Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-08

domestic anecdotes, and Such otnel
subjects as the ladies usually delight
to engage in. More serious thoughts
were in Colonel Walton's mind, ant
his questions had reference to the pub
lie and to the country-the war ant
it's prospects.
And now, Robert, your news, youl
news. You look as if you had much
more IN your budget Of far more i'm
= portance. Pray, out with 1t, and re-
fresh us. We are only half alive here
good nephew"
DO you live at all here, uncle, and
how? How much breath Is permitted
you by your masters for your daily
allowance? and, by-the-way, the next
question naturally is-how go on the
confscations? You still keep The
Oaks see; but how long-how long?'
The nephew had touched the key to
a harsh note. and bitter indeed was
the tone and manner of Colonel Wal
ton, as he replied
LAY, how long-how long, indeed,
am to keep the home of my fathers
the old barony one Of the very first
In the colony? God only knows how
soon the court of sequestration will
find 1t better suited to a stranger rule,
and must prepare myself. suppose,
for some such change. i cannot hope
to escape very long, when so many
suffer confscation around me-"
Fear not for The Oaks uncle, so
long as you keep cool, submit, swear
freely. and subscribe humbly. Send
now and then a trim present Of veni-
son and turkey to the captains quar-
ters, and occasionally volunteer to
hang a poor countryman, who loves
war 20 the knife better than degrada-
tion in a foreign chain. There can be
no difficulty in keeping The Oaks,
uncle. If you only continue to keep
your temper"
Nay, Robert. sarcasm is unnecessa-
ry now. and with me; / need no re-
proaches of yours to make me feel in
this matter"
What, uncle, are you in that vein ?
Have your eyes been opened to the
light at last?"
Somewhat, Robert-but a truce to
this for the present. Let us have your
intelligence from Santee. They talk
here of some risings in that quarter,
but we have no particulars, and know
nothing of the success Of either par
ty. There Is also some story Of ap-
preaching continentals. Has congress
really given us an army? and who Is
to command 1t? Speak. boy; out with
your budget"
Thank you, good mine uncle; but
how know l that l unfold my budget
to q friend, and not to an enemy?
What security do you give me that I
! talk not-with a devout and loyal sub
ject of his majesty-so very much a
lover Of the divine right Of kings, that
he would freely lend a hand to run up
his own nephew to a swinging bough,
the better. to compel the same faith
in others?"
"Pshaw! Robert you speak idly;
you mean not to suppose me Tory?"
The brow of Colonel Walton dark
ened awfully as he spoke.
"I have little faith in neutrals," was
the calm reply: Il hold to the goodly
Whig proverb, He who Is not for me,
is against me. Pardon me, there
FORE uncle, If l prefer-I who am a
| 10 hn naifh-
er Whig nor Englishman, after such
a fashion as shall not make you the
keeper of unnecessary secrets, and ex-
pose q good cause to overthrow, and
its friends to injury"
The taunt thus uttered with a most
provoking and biting dryness Of phrase
operated strongly upon the mind OF
the colonel, already acted upon, in no
small degree, by his own previous
rebukings of conscience to the same
effect. He exclaimed bitterly. as ris-
ing from the supper table. he strobe
away under the momentary impulse
"Ah, by heaven! but your words are
true. Who should esteem the neutral,
when his country is in danger, and
when her people are writhing under
oppression? True. though bitter
more bitter, as it is too true. Rob-
ert Singleton, thou hast given me a
keen stroke, boy. but l have deserved
It, Thou hast spoken nothing but the
truth"
Now. indeed, uncle, l rejoice to see
YOU, and in this humor. You have felt
the stroke at last but it is not my
speech that has done 1t, uncle Of mine.
II is the proclamation of Sir Henry
Clinton"
The youth fixed his eye keenly, as he
spoke. upon the face of Colonel Wal
ton. while his glance indicated a sort
of triumphant JOY finely contrasted
with the disQuietude and vexing in
dignation strongly legible upon the
face Of his uncle.
You are right there, too, Robert.
confess not to have thought so Sc
riously upon this matter-not, certain
ly, so much to the point-as after
hearing the contents of that dishon-
orable instrument of Sir Henry Clin-
tOn-God curse him for it,"
God bless MIN for it, l say, If for
nothing else that he has DONE" imme-
diately rejoined the nephew. MY
prayers have been heard in that; and
: this proclamation Of the tyrant is the
very best thing that he could have
done for our cause and country, and
the very thing that | have most pray
ed for"
Indeed! Major Singleton, you sur
5 prise me. What should there be SO
very grateful to you-so worthy OF
your prayers and acknowledgements
} this proceeding of Sir Henry Clinton"
inquired the other with something
l more of stiffness and hauteur in his
: manner
= "Much Colonel Walton very much