Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, September 03, 1868, Image 1
- V ^ *
V
{ ^
'4'
* .* :$ '
VrtBlflflM r^lUAillQfD
W/ 1 I l_ r illJI II 1* I II
fl J |1| || i?^ 15/ La mill fafssl Mii^l ^ ^in^j gf| ^?j g H Bo B B
1^Wlf^;,o?.RI3T'l Sg jfnbtgttfttirf Jamil; jtlpspptr: jfmr % |)ro8toticit of % |cliM Scori, ^pitnltoal ari> CmmmrtM jittmafc rf % Smrtj;.
VOL. 14. YORKYILLE, S. C., THTTRSlD^Y, SEPTEMBER 3, 1868. . NO. 36.
m i . . . 1 j ' .... i ; , ... . . , \
fekrtrd ?ertrg.
WHICH T
The foil owing tells its own story, end a beautiful
one it is too?to be read best and sounding sweeter
when the family circle have gathered around the
evening lamD, D6rh&DS:
-Which Shan it bet which shall it be?" . ,
I loqked at John?John looked at me,
(Dear, patient John, who loves me yet
As woll as tho' mv locks were jet.)*
And when I found that I most apeak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak,
"Tellme wain what Robert said?"
And then I llst'niug bent my head.
This Is his letter. ...
"I will give
A boose and land while yoashaU live, .
If, In return, from out your seven,
One child to me for aye is given/'
I looked at John's old garments worn,
I thought of all that John bad borne
Of poverty and work and care.
Which I, though willing, could not spare,
I thought of seven months to feed,
Uiil V11J ^iwul
VI KJVCI1 UMIO uinuroa a xirouf - ?And
then of this.
"Come, John," said I,
"We'll choose Among them as they Ue
Asleep;" so walkingnand in hand,
Dear John and I surveyed oar band.
First to the cradle lightly stepped
Where Lilian, the baby, slept,
A glory 'gainst the pillow white,
Softly her father stooped tq lay
His rough hand down in loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
And huskily he said, "Not her?not her."
We stooped beside the trundle-bed
And one long ray of lamp light shed
. Athwart the boyish faces there
In Bleep so pitiful and fair; '
I saw on Jamie's rough, red cheek
A tear undried. Ere John oould speak,
"He's but a baby too," said I,
And kissed him as we harried by,
Pale, patient Robbie's angel face,
Still in his sleeping bore suffering trace.
"No, for a thousand crowns not him,"
He whispered, while our eyes were dim.
Poor Dick! bad Dick! our wayward son,
Turbulent, reckless, idle one?*
Could he be spared? "Nay, he who gave,
Bids us befriend him to the grave;
Only a mother's heart can be
Patient enough for snch as he;
And so " sal a John, "I would not dare
To sena him from her bedside prayer,"
Then stole we softly up above "
And knelt by Mary, child of love.
"Perhaps for her 'twould better be,"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl that lay
Across her cheek in wilfUl way,
And shook his head. "Nay, love, not thee,"
The while my heart beat audibly, '
Only one more, our eldest lad.
Trusty and truthful, good and glad?
So like his father. "No, John, no?
I cannot, will not let hiin go."
And so we wrote in oourteons way
We could not drive onr child awav;
And afterward toil lighter seemed,
Thinking of that of which we dreamed,
Happy in truth that not one face
Wo missed from its accustomed place;
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in Heaven t
JU Original
Written for the YorkVille Enquirer.
VICTOR:
% jiqudl to %g.
BY J. WITHERSFOON ERVIN.
CHAPTER VII?Continued.
The wounded man gave a sigh of impatience
and weariness, and suffered his head to sink back
languidly upon his pillow, whilo his sad and weary
gaxe rested upon the ceiling overhead. He was
disquieted at the turn of affairs, and with sad forebodings,
speculated upon the result of the inevitable
search to which his house would be subjeoted.
He read the murderous and truculent nature of
Walsh at the first glance, and trembled for the fate
of his young compatriot, should he fall into the
hands of so blood-thirsty a savage. When that
worthy left his presence and disappeared through
the doorway, ho felt as though some demon, in human
shape, had withdrawn and freed the atmosphere
he breathed from his polluting presence.
But when, after a few minutes, his beautiful daughter
came gliding in, even though her face bore
more than a trace of anxiety and sorrow, it was as
if an angel approached his bedside. If there was
sorrow in his eye, it was such sorrow as an angel
of light might feel She told him of the search
that was about to be instituted for the young soldiers,
and of the threat to burn down the old mansion
in case it was made in vain.
"Well, JNellie, be it so! vv e snail not De so Dase
as to betray him, or seek to save an old house from
the torch, by asking him to place himself in the
hands of enemies who will use him roughly. Captain
Train and his angels have no touch of humanity,
and no sense of the courtesy of civilized warfare.
I will not have this gallant young fellow put
himself in the hands of these savages. Besides,
he has, at least, one personal enemy among them;
a low vindictive renegade, who is thirsting for his
blood. Let them burn it if they will. We will
risk that No countryman of mine shall, by my
consent, fall into the hands of such wretches, could
it purchase immunity for all that I have. Keep
cool and trust in Providence. If the old house
must go, we have our honor, our good faith, and
an untarnished name left"
The troubled heart of Nellie was partly relieved
of its burden of anxiety, by the prom ot and cheerful
decision of her father, which accorded so well
with the dictates of her own feelings.
The search was, in the meantime, vigorously
prosecuted. Every chest or trunk that might conceal
a fugitive was forced open; every closet was
carefully examined, and sword blades were thrust
into beds in the hope of somewhere starting the
objects of their search. Parties, with torches in
their hands, were in the yard, subjecting the various
outbuildings to the same rigorous examination.
From the disorderly manner in which the
contents of closets and chests were thrown about
the building, it presented a scene of confusion
which neither pen nor pencil can depict
At the end of about an hour, after a tiresome
and fruitless search, Captain Train, with several of
his followers, again repaired to the chamber of
Colonel Danvers, who wisely concealing his indignation
and anger, lay with a grim smile upon his
face. Nellie had, for a few minutes, been absent
from the chamber during this interval, but the visit
of Captain Train found her at her poet by her
father's side, leaning against the bed, with one arm
lying along his pillow, like a dove, that partly covers
in her nest from the hand of the hunter, and
. ? j? i? ?? Aomo
yet aenariuy guaius uci jruuug. uu?i v?u<~
and went on her cheek, now and then lighted up
by a smile that seemed irrepressible. Her eye,
full of a strange light, now turned inquiringly to
the doorway, and now modestly fell to the cluster
of early spring flowers on the ooverlet, with which
her hand was nervously tofing.
Captain Train seemed flushed and heated by his
vain search for the fugitives, whom, with some
- show of reason, he suspected to be concealed about
the premises. His baffled cruelty was converted
into rage, and he only wanted some object on which
to vent his wrath.
Approaching the bedside of the sufferer, he addres&d
him in a tone that sufficiently showed his
irritation.
"You must come out here, sir, unless you want
to be roasted alive. You have had your chance to
save your house, but you prefer making it a hidingplace
for rebels. Get up, at once. I am going to
burn up your house."
"My good, sir," replied Colonel Danvers, quite
calmly, "have you not sufficiently assured yourself,
by a thorough search, that there is no one concealed
in my house? I would think from the noise i
and uproar that has reached my ears, that you have j
rummaged every oorner so thoroughly as to satisfy j
yourselves that even a mouse would fail to find a i
hiding-place here. What more would you have ? ]
I cannot create 'rebels,'*as you call them, to deliv- ]
er into your bauds to purchase safety for myself."
"If they are not here, you can, at least, tell me j
where they have gone," replied Captain Tram, 1
sullenly. >
"I can suggest this much for your information?
or for your warning?if you will take it as such," <
responded Colonot Danvers, with a twinkle in his i
I eye; "soldiers are not likely to straggle far from
their command in a country bo beset by enemies as <
this now is, and if they have had but a brief run of 1
it to rejoin their regiment?you understand me, I I
hope?it renders your situation here very critical.'' <
[ The face of the Captain fell, and for a moment, t
he stood irresolutely playing with his sword knot c
"What 1 is there a rebel regiment lying near i
here?" said he, glancing around in dismay.
"I do not assert that," replied Colonel Danvers, 8
"for I have ho information of any such fact A i
shrewd soldier might however, wisely suspect he
is near the fire when he sees sparks pouring from ?
the chimney. Soldiers will not straggle far from }
their regiments after such a day's work, and in
such a country as this. You may rest assured that
no Confederate soldier would straggle from Wal- c
thall Junction into the very jaws of the'enemy. 8
After driving your forocS back, you may expect the J
Confederates will speedily and promptly advance.
If you find stragglers, you will reason well in concluding
they are from regiments that have been '
poshed forward to begin to-morrow's fight by a s
surprise. If you are enveloped and cut off tonight,
it will be your own fault; bat pardon me for J
thisfiriendly oonnsel?your pickets, I presume, will
give you timely notioe of any advance.'' *
The dismayed Captain cast an alarmed and &p- J
prehensive glance around him.
"Pickets!?the devil! I neglected to put out
pickets. An ambush to-night would play the devil
with us," muttered Captain Train, to himself r
"And you think, sir, the rebels intend to advance
on us?" continued he aloud. "I thought their
force was too small for that"
"Pardon me, |sir," said Colonel Danvers, aus- 1
terely, "I am Dot accustomed to hear such a term ^
as 'rebel' applied to my countrymen. The result ^
of to-day's fight ought to have undeceived you as to
their numbers. Your leaders will certainly discover
their mistake, if they tarry till the sun is up tomorrow."
y
"And what information can you giv$ me as to
the numbers of the rebels, or 'Confeds' if you will a
Viova if an ?"
neok writhing under my heel."
A wild laugh from the horde of ruffians greeted
this savage speech from Walsh, as he let himself
down, feet foremost, into the opening. The candle
was handed him by the soldier called Jonas,
and he began carefully to explore every corner of
the gloomy recess into which he had descended.
The group gathered closely around the opeuing into
which he had disappeared, and one or two,
kneeling down and thrusting their heads forward,
peered eagerly into the dim loft, desirous to witness
the result of the affair.
The group of soldiers were so absorbed in the
result of Walsh's explorations, that they noticed
not, at the time, the addition made to the party
in the chamber.
A young being, seemingly scarce older than Nel- 1
lie, plainly, yet neany aressea in a cauco gown, ana i
with a face crimsoned with confusion, came to the (
threshold of the door and paused, as though a- i
larmed at the presence of so many rude aud bois- ]
terous men. The quick eye of Colonel Danvers at <
once caught the figure of this hesitating and blush- 1
ing being, and beckoned her to his side. Nellie at ]
once made way for her, and with a kindly smile in- i
viting her to the place she had oocupied, herself <
moved to the other side, between the bedstead and <
the wall, to make room for her companion. j
"Do you see any one, Walsh?" shouted Captain i
Train impatiently, to Walsh, who, by the light of <
"None, whatever, sir," answered Colonel Dan- a
vers. "I have already said more than I designed J
saying. I will, of ooorse, give no information that
can compromise my countrymen. You should be .
aware of that"
"We'll have the truth out of you," exclaimed s
Train, with a ferocious frown, "if we have to force ,
it out You shall not harbor rebels and hold communication
with the enemy, and then defy us. I
will carry you to headquarters iu a jolting cart but *
I make you speak." f
What reply the wounded and badgered, but high
spirited man, would have made to this truculent *
threat is unknown. At this juncture, an exclamation
from one of the soldiers broke off the collo- ^
quy, and attracted the attention of the party.
The soldiers were behaving in a disorderly and boisterous
manner. One had drawn his sword and was .
wantonly thrusting, with the point, at the various 1
articles of furniture within his reach. The knot
hole in the panneling through which Victor had ?
established a lookout, attracted his attention, and ,
in mere wantonness, he made a lunge at it with '
his sabre. The point caught in the aperture, and
to the surprise of the soldier, the pannel slided from
its place, leaving an opening large enough to ad- v
mit the body of a portly man.
"Why?just?see?here, Captain!" exclaimed 1
he, with an oath, giving an emphasis to every
word?"here's a hiding-place now, where you
might put a whole company! We'll have the
rascals yet! To my thinking they be in here.''
"All is lost!" muttered Colonel Dan vers, with a '
moan of despair, and in a tone so low as to reach .
?1_ v:_ j I, >? ;
UUiy uia uuuguier a cat a.
Nellie bowed her head and whispered a few
words into his ear, when he raised his glance to
hers and gave a smile of gladness.
This little by-play passed unobserved, for it occupied
but a moment, and the attention of all,
whose suspicions it might have excited, was attracted
to the trooper, who stood exultingly regarding
the opening into the dark recess which a fortuitous
thrust of his sabre had laid open.
"Well, this is a discovery!" ejaculated their
Captain. You have been d?d careless in the
search, boys, or we would have found this hiding
place long ago. Hand a candle here, Jonas, and
let us bag the foxes and go, before some accursed
ambuscade is laid to send half of you to the devil.
In with you, Jonas, and we'll fire the concern and
ride."
These words were addressed to private Jonas, a
lithe, active man, belonging to the troop, who was
about to descend into the dark recess that yawned
before him, but Michael Walsh, who had been j
standing near the side of the Captain, a deeply interested
observer of all that occurred, strode forward
at this juncture.
"Let me in," said he ; "I'll make short work
of one*of them." a
"You have a heart for the work, Mike," said (
Captain Train, motioning his follower to give place s
to the eager volunteer. 1
"Yes, blast him!" cried Walsh, whose thoughts t
were intent on vengeanoe; "I'shall not sleep well, t
until my knife is red with his blood, and I feel his <j
the candle, had made his way to the farther end
of the loft
The voice of Walsh was faintly heard in the
chamber, shouting back in reply, that he had discovered
a musket and a cartridge box.
"Bring them on," cried the excited Captain ;
"we have no time to lose. We will fire this cursed
establishment and return into camp before we fall
Into an ambuscade. I think we have given the
boose a thorough search. They cannot be here
now, and I will see to it rebels shall never harbor
here again. Horry out, Mike, or you will be singed
like a rat in his bole."
At this moment, there was an alarm given, and
i soldier of the troop rushing into the chamber,
brought word that, by the flash of a falling meteor,
man xooro coon m run nor tAWRfdn thl> hnnSA
"To horse, men, and ride for your lives I" shoutjd
the excited and panic-stricken Capt&icu "The
ebels are upon us, mount and ride for your lives."
In an instant, the chamber was cleared, and the
jlatter of boots and the jangle of spurs rung upon
be stair-case, as the troopers rushed dovrn to put
bemselves in a position to meet the enemy or to
jscape. Walsh, hearing the hurrying to and fro,
toon made his appearance, emerging into the
ihamber?now deserted by all, save the wounded
nan and the two girls who watched by his side. "See,
bere I" said he. advancing near ibe bed,
Lnd thrusting the butt of the musket he had found,
jefore the astonished eyes of the wounded man?
'Look at them two letters, 'V. G.' cut into the
itock I You may feather Captain Train's eye, hut
i kuow as well as if I had laid eyes on liim, that
Victor Garnett was in that loft when we came up.
ilood I must have, and blood I will have. If you
lo not tell me where you have hidden him, you
ball die where you he, and I shall make your
laughters beggars?and worse than beg/jars?beore
morning."
"And if I tell you?what then ?" demanded the
rounded man, fixing his eye sternly upon the half
avage befere him.
"His blood will satisfy all. Speak quick, for
our life depends upon it I have sworn to slay
lim and all who stand between him and my ven;eance.
You need not ask why I hate him, and
chy I have sworn to bury my knife in his heart
t is enough, I swear you shall die unless you give
lim up."
Colonel Hanvers lay silent and meditating. The
uffian before him fancied he was intimidated and
>n the point of yielding to the influence of his
hreat; hut his senses were busied with the move
* * rr 1 im
aents that were goiog on oeiow. ne lay lize one
icrplexed and hesitating, antil he heard l>he troop
nount and the command given to march, and as
be tramp of the horses announced that i:he troop
tad taken up the line of march, his eye lighted up
nd he faced the ruffian with an air of commands
"Down scoundrel and renegade! and beg for
aercy, or I shoot you where you stand!" shouted
le, drawing from under his pillow and presenting
, repeater.
Walsh cowered for a moment, before the calm
nd determined eye that met his own. His knife
ras half drawn from its sheath, and he crouched
iack like a tiger suddenly affrighted, whole about
0 make his leap. His eye fell, yet it glared with
he fury of a discomfitted fiend. His left hand
till held the muzzle of the musket, the butt of
rtiicli rested upon the floor.* He dared not make
he attempt to raise it or to shilt his hand to liis
wn pistol, in the belt by his side, whilst the releater
of the invalid met his eye. The determined
ye and the tone of command of his antagonist,
iclpless as be was from his wound, hacl a moral
K)wcr that more than compensated for his physic1
helplessness and disadvantages. Nellie shriekd
aloud, and her companion, who was at the right
land of Colonel Danvera, and within a sabre's
sngth of Walsh, rose, as if in affright, and stood
vith one hand, resting on the the chair behind, as
f for support.
"There are but two frightened girls aod a woundd
man," was the reflection that passed through
he mind of Walsh. "They are weak and helpjss.
Only a disabled man is in my way. Let me
tut overpower or disarm him, acf all is safe."
With all his ferocity and ill blocd, Walsh was a
rily and wary antagonist Suddenly stooping, to
.void the pistol shot of his antagonist, and dartng
forward, he thought to cast himself upon the
rounded man who would then lie at his mercy, but
s he made his spring, the female who stood at the
iglit of the sufferer, made a half step backward,
nd the hand that seemed resting so lightly for
upport on the chair, lifted it like a toy and crushd
Walsh to the floor, with a blow that fell like a
hunderbolt His knife flew from his hand, and
lis musket fell to the floor. Before he could reaver
from the stunning effect of the blow, the
on/1 mneW roar p. nln(v>H nnt. of his reach. and I
he strong hand that had stricken him down, renoving
the repeater from his belt, stood threatenngly
over him, one foot upon his breast, forbidding
lim to rise. The veil, which partially shaded the
ace of Walsh's feminine antagonist in the strug;le,
had fallen to the floor. Walsh writhed under
he foot that was pressed down upon him, and
hrowing his head back, he gazed up in surprise,
lot unmingled with terror, into the face of bis anagonist.
As he gazed he seemed to shrink up
efore the stern eye that gazed upon him. Des>ite
all disguise, he recognized, in his captor, the
'outh for whose blood he was thirsting and whom
le had vowed to slay, and it added bitterness to
lis fear of death, to know it was Victor's hand
hat held the pistol threateningly pointed at his
orm, and Victor's foot that spurned his breast
"Be quiet!" said Victor, in a low voice; "there
s not a hair's breadth between you and death !"
CHAPTE& VTIL
While Victor was in his hiding place, standing
it the knot hole that looked into the chamber of
Colonel Danvers, he was an attentive observer of
ill that occurred before him. No sooner had he
earned it was the intention of the enemy to fire
he building, than he felt the necessity of extricamg
himself from his dilemma without delay,
silently leaving his post of observation, he made
lis way to the other end of the huge loft with the
lesign of effecting an entrance into the chamber,
hrough which he had entered it. Knowing the
vindictive character of Walsh and his tiger-like
hirst for blood when his evil passions were nrous:d,
he could not, for a moment, entertain the
bought of surrendering himself a prisoner to a
>and of maurauders from whom he could expect
10 nrotection for his life from the hand of the as
assin. He knew that the search for him would be
prosecuted with unremitting zeal and ardor, by a
peing, actuated as Walsh was, by the bitterest
feelings of personal hatred, and having pretty
itrong reasons for the inference that he was even
hen concealed in the house.
Hatred, with many men, is a species of mononania,
showing depravity both of heart and intelect.
With Walsh, it was a passion that swallowid
up every other. He had never forgotten the
nformation which Victor had volunteered as to
lis character and history, at their first encounter
pn James Island, but a few weeks previously, and
lowever inadequate such a cause might seem to
produce feelings of lasting and implacable resentiient
in an ordinary nature, yet the hatred of this
ivil man had increased day by day until it had bejorao
an insane and all-absorbing passion. The
fouth of Victor, his handsome and happy face,
ind his supercilious scorn of the red-handed murierer,
all entered into the account and aggravated
?
his rancorous hate and en#. Victor was now falIy
aware of the inurderon passion of the being
who sought his life, and it needed not Walsh's
sanguinary outburst of ravengefid passion, to convince
him, that as a prisoner in the hands of the
band at present wound him, there would be do security
for him against the digger of the assassin.
The threats of Walsh, V&oh he overheard from
his hiding-place, after tbqfe worthy had acquired
strong presumptive evidence of his concealment on
the premises, did not strike that terror to his heart
which would have cowed the energies of a weaker
nature. It onjy caused Km fully to realize bu
danger, and a situation which, up to this tiqgsJR
simply the features of mi exciting adventure, began
to assume quite a serioas ?pee& ti did not ooour
to him that his danger was such as to oocarion any
very vivid sensations of aUrai. His hiding-place,
he flattered himself, wasjgourtfomi any ordinary
search, and might easily^CSSMiscovered. With
nerves pretty well composed^ he proposed to himself
to remain quietly in his hidiog-pkee, and keeping
a good lookout, to be glided by circumstances.
But when Nellie Danven re-entered her' father's
chamber, and he learned irom the conversation between
them, which he heard but indistinctly and
I iL.i'i A- -J A A
ill part, tuat it was uie purpose ui tue cuemy w
fire the dwelling, he felt the necessity of at onoe
making an exertion to escape before it should be
too late. Had he known that his capture would
have saved the hospitable dwelling in which he had
found a refuge, die generosity of his nature would
have led him promptly to sacrifice his own liberty
in order to avert calamity and loss from those who
had so generously offered him a refuge.
In order to overhear the conversation which
passed in the apartment, he was under the necessity
of applying his ear to the aperture in the pannel,
and he was still unaware thaSit was the voice
of Nellie Danvers that readied his' ears. Her
fitoe?though he strove to catch a glimpse of itwas
turned away from him, and he was still ignorant
that the same roof covered her to whom, in
this moment of extremity, his thoughts reverted,
as our thoughts will turn to those most loved and
cherished when danger threatens to sunder us from
them forever.
The conversation which he partly overheard, was
enough to oonvinoe him it was high time for him
to put forth all his energies to escape from the
toils that were gathering more closely around him.
He was not of a temperament to mt quietly down
until fate should press him to the waB. He gently
mode his way to the farther end of the loft and,
laying aside his musket and cartridge box, after
some little difficulty, found the sliding pannel
which closed the aperture through which he had
entered. Sliding it cautiously along in its grooves,
he had the satisfaction of finding that the chamber
into which it opened was untenanted. He had not
as yet formed his plan of escape, hut intended to
make hb way into the chamber, and then watching
his opportunity, to be guided by circumstances.
He was just clambering out of the loft, wheu
some one, with a light step, entered into the chamber,
and then seemed to be suddenly retiring, alarmed
by the sounds within.
"You need not fear," said Victor, in alow tone,
"It b L I have overheard the threats of the enemy,
and I must make py escape eonte qui I conte.
I would not be carbooadoej alive if I can help it"
"I foar you cannot escape now," said the same
soft low voice, that v ictor naa heard Deiore; the
house is thronged with the enemy and they have
set out guards on every side."
"It is far better* to be shot or bayonetted than
to be roasted," responded Victor, as he reached
the floor of the chamber and stood upright "If
I could only make my wiy down the staircase?"
"That is impossible," replied the voice; the foot
of the stairway is guarded by a sentinel.
"Still, you are suffered to pass?" interrogated
Victor.
"Yes, they do not fear me, I am but a woman;
they would assuredly arrest you, were you to make
the attempt"
"I must do something," replied Victor, with
firmness; "if no other plan will answer, I must
fight my way through with my musket and bayonet"
"Oh I that would be horrible I" replied Victor's
companion, with a shudder?"dreadful; there are
too many of them and they are all on the watch.
You would certainly be sJain."
'That would, at least, be a soldier's death," rejoined
Victor, "and that is what I count upon at
the last To my thinking, it is far better to fall
into the hands of Captain Train's "angels" dead
than alive. They are a dastardly set of Mohawks,
and I have one bitter enemy among them who
would certainly assassinate me. If there were any
means of disguising myself?" added he, hesitatingly.
"And what hinders ?" asked Victor's companion,
quickly. Here are dresses all around the
chamber; you have only to choose and effect a
complete disguise."
I thank you," replied Victor, feeling his face
redden in the dark?"but the humiliation of such
a disguise is unendurable. Death is less bitter
than the shame of so unmanly a disguise."
"You are exceedingly complimentary to my
sex !' ' replied the lady, piquantly. "Achilles?although
he was not born on the Sanlee? had some
reputation as a soldier?if the IUiad is not a fable?
and he did not scorn a disguise which you shrink
from adopting when it p&ents the only means of
escape."
"It is very humiliating to a soldier," persisted
Victor.
"But, remember, there is no other way of escape,"
rejoined theJad^^pqgtept this and you are
lost ^
"Think of it?if ? ahouldonly be taken prisoner
in such a disguise, what jeers?what laughter?
what scorn?what bitter humiliation to myself!
What a figure I would out among Captain Train's
"Angels!" Even my fair country-women would
shrug their dimpled shoulders and join in the laugh
against me. I would be content to be the hero
and sufferer in a bloody tradgedy, but to be the
victim in a force?Oh! never."
"There is no need of eiiaer farce or tragedy, and
time is pressing. Here is a lady's dress that will
fit you for the part of an actor, in genteel comedy
if you will," rejoined the lady, playfully. "But
do not hesitate or delay one moment. Put on the
disguise at once. One minute's delay may undo
all."
"A thousand thanks to you," replied Victor, in
a tone of deep sadness, "but I cannot humiliate
myself so far. If my mother should have to weep
for me, let her tears fall for my death and not for
mv discrace."
"Oh! Victor?Victor! if you will not, you are
ruined and undone!" was the exclamation of grief
that burst from the lips of the agonixed girl.
"What! you know me then!" exclaimed Victor,
surprised at being so familiary addressed and feeling
as if an electric shock had passed along his
nerves. "And we have met before ?"
"And have you forgotten me?" said the voice,
in a tone almost of reproach. There was something
in the voice, now that his attention was excited,
that fell upon the ears of Victor as not unfamiliar
to him. He hesitated a moment and the
truth broke upon him.
"Pardon me, dear Nellie," exclaimed Victor in
surprise, "I am a dolt not to have recognised your
voice before, when you were oontinually in my
thoughts. I did not dream of finding you here."
Victor made a step forward, and their hands
\
met In the darkness, with a gentle clasp that mad
his heat leap wildly.
"Oh! Victor!" exclaimed die, with the nun
serve which the time and the oocasdon inspired
"let me entreat-yon to lose no time! Make uae<
this disguise promptly. Save yourself at ono
The enemy may soon make their way into thi
chamber and prevent your escape. There is
lamp upon the mantel board and matches ready i
hand. Secure the door and pot on this disgnis
before it iMpo late." .
"EvaTyew; Nellie, I fear, will despise me ft
0?ffig what you counsel me to do," mormnrre
Victor. "I shall, however, do as yon bid me. ]
the enemy penetrates my disguise, I shall giv
them cause for seriousness more than for langhtei
If I fiul in oomedy, they shall have tragedy rathe
thanfaroe."
"The curtain will soon rise," said Nellie playful
ly, as she disengaged her hand and retired toward
die door. "Be ready to act your part when tb
bell rings; Fate strikes his call" The door dosei
behind her and she was gone.
Victor locked the door of the apartment, and
striking a light, proceeded with a perplexed an*
sad countenance to don the disguise. It require*
but a very few minutes to effect the desired trans
formation. A veil thrown over his well balance*
head, partially oonoealed his features and addei
to the completeness of the disguise. To hav
glanoed in the chamber, one would have' recogni
sed in its occupant only a comely and fair girl wit!
the freshness of youth npon her cheek. The die
guise was so complete that it would have been i
shrewd physiognomist who would have suspeote*
the truth. Blushing with shame and ooi fusion
Victor hesitatingly entered the chamber of th
wounded officer, while it was still thronged wit!
those who sought him, and silently seatiug him
self, sat quietly regarding everything around hin
until the time came when disguise was no longe
decessary. Our readers have seen how prompt!,
he felled the murderous outlaw, Walsh, to th
floor, when he was about to bury his knife in th
bosom of the wounded and defenceless officer.
"And so it is you I" exclaimed Walsh, recogniz
ing the features of the youth whom he hated wit)
an animosity so bitter.
- "It is I," returned Victor; "you sought mi
diligently and you have found me quite unexpect
edly."
"Bravo! my young friend," exclaimed Colons
Danvers, with admiration for the gallant youtl
beaming from his eyes. You have made a quid
and a dean thing of it You would handle a sabr*
__ 1 1 . _ It T !.L Tt. J 1 J i
00 noraemcK weu. x wisa x oaa one aunurea buoj
fellows in my regiment, to show the d?d yankee
how swords can flash out when men are in earnest
Don't shoot the villain?his blood is too base to h
shed by your hand. If it were nqt for fear of see
ing you tripped np by your petticoats, I woulc
beg you to kick the rascal down stairs and let hin
>?
go.
"Shoot if you will?curse you!" growled thi
prostrato-juan. "I don't ask you to spare m;
Hfel"
"I soaroely think you were bom to be killed b;
a bullet," quietly remarked Victor?"at all event
1 have no thought of cheating the hangman of hi
fee."
"Do you mean I am to get up and go?" aske
Walah-sulktnl^.and with a soowlinjLface. T
"No I if you attempt that," replied Victor, "th
hangman will certainly lose his due. You are b
go with me to camp. There are some old score
against you there which are not settled."
"Is the fellow a deserter?" asked Colonel Dan
vers.
"He is not only a deserter but a spy," replie<
Victor.
"Pshaw! in that case, don't trouble the cam]
with him; shoot him down by the way as yoi
would a wolf or a hyena. You are out scouting,!
suppose ?"
"There are only five of us, all on foot, sent ou
to gather information,'' replied Victor. ' 'The res
of the party arc lying at the head of your avenui
awaiting my return. As soon as they find th<
coast clear they will venture up to see what ha
become of me. I shall have to remain until the]
come and keep guard upon this renegade."
"It would be a pretty game to play, if there ha<
been some twenty or thirty of you along," sai<
Colonel Dan vers. "That fellow Train was so fright
ened at the report of armed men approaching th<
house, that he left in too great a panic to put hi
threat of burning into execution. If the enenr
rely on the report which he carries bock to camp
they will look out for an attack until a late hou
n - -. i j /? ii 1 l.
to-morrow, i would not DO surprised 11 mey huuuii
halt and entrench themselves. I would not rel;
on that fellow's report from a camp of disable(
horses. His jacket 1 how resplendent with but
tons! He is only fit for a circus, or to make on
of a menagerie of monkeys. I had rather chargi
the enemy blind-fold than to make a movemen
relying on information brought me by an offioe
wearing such a jacket?and so demoralised, too
Nellie, do give me my snuff box 1"
Just as the Colonel spoke, there were some fiv<
or six musket shots fired in rapid succession, nea
the head of the avenue, followed by yells of agon;
and pain, and then a feeble volley of pistol shots
as the retiring troop of Captain Train broke into i
hard gallop along the highway.
"By Jesu! exclaimed the Colonel, with fiashinj
eyes, ' 'I think I can understand that game! Cap
tain Train and his "Angels," have fallen into ai
ambuscade, and are seeing the devil. Listen
what cravens I after answering with that feebl
fire, they are off at full speed for camp, to tell hov
they fought a whole regiment an hour, by th<
Shrewsbury clock, and cut their way through a
last! A half dozen brave scouts have route*
them. Hurrah for the brave fellows!"
In the excitement of the moment, Colonel Dan
vers had raised his head from his pillow, and sup
Porting it on his hand, listened with intense inter
est to the sounds of the melee, which roused hi
blood and made him thirst, with a soldier's long
ing, for a part in the strife. His daughter inter
fered to warn him against suffering his mind t<
dwell upon affairs which disturbed its repose. Hi
wound required absolute rest from every excitini
subject for a few days longer.
"Pshaw, Nellie! you women are ever busy wit!
your sage counsel, that is only one whit less palata
1 . .1 3 , t
ble than the villainous drugs mat me doctors tor
raent us with. Don't you know, yet, that nothinj
keeps a sick man's mind more qniet than letting
him have his own way; and that nothing chafe
him so much as trying to keep him quiet, when he i
struggling to let out the impatience that is consum
ing him? Stop up tho muzzle of a loaded gun, o
tie down the safety valve of an engine, and then
is ruin; 'let them rip' as they say in camp, an(
their action is normal."
"You have had a very disquieting time of it, in
deed, for a wounded man," interposed Victor
"The annoyance and anxiety you have been sub
jected to to-night is enough to induoe fever."
"You quite mistake my temperament," rejoinec
Colonel Danvers. "I have enjoyed the sight fine
ly. Captain Train and his 'angels,' will no doub
put my old housekeeper to some trouble in putting
matters to rights in the morning, but what of that'
It was equal to a fane to see the dirty fellow strut
ting about in his stolen linen, attempting to ap<
the soldier whilst his rouges from Blackwell's Is
land and live Points were distracted between theii
hope of booty and their dread of bushwhackers an(
an ambuscade. They rummaged the old housi
Le with a will, Dot it was an enujrwiuiu* iww iur iu?,
who haye bad so lonely a time of it here. On my
j- word, it has been a rich scene 1 and, while I think
; of it, yonng comrade, not the least entertaining
>f part of the performanoe is to see yon trigged ont
s. b petticoats and standing guard over that fallen
is 'angel I"
a Victor was forced to laogh in spite of himself ]
it "I know it is rather a ridiculous figure I present,
e Colonel," replied he, with a good humored lanah,
"and I am desirous of appearing before you in
it propriapertona.''
d "I understand you," replied Colonel Danrers,
[f gaily; "you wish the soene to be?hiAed, because
e you dislike so oonfbundedly to be shifted yourself.
You can, however, console yourselfwith the thought
x that, if you had been a ihifiUss fellow, the 'angels'
would have had you b 'their keeping.' "
1. Nellie, with the ready tact of a woman, discerned
lg what was needed, and strugglbg to oonoeal a smile
e that, despite herself, flashed oat merrily on ehee&S
J and eyes, glided from the apartment, and b a short
fima Aa nU tinnaA-lnwiwr tnnMrml. vith avm
I, wide opened in astonishment, as her fiance fell
j upon Victor. She had evidently been instructed
j by Nellie, as to the services required of her, for
h she walked directly np towards Victor, with an air
j and manner that told more plainly than watds, 4h0
j errand upon which she had been dispatohed.
e Pausing in front of Victor, she dropped a profound
courtesy.
[j "Can I help you, young massa ?" asked the old
r woman.. , . ,, . ,.?
a Victor looked pouled for a moment, and before
j he ooold weD divine her 'mission,' Colonel Binvera
spoke., -V,
g "Yes, maum Hannah, help him -off with that
Ij toggery as soon as you can. It has served his tarn
_ quite well for this boat Have it off before he
a acquires a fondness for petticoats. And that 'angel'
who lies there, will?if he has the grace of gratitude?thank
yon for relieving him of petticoat
e government"
e The hands of tnaum Hannah soon relieved Viotor
of his disguise, and the critical eyes of Colonel
Danvera, who knew the good points of a man or
hone, were evidently satisfied as they rested upon
1 the Apollo-like form of the young soldier, who,
despite his .rough garb, stood beford him the em8
bodiment of manliness and grace. < r
' The exit of maum Hannah was the stgoaL&r
, Nellie's return, who, as she modestly lifted her
glance to Victor's face as she passed, felt a deeper
1 hue stealing over her face as she encountered his
? admiring eye. Their paths had strangely oome to3
gether, when the most critioal events of Hfe lay *1
round them, and the hand of fate seemed busy iq
8 interweaving their destinies when great issues w#re
' at stake. The chcumstaoces under which they
3 had twice met, were such as oontribate to bind
" tbem together, more than a lifetime of ordinary intercourse.
* .
1 The Colonel saw the blush of eonapousness rise
to the cheeks of these two young beings, who stood
3 before him in the pride and attractiveness of in7
genuous youth. He- divined the secret of their
hearts, which as yet they scarcely acknowledged to
7 themselves. -
8 "Poor Nellie!" murmured he to himself, while
8 his eye wore a saddened expression, and fields red
, with future carnage rose up before his mind's eye.
Maidens should bear, in their bosoms, hearts stashed
against love, while war is hlling up with his
6 mangled victims, the hospital and the grave. "It
0 is folly?it is more?it is madness to dream of love
8 at a time like this!" The shrewd and thoughtful
soldier was forgetful that it is in precisely such circumstances,
when danger rides the gale and lives
, are as cheap as the leaves of autumn shaken down
by every breeze, that the sympathies of the heart
are quickened and enlarged. What generous mai2
den will bar up the portals of her heart against die
| noble yonth devoted to his country's service, whose
mangled form, before a day has fled, may lie cold
and stark on the battle-field, or be covered np forever
from sight in a nameless grave. He is passing
on generously and devotedly with his young life,
3 challenging the terrors of battle; he is passing on to
3 the fri? where shadows and darkness rest; the don
8 canopy of war is his covering by day, and the fire
7 of blazing batteries is his light by night. If he
smiles, there is in his eye the mysterious light of
^ some sad fate, that makes the heart of woman yeum
* over him with the tenderness of a mother's or a
" sister's love. With the inspiration of a martyr or
s a hero beaming from eyes that have daily, disdain9
fully looked on death, woman but looks upon him
7 to pity, to admire, and to love, eyen as angels love
' when they look upon man straggling heroically
r against fate. ?
* Victor's cheek, too, reddened aa.rhe met the
7 glance of Nellie; but unaware that die observant
* eves of Col. Danvers had seen the tell-tale blush,
* be imagined that his secret was hidden in his own
8 breast from all eyes. Not even the sigh of pity
e from the breast of the fond and anxious father,
t awoke a passing suspicion that another was aware
J of the thoughts passing in his mind.
1 "You can rise and seat yourself," said Victor,
placing a chair against the wall, on the farther
8 side of the room, for his prisoner; "but I warn you
c to be quiet. I will not hesitate to shoot you, if
1 you attempt to escape or resist."
) The crest-fallen prisoner roee like a baffled beast
1 of prey, and moiodily took the seat assigned him,
while Victor again seated himself by the side of
I Colonel Danvers.
"I am impatient to learn the result of that ama
buscade into which the enemy fell," remarked Col.
! Danvers. "Train went off in rapid style, and I
B judge he will be in no hurry to try conclusions with
7 them again. I fear, after giving him a round,
e your scouts will be off to camp. What think you?''
1 Victor briefly stated the .circumstances under
i which Presoott and himself had left the scouting
party, and expressed his conviction that they would
* i? a i? :.i. v: c.,.
SOOD Visit me amusiuu iu euquire uiui ma uwu iuc,
" and to gather whatever information the enemy may
'* have let fall, in regard to the number, movements,
8 and position of their forces. It was very oertain
- they would not return and omit the opportunity of
~ availing themselves of such information as (bight
9 be gathered from those who had so lately been in
8 communication with the enemy.
I "And how went the fight to-day?" asked Colo
nel Danvers. "Tell me all the particulars, so far
1 as -they came under your own observation. I know
* you were successful in beating the enemy back.
'* You had a pretty strong force?hey?"
I With a glance at his prisoner, Victor bent over
? the bed, that he might not be overheard by him,
8 and in Ipw tones?so low that they barely reached
3 the ears of Nellie, who sat on the other side of the
* bed?repeated the astounding story how six hnnr
dred brave Carolinians beat back, in a shameful
8 rout, many thousands of the enemy who had as1
sanlted their unfortified position in Vain. The eye
of the wounded soldier was lighted up with patri*
otic pride as he listened to the stirring recital, and
a deeper flush of patriotic emotion warmed the
' cheeks of the maiden, as she leaned over the coach
of the stricken veteran and listened to the plain and
i simple narrative of her lover.
"It was a well fought field," exclaimed Colonel
t Danvers with animation. ' 'By Jove 1 it mnst have
I been a splendid sight to see six handled ragged
} Confederates holding thousands of the enemy at
- bay for hours, and routing them it the hilt by mare
i pluck and hardihood. But your loan?that must
- have been large?"
r "Our Ion was not small," answered Victor;
1 "but the enemy loet more than ten for one."
s "And what of to-morrow?" asked Col Danvers,
?
in u?4W? WM-t mm ma ww ? rmwu| yww
on Victor, mi if to rdrfhis'SoaL
' We have no to-morrow in the army, Cobnrf,"
replied Victor gaily; "we here only to-day F'
'Hurt ie right," replied Coiood Dtnvw eery
oualy sad solemnly; "that is right 1 The soldier
who gives himaelf to (he eerrioe Of hia eoantry,
mnst blot 'to-morrow* float his vocabchny. Torn
onow's ho pee?tcwnorrow'e enjoyments?1st him
fling their thoaghts fax ftom him. Xhey era
dreams, Tau^riaoaaqr dreams, that cheat him and
all who duse them with. him. Bemmaber?however
Fancy may delude the soldier?to-nwrrow
promises him nothing hot a grave hencsth the
tarf, reddened with his hlood"
"We shall have a tryiflg time beftn a to-morrow,"
observed Victor, who (Ml lie knew not
why?strangely dulled by the aariooatoaeef CMto
nel Danvers. It was like the doffing brseth at
Winter upon the flowers sod bode ?f Spring.
"VIM " ir faniJ AU1toM< "ih-i. jjlmill
iCB| nyvim UUMW ynvuri miMui/
wiD renew the flght ooUwar^mw with eS hie fbr
068. Many a poor feflow, on ertheraide, is dreaming,
to-night, bin tat dram of lot* and km
To-night he deeps on the sod?to-morrow, he wiH
sleep below k. If ocr fbeom attempt to held their
ground to-morrow, it wiBfaring on ooa of thaforoataDdbloodieitingghitftkMr$MmAi
i. ? i " . j*- . ,ir* .
MWI aOQDttOk
u We had heavy odds against a today/'tammted
Tieter.
"Aye! bat they wfl fewmoh heavta teHnarrow,"
HooinedOokmdPmmm w 'IBmmmtjwffl
have time to bring ap all hia fines, and iftaaa or
twenty to one is heavy odda,er?n to men who fight
with the ?oniage of detention. Ah! indeed,the
soldier has no to-morrow I"
Nellie had not tat award of the eommmtim;
it had strangely addaoad her. 8ha, too, had bar
pare dreana of the ftxtare bothalf admoehdtad .
even to haxa^ and a cloud eame upon her fhir
face as she thOaght of the morrow tfaesetfar'a
morrow?that would light many a proud and manlylbenitothe
pave. Ite morning Bghi may feed
it a a .::4 .t . ej a .ti ti-down
?iuujf cvoujrf swwtiy^ nui ok ttnvj dupeedaeaa
and proaae npon many a yonth whom
brow beams with hope and heehh, dec?A?
u'b* nvni|iin.i?wmm
O^K wUck tb* vwnn jlsas Mi efaa"
Her eye neltdi^Talo^tftwpmnMBht
and with an expteowowef ofioitemmdeam Aa
realised that the invidble bondswidth mated Awn,
were as frail as the gossamer web thatpazts befiwt
the iephyr'8 breath. .Theft next porting might be
as that of strangers who smile gad pes* never to
again. The words of her &thar had awakan-.
od painful thoughts ofthe nmiyef mortal tae at
a time when lifb?daily imperilled?is so encertmn.
The next day, the wood end manly yonth befcea
her might be covered ap from light, tad the sweet
dreams that stole unbidden into her heart, mart bo
broken. CoL Danvers bed designed te impress this
idea upon the lorers, into whose heart he had look- ed
more deeply than they thenmfas had dared to ? *
look. - * -< *.
Vain and fatilephiloaophy I Their heart* dung
but the more fondly and tenderly together, as they
the more folly reafixed bow evanescent and flail
were their hopes of realising the dreams that beguiled
and delighted them. It it to the flail and
beaten bark that we ever ding the mora closely
when the-tempeet is azoaad aa; sad it if whan the
holds to the bough where it perches itself Teach
the maiden that he who baa found a phee ia her
heart, is daily imperiling his life in a noble cause,
and that his breast is daily bared to danger, all the
sympathies of her nature an awakened, and her
heart follows him with a sofidtous We that never
wearies, never wavers, never draws cold,hut is content?if
it must be so?to let its affections linger a*
round the grave, and hang cold garlands over thfl^
spot where the hopes of a life He buried.
Nellie was unconscious that her gate wis resting
oh Victor in that moment, when she realised, for
the first time, how dear he was to her heart The
concluding words of Colonel Danvers had impofid
upon the party the silence of sad thoughtfulness.
The father was hopeful of turning aside the affections
of his daughter, that they might not end in
blight and brokeoness of heart Victor and Nellie
were thinking how defightfhl it was to meet,
and how sad it was to part, when their porting
might be forever. They aH had lost themselves in
a rewruv froBMrbich they were aroused by the
voice of old Hanuah, who appeared at the door in
a state of trepidation and excitement There was
an air of triumph, too, upon her face, but it was
quite evident that she was terrified at her own tri
omph. lira mingled terror end joy on her sable
face ooold not hare been understood, but for her
own explanation of the oanse. She advanced a
step or two into the room in a state of excitement,
and straggled a moment for utterance before she
could find words to expreos herself
"Praise de Lord, mass Tom, I tek one of'em,
sure I" was all she could suoaecd In firing utterance
to in[ her present condition of wMwateaaut
"What ia H, Hannah?" enquired Col Danrm,
who, under all eircuostanoea, preserved the utmost
coolness of head. v--. .
"De Yankees, again! mossa," ejaculated Han- ?
Victor lygan frJ jf?pintrii itihMipw"er,
Walsh, raised his head and began to look about
him, as though for 'a good tune coming,' in the
shape of a squad of bhxe ooat&
"What are the Yankees about, Hannah t" asked
Colonel Danvers. "You are speaking in riddles?what
are the Yankees doing?"
"Oh I nothing, mass Tom, only I got ons Mow
that come phderin' about, locked up bard and fast
in. the pantry. I'll make higijnmw, bcfixe he
leave here. Its that ssnuAflow, Setk Hobinaoo,
that cheat us so bad when be come peddhn' thro'
the oountry. I've got him safe enough in the pani,n
try.
4 The deoceyou hare I" esehumed the Colonel?
"that's'a fine place for a prisoner; and what are
yon going to do with him?'
"I don't.know, mossa; but it won't do frr him
to stay in dere," replied Hannah; "he'll sat ebery
ting up before morning If young mossa here,
would come down and take him in hand?" ana
Hann&h looked towards Vietar and hesitated.
"After awhile, Hannah?after awhile," said the
Colonel. "Let nim eat his fill before we take hfan
out In the meantime, go and ketm guard at the
door, and. if he tries to eseaps, give the alarm.
Take the poker and tongs?they are the weapons
you are moet accustomed to?and if he breaks out,
do your devoirs upon him, and St GttBah be your
help I I will back you, ten to one, for the victory,
if it oome to blows. You have a pretty strong arm,
and you ean.lay H on to him with a heavy hand.
Now go and mount guard until you are raiarod."
Lying helpless upon his bed, the soldier, with a
cheerful heart, gaily mocked at the ills offifc which
he eould not retoafr. It was not from a spirit of
levity that he laughed and jerted whet* other*
would have desponded end wept, hot because e
brave heart, an exuberant flow ?t siiinaf spirits,
and a soul not easily d^uyed, bene him up through
Itah a wdl-ba^Ed^eSSnStiSonea S3
the fuB n??gnifrHft of every danger and drfioulty;
and while seeing, at a gianoe, afl its resources,
wisely, aa well as bravely bows with composure
and iwngiiatiou to that which is inevitable and irremediable.
. . ' ..
CHd Hannah looked at the tmAm ilh a pondering
and doubting gase, m if ?e thought he had
but spoken in jest; but failing to find m his an
any expression that belied hia words, she slowly
and reluctantly withdrew to the lower story, to
mount guard over the unfortunate wight who had tiptop
iato her hands.
????^