Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-11

the residence of Maryf Bunker, the mistress
of his heart. The: lights showed that the
family had not retire9to rest, and he re-.
solved to pay her a vi before his departure.
She was alone whehhe entered and few
words acquainted her With his, determination.
She burst into tears,
"Nay, Mary" he said, "you must not
unman me. At first Eresolved to leave you
without a farewell, for knew how much
YOU dreaded my taking an active part in this
Struggle. But I could: not be SO cruel as to
desert you without one word of farewell.
81 will compose myself" said the fair girl
with an effort to smile. :" know have
been wrong to persuade you to stay; but
you cannot imagine tip anxieties l suffer on
account of my brothers, and could not
bear to have you enspunter their danger.
But since this dreadfaf defeat at Camden |
feel that every man iseanted by our country.
Go, then, dearest, and God be with you. My
prayers shall attend you night and day"
David pressed the now weeping girl to his
bosom, snatched a hasty kiss at the sound of
approaching footsteps, wrung her hand and
was gone.
The next day he ZEN the neighborhood Of
his fathers house, armed with a musket and
mounted on sturdyhorae. His destination
was the American camp, then far northward !;
but as the intervening country was filled with
the enemy, he knew there would be consider.
able address required :toqaffect his purpose.
Before his departure he saw a few Of his old
paymates, who promised to follow him as
soon as possible.
Night found him near lonely farmhouse,
to which he proceeded boldly in pursuit of a
lodging.
At first the occupant treated him rather
coldly, but chance expression convincing
David that his host was tory, he affected
the same political creed, and he was imme.
diately warmly welcomed. The RoyaHst
produced bis cider after supper, aud insisted
that David should join him in his potations !;
this the young man did, taking care not to
indulge too freely, while the farmer overjoyed
to find what he Suppressed new recruit for
his party, drank without stint and became
more and more communicative. To his hor-
r6r David soon learned that a party Of Roya-
lists led by Major Wilson, celebrated for his
toryism and ruthlessnass, were to start early
the .ensusing dayson ansaxpsdition to seize
and hang the two Bunkers, ( IMary's brothers)
who had made themselves particularly OBJ.
noxious to the royalist leaders. David knew
enough of this warfare to be assured that no
mercy could be shown his friends; lie also
knew enough Of the character Of the Major
to suspect that some strong personal motive
had led to the planning Of so distant an ex-
pedtion when there were others as inviting
nearer home.-He accordingly set himself
to discover from bis half.inebriated compan.
ion the truth. Nor was it long before sue.
cess crowped his adroit cross.examination.
"Why, you see," said the host, 6" be.
lieve there's a little revenge for slight re.
ceived from these fellows's sister, mixed up
with the Majors desire to catch the Bun.
kers. The girl is very pretty they say, and
the Major, when she was down here on a
visit last year-before the war broke out
wanted to marry her, but she would have
nothing to say to him. Ever since he has
vowed to make her rue the day. You may
depend on it he will have her on his own
terms now! But yonder comes the major.
now," said our host, starting up, i will
introduce YOU to him at once-a merry fel.
low you'll find him. Lord love you he's as
brave as lion.
David though horri6ed at the diabolical
plot he had heard, saw the necessity of dis
sembling in order to learn further of the to.
rvs plans and find means, if possible to cir.
cumyent them. He arose therefore and shook
the majors hand warmly, pledged bin imme.
diately in brimmer, and so contrived to
make the royalists believe that he was anx.
ious to ioin the troops and take part against
the rebels. This induced the major to be
unusually civil, for he wished to secure so
athletic q recruit. 1t was not long before a
bargain was struck. David refused, however
to sign the agreement that night, he pretend
ed that several others of his friends were
disaf1ected and desirous Of joining the tories
and his object, he said was to secure com
mission for himself by inducing them to join.
This tempting bait took; the major promis'
ed him commission in case of success
and David signi6ed his intention of setting
forth after he had taken few hours rest in
order to lose no time in gathering his recruits
The dread of discovery had been con
stantlybefore our nero during the negotiation
for he was well known to many of the ma
ior's troops, and if any of them had come
up, his feigned name would not secure him
from detection. He wished to get off thai
night, as he proposed but to this neither his
host nor the major would hear, and he wa:
forced to remain till morning. What was
his anguish on awaking next morning, tc
lear that the major had been gone some
hours, and was already on his way to the
Bunkers with his troops! Descending hi'
anxiety, David partook of hasty breakfast
and mounting his horse, rode slowly away
But when out Of sight of the house he strucl
into fierce galtop, which he continued til
he came in sight Of cross road, where wa
tavern. Here be stopped and learned. tha
the royalsts had taken the high road-h'
thrned aside into narrower and more cir
cuitous one.
"Itis my only chance to avoid them now
he said, again dashng into gallop. " Pra.
God I may reach the settlement in time t
collect q few of our lads and march to tn
Bunkers.-There is no hope left"
Night had fallen as they expected befor
the tories were able to reach the vicinity o
the house they were in search Of. Atleugth
however, after silent march throug h th
woods it broke upon their view. A ligh