Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-12

mind survives the duty, 1t Is not often
that the. unregulated impulse can be
persuaded to- forbear. The boy re-
piled accordingly
"Ah, sir, and yet watched your
face when you were fighting and you
seemed glad to cut down your enemy,
and your eye was bright, and flashing
with a Joy, and your lip even laughed,
sir-I saw 1t laugh, sir, as plainly as
[ see it now: and then your shout,
SIR and your cry to 'charge'-Oh! sir,
1t was like a trumpet"
Still war is a duty only, and should
not be made pleasure, Lance. 1t has
its pleasures, as every duty must have;
but they are dangerous pleasures, and
not the less so because we can smile
when indulging in them. 1t is sad
reflection, boy, that we can laugh when
taking the life Of a fellow-creature,
and taking the life, too, that we can
never restore"
yet, sir, where can be the harm OF
killing a Tory? They don't mind kill
houses and driving off their cattle.
wish 1 could kill thousand Of them. y
Singleton looked again on the boy,
and saw that he was never more In
earnest. He thought once more Of his
sisters pleadings, and her fine elo-
quence in defence Of humanity, while
considering this very subject. What
a contrast! But the one was on the
verge of the grave and Of heaven, and
her spirit attuned to the divine and
gentle influence Of the abode Of bliss.
The other was on the verge Of life
its storms yet to go through, and by
them to be purified, or never. No Won
der that the mood was sanguinary.
The trail and the path before him
seemed to call for 1t.
"Alight, boy" said Singleton, "and
bring me gourd of that water, while
the troop Is coming up"
A branch ran across their path, and
an opportunity was suggested to the
partisan for useful lesson to his
charge With alacrity the youth
alighted from his horse, and went to
gather the. water. while Singleton
waited the coming up of the long
cavalcade of troop and prisoners, wo-
men and children, behind.
The boy stopped over the clear
streamlet which trickled without a
murmur over the road; 1t gave back
his features from its untroubled mir
ror, and he started back from their
contemplation. He had never before
seen that expression-the expression OF
triumph III Wal, anu d SduS uihoiy uC-
sire for a renewal of its fierce and fe-
verish joys. The blood-shot eye, the
corded vein, the wild and eager ex-
preston, were all new and startling as
new, to him who had been the favorite
IF a mother, gentle to weakness, and
fostering him with a degree Of sensi-
bility almost hostile to manhood.
He dashed the gourd into the water,
and hurried away with the draught to
his commander. Singleton barely
looked upon him, and the eye Of the
boy was turned instinctively from his
gaze-but for moment, however. His
firmness was soon restored, the strong
fire again filed II, and once more 1t
met that Of his superior unshrinkingiy.
Singleton gave him back the vessel.
and from that moment felt assured of
his nature. He saw that courage to
desperation, and q love Of the fight
that rapture Of the strife, which was
the Huns passion-were all working
with a fiery ardor, which no imma-
turity Of strength, no inexperience,
could keep down or diminish. He
waited till he was again mounted, and
at his side; and he himself felt, In
despite Of his own exhortations, a
feverish sort of pleasure at seeing, so
clearly depicted as they were upon the
face Of the boy, the emotions OF so
bold and promising spirit.
BY this time the lengthening files OF
the cavalcade had all contracted, and
had overtaken the advance, where 1t
had rested with Singleton. Humphrfes,
who had given his attention hitherto
chiefly to the prisoners and the rear,
now rode up to his commander. They
conferred upon the subject of their
next proceeding, and as the evening
was at hand, and there could be little
prospect of their reaching the Santee
that night in time to cross 1t, burdened
as they were with baggage and pris-
oners, they had almost resolved to lie
by with the coming darkness; but
while they spoke, Davis, who had been
sent on ahead with the scouts, rode In
with intelligence which partially al
tered their determination.
There are outriders, sir, that hang
IN our skirts, all we'll mounted. We
have had a glimpse at them through
the bush, but not to overhaul them.
Once or twice, sir, we saw men peep.
ing out from the woods, sir, but
though we pushed hard, they got shet
Of us mighty quick, and we lost 'em.
only rode up to put you on your
guard, for I reckon there's more OF
'em that we don't see."
"'Tis we'll; put out again, Davis,
and do not let them escape you now II
you can help it. We shall see to the
troop"
Davis rode away, and Singleton pro-
ceeded to arrange his men for all cir
cumstances.
"Close up, Humphries, and bring
your prisoners into the centre, see that
they do not straggle, and let your men
look To their arms. Put them in prep
ration for any chance"
Then calling TO the front q squad
of the better armed and mounted, the
PARTISAN extended his line on the ad-
vance, so as to throw few troopers,
IN either hand, into the woods that
skirted the road 1t was not long af-
ter this that Davis, with the scouts,
who had more than once detected
pair Of keen eyes watching them from
the distant copse, now came suddenly
upon a countryman, who sat mending
bride upon a log at the roadside. He
did not seem much startled at their
appearance, and his whole features
wore an expression Of the most ap-
rroved simplicity and sang-froid. DE
made no movement until the SCOUTS
had actually surrounded him, then
blurted out his astonishment with the
coolest composure.
why, hello! now: but you block a
fellow in, mighty like as eff you wanted
to look at his teeth. What mought
,our wish be. stranger"
Thus addressing Davis, the country
nan rose, and with an air half OF
1oubt and half Of defiance, confronted
the newcomers. The Goose -Creeker
looked On his big bones with admira-
ton. for the man was huge or limp,
though uncomely: and the contrast
-etween him and Davis was calculated
at once to command attention. The
lieutenant, however, did not long de-
'ay in his answer.
We'll, now friend, our wish aint
mighty hard to come at; and the first
question 1 hev to ak you, Is after your
self. What may your name be, ana
what's your business?"
The man chuckled incontinently for
a moment, then recovering and look
ing grave, he replied
Look you, stranger, l never let
man poke fun at me twice on the same
day; so / give you fair warning. I'm
all hell a'ter a varmint, and no tree
your eyes ever looked on will come at
all nigh to hide you, IL once sartainiy
set out to hunt you up. So now, you II
see it's a mighty ridiculous notion
,ou have II you think to poke fun at
Thumbscrew without paying for 1t.
We'll, Mr.. Thumbscrew, II so be
that's your true name, I'm much OBJ
ligated to you for your civtlity In