Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-01
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By w. GILMORE SIMMS

solaced himself in his family mansion
with the small cicrle which widower-
hood, and other privations Of time, had
spared him. Nor did his grief pass
without some alleviation in the COM
pany of his daughter Katharine-she,
the high-born the beautiful. the young
the admiration of her neighborhoOd,
reveling in power, yet seemingly all
unconscious of it's sway. The rest of
his family in this retirement consisted
of maiden sister. and a niece. Emily
Singleton, whom, but a short time be-
fore. he had brought from Santee. In
the hope that a change Of air might
be of benefit to that life which she
held by a tenure the most fieeting and
capricious.
He saw but few persons besides.
Studiously estranging himself. he had
no visitors. unless we may except the
occasional calls of the commanding
officer of the British post at Dorches-
ter. This visitor. to Colonel Walton,
appeared only as one doing an ap-
pointed duty. and exercising, during
these visits, that kind Of surveillance
over the people of the country which
seemed to be called for by his position.
Major Proctor had another object in
his visits to THE Oaks" He sought
to ingratiate himself in the IA
vor of the father on account Of his
lovely daughter; and to the charms
of one, rather than the political feel
ings of the other, were the eyes Of
the British officer properly addressed.
Katharine was not ignorant Of her
conquest, for Proctor made no efforts
to conceal the impression which she
had made upon his heart. The maid
en-, however, gave him but small en-
couragement. She gloried in the name
OF a rebel lady, and formed one of that
beautiful array, so richly shining in
the story of Carolina, who, defying
danger. and needless of 'privation,
spoke boldly I'm encouragement to
those who yet continued to struggle
for lis liberties. She did not conceal
her sentiments, and whatever may
have been the personal attractions OF
Major Proctor. they were wanting In
force to her mind, as she associated
him with her own and the enemies
of her country. Her reception Of her
suitor was coldly courteous; and that
which her father gave him, though
always studiously considerate and
gentle, Proctor, - at the same tine
could not avoid perceiving was con-
strained and frigid-quite unlike the
warm and familiar hospitality which
otherwise marked and still marks,
even to this day. the gentry Of that
nelghborhood.
1t was drawing to a close-that day
of events in the history Of our little
squad of partisans whose dwelling
was the Cypress Swamp. Humphries.
who had engaged to meet Major Sim
gletOn with some necessary intelli-
gence from Dorchester. was already
upon his way to the place Of meeting.
and had just passed out Of sight Of
Ashley river. when he heard the
tramp of horses moving over the
bridge, and on the same track with
himself. He sank into cover as they
passed, and beheld Major Proctor and
a Captain Dickson, both on station at
the garrison. on their way to "The
Oaks" Humphries allowed them to
pass: then renewing his ride. soon eff
fected the meeting with Major Single
ton. AS we have already seen. their
object was 1.-The Oaks" also: but the
necessity of avoiding a meeting with
the British officers was obvious, and
they kept close in the wood. leaving
the ground entirely to their opponents.
Though as we have said, rather a
frequent visitor at 1.-The Oaks" the
present ride of Major Proctor in that
quarter had it's usual stimulus dashed
somewhat by the sense of the business
which OcCasioned ii. Its discharge was
a matter of no little annoyance to the
Englishman. who was not less sensi-
tive and generous than brave. 1t was
for the purpose Of imparting to Colo
mel Walton. in person, the contents or
that not yet notorious proclamation OF
Sir Henry Clinton. with which he de-
manded the performance Of military
duty from the persons who had been
paroled, and by means Of which, on
departing from the province. he planted
the seeds Of that revolving patriotism
which finally overthrew the authority
he fondly imagined himself to have
successfully re- established.
Colonel Walton received his guests
with his accustomed urbanity: was
alone when he received them; and the
eyes of Proctor looked round the
apartment inquiringly, but in vain, as
if he desired another presence. His
host understood the glance perfectly.
for he had not been blind to the fire.
quent evidences of attachment which
his visitor had shown towards his
daughter: but he took no heed of it:
and, with a lofty reserve Of manner,
BiCoNiy w hiiS
ness of the commission which the
| EngliShman came to execute, he sim
ply confined himself to the occasional
remark-such only as was perfectly
unavoidable with whom politeness was
habitual. and the predominant feeling
at variance with 1t, the result OF q
calm and carefully regulated principle.
1t was only with a steady resolution,
at last. that Proctor was enabled to
! bring his conversation into any thing
like consistency and order. He COM
menced, despairing of any better open
ing. with the immediate matter which
he had in hand.
"Colonel Walton does not now visit
Dorchester so frequently as usual, nor
does he often travel so far as the city.
May ask if he has heard any late
intelligence Of moment"
| Walton looked inquiringly at his
guest. as if gather to from his features
something of that intelligence which
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