Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-09
VOLUME 13--.-NUMBER 2G.

foWl. nduied up ana came OH sale; aud that's
the last we've heard of Major Gainey."
With narratives like these the night passed;
the old butler listening with open mouth and ears
At length, toward midnight, the tread Of horses
feet was heard, and directly clear, command.
ing voice called Macdonald by name.
"The captain, by the Lordl" exclaimed the
sergeant, jumping up as if struck by an electric
shock. "Here he is al last, alive and sound,
which began to fear for--IIuzza But stop
Now, Jacob Snow, ESQ.,, deliver your mission.
Stand up like man, as do, and don't sway a.
bout like pine tree in hurricane. Captain,
this gentleman" continued the speaker, his voice
getting thicker and thicker, "has q message for
you from Miss Mowbray, but he's too cursedly
drunk 10 know it,"
At these words our hero, who was regarding
thegroupwith look Of silent rebuke, turned sud.
denly on the old butler, who was, if truth must
be told, the only soberman Of the party. A fash
of Joy lit up Captain Prestons face as he exten.
ded his hand for the supposed letter. Old Jacob,
who had no missive of that character to deliver,
but who had come wholly on his own responsi.
bility, hesitated what TO say. While the two par.
ties are thus regarding each other. we will ex.
plain the incidents which had brought them thus
Unexpectedly together.
Captain Preston had found great difficulty in
regaining the camp, in consequence Of Major
Lindsay having left word Of the place, where he
had sought refuge, with some Tories in the neigh
borhood. These men, anxious to secure so re-.
doubtable leader, had Immediately stationed
patrols at all the usual outlets of the swamp, and
thus twice had our hero been driven back into its
recesses, once narrowly escaping death. At
length, however, in the dead Of night, he had
succeeded in eluding his enemies, and gained the
high.roOd. His flight, however, had led him into
a district full of Tories, and he was forced 10
travel with great caution, and make a long cir.
cult, in order 10 return to the camp. Meantime
| his absence there had occasioned much alarm,
especially among his troop; and Macdonald had
intended if he did not appear by the ensuing
morning, setting forth TO ma Ike inquiries respect.
ing him, fearing he was dead.
The old butler had been IN the camp two days.
He had attended his mistress 10 Georgetown, and
was the only one who suspected the true state OF
Kato's heart. He loved that fair creature with
the blind devotion dog shows TO its master; and
he had long been fully satisfied that her affections
were given to Preston. OF our hero he had
some such idea as the old romances had of
Paladn Of former days, looking on him as capa.
bic Of doing any deed, no matter how impossible.
To old Jacob it seemed only necessary that Pres.
ton should know of Kate's danger, in order TO
rescue her. Accordingly, when he found the
marriage actually resolved on, and the day fixed,
he stole out Of Georgetown, and made the best Of
his way to Maron's camp.
Here the news Of Preston's absence fell on
! him like q thunderbolt. But he knew that no
one else could assist; and moreover he held
Hates secret too sacred to be impaired 10 others.
! Meantime, he found amusement in listening to
the tales Of the soldiers, and he was never hap.
pier than when, with mouth wide open, he sat de-.
vouring some story Of the war. He implicitly
believed every thing he heard, and thought with
humble vanity what sensation he would create
in the kitchen at BIakeley Hall, when he rehear.
sed there those tales for Jacob in his lowly way,
was sort of Froissart, and, with the unctuous
old canon, thought nothing so honorable and
glorious as gallant leats Of arms"
"Preston now drew the butler aside, and said,
"Have you the letter herel,'
Please, massa," said the old fellow, determin-
ed to blurt through the business with a round
falsehood, since he could think of nothing else
Just then that would serve his turn, "Please, mas.
sa, dat was a cursed lie in Sergeant Macdonald
nebber had letter from Miss Kate, but hab
one lilly message from her. She is in George.
town, in polcmic-either she must marry Major
Lindsay, or Mr.. Mowbray be hung"
"Good God!" exclaimed Preston, "What is it
you sayl Trao not with me" he said sternly,
sezing the slave by the collar.
"As true as dare is heaven above" said the
old butler trembling, and half-lrightened out OF
his wits; "what say is dc Gospel truth"
He then proceeded to give Preston more de.
tailed accountof affairs, so far as they were known
to him, adhering generally to the truth, except in
roundly asserting that Kate had sent him.
Preston's heart throbbed when he heard this
Kate loved him, then, after ALL Hope whispered
to him bew,lderng dream; for if she could be
rescued, what happiness might be his. But ther
came the thought-how was this to be effected
{ Kate was at Georgetown, post of considerable
strength, and no succor could reach her, unless
by stratagem; yet with time this might be effect
ed. But in what manner could the vigilance o
guards be surmounted, and the prize carried of
for it was necessary to rescue herfather as vel
! as herselfl Suddenly the voice Of old Jaco
aroused him from thenaino of thought into which
he was plunged.
"Dere is lilly time left sar," ho said, "for
hab waited here two days. Tomorrow night
will be too late, for den de wedding is to TAX
place."
! "To-morrow night" said Preston aghast-fo
now he heard, for the first time, the period fixe
for the marriage. "God of heaven! it is alread
$ too ate-she is lost forever"
He turned his face, tortured with anguish, Il
to the moon, which was sailing, full and bright
. through the blue depths of air. How calm an
/ unrufled was that sivery planetl Ages ago
| had shone thus, equally cold and unsympathizine
1t had seen the sacrifice of Jeptha's daughter;
= had beheld the fugitive Pompey; it gazed on Ze
:. nobia, when a crownless queen il had locke
S down on pestilence, and war, and human miser
e in every shape-and still it held on its course, tn