameron helped
me set that big beauty on the soutf
corner the day he ran away to the
war"
THE view is glorious!" Elsie ex'
Gained. looking in rapture over the
river valley.
The village of Piedmont crowned ar
immense hill on the banks of the BroaC
river. just where it dashes over the las
stone barrier in a series Of beautiful
falls and spreads out In peaceful glory
through the plains toward Columbis
and the dis ant sea. The muftied roal
Of these falls. rising softly through th'
trees on it's wooded cliff. held the daily
life of the people in the spell Of distant
music. In fair weather 1t sootf ed anc
charmed, and in storm and freshet ross
to the deep solemn growl of thunder.
The river made a sharp bend as 1
emerged from the hills and flowed
westward for six miles before 1t turned
south again. Beyond this six-mil'
sweep of its broad channel loomed thu
three ranges of the Blue Ridge noun
tains. the first one dark, rich, distinct
! clothed in eternal green the last ont
melting in dim lines into the clouds
and soft azure of the sky.
AS the sun began to sink now behind
these distant peaks. each cloud tina
hung about them burst into blazing
riot of color. The silver mirror of tn
river caught their shadows. and th'
water glowed in sympathy.
AS Elsie drank the beauty Of th'
scene. the music of the falls ringing 1t!
soft accompaniment, her heart wen
out In a throb of love and pity for th'
land and its people.
Can you blame us for loving such ;
spot?" said Marion. ITS far NOR
beautiful from the cliff at Lover
Leap. I'll take you there some day
n III