Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-15

ana that was suggested Dy his aunt
She pointed to the chamber window,
against which the shrouding branches
of the massive oak from below had
lifted themselves. as with friendly
offer of succor. He returned to the
chamber-his lips were once more
hurriedly pressed to those Of his sister,
whom he was never more to see; but
now she repulsed him impatiently. He
obeyed her sadly; tearing himself at
length away, he passed through the
window and was soon descending the
tree, which fortunately stood on the
side of the dwelling. remote from the
two entrances. and hiding every thing
in the deepest shadow.
| tLook, look down, aunt, and say II
he is SAFE" said Emily, painting with
the impat!cn effort. The old lady
gazed attent!vely, as the rustling Of
the tree indicated his progress down.
He is now at the bottom, my child.
He is safe down."
f.. docs he fly-unseen"
mo, my child, he stands at the bot
TOM
"Oh, call to him to go-bid him not
| delay-does he go now?"
| "Yes: now he moves; he moves to-
wards the big walnut-tree."
| rOh heavens! he will be seen by
| Others. If you can see him so far. Say,
dear aunt. where Is he now?"
| "He moves from three to tree, my
/ child. Re patient, they see him not.
Now l lose him. he goes behind the
kitchen. Now he moves along the
fence-he is over 1t, and In the shad-
ow. They cannot see him now, and
he will soon be at the river. He Is
safe I'm sure-he must be safe!"
Thank God, thank God-ah!-mer-
cy!-What is that, what is that?-They
have slain him.. they have slain him!"
| A sudden rush of feet, loud voices in
dispute. and the discharge Of pistol,
were the sounds which had so acted
upon the senses of the dying girl.
lThese circumstances require an atten-
Ition to the progress of the party under
II anu lllcll SuCCCoo III
the house before the doors could be
Eclcsed against them, according to the
Ioriginal design Of Katharine. Finding
her purpose hopeless when she de-
scended to the hall, she met Major
Proctor at the threshold. His manner
was studiously respectful; how could
1t be otherwise. when met by the ma
jestic form of a woman like the one
who stood before him?-her figure
erect-her high forehead seeming to
lexpand with the swelling veins upon
it-her eye kindling with intensest
light. and the whole expression Of her
| face that of dignified rebuke.
Major Proctor chooses strange
hours for doing honor to my fathers
household: but when he learns that
the master of the house is from
| home, l trust that, as gentleman, he
will forbear to trespass farther upon
my father will freely see him in any
seasonable visit he may think fit to
make"
She stood directly before him In the
passageway, and 1t was not so easy to
pass by her. He had previously given.
orders to a couple of soldiers to secure
the back entrance: and feeling HIM
self, accordingly, perfectly secure In
his hold upon his prey, having HIM
self the command Of the front, there
was no necessity for any precipitation
| which might seem to diminish his res
pectful department towards her who
addressed him, and whom he was so
desrous to conciliate. Lifting his cap
with a modest and even humble air.
while speaking in the most cautious
and gentle accents, he replied
|. "The hour is certainly an unseason-
able one, Miss Walton, and nothing but
an imperative sense Of duty to my king
and command could prompt me, In
this manner, to any trespass upon the
privacy Of those whom I so much res
pect as the family of Colonel Walton.
| 1t is my deep regret that any thing
should occur rendering such an assur-
anCe on my part HtCeSSdiy.
Mere compliment, Major Proctor,
contrasts oddly with the violation OF
that sacred privacy which should be
conceded to our sex, when unprotect-
ed by the presence of any one OF
yours"
81 knew not of your fathers absence.
Miss Walton" returned the English
man. quickly. Her reply was instant.
And the knowledge of 1t now. sir.
secures us, l trust from any farther
| intrusion?"
| The retort annoyed him, since his
previous remark led obviously to the
inference which she had made from 1t.
There was a flush upon Proctor's cheek
as he replied. with an air Of decision
Il am sorry, Miss Walton, to say that
it does not l know the unamiable
| light in which / must appear to you
from such a declaration, but must be
content to rely for my justification on
your own knowledge Of what Is most
becoming in Il soldier. l must do my
duty"
You are imperative, Major Proctor
but l am yet to know what part OF
your duty it Is that brings you to our
poor abode at midnight"
"The arrest, Miss Walton, of a reo-
el-a traitor to his king and country
a disloyal citizen, who has been skulk-
ing about the swamps, coming forth
only to murder. and who, am inform
ed on good authority, Is even now In
this dwelling"
The epithets conferred so freely up
on her cousin. awakened all the indig-
natiCn of the high-spirited maiden.
Her eye shot forth angry and brighter
fires. and the curling hauteur of her
lin looked a volume of contempt upon
the speaker She suppressed much of
this in her language. and subdued the
fever of her fierce thought to something
like a quiet expression Of unconcern.
Your rebel has a name, Major Proc
tOr?"
He has. Miss Walton, regard for