Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-24

have Ii here-here, ne aQdeQ In lee'
BILE voice, as he put his hand upon his
breast land it has done my work.
fought for you. major, because l was
proud to fight for a friend; and be-
cause" here his voice failed him
as for a moment he closed his eyes
and family uttered-"it Is all over
am dying"
Nay, good John,' said Butler
whilst the tears ran down his cheeks;
ut is not so bad as ,that-you are weak
from bleeding-you will be better
presently. Oh God! oh God!" he NUT
tered to himself, II would not have
had this to save my own life, much less
as the price of my liberty!"
81 fought for you" said the wounded
man, again reviving, because Mary
wished 1t. This will kill Mary" he
added after a pause. "She warned me
not to be rash, but could not help 1t
Be kind to her, Major Butler and take
care Of her. Tell her did not fear to
die; but for her. sake and for the
sake of my poor mother. Go to my pa
rents, let them know 1 thought OF
them in my last thoughts"
John! John!" exclaimed Butler, un-
able to give further utterance to his
feelings.
The dying trooper lay for some mo-
ments silent, and his comrades stood
around him in mute grief, and hung
their heads to concal their emotions
from each other.
"In my pocket" said Ramsay, "is q
Testament. Mary gave 1t to me for a
keepsake Take it out"
Butler drew forth the small volume
What shall do with it?" he asked
in a mournful whisper.
Give it to Mary, back from me. And
this plait of her hair upon my wrist
major, take 1t and wear 1t on your
own; it will remind you of my Mary
you will guard her from HARM"
Before God, John Ramsay" said
Butler with solemn fervor, Il promise
you, that while / live, she shall not
want. Your parents, too. shall be my
special care"
"Then ] shall die with easier heart.
Thanks, thanks friends. FAREWELL" "
feebly calculated the stricken soldier,
whose eye, already glazed with the
pangs Of death. now glanced upon the
attending group, and after a brief but
~ p,,l i,,t tn do oYEn
John Ramsay spake no more, and his
short breathing showed that life was
ebbing in it's channel. The audible
sobs Of Butler; for some moments
were alone heard in the circle, as he
sat supporting the head and grasping
the hand of his brave comrade. The
struggle was at last over. and the gal
liant spirit of the generous soldier had
fled. Butler took from the wrist the
bracelet of Mary's hair. which was
now stained with the blood Of its own
er and with an earnest VOW to redeem
his promise, drew it over his own hand
The scene that followed this melan-
] choly adventure was one Of solemn
interest. The proximity of the enemy
although defeated, rendered a delay al
this spot, in the present circumstances
Of Butler, exceedingly hazardous; yet
he could not entertain the thought OF
continuing his journey until he had
communicated to David Ramsay the
distressing tidings of his sons death
The last request of John seemed also tc
impose this task upon him as a sacred
obligation, due to the friendship which
had terminated in so disastrous an end
Buffers resolution, therefore, was soor
taken. He determined Immediately, al
all hazards to make his way back tC
Ramsay's cottage, and to endeavor tc
console the afflicted parents under
their severe bereavement Disdaining
in his present state Of feeling the dis
guise that seemed to make him al
most stranger to himself, he threw
aside the millers dress and again ap'
peared in his true character resolved
manfully to meet what he now belieV'
ed to be the almost certain result-s
recapture with all it's probable conse'
quences. Some of his party, who were
acquainted with the localities of theil
present position, suggested to him tina
a Whig family of the name of Drum
mond resided at no great distance from
the scene of the encounter, and that
by bearing the body to this place, the!
might secure for it a decent burial
The remains of the trooper were ac
cordingly laid upon a rude litter, ant
his mourning comrades slowly ant
sorrowfully wended their way through
the forest to the designated habitation
Here they arrived about noon, having
traversed a space of more than tw'
miles to gain this asylum.
i Drummond' was a wOodman, ant
occupied a rude cabin, with a small
clearing around it. in the depths of tn
wilderness, so remote from the high
way as to promise as much securit,
from the quest of the enemy, as Nigh
be expected from any portion of tn
region i'm which he lived. He receiv
eu HIS SueSlS Will anu Go 81
was himself acquainted with the fam
lily of the deceased. he exhibited
lively sympathy with the mourner
around the body.
When Butler now made known hi
purpose to set out Immediately for tn
habitatiOn of David Ramsay. Winte
asked permission to accompany him
but the wOodman interpOsed, and rec
commended that he alone should b
permitted to perform that errano
leaving the others to remain with tn
corpse until his return.
1T is. before all others. my duty.
said Butler: land come what may
will perform it,
Then we will go together" adde
the proprietor of the cabin. 1T Wi
be wise to wait until the day is lit
tie more spent, and return in tn
darkness of the night. David Ramsa
, will come back with us. He woul
: like to see his son before we put hir
in the ground"