The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, May 16, 1879, Image 1
_THE WEEKLY jfa 10 Hj* IEES, _
mlilll ii "Jrr>T' x?Series. UNION C. H., SOUTH CAROLINA, MAY 16, 1379. NUMBER 20.
i I" j.._. , . ' i
' ~ James H. Rodger
?DEALER IN? n
GROCERIES, HARDWARE,
ROOTS AND SHOES.
MAX UFA CTURER OF
b
TIN WARE, STOVE PIPE AND SHEET n
IKON PANS. al
P
PROOFING, GUTTERING AND a
REPAIRING u
bONE AT SHORT NOTICE. 11
I II AVE just rccoived a large lot of Groceries, ft
consisting of t]
Sugars. CofTeo, Toa, p
Molasses and Syrups, n
lliicon, l.ard and Salt, .
Flour, lticc and Grists.
Checso and Canned Goods. k
c,
ALSO A COMPLETE STOCK OF p
BOOTS, SHOES AND HATS. t,
II u\. li II W A R E . u
ri
In tliis line I have everything you may want, _
from a Cambric Needle to a Broad Axo. tj
Cooking and Heating Stoves. "
NEVER SO CHEAP BEFORE. '
SI
I invite nn examination of my Stock, know- ^
ing Hint I can please in quality, quantity and
price. ?
Do You Want Tin Ware? "
I innnufneture my own Tin Ware, Stove Pipe 'j
and Sheet Iron Pans, which I warrant to be of
tha very best quality, ^
HOOFING, UUTTEIUNG nml REPAIRING ?
DONE PROMPTLY AND WELL. 1<
r*
Castings for Stoves furnished at the Shortest "
Notice. * .
DOX T XKGLECT TO CALL OX 1
J. If. RODUKlt. |
Nov 20_ 48 tf
E 0NOM1! i
-OOOKIHQ OK nKATIMO? j1
New Excelsior Oil Stove. ;
Jut tb? Thing for lilglit HonMkMplng.
It will Broil, Rout, and Beke batter then a Coal or t
Wood Store. Send for Circular*. AGENTS WANTED.
COLEMAN GAS APFAEATUS AND \
OIL CO..
7i Minarr Sr., - - Chicaoo, Iix. 1
The Qroat Cure for Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Ulltona f
Headache, Liver Complaint, Vever and *!*"" 1
_____ ' , ,, r n \ ?i Wotuach, Lirer A Spleen (I
I |Il. T1 U 11 L 11 I) on the newly discovered
II Medicated ^soWon. II
R r I T \ Drugs, Doctor Bills. s
W U L L I O Send for Ciiculeie, deserib. i
? ing the Absorption Cur*
and the revolution it is reusing lu the soleuoe of mettt- I
eine.
Dyspepsia Belt, $9. , s
Ftver suit Ague Belt, |t. (|
Tonic Hell, and Infants Belt, ft.
These Belts will he scut to any address froe of poetage ^
VtTRl&Tfl*8"00T'V ?i ^l 0? f?r lnf ,'t', u#lt- <'
MMMMAW ,, ..... wv ?M VIVIJf WUUUIJ 1U UIV
United States. 11
Address, FTSIIEH MEDICATED BELT CO. *
*W 232 Illinois St., Chicago. s
Feb 21 8 3ni
J. C. WALLACE, ?
ATTOR.MCY AT LAH '
AND TRIAL JUSTICE, ?
UNION O. II , Ko. Oh.
1
WILL practice in all Courts of this State.? <
Vrompt attention to business.
Trial Justice business transacted without delay. I
Office opposite Hotel, in II. L. (loss' new I'
Uuilding. t
A|>ril 18 10 3m a
^ 1 * 1 * w t -w
Jl ~ , I
ATTORNEY AT LAW. a
OFFICIO O V i: R '
m 11 A \ ? A M r \ ic o.
Will practice in Ilie Circuit jukI .Supreme f
Courts of tile State. [j
Jan >1 funs.*
^ SAMUEL S. STOKES, n
Till A IJ .1 ITS rr I C 10 , v
0
I iiion I', II., S. 1'. |
All lnisincss in I lie jorisilietiott of a Trial Justice
attcnili'il to with promptness. n
' llicc over Steed man Si llawls' law oflire.
4an:J I If j1
Oltl I'iiim'i'n tor
J p Will ll'l/ at tin i tlire.
*
THE RANGER'S CHASE.
A Western Story of the War of 1812.
Y J. T<. M'CONNEL, AUTHOR OF "TALliOT
AND VEliNON," ETC.
CHAPTER IV.
THE CAPTIVE FREE.
The neigh of a h >rse, faint and distant,
ut unmistakable, had come floating up the
iviuc upon the still uightnir. And though,
Tier waiting many minutes, it was uot rceatcd,
it had been so distinct as to cxeludc
II doubt.
"It must have come up the hollow," be
luttcred, "from any other direction I could
ever have heard it."
And, without bwitsting for vmwwfcf
o prepared to go in the direction indioa:d.
Throwing his blanket at the foot of
ic tree, he grasped his rifle, poured fresh
owdcr iuto the pan, lest the night air
light have affected the priming, and then,
1 -?- l.:..
i uu jiip uio uv.iv aiuuiiu ou uo tu IJ1III?? llld
nit'e utmvcnicnt to his hand, he set out
:iutiou^y down the ravine?one man in
ursuit of more than twe'nty !
Cautiously and slowly he proceeded down
ic bed of the ravine?gradually dcsccudig
toward the lower level of the liver bot)ui.
He was guided wholly by the little
ivulet which tinkled quietly along his path
-for the dim starlight could not penetrate
ic depth in which he walked; and his
rogress was consequently very slow. The
ay was winding, too, and sccuicd almost
> run parallel with the river;* aud its
hannel grew deeper and more brokcu.
Ithcr streams came flowing in on cither
ana, ana ut cveiy moment lit i*as coinelled
to halt and grope his way across the
orges. Large trees stood obstiuatcly in
is path ; and roots aud briars, vines and
liiekets, impeded his advance. Hut patent
perseverance, strougthcued by the hope
f rescuing the captive, still carried him
irward over every obstacle.
More than au hour had been spent thus,
ud he had begun to listen more attcutiveand,
il possible, watch more closely for
igns of his enemies. He halted on the
rink of a deep ravine, which furnished a
hannel for auolher small stream; and, be
:i? 1.-.1 1
JIM uun II illiu HO uuu, Biuupuu
early to the ground, and remained for many
liuutes profoundly listening to every sound.
'Isc stillness of night was quite unbroken,
nd he was on the point of beginning the
escent, when his eye caught the flash, as
f faint lightning playing briefly upon the
javes at the bottom of the ravine! It was
;onc in a moment ; and his first impulse was
u look up through the tree-tops at the.sky.
fut the stars were shining serenely?there
>*as not the slightest cloud in the heavens,
le watched for a long time for its reappearnee?but
the darkness remained as deep
s before. It might havo been a fire fly ;
et it was strange that it was not repeated ;
nd it had been, not so much a light, as a
licker, like the blaze of thin fuel, ami it
lad died out gradually, not suddenly disppcared.
While he stood irresolute, relooting
upon the singularity of the appearnee,
an imperfect sound, as very distant
bunder, seemed to float along the earth and
lie away at his feet. lie placed his car to
he ground, andjagain listened. The stamp
ng of numerous horses became plainly
udiblc?and they could be but a sliyrf O.Vt
noo. A'on liar "enough?and lie had 110
illiculty in determining its locality.
lie at once rose to his feet and again cxmined
his arms. Moving cautiously and
lowly, ho then descended the bank until
c reached the bottom of the ravine.?
'urning to the right, lie glided silently and
tcalthily along its bed for two or three hunrcd
yards, when, on, coining to a bend
,'hero the stony soil had-resisted the action
t the elements, his progress was suddenly
rrested by a stream of light which shone
rom beyond the projection, and cast deep
hudows upon the opposite bank. The fire
loin which it came was evidently built
.itbin the ravine for concealment?for it
ras only front above that it could become
isible at any considerable distance.
To approach nearer in this direction would
iot be prudent?for, by the shadows on the
innk, Kdgar could see that at least twenty
lorscs were picketed just beyond the shouller
of the ridge, and a snort from one ol
hose might attract attention. Me had no
ear of other sentinels ; he well understood
he Indian practice ol' posting none; for,
pparently so negligent are these most vigl-.nt
.A' -.11 : - - ' ' '
....... v.. ?... .I........a, niiii, cvuii 111 iihmr Inursions,
when tin?y arc constantly liable to
Hack, every man lies down to sloop, trustng
solely to concealment and their Maui
mis fur protection.
The ranger therefore slowly retreated a
lew paces, and then silently climbed the
ank upon the left. Froui this point lie
mild sco no light; but upon advancing
long the ridge, a little nearer than lie had
enturod below, be gained a view, not onl)
I the light, but also of the fire, and the
brmidablc group around it !
More than a score of swarthy Indians
II in their war paint and grotesque orna
units, and each with his gun and totna
lawk beside him, sat.smoking, one after tin
it her. in a circle about the fire ! A little
Mi-<i?l|.| i
without 'ho lino the Excited captain could
iudistinctly sec tho shape of something
white ; and, ns his eyes became accustomed
to the light, all doubt vanished?it was tho
Captive Bride, seated apart from bcr captors,
with her face buried in her hands. Could
she have knowu whose eyes wcro at thnt
moment straiuing their gaze upon her, how
differeut must have been her emotions.
Edgar grasped his rifle and knifo with
a fierce energy, which threatened the suicide
of an immediate attack. But ho eoou recovered
his calmness, tnd set coolly about
making a thorough examination of the position,
and calculating tho chances of a rescue.
Tho place had been well cbosen for concealment.
It was a circular area, iuclofecd
ZZmore
than an aero in extent. It was,' in- <
deed, a sort of basin among tho hills ; and
it was the volume of water, collectod here
!..i. _ A. . 1 . 1 1 - i i ?l
iiho one hi ream, mai naa cui out me ravine
aloug which Edgar was advaucing. It was
dry now, however, and the grass, which in
this country everywhere follows the raiusof
spring, was growing luxuriantly beneath
the shelter of large oak and hickory trees.
Of these there was a little clump or grovo
in the northern arm of the area; and it was
just within the edge of this that the fire
was kindled. From that side an experienced
scout might have approached within a few
paces uuobscrvcd ; but what could one man
do against twenty ? All that h? could now
effect, Edgar thought, was to watch the
movements of his enemies, and take advantage
of whatever opportunity might offer;
or. if nouc should present itself, as was
mqSl Jirobahlo. ika awu.
vol ofliis men.
Aud now a harassing reflection occurred:
What if White should uot meet them, or
they should miss the way ? He would lose
the benefit of all the diligence he had used,
aud having success and rescue almost within
his grasp, would have the misfortuno to
sec them glide out of his powor ! Here,
withiu a few rods of him?buried, perhaps,
in thought of him?sat the captive, snatched
almost literally from his side at the altar;
and, though she might have heard his voice,
he dared not raise it?though he might
reach her side in one minute, he dared uot
advance ! His rifle might do him service ;
for, even at that distance, his unerring skill
iVAiihl Itnv'A (liuuKlutl nn nn ?mw of Aimrtf olv
but he knew that, at the first discharge, the
pursued would become pursuers. -^ud ?all
chance of a rescue would be at an end ! lie
was sure, besides, that the first motion of
the savages upon an attack would be the
' murder of their prisoner; and. bravo as he
was, he shuddered and shrank from the
thought.
While lie stood in the shadow of a tree,
harassed by these reflections, a sudden
1 movement took place in the circle of savages.
One, who seemed the chief, rose to
his feet, and the council broke up. The
warrior turned toward the captive, and, taking
a large blanket from the ground, spreid
it at the foot of a tree, and beckoned her
to take it. lie did this with so much more
courtesy than was usually displayed by In'
dians to their female prisoners, that Edgar's
blood tingled to the very ends of his lingers.
' The redskin dog designs her for his
wife I'^hs.y^yp*
Jane rose quietly from her scat, and,
wrapping the blanket about her, lay down
upon the ground. The chief and two
other warriors then placed themselves
near her, to prevent escape; the remainder
of the party spread their blankets
around the fire and, within a few minutes,
all was as still within the faintly light
cu space, as ii not a living being breathed
between the rivers. The fire gradually
burnt down to a bed of coals ; as the flame
went out the shadows crept closer and closer
to the dusky group; and so still was the
night that, on stealing a little nearer, Kdgar
could plainly hear the heavy breathing
of the tired sleepers.
Still nearer and nearer he slowly crept,
though with no definite design or plan of
action. The bride who had been snatched
almost from his arms, was within that circle?and
this gave it a fascination not to
be resisted. He was now upon the bank,
. which sloped gently down to the level of the
hivmac; and here a narrow, sandy path
wound round the jutting points, and led directly
toward thosmouldering fire. Almost
without an effort of the will?drawn by the
charm of her presence?he stepped upon
the noiseless sand, lie commenced the de1
scent?issued from the shadow of a little
ridge?was, for a moment, in full view of
the whole party?passed on again into the
shadows, and stood within twenty feet ol
1 the object of his search.
The light from the dying fire played fitfully
upon Jane's face, and :i smile, serene
: as in her happiest moments, gave meaning
to the flitting shadows. Hcsidc her, motionless
as fallen statutes, lay the stern, impassive
forms of her captors ; but Edgar
knew too well that, rigid as they seemed,
' profounldy as they slept, the slightest noise
would rouse them to a dangerous vigilance.
Three of them lay between her and him?
and two were near enough to grasp her,
should she rise. Hut he gazed upon her
face once more, beautiful in the holy c.-dm
of sleep?as tranquil as a summer sky. The i
impulse which had led him thus almost ]
within nrm's leugth of her, slowly shaped I
itsolf into a purpose?tho vague attraction J
settled into conscious resolution. I
He begnu to movo cautiously to the left, 1
nrouud the sleeping circle, within the deepor
shadows of the grove, from tree to tree,
toward that beneath which Jane was slum- \
bering. Nearer, step by step, and silently (
as the closing in of night, he approached
like a shadow. lie was now within the in- <
fluencc. of the light, and but one trco stood
between him and that which he was en- t
dcavoring to reach. A breathless pause, dur- l
ing which he gazed upou tho form of every
3ic^pcr?they were apparently as uncon- i
soious, as if each had been a corpse. And i
ItAtw ('.tawful wne fK.t riolr of nwnrir afan i
ivvj. "V ?ymiwi M MU r??v ?V? ??? viui^ ow^/. I
Ttio slightest rusrie of a biuh, the breakiug i
oF"a twig, even the grating *f- his feet upon <
the gravel, might awake his enemies?and i
then farewell all hope of rescue! i
Hut his was not a naturo to shrink from
danger. Cautiously drawing the rauirod i
frrom his rifle, he took the irrsvocablc step.
Swiftly, but silently, he glided from ouc tree
to the other. Within four feet of hiui lay
Jane, in profound and tranquil sleep, her
head resting upon her arm, and one hand
extended toward him ; while on each side
of her, but still nearer than he, her captors
were ready to awake at the first movement.
Hut again ho resolved to tako the risk,
and stretching forth the ramrod, gently
touched her open hand. She did not movo
? he touched it again?and she slightly
drew it away. Once more?she opened her.
eyes, and gazed upon the sleeping Indian
before her?fortuuately, without disturbing
him. He passed tU*? rntl U*>
head, and was about to speak, when lie
showed himself for an instant, and pressed
his finger to his lips. She was silent, though
breathless with excitement. Hut the nerves
of a true frontier girl were not easily shaken
; and Jane saw at once that her lover's
safety, as well as her own liberty, depended
upon her self command. Obeying a sign
from him, she commenced slowly ami cautiously,
though with trembling hands, to
unfold the blanket tvhich protected, but also
impeded her. As fold after 'bid fell
gradually off, her heart beat with a wilder
aud stronger pulsation; and when, finally,
she found herself free, she could scarcely
forbear springing to her feet, and rushing iuto
Edgar's arms. By a great effort she restrained
herself, and cautiously roeo to her
feet.
Full fifteen miuutcs?an age at such a
time?had passed since Edgar approached
the tree. But the suspense was amply compensated,
when, without the least noise, ho
saw her, by his direction, gain the shadow
of the first tree, lie lingered still to sec
that she was unobserved, and then one moment
brought him to her side, and joined
their lips in a kiss as intense as was the
danger by which they were surrounded.
Yet lie dared not speak, and there was no
time to he lost. The savages might discovthc
escape at any moment, and their last
chance would be gone. lie took her by the
hand, and walkingly swiftly, though cautiously,
began to retrace his steps through
the wood. Five minutes brought them to
the head of the ravine, and here he should
i turn to the left, if he wished to regain the
Path kv which,1m h-.jl
y In re course, lie must take a wide circuit
to avoid the Indian encampment?and every
moment was precious. Turning, therefore,
to the right instead, he led her, as rapidly
as she could walk, in the direction, as he
sunnosed. of the dividing ri<W nLmr t. l.w.1.
ii - " ""O"' ",v"n " ",vl'
he had traveled in the evening. His observation
of localities was usually so accurate,
that there seemed no danger of missing
the way. JJut lie had been so much
absorbed in the approach to the bivouac,
that he had not noted the windings of the
compass ; and his surprise was very great on
finding, after an hour spent in pushing forward,
that he was apparently as far as ever
from the ridge.
It was long past midnight, and hut a
short time could elapse before the prisoner's
escape must be discovered. It was vitally
necessary that he should rccross the river
before sunrise ; and yet, without his horse,
this was impossible. Jane expressed confidence
in her ability to walk even much
farther; but the speed of even so active a
walker as she was far from sufficient for escape.
Edgar grew silent and anxious,
though the cheerfulness of his companion
at another time would have drawn many a
smile from the gloom of his face.
"We can only push forward, John," said
she; "an enterprise so successfully begun
should not be given up in despair."
"I can never despair so long as you are
with me, Jane," he re plied ; "but I ought
to tell you that, unless lean find my horse,
our capture is certain."
"See, then, if I am not. a better nightranger
than Captain John Edgar," she said;
"I hoar your horse, now !"
The Rangor drew hor to hiin and kissed
hor warmly.
"I shall resign in your favor," said he.
"I should have passed without hearing
him 1"
This was more compliment than earnest;
for. as he spoke, n low nicker from the
bushes directly in front, indicated the spot
where his horse was still standing. The
j faithful animal was aware of his master's
:?is IL . . . 11 . -JiX.i.-S ' ^
tppronch. A few momenta sufficed to pro*
pare him for retreat. Edgar doubled hto
blanket, and placed it behind the saddle.??
Lifting Jnne to this tmpromjrtu pillion, ho
,hrew himself into his scat, and turned his
[torso's head toward home.
"What is that 1" Jane exclaimed.
Floating up the ravino came a prolonged
varwhoop, riugiug amoug the trees, nnd
lying away in echoes along the ridges.
"They havo discovered your escape," Ed;ar
said.
lie waited to hear no more, but regaining
he dividing ridge, set off at a swift pace
:oward tho south. The order was reversed
?the chased were now the pursuors?aud
?peed alone could decide the race. Edgar
rodo a powerful horso, who had borno hitn
safely through many -ft fight as well as
march j but the double weight he was now
enrrying, the journey ho had made, and
the efforts still expeoted of him, forbado
the idea of rapid traveling. Yotthe bloodhounds
wero upon his trick; and at the
ilawn of day, now scarcely an hour distaut^
Edgar knew that they would awoep downt
upon him like tho wind. Escape seemed.
na i flionU ?o
us uiuivuiv uo uciuiv nu; rt-scuc.
Yet the Hauler was not cast downr and
the strong-hearted pioneer's daughter gave
little thought to danger. As in nil women
of her class, excitement only evolved her
energies; and she talked with a sort of
cheerful elation, as if the perils wcro already
passed, and homo oneo moro regained.?
Edgar was far from being so much at hiscase
; but he had never known -fear, and,
save on account of the loved one, whose
arms encircled his waist, ho would rather
have made his disjiositious for battle thaa
4\>w
His only hope was that the radians mightbe
delayed in searching the woods orouud
their encampment until he could gain a
sufficient start; and this hope vanished al^
most as soon as formed. They had scarcoly
ridden three miles, when tho thunder of
many hoofs came rolling down the ridge.?
The enemy were in full chase, scarcely a mile
behind.
"Wo must try the virtue of spoed," saidc
Edgar; dashing his spurs into his horse's
flauks, he sprang away at a rate which gave'
promise of soon distancing the pursuers.Their
footsteps soon died away in the distance
; and. could he have kept up the papp
at which he started, the oaptain hoped ho
might reach the river Wsfore being over-taken.
But at the end of a few minutes,,
he was forced to draw his rein. Tho ridgo1
had grown so narrow, that the ravines oir
either hand intersected each other, and
broke it into steep and dangerous gorges.?'
At the first of these his horse came to n dead
halt, and neither voice nor spur could forCo
him forward. Edgar sprang to the ground,and
looking over the precidice, shuddered
at the leap lie had been endeavoring to take.
A hollow, whose bottom he could not see,
cut directly across his path, and extended
both to the right and left, farther than his
eye could penetrate.
"They are coming, John !"- exclaimed
Jane, springing to the ground; and he had
scarcely time to lead his horse a few yards
to the left, when twelve or fifteen ludiaus
dashed furiously up, and, like him, came
to a8uddcn halt, lie could plainly sco tho
I dusky outlines of their forms, riding bnok
onu forward, searching for a crossing. Ho
drew Jane, whose white dress might betray
them, behind a tree, and breathlessly awaited
their motions. At a word from tho chief
they all turned directly toward him. He
seized Jane by the arm, and dropping his
horse's rein, sprang down the precipitous
bank. A fearful yell from the pursuers
told him that he was seen ; and a rush and
a scramble, regardless of tho crumbling
bank, brought them almost upon him.
"Run, Jane ! Down tho ravine?run 1'*
lie exclaimed, and bringing his rifle up, tho
foremost warrior fell to the ground, pierced
through the head. Auolhor yell, nioro
fearful than the first, heralded a wild spriug
upon him. Rut the rancer was more ntriln
w -0-.than
any savage ; with oue bound he gained
a tree, and before they had recovered from
their confusion, his rifle was reloaded.?
Slowly ho began to climb the bank?but hit*
first movement was observed, and again thej
rushed toward him. He turned and fired
his last shot?another savage rolled groaning
down the bank. Hut the odds wero
too great. His enemies were to neat
to allow his again charging his gun, and
an attempt to retreat up the steep ascent
would be instant death. Ho gave hitnself
up for lost?but, drawing his knife,
resolved to die fighting to the last.
The click of a rifle-lock directly behind
him caught his attention, and the next
moment a volloy of balls whistled over his
head. A rush down the hank immediately
followed. The company of rangers, led on
by White, had arrived in time to Bave their
captain. The savages, taken by surprise,
were unable to mute ? a?nml tv??- ?:?!? ?i
? w?m%? | ?ui mm VIICUI v
as among all undisciplined men, panic wn?
erremediable. Edgar joined his men, and
assumed the command, pushing the charge
directly home upon the confused and scattered
party. But such as were not disabled
by wounds sprang actively up the ascent,
and gaining their horses, took to flight.?
They left seven of their warriors, among
whom was the tall chief, lying dead in tho
bottom of the ravine.
I [ ('fiiirhu/rtl r,n 4tji I J