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

Ine CIldSe was uIlSuCCcSSLui. A4'
pursueIs reached the Cypress withou
having overtaken the enemy. The fu
gitive guard, with their captiVes
reached Dorchester in safety. SO die
nur Partisans-a little after then,
Once there, having discretionary pow
er, Singleton proceeded earnestly TO az
what he could towards the rescue o.
his uncle. The good sense, the ski
and partisan qualities of Humphries
all came into excellent exercise, ane
were found immensely important u
this crisis. With him, Singleton con-
ferred closely, and Immediately dftei
his arrival. The result OF the c1nfer-
ence was the departure, that night, ol
Humphries alone, for the village ol
Dorchester.
Meanwhile, the individuals of The
party in the Cypress resumed tneil
old places and habits. Porgy was
quite at home, and not the less pisaseo
that the eel-loving Oakenburg had for
borne to volunteer. He soon set 'he
peculiar talents of Black Tom in re-
ouisition; and little foraging fur
nished the scouts with sufficient sup
ply for the evening feast. OF this we
need scarcely say that Singleton ate
but little. He was eminently wretch
ed: and as he wandered gloomily
along the edge of the island, he was
the wild laugh. and at meeting the
wolfsh visage, of the maniac Tramp
ton Immediately beside him.
"You are come" said the wretched
man-''you are come to see him
You shall see him; he is there" point
ing with his finger. II have put him
to watch her grave, and he watches
we'll: he never leaves 1t. The owl
and he-they watch together, and one
the othor Slapns Come
you shall see."
Singleton could only conjecture the
meaning Of his speech; the scattered
rays OF reason Illuminating the vain
obscurity Of his language, even as the
faint fiickering of the twilight light
ed up imperfec :ly the crowding black
ness and the strange cluster OF objects
around them ir the swamp. The hre-
light fell on the cheek Of the madman,
and showed Singleton its squalid and
miserable, not less than maniacal, ex-
preston. He had evidently suffered
from hunger as we'll as woe.
Come with me, rather" said the
partisan, losing for a moment the feel
ing Of his own wre- -chedness In that
of the unfortunate being before him.
The man followed quietly enough, and
Singleton led him to where the rest
were busily engaged at supper. Por-
gy. in an instant made room for him
on the log on which he himself was
sitting: at the same time he broke the
hCecake before him, and gave orders to
Tom, who was standing conveniently
by, to produce the remnants OF certain
chickens, in the procuring or whlch
one Of the neighboring plantations had
suddenly suffered assessment. But the
wild man did not for moment notice
the invitation. He seized Singleton by
the arm. and with gentle pressure,
carried him through the circle to the
spot where his younger son was sit
ting The elder rose at his approach;
but him he did not regard for mo-
ment. But when he looked upon the
younger, and beheld the sword at his
side, he burst into one Of those dread
full laughs which seemed to Indicate,
as they invariably accompanied, every
occasional symptom OF his mental con-
sciousness. The boy stood up before
him, and the hand of the maniac rest
ed upon his head. His fingers, for a
few seconds, played with the fine long
hair Of the boy; but, as If satisfied, In
little while, he dashed away from the
spot, and hurried back to the supping-
place of the rest.
Poor fellow-he doesn't seem to
have eaten for a month" said Porgy,
as the maniac voraciously devoured the
meat set before him. mo wonder he's
mad-I should be mad myself, doubt
not, were / to go without eating even
a day. / felt something like 1t on the
Santee, one day, when required to de-
liberate and not dine. An empty stom-
ach justifies- insanity"
The maniac ate on, needless OF re-
mark or observation; but sometimes he
would pause, and indicate, by slight
chuckle, that some faint CLEANS OF
perception had come into his brain.
To the surprise of all, he did not de-
part as soon as he had eaten, as had
been his usual custom heretofore; but,
throwing himself under an old tree, he
seemed disposed to follow the example
Of several of the rest, who had re-
signed themselves to sleep.
Humphries. meanwhile, had reached
Dorchester in safety. The night was
favoringly dark, and he trod the streets
in which his father dwelt, in perfect
safely. He penetrated. with cautious
steps, and with the utmost circum-
spection, into the inclosure, and sue
cessfully. and unseen by any. made his
way to the stables. Here he remained
quite a while, until the hour had fair
usually closed for the night. He then
ventured out Of his hiding place, and
went towards the dwelling. But the
"Royal George" was still open, and full
OF guests. A couple of British SOL
diers were drinking at the bar; and
there were some four or five Of the
villagers. The old landlord had been
listening TO some narrative which nae
greatly awakened the situation, Wher
a man finds it difficult to laugh, and
when II Is yet expected that he shoulc
do so. The efforts Of old Humphries
in this way were very unhappy. His
laughter died away in hoarse chuck.
le; a gurgling, gulping sound fillec
his throat: and the poor fellow turned
away to conceal tears.
And when will he be hung?" asked
one Of the villagers.
"Friday-Friday next" replied one
of the soldiers. gruffly; "and that's
giving him a id too much time fol
any prayer that he can make. I'm fol
having ii soon over. Just the same
with other people as with myself. NC
long winded speeches, say L.
"Only three days." continued the
villager. well, it's a great pity, fol
he used to be a mighty good man, ano
quite a gentleman. And then there's
his daughter. Miss Katharine-pool
girl. wonder if she knows it?"
II reckon she does" said another OF
the villagers, for l seed the family
coach drive in not an hour after the
guard brought him; and, though
didn't see who was in it, yet l s'pose
il couldn't be nobody but her"
Yes. she's come, said the soldier
who had just spoken, "and she's beer
to the major. begging him. 1 suppose
for mercy. But it's all in my eye ant
Betty Martin-the major can't hell
her much"
"Yet they did say that Major Proc
tor had a liking for the young lady
Maybe he might do much on her be-
half for the father"
He can't, even If he would, sale
the soldier: "the order comes from
Lord CORVALLIS himself, and it's a:
p'inted as a bagnet, and jist as posi-
tive as old Jamaica. The colonel ha!
done all he could. He's let the girl g
to her father, and she was with hin
when 1 left the garrison. She's go
ing to put herself under guard tn
same as her father. to be with hin
all the time"
Poor, poor girl muttered ole
Humphries, hastily turning away
"Bless me. where's Bella? Here, Bella
my dear"
Taking a parting draught, the sol
11<as sEW