Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-10-11


accomplishments and great beauty. AZ
ter her death, which took place about two
years from giving birth to Frances, he
emigrated TO this country, five years pre-
vious to the American Revolution. His
large and spacious mansion was situated
on decIivity which overlooked the noble
Hudson, with view Of the distant Cats
kill mountains, and about days ride
from West Point. His extensive grounds
and parksS%ere we'll stocked with game,
and his greatest delight was when follow
ing his hounds in the chase, accompanied
by few choice table friends, who were
always welcome to his known hospitality.
Clara Barton, the eldest daughter, was one
who could justly be called beautiful, both
in figure and face. She was gay and vol
atIe in her disposition, and if any project
entered her head, however difficult, she
Immediately set about accomplishing it,
without considering the consequences
which might arise from so doing; while
her younger sister, Frances, who had just
arrived at the age of eighteen, might be
taken for the eldest, as deep melancholy
had, for eighteen months past, settled on
her sweet countenance, caused by the pro-
tracted absence of Charles Wilmore, who,
on leaving the country, expected to return
in six short months, and had now been
absent two years, but was expected home
that evening, as letter from him indica-
ted, which she still held open in her hand,
while the short dialogue mentioned above
was going on, relative to an excursion
which the active and romantic mind Of
Clara had projected, and who only avail
ted the arrivdy6f Charles Wimore TO put
! it in execution. About three miles from
the mansion of Lord Barton, there was a
valley, surmounted on either side by
mountainous cliffs. At the termination OF
this valley, there was an extensive pool
of water, deep and dark in appearance,
which had an outlet under one Of the
cliffs, to place yet undiscovered. lmme-
diately over the pool, cave appeared hol-
lowed by nature, in the rock, and was
supposed by the country people to have
been a place, in former times, of dark
deeds, and such was their terror Of this
cave, that none could be induced TO pass
through the valley after sunset, without
company; hence it was Stunned by young
and old, and called the Demons Cave,
where they believed demons held then
nightly revels. 1t was on an excursion &c
this cave that Clara proposed they should
proceed, accompanied by Charles Will
more, who was young man of superior
mercantile talents, whose father, gentle
man of easy fortune, had some years be-
fore, mysteriously and suddenly disap-
peared, and having always with him con-
siderable sums of money and vauables, il
was generally supposed and believed was
robbed, murdered, and his body secreted,
as no account had ever been heard of him,
and Charles, his only son, was acknow-
edged as heir to all his estate bordering
on that Of Lord Barton, who soon after
left the country on important business,
and was now daily expected, having made
large fortune. AS Frances predicted,
Charles arrived, and brought with him
George Clifford, an old friend and school
mate, whom he accidently met in New
York, and persuaded to return with him,
for short time, on visit TO the country
where they had passed so many hours in
boyhood, and whose estates, formerly,
were not far distant from each Other
George Clifford was about the same age
as his friend Charles, of manly and gal
liant bearing-of high sense of honor
rare talents, but with modest pretenslons.
His iather-supposed to be dead-was
once awealthy merchant, but had retired
on a beautiful estate near the Highlands
often visited the father Of Charles, aud
we're on very intimate terms, but uniortu'
nately, few years back, was induced tc
buy largely on speculation, with friend
in New York, which failed, and conse'
quently became ruined man. Soon af
ter this, he was suddenly missed, which,
together with the mysterious absence OF
Mr.. Wilmore, short time previous, eau,
Sed very great excitement through the
country, and as nothing could be heard
from them, it was supposed that Mr.. VIII
moro was drownedin coming up the Hud'
son from New York in peasurc-boat,
which was rumored he had purchased,
and il was stated by one individual who
could not be found afterwards, that he
saw him leave the wharf ON certain
morning, in new boat. Although re-
wardswere offered, Mr.. Wilmore was ne
yer heard from. George Clifford suPpo'
sed, and many we're induced to believe 1t,
that his father, in consequence OF his un-
fortunate speculation and ruin, had,
through modification and pride, left the
country--then on the eve OF disturbance
with England--and gone to Canada, where
he formerly resided. Under this impress.
sion, George visited the provinces--was