The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-07
gentleman n distance of fifteen or twenty

"Immediatelyw
"Why, it's already ten o'clock"
"lts the masters orders; | cannot al
ter them," tartly replied the girl.
This unwelcome intelligence caused m,
to commit great deal of sin, for mad,
use Of number Of imprecations and ex
pressions which were quite superfuou.
and pertectlI unavailing. 1t was no
long before was ready to commence tn,
journey. | chose the tastes. and strong
est animal in the establishment, and on,
that had never failed in an emergency.
lit the lamps, for the night was intensely
dark, and | iclt convinced that we should
require them. The proprietor of the no.
tel gave me paper, but told me not to
read it till we had proceeded few niles
on the road, aud Informed me at the same
time i'll what direction To drive. The pa.
per, he added would give me further in,
structionS.
WAS seated in the vehicle, busiIy en-
gagged in fastening the lea,hern apron on
the side on which sat, in order to pro
tcct my limbs from the cold, when some
body seated himself beside me. | heard
the landlord cry "Drive on" and, with.
out looking round, lashed the mare into
very fast trot. Even now, while write
[ feel in some degree the trepdation which
stole over me when disco, cred who my
companion was. had not gone far be-
fore was acquainted with the astounding
Fact. Ii WAS as though an electric shock
had suddenly and unexpectedly been i'm.
parted to my frame, or rs, in moment
OF perfect happiness, had been hastily,
plunged into the greatest danger and dis.
tress. a benumbing chilIiness ran through
me, and my mouth all ut once became
dry and parched. Whittier was to
dryel knew not. Whoa what was
my companion! was equally ignorant.
IL WAS the man dressed SD Enthusiastically
whom had seen alight from the coach,
whose appearance and inexplicable con.
duct had alarmed the whole establish
ment; whose character was matter OF
speculation to everybody with whom he
had come in contact. This was the sub.
stance Of my knowledge. Fo. aught
knew, he might be-. But no matter
The question that most concerned me was
how was to eXtricate myself from tai.
dilemma Which was the best course to
adopt To turn back, and declare
would not travel in sIch night, with So
strange person, or to proceed on my
journey! greatly feared the conscquen,
ces Of the fnmcr step would be fatal to
.tn.T ,,,l. 1. n 4
exposed to the sneer and laughter of all
vino knew me. No: | had started and
would pro1esd, whatever might be the
issue o1the adventure.
In few minutes we had emerged from
the town.. My courage was now put tc
the severcst test. The cheerful aspect o.
the streets, and the light thrown from the
lamps aud few shop win ipws, had hith
erto buoyed ne up, but my energy and
sirmn IS, felt, Were beginning to descr,
me. The road on which We entered wa
not a great thoroughfare at any time. but
at that late hour OF the night did not
expect to meet either horseman or pedeS-
trian to eniyen the long and solitary jour
ney. | cast my eyes before me, but could
not discern single light burning in the
distance. The night was thick and un
wholesome, and not star was to be sed,
in the heavens. There was another mat
ter which caused me great uneasincss.
was qrite unarmed and unprepared for
any attack, should my companion be dis.
posed to take advantage Of that circum.
stance. These things flashed across my
mind, and made n more forcibe impres.
sion than they might otherwise have done,
from the fact Of a murder have been com.
mitted in the district, only few weeks
before, under the most aggravated cir.
cumstances. An hypothesis suggested il.
self. Was this man the perpetrators OF
that deed the wretch who was endew-
oriDg to escape from the officers OF jus.
,tice, and was stig ,a,ised with the foalest
and blackest crime that man eopll be
guilty OIL Appearances were against
him. Why should he invest himself in
such a mysteryl Why conceal hi. fact
in so unaccountable nmnnerl What
but n man, who is coIIscion; Of great guilt
Of the darkest crimes. would 40 furtively
enter an inn, aud afterwards steal away
under the darkness Of the night when no
mortal eye could behold himi II lie was
sensible Of innocence, he might have de.
ferred tho journey till the morning, and
faced, with the foriituds Of man, the
broaA light Of day, and the scrutiny Of hi.
fellow-men. say, appearances were a.
gainst him, and ieit more and more con.
viuced, that whatover his character was
-~whstever his deeds might have been
that the present journey was iustigated
by foar and apprehension for his personal
safety. But was to be the instrument
OF his deliveraace was | TO be put 10 all
this inyenience in order to favor the escape
Of an assassini The thought distracted
me. vowed that il should not DO so.--
My heart chafed and frettoi at The task
that hal beon put upon me. My blood
boiled with Indignation at the bare idea
of bein9 made the tool Of 50 unhallowed
a purpose. I was resolved. ground
my teeth with rage. ] graspOd the reins
a tighter hold. Idetcrmined to be rid Of