Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-29
CHAPTER XLVIII.

CHAPTER XLvIII.
God speed the good endeavor! fol
1t stands
An earnest of success; thus virtue
strives
Still hopeful, when most hopeless"
The next night found Singleton
himself in the village. He could moi
be persuaded by Humphries to keep
away. The house Of old Pryor, who
was ready for any uproar, received
him; and there, concealed even from
Aunt Barbara, he contemplated the
prospect before him, and devised
more fully his plans for the rescue
Of his uncle. His fair cousin was
in the same dwelling, and he engaged
her company at such brief moments
as he could steal from his labors, and
she from the presence Of her aunt
Humphries was in the village also
having his hiding place In his fathers
Davis came to him there late the
same night, and once more found
himself in the presence Of the fair
coquette, Bella. The Goose -Creeker
turned upon her an unfriendly shoul-
der, and humbled as she had been
by circumstances, Of which Davis
knew nothing, his conduct distressed
her to q degree which she could not
conceal She turned away to conceal
her tears, and the heart Of the troop
er smote him. When she retired,
Humphries bluntly asked Davis why
he was so rough to his sister. The
subject was a delicate one; but the
person addressed was a plain-spoken
fal ,hn q a
time to speak what he thought. Ac-
cordingly, he went over briefly the
whole course of ifficulty between
them, and particularly insisted upon
the preference shown to Hastings.
But he's a dead man; there's no
fear of him now"
IT never was afraid of him Bill;
but then l didn't love him: and the
girl that did can't love me, for there's
nothing alike between u.s."
"Oh, pshaw, man! but she didn't
love him you see," said the other. u
know all about 1t. A girls a girl and
there's no helping it-she will be fool
ish sometimes. There's none Of them
that don't like dozen chaps hang
ing at their skirts-that's the fun OF
the thing with them; and Bella is
Just like all the rest. But the girl is
good stuff after all, you see; for
though 1 did think when Hastings
was dancing about her that she had
a liking for the fellow, I soon found
out that she liked somebody else all
the time"
You don't say so! Who?" de-
manded the other, violently and hur-
riedly, as If taking the alarm anew
whatever might be the cause Of an
ger with the girl, he had no desire
to hear Of.
"a man replied Humphries coolly
"Oh, speak out Bill. I'm sure
don't care. 1 shouldn't quarrel with
him for it,
mo, I reckon not when you know
him. His names Davis"
What Davis?"
John"
"Who-what-why, you don't mean
me?"
world That's you, for certain-gos-
pel-true, now, as 1 tell you. Bella
Humphries, my sister that Is, has
really a greater liking for you. In
your way, as a man, and good
swamp-sucker than for any man
body that I know Of"
But Bill, old fellow, you're joking
now; it's all fun and foolishness. How
do you know now? what makes you
think so?" and chuckling and siding
close to his companion, Davis wound
his arm affectionately round the neck
Of Humphries as he listened to this
narrative, and put his doubling In
quiries in reply.
How do / know? I'll tell you"
Humphries then proceeded to give
a brief account of the dialogue be-
tween Bella and mother Blonay, prior
to the assault of Hastings upon the
former. We need not describe the
JOY of Davis on the recital. That
very night an interview between the
coquette and her lover put all things
right between them.
But you were cross, Bella, you
know; and then you took such pains
to please that fellow"
Yes, I was foolish John: but you
know you had no patience, and If
only looked at any other body than
yourself, you were all in a blaze, and
spoke so angry that you frightened
me more than once. But you won
be angry with me again, and l prom
ise that I'll love you always, and you
only"
Davis made similar promises, and
however we have nothing now to do:
Enough that the Goose-Creeker and
his sweetheart were put in the requi-
sition for the contemplated rescue
Other persons in the village, known
Whigs were also entrusted with parts
Of the general performance; and IN
the brief space of time intervening
between the arrival of Singleton in
Dorchester, the day Of execution, a
bold scheme had been prepared for
the rescue of the destined victim. The
partisan discovered that the whole
force of Major Proctor at the garrl.
son scarcely exceeded the command
Of a captain; sixty regulars was the
estimated number given him by
Humphries The greater part OF
these would, in all probability, form
| the escort of the procession; and these
| were too numerous, too well armed
and too we'll drilled for Singleton
| little force Of thirty men, unless ne
could form a scheme of surprise, py
| which to distract their attention ano
defeat their unanimity. The plan
was suggested by old Pryor, and It's
boldness won the confidence OF oul
hero.
Here's the road, Major Singleton
you see-here's the red clay hill, ano
here's the blasted tree that's borne
better fruit than was ever born on II
Here comes the red coats, d-n em
| l say. Now, look here-here's the
| bush, thick enough on both sides tc
cover a troop quietly. You fix your
men here, and here, and here; ano
] the guard comes; and here's the cap