Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-07


Ia strange solemn, and curious sight
!. Against the walls were ponderous
glass cases, filled with models Of every
kind of invention the genius Of man
!, had dreamed. Between these cases
were deep lateral openings, eight feet
wide, crowded with the sick, and long
rows of them were stretched through
the centre of the hall. A gallery ran
around above the cases, and this was
Of passing surgeons and nurses over
the marble floor added to the weird
impression.
Elsie saw the look Of helpless appeal
in the mothers face and hurried for
ward to meet her:
"Is this Mrs. Cameron Of South
Carolina?"
The trembling figure in black grasp
ed her hand eagerly:
Yes, yes, my dear, and I'm looking
for my boy, who is wounded unto
death. Can you help me?"
II thought 1 recognized you from
miniature I've seen," she answered
softly: "Tll lead you direct to his cot"
THANK you, thank you!" came the
low reply.
In a moment she was beside him,
and Elsie walked away to the open
window through which came the chirp
of sparrows from the lilac-bushes in
full bloom below.
The mother threw one look Of infin-
ite tenderness on the drawn face, and
her hands suddenly clasped in prayer:
II thank Thee, Lord Jesus, for this
hour! Thou hast heard the cry of my
soul and led my feet!" She gently
knelt kissed the hot lips, smoothed the
dark tangled hair back from his fore
head, and her hand rested over his
eyes.
A faint flush tinged his face.
IT'S you, mama, know you that's
your hand or else it's Gods"
She slipped her arms about him.
my hero, my darling, my baby!"
"Tll get we'll now, mama, never fear.
You see. / had whipped them that day
as 1 had many time before. I don't
know how 1t happened-my men SEEM
ed al! to go down at once. You know
I couldn't surrender in that new uni
form of a colonel you sent me-we
made a gallant fight, and now I'm just
little tired but you are here, and It's
all right"
YES. yes, dear. It's all over now.
General Lee has surrendered, and when
you are better I'll take you home.
where the sunshine and flowers will
give you strength again"
"How's my little Sis?"
Hunting in another part Of the city
for you. She's grown so tall and
stately you'll hardly know her. Your
papa is at home, and don't know yet
that you are wounded"
And my sweetheart, Marion Le-
noir?"
"The most beautiful little girl in
Piedmont-as sweet and mischievous
as ever. Mr.. Lenoir Is very Ill, but
he has written glorious poem about
one of your charges. I'll show 1t to
you tomorrow He Is our greatest
poet The south worships him. Mar
| ion sent her love to you and kiss for
the young hero Of Piedmont. I'll give
1t to you now"
She bent again and kissed him.
And my dogs?"
General Sherman left them. at
least" -.
"Wen, I'm glad of that-my mare all
right"
"Yes, but we had time to save her
Jake hid her in the woods till the
army passed"
Bully for Jake"
Il don't know what we should have
done without him."
"Old Aleck still at home, and getting
drunk as usual?"
mo. he ran away with the army and
persuaded every negro on the Lenoir
place to go. except his wife, Aunt
Cindy."
"The old rascal, when Mrs. Lenoir's
mother saved him from burning to
death when he was boy"
"Yes, and he told the Yankees those
fire scars were made with the lash,
and led a squad to the house one night
to burr the barns. Jake headed them
off and told on him. The soldiers were
so mad they strung him up and thrash
ed him nearly to death. We haven't
seen him since"
"Wcn. I'll take care of you, mama,
when I get home. or course I'll get
we'll. It's absurd to die at nineteen.
You know l never believed the bullet
had been moulded that could hit me.
In three years Of battle, / lived a
charmed life and never got a scratch"
His voice had grown feeble and la
bored and his face flushed. His moth
er placed her hand on his lips.
"Just one more" he pleaded feebly.
Did you see the little angel who has
been playing and singing for me? You
must thank her"
"Yes, I see her coming now. I must
go and tell Margaret, and we will get
a pass and come every day."
i She kissed him, and went to meet
Elsie
ana you are the uedT girl "IO
been playing and singing for my boy,
wounded stranger here alone among
his foes?"
Yes, and for all the others, too
Mrs Cameron seized both Of her
hands and looked at her tenderly.
You will let me kiss you? l shall
always love you"
She pressed Elsie to her heart. In
spite Of the girls reserve, a sob caught
her breath at the touch of the warm
lips Her own mother had died when
she was a baby, and a shy, hungry
heart long hidden from the world.
leaped in tenderness and pain to meet
that embrace
Elsie walked with her to the door,
wondering how the terrible truth Of her
bows doom could be told.
She tried to speak. looked into Mrs.
Cameron'S face radiant with grateful
Joy, and the words froze on her lips.
She decided to walk little way with
} her. But the task became all the har-
der
At the corner she stopped abruptly
: and bade her goodbye:
II must leave you now, Mrs. Came
ron. will call for you in the morning
; and help you secure the passes to en-
ter the hospital"
The mother s:roked the girls hand
ard held II lingeringly.
, How good you are" she said. softly
3 And you have not told me your
name?"
Elsie hesitated and said:
That's a little secret. They call me
Sister Elsie the Banjo Maid. In the
; hospital. My father is man Of dis
ti"ction. should be annoyed If my
} full name were known. I'm Elsie
Stoneman. My father is the leader OF
l the house. I live with my aunt"
| Thank you." she whispered, press
I ing her hand.
Elsie watched the dark figure disap-
} pear in the crowd with a strange tu-
2 multi of feeling.
The mention of her father had re-
! vived the suspicion that he was the
E mysterious power threatening the pol
icv of the president and planning a
reign of terror for the south. Next tc
e the president, he was the most power
erful man in Washington, and the un-
r relentng foe of Mr.. Lincoln, although
I the leader of his party In congress
which he ruled with rod Of iron. He
was a man of fierce and terrible re-
= sentiments. And yet, in his personal
life. to those he knew he was generous
I and considerate. "Old Austin Stonemar
the Great Commoner," he was called