The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-21

"''oS, ""o I'VE CARRIAGE ABOUT
to move OFT, they heard some one call TO
the driver to stop; but thinking it WAS
only passenger wishing to 20 down, the
Senator ordered him 10 drive on. They
had scarcely reached the wharf however,
and the Senator descended from the car.
riaYe, when Albert Ashley came up, Jus,
IN time to take Ellen fiom the vehicle, and
painting iron. .he exerion lie had made 70
keep pace with them.
4" hailed you," said he, "as you were
driving of, but YOU did not hear me-"
"s you, my young friendr said the
Senator vita joyful surprise, II did hear
you. bu. thought it was only n passen.
ger hailing the hack"
IL had just arrived in Ch-n,' said
Albert, and As L turned the corner. SAW
you getting into the carriage; and must
say, that my surprise almost equals my
delight, At seeing you here"
a few words sufficed to explain 10 him
the object Of their journey to Savannah.
Albert evinced ths joy he felt a, the
knowledge that his friend still lived, bu,
when he heard Of his p-rilou. situation,
his Indignation knew no bounds. The
Boat WAS about starting, however, and i,
WAS necessary that they should hurry on
board. Albert immediately declared his
discrimination TO 60 on with them. Bo,L
'he Senator and Ellen expressed their
pleasure and gratitude; the one in warm
and heartfelt language, and the other with
~ look that Albert Knew full we'll how TO
appreciate. Soon they were on board,
and under weigh. aud the Steamer Gen.
Clineh Was nioSins At her usual quiet
pace.
as soon after their arrival in Savannah
as circumstances would permit, The Senator
sent note 10 Mr.. Fairfax, which that
worthy gentleman almost Immediately
answered in person. Mr.. Fairfax had
proved himself n true friend to the unfor
tuna,e Edward, and As such received the
warm and grateful thanks Of tho party.
The meeting between them Was an any
ious, painful, aud highly embarrassing one
TO both parties Mr.. Fairfax detailed.
minutely, the whole circumstance OF Ell.
wards arrest; every Incident in tho pro-
gress and result Of the search, WAS accu.
rately revealed. The Senator could
scarcely cou,xia himself during the reci.
tai. More than once lie felt ms If the
scalding words were consuming his vital.
~, ard tearing one hy one, his very hear,
strings! The fiery blood Of young Ash.
ley MAS aroused to furious excitement.
and even the gentle Ellen's lip quiv.r.d
with aa indignant defiance.
II ~as = day long to bs remembered
hy this little party; the ordeal through
which they passed, might have moved
s'o'c 10 tears, or IuaiIed = heart of ada
nant. Il was not yet over. Mr.. Fair
fax kindly offered to conduct them to the
prison. and a carriage being got in rsadi-
nass, they soon reached this sbode of
crime and misery. They were led by the
keeper through the narrow ~indings Of
the prison: the cvsobEous and grating
sSassd Of d.e 2"ors, 30 they were undated,
falling upon them with = mournful and
sickening sensation. On they ascended,
from one stair to another, the emotions Of
each becoming, at every step. more horri-
ble to endure. The Senator was in the
advance, his step firm and unwavsrinp,
but his face OF q deadly paleness, aud Tut
a shsde less ~hiie than the snowy hair.
A< has mead Ellen's totteriDg step Yus
supported by Ashley; her corTee-lik. sea
lures reflected in that dismal passage way,
with peculiar and vivid distinctness. /,
was a sight that brought the tear of sym.
ps,hy from the kind Mr. Fairfax, and even
the hardened keeper looked on with pity
and com,niseraiionl |
At length they reached the iron grated
cell: slowly the keeper unbassed the mar.
Ts- doo', ii turned with grating SOUND
on its heavy hinges, and there, "face to
face" the Senator met bis son not, in.
deed, with q strangers recognition, but
with oatstretched ar,us, and in the long
embrace between father and son, waa bu.
ried the stern decree Of the one, and the
rash resolve Of the other.
CHAPTER XVII.
Edward spent the first few days Of hi.
incsrceration, in dull and s,upefisd bor.
ror; and, perhaps, with little or no con
cep,icn Of the real danger Of his situation.
The 6orrid accusation against him, and
the degradation Of hs position. was the
one absorbing idea that threatened the
overthrow Of his reason. For several
days he did not see solitary soul except
h's jailor; but on the fourth dag. hs was
snrprssed by visst from dis fo~aser feIlo~.
ooarder, Pearson. who was ccompanied
by the kind Jennie. Had Edward been
inclined to be suspicious. tho apparent
kindness and sympathy displayed for him
by Pearson, would have Iefl no room for
the feeling IN his heart. Jennie discarded
her anusaal tbough,less manner, snd ex
erted her utmost to make the prisoner for.
get the misery Of his situation. The kind
girl had endsavored TO see him the day
after he was committed, but could not Oh.
tain permission. She repeated her efforts
each day, until through the interposition
Of Me-. Fsirfsx, the jsiler WA iustructed to
psrmh h~ sther plessu~e