American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-04-29
From the Ladies' National Magazine
THE BETROTHED.
A IALE OLE THE SANTEE.


4 BY THE AUTHOR OF "MARIoN's MEN,"
1he family of Mr.. Newton were assembled
he little parlor where they were accustom-
! o spend their evenings. Mr.. Newton HIM
!, venerable gentleman of the old school,
/ silently reading stray English newspaper;
zwife, matron but few years younger, sat
aged with her knitting, as was then fash
|lble; and their only surviving child, beau
i girl of nineteen, and the pledge Of their
/ age, occupied herself with rare piece of
IDroidery, such as would put to shame the
sted needle work of our own day. Sudden
he door opened, and the gray, woolly head
! he old butler was thrust in.
A note for Missus Emily, said he, as he pre-
tied it to her on small silver waiter.
Ehe young lady arose, but the instant she
I the supeTscription of the note, her face be-
| be of deathly pallor. Struggling, how
r, to conceal her emotion, SO that it should
be perceptble to her parents, she walked
|h firm step out into the hall, and pausing
cath the great lamp which hung in the pass
tore open the note with trembling fingers.
! began to read it,
The contents, whatever they were, powerful
agitated the reader; and she was forced to
En against the banister of the staircase TO
vent falling.
Shall bring a glass of water?" said the old
Ter, who had stood at a respectful distance
/ lie she read the note.
She started, for she had not been aware of
presence, and gasped for breath as ifabout
speak. With an effort she asked.
E'Who brought this note, Johnson?"
1T was left here by horseman," he said, in
khisper. 81 believe-I am positive it was
of Capt. Ewyn's men. He told me what
happened, and begged me to deliver the
be to you Immediately"
Emily paused before she replied. The period
our story was that dark and melancholy era
the history of the revolution, when Corn
Ills, having overrun South Carolina, had ex-
,ssed his determination to extingush the last
rk of rebellion--a period when to be sus'
eted of being patriot was almost certain
| n, and when such of the wings as fell into
} royalists' power, expiated their offence
Eh life. The note in Emiy's hands inform
her that he to whom she was betrothed, had
Pn captured by the royalists, and was to be ex-
|uted the succeeding day. Well, therefore,
eht poor Emily tremble. But her weakness
Is only momentary. She saw that the crisis
manded instant action; and all the heroism
4 her nature was reused. She knew it would
useless to apply to her parents in this emer-
ncy. The age of her father had kept him
utral hitherto, and Emily was unwilling to
mpromise him now, and, by SO doing, en-
i niger his life. Every other consideration
injected with her situation, also passed ra-
1dly before her. In few minutes her plan
hs resolved on; and it was one that called
|rth all her energy and high resolve to exc
bite.
Emily, however, was woman to shrink a
b common obstacles in the cause Of those sh'
we'd. And fervently, ay! with her whole
bart she loved the gallant and courageous
|aptain Elwyn. They had been acquainted
ON childhood, the father of Captain Elwyl
|aving resided on plantation contiguous tt
hat Of Mr.. Norton. On the breaking out o
he war of Independence, the young man hat
uttered the American army, and his father dy
be shortly before the fall of Charleston, Capt
Elwyn's estate had since been confiscated b.
he royal government. Emily had been lon!
|ecretly engaged to the active young partisan
| ut her father, though he had consented to tn
|etrothal, refused to assent to the nuptlals un
Ill the termination of the war.
Such was the condition of circumstance
|khen this note was put into Emily's hands,
The missve was written by one of the troop {
mounted volunteers which Elwyn had raised o
is own responsibility, after the fall of Charles
|on. In hasty words the note informed he
mat, on the preceding evening, detachmer
bftheir force had been assailed bysuperior nun
|pers, most of them slain and their leader mad
prisoner. The writer had with difficulty q
|aped. He had fingered long enough
he enemys post, whittier Capt Elwyn ha
been carried, to learn that the young office
.fer hasty examination, had been ordered