University of South Carolina Libraries
.. L ' ^ _ ISSUED gKBgl-pfrBEIKI 1. m. grists sons. Publishers. } & Tamils gtipspagtr: .^or (he {jromotion of the political. Social, ggrjcnltural and (Eomnurtial gnteresls of the fjctujlij. !^R"t!;^^op"nvici?^!,C,!' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, 8. C., TUESDAY, jFEBRUARY H, 190B. KO. 11. HORSE SI _f A Tale of the Revol ITi\rvAii i (jppui V T3y JOHN I*. CHAPTER XIII?Continued. Butler laughed, as he replied, "That was a soldierly thought of yours. I think you must call your next Baron, after our old Prussian friend De Kalb." "Do youh hear that, wife?" exclaimed Wat. "Keep that In your head, If It will hold there a twelvemonth. No occasion to wait longer, haw! haw! haw!" "Wat talks like a natural born fool,'* retorted the wife. "We have no friends nor enemies on any side. The boy was called Marcus because Watty was headstrong, and not because we cared any more for one general nor another. I dare say there is faults enough on both sides, If the truth was told: and I can't see what people In the woods have to do with all this jarring about liberty and such nonsense." ^ "Hold your tongue!" said Wat. "Boll your kettle, and give us none of your tinkling brass, as the Bible calls it. You see. Horse Shoe, there's such riding and burnings, and shooftng and murder about here, that these women are scared out of the little wits God has given them; and upon that account we are obliged sometime to play o jaiikia inot *4-k lroAn allt f\t harm's way. But I am sure I wish no 111 to the Continental army." "It y/e thought you did, Wat," replied Robinson, "we would have slept on the hill tonight rather than set foot across the sill of your door. Howeever, let's say nothing about that; I told Mr, Butler that you would give us the beit you had, and so you will. I have known Wat Adair, Mr. Butler, a good many years. We used to oall him Wat with the double hand. Show us your flit here, Wat. Look at that s|r! it's as broad as a shovel!" "Cutting of trees," said the woodman as he spread his large homy-knuckled hand upon the supper table, "and handling of logs, will make any man's paw broad, and mine wa'n't small at first." "Ha. ha! ha!" ejaculated the ser( geant, "you ha'n't forgot Dick Rowley over here on Congaree, Wat?Walloping Dick, as they nicknamed him?and the scrimmage you had with him when he sot to laughing at you because they accused you for being llghtflngered, and your letting him see that you had a heavy hand, by giving him the full weight of it upon his ear that almost drove him through the window of the bar-room at the Cross Roads? You ha'n't forgot that?and his drawing hjs knife on you?" "To be sure I ha'n't, That fellow was about as superfluous a pleoe of wicked flesh as I say?as a man would meet on a summer's day Journey. But for all that Horse Shoe, he wa'n't going to supererogate me, without getting as good as he sent. When I come across one of your merry fellows that's for playing cantraps on a man. It's my rule to make them pay the piper: and that's pretty good rule. Horse Shoe, all the world through. But come here is supper; araw up, mr. ouun, Mary, Musgrove having completed the arrangement of the board whilst this conversation was In progress, the family now sat down to their repast. It was observable, during the meal, that Mary was very attentive In.the discharge of the ofllces of the table, and especially when they were required by Butler. There was a modest and natural courtesy In her demeanor that attracted the notice of our soldier, and enhanced the kindly Impression which the artless girl had made upon him: and It was, accordingly, with a feeling composed, in one degree, of curiosity to learn more of her character, and In another, of that sort of tenderness which ^n open-hearted man Is apt to entertain towards an ingenuous and pretty female, that he took occasion after supper, when Mary had seated herself pn the threshhold of the porch, to fall Into conversation with her. "You do not live here, I think I have gathered, but are only on a visIt?" was the remark addressed to the maiden. "No, sir: It Is thirty good long miles by the shortest road, from this to my father's house. Mistress Adair Is my mother's sister, and that makes her my aunt, you know, sir." "And your father's name?" "Allen Musgrrove. He has a mill, sir. on the Ennoree." "You are the miller's daughter, then. Well that's a pretty title. I suppose they call you so?" "The men sometimes call me." re plied Mary, rising to her feet, and leaning carelessly against one of the upright timbers that supported the porch, "the miller's pretty daughter, but the women call me plain Mary Musgrove." "Faith, my dear, the men come nearer the truth than the women." "They say not." replied the maiden. "1 have heard, and sometimes I have read In good books?at least they cailed them good books?that you mustn't believe the men." "And why should you not?" "I don't well know why not," returned the girl doubtingly. "but I am young, and maybe I shall find It out by and by." "Ood forbid," said Butler "that you should ever gain that experience! But there are many tolls spread for the feet of Innocence in this world, and it Is well to have a discreet eye and good friends." "I am seventeen, sir,' replied Mary, "come next month, and though I have travs'iiH hnokwnrrls and forwards from here to Ennoree, and once to Camden, which, you know. Is a good deal of this world to see, I never knew anybody that thought harm of me. But I don't dispute there are men to be afraid of, and some that nobody could like. And yet I think a good man can be told by his face.' "Are you sure of that?" "Yes. My father is a good man, and m mmm utionary Struggle In Carolina. KENNEDY. every one says you may see it in his looks." "I should like to know your father." said Butler. "I am sure he would be glad to know ( you, sir." ( "Now. my pretty miller's daughter, why do you think so?' , "Because you are a gentleman," re- , plied the girt, courtesying, "for all your homespun clothes.' ( "Ha! pray how have you found that ( out?" "You talk differently from our people. sir. Your words or your voice, I can't rightly tell which, are softer than I have been used to hear. And you ( don't look, and walk, and behave as if homespun had been all you ever wore." , "And is that all?" "You stop to consider, as if you , were studying what would please oth- ( er people^ and you do not step so heavy, sir; and you do not swear; and you do not seem to like to give trouble. I can't think sir, that you have been always used to such as are hereabouts. And then there's another rea- , son, sir," added the maiden, almost in . a whisper. "What It that?" asked Butler, smll- j Ing. "Why, sir, when you stooped down , to pick up your fork, that fell from the . table. I saw a blue ribbon round your j neck, and a beautiful gold picture hanging to It. None but gentlemen of ( quality carry such things about them; j and as there is so much contriving and bloody doings going on about here, I , was sure you wasn't what you seemed." , "For heaven's sake, my dear," exclaimed Butler, startled by the dls- t closure of the maiden's suspicion, which was so naturally accounted for, < "keep this to yourself, and the time t may come when I shall be able to re- , ward your fidelity. If you have any j good-will towards me. as I hope you have, tell nobody what you have j seen." "Never fear me, sir," returned the . maid. "I wouldn't let on to any one In the house for the world. I am for General Washington and the congress. ? which Is more than I think the people ^ here are." ? "Indeed!" muttered Butler, thoughtfully, and scarce above his breath. t "What side does your father take, Mary?" , "My father Is an old man, sir. And s he reads his Bible, and every nlght.before we go to bed he prays aloud before us all, I mean all that belongs to ^ his house, for quiet once more and peace. His petition Is that there may t be an end of strife, and that the sword t and spear may be turned Into the prunlng-hook and ploughshare?you < knows the words, sir, perhaps, for they J are In the good book, and so he doesn't take any side. But then, the English ^ officers are not far off and they take } his house and use It as they please, so j that he has no mind of his own. And almost ull the people round us are j Tories, and we are afraid of our lives If we do not say whatever they say." "Alas! that's the misfortune of many more than your father's household. But how comes Jt that you are a friend of General Washington?" "Oh, sir, I think he is our friend; and then he is a good man. And I have a better reason still to be on his side," added the maiden tremulously with h?r head averted. "What reason, my good girl?" "John Ramsay, sir." "Indeed! a very cogent reason, I doubt not. my pretty maid of the mill. And how does this reason operate?" "We have a liking, sir," she replied bashfully, but with innocent frankness; "he is for Washington, and we are to be married when the war Is over." "Truly, that Is a most excellent reason! Who Is John Ramsay?" "He Is a trooper, sir, and out with Genera! Sumpter. We don't see him often now, for he is afraid to come excepting when the Tories are away." I "These Tories are very troublesome I Mary," said Butler, laughing; "they ; annoy us all, on our side of the ques- ! tlon. But love John Ramsay, my dear, and don't be ashamed of it, for I'll i warrant he is a brave fellow, and de- i serves a pretty girl with a true heart, for his love for his country." "That he does!" replied Mary, "for his ertatest fault Is that he ventures too much. If you should see him. sir. I would like you Just to drop him a i hint that he ought to take more care of himself. He would mind it from you. but put me off with a laugh when I tell him so." < "If I have the schooling of him. he shall be more cautious for your sake. But the current of true love never did run smooth. Mary: remember that." "I must go into the house, my Aunt Peggy calls me." Interrupted the maiden. "I will keep the secret, sir," she added, as she retired from the porch to the household service where her pr? sence was demanded. "Simple, Innocent and confiding girl." ejaculated Butler, as he now strolled forth under the starlit canopy of night: "how are you contrasted with the rough and savage natures around you! I wear but a thin disguise, when this unpractised country girl Is able so soon to penetrate it. And this miniature, too! Oh. Mildred! that the very talisman I bear about me to guard nie from evil, should betray me! Well, this discovery admonishes me that I should wear that image nearer to my heart. There" he continued, as he buttoned his waistcoat across his breast: "lie closer and more concealed. I doubt this double-faced woodman, and almost believe In the seeming frivolous dotings of the crone at his fireside. Now, Ood defend us from treachery and ambuscade!" Robinson, at this moment, being on his way to the stable, was met by Butler. who half whispered, "Good sergeant, keep your eye about you, and, mark me, do not omit to take our weapons to our chamber. I have reasons for this caution. I would not trust these people too far." "Wat dare not play us a trick, major," replied the sergeant. "He knows I would shake the life out of his carcase if I saw him take one step of a traitor. Besides, In this here war time, t'is a part of my discipline to be always ready for stolen marches. As you say, major, we will stack arms where we sleep. There is no trust In this dubious country that isn't somefKI*->r* fHo oiipop with nnwrlar ?nrl hfl 11 to back It." With this Intimation the sergeant continued his walk, and Butler, retiring to the family group, seated himself near the fire. l Wat Adair and his crony, Michael Lynch, had each lighted a pipe, and i were now In close conference under the < cover of their own smoke, amidst the l combined din of romping children and I of the noisy spinning-wheel of the s wife, which gave life and occupation to the apartment < "How far do you expect to travel i tomorrow?" asked the host, as Butler drew a chair near him. ! "That will depend very much," re- j plied Butler, "upon the advice you may t ?lve us." ! "You wish to get across here Into 1 3eorgia?' continued Wat. "By the route less liable to molesta- 1 lion," added the major. 1 "Let me see. Michael, Grlndall's Ford is the best point to make; then there's ' Christie's, about three miles beyont." < "Just so" replied Lynch; "that will t nake about twenty-seven and three ire thirty miles; an easy day's jour- { ley." 1 "In that case," said Adair, "If you i mow the road?doesn't Horse Shoe i mow It, sir?" 1 "I rather think not," answered But er. I "Well. It's a little tangled, to be j mre; but If you will wait In the morn- t ng until I look at my wolf trap, which ? 8 only a step off, I will go with you ? Dart of the way, Just to see you through >ne or two cross paths; after that all t s clear enough. You will have a long t lay before you. and, with good horses, s lot much to do." c "Are we likely to meet parties on the j oad?" asked Butler. t "Oh, Lord, sir, no chance of it" re- ? Dlied the woodman; "everything Is Irawing so to a head down below at t Camden 'twixt Cornwallls and Gates, c tyit we have hardly anything but old \ vomen left to keep the country free of i Indians." "And how have you escaped the I evy?" Inquired the major. "He, he, he!" chuckled our host; i 'there's a trick In that. They call me e i man of doubtful principles, and t leither side are willing to own me," he f idded, with a tone that seemed to In- t llcate a sense of his own cleverness. 8 'But bless you, sir, If I chose to speak j tut, there wouldn't be much doubt In d he case. Would there, Michael?" o "Not If you was to be plain 1n declarng your sentiments," answered Lynch, t tedately puffing out a huge cloud of s imoke. 1 "Uotii.lvt vnu and mp sir" continued S [Vat. putting his hand up to his mouth, f ind winking an eye at Butler, "the t hing\s clear enough. But these are tckllsh times. Mr. Butler, and the wise g nan keepeth his own counsel, as the v Scripture says. You understand me, t dare say." s "Perhaps, I do," returned Butler, \nd here the conversation dropped, iVat and his companion gravely pour- s ng forth volumes of tobacco fumes in r illenee, until the sergeant having made v lis visit to the stable, now re-entered a he room. r "Wat," said Robinson, 'show us g vhere we are to sleep. Mr. Butler, to e ny thinking, it's time to be turning I n." Then throwing his rifle upon one i irm, and Butler's holsters over the t )ther, the sergeant waited in the mid- i lie of the floor until Mary Musgrove, t it the order of Adair, took a candle In e ler hand, and beckoned our travelers i :o follow her out at the door. The > maiden conducted her charge along r ;he porch to the opposite end of the ( cabin, where she pointed out their 1 chamber. After bidding their pretty t conductress "good night," our trav- f ilers prepared themselves for that repose which their wearied frames did 1 lot long seek in vain. 1 1 t CHAPTER XIV. t Something Very Like a Dream. It was after midnight, and the ( inmates of the woodman's cabin had been some hours at rest, when Mary ( Musgrove's sleep was disturbed by strange and unwonted alarms. She was dreaming of Arthur Butler, and ( a crowd oI pleasant visions flitted about her pillow, when. suddenly ( "innSa iijirit?.neil the world of her . dream, and images of bloodshed caused her to shudder. Horrid shapes appeared to her. marching with stealthy pace through her apartment, and a low and smothered footfall seemed to strike her ear like j the ticking of a death-watch. The fright awakened her, but when she came to herself all was still. Her chamber was at the opposite end of the cabin from that where Butler ( and Robinson slept, and it was separated from the room occupied by , Lynch only by a thin partition of j boards. The starlight through her , window fell upon the floor. Just ' touching, as It passed, the chair over which Mary had flung her clothes, and lighting with a doubtful and spectral light the prominent points of the pile of garments, in such manner as to give it the semblance of J soine unearthly thing. Mary Mus- , grove had the superstition common ( to rustic education and, as her dream , hud already filled her mind with apprehensions, she now trembled when her eyes fell upon what seemed to her a visitant from another world. ( For some moments she experienced I mnut nninfni nf all sufferings. I the agony of young and credulous minds when wrought upon by their horror of spectres In the night. Gradually, however, the truth came to her aid, and she saw the dreaded ghost disrobed of Its terrors, and changed into a familiar and harmless reality. But this night-fear was scarcely dissipated before she again heard, what in her sleep had conjured up the train of disagreeable images, the noise of footsteps in the adjoining room. In another instant ( she recognized the sound of voices conversing in a half whisper. "Michael," said the first voice; "Damn it, man, will you never wake? Rouse yourself; it is time to be stirring." "Wat!" exclaimed the second voice, with a loud yawn, whilst at the same moment the creaking of the bedstead and a sullen sound upon the floor showed that the speaker had risen from his couch. "Is it you? I have hardly gone to bed before you are here to rouse me u?j. What n'olnrk Is It?" "It Is nearly one," replied Wat Adair. "And let me tell you, you have no time to lose. Hugh Habershaw is good ten miles off, and you must be back by daylight." "You might have given me another hour, I think, If It was only to consider over the right way of setting about this thing. Always look before you leap, that's common sense." "You were always a heavy-headed devil," said Adair; "and take as much spurring as a spavined horse. What have you to do with the considering? Isn't all fixed? Jog, man, log. You have a beautiful starlight: ind I had the crop-ear put up In the stable last night, that no time might ae lost, so up, and saddle, and away!" "Well, you needn't be so d?d susy; don't you see that I am getting -eady ?" "Quiet, Mike; you talk too loud, rake your shoes In your hand, you :an put them on when you get Into he porch." "There, give me my coat, Wat; ind I think I should have no objec ion to a drop before I set out. It's aw riding of a morning. Now tell i ne exactly what I am to say to Hugh labershaw." "Tell him," replied Wat, "that we lave got Horse Shoe Robinson and dajor Butler of the Continental army, is snug a*s a pair of foxes in a bag, i ind I will let them run exactly at ;even; and " "Not to interrupt you, Wat," said I he other, "let me ask you a ques- I ion before you go on. Suppose this ihouldn't be the man? Are you sure ' if it? It would be a d?d unchristian i ob to give over any other human 1 >eing to such a set of bloodhounds ' is Hugh Habershaw and his gang." < "Pshaw, Mike; you are a fool! 1 IVho, in the name of all the imps, ;ould it be, but Major Butler! < .Veren't we expecting him along with i iorse Shoe, and Just at this tirne^" < "It looks likely enough," replied ' ^ynch. "So go on." "Tell Hugh to be ready at the i Dogwood Spring, at the latest, by light o'clock. I'll give him a game I o play that will supple up his Joints ' or him. And mind me Mike, warn < he greasy captain to have his whole < quad with him; for Horse Shoe Robnson, you know, is not to be han- ! lied by boys; it will be a bull-fight, ir I'm mistaken." * < "The major seems to have a wick ' d eye too, Wat," said Lynch, "I ) houldn't like much to be in his way. f he was angry; these copperheads ] ire always In a coll ready 10 sirme. i Jut. Wat, how If they don't ride by i he Dogwood spring?" I "Leave that to me; I'll contrive to ] ;o as far as the forks of the road | rlth them. And then, if they don't i ake the right hand fork, you may i ay It's for the want of my not i mowing how to tell a lie." i "Now, Wat Adair, I don't like to i ipoll sport, but, maybe, you have ] lever thought whether it would be ( rorth while Just to take t'other side, ind tell Horse Shoe the whole busl- ( less. Couldn't we, don't you think, ] ret as much money, and just as hon- , tstly, by hoisting colors with Major i 3utler?" 1 "But I have thought of that, and | t won't do, for two reasons. First, i hese Continentals are on the down- i lill, and money is as scarce with ] hem as honesty with the redcoats; md, second, the Tories have got so i nuch of the upper hand In the i vhole country, that I should have ny house burned down and my chll- i Iren thrown into the blaze of it, in ess than three days. If 1 was to let < hese fellows slip through my flnjers." "Well, I never knew," said Mike i L.yrich. "any piece of vlllany that j ladn't some good reason to stand >y it, and that's what makes It i igreeable to my conscience to take i hand." "Why, you otTscouring," repuea IVat, "it is enough to make Old Scratch laugh to hear you talk about conscience! There ain't no such a hing going in these days. So be >ff; I'll look for you at daylight." "I'll ride. Wat, as if the devil was | >n my crupper; so good bye!" The cessation of voices, the diu- < ant tramp of Lynch when he left i :he cabin, and the cautious retreat )f Wat Adair to his chamber, told i :o Mary that the affair was settled, ind the plan of treachery In full i career towards Its consummation. The dialogue that had just passed i n the hearing of the maiden, disclosed a plot that deeply agitated ind distressed her. What did It become her to do, was the first question that presented Itself to her re- i flection, as soon as she was sufficiently self-possessed to turn her i thoughts upon herself. Was It in her power to avert the pending disaster which threatened the lives, perhaps, of those who had sought the hospitality of her kinsman? Perplexed, dismayed, and uncertain how to act, she had resource to an expedient natural to her education, and such as would appear most obvious to a feeble and guileless female; it was the simple and the faith-inspired expedient of prayer. And now, in artless but sincere language, having first risen up in her bed, and bent her body across her pillow, in the attitude of supplication, she ferverently Implored the support of Heaven In her present strait, and besought wisdom and strength to con ceive and to do that which was needful for the security of their Individuals whose peace was threatened by this conspiracy. "I will arise," she said, as she finished her short and earnest prayer, "with the first light of the dawn, and wait the coming of the strangers from their chamber, and I will then be the first to tell them of the snare that Is prepared for them." With this resolve she endeavored to compose herself to rest, but sleep fled from her eyelids, and her anxious thoughts dwelt upon and even magnified tie threatened perils. It might be too late, she reflected, to wait for the dawn of day; Adair might be before her at the door of the guests, and his constant presence might take from her all hope of being able to communicate the lm portant secret to ttiem; it was undoubtedly her surest course to take advantage of the stillness of the night, whilst the household was wrapped In sleep, and apprise the strangers of their danger. But then, how was she to make her way to their apartment and arouse them, at this hour, from their slumbers? To what suspicions might the attempt expose her, even from Arthur Butler himself? And, more particularly, what would John Ramsay think of It, If the story should be afterwards told to her disadvantage? This last was an Interrogatory which Mary Musgrove was ever found putting to herself, In winding up a self communion. On the present occasion this appeal to the opinion of John Ramsay had the opposite effect from that which might have been expected from It. It suggested new lights to her mind, and turned her thought into another current, and brought the resolution to her aid which her prayer was intended to invoke. What would John Ramsay think?he the friend of liberty, and of Washington, the compatriot of Butler and Robinson, now toiling with them in the same cause! What would he think, if she, his own Marv. (and the maiden rested a mo-1 ment on this phrase), did not do everything In her power to save these soldiers of independence from the blow which treachery was now aiming at them? "John would have good right to be angry with me," she breathed out In a voice that even Btartled herself, "If I did not give them full warning of what I have heard. This I am sure of, he will believe my story whatever others may say." Innocence and purity of mind are both sword and shield In this world, and no less Inspire confidence to defy the malipe and uncharltableness bf enemies than they strengthen the arm to do what Is right. Mary, therefore, resolved to forego all maidenly scruples and bravely to perform her duty, come what might; and having settled upon this conclusion she Impatiently awaited the moment when she might venture forth upon her office of humanity. In this situation It was not long before she heard the distant footfall of horse's gallop along the road, Indicating to her the departure af Michael Lynch upon his traitorous embassy. The time seemed to be propitious, ?) Mary arose and dressed herself. Then tripping stealthily to the door that opened upon the porch, she . undid thef bolt. A loud and prolonged creak, from the wooden hinges, caused her to shake from head to foot. She listened for a moment, and, finding that no one stirred, stepped forth with the timid and Talterlng step which would no less have marked the Intent of a burglar, than, as now It did, the frightened motion of a guardian spirit bent upon an errand of good. Midway along the porch she had to pass the window of Adair's apartment: first, the low growl, and then the sudden hark of the watch-dog saluted her ear, and made her blood run cold. The maiden's nana, nowever, nuumed him Into silence; but the noise had attracted the notice of Wat Adair, who grumbled out a short curse from within which was distinctly audible to Mary. She hastily fled to the other end of the porch, and there stood cowering close agaln'st the wall, almost as mute and motionless as a statue, scarce daring to breathe, and poised, as In the act to run, with her weight resting on one foot, the other raised from the floor. In this position she remained during a long Interval of fear, until at length, convinced that all' was quiet, she again ventured forward. The window of the travellers' chamber looked out from the gable end of the dwelling, and she was now Immediately before it. One of the beds of the room, she knew, way placed beside this window, and was occupied by either Butler or Robinson. Tremblingly and mistrustfully, she gave a feeble tap with her hand against the sash. There was no answer: the sleep within was the sleep of tired men, and was not to be broken by the light play of a maiden's fingers. She now picked up a pebble from the ground, and with It again essayed to wake the sleepers. This, too, was unsuccessful. In utter hopelessness of accomplishing her purpose by other means, she ventured upon raising the sash; and having done so, she thrust her head partially Into the room as she held up the window-frame with one hand, crying out with an almost choked voice: "Mr. Butler! Mr. Butler! For mercy sake!" There was no other response but the deep breathings of the sleep-subdued inmates "Oh. what shall I do?" she exclaimed, as her heart beat with a violent motion. "I might as well call to the dead. Mr. Galbralth Robinson! Ah, me, I cannot rouse them without alarming the whole house! Major Butler," she continued, laying a particular stress upon this designation of his rank, "Oh, good sir, awake!" "What do you want?" muttered Butler In a smothered and sleep-stlfied voice, as he turned himself on his nlllow. as one moved by a dream. "Oh, heaven, sir, make 110 noise! I am ashamed to tell you who I am." said the terrified girl, "but I come for your good?I have something to tell you." "Away, away!" cried Butler, speaking in his sleep, "I will not be disturbed; I do not fear you. Begone!" "Oh, sir, hear me," entreated the maiden, "the people In this house know you. and they are contriving evil against you." "It makes no difference," muttered the only half-awakened soldier. "I will ride where it suits me, if the Tories were as thick as the leaves of the trees." "There are people gathering to do you harm tomorrow," continued Mary, not suspecting the unconsciousness of the person to whom she | addressed herself, "and I only come with a word of warning to you. Do not ride by the Dogwood Spring tomorrow nor take the right hand road at the first forks: there are wicked men upon the road. Have your eye," she whispered, "upon my uncle Walter. Ride fast and far, before you stop; and pray, sir, as you think fairly of me?Mary Musgrove, sir, ?the daughter of Allen Musgrove, the miller?oh, do not tell my name. If you know John Ramsay, sir, I am certain you would believe me." The watch-dog had growled once or twice during me periuu wiuie Mary spoke, and at this moment the door of the principal room of the cabin was heard to move slightly ajar, and the voice of Adair, in a whisper, reached the girl's ear,? "Hist. Michael! In the devil's name what brought you back? Why do you loiter, when time is so precious. A long, heavy, and inarticulate exclamation, . such as belongs to disturbed sleep, escaped from Butler. "Father of heaven. I shttil let the window fail with fright!" Inwardly ejaculated Mary, as she still occupied her uneasy station. "Hush, It Is the voice of my uncle." There was a painful pause. A heavy rush of wind agitated the treey, and sweeping along the porch caused some horse-gear that was suspended against the wall to vibrate with a rustling noise: the sound pierced Mary's ear like the accents of a ghost, and her strength had wellnlgh failed her from falnt-heartedness. "I thought It was Michael," said Adair, speaking to some one within, "but it is only the rattling of harness and the dreaming of Drummer. These dogs have a trick of whln|ng and growling In their sleep according to a way of their own. They say a dog sometimes sees a spirit at night. But man or devil its all the same to old Drummer! Sleep quiet you superfluous, and have done with your snoring!" With these words the door was again closed, and Mary for the moment, was . released from suffering. "Remember," she uttered In the most fear-stricken tone, as she lowered the sash. "Be sure to take the left hand road at the first fork!" "In God's name, what Is it? Where are you?" was the exclamation heard by Mary as the window was closing. She did not halt for further parley or explanation, but now hastily stole back, like a frightened bird towards Its thicket. Panting and breathless, she regained her chamber, and with the utmost expedition betook herself again to bed, where, gratified by the consciousness of having done a good action, and fully trusting that her caution would not be disregarded she gradually dismissed her anxiety, and before the hour of dawning, had fallen Into a gentle though not altogether unperturbed slumber. TO BE ObNTINTBD. * ' HANGED ON GHOSTS TESTIMONY. Peculiar Trial* Found Among British Court Record*. The testimony of a "ghost" would not count for much In a court of law, but the day has been when It has sufficed to hang a man. It Is stated that the original depositions are in the Bodleian Library of a most remarkable case of thhs character. A girl named Anne Walker was supposed to have been sent away for her good by a substantial farmer. Some time afterwards a so-called apparition appeared to a neighbor, with its head all bloody from wounds, and telling him that she had been murdered by the farmer and an accomplice. Her body, the aparltlon said, had been buried in a spot which she described, and she begged the man to whom she appeared to bring her murderers to justice. True enough, the body was found in the place mentioned and the man was brought to trial. The sensational character of the case was intensified by one of the jurymen declaring that he saw the child of the dead woman "sitting upon the shoulders" of its father, the farmer. Both the culprits were hanged, mere ?us a gnuani uccunei in a ease with which the readers of Scott are fumlliar. Soon after the *"45" an English soldier wandering near fcraemar met a violent death. Hawks do not peck out hawks' een and no man opened his mouth to give a clew. Years passed and then came a story of a communication from another world. A farm servant declared that in the night a spirit had appeared to hirn, declaring itself to be the ghost of the soldier, whose bones it said lay still unburled. The Highlander must see to their decent interment and have the murderers, two men named, brought to Justice. The Highlander promised, but did not keep his word, and a second and third time the spirit appeared and upbraided him for his breach of faith. Alarmed at last and no longer daring to delay, the man called a companion, went to the spot which the spirit had indicated and there found the bones of the murdered warrior concealed in a moorland tract called the Hill of Christie. The story of the Highlander came to the ears of an anti-Jacobite, who caused the matter to be brought to trial before the court of Justiciary, Edinburgh. There the tals was corroborated by a woman who had seen a naked ilgure enter the place on the night spoken of by the man. It was an age of superstition, in a district more than commonly given to superstitions, and the jury seemed disposed to find the two men charged, guilty of the murder. But it happened the principal witness spoke only Gaelic. "Now," said counsel for the defense, "In what language did the ghost speak?" "In as good Gaelic as ever I heard in Lochaber," was the reply. "Pretty good for a ghost of an English soldier." said counsel. And that question and comment saved the necks of the men at the bar. The Jury could believe in ghosts, but not in an English ghost speaking Gaelic.?London Dally Standard. 't?~ Bait your hook with a gold brick when you fish for suckers. ^ The more disagreeable the truth the more mighty and prevalent It is. HISTORY OF SO From the First Settle the Rev By REV. ROBER' From the Yorkvllle Enquirer of 1875. INSTALLMENT XI. Fighting the Spaniards. No one can form even a tolerably correct Idea of American history, without some knowledge of the history of Europe, and especially of England. Although only about fifteen years had transpired between the landing of the colony at Ashley river, and the departure of Joseph West from the colony, still great changes had taken place amongst the proprietors and In the English government George Monk was dead; Ashley was committed to the Tower In 1681; In 1667 Clarendon was banished for life; John Locke was forced, In 1684, to leave England and take up his abode In Holland. On the 6th of February, 1685, Charles the Second died, and on the same day his brother James ascended the throne with the title of James the Second. On his death bed Charles made a profession of the Roman Catholic faith, and made confession to Father Huddleston, a second rate priest. James the Second was a professed papist. This the Protestant part of the kingdom, and especially the dissenting Protestants, had been dreading for years. Things had been drifting in this direction for a long time, and many had left the kingdom and come to America that they might escape future trouble. Not only did Individuals unknown to fame, quit the land of their birth and seek a,home !n tne wuas or America.; uui manjr persons of wealth and position bid an adieu to all that was dear, and fled to the New World that they might escape the cruelties of a papal monarchy. Amongst those who came to South Carolina were Joseph Blake from England, and Lord Cardross from Scotland. Blake was a brother of the admiral. He sold out his estate In Somersetshire and came to South Carolina In 1683. From what we can learn concerning him, he was an old man, and also a man of exemplary life and of great Influence. The reason he gave for leaving England was that the miseries which the Dissenters at that time suffered were nothing. compared with what they would be called on to "endure under a Popish successor." The son of Joseph Blake was In after years, governor of South Carolina, and his daughter married Joseph Morton, another governor. Blake, by his presence In the colony, greatly encouraged the sober and law abiding portion of the people. About the same time, Lord Cardross obtained permission to transport to Carolina 10,000 Immigrants. The proprietors so altered the Fundamental Constitutions as to be very favorable to these Scotch. Cardross had been most unrighteously treated. His property had been destroyed by the king's troops and his income taken from him and given to another. In 1683, he, with a nhmber of families, arrived in Carolina. A settlement ? ??* Daw* D Aval Thf> was cumiiieiiueu ni v/? v ?</;> . town they founded, was in honor of his wife, named Stuart's Town. How many families and what number of immigrants came with Cardross it is not easy to say. Some think that only ten families came; but there are reasons for believing that there were more than ten. Amongst the individuals who came was a Scotch clergyman, by the name of William Dunlop. The settlers at Charles Town viewed, with a jealous eye, the new comers. Cardross was summoned to appear before the grand council at Charles Town, to give an account of himself and colony. Irritated and disgusted at such demands he, as soon as his health would permit, returned to his native land, and took an active part In the Revolution of 16S8. A part of his colony remained but In a few years it was broken up and amalgamated with that at Charles Town. On the retirement of Joseph West, Joseph Morton became governor. His commission was only signed by the proprietors. In November, 1685, only a few months after receiving his commission, Morton convened the parliament, and agreeable to the Instructions i of the proprietors, called upon the members to subscribe to the Fundamental Constitutions of 1682. Of the twenty commoners, only nineteen were present. Only seven of this number 1 j tn tho <>nnat Itlltlons. WUUIU SUUOtlll/C vv w?*v This Irritated* the governor, and he < ordered the twelve who refused to ; comply with the instructions of the proprietors, to leave the house forthwith. The reason that the twelve 1 members gave for not subscribing to the constitltlons of 1682, was that they had subscribed to those of 1669. These latter the proprietors declared were "unalterable." The eight deputies and seven commoners went to work and passed various laws. These acts are entitled as follows: "An act for the restraining and punishing privateers; an act for the better security of the ' province, etc.; an act for the revival 1 of several acts of parliament heretofore made, etc.; an act for the reviving and ascertaining the fees hereto- ' fore chargeable to the register of marriages, births and burials, etc. In the statutes at large of South Carolina, edited by Thomas Cooper these acts are numbered 26. 27, 28, 29, and are signed by Joseph Morton, Robert Quarry, John Godfrey, Paul Grimball, Stephen Bull, Joseph Morton, Jr., John Farr and Will Dunlop. About this time, a serious difficulty occurred between the settlements at Charles Town and Port Royal, and the Spanish at St. Augustine. In the c'oun try there were, at tms lime two notorious Indians named Antonio and Wlna, who besides acting as spies for the Spanish, greatly Irritated the various tribes against the white settlers In the year 1686. the Spanish at St Augustine sent their vessels, with an armed force, to attack the settlers at Charles Town and Port Royal. The force landed on the Edisto, and first made at attack upon the houses of UTH CAROLINA. ment to the Close ot olution. r LATIIA>, I>. D. Joseph Morton, governor, and Paul Grlmball, the secretary of the province. Both these Individuals were In Charles Town on the day that the attack was made. No sooner had the Spaniards landed, than they commenced plundering. They killed the brother-in-law of the governor, took away about thirty slaves, and nearly fifteen thousand dollars worth of other property. This secured, they set out to make an attack upon the feeble Scotch colony at Port Royal. Nearly all the men were sick, and those who were in good health were In no way prepared to defend themselves against the Invaders. Some were killed; others were taken captive and Inhumanely treated. Thus ended the colony planted by Lord Cardross. As was natural, all party feelings were laid aside, and the repelling of the enemy was made a common cause. The provincial parliament was assembled, and on the 15th day of October, 1686 an. act was passed "for the defense of the government and for the assessing of five hundred pounds, etc." This act Is marked In the statutes at large of South Carolina, No. 30. The five hundred pounds were assessed, and the governor and four of the grand council were invested with supreme power. Two vessels were equipped and four hundred men armed and mustered Into ranks, and every preparation made to Invade the neighboring Spanish settlement. The five hnnHrpH nnnni4< nraa tn ha annallv die. trlbuted by assessment, amongst the freeholders of the province. Servants and seamen were not to be assessed; but every other resident In the colony was required to pay In proportion to the value of the property owned by him. Provision was made that those who were not prepared to pay money, might furnish com, peas, beef, pork or tar. "Merchantable sound corn was to be taken at about fifty cents perbushel; beef at four dollars per hundred; pork at Ave dollars per hundred, and tar at two dollars and forty cents per barrel. For the time a grand military expedition was undertaken. All party feeling was buried, and all parties were anxious to annihilate the Spanish. The fleet set sail for St. Augustine. The campaign was destined soon to come to an end. On its way to St Augustine, the fleet met James Colleton coming from Barbadoes to Charles Town, Colleton, bad In August been made a landgrave and governor of Carolina, and was now on his way . to enter upon the duties of his office. So soon as he met the little armament he ordered it to return, threatening to hang the whole of them if they disobeyed. Mortified and disgusted. the fleet returned. The proprietors commended the action of Colleton In thus abruptly terminating a military expedition which all parties ir the colony thought just and honorable. The colonist claimed that the charter under which they were settled gave them the right to drive away and exterminate their persistent f6es. The proprietors thought differently. England and Spain were at peace, but the Spanish colony at St. Augustine and the English colony at Charles Town were at open hostilities. The very existence of the latter was in jeopardy. Hence, It does seem, If war was ever Justifiable, it wouia nave been rigni for the colony at Charles Town to have Invaded the Spanish possession at St. Augustine. At least so thought the majority of the colony. Bitter complaints were made against Colleton that he had tarnished the name of England, and brought disgrace upon the nation. During this period the colony received many valuable accessions from France. The edict of Nantz was revoked, and many of the French Protestants were forced to leave their native land. These Protestants were called in contempt, Huguenots. Several families of these came to South Carolina, and their descendants are today, and always have been amongst the most honorable portion of the inhabitants. They settled in Craven county, on the Santee. Notwithstanding the fact that there were so many discouragements and so little agreement among the proprietors and peo-. pie, still the colony multiplied in numbers and Increased in Importance. In the province there must have been at this time, several thousand European Inhabitants. Ae we will see In the sequel, their troubles increased each year. No doubt, both proprietors and people were, at times, in fault, but the weight of the blame rests upon the former. to be continued. Gambling at Sea.?A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to the United States very full of the mischief lone by professional gamblers and card-sharpers, on the Atlantic liners and strongly of opinion that the shipping companies are responsible for the existence of this evil. It Is pretty certain, I believe, that the blackleg business Is organized like any other industry, and that the gangs who frequent the Atlantic liners are regular employees of an indlvllual or Arm. It Is at any rate certain that the members of the gangs are known to the ships' officers, and my friend tells me that the names of seven of them were pointed out to him on the passenger list of the White Star liner on which he returned and the individuals identified as they sat at table. It Is interesting to note that among them was a woman of youthful and Innocent appearance. It Is one of the worst features of the evil that many of them are youngsters going out to America or Canada, with most of their worldly wealth In their Mv friend learned that the gang: on his ship got ?160 from certain passengers at one sitting, and that on a recent voyage of the same ship they had fleeced a young passenger to the tune of ? 600. He therefore urges that as the companies know the individuals they should absolutely refuse to carry them, and stand the racket of legal "Ik. proceedings for so doing.?London Truth.