Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-16
CHAPTER VI.
Revenge, at irst though sweet,
Bitter ere loag, back on itself r~ecoiIs.

revenge az DFsb though sweet,
Bitter ere loag, back on itself recoiis. s
SsLroS.
Rugsle's I'LL Is situated in tie midst Of a
very City Of towering clifs, 50 high that thcf
sun Cor the most part disiains to visit It's
dark avenues. 4 gradual slope, rather too
steep to lie assembled with ease, marks is
southern side, and quite a number OF trees,
some very large, spring from its rocky soil
on the cast ais, aslope, irregular AM gravel
y in its ascent. with 9 large rock here and
there sticking out from the surface, reject the
bright rays of the rising sun On the West
it IS impossible for any human being 10 climb
its walls for it is nearly perpendicular, and
at several points Up the side. large, rough
rocks, like huge eZcresonces, hang and clinpf
to their native places on the North, whicak
IS the highest part Of the Hill, it is nearly al
solid wall OF rock, and from the bottom to the
top II IS shelving, Juttlng over you asyoi look
NJ It's cold wall, with green patches Of moss
and & thick network ofFjnes that have, after
the growth Of many y0ars, succeeded IN con-
cealing portions Of the wall from view, and
in interlockinc their tcndrils from one side
to The othor ): the rude castle. n the tase
on the North side an opening is obsorvaH a.
mong the sharp, mislaFpen rocks that-iay
scattered about there and iutting out from
tho walls-a dark, circuitcus. opening, which
if entered aud folloged vapula st Iength fEaef
my reader IN " Rugrlo's Cave" q
The cave was one of those dark recessos
dug out Of tho bosom 9th earth by the Gre
alive Fiat, with irregular chambers and halls
hung around by those gloomy, monotonous
folds like the drapary Of night, whose sable
shadows wrap the soul in a shroud Of solemn
and impressive awe, when placed in the con-
fines of the sublime and thrilling precinct
SHUT out from the bright world as it is, one
feels as ii lettering upon the crumbling line
between life and death-immortality and an
initiation! A long, intricate maze has to be
traversed ere tho inner temple is gained,
and whea placed in the dark, cold, mysteri-
Gus chambers sentiments Of indispensable awe
and sublimity seize the visitor, as he gazes
around the dark and dripping walls. Across
the farther end Of the subterranean hall a
brisk and noisy little riyulet dashes along
and its clear waters glide under a natural
arch, and then plunge over an invisible pre-
cipice, and the echo produced theraby is loud
and almost fearful, as the torn spray thun-
ders down a rugged proeipice Of unmoasured
altitude.
The opening in the hill would scarcely be
observed by the traveller unless hHs abortion
was directed to it by his guide, 50 entirely
concealed is 1t by the rough rocks that stand
like stole sentinel8 about it,Suarding the blacA
portal.
The Hill and cave above alluded to is neal
the spot where Mr.. Greenwood lived, and was
during the struggle between liberty and ty
f ranny, the rendezvous Of the Tories it wa.
Glike their council chamber, their mart fo
r stolen property-the fruits Of their coward,
deprodations-and their gloomy prison housi
Q for whatever hapless Wing that CHANGED 4
: fall into their hands.
The night after the s~crimmage at tn
c "Mlidon's Gap" the Tory clan was encarnr
e ed about midway between the residence Z
Glr. Greenwood and Ruggle's Hill, in a "a
d vino through which, as is usually the case,
littlerill flowed, furnishing themen and beast
d with water.
A few pale eickly looking stars hung i
e the sky, and seemed to be gazing down thr(
n tho thin clouds that foated laziIy aloft, upo
l. the silent cncampment. Here and there
IS chained to a bush or sapling, stood a hors
1T picking up the few scattered blades of the
r remaining prOvcnder on the ground, an
IS walking ~uneasily around TO the extent Of Il
h chain and at intervals giving vent to an II
S, patient, restless nGigh wrapped in sto,
h blankets the sleeping Tories lay scattered ovt
e. the ground fer several yards around the Ill
Id zinG fires, with their guns by their sides, al
their saddles for pillows and the cold, ha.
to sky for their shelter three or four Of Ii
he company were awake and they were seat
m on stones and logs near e bright fire, busy
iG moving a thumb worn pack Of greasy car
in oman oil horse blanket and, at the SAT
time, indulging in a low strain Of riba!d
,es only heard in the congregations Of degrad
on men, lost to all sense Of moral obligatio
lat and virtue.
- - dad LToo-o-r 49, - -a.I - II :
al watch, addressing himself 10 another, who h
oil a musket raised and apparently intending t
20 next moment to fire" don't for c~onsciet
for mercy sake, don't fire that gun, E,
pi- man :"
!" Blast that night owl, let him hush
ON BLACKBOARD hooting, them want to sc'
ly. him out Of his eyes. But Why not fire.
W. gun, Tucker / should like to know 7"
the CURED the Tory, Eastman.
at The wings you know can hear as we'll
a wild turkey and can cut smell a wolf, q
i'd, if you FIRE that old rusty gun Of yours Il
10 viii be down upon lis with rs little warn;
as they we're at " Maiden's Gap And
Id. guess YOU don't want any more Of that cal
emit from the way you run this morning, and #
the way you have complained al day Ct t
eve little piece ofcold lead in your back :"
-or- at this warning Eastnanlaid aside his {
on ana look q seat a. the Slue OF Ills c0nT
sled Tucker, andioined the game ofcards IN moo
the silence. After playing another round 4
man said
Did you know, Tucker, that / once
/; it j. love? - In love? Ban !" snecrod Tucl
| be The cards we're quickly thrown into 3
r or on the blanket, and Eastman continued
Ii OF Yes | onee really loved ! woman.
the hard andas unteeiEe rs socm 70 be nov
and once was moved - the tender sentiment.
veg once passionately loved girl THAI lives
its UP this ravino-I know that I once loved
the Although hundreds scotfa at the idea Of tho
nd ? istanco ct Fueb q passioa, and aitio
and aIversity mas led me to scof at tha
as now, yet ! once felt the soul--the immo
will principlcwithin nc, iaovod and swayed at
Oh Is another spirit. thatI thought pure asI
and ven, by the mysterious powers Of sympatl
rith Pray, Sir" enqaireiTucker sarcastic;
!, IT, what cr0ei circumstance cooled your ct
Or ish folly 2"
and IT'S quickly told" continued East1
This :" loved her witlail taeenergies of my s.
II 10 her father favored my suit. andI fanciod
inn she even loved me with a similar devotio,
Just when ! thought my dream Of bliss
i il about 70 be realized by tie consulnation O
tive vainest ambition, an impudent scapogoat,
'ree- Baptiste Howard, assaulted her vulue~