Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-30
select TaEc&.

A TALE OF sourH CAROLINA

on a landscape of more quiet lovelincss than tina
in the midst of which was situated the residenc,
Of Mr.. Richard Shubrick, on the lovely banks o
the Santee, near Charleston South Carolina
1t was scene over which the gentle affections
that bless a home, and the refined taste that en-
helsh it, might have been supposed to preside
yet more than once Of late had its sleeping ech
oes been rudeIy awakened by the fierce shouts
and denunciations of unbridIed sodery and the
heavy, hurried tread of armed men been heard
in its halls for we write of 1880, the Reign OF
Terror in Carolina, when British troops garris.
oned her forts, and roamed almost unresised
through her felds-when no home was sacred
from the inquisiton of their ayaricc, or their
vengeance Mr. Shubricl's reputed wealth and
known patriotism had rendered his home pecu-
liarly liable to their most unwecomc visits. But
that home was guarded in his absence bya spirit
SO dlgnlfied and commanding, yet so still and
gentle, that hitherto the rudest had been charm
ed into courtesy, and the most hostile visitor
been sent sway in manners, if not at heart, a
friend. Mrs. Shubrck would often have been
condemned to complete solitude for months by
the absence of her husband and the cessation
of those Inequalities for which her abode had
once been noted, but which it was impossible to
continue in the disorganized condition Of social
life in her neighborhood, had it not been for the
companionship of Caroline Shubrick, the young
sister of her husband.
Caroline was lovely and gentle being, with
heart capable of the deepest womany devo-
ton. She could have died for or with one she
loved but her courage was all that of passive
cndurance-shc would have shrunk and trcnl-
blcu at the stroke from which she would not
flee, and she could not like her sister, have a
vertcd evil from her loved ones by her sclEposs-
ession, or have nervcd them to meet it tranquil
ly by her own serenity. Such as she was, she
was loved deeply, dcvotcdIy loved by the young
and ardent Reginald Elliot, and before that dark
and dreadful year had closed Caroline had
learned to trcmblc for life dcarcr to her than
her own. Mr.. Shubrck loved Reginald too,
but to his cntcatIcS that he would consent to his
immediate marriage with his lister, he replied
with decided negative.
1t must not be, Reginald, while the cxccu-
toner on the one side, or the cannon ball on the
other are ready to cut the tic as soon as formed
This is no time for assuming new responsible
ties. Heaven knows those we have press bu
too heavily?
But at length brighter day began to dawr
upon the harassed and exhausted patriots The
battle at the Cowpens in January, 1871, taught
:he British that they were not invincible, and
inspired the oppressed, but unyielding Ameri
cans with new hopes; and the arrival of Greene
and the spirited manner in which he opened the
campaign, raised that hope almost to triumph
ant certainty. AS he advanced into the state
her sons every where shook off the yoke which
they had worn so impatently, and vented in &C
ton the deep indignation which had for months
been burning in their hearts, and which the
foes might ever have read in their flashing oyes
and on their stern and gloomy brows On the
twentieth of April, Greene was at Camden
only fifty miles from Mr. Shubrick's home, ant
that gentleman could no longer repress his de-
sire to be once more in arms boldly, openly
battling for the right Not till then shall
feel myself freeman, he said to his wife
and though the color on her cheek might have
grown shade less glowng-her soft, earnest
eyes met his fully and firmly, and there was nc
trembling in her voice, as she replied
Go, then, my husband, aud fear not for us,
God will protect u.s.
Not thus did Caroline receive the announce
mcnt from Reginald Elliot that he was to ac-
company her brother. With maiden dclicacy
she turned from him, but not till he had read
the agony in her eye, and seen the convulsive
quivering of her lip. Throwing his arm around
her. he drew her half resisting form to his side
and as he pressed his lips to her pald cheek,
urged her with all the warmth and eoquencc of
imprisoned feeling, to join him in cntreatng
her brother to sanction and perpetuatc, by the
hottest Of all bands, the tie between them
Eloquent as he was, there was one plea he dared
not urge, which Carolines heart had often pre-
scented, but never so powerfully as at this mo-
ment. Should he be wounded how inexpressi-
bly, dear would be the wife's privilege of watch
ing beside him, soothing his pain, and cheering
his sadness by the gentle ministerings of wo-
manly tenderness, and should yet deeper woe
await her-should he die, what consolation
could earth offer her for having refused his last
request and would she not find deep Joy in
bearing his name and thus belonging to him
even in his grave!' Such were the thoughts
which at length ovefcame the tlmidty that had
made her hitherto acquiesce silently in her bro
theirs will. She accompanied Reginald to the
parlor in which sat Mr. and Mrs. Shubrick, and
though the words in which she answered her
brothers appeal were few, they were full of ex-
presslon-'brother, would be his in life and
in death
Mr.. Shubrick was distressed, and looked for
counsel 10 his wife.
She is right, love-, said Mrs Shubrick in
answer to that look, lit is a womanly feeling
and she will be happier So.
These words did more to win Mr.. Shubrick
consent than all Reginald arguments or persua
sions. The next morning neighboring cler