Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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=v- - ;v ;* ?? P5S^S?B?5ipllliiiP^iP!li!9! p!MH|ppp|l w_ . ' X ' leVis m. <i?isT, Proprietor. | Jnlwpntlpt J^milii JWwjPpK ' S"1 % |t?ifi?* rf % '|JoIititiI? Sotial, ^griraltnrsl jmi Conrattrtial Jntmsts af ijjt Saatji. | TEEMS?$3.00 A yeak, in ADVANCE. VOX,. 23. YORKYILLE, 8. C., THURSDAY, FEBEIJAEY 32, 1877. ,, JSTO. 8. > ' > ' .::*Um:u.' t :. f *i. tf. .Al ^ ^ l. ? I M_I__LWIB IIIT1 _???? . : : I * ! ^ ... .. < ?be Jfofg letter. KATE KENNEDY'S GHOST. *? j i * * - ?' BY 1?RS. HBNBY DBAS. S CHAPTER XVI. In kJgW minutes help was procured, and JW?berton, o/ias Clement, was conveyed to tbelittle cabin opposite the orchard, as the nearest place of refuge at hand; while the Earl, in the meantime, sent over to the village for medical aid, as all the efforts made for the restoration of the suffering man proved of no avail. The physician, on his arrival, expressed himself as doubtful whether he could do more than temporarily alleviate the severity of the disease under which he was laboring. The pressure on bis brain, he said, was intense, aud should his physical health be restored, he would in all probability contiuue hopelessly insane; while, on the other hand, it was possible that his mental faculties might recover, but his frame sink under disease?an alternative not unfrequent in similar cases. In the meantime he advised his removal to the village, where a suitable lodging and a competent nurse could be procured, and where he himself could attend regularly upon him. His illness might prove a tedious one, though in ail probability it would not be long ere its , result would be decided one way or the other. , Lord Desborough accordingly invested him j with authority to act in the matter, directing that everything should be done which was necessary for the sick man's comfort, and assuming the responsibility of whatever expense should be incurred; and little Dr. Afapning, foreseeing a lucrative case, hurried off with ( alacrity to make the suitable arrangements, ( leaving the Earl himself installed as nurse until his return. The patient, after the first delirium had subsided, sank into a passive, j apathetic state, apparently unconscious of everything about him, and occasionally mut- , terincr unconnected sentences below his breath, of which his attendant vainly tried to catoh the sense. t.. . F While all this was transpiring, Geraldine, ignorant of what had happened, but aware that her husband had gone to examine the well, waited patiently for his return before ordering breakfast. From his window she could see that he was not now in the orchard, and she wondered somewhat at the length of time he remained away. Still she was not willing to follow him, and taking a book in the front parlor, she sat down to while away ] the moments of suspense as best she might. She found it quite impossible, however, to read. She bad by no means recovered from the excitement of the previous night, and her anxiety to know the result of the Earl's .expedition was almost painful in its intensity. , She had waited for more than an hour beyond ( the usual breakfast-time, when suddenly the j loud report of a gun, fired apparently at a t shuit distauuc off, startled her out of her un ?n? r^il A easy meuuauons. xoo repun was imiuncu i by a confused noise, as of many voices exclaiming together, and directly afterwards < Judson, with a very paleface, came ruuning ( toward the house. A cold chill struck upon ' her heart. Something warned her that evil , p* had befallen her husband. She turned quite ] sick and giddy with fear, and caught the post j of the door in which she was standing, for i support i "My lady, go in," said Judson, panting, as t he came up. "Go to your room for a little , while?master's coming." I "What has happened ?" she cried, almost | fiercely, in her frantic eagerness to know the worst "Tell me?tell me instantly !" she ad- < ded, as the man hesitated, reluctant to reply. , "Master, he's hurt, my lady?Some villain * shot at bim." j "Is be killed ?" I "I?don't know?he's insensible?the doc- t tor's coming?for God's sake, my lady, go in ] just for a little," entreated Judson, as he spied through the trees the approach of the little | party who were bringing the Earl on a litter , to the cottage. But Geraldine, darting past him, fiew to meet them. A ghastly sight met | her eyes. Her husband, pale as death, lay | motionless and rigid, the blood oozing in a , dark stream from his head, to which banda-J i- i ? ? i;?,i ges seemea 10 uave ueeu luucuiuanj oppucu. , . One hand hung lifelessly downward atbis aide. , L She took the cold hand io here. She pressed it to her lips?her breast?then held it in a silent , ^ clasp as with an almost breaking heart she | walked by the litter as it was borne along. , P They laid him on his own bed, which Jud- j f son had prepared, and in a few minutes the doctor arrived. He had, fortunately, been I overtaken when only a short distance on his ] way back to the village, in charge of the ( wagon in which Wilberton was being re- i moved. "I must have perfect quiet here," q&d the i doctor, as he glanced around, after satisfying 1 himself that his new patient still lived. I "Lady Desborough, I hope you will pardon ] me for requesting you to leave the room. It is necessary that the strictest caution be ob- i ??a ? aa vcu. "I shall remain, Doctor," said Geraldine, in < a low but firm tone. Her face was as white as the Earl's, but she had regained her composure, and had the resolution to maintain it. i "But," pleaded Dr. Manning, perplexed, ' "I fear that your nerves may not be equal to the trial of witnessing a necessarily painful 1 operation. I must tell you, candidly, that < my patient is in a critical state, and the least ' agitation, on his restoration to consciousness, i may prove fatal." i "You need have no fear," replied Geraldine. i "I shall not disturb you, in the least. I must stay." i The doctor, with many misgivings, was forced to yield the point. He had too much deference for rank to dispute the will of a countess, so determinately expressed. He had oo cause to regret her persistence. A ' marble statue could not have remained out- j wardly more calm and unmoved, and even when her husband's eyes opened with return- < ing consciousness, and a thrill of joy and re- i r- lief unspeakable, shot through her heart, she betrayed no sign of the emotion she felt. Her joy was brief, for the pain he was enduring sent hiua off* into another swoon, and she could read in Dr. Manning's serious face, how \ great was the anxiety he felt The wound k was dressed at last, and everything attended to which could at present be done. The doctor, why was forced to leave for a short time, to pay another urgent visit, departed'with a promise to return soon, and with the strictest r injunctions that quiet should he observed. V \ .< J "I see that you will make ao admirable nurse, Lady Desborough," he said, on taking leave, "and I leave my patient with entire satisfaction in your keeping. Do not allow any one else to enter the room until my return. I will, with your permission, give orders to that effect." Lord Desborough had sunk into an uneasy slumber, in which complete exhaustion gained, for the time, the victory over suffering. His contracted brow and the occasional quiver of his pallid lips, showed the pain which even in Bleep oppressed him ; but gradually his frown relaxed, his expression became more natural, and he appeared to breathe more gently and calmly than before. Qeraldine regarded this as a favorable sign. Still she dared not yet look forward with any degree of certainty to - - - ? a t - 1 J his reoovery. Silently she Dowea ner neaa upon her bands, and allowed her long pent-up emotion to find vent in a gush of tears. No Bound escaped her, for the fear of disturbing her patient, and thus proving unfaithful to her trust, enabled her to stifle her sobs. From her heart arose a passionate, fervent prayer for her husband, that God would restore him, would spare his precious life. How precious to her, she now, for the first time only, fully realized. While mutely offering this petition, her tea re streaming through her clasped hands, she did not perceive that Lord Desboroogh had opened his eyes?had fixed them intently, with a half-wondering expression in which a softened, tender one gradually mingled upon her. When at last she succeeded in subduing her agitation and recovering her autward composure, and once more ventured to raise her head, he was again, to all appearance, asleep He was, in fact, desirons that she should think him so, though be was by this time fully awake, and quite alive to his situation. Some time elapsed, and she was sitting engaged in deep and sad thought, with her gaze fixed upon the- floor, when a low-breathed sigh fell on her ear. She looked op quickly. The Earl was regarding her with a quiet and serious expression., "Geraldine," he said softly. She bent oxer lim instantly, forcing a smile to her pale lips. * ' "You must not speak, my lord," she said, with gentle authority in her tone. "The docor has desired me to see that you keep perfectly quiet uutil his return." He smiled slightly, and reclosed his eyes or a moment as if in accordance with her nandate; then opened them again. "Have you been sitting here long?" was lis next question. "Since you weta brought in." "How leng ago was that?" "About four hours, I believe." "How weary you must be." "I am not weary; but you will make me rery unhappy if you do not submit to the Innf/vp'o initinrfinnn. Tf vnn talk anv more. rou will surely be worse," she said, in ao entreating tone." "You shall n$?.be unhappy, then. 'Give ne your hand, Geraldine." She yielded hirn her hand. He clasped it dose, and holding it thus, remained perfectly juiet, neither moving nor speaking again. This interval of silence was fraught for her with a delicious, though trembling joy. Surey, the clasp of bis hand spoke of a warmer 'eeling than he had ever before testified toward her?and this assurance, which was as ^et half a doubt, combined with the belief ;hat he must surely be better, else he could lot speak so calmly and collectedly as be did, ailed her with a gratitude almost too deep for ier swelling heart to contain. The doctor presently came in, and was evidently agreeably surprised at the improved conditioa in which he found his patient. 'Your lordship must have a constitution of iron," he remarked, "to have rallied so quickly, after such a severe shock, and the loss of io much blood. Does your head feel easier aow ?" "Itfeels clear enough, but aches considera t? i* J al. 11 it!. t)iy,' replied xne jcjuti. yv neu win uiin ivound be well ?" "Not for some weeks, I fear. It's a pretty bad one, I assure you, and narrowly missed being fatal. However, as it fortunately bappens, a miss in this case is as good as a mile. You are in a fair way to recover, my lord, provided you are patient and submit to all necessary restrictions." "I may have the occasional use of my tongue, I suppose ? Lady Desborough tried to convince me that talking was a fatal imprudence, and to satisfy her I have been silent ever since." "You may talk in moderation, my lord, but be pleased to avoid all exciting topics. It is absolutely necessary that your brain should continue in a calm and composed itate." "It shall continue as calm and composed as pou please," rejoined the Earl, "provided you inswer me one or two important questions before you go. How is Mr. , your other patient, now ?" "Much the same as when he left here. I im just from his room." "You will report to me regularly on his condition, will you not ?" "I will, with pleasure." "Now tell me?for I have not the slightest idea?to whom am I indebted for this wound f" "To a rascal who will suffer the full penalty of his atrocious conduct, I trust," said the Joctor, warmly. "Some thieving, prowling vagabond, who it seems has been dogging you around since yesterday. I am happy to say that he has been secured, and is in safe custody." "I knew it!" interrupted Geraldine, clasping her hands. "I meant to warn you, my lord. I saw that mau yesterday, in the wood." "Warning would have been of little avail. The shot was fired too suddenly and unexpectedly, and from too hidden a source, to be guarded against," said the doctor. "Strange!" said the Earl, looking perplexed. "I cannot fancy who it is that can have such enmity against rae." "Never mind him now. Dismiss hira from ? A?hT ftait " nut/1 Mun. your inougiiuj, x ueg ui jvu, oa?u ning, earnestly. "He may be out of his mind, for aught I know." "In any case, let him be leniently dealt with," said the Earl. "I wish no steps taken in the matter until I am fit to attend to it." "Your wish shall be strictly complied with, my lord. Now, is there anything more?" "I believe not," said Lord Desborough, after a moment's reflection. "You are sure tbaUfhat poor fellow whom you took charge of this morning, has every attention giver him?". "Every attention, my lord. He has a com fortabie room and the beet of nurses, and 1 shall continue to visit him frequently, and dc all in my power for him." "Then I shan't plague you any more. On ly please to impress upon Lady Desborough, before you go, that I am not to remain tongue tied, as she so firmly insisted. If I don't talh I shall think, which will be much worse." "I can fearlessly confide in ber ladyship's discretion," said the doctor, with a bow. "] believe that she fully understands the method of treatment 1 am desirous she should pursue.". ?'#. He then gave some necessary direction! for the treatment of the invalid during the night, and took leave, promising to return early on the following day. When left alone with his wife, the Earl, again taking her hand, said gravely? "There is something I wish to ask you, ijeraidine, to wnicn you must give me a trum1 ful answer. What was the cause of those tears which I saw you shedding to-day, a little while before I spoke to you first ?" "Tears!" echoed Geraldine, in a confused tone, while a scarlet flush suffused her face and brow. "I?I did not know?" "That I was watching you, I suppose. No?if you had known that, you would have sat like a statue, no doubt, looking as if it mattered little to you whether I lived or died." "Oh I my lord," faltered Geraldine, with difficulty controlling ber agitation. ".No matter how I might look, you could not have believed me, I hope, to be utterly heartless." "You have enough natural kindness, I know, to feel sympathy with any one's sufferings ; but was I wrong in thinking that it was just possible that a little more than ordinary interest in my suffering had awakened that gush of emotion. Those tears, Geraldine, seemed to come from a very deep source J" Geraldine was utterly unable to reply. Conflicting feelings, to which she could give no expression, were struggling for mastery in her breast. "Come," continued the Earl, after a moment's pause, "remember that you are. not to make me talk too much, and that my mind is to be kept quiet and composed. Tell me frankly now?and let me assure you, much depends upon your, answer?have you begun to learn to love me, or are you still as profoundly indifferent to me as you were at first 2" He drew her towards him as he spoke? feebly, for bis strength was not much more, just at present, than a child's?while his eyes, filled with a new, eloquent yearning, rested eagerly and searchiogly upon her face. The appeal, combined with the impulse of her own throbbing heart, was too powerful to be resisted. She bent forward, and mutely laid nksalr nna niof isitli taara a era inaf his IIC1 UUU VI WW IV tHU WWIW} Hgwiuww M?W own. He understood her answer; for clasping his arm about her, he held her thus for some time in a silence that said much?for it told her that the love, so tardily confessed, was neither unreciprocated nor unsought. "Henceforth," said the Earl, with emotion, at length, "all misunderstandings between us shall cease, and we will be one in heart as well as in name. I have long since found out, Geraldine, that only in one way could my happiness be secured?and that was, in the knowledge that you had, at last, given me your heart!" [to be continued.] pjstflrg of Jf. (jtofllitia. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE Early Settlement of South Carolina. BY BEV. BOBERT LATHAN. + GREENE'S RETURN TO NORTH CAROLINA?CORNWALLI8 LEAVE8 HILLSBORO. When Lee unexpectedly met Colonel Pyle, it was late in the afternoon. The sun was setting when the affair closed. A consultation was held between Lee and Pickens, and it was determined not to pursue Pyle's fugitives ; but to advance in the direction of O'Neil's plantation, for the purpose of attacking Tarleton. Pyle's Pond?the place at which Pyle's loyal force was nearly exterminated?is about midway between Hillsboro and Greensboro, on the west side of the Haw. Colonel O'Neil's plantation, at which Tarleton was eucamped for the night, was about three miles distant from Pyle's Pond. Lee and Pickens approached to within a mile of Tarleton's camp, and learned that the British had partaken of a sumptuous supper, and were carelessly encamped, and in a good condition every way, as they thought, to be surprised. The capture of Colonel Tarleton would have covered his captor with glory. No man was dreaded by the American soldiers of the South, and especially by the militia, so much as Tarleton. This dread was not | ill-founded. For in the kind of warfare in I which they were engaged, Tarleton was far superior to Coruwallis. Notwithstanding the fact that Morgan defeated him at the Cowpens, his name created a kind of terror whenever it was mentioned in the American camp. He was cruel, but all war is cruel. Tarleton was brave and energetic, full of perseverance, and no man could be more vigilant. It was creditable, in tbe highest degree, to Lee and Pickeus and the men under them, even to undertake to attack Tarleton. None but the bravest of the brave, with an equal number of men, would have dared such a thing. The forces of Lee were arranged for the attack upoD Tarleton at an early hour on the next morning. The horsemen lay down to rest, with their bridles in their hands, and the infantry with their guns primed and ready for action. Perhaps neither officers nor men, although tired, could sleep much. Who could sleep, sweetly, knowing that Tarleton and hie fierce dragoons were only one mile distant ? During the early part of the night, Col. Preston, of Montgomery county, Virginia, with three hundred mounted volunteers, came into Lee's camp. Many of the men under Prestou were the hardy sons of the mountain region, whom the gallant Col. William Campbell had led at King's Mountain. Campbell, leading a similar force, was in the vicinity ai^Mj||^days afterward. Carop1 to i aid General Greene. A very considerable i number of the men in their commands were c the men who fought so bravely at King's t [ Mountain and won so glorious a victory over t > the gallant Colonel Ferguson. The infantry f commanded by Pickens^e?e| many of them, t > King's Mountain boys. "As iron sharpeneth c , iron," so the meeting of those who bad gazed c upon heaps of dead British and tories on the t ; morning after the battle of King's Mountain, e and seen the wagons of Ferguson drawn 1 s across his camp fires and burnt up, must have j infused new energy into Lee and Pickens c I and the men in their several commands. i Shortly after midnight, the men in Lee's g command were aroused, and at three o'clock i i in the morning they set out for the camp of e Tarleton. Before reachibg the place, it was discovered that Tarleton had, during the night, broken up his camp and set out for c , Hillsboro. This news filled the minds of *] both the men and officers in Lee's command a , with disappointment All had confidently q counted on a surprise', aid the chances were p i favorable for capturing Tarleton and his c i whole command. fc Tarleton was also disappointed. Many of o those belonging to Pyle's party, who escaped \ 1 the swords of Lee's dragoons, fled to Tarle- n ton's camp. Wounded and covered with a blood, they complained that they had been p 1 attacked by the British. So completely were a ' they deceived by the appearance of Lee's a legion, that it was not until after they reached tl Tarleton's camp that they discovered that p they had fallen into the hands of the Ameri- e cans. The British were making preparations b to avenge the blood of the loyalists under ^ Colonel Pyle, who had been wounded and q killed, when Tarleton received orders from ti Cornwallis, to come back to his camp, which Q was, at that time, on the west bank of the tl Eno. p General Greene bad crossed the Dan on f< the twenty-second and twenty-third, and was 1< moving into North Carolina. So soon as a Cornwallis learned this fact, he began to fear I that hie forces might be attacked in detach- c ments and his whole army destroyed. To 1 prevent this, he ordered Tarleton back to * camp. So intensely anxious was Cornwallis y for the return of Tarleton, that he sent no d less than Three couriers, at different intervals p during the day, with orders for his prompt \ return. It is probable that Tarleton would si have measured swords with Lee had he been tl ordered to camp but a single time. fi From O'Neil's, the Haw was distant about a four miles. At this point the river was crossed on a ferry boat. One mile below there *' was another ferry. Seven miles below was ? the ford at which both the Americans and P British, had crossed on the preceding day. n The American officers thought it probable t; that Tarleton would attempt to cross at one & or both of the ferries. It was determined to ti pursue the trail of the euemy, thinking it 1> possible to overtake his rear at the river. The d morning was dark and_time~Pr*cious. In or- ? der that the troops might follow directly in ? the track of the enemy, Lee's Legion kindled w pine torches and led the way. Tarleton led & his men first along the road leading to the P nearest ferry, then passed to the right and ^ fell into the road leading to the ferry a mile " hplow. and acain inclining to the rieht, fell ^ into the road leading to the ford, wlien day ^ broke, the Americans, following directly in 11 the enemy's trail, were within two miles of P the ford. The cavalry, accelerating their ^ speed, pushed on to the river, leaving the in- 81 fantry to follow. When they came in sight of the river, the rear guard of the British were descending the hill to the ford. The main body had just crossed, and taken a po- I sition to protect the rear. Again, for the third time in twenty-four P hours, Tarleton had been nearly within the w grasp of Lee and Pickens, and each time es- 11 caped. Within sight of the escaping foe, a n consultation was held by Lee and Pickens ^ with regard to the propriety of marching rap- P idly up the Haw and crossing at the nearest ferry and then falling in behind Tarleton with the view of crippling him. It was thought, however, on more mature deliberation, that w Cornwallis had, in all probability, Jearned a what Lee and Pickens were doing, and would 84 send succor to Tarleton. Fearing that the 11 pursuit might result in needless exposure, ^ they desisted from pursuing the wary foe; and marching up the west bank of the Haw, encamped and refreshed their troops in the ? - I a first settlement that was able to afford them " supplies. a CI Tarleton reached the camp of Cornwallis, ^ without having experienced any great loss, . but he had failed, completely, to effect the purpose for which hthad been sent out. The ^ object which he had in view was to encourage the loyalists, between the Haw and Deep P rivers, and act as a kind of escort to the loyal Colonel Pyle, in his march to Hillsboro. ^ Poor Pyle, as we have already seen, fell into the hands of Lee's legion, and was, at a single blow, exterminated. Never was any body of meD more unfortunate than that which was commanded by Pyle. Whatever interest in the British goverment the presence of Colo- ^ nel Tarleton had inspired in the inhabitants ^ of the country between the Haw and Deep ^ rivers, the defeat of Pyle more than counteracted it. The hopes of the loyalists were ready to die. Cornwallis saw that something j must be done. Under the circumstances, ^ he concluded to march his whole force into . ? v i 1 m 1 . _ r\ U the region lately abandoned oy larieion. uu ^ the twenty-sixth of February, he left his camp on the Eno, and marching his troops through " Hillsboro, encamped on Alamance creek, on ,s the twenty-seventh, in the neighborhood of what is called "Stinking Quarter." On the twenty-second, as we htfve seen, a General Greene commenced to cross the Dan p and lead his troops back into North Carolina, h The work was completed on the twenty-third. '( Two reasons induced General Greene to take n thisstep?the preventing of Cornwallis from ? i embodying the loyalists and tories of the M country, and employing his own troops. It si was then, as it is now, and ever will be, that d I uo small number of the human family are 0 ready to attach themselves to the side that |j seems to be in the ascendency. "Like dumb c driven cattle," they are wholly under the con- j, i trol of others. Both Cornwallis aud Greene d ' knew this. If Cornwallis remained in quiet U possession of North Carolina, multitudes of I passive creatures would flock to his standard; , aud whilst they would add nothing to the real ? strength of his army, they would prove a continual source of annoyance to the true Whigs w - of the country. General Greene knejv that a his appearance in the counj^y^uld either o nduce some of these miserable creatures to ispouse the American cause, or it would fill hem with astonishment and render them neural. The character of many of Greene's orces, also made a move necessary. With hem arms was not a profession?it was a nelessity. They bad no love for lying up in tamp and drilling. They had, in obedience o the promptings of principle, entered the irmy to fight. Not that they loved fighting, >ut they hated tyranny. When actively en* jaged, they were contented; but when idle in samp, they were restless and inclined to be nsubordinate. Hence, when General Greene [ave the order to cross the Dan and return nto North Carolina, joy beamed in every ye. Greene, on entering North Carolina, directid his course towards the Haw, which he ? "J Ua on/1 namnnrl KfifvoAn ruoscu uoai am ovuiw uuu vhuij/vu vvu troublesome creek and Reedy Fork. 80 soon is it was ascertained that Cornwallis had [uitted his position at Hillsboro, Greene daced between himself and Cornwallis a orps similar to that which had been placed letween them on the retreat The command f this force was given to the vigilant Colonel Yilliams. To this corps, as in the retreat, a amber of able and experienced officers were ttached. Amongst them were Lee, Campell, Pickens and Preston?men all as brave s Caesar and true as steel. This force bung round the British; at one time cutting off beir supplies and capturing their foraging arties; at another time capturing their pickts and thwarting the progress of the main odv. "For a period of more than ten days, both lenerals kept their armies in continual moion. Greene changed his camp every day. >ne day he was on one side of the Haw?on iia nort riitv nn the other. Cornwallis was erplexed. He could obtain no certain in>rmation respecting Greene's plans. The lyalists and tories were hopelessly discoursed. During the short stay of Cornwallis at lillsboro and on the Eno, no less than seven ompanies of loyalists bad been enrolled, 'bese were disbanded and scattered to the rinds when he left Hillsboro and retired beond the Haw. On the contrary, small boies of men And single individuals in the caacity of volunteers from the surrounding Thig settlement, were steadily increasing the trength of Greene's army. His men, albough undergoing severe hardships and sufiring great deprivations, were in good health nd bouyant spirits. Between the British and Williams' corps, reqnent skirmishes took place. On the secnd of March, a skirmish occurred between a art of Tarleton's Legion and Col. Preston's lountain men, in which the British lost thirf men. At Wetzell's mill, on Reedy Fork, thrilling incident occurred. Williams had iken his position near the camp of Cornwals. Alamance creek lay between them. Uner cover of a thick fog, a strong detachment f British cavalry, supported by a body of ifantry and a few pieces of field artillery, 'as sent out to dislodge Williams. Conceald by the fog, the British gained a favorable osition and it became necessary for the Lmericans to retreat At first it was thought ,ie British were advancing to attack Greene. l messenger was immediately dispatched to ireene's camp to inform him of the supposed itentions of the British and of the course roposed by Williams to baffle his undertaing. Colonels Campbell and Preston were ationed in a thick cluster of trees, near the >rd of the creek at Wetzell's mill, to delay le passage of the enemy at that point Near the ford was a small log school house, n this house, Campbell placed twenty-five of le best rifle men in bis command. So exert were these men with their rifles, that they ere acdustomed to amuse themselves, when 1 camp, by placing an apple on the end of a imrod and whilst one held the ramrod in is hand his comrades would shoot at theaple. Rarely was the apple missed. These venty-five skilled marksmen were placed in le school house, with instructions to act as ieir good sense might direct The British ere on the opposite hill. Soon an officer pproacbed them, and after having given the fldiers some instructions which the marksten in the school house could not bear, he "no'i atvav onrl Hftnhpfi down the hill toward ae ford in the direction of the achooi house. ITithout a moment's delay he plunged into le creek. The bottom of the ford was rough d he was obliged to move slowly. He rode beautiful black horse which felt his way irefully through the stream. The eyes of venty-five riflemen were upon him. He was i full view and within rifle shot. One after nother the twenty-five men in the school ouse took deliberate aim and fired, each electing to see either the horse or rider fall ito the stream. Steadily, as if nothing was aospiring, the officer moved on. Thirty-two alls from accurate rifles, aimed by skillful larksmen, were hurled at him as he rode ilmly across the stream. Unharmed he cached the bank near the school house, drew p his bridle reins, and dashed down the , feek to bis own men, whom he immediately < id against the Americans. The back-mounlin men stood gazing upon each other in asmishment. They concluded that both the lan and his horse were bullet proof. It was fterward learned from British prisoners that { ae officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Webster, le was not, however, bullet proof, for he i ill, a short time after, at the Battle of Guil jrd Court House. Notwithstanding the failre of the riflemen to kill Webster, the Britih detachment failed to entrap Williams. Burning Poisonous Candles.?The ways f commuuicating poison to the human blood i re manifold. A very curious case of arsenic i oisoning has just occurred in Paris. A rich < idy residing in the Faubourg St. Honore, jund herself growing ill, and the doctor proounced her to be suffering from some slow < oison. Mme. X. rejected the idea as absurd, ut, on rising, one morning, found a glass of < rater, which was usually placed by her bed- ] ide, to be discolored by a white filmy power. On showing this to the doctor, he at i nee declared it to be arsenic. All inquiries i ailed to detect the culprit, and the next night i be madame filled the glass herself, and kept areful watch that no one meddled with it. nevertheless, in the morning the white power again made its appearance, and the doc- 1 Dr was fairly at his wit's end to find the cause. Anally, be discovered that his patient was in be habit of reading in bed, and for that eason candles were kept burning all night in i er room. These candles, of a dazzling < rhiteness, bad been strongly impregnated ritb arsenic daring their bleaching process, nd the arsenic, becoming volatized by-the orabustion, poisoned the air of the^edfA^ j HisfeUatJMttSi Heading. The; Highest Living New Yorker.? Peter Goelet, the eccentric old bachelor of New York, is now probably the wealthiest living representative of the old families of Gotham. His property is estimated at from twenty to thirty millions, the most of it having been made by his grandfather in the hardware trade. A French emigrant com ? V ?- _ O aI T* mencea tne narawaretraae Derore me xmjvulution, and by hard work made money. Every dollar made was invested in farming lands a mile or more from the store down town, and for three generations this has been the rale. What was farming lands then is covered with six-story buildings now, and what the first Goelet bought for twenty dollars an acre is worth to-day hundreds of thousands. There are two of them left, Peter, the bachelor, being the best known. He occupies several lots on the corner of Nineteenth street and Broad' way for a residence, the property being worth probably, $200,000, and he keeps it that he may have room for a cow, a dozen guinea hens, a stork or two, and a fine lot of chickens. "Uncle Peter/' as he is called^ has a passion for this kind of farming, and he keeps this splendid property idle that be may indulge his whim. He doesn't put a dollar into pictures or books; he hasn't a single piece of sculpture; he never travels or sees anything; never takes part in any public enterprise; but the money that other men put into such things he squanders on his cow and chickens Counting interest, it costs him twenty thousand dollars per year to keep that cow, which makes the milk come at about a dollar a drop, it is a queer sight?a cow feeding quietly m the busiest part of New York. But this is Goelet's whim, and perhaps it is as sensible as many other men's whims. He is over seventy, and has not a child to leave his vast estate to. His nephews and nieces are all very rich, but as they have not "Uncle Peter's" quiet tastes, they will not object to adding his millions to their own. Old Maids' Paradise.?It appears, writes a tourist, that in Shetland the greater number of marriages are between youths of nineteen and maids of thirty-two. Whenever a young man can act his part in manning a boat, he has arrived at the height of bis ambition, and therefore there is no wonder at his marryiDg early; but why he pitches on an old maid instead of a young girl is not so easily accounted for, unless it be that young men have a peculiar affection for old maids, as old men have a peculiar affection fur young girls. However, in no country is a lover so faithful to his mistress as in Shetland. Inever heard of a Shetland sailor who was guilty of a breach of promise, although he should be absent for ten years. Not only does4m not break his engagement, but he never Bails to write to his beloved one in effusions of the mrat enHpRrinor nature, al wava bfiorinnine Of "o ?? j j ? o- o ending his epistle with "My Pet," "My Jewel," "My Watch," or "My Diamond." Years before the celebration of the marriage the woman is by no means slack in telling all her neighbors of the particulars of the engagement, and of the year, and of the month and of the day, and of the hour when it is to be celebrated. It is no uncommon thing for neighbors, who have not been invited to the marriage, to dress in disguise and participate in the festivities of the evening. The usual way they disguise themselves is by rolling the body up in a straw rope and blackening the face. These maskers have usually all the privileges of bidden guests, and are treated with great civility. At the end of every dance every man must kiss his female partner. Sometimes the men dance by themselves, as the women cannot hold out to such long and furious exercise; and when they finish their dance they do not kiss, but they hug each other to such a degree as to create disgust in those who have been unaccustomed to such a habit. Petroleum for Baldness.?Persons afflicted with baldness will be glad to hear that a luxuriant growth of hair may be produced by a very simple process, described by Con- j sul Stevens in his commercial report on Nicolaef for the past year, which has just been issued. In the summer of 1875 Consul Stevens' attention was drawn to several cases of ? ? i?? 1 oamness amunjj uumuu&b, uum ouu umu, ?iu the loss of manes and tails among horses. A former servant of the consul's, prematurely bald, whose duty it was to trim lamps, had a habit of rubbing his petroleum-besmeared hands in the locks which remained to him; and after three months of lamp-trimming experience, his dirty habit procured for him a finer head of glossy black hair than he ever possessed before in his recollection. Struck by this remarkable occurrence, Consul Stevens tried the remedy on two retriever spaniels that had become suddenly bald, with wonderful success. His experience, therefore, induced him to suggest it to the owner of several black cattle and horses affected as above stated, and, while it stayed the spread of the disease among animals in the same sheds and Btables, it effected a quick and radical cure on the animals attacked. The petroleum should be of the most refined American qualities, rubbed in vigorously and quickly with the palm of the hand, and applied at intervals of three days, six or seven times in all, except in the case of horses' tails and manes, when more applications may be requisite. This news will create a profound sensation in hair-dressing circles, particularly among wig and chignon makers.?Pall Mall Gazette. Ardent Spirits.?Alcohol was invented 950 years ago in Arabia. Ladies used it with a powder to paint themselves, that they might appear more beautiful, and this powder was called alcohol. During the reign of William and Mary, an act was passed encouraging the manufacture of ardent spirits. Soon after intemperance and profligacy prevailed to such an extent that the retailers of intoxicating drinks put up signs in public places, informing the people that they might get a drink for a penny, and have some straw to get sober on. In the sixteenth century distilled spirits spread over the continent of Europe. About this time it was introduced into the colonies, as the United States were then called. The first notice we have of its use in public life was among the laborers in the Hungarian mines, in the fifteenth century. The alcohol from Europe was made from grapes, and sold in Italy and Spain as a medicine in bottles, and under the name of "Water of Life." Until the sixteenth century it was kept by apothecaries as a medicine. During the reign of Henry VIII brandy was first known in Ireland, and soon its alarming effects induced the Governor to prohibit its manufacture. About 120 years ago it was used as a beverage, especially among the soldiers in the English colonies in North America, under the preposterous notion that it prevented sickness and made them fearless in the field of battle. 5ucn is a oner nisiory 01 its introduction to 30ciety as a beverage. The Law op Horse Hire.-?a cotemporary baa the following: "It has been decided that when a horse or carriage is let oot for hire for the purpose of performing a particular journey, the party letting, warrants the horse or carriage fit and competent for such a journey. If the hirer treats the horse or carriage as any prudent mafrwould do, he is not answerable for either used in harness. If the hirer violates tins express condition of the contract^ he is liable for any damage that may occur. If the hone is stolen through the hirer's negligence, such as leaving the stable door open all night, he most answer for it; bat if he is robbed of it by highwaymen, when traveling the usual road at usual hours, he cannot be held for damages. As the questions are frequently in dispute^ these decisions may be interesting." Anecdotes of Cbockett.?Colonel David Crockett, remembered for his often-quoted saying, "Be sure you are right, then go ahead," was a backwoodsman until He was i * / ?I 1 U i J tmrcy-nve years 01 age, wueo uw um mux; Nashville. He could neither read nor write until the age of eighteen, his life haying been passed in hunting and on a frontier farm. Nat he had * vigorous intellect and good sense,., and the settlers in the backwoods of Tennessee looked up to him as a natural leader.;' During these early days there was but little law and less government in the Southwest. But the!settlers organised for mutual protection, and elected Crockett a magistrate. He tiality as to^^fy the people. "Although my warrants for arrest," he sayB, "were never written/ my word was enough, and the offender was taken, dead or alive; nor were my judgments ever appealed from, bat Stuck like wax." In 1821 he was elected to the State legislature, and, going to Nashville for the first time, met Colonel,.afterwards President Polk. "I suppose, Colonel Crockett," said Colonel Polk, when one day in company, "the legislature will make a change in the judiciary " "I suppose so," replied Crockett, getting out of the tray as soon as possible.' "For," he says, in explanation of his retreat, "at that time I really did not know what the judiciary was." Bat his naturally strong intellect end habits of observation soon formed the backwoodsman into a serviceable legislator. His constituents reelected him, and tben sent him for throe consecutive terms to Congress. Saying Hateful Things.?What a strange disposition is that which leads people to say "hateful" things for the mere pleasure of sayiogthem! You are never safe with such a person. When you have done yonr best to please, and are feeling very kindly and pleasantly, out will come some underhand stab, which you alone will comprehend, a sneer whioh is masked, but which is too well aimed to be misunderstood.: It may be at your person, your mental feelings, your foolish habits of thought, or some little secret opinion confessed in a moment of genuine confidence. It matters not how sacred it may be to you, he will have his fling at it; and siaoe the wish.is to make you suffer, he is all the bappier the nearer he touohes your heart Just have a dozen words, only for the pleiasnre of seeing a cheek flush, and . an eye lose its brightness; only spoken because he is afraid you are too happy or too.conceited 1 Yet they are worse than so many blows. How many sleepless nights have such attacks caused tender-hearted mortals 1 How after them one awakes with aching eyes and head, to remember that speech before everything?that bright, sharp, well-aimed needle of a speech, . that probed the very centre of his soul! - pomes a Muijekh Fahhion.?TBfM sip ? dred years ago forks were unknown in England. Abont the first English sovereign who is known to have had a fork was Qaeen Elisabeth. Several forks were presented to her, but it is doubtful whether she used them on ordinary occasions. A writer thus describes the uncleanly way id which our ancestors ate: * Each man had hit own knife, and at dinner seized the joint with his hand, and cat off what he wished; the dish was then passed on to the next, who did the same. The knife then cat up the portions into small pieces, which were put into the mouth by the fingers of the hand unoccapied by the knife. In many parts of Spain, at present, drinking-glasses, spoons and forks are rarities; and in taverns in many countries, particularly in some towns in France, knives are not placed on the table, because it is expected that each person has one of his own, a custom whieh the French seem to have retained from the old * Gauls. But as no person will any longer eat without forks, landlords are obliged to furnish these, together with plated ana spoons. Sturdy Independence.?Mr. Wm. W. Thomas tells a good anecdote illustrative of the sturdy independence of the Swiss people. An irascible old nobleman, Governor of Gothfand, arriving at a post-house, demanded a relay of horses. None were to be had, the last two in the stable being at thaj moment about to be harnessed to the wagon of a peasant. The Governor demanded that those - - - ? - M % . .? should be gifbn him, and was referred to tne peasant, who refused to let him have them. "Fellow," said the Governor, "do you know who I am f" "Nay." "I am a general. I am Governor of Gothland !" Not at all abashed, the peasant replied, "And do yoa know who I am ?" The Governor, thinking that perhaps the man was a person of more consequence than he had supposed, replied that he did not. "Well," said the peasant, stepping forward with great self-assertion, "I cm Vie man thai hired those horses I" The Governor had nothing more to say. *?-? 19" The alpaca industry is of comparatively recent introduction into this country, but is already firmly established and hopeful of success. Tb? mohair is raised to a considerable extent in Georgia, Kansas, and Ne?. braska, and more largely still in California and Oregon. Three factories are already in existence, one at Jamestown, N. Y., one at Chicopee Falls, Mass., and one, the eldest and most successful, at Holyoke, Mass. These industries are justly a part of the pursuits of our people, and should be encouraged ' until firmly established. Mobair is made from the soft fine hair or wool of the Angora goat The goat furnishes meat, enriches poor soil, and the pelts are so valuable that these animals are raised in one section of California for their pelts alone (or mats, mittens, Ao. The Advantage of a Wooden Leg.? The ease with which jaries find ground for recommending atrocious criminals to mercj is well known; but a Belgian juiy has outdone all its predecessors in that line. After finding a man guilty of murdering his first and second wife, the juiy recommended him 1 - 1 1 j ? ol. to mercy oecause ne n*u ? wuuueu icg. angularly enough, the court acted on the recommendation, and gave the convicthard labor for life instead of hanging. i ? ? . .. What He Thought.?It is a great blessing to have a helpful wife. There was onoe a half-witted fellow who informed his father that he was about to marry. "Why, John," said the old man, "you oannot support yourself. What a fool to think of getting married!" "I know it, father," replied John; "but I can pretty nearly rapport myself, and it does seem as if a wife ought to help ma some!" Pocket-Picking.?A Paria woman has perfected a new method of picking pockets. She enters die omnibus with a very pretty and beautiful ly-dressed baby, seats herself close to the likeliest passengers, and works under cover of baby*# ample drapery. After succeeding, she pinches the baby so tbat it ^ cries fearfally, and leaves the omnibus sud^i il if