The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-24

themselves rs affianced, and only consented
that nothing as yet should be said on the
subject TO her brother or Mrs. Patterson.
on the ground that it would most painful.
| ly afflict them.
Ellen, who used to be continually riding
over to see Mrs. Patterson with her broth.
er, now rarely appeared, and proudly de-
| clined to give her reason foT the change in
| her-adding that she must absent herself
altogether if the subjee; wero renewed 10
her brother she was equally reserved, and
he attributed it TO caprice, bidding Robert
to take no notice OF it. Ellen was not
without other admirers, but that was moth.
ing new. One young man who had lately
come into the neighborhood paid her rs
slduous attention, and gossip did not fail
to attribute the cause of Robert Patterson 5
decline Of favor to his influence. But El.
len gave no conntenance to such supposi
ton. She was evidently under no desire
to pique her old lover 10y any marked pre-
dilection for new one. Her nature was
too noble for the pettiness of coquetry, and
any desire to add poignapcy TO coilness.
On the other hand, it was clear To the oni-
etly watchful eye other brother that she was
herself even mofe unhappy than Robert
Her eyes often betrayed the effects of secrc,
weeping, and the paleness Of her check bo
he'd the assumed air Of cheeriulncss she
| wore
Things were in this Uncomfortable stale
at the outbreak of the fire. 1t was theie-
fore most cheering thought 10 Patterson
that, iii her distress, she had Il wn first, an ID
at once, TO him. This demonstrated conf
/ a lffpp nm nc ftt L. u.
sions she had protested that her sense Of
his hish moral character WAS not an iota
abaied; but, in this spontaneous act, Rob.
ert's heart persuaded himself that .here lny
| something more.
No'sooner did he reach the Mount, than,
leaving Ellen TO send off assistance TO the
Fehans, lie took 'rurceu, the stockman, and
rode into the forest hills. Ii was soon
dark, and they had to halt; but not far
from the spot where Turcen had lost sight
OF his master. They tethered their horses
IN space clear of trees and fire, and gave
them corn that they had brought with
them. When the moon rose, they went
on to some distance uttering loud cooees 10
attract the ear of the lost man; but all in
vain. The fire had left the ground hot
and covered with ashes, and here and there
huge trees burning like columns Of red.hot
iron.
Finding all their efforts for, night fruit.
less, they flung themselves down beside
their horses; aud with the earliest peep of
dawn they were up and off higher into
the hills. Their way presented at every step
the shocking effects Of The fire. Ever and
anon they came upon bullocks which had
perlshed in it. Here and there, too, ihey
descried The remains OF langaroos, opos.
sums, and hundreds of birds, scared and
shrivellea into sable masses of cindcr.
They came at length TO the spot where
Turcen and George Maxwell had parted;
and tho experienced bushri.an carefully
sought out the tracks Of the horses feel,
and followed them. These were either ob
hterated by the fire, or failed from the
rocky hardness Of the ground, but, by in.
deiaiigab!e search, they regained them. and
were led at length 10 the edge of q deep
and PERCEPTIONS rayine. In the ravine
itself the trees and grass remained un,
scaihed; the torrent of tire had leapel over
! II, sweeping away, howeyeB every shrub
and blade of herb from the heights.
God defend u.s." exclaimed Robert; 'lhe
smoke must have blinded him, aud conceal.
ed this irightful place. Man and horse are
doubtless dashed TO pieces"
lie raised a loud and clear cooce Instantly
answered by the wild and clamorous bark
ING of dog, which, in the next Instant,
was seen leaping and springing about in
the bottom Of the dell, rs If frantic with
delight
That is snirrupw exclaimed Tureeu;
and Tho two men began to descend the
steep side of the raviue. Robert Patterson
outstrippeI his older and heavier compan
; ion. lie seemed 10 fly down the sheer and
craggy descent. Here he seized a bough.
lhero point of the rock, and, in the next
instant, was rs rapidly traverSing the lot
tom of the glen. Snirrup, the cattle dog,
rushed barking and whining upon him, rs
IN tit of madness, and then bounded ON
before him. Robert followed in brea,hless
anxiety, stopped the next moment by the
sight of George Maxwell's horse lyinr
crushed and dead. Robert cast rapid
glance around, expecting every moment tc
sec !i;s friend equally iiioiess Biit presently
he heard The faint sound of 4 Human
voice.
! AHS'C ''I NcolSe, stretched IN th< midst
OF grassy thceet, with lace expressing
agony and exhaustion. Robert seized hi:
offered hand, and George called first for
water. His friend startedbp and ran down
the valley Mt full spe6As IIe vas soon
back with pauakin ofWater, which thc
sufferer drank with avidity.
lie now learned that, as had been sup
posed, in the thick smoke, the horse haJ
gone over the precipice, and was killed il
an instant. George had escaItsI. his fall
being broken by his sleel; ami he Wa
flung back into the thiokct, wllieh again
softened the shock Of his desceSEsS is& h,
had broken leg, and WAS. BFf!g ex
trcncIy bruised and torn. Life, tdStFSer
was strong within himi and Turcens;stiz
Robert lost no time in having a litter .