Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-28

stood, leaning out of the window, listenin!
eagerly, and debating the question whethe
she should venture forth in the silent mid
night, large house dog, who was on tn
watch while his master slept, came up, ant
laying his great head upon the window sill
looked into her face. Emily patted him, ant
the dog wagged his tail, seeming much pleased
with the notice.
No longer hesiating, the girl sprung lightly
from the window, and, accompanied by the
dog, moved noiselessly in the direction OIL
the stable Here she was, for some time
at a loss to determine which of the halfdozen
horses it contained had borne her thus far on
her journey; and it was equally hard to find
in the dark, the bride and saddle for which
she sought. But all these difficulties were
at length surmountcd, and she led forth the
obedent animal Making as wide circuit
from the house MS possible, Emily succeeded
in gaining the road without awakening any
one. Up to this time, the dog had kept
closely by her side; but, when she mounted
the horse and moved away, he stood looking
at her until she passed out of sight, and then
returned to his post at the farm house.
The danger she had left behind, made En-
ily almost inscnsiblc to the loneliness of her
situation; and the joy she felt at her escape
scarcely left room for fear in her heart.
Day had hardly begun to break, when she
reached the house Of an old friend of her
fathers, where she had intended to pass the
night. To him she conGded the nature of
her journey, and t. Id of the narrow escape
she had made. A hasty meal was provided
for her, and ere the sun passed above the
horizon, mounted on strong and fresh horse,
she was sweeping away on her journey. A
letter from this friend to staunch whig, re-
siding twenty miles distant, procured her
another horse.
More than two-thirds of the distance she
had 10 60 was safely passed over ere the sun
went down again, and she was riding along,
in some doubt as to where she would rest
for the night, when three men, dressed inthe
British uniform, came suddenly in view, di.sss
'rectiy ahead aff her. T'o turn md 60 bdcE''
would be ofno avail. So she rode on, en-
dearoring to keep brave heart. On CON-
ing up with her. the soldiers reined mp their
horses, and addressed her with rude famiia-
rity. She made no reply, but cndcavored to
pass on, when one of them laid hold of her
bridlc Escape being hopeless, Emily an
swercd the questions asked of her in such
way as she deemed prudent. Not satisfied
with the account she gave ofhcrsclf, they told
her that Lord Rawdon was cncamped about
n mile distant, and that she must 90 before
him, as it was plain she was rebel, and most
probably a spy
On being brought into the presence Of the
British officer, Emily was intcrrogated close
ly as to where she had come from. whittier
she was going, and the nature of her GRAND.
She would not utter direct falsehood, and
her answers being cvasive, only created stron-
ger suspicious against her in Tic mind of
Lord Rawdon.
"Wcll find a way TO the TRUTH" he at
length exclaimed impatiently, after trying in
vain to get some satisfactory statement from
the irm-hcarted girl, who did not once lose
her presence of mind during the trying inter-
view. "Takc her over TO my quarters at the
farmhouse, and sec that she don't escape
you"
The officer, to whom this command was
given, removed Emily under guard, to 4
house near at hand, and locked her in one of
the rooms The moment she was alone, she
took from her pocket pair of scissors, and
hurricdly ripping open part of her dress,
took thcrefrom small piece of paper, folded
and sealed. This was the despatch she was
bearing to General Sumter. To crumblc it
in her hand add throw it from the window,
was her first impulse; but her ear caught the
sound of Il seninel's tread, and that idea was
abandoned Hurriedly glancing around in
the dim twilight, she sought, in vain, fo'
some mode of hiding the despatch, which, il
found upon her. betrayed everything. That
her person would be searched she had good
reason to believe; and, in all probability
every part of the room would be searched
also. To hesitate long, would be to make
discovery sure. Every moment she expected
some one to enter. While she stood irrcsso
lutte, thought glanced through her mind
and acting upon it instantly, she tore off
part of the despatch, and thrusting it into he1
mouth, chcwed and swallowed it. Another
and another piece disappeared in the same
way; but ere the whole was destroyed, tht
door opened, and woman entered. Turnin!
her back quickly, Emily crowded all that re
manned of the paper in her mouth, and cover
ing her face tightly with her hands, helt
them there, as if weeping, until the last par
ticlc of the tell-tale despatch had disappeared
Then turning to the woman who had address
ed her repeatedly, she said in calm voice
"By what authority am I detained ant
shut up prisoner in this room?"
aRv thc authority of Lord RnWdon." RI