Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-14
he'd by Doubleday, Page & Co.
I CHAPTER vi.
THE ASSASSINATION.


accompanied by her brother.
Captain Phil .Stoneman, athletic,
bronzed, a veteran of two years SER
vice, dressed in his full uniform, was
the ideal soldier, and yet he had never
loved war. He was bubbling over with
quiet joy that the end had come and
he could soon return to rational life.
Inheriting his mothers temperament,
he was generous, enterprising quick,
intelligent modest, and ambitious.
War had seemed to him a horrible
tragedy from the first. He had early
learned to respect a brave foe, and
bitterness had long since melted out
Of his heart.
He had laughed at his fathers harsh
ideas Of southern life gained as pol
itician, and, while loyal to him after
a boys fashion, he took no stock In his
Radical programme.
The father, colossal egotist that he
was, heard Phil's protest with mild
amusement and quiet pride in his in
dependence, for he loved this boy with
deep tenderness.
Phil had been touched by the story
Of Ben's narrow escape, and was anx-
ious to show his mother and sister
every courtesy possible in part atone
ment for the wrong he felt had been
done them. He was timid with girls,
and yet he wished to give Margaret a
cordial greeting for Elsie's sake. He
was not prepared for the shock the
first appearance Of the southern girl
gave him.
When the stately figure swept
through the door to greet him, her
black eyes sparkling with welcome, her
voice low and tender with genuine
feeling, he caught his breath in sur
prise.
Elsie noted his confusion with
amusement and said:
II must go to the hospital for lit
tie work. Now, Phil, I'll meet you at
the door at o'clock.
"Tll not forget" he answered alb
stractedly, watching Margaret intently
as she walked with Elsie to the door.
He saw that her dress was Of
coarse, unbleached cotton, dyed with
the juice Of walnut hulls and set with
wooden handmade buttons. The story
these things told Of war and want was
eloquent, yet she wore them with un-
conscious dignity She had not pin
or brooch or piece Of jewelry. Every
hing about her was plain and smooth,
graceful and gracious. Her face was
large-the lovely oval /type-and her
luxuriant hair, parted in the middle,
fell downward In two great waves.
Tall. stately, handsome, her dark rare
southern beauty full Of subtle langour
and i1dolent grace, she was to Phil
revelation.
The coarse black dress that clung
closely to her figure semed alive when
she moved, vital with her beauty. The
musical cadences of her voice were
vibrant with feeling sweet, tender, and
homelike. And the odor of the rose
she wore pinned low on her breast he
could swear was the perfume Of her
breath.
Lingering in her eyes and echoing
in the tones of her voice he caught the
shadowy memory Of tears for the loved
ard lost that gave strange pathos
and haunting charm to her youth.
She had returned quickly and was
talking at ease with him.
I'm not going to tell you, Captain
S:oneman, that I hope to be a sister
to you. You have already made your
self my brother In what you did for
Ben"
Nothing 1 assure you, Miss Came
ron, that any soldier wouldn't do for
brave foe"
Perhaps; but when the foe happens
to be an OILY brother, my chum and
playmate. brave and generous, whom
I've worshipped as my beau-ideal
man-why, you know l must thank you
for taki"g him in your arms that day.
May I. again."
Phil felt the soft warm hand clasp
his, while the black eyes sparkled and
0lOwed their friendly message.
He murmured something incoherent-
ly, looked at Margaret as If in a spell,
and forgot to let her hand go.
She laughed at last, and he blushed
and dropped it as though 1t were
live coal.
"I was about to forget. Miss Came
ron. wish to take you to the the
atre tonight if you will go?'
ITO the theatre?"
Yes. It's to be an occasion, Elsie
tells me. Laura Keenes last appear
ance in Our American Cousin and
her one-thousandth performance OF
the play. She played 1t in Chicago at
McVicker's, when the president was
first nominated, to thousands Of the
delegates who voted for him. He Is
to be present tonight, so the Evening
Star has announced, and General and
Mrs. Grant with him. 1t will be the
opportunity Of your life to see these
famous men-besides, / wish you TO
see the city illuminated on the way"
Margaret hesitated.
/ SnOulu ike W SO, SllS Seiiu WIN
some confusion. But you see we are
old fashioned Scotch Presbyterians
down in our village in South Carolina
never was In a theatre-and this is
Good Friday"
That's a fact, sure" said Phil,
thoughtfully. 1T never occurred to
me- War is not exactly a spiritual
stimulant and 1t blurs the calendar.
believe we fight on Sundays often
er than on any other day.
But I'm crazy to see the president
since Ben's pardon. Mama will be here
In moment, and I'll ask her"
You see. It's really an occasion,
Phil went on. THE people are all 60
ing there to see President Lincoln In
the hour of his triumph, and his great
general fresh from the field of victory
Grant has just arrived In town"
Mrs. Cameron entered and greeted
Phil with motherly tenderness
Captain, you're so much like my
boy. Had you noticed 1t. Margaret?
"Of course, Mama, but l was afraid
I'd ire him with flattery If l tried to
ell him"
only his hair Is light and wavy
a"d Ben's straight and black, or you'd
call them twins. Ben's little taller
excuse us. Captain Stoneman, but
we've fallen so in love with your lutte
sister we feel we've known you al
our lives"
Il assure you, Mrs. Cameron, your
IA terv is very sweet. Elsie and L &c
not remember our mother, and all this
friendly criticism Is more than well
come"
Mama, Captain Stoneman asks me
to go with him and his sister tonight
to see the president at the theatre
May | go?"
will the president be there Cap
tain?" asked Mrs. Cameron.
Yes. Madam, with General and Mrs
Grant-its really a great public rune
ton in celebration Of peace and victo-
ry. Today the flag was raised over
Ft. Sumter. the anniversary of Its sur
render four years ago. The city vii
| be illuminated"
The. of course, you can go. will
sit with Ben. l wish you to see the
president"
At I o'clock Phil called for Mar,
garet They walked to the Capitol hill
and down Pennsylvania avenue.
The city was in a ferment. Vas
| crowds thronged the streets. In from
of the hotel where General Grant stop.
ned. the throng was so dense the
streets were completely blocked. Sol
diers. soldiers, soldiers, at every turn
in squads, in companies. in regimenta
| crowds Shouting cries of victory.