Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-25
TT was Gods care of me, father will

1T was Gods care of me, father Will
say" said the maiden, reverently
And Ellick, Will you forgive me for
yesterday" she said, submissively, as
she timidly raised her head. Who
could look in those blue eyes still
swimming in tears. and not forgive
her? ..
Indeed, will, dear Bessie" he said,
as he fondly kissed her. 'ff you prom
ise never to venture out alone again
II can easily promise that" she said
smiling in perfect reinsurance. "for
doubt IL father will ever trust me; and
as he'll be uneasy now, we had better
be going on
"And what will you do with your
bucket, Bessie?" ....
"Oh! you can put it in the shade OF
the branch there; 1t will keep cool
in the water, and put the basket under
yon thicket, and when you come back
you can carry them. I promised them
this evening, and like to be as good
as my word"
That's right, Bessie! I shan't OBJ
ject to your being always as good as
your word; but what sort Of a soldiers
wife will you make II you scream as
loud when the British are on you, as
you did this EVENING"" he said, as he
drew her hand through his arm, and,
clasping 1t, walked leisurely on.
"Oh! but I'll do better, when Pm"
well! When what, Bessie?" he
laughingly said.
when I'm your wife. Ellick," she
bravely spoke, though her face was
crimsoned. "I'll never be ashamed OF
it again, and II any one asks me who
love best in all the world. I'll say
Ellick Bowen" and though her voice
trembled as we'll as the hand that rest
ed in his, and though she could not
look at him. she persevered In finish
ing. He threw his arms around her
and she went on .....
"I'll be afraid now of nothing,
Ellick. that know you don't think
Ill of me: and I'll never give you
cause again. I would rather meet q
whole army Of British than Reuben
Ferris. Oh! hate him and dread
him so: and when he looks at me-"
and she shuddered and turned pale.
"Never mind him, Bessie. Let US
talk of something else. Did you see
Miss Ellen this morning?"
of
and Miss Ellen is trying hard to get
the old gentleman to provide means
for the outfit of those troopers.
know she has deprived herself Of a
good deal to furnish the boys that
Joined some time ago, and has no
means of her own, or she would not
wait on the old man. It's strange
she can get all she wants from him
but that, and he grows so fretful
and impatient, and so frightened, too,
that she is afraid to press it. When
will Major Davie be DOWN."
"I don't know, BESSIE; why do you
ask? Is Miss Ellen wanting to know"
"She did not ask me-" said Bessie,
too honest to betray a secret that
was not her own. and discovered
only by her woman's intuition.
"It's hard to tell where Major Da-
vie will be; he's here. there and
away. We've got great troop, Bes-
sic. The boys have never been beat
vet, and I don't believe would know
when they were whipped. II 1t were
not that thought could take twenty
fellows with me when I go, I would
not be tagging here. The most Of
them I have have only been waiting
for a leader"
"Will Ferris go now?"
ct don't think he had ever much
notion Of It, If there was a Tory
clan about here, would suspect him;
but he's as cunning as the savage. he
is"
Don't trust him, Ellick: father
never put confidence in him, and now,
he'll not like him any better"
He'll not give us the chance, I'm
thinking; and 1 want no such-well,
I won't say bad words before you,
Bessie, but I'll not have him in my
company Your father would say
such a wretch would be a curse up
on our arms-but there we are at
the homestead. 1t looks like Bessie's
home, and that says more than any
thing else. How sweet and dear 1t
is," he said. as his eye sought hers.
In a few words, old Andrew was
made acquainted with the evenings
adventure, and as they sat down to
their frugal meal, the old man, with
more than usual fervor, blessed God
for his care, while his tones grew
deeper as he prayed the Lord might
take speedy vengeance on their enc
mics. Such a picture Of rural COM
fort as was presented In that humble
dwelling! The table was spread In
the cool passage; the evening air
laden with the fragrance Of the
honeysuckle and flowers. passed gent
ly through. Bessie's table, with Its
cloth Of spotless purity, was spread
with the dainties (the best and
choicest after alD Of the farmhouse
There was her print Of golden butter
loaf of light wheaton bread.
chicken broiled to the incest brown.
eggs poached and daintily set off with
sprigs of parsley, the biscuit smok-
ing hot and a genuine hoe cake Of
Carolina memory. Added to this was
bowl of sweet clabber, with It's
cream untouched and milk cooled by
days repose in the spring-house;
also a dish Of nice fresh honey, so
that one might suppose. on seeing
such tempting dainties, that they are
literally in a land flowing with milk
and honey.
The patriarch and father sat at
the head Of the board. giving utter
ance to words of homely wisdom or
prudent counsel, while bidding them
mind their duty. morn and night.
Ever and anon. his eye would fall on
Bessie, and a softer shade would pass
over the weather beaten face. and
tender tone would intonate the
voice. The young trooper sat on his
right, a picture Of vigorous manhood;