Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-02-21
9 Storg Of 8&al Gitt,
THE REGULATORS DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER I.

A streamlet, with bright yellow sand,
Aecked by red and blush pebbles, in its bed
with dropping tufts of grass that dipped
their blades within its waters--with here
and there bunch of willows, waving and
bowling to corresponding clusters opposite
ran sparkling along the outskirts of heavy
wood. A few acres Of green prairie sloped
gracefully from the forest to its grassy edge
and, just within the shelter of the aged oaks
and hickories, was built long, irregular
house.
About two miles further down the stream,
seated like this within the shelter of the
wood, was another farm, whose serried fen.
ces covered almost an equal portion of the
rich soil. No other habitation was in sight;
though half-marked road, which wound
along the outskirts of the wood, evinced that
many others had been attracted by the fer
tile soil and heavy timber.
Along this road, upon pleasant summer
morning in 1920, young man, dressed ir
the frontier costume, and bearing a light
rifle on his shoulder, walked toward the place
first described, with that buoyant step and
open carriage which distinguished in those
days, the dwellers on the prairie. A well
cut mouth, and thin, expanded nostrils, with
deep-blue eye, barely redeemed his aspect
from the charge Of effeminacy, which might
otherwise have attached to the light brow,
delicate cheek, and rounded chin, that added
SO much to the beauty, but so little to the
strength, Of its expression.
Near the point where the road crossed the
little stream stood thicketofp plum and thorn.
bushes, and at the edge of this two or three
rails had been placed across the deeper cur,
rent, for the convenience of foot-passengers.
AS Thornton diverged from the road to reach
this, young girl with fair hair, bright
blue eye, and an active step, glided away
from the little path, and hastily concealed
herself among the low trees, evidently to
avoid the pedestrian. Her attempt, so far,
was successful, for he passed on until he had
nearly placed his foot upon the bridge, (sc
called, } when he was startled by that peculiar
snort, which full-grown deer sends forth
on suddenly catching the scent of his human
enemy.
The animal sprang from little corpse but
few yards beyond the rivulet, and, cross.
ing that at bound, dashed in among the
hazel and alder bushes which skirted the
little grove. Thornton drew his gun hastily
to his shoulder, and, as the buck rose fron,
the ground, fred with an aim which but sci.
dom failed. The deer made two or three
bounds, and then his crashing through
the bushes ceased, and his race seemed to
be run. The hunter drew his knife from
its belt, and pushed his way through the
brush toward the spot where he had last
heard the rustling of the bushes; but, as he
came within the open space beneath the trees,
his limbs were paralyzed and his blood frozen
by the scene before him.
The young girl, whom We saw avoiding
him, stood, ghastly with horror, convulsive
ly grasping with one hand bush too small
to protect her, and with the other frantically
though mutely, beckoning the frightful
brute away. Directly before her, with his
feet drawn under him, as if preparing for the
deadly rush, stood the fierce animal by his
wound, and ready to wreak his vengeance on
the first human form in his path His head
was drawn down between his fore-feet, his
long, sharp horns projecting far before him
his bloodshot and fiery eyes, strained upward
toward his victim, shone with the widest
glare, while every hair upon his body was
raised and brissling with his savage fury
One plunge, and Ellen LoWden's buoyant
life must end.
Thornton's gun was empty; but, far worse
than this, his presence of mind was gone,
and he stood as if transfxed. His own life