Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON A TALE OF THE TORY ASCENDENCY BY JOHN P. KENNEDY CHAPTER XXXIU Mary Mu*g °ve’* Perplexltle*. As a mariner who watches the heavens from the deck and notes the first uprising of the small cloud, **no bigger than a man’s hand.” that to his practised eye shows the sign of tempest; and anon, as the speck quickly changes Into a lurid mass, whence volume after volume of dun gation that might entirely frustrate all (heir views. “But, then, Jhon Isa good soldier," she said. In the way of self-consolation, “and will know that the enemy Is awake; because if It was not so, he would be sure 1 would keep my word. And If he only takes that notion Into his head, he Is too careful to run the chance of spoil ing all by coming here." Still, with some little mistrust as vapor is driven in curled billows j 0 b n - 8 soldiership when It crossed ward, covering the broad welkin with hlg lo w hich, naturally, a gloomy i^ 11 . be looks more frequent; she reflected make8 a man ragh< ^ ly and more intently upwards, anx thought j t best to provide against l0aB X I? 8 “r ™ d 0 ¥o accident, by throwing herself Into the a®** * N* TriJT dSubt I company of the officers who loitered n^^^X^Vr^estles about the door in Idle discourse with of safety, but with the same restless ^ father S b e accordingly left her inspection of the heavens—did Mary watch the alow approach of night First, she looked wistfully at the de clining sun, and observed with pleas ure the night-hawk begin to soar; then, through the long twilight she noted the thickening darkness, and saw the bat take wing, and heard the frog croaking from his pool. And as the stars, one by one. broke forth up on the night, it gladdened her to think room, and. with an anxious and trou bled heart, went out and seated her self quietly on the steps of the porch, where she remained for some time a silent but Inattentive listener to the conversation of those around her. As a part of that system of things by which it is contrived that the cur rent of true love shall never run I have ever found that when ^ U ^ TToiIn «««r .nnrrtarh i smooth. I have ever found that wnen the hour of her n “ i88, £?" r f® it was peculiarly fitting that some Ing, for sfce was troubled In her spirit ^fo+vior nr and anxious to acquit herself of her charitable office; and perhaps, too. It n * ««ry»vr mi™ ^=7 to her modest, ma d uly e ^ achieved precisely on such nights is grandam, uncle, cousin, father, or guest, should retire early to bed. in order that some scheme of Interest to her mouest. mwmcmy - achieved, precisely on such nights is X Tm&Mn fimw. 1 ’ 7 «■« o« fate most con.picu- For an hour after supper she paced the porch, and still looked out upon the stars, to mark the slow waxing of the night; and. now and then she walked forth as far as the mill, and lingered by the bank of the river, and again returned to ask the sentinel the honr. „ ., “You seem disturbed. Mary, said Macdonald, playfully. “Now. I’ll ven ture to say I can guess your thoughts: this star-gazing is a great tell-tale. You were just now thinking that, as the tug of the war is over, some l^d who has borne a musket lately, will bo very naturally tripping this way tonight instead of going home to see his mother. Come—isn’t that a good guegg?* “Do you know him. sir?” asked Mary, with composure. “Ave. to be sure I do: a good, brave ous, in Inclining the minds of such grandam, uncle, cousin, and so forth, to sit up much longer than they are wont; thus showing that the grooves and dovetails of things i n this world the same whistle w*e heard, at the same remote point whore it had first attracted Mary's notice. “It is as our young mistress has said," muttered Macdonald, “some bumpkin, too shy to he caught and not worth the catching. We have sat it out tonight long enough, friend Musgrove, no let’s to bed." In a few moments the party betook themselves to their several places of rest As MAry prepared herself for her couch, tiie anxious events of the night busied her thoughts, and the image of John Ramsay was sum moned up alternately to be reproved and applauded. “If he Is foolhardy.” she said, as she laid her head on the pillow,” no one will say he Isn’t wise besides. And if he will be thrusting his head into danger, he knows right well bow to get It out again. So God bless him, for a -’•oper man as be Is!” And thus, in a better temper with her lover, the maiden fell asleep. In order to avert all suspicion of dlslovalty from the miller’s family, Christopher Shaw had offered his ser vices to Macdonald, to do duty as one of the detachment, during the period of Butler’s detention in the house. double allowance of vision* were stowed away, both for himself and bis trusty beast; bis pistols were put in order: bis rifle oldened out. and a supply of ammu nition provided; and, finally, the letr ters were sewed up in a leather pouch, and buckled around bis body by a strap, Inside of his clothes. It was no inconsiderable Item in the sergeant’s preparation for bis expe dition. to sit down and eat a meal, which, from the quantity bestowed, and the vigor with which the assault upon It was made, might have be- tokned a full week’s starvation. The day waned, and the night came a welcome visitor to the sergeant; and. at that hour whch old chroni clers designate as “Inter canem et lupum,” Captain Peter was brought to the door, ready dlght for travel. Ramsay’s family stood around.—and whilst Andy, with boyish affection, held Horse Shoe’s rifle in his hand, the sergeant feelingly spoke the words of parting to his friends;— then, with a jaunty air of careless mirth, springing Into his saddle, and receving his trusty weapon from the young comrade of his late gallant ad venture, he rode forth with as stout chivalry to the field of romantic re nown. (CONTINUED NEXT FRIDAY.) M1S£ are not nicely fitted to the occasions should .only be to buy some eggs? 1 of those who deal In the tender pas- —and then, what is to hinder us from ; slon. And so it befel for poor Mary 1 popping in upon David Ramsay, and The offer bad been accepted, and ; a heart as ever went with knight of Christopher was appointed to serve In the character of a^uarter-master, or purveyor for the mile garrison,— a post, whose duties dm not materially interfere with his dally occupation at the mill. Mary was i n the habit of communi cating to Christopher all her secrets, and of enlisting his aid in her plans whenever It was necessary. And now, soon after the morning broke, the maiden arose and went to the mill, where she communicated to Christopher all the perplexities of the preceding night. “The thing must be managed to day,” said the young man, after he had heard the whole story. “I have provisions to collect from the neigh borhood; and what is to hinder you, Mary, from riding out with me,—if Musgrove this night. The hour was now fast verging up on eleven, and she anxiously noted every sentence that was spoken, hop ing H was to be the last; and then she trembled to think that John, re gardless of the danger, might be lurk ing near, and indiscreetly expose him self It was a delicious, cool hour, day, and there was there fixing the whole matter?” "Will not the lieutenant be sending some of his own men with you?” in quired the maid. "He doesn’t suspect us,” answered Christopher, as cautiously as If the walls of his mill had ears. “At any rate we can try it, you know, and If the thing should take a wrong turn, you can only stay at home; and we may. at the worst, make another ven- after, a sultry luxury in the breeze; but as the mm- utes were counted over by the maiden, i ture at night” In their slow passage, her fears In- **i have the letter in my bosom, creased. At length, far off, as if It said Mary, “and will be readv imme- folw , eAt/weU drinks well, and were a mile away, the clear notes of | d lately after breakfast.” flghJ'w^n ” one whistling an old tune were heard, i wh en the appointed "All men do that now.” replied the madien, ‘but I am sure you are wrong, sir if you think any such considers It worth’ his while to come here.” "He must come quickly, or we can not let him in without a countersign, said the officer; “sergeant, order tne tattoo to beat, it Is nine o clock. Mary stay. I must cross-question you a littie about this game gallant” “Indeed, sir, I did hut jest, and so I thought you did. My father says it is not proper I should loiter to talk with the men; good night, sir; it Is our time for prayers.” And with these words the young girl withdrew into the house. In some half hour afterwards Mary time arrived. Mary Involuntarily started from her things went as'favorably as Mary seat, and moved along the little path way towards the gate, her heart beat ing against her bosom as if it would have “overbourne its continents.” could have wished. Her good spirits had returned; and she plied her household duties with a happy cheer fulness In her looks that completely The signal notes freshened upon the disarmed all suspicion. She received the banter of Macdonald, as to the cause of her restlessness on the pre ceding night, with perfect goo nature; and when Christopher announced to the commanding officer his purpose of going out upon a purveying ride, and invited his cousin to accompanv him, she accepted the proposal with such air. and the tune came forth blithely and boldly, showing that the way farer was trudging, with a light heart, down the main road towards the mill. The party in the porch, however, were too much engrossed in their colloquy to notice the incident. The whistling came still nearer, until, at —^ ,— — . last, it seemed to be scarce a gun-, a +one of laughing pleasure, as put it shot from the house. Beyond this j on the footing of a pastime, point it did not advance; but here; The horse* were brought to the in nun nuur un-v - indicated that the person from whom j door> and the maide n and her escoit esJSped Sy another door and. taking i t proceeded had halted. If Ma^ rode cheerily forth. They were not l circuitous path through the garden, cheeb could have been brought tothe| long \ n accomplishing the five or alx * circuitous patn urn w i - 1 ligM it w0uld h ay e shown how the mile8 that brought them to David blood had deserted it from very fear; ; Ramsay’s cabin; I need not tell the her whole frame shook with this | affectionate concern with which Mary unconcern Xtragood Clothes Command Favor •Lead in Quality •; '■. \ •• .. H.It'8 harm less for boys to play soldier; but pretense in clothes- malong brings trouble. Q, Pretense is shamming the real; ; claiming quality and value that does not exist C. All pretense is carefully avoided at this \ store by selling ^£71**9990 clothes; the most durable, reliable brand made; the . honest, guaranteed land. CL It’s inside worth—as well as outer at tractiveness—that makes XIRA999D best You get more than it’s cost in long, hard wear; and the satisfaction that comes from lasting, good appearance. Sailor and Russian Suits for boys 2J£ to 10 years, large collar trimmed with adk braid, emblem on shield. Made in serges worsteds, cheviots of 1 colors and patterns. Prices $5 to $12 Carroll & Byers. [a free TRIPS School a circuitous path _ . she passed behind the sentinel ana sped towards the miR. intent u P? n keeping her appointment with tne friends of Butler. As soon as she reached the river bank, she quickened be r pace, and hurried with a nimble stftT. toward* the distant thicket. “Wlhat ho! who goes here?” shout ed the voice of a man from the neigh borhood of the mill; "who files so fast?" „ "Faith, Tom. It must be a ghost,” said a second voice, loud enough to be heard by the damsel, who now In creased the speed with which she fled towards the cover. In an instant two of the soldiers or the guard rushed upon the track of the frightened girl. "Spare me, good sir—for P*ty ® sake, spare me!” exclaimed the maid en. suddenly turning round upon her pursuers. .. "Where awav so fast?’ said one of the men. “This is a strange time of night for girls to be flying into the woods. What matter have you m hand that brings you here—and wnat is your name?” "I am the daughter of Allen Mus grove” replied Mary indignantly. "Is it so?” said the first speaker; "then it is the miller’s own daughter, and we ask- your pardon. We only saw you flying along the bank of the • ri- er. and not knowing what It was, ^ whv we thought H right to follow. But a s it all explained now. we will see you back to the house. ’ , "I can find ray way without help, replied the maiden. “Now, that’s not good-natured TO emotion. To exhibit ne r which, in truth, was most sadly at* fected, she mingled amongst tne company In the porch, and lean against the door-post. Still tne whist ling continued, with no symptom or retreat, and Mary impatiently walked towards the further end of the house. "John Ramsav make* a fool of him self,” she muttered peevishly. Hasn t he the sense to see I cannot get out^ What keeps the simple man dallying shilly-shally at the fence, a* If he actually wanted them to take him. I don’t believe In the mighty sense and wisdom of these men! If John had half an eye he would see that i couldn’t get away tonight.” As the maiden grew fretful, her fears had l p ss mastery over her; and now. taking heart of grace, she re turned to the porch. “Sergeant,” said Macdonald, calling to one of his men. “take two flies and patrole the road until you ascertain who that fellow is who makes himself so merry tonight. I thought It some fool.” he continued, addressing him self to Allen Musgrove. “who. as the poet savg. ‘whistled as he went for want of thought.’ but he seems to have a hankering after these premis es that Is not exactly to mv mind. “ - -- • added for kind'a girl as the millers daught er ought to be.” said the second sol dier. . "I will *ee if my father cap protect me.” said Mary, bast ting back towards the house so rapidly as al most to run. “I will know if Lieuten ant Macdonald will allow me to be insulted.” . . . With a hurried step she entered up on the porch, and. without stopping to parley with those who occupied this part of the dwelling retired to her chamber and throw herself into a chair where she sat for sometime panting with affright. As she gradu- ally recovered her strength, she be gan to turn her thoughts upon her recent discomfiture; and it was with a deep sense of chagrin and disap pointment, that she reflected upon her not being able successfully to re new her enterprise on the same night Tb® hour of meeting had ar rived- the officers of the guard were still frequenting the poreh; her con duct bad already excited u°tice. and if she wished to be in a condition to render future service, her most ob vious duty was to postpone any fur ther attempt to deliver the papers un- tuVXTum. On the otter hand • she had reason to fear that John Ramsay would be bovering near to ascertain the cause of her faHure to mcpt him. and might rashly resort to the same mode of conveying a sig nal which he bad successfully prac tised heretofore. This would infalli bly. she believed, provoke an mvesti- Perhaps. after all. Mary, he privately in the maiden s ear; it is Musgrove met her lover. John Ram say nor how she upbraided him as a silly fellow, for tramping and trudg- Ing about the mill, and whistling nit signals, when he ought to have known, by her not coming to meet him, that there was good reason tor it. Nor is it important to detail the circumstances of Horse Shoe’s and John’s fruitless expedition, and their disappointment at not seeing Mwy; and how shrewdly, last night. Robin son guessed the true cause of It; and how entirely he agreed with the maid en, beforehand, in thinking John a venturesome, •barebrained fool, to put himself in danger, when he might have been certain it would have end ed as it did, in a run from “the ras cally red coats,” as John had to run to ge t out of the clutches of the pa trole. My story requires that I should pass these things by, and go to the business in baud. Horse Shoe a »d Ramsay had grown exceedingly impatient, both because they were in hourly danger of being surprised by casual parties of the enemy and because the time for use ful action wps fast gliding away. They ha d used every precaution to ret i their visit to David Ramsays a profound secret to the neighbor- the lad I was telling you of: ... an K a from which the - might wab he is a bashful youth, we will hrm +jj 1 p roa ch of visitors, and. if V. ! 4 -.r Mil IrTlOW fl CJM1 • _ • . . _ .■»»-» 1 n i rvi H 1 Q t < hood: and had with tha- omeef ia-n * tie -due in one of the small cabins, atch the ap- nee d re- him in by force. You know, ne ■ . e geouri an immediate retreat.! help that; and old dad here can never th(> dky they seldom left their blame vou if I should make the , concealment confining all their out- low come to see you against your! door operat j ong t0 th<? n ight. will. Sergeant, tree- tne m-.i civilly. ^ consultation was held in David you understand.” Ramsay’s cabin.—the letters were “It is not worth your while to no nrod ,. C (^d and delivered to Horse sending after Adam Gordon, san i gh oe a nd the instructions intended Mary, with some slight confusionjn { ^ h ’ im by Bul jer wer e carefully read, her accent: "he is only half-witted, , ^ resolved that Horse Shoe and almost the only thing ne do i a h ou id set. out for the Dove Cote for a IMng. i® to come down of nignts i delay, taking the route here to the mill-dam. to bob for eeis. j thr()Ugh th e mountain country- of If it wasn’t for that, his mother won d , c aro iina, as that least likley tq go many a day without ® be interrupted bv the British troops Wednesday. You need your school | ^ supplies. Anything * h e B m child wants or needs can be Z I found here. | Pens, I I Tablets, ■ I Book Straps, ■ Book Satchols, ■ Drawing Tablets, Ponoil Sharpeners, I Composition Books, I lnks * I C Rulers, I Pencils, 7 § Eraser., § i Drawing Pencils, i | Companion Boxes, ^ » Examination Pads, a 1 I Check off what you need, m t£ Send to us for it. We carry ■ ^ only tlit dost grade in these ^ 2 goods. | (JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION j We will give away, free, a return ticket to Jamestown Exposition. Every purchaser of a Buggy during the next thirty days will be given a coupon, a duplicate of which will be kept on file at our office, and when twenty (20) Buggies have been sold, these coupons will be placed in a hat and drawn out by a disinterested child. The holder of the “lucky number’’ will get the FREE TRIP TO JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION. We Make and Guarantee Our Harness. i SMITH HARDWARE CO.i '^11 >^i T|| >VOO*).OI» ‘V’B-Vh.MO.Oe-Vi'Mi.'.V* >0*'Oi 'O*'V* SHEET METAL WORKERS We are ready for business. We do all kinds of Sheet Metal work, Cornice, Finials, Cresting, Tanks and anything else you need. All kinds of repair work. We make a specialty of Roofings, Slate, Tin and Metal Shingles, and are prepared to do all work promptly. All work guaranteed. We ask you to share your busi ness with us. Phone 200. : : : : : Yours for business, O. G. WILSON & CO. Opposite Ledger Office. IF.YirYTlFifiF, (V, firYftr'', tYrYi r lF.YiFj tYFi tiF-j fijVtifiTIF* ilFi iIF* iiF» tlFj iiFj iiFj * tiF, tir, i "No matter, we will bring Adam In,” replied the lieutenant, “and if he is good at hi» sport, why we will go and join him.” ■ ^ “He Is shv of company, paid M ar >- still faltering in her speech, and will not come amongst strangers. Partly from a -nirlt of fresignation, partly to avoid further exposure of her feelings, and in part. too. nerhaps, from some slight feeling of remorse; such as 1® natural to a virtuous and youthful mind at being obliged to practise a deceit however lawful (as I contend it was in this case), the maiden withdrew' into the parlor, where, unseen by any. she offered up a short and earnest prayer for direct ion and forgiveness. Meantime the patrole had set out. and. after the Ifpse of a short time, returned, when the officer reported that before Ms arrival, the person they had gone In quest of had left the place, and in the darkness of the night, they had no clue to follow him. This was scarcely announced before John Ramsav. for the present, was to return to the Fair Forest camn. to inform Williams of the state of af fairs; and he was hereafter to act as occasion might suggest. Christopher Shaw and Mary were to attend upon Butler, aqd communicate whatever might transpire of interest to David Ramsay, who promised to find means of intercourse with Williams or Sump ter. as circumstances should allow. These matters being arranged, Mary and nhristopher Shaw took their leaves of Ramsay’s family, and went about the ostensible object of their expedition. Horse Shoe’s plan of travel during the first and most perilous stage of his journey towards Virginia, was to avail himself of the darkness of the night; and he accordingly resolved to set qnt as soon as this day should draw to a close. His immediate care* were, therefore, directed to making all the necessary preparations for Ms departure. Captain peter was care fully tended, and supplied with a j CHEROKEE j j DRUG company; Jones J. Darby Insurance Olee Star Theatre Bonding Friends and Customers Will find me located in the store room on East Fred erick street, recently va cated by W. J. Wilkins * Company, where I shall be pleased to serve them better than ever before. I expect to carry the same lines I Hava had and will add more heavy Grocer ies. Watch my ads. BEE GAFFNEY.