Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-04-06
O I igina |. $ tptq.
Hritten for the Spirit Of the 4ge-Raleigh.
1.-THE TOR1'S DAUGHTER,
And the Haunted Cave
By WILL: wILLoWILL.

SceEe fNeaueF, you must KNOW THAT no u
pernaturai agencies wefe at work in the Cave:
I for we would notinst superstitious sentiments
/ into your breast FIVE could; therefore. grntle
areader mine, Please remember that Baptiste
Howard was taken prisoner by the Tories,
and that l!e was confined in the Cave. their
loltaseme prison and that, at the time ca.
lumblnc was uShered there, he too was an in.
mate OF its gloomy chambers The repetition
of his lament AMI Co.umbne's shrek, assured
them both OF their proximity, and the next
quests on was rs to 4 plan TO meet each ofhar
I in. the darkness that shrouded them from ri.
son They were in distant parts Of the cava
and the darkness AMI projecting rocks vera
the only obstacles that hindered them from
rushing Immediately into each others arms and
passlonately pressing each the cherished idol.
| home to the heart. AT first they directed thei,
cautious steps by the sound of their voices.
Ike birds calling to their mate, and feeling
their way along the rugged floor of the STONY
chamber, and when they We're assured thar
they were nearly together, they threw their
arms softly. AROUND hoping each moment to
meet-the warm hand for which each were as
romanticalIy searching
At length they NEITHER faces could not
be seen. but they recognized the SINE hearty
grasp and thrill in the hand that they hid ex.
perenced in brighter, happier days ;hey claa-
ped each other in a long and ardent embrace.
the hrst for Il long, long time. The cOngrat.
ulatlOns and sweet phrases culled from Loves
vocabulary passed al that enri iptured meeting
we shall pass over, and use only such as wa
are in duty bound to relate in our story:
" How gi iad should be TO look into YOUR
bright eyes again, my dear Columbine,' said
Howard, but, alas! shall never agaln!'
%! whynot? eagerly enquired Columbine.
Alas = said Howard mournfuly,' sOen I
shall be called from this foul den to meet nv
cowardly Executoner soon | shall have to
yield my life in Lberty's sacred cause, and
not on the battle field fighting for human rights,
but must yield 1t to the hands Of a cowardly
assassin, who dares not to meet me face TO flca
and eye to eye-the Tories told me I should
die at their hands to-dayp
~ say not so, my Iile-my hope-my ALL
said the weeping and miserable captive.
1t must be so my girl said he 81 am now
FoPsd 6fe 66ffentHa and Pa Rsd
fate, and | could willingly die for the glorious
cause have espoused, if could but see your
| face again
4 GU shall see my unhappy face again, dear
3aptiste for will cling to you despite their
threats, and follow you to the block and die
with you If our fee wills it. said Coumbine
! AHC "oLuo lidu DuG escaped Uef lips When
the heavy, stony door was torn from its fasten-
/ ings, ard a hoarse voice called to Howard to
come forth.
! There may Gcd have mercy on me and
receive my soul to his rest 2 exclaimed How
ard, there is my executioner thirstine for nv
blood! Farewell, COlulnbine; stay behind and
do not witness my fate; It's too dreadful to wit.
ness!'
will die with you,' said the weeping and
half frantic captive, am determined, CO.. ms
life or death, to your face again, and she
clung to his arm, and they moved slowly and
trembling along the dark passage to the door.
Faster !? cried the man at the entrance, al
tlVes had reached the door, Str4ng hand gras<
ped Howard's arm and pulled him out with
the maiden, pale like a corpse, clinging to him
and resolved to die with her Lover.
They were fairly out of the prison, and then
cnsued moment Of silence, which Howard
was the first to break by saving:
God bless you, my friend, and at the same
tima clasping q heavy built man in his arms,
whose face was Concealed by mask of fam
tastic construction, who said in iocular way
What both together? Two fsh at one haul
that's rich Howlrd tore the mask from
his face and; Judging from the size of the man
and other circumstances, COlumbine declared
he had twice rescued her from the horrors Of
Ruggle's Cave, once by knocking down her
captor, and now By his fortunate pr sence, for
ali Of which she commenced offering him her
t grateful thanks, which he acknowle edged by
pleasing smile on his honest face, but Interrupt
ted her by saying:
Nc time for compliments friends, let Us
hasten away for the Tories are on ihe alert
and it was only by the aid ola kind Providence
that have rescued YOU
TT ,vn yO,1 Sano fhnn, around boro ,ci
enquired Howard; for Jack BlutfIale was their
friend.
} Yes they are thick in the hills, and if they
detect US The verp d-l,-savins the lady's
t presence, will be q pay
Buff lie led the way and they beat hasty
> retreat from the prison. Columbine WIS hang
ing TO Howdrd's arm, and they improved the
time by rapid conversation upon the past which
is here transcribed
Why did you not meet me as you promised
c dear Blptiste, in your letter 3
Meet you exclaimed Howard, surprised.
> Yes you wrote me letter, you know, re-
questing a meeting at the old chestnut tree
near Ruggle's Cave
Never
NeverP 2
! At this moment Mr. Greenwood crossed
d their path with musket on his shoulder, and
III d VOICE. !utt VI lIS MS
I ter to release her hold of the young rebels
- .rm.' He rushed upon Howard in a menac
!, ing attitude, and bid him begone and never
see his daughter az .ia swearing that if he
dared 10 offer the indignty again, he would
shoot him upon th- spot. He tore MS daush
u ter away from II wards side and dragged he
t. a little way off and then drove h-r before nin
homewards, leaving Howard and B ufflal
. LOOKING after them
to ButfdaIe eveIe,l his musket at G-eenwood
80 and was in the act OF dischargng il, when How
2 ard knocked it up and its hea.y load OF sho
was spent among the tree tops overhead :
ie Greenwood scarcely turned his head at the re
port, but istened on towards his home; Will
Jack reoading his musket sid That wa
"a lucky shot comrade for | might have kille
ke that pretty bird unntentionalIy in my ange
: Now don't she look ike a lamb going DUN
III before a butcher 2
:, Howard made no reply, but brushed Tea
y from his eye, and they turned and left th
III neiehhorhood, and directed their course 70
the Wing ranks again. Howard was v-xe
at the nature and shortness of his interview
and was sorcly perplexed to know what SD
ms meant by the meeting and letter.