Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-27
profuSe tears,

profuse tears.
In the meantime the body was re-
moved to the outside Of the cabin, and
the coffin was speedily shut up and de-
posted upon a light wagon-frame, 10
which two lean horses were already
harnessed, and which waited to con-
vey its burden to the graveyard.
"All is ready" said Winter, stepping
quietly into the house, and speaking
in low tone to Musgrove. I'VE are
waiting only for you"
Father" said Mary, who, on hearing
this communication, had sprung to her
feet, II must go with you."
MY child"
| "I came all this way through the
dark woods on purpose, father-and
1t is my right to go with him to his
grave. Pray, dear father, do not for
bid me. We belonged to each other,
and he would be glad to think I was
the last that left him-the very last!"
1.-The poor child takes on So" said
the wife of Drummond now for the
first time interposing in the scene;
land 1t seems natural Mr.. Musgrove,
that you shouldn't hinder her. I will
go along, and maybe 1t will be COM
fort to her, to have some womankind
beside her. l will take her hand"
you shall go, Mary" said her faith
er: but on the condition that you gov
ern your feelings, and behave with the
moderation of a Christian woman.
Take courage. my child. and show your
nurture"
T will, father-I will: the worst Is
past, and can walk quietly to Johns
grave" replied Mary, as the tears
again flowed fast, and her voice was
stifed with her sobs.
ut is a heavy trouble for such a
young creature to bear" said Mistress
Drummond, as she stood beside the
maiden, waiting for this burst of grief
to subside: but this world is full Of
sorrows"
Musgrove now quilted the apart
ment. He was followed by his daughter
and the rest of the inmates, all Of
whom repaired to the front of the cab
in, where they awaited the removal of
the body.
A bundle of pine fagots had been
provided, and each one Of the party
was supplied from them with a lighted
torch. Some little delay occurred whilst
Harry Winter was concluding his ar
rangements for the funeral.
Take your weapons along, boys"
said the trooper to his comrades, In a
whisper. John Ramsay shall have the
honors Of war-and mark. you are to
bring up the rear-let the women walk
next the wagon. Gabriel Drummond.
bring your rifle along-we shall give
volley over the grave"
The woodman stepped into the cab
in and returned with his firelock. All
things being ready, the wagon, under
the guidance of a negro who walked
at the horses heads, now moved for
ward. The whole party formed a pro-
cession in couples-the woodman's wife
and Mary being first In the train, the
children succeeding them and the rest
following at regular order.
1t was an hour after midnight. The
road, scarcely discernible. wound
though a thick forest, and the process
sion moved with a slow and heavy step
towards it's destination. The torches
lit up the darkness of the wood with
strong flame, that penetrated the
mass Of sombre foliage to the extent
Of some fifty PAGES around, and glared
with a WILD and romantic effect upon
the rude coffin, the homely vehicle on
which 1t was borne, and upon the sor-
rowing faces of the train that followed
It, The seclusion OF the region, the
unwonted hour, and the strange mix
ture Of domestic and military mourn
ing, half rustic and half warlike, that
entered into the composition of the
group: and, above all, the manifesto
tions Of sincere and intense grief that
were seen In every member of the
train. communicated to the incident a
singularly imaginative and unusual
character. No words were spoken. eX-
cept the few orders Of the march an
nounced by Harry Winter in a whis-
per; and the ear recognized with a
painful precision, the unceasing sobs
of Mary Musgrove, and the deep groan
that seemed, unawares, to escape now
and then from some Of the males
of the party. The dull tramp of
feet, and the rusty creak of the wag-
on wheels, or the cracking of brush
wood beneath them, and the monoto-
nous clank Of the chains employed In
the gearing of the horses, all broke
upon the stiffness of the night with a
more abrupt and observed distinctness,
from the peculiar tone Of feeling which
pervaded those who were engaged In
the sad offices Of the scene.
In the space of half an hour, the
train had emerged from the wood upon
small tract Of open ground, that
seemed to have been formerly cleared
| from the forest for the purpose or
cultivation. Whatever tillage might
have once existed there was now aban-
doned, and the space was overgrown
with brambles, through which the
blind road still struggled by track
that even I'm daylight 1t would have
been difficult to pursue. Towards the
centre of this opening grew cluster
of low cherry and peach trees. around
whose roots a plentiful stock Of wild
scions had shot up I'm the absence OF
culture. Close in the shade Of this
cluster, a ragged and half-decayed
paling formed a square enclosure OF
some ten or twelves PAGES broad and a
few rude posts set up within, indicated
the spot to be the rustic graveyard.
Here two negroes were seen resting
over a newly-dug grave.
The wagon halted within some short
distance of the paling, and the coffin
was now committed to the shoulders
of the troopers. Following these. the
whole train of mourners entered the
burial place.
My readers will readily imagine with
! what fresh ferVOr the grief of Door