Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-12
CHAPTER x.
Oh! such day,
So fought, so follow'd and 30 fairly won,
Came not till now.

So fought, so folloW'd ana 30 lairly "oh'
SHAKESPEARE.
Tell Miss Ellen to come to me
Immediately" said Mr.. Adams, as he
stopped, for a moment, at the door
of the Mansion House.
What is the matter, Mr.. Adams?"
said Ellen, in alarm. as she answered
the hasty summons.
Bessie, Bessie Craig is dying. Can
you go to her?"
What do you tell me? Bessie,
Bessie dying? Oh! 1t cannot be-"
1T Is too true. Go down, II you
can. for her father is helpless from
paralysis. brought on, I suppose. by
the dreadful stroke"
"Oh! this Is dreadful" cried Ellen;
"but what is the matter? She was
quite we'll when 1 last saw her but a
day ago."
"I cannot tell. I only fear 1t is
the foulest murder that ever was
perpetrated. The old man cannot
speak. 1 found him bound in a
chair. in his own house, and Bessie
lying at his feet, her dress almost
torn from her body and bathed In
blood, from the rupture OF a blood
vessel, I presume. for l saw no
wound. She either would not or
could not speak to me. but clung to
her father, and hiding her face on
his knee, moaned as If her heart
would break. I tried to get some
thing out Of Andrew, but he only
muttered, Tories and pointed to
Bessie
Good Heavens!" cried Ellen. In
pallid terror; this is too terrible to
realize; but 1 will go to her-will go
at once Oh! the cruel. cruel hand
that could have injured that innocent
girl. What flend could have done
it?"
T much believe 1t was that Ferris.
He melted a party against me. that
came and burnt the most Of my Ii
brary last night, swearing my cove
nanting principles made me the rebel
/ was, and threatening to take my
life for that sermon at the church
the other day. 1 judged from what
/ heard that Ferris was up here.
robbing Mr.. Willoughby of what he
could lay his hands on"
He was; and knowing the charac-
ter of the man, my uncle saved him.
self from insult, perhaps from injury,
by making a complete surrender.
He and his myrmidons swept every
thing. They literally robbed us. 1t
is likely uncle Hubert will object to
my going down to the homestead to-
day But I must go to Bessie"
"I do not think there will be any
danger. The Tories are now all col
lected in Ferguson's camp; and, even
II they were not, every principle Of
humanity calls for assistance at the
homestead"
Are you going back? If So" said
Ellen, 1T will go with you"
NO" replied the minister, COM
pressing his lips. while a frown
gathered on his usually placid brow,
my duty is yonder, today" pointing
to the heights of Kings Mountain.
IF such scenes as yon I left behind
would not arm every man-priest or
layman-then would 1 say that char
ity had died In the human heart,
and we deserve to be butchered, in
suited and dishonored. I know not
how I shall tell poor Bowen. 1t will
go nigh to madden him."
Ellen turned tearfully away as the
picture of Bessie, in the pride Of her
young beauty and timid love. rose
before her, and bidding the minister
good speed, with many an inward
prayer for blessing upon their arms.
with many an anxious thought for
one whom she we'll knew would be
in the thickest Of the days battle,
she turned. with a sad heart, to full
flll a woman's and sisters duties to
little Bessie Craig.
AS the minister rode along, he
met with many or the nelgnDorine
people Fastening to the scene OF
combat Some riding bareback, with
dangling trace chains. reused by
some fresh tale Of terror In the ex-
citement of the coming battle. to
strike a blow for vengeance and
freedom. AS they rode along to-
oatbor no noisy hoisterouS tones OIL
excited profanity, testified to the pas
sions that were stirring their nature
No. the feeling was too deep and
holy for the outbreak Of speech. Oc'
casionally, a tale Of butchery would
be told, but in low tones that spoke
deeply of smothered passion, or hiss
ing out, would come In spasmodit
utterance, a story Of dishonor ano