Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-25

had been long away, and she looked
for him-she thought he had had
wrong. Was there harm in rhis?"
None, only as he had other duties
not less important which he sacrificed
for this. But say what you know"
She did So and confirmed the fugi-
tive's story; was heard patiently
through a somewhat tedious narra-
tive, in which her own feelings, and
a strange show of love for the indif-
ferent savage, were oddly blended with
the circumstances which she told.
Though unavailing to save him from
punishment, the evidence Of his moth
er, and her obvious regard, had the
effect of modifying its severity. The
court found him guilty, and sentenced
him to the lash. Twenty lashes, and
Imprisonment in the discretion Of the
commander, were decreed as his pun
ishment.
A long howl--a shrek Of demoniac
energy-from the old woman. as she
heard the doom. rang in the ears OF the
party. Her long skinny finger was up
lifted In vain threatenings, and her
lips moved in vague adjurations and
curses. Singleton regretted the neces-
sity which made him sanction the de-
cree. but example was necessary In the
lax state of discipline which at that
time prevailed throughout the coun-
try. Marion, who was himself just
and infiexible, had made him q disci-
plinarian.
You will not say Yes to this"
cried the old woman to Singleton.
you a gentleman, and your words are
kind. You will forgive the boy"
II dare not, my good woman. Your
son knew his duty, and neglected It.
We must make an example, and
warn other offenders. The punish
ment is really slight in. comparison
with that usually given for an offence
SO likely to be fatal as this Of which
your son has been guilty. He must
submit"
The old woman raved furiously, but
her son rebuked her. His eyes were
thrown up obliquely to the command
er. and the expression Of his face was
that Of sneaking defiance. as he
rudely enough checked her in her de-
nunciatiOns.
Hold tongue, mother-a'drat 1t!
| Can't you thank the gentlemen for
favor?"
A couple of soldiers strapped him
up: when. having first taken off his
outer jacket, one Of them. with a
common wagon-whip, prepared to
execute the sentence, while the old
woman. almost in danger from the
lash, pressed closely to the criminal,
now denouncfng and now imploring
the court: at one moment abusing her
son for his folly in returning to the
camp and the next, with salt tears
running down her withered cheeks,
seeking to soothe and condole with
| him in his sufferings. They would
have removed her from the spot before
the punishment began. but she threw
herself upon the earth when they at
tempted 1t, and would only rise when
they forbore the effort. He, the GRIM
inal, was as impassive as ever. Moth
ing seemed to touch him. either in
punishment he was to receive, or the
agonizing sensations which he wit
messed in his mother and which were
felt in his behalf. He helped the SOL
diers to remove his vest, and readily
| turned his back towards them, while,
obliquely over his shoulder, his huge
staring eyes were turned to the spot
where Singleton stood. with glance
somewhat averted from the scene OF
ignOminy.
The first stroke was followed by a
piercing shrek from the old woman
a bitter shrek and a curse; but with
that stroke she began counting the
| blows.
"One"-"two"-her enumeration per-
| petually broken by exclamations or
| one sort or another-now Of pity. now
of horror, denunciation. and the most
impotent expression OF paralytic rage
ing some such phrases as the following:
THE poor boy!-his mother never
whipped him'-they will murder him!
l-twO-for he came to see her-three-
| was ever the like to whip a son for
| this,-four-God curse them; God
curse them!-five / can curse, too,
that l can-they shall feel me. they
shall hear me!-siX, seven-that Is
| eight-nine. oh, the wretches! but
bear up, Ned, bear up-it is half over
that is ten-my poor boy! Oh, do
not strike so hard. Look! the red on
the shirt-it is blood! Oh, wretches!
have you no mercy?-it is most done
there. there-stop. He'll blast you
for ever!-that was twenty. Why did
you strike another? | curse you with
a black curse for that other stroke!
You ragged imp!-you vile polecat!-
curse you for that stroke!"
| The execution was over. Unfiinch-
ing to the last, though the strokes
were severely dealt, the criminal had
borne them. He looked the very en-
bodiment of callosity. His muscles
were neither composed nor rigid dur
ing the operation; and though the
flesh evidently felt, the mood Of the
wretch seemed to have undergone no
change. Before he could yet be freed
from the cords, his mothers arms
were thrown around him; and though
he strOve to shake her off, and shrank
from her embraces. she yet persisted,
and, with 4 childish fondness, she
strove, with kind words, while help
ing him on with his jacket, to console
him for his sufferings.
And you will go with me now,
Neddy-you will go from these cruel
men,"
Il cannot. mother: don't you know
| Tn, IN he under puo Ri On long as the