Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-19

| them; on the contrary, perhaps tnlS
was more concentrated than ever.
Mildred had grown up to the blossom
time of life, in the possession Of every
personal attraction. From the fanciful
ideas Of education adopted by her faith
er, or rather from the sedulous care
with which he experimental upon her
capacity, and devoted himself to the
task of directing and waiting upon
the expansion Of her intellect, she had
made requirements much beyond her
years, and altogether of a character
unusual to her sex. An ardent and
persevering temper had impaired a
singular enthusiasm to her pursuits;
and her air, though not devoid Of play
fulness, might be said to be habitualfy
abstracted and self-communing.
AS the war advanced, her temper and
situation both enlisted her as a par
tisan in the questions which it brought
into discussion; and, whilst her faith
ers opinions were abhorrent to this
struggle for independence, she on the
other hand, unknown to him, was cast
ing her thoughts, feelings, affections,
and hopes upon the broad waters Of
rebellion; and, If not expecting them
| to return to her, after many days, with
increase of good, certainly believing
that she was mingling them with those
Of Patriots who were predestined to the
brightest need Of glory.
A father Is not apt to reason with a
daughter; the passions and prejudices
Of a parent are generally received as
principles by the child; and most
fathers, counting upon this instinct,
deem it enough to make known the
bent merely Of their own opinions
without caring to argue them. This
mistake will serve to explain the wide
difference which Is sometimes seen be-
tween the most tenderly attached pa
rent and child, in those deeper senti-
ments that do not belong to the every
day concerns of life. Whilst, there
fore Mr.. Lindsay took no heed how the
seed of doctrine fructifed and grew In
the soil where he desired to plant IT.,
1t in trust fell upon ungenial ground,
and either was blown away by the
wind, or perished for want of appro-
pirate nourishment.
AS the crisis became more moment
Gus, and the discussion Of national
rights more rife, Mildred's predilec-
tions ran stronger on the republican
side: at the opening of my story, she
was a sincere and enthusiastic friend
Of American Independence char
acter (however 1t may be misdoubted
by my female readers Of the present
day, nursed as they are in lady-like
apathay to all concerns Of govern
ment, and little aware, in the lazy lap
of peace, how vividly their own quick
sensibilties may be enlisted by the
strife of mem neither rare nor ineffic-
lent amongst the matrons and maidens
of the year seyenty-six, some Of whom
now more than fifty years gone by
are embalmed in the richest spices and
holiest ointment of our country's
memory.
1t Is. however, due to truth to say
that Mildred's eager attachment to
this cause was not altogether the free
motion of patriotism. How often does
some little under current Of passion,
some slight and amiable prepossession,
modest and unobserved, rise to the
surface of our feelings, and there give
it's direction to the stream upon which
floats all our philosophy! What Is
destiny but these under-currents that
come whencesoever they list, unheed-
ed at first, and irresistible ever after
wards?
NY reader must be told that, before
the war broke out. this enthusiastic
girl had fitted across the path of Ar
thur Butler then a youth Of rare fac
ulty and promise, who combined with
gentle and modest demeanor an ear
nest devotion to his country, sustain
ed by a chivalrous tone Of honor that
had in 1t all the fanciful disinterest-
edness of boyhood. 1t will not, there
fore, appear wonderful that, amongst
the golden opinion the young man was
storing up in all quarters some frag-
ments of this grace should have made
a lodgment in the heart of Mildred
| Lindsay.
Butler was a native Of one of the
lower districts of South Carolina, and
was already the possessor, by inheri-
tance, of what was then called a hand
some fortune He first met Mildred,
under the safe conduct of her parents,
at Annapolis in Maryland, at that time
the seat of opulence and fashion.
There the wise and the gay, the beau
tiful and the rarely gifted united In a
splendid little constellation, in which
wealth threw it's sunbeam glitter over
the wings Of love, and learning and elo-
quence We're warmed by the smiles OF
fair women: there gallant men gave
the fascinations of wit to festive cir
Gle unsurpassed in the New World, or
the old, for its proportion of the graces
that embelish and the endowments
that enrich life. In this circle there
was no budding beauty of softer
charm than the young Mildred, nor
was there amongst the gay and bright
cavaliers that thronged the little
academy" of Eden, 0he governor OF
the province) youth Of more favor
able omen than Arthur Butler.
The war was at the very threshold
and angry men thought Of turning the
ploughshare into the sword. Amongst
these was Butler; an unsparing de-
nouncer of the policy Of Britain, and
an unhesitating volunteer In the ranks
of her opposers. 1t was at this event
full time that he met Mildred l need
hardly add that under these inauspi-
cious circumstances they began to love
Every interview afterwards (and they
frequently saw each other at Williams
burg and Richmond) only developed
more completely the tale of love that
nature was telling in the heart OF each
Butler received from congress ar
ensigns commission in the Continental
army. and was employed for rev
months in the recruiting service al
Charlottesville. This position favored