The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-24
NO. g..

horses tied in thehills for the surgeon, who
lived two miles off.
In few days George Maxwell-his leg
having been set and his wounds dressed
had become easy enough to relate all that
bad happened to him; the dreadful night
which he had passed in extreme agony in
tie glen, and the excitement which the
loud cooees OF Robert, which bad reached
him, butto which he was unable TO reply,
had Vccasioned boti, him and the faitfifiii
and synpathizing dog, who barked rehe.
nentiy; bnt, as 1t proved, in vain.
From the moment Of this tragic occut-
renee, Robert Patterson was constantly in
attendance at the Mount on his friend. He
slept in the same room with him, and at
tended 10y Ellen in the daytime. From
this moment the cloud which so long hung
over the spirit Of Ellen Maxwell had van.
ished. She was herselfagaiu; always kind
and open, yet with mournfil tone in her
bearing with Robert, which surprised and
yet pleased him. II looked like regret for
past unkindness. As they sat one evening
over their tes, while George was in pro.
found sleep in The mex, room, Ellen look.
ing with emotion nj him, said, in low,
tremulous voice. "Bobert, owe much TO
you
10 me!" said Robert, hastily. Isn't
George rs much a brother TO me as to you.''
at is not that which / lnean,p added
Ellen, coioring deeply, yet speaking more
Firmly; "it is that have done you great
wrong. believed that you had said a
incst ungencrous thing, aud acted upon
my belief with too much pride and resent
ment. was told that you bad tested st
me as the daughter of convict
Robert sprang up. at is false! / never
said il" he exclaimed. "Who could tell yot
such a malicious falsehoods"
"Oalm YOURSELF added Ellen, s.I shall
tell you all. Hear,ne patiently; for must
impress first on you the strange likelihood
OF what WAS reported to me. You were
driven to n stockman's hut, it was said, by
a storm-you and q young friend. Yoa
were very merry, and this friend congraiu-
lated you in sportive style on having
won what he was pleased to call the rich.
est young woman in the colony. Aud With
merry laugh you were made TO add. and
the daughter Of the most illustsious oflagsrn
Robert Patterson, with calmness OF
concentrated wrath, asked in a low. meas
ured tone: "Who said that"
The woman whom you lately saved
with all her family. 1t was Nelly Fehan.n
Nelly Fehanr' said Robert in amaze
rnenE "what have ever done to her that
deserved such stab!"
you threatened TO send Fehan to prison
for bush ranging. You reminded him OF
his former life and unexpired sen,ence.r
THAT is true,' said Robert, after a pause
Of fastonishmenL "Aud this was the dead
Iy revenge-the serpents! But, o Ellen!
Why could YOU not speakl One word, and
all wonld have been explained"
II could not speak, Rolert. Wounded
pride silenced me. Bu, have suffered 50.
verely; have been fearfully punished.
can only say-forgive men'
One long embrace obli,eratei the past.
The late Mr.. Maxwell had been trans
ported for the expression of his liberal po.
lltical principles in hard and bigoted times.
There was not man in penal settlement
who did not honor his political integrity and
foresight, and who did not reverence his
character. Bul the conyicts as body
were proud to claim him rs Of their class.
though sent thither only for the crime Of a
ilamPden or n Sidney. Whenever reproach
was thrown on the convict section Of socie-
~, the insuited party pointed to the venera.
bic exile, and trunphantly hailed him as
their chief No eudeayors, though they
were many, aud conducted by powerful
hands had over been able to procure rever.
sal OF his sentence. The injuries of man Of
hIs high talents aud noble nature might be
comparatively buried at the ansipodes: at
home, they would be a present, perpetual,
and damaging reproach. He had lived aud
died a banished, but ahighly -honored, man.
Still, rs nc rose to higher estimation and
an unusual afluence, there were little mines
who delighted occasionally to whisper
"AGler all, he is but a lag" And it was
on this tender point that the minds Of his
children, whore ears such remarks had
reached and wounded, had become morbid.
y sensitive.
Amid the general calamity, this recon.
ciiiation was like song of Thanksgiving in
the generous heart Of Robert Patterson,
and quickened il to tenlold exertions in nj.
!cs:aiiag i!'e saliesings Sc his sieig!,bo;s.
| His JOY was made bonndless aad overflow
ing by circumstance which appeared t.
be little short of n miracle. When r. b TT
rode up 10 lsis own static /, he beheld b 3
mother, not seated in her wheeled ch, ir--
but on foot, light, active, and alert, going
10 aud fro amongst the people whose desti-
tuition still kept them near bis house. The
mass Of misery She still saw around her, and
the exertions which it stimulated, bursrths
\ paralytic bonds which had enehained her
tor years. The same cause which had disa.
bled her limbs had restored them.
The conAagration lad extended over a
| space of three hundred miles by bundled
and fifty; and Ear away beyond The Gou-
burn, the Bioken River, and the Ovens. wa
| have witnessed the remaining traces Of its
desola,ion. Over al th;s space, flock. and
herds in thousands had perished. Houses.
l ricks. fences. and BRIDGES had been annihi.