Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-22

d rose at his approach with show of
4 respectful courtesy, then again quietly
s resumed his seat.
!, Colonel Walton, am truly sorry to
] see you thus-truly sorry" was the
considerate speech of his excellency,
as the prisoner approached. Walton
y bowed slightly in return, as he re-
] piled
e Il am grateful for your lordship's
4 consideration, but cannot withhold my
surprise that you should regret your
/ own successes. The fortune of war
s has made you the victor, and has CIV
I en- me into your power. The prisoner
!, Of war must not complain when he
encounters the risks which should
/ have been before his eyes from the be-
ginning, no more than the victor
should regret the victory which he
sought as the fruit of war"
. The prisoner of war! am afraid
r Colonel Walton, we cannot consider
! you in that character"
Your lordship will explain"
Colonel Walton, a subject Of the
king OF Great Britain, found in arms
against his officers, Is a rebel to his
, authority, and incurs the doom Of one.'
NO subject Of the king of Great
!, Britain, sir! 1 deny the charge. am
, not his subject, and no rebel, therefore,
to his authority But this is not for
I IIle W argue uO". lo "Ildl, may i dom
, your lordship, does all this tend?"
THE consequences are inevitable,
Colonel Walton-the traitor must bear
!. the doom-he must die the death Of the
traitor"
Il am ready to die for my country
at any hour. and by any form Of death.
The prisoner, sir, Is in your hands. l
will simply protest against your deci-
sion, and leave 1t to the ripening time
and to the arms Of my countrymen to
avenge my wrongs"
Il would save your life, Colonel
Walton-gladly save 1t, would you but
allow me-" said CORVALLIS earnestly.
MY dissent or assent, my lord, on
such a subject and under present cir
cumstances. Is surely unnecessary.
The mockery Of such a reference Is
scarcely agreeable to me, and. certain
ly, not becoming on the part Of the
cOnqueror. The power Is in your
hands, my lord, to work your pleas
ire"
I'VE will speak plainly, Colonel Wal
ton. and you will readily understand
us. AS you say. mine Is the power to
command your instant death; and
whether / do 50 in error or in right,
1t matters not; ii will avail you moth
ing. l would save you, as your life,
properly exercised for the royal cause
for the cause Of your king, sir-will
serve us much more materially than
your death. Your influence Is what
we want-your corporation with US,
and not your blood. Twice. sir, has a
commissioner honorable and high
commissioner his majestys service,
been rendered to you from me. Twice
has it been rejected with scorn; and
you are now taken in arms against his
majesty's troops, having violated your
solemn pledge to the contrary, which
your protection insisted upon"
Wrong sir!" exclaimed Walton, in
terrupting him-"wrong, sir! The
contract was violated and rendered
null by the proclamation Of Sir Henry
Clinton-not by me-"
This Is your opinion, sir; and
need not say how incorrectly enter
tained But, as I have before said,
whether justly or unjustly you fall a
victim, will avail you nothing. The
hanged man heeds nothing Of the ar
gument which proves that he was
hung by mistake. l have the power
Of life and death over you in my own
hands; and, believe me, Colonel Wal
ten, in opening a door of safety for
you, l am offering you the last, the
only alternative. You shall die or live,
rs you answer!"
II am ready, my lord. You some-
what mistake my character. II you
| think that I shall fall back from the
truth, because Of the consequences
which it may happen to bring with 1t.
| Hal What Is that?"
He was interrupted by sudden
blast of the bugle, confused hum OF
voices. and then a shrek. Another
and another, wild and piercing, rose
from the court in front. At that in
slant, a soldier entering the apartment
| threw open the doors, and gave an
/ opportunity for those within to behold
/ the awful tragedy that had been going
on the while. A single tree In front
of the place bore twenty human bod
| les; the limbs were yet quivering In
| the air with their agonizing convul-
sions, and the executioner was not yet
done.
CLOSE the door, sergeant" said
CORVALLIS calmly. Then, continuing
| his exhortation to Walton, he made
use of the awful circumstances which
they had just witnessed, the more
earnestly to impress his desires upon
the mind Of the hearer and produce
| in him a different determination.
| AN awful doom, but necessary. II
is one. Colonel Walton, from which
would gladly save you. Why will you
reject the blessings Of life? Why will
you resist the mercies which still seek
to prevent the purposes Of JUSTICE"
"Justice!' was the scornful excla-
nation of the prisoner and all that he
deigned to reply.
| AYE, sir, justice! The cause OF the
rightful monarch Of this country Is the
cause Of Justice: and its penalties are
incurred by disloyalty before all other
offences. But argument is needless
here"
1T is-it is needless" said Walton,
| emphatically.
And, therefore" Cornwallis pro-
| ,eeded-"therefore, sir, l confine my
self to the brief suggestion which
now make you, by the adoption OF
| difficulties. Though you have twice
rejected his majesty's terms of favor,
| he is reluctant to destroy"
That tree attests the reluctance. 1t
bears its own illustration, my lord,
which your assertion, nevertheless.
does not need. L hear you, SIR
Somewhat disconnected, CORVALLIS.
with show Of rising impatience, hur-
ried to a conclusion.
| "Once more sir. he offers you safe
ty; once more he tenders you an hon.
rable appointment in his armies.
Here, sir Is his commisson-take II.
Go below to the Ashley and make up
your own regiment: choose your own
.fficers, and do for him what you have
hitherto fruitleSSly sought to DO tor MS
enemies
Never, sir, never!" was the conclu-
sive reply.
yet. a while. bethink you. You
know the doom else-death-the gal
Ilows."
II know it; l have thought; you
have my answer"
Then, you die-die like a dog, sir,
n the .scorn Of all around you"
BE it so. l hope, and fear not TO
die like a man. My country VIII
Iavenge me. l am ready"
Your country" said Cornwallis,
lscornfully. Then turning to Rawdon,
he gave his order.
my Lord Rawdon, you will instant
ly detach an especial guard for the
prisoner in addition to that which mas
been designated to conduct the pris-
oners of war taken in the late action
to the Charleston provost. He shall go
| with them tn Dorchester"
For what? with what object? why
to Dorchester, my lord?" was the
anxious inquiry of Walton.