The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-25

| ludt IL ID my uuty 10 uetaln you n prisoner
till | can feel better satisfied as to the object
of your journey
Emily felt as lift would be worse than use
less to demonstrate, and they rode in silence
till they reached the house, where previous to
her unfortunate encounter with the British
scouts, she had intended TO seek rest and re-
treshment. Here she was locked into an IL
partment, which probably, had been used be-
fore as prison room, for it was so guarded
as TO preclude the possibility of escape,
! In few minutes she heard the voice ofa
man which she thought sounded like that of
the officer, saying something in the adjoining
apartment in an under tone, which was re-
piled to by female voice in the same subdu-
ed manner. Suspecting that the controversy
related to herself, she placed herselfin a lis
tening attitude against the thin partiton.-
Though the sentences which reached her ear
We're broken, she gathered enough to know
that the officer was giving directions to the fe-
male TO search her, in order 10 ascertain if any
papers were concealed about her person. lii
her confusion and agitation she had, till thus
reminded, forgotten the letter addressed to
Gen, Sumter, hut now she fully realized the
sad consequences which would result from
its falling into the hands of the enemy. She
looked anXiously about for means to destroy
1t, but none appeared; neither was there any
! friendly nook or corner where it could posi-
bly, be concealed and she dared not trust its
| fragments TO the breeze, though it whispered
inyitnely through the grated window. But
there was no time to he lost. and she was o.
bliged 10 have recourse 10 the less romantic
though safer eXpedient of swallowing piece
by piece, the important although impalaIable
nissve.
This was barely accomplished when the
Tory matron she had heard cOnVersmg with
the officer, entered. Emily cheerfulIy sub
United to the search, facilitating it by not
only turning her pockets inside out,and open
ing every fold of her dress, where a scrap of
paper could possibly he concealed, but by
shaking apart her thick tresses, amid whose
dark luXuriance might have nestled many Il
paper dangerous 10 the interests of the British
army.
Having finished her search, the woman, as
she had been instructed, asked her few
questions, which failed TO elicit ANYTHING ola
suspicious nature. The officer who held her
in custody was then admitted and after qUes-
tiouiug her with like i'll success, he suffered
her to depart.
She at first prudently proceeded in cir
cuituus direction, bur as soon as she imagin-
ed she could do so with saiaty, struck into
the road that led directly to the American
camp. She was admitted to Gen. Sumter's
presence, who having listened TO the message
ofGen. Greene made immediate preparations
10 comply with his request, and succeeded i'll
joining him nor long after, at Orangehurg.
1t was Il bright morning, and round grey
stone cottage, situated near the banks cta riv-
er, were floating now and then sounds Of a
rural life, instead of the hoarse and discurd-
ant voices oiwar. Bushes of wild sweet bril-
ar, so luXuriant in their growth as 10 rise far IL
bove the caves, among which crcpt the vines
of the morning glory, flushed with purple
blooms, shaded the windows that looked |
towards the road. These were thrown wide
open to admit the cool west wind, as it came |
laden with the fragrance of II broad field OF
clover that waved near by, where the wild
bees bummed merrily, as they lowered over
the clustering blossoms that contained their |
luscious food.
But there was a corner of one ofthe wind |
ows. which The sweet briar and morning GLE
ries did not curtain, through which, now and
then, youthful and beaming faces might have
been seen. full ofeager expectation. Occa-
sionaly too an older and gruver one appear
ed for a moment, sending Il keen glance a.
long the winding road. All were attred as if
for some festival, and now and Them n sweet
musical laugh, or few notes ofsome poPu-
lar ballad warbled in a clear, bird-lille voice,
stole out of the windows as they wovc gar
lands ofwid flowers to hang over looking
glasses, and few pictures above the mantle
piece; or to wrcathe the heavy, dark looking
cornice, that headed the wall. Yet one of
these, though any person might have seen she
was the happiest Que of the whole, neither
laughed nor sung. A few rose buds were
wrcathed with her dark glossy hair, and
white rose. partly blown, was half Ind amid
the snowy folds ofher lawn kerchiet.
This was Emily, and just as the las, bright
garland had been thrown over the old corn
ice, the ringing fhorse's boots distant but
distinctly heard, brought the red blush, not
only to her cheeks, but to her neck and brow.
A gallant company of horsemen, and a
number of servants following at u short dis
tance, soon appeared, in the rich snowy cos
tune common TO gentlemen of that period. -
AS they drew up under the shade of some
chestnut trees that grew near the house, one
of them, more conspicuous for his noble car
riage, than for any superiority of dress,sprung
from his horse, threw the reius TO servant
and before the others had alighted, was in
the midst of the happy group in the cottage,
with the hand ofEmily clasped in his. Mrs.
Therwts, who had been at the cottage num-
Der of days, and who now came forward and i
him as her son, explained who he i
was. 1
He saw Emily for the first time, when she |
arrived at the American camp with the mes
sage for Gen. Sumter. Her generous hero
ism. Joined with her modesty and beauty,won ,
his heart and he had come now to claim the
fulfillment of the promise she had made him
to become his bride, whenever his services |
were no longer required by his country,
SINGULAR MARRIAGE. A widower at Cam ,
den, who was not very young became sinit |