Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-25
TffH PAR{TffSA
A Romance of the American Revolution
BY w. GILMORE SIMMS

which, you know, will be the case b!
that time. So, II he looks for us here
as Google will advise him. the old maj
will stand better than ever in th'
good graces of the enemy; and will b.
better able to give us intelligence, ant
help our cause"
But will your father like such {
mission?"
Like it, major! why, amt his sol
his only son-and won't he do. thinl
you, what l asked him? To be sure
he will You will see."
The plan is good, and reminds me
Of Pryor. You viii see him, and hur'
~ his recruiting Say to him, from
me, how much Colonel Marion expect!
from him as. indeed, the letter I gave
him has already persuaded him. Re
mind him of that letter. and let hin
read II to you. This Will please him
and prompt to new efforts, should M
prove dull. But let him be quiet
nothing impatient, till Colonel Wal
ton is prepared to start. Only keeI
In readiness, and wait the signal. Fol
yourself. when you have done this
delay nothing, and risk nothing ir
Dorchester. You have no plea II found
out: and they will hang you off-hant
as soon as taken. Follow to Bacon's
bridge as soon as possible, and II you
find me not there. l am either in the
swamp, or in the south towards the
Edisto; possibly on the road to Par
ker's ferry. wish to keep moving tc
battle any pursuit"
Protracted but little longer. and
only the better to perfect their severa
plans, the conference was at length
concluded, and the two separated; the
one proceeding to his bivouac, and the
other on his journey Of peril, along
the old track leading to the bridge OF
Dorchester.
Singleton had scarcely resumed
command of his squad before the fu-
gitive Google stood before him, with
a countenance cold and impasslve as
ever and with an air Of assurance the
most easy and self satisfied. The eye
of the partisan was concentrated upon
him with a searching glance, sternly
and calmly. but he shrank not beneath
II.
You have left your duty, sir-youl
post; what have you to say?"
The offender frankly avowed his
error, but spoke in extenuation.
"The storm was coming up, sir; no.
body was going to trouble us, and
thought a little stretch to the old
woman-my mother, sir, that is
would do no harm"
You were wrong, SIR and must be
punished. Your duty was to obey
not to think Lieutenant Davis, cor
poral's guard"
Google looked somewhat astounded
at this prompt movement, and urged
the measure as precipitate and un-
usual.
But, major, the troopers go off con-
tinually from Colonel Washington's
troops when they want to see their
families"
THE greater the necessity Of arrest
ing it in ours. but you will make your
plea at morning, for with the sunrise
you shall be examined"
The guard appeared, and as the
torch famed above the head Of the
fugitive. Singleton ordered him to be
searched narrowly. With the order
the ready soldiers seized upon and
bound him. His rifle was taken from
his grasp-a measure inexpressibly
annoying to the offender. as it was
favorite weapon, and he an excellent
shot with II. In the close search which
he underwent, his knife, and. indeed
everything in his possession, was
carefully withdrawn, and he had rea-
son to congratulate himself upon the
timely delivery Of the stolen watch tc
his mother: for the prisoner from
whom it had been taken had already
announced it's loss: and had it beer
found upon the thief. it would have
been matter. under the stern policy
pursued By Singleton, for instantly
hurrying him to some one of the thou
sand swinging boughs overhead. With
the clear daylight, a court martial a.
the drum head sat in judgment on the
prisoner. He told his story with 6
cOmpOsure that would have done cred.
il To innocence. There was no contra
diction in his narrative. Singleton
proposed sundry questions.
why did you not stand when called
to-"
Il was but one. major, and you were
two: and when the British and TOrie:
are thick about us. it stands to rea'
son that it was them calling. 1 didnt
make out your voice"
"And why did you not proceed di'
rectly To your mothers? Why let 81
much time efapse between the pursui
and your appearance at her cabin?"
Il lay close after they had gone, ma
iOr. for l didn't know that they hat
done looking after me-"
Prompt and ready were his severa
responses. and, apart from the initia
offence of leaving his post, nothing
could be ascertained calculated t
convict him of any other error. II
the meantime he exhibited no NOR,
interest in the scene than in the mos
ordinary matter. One side Of his body
as was its wont. rested upon the 9th
er: one leg hung at ease, and hi
head, sluggish like the rest of his per
son, was bent over so as to lie on hi
shoulder. At this stage Of the pro
ceedings. his mother. whose anxietie
had been greater on the subject thai
those of her son, now made her ap
pearance. tottering towards the groul
with step in which energy and fee
bleness were strangely united. He
first words were those of reproach t
Singleton:
Now wherefore. gentlemen. do yo'
bind the boy? Is it because he love
the old woman. his own mother? on
for shame! it's a cruel shame to d.
he onr1 ~