Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-02-21

protect the settlement" against the increas-
ing depredations of thieves and other law
less men. About noon they began, singly
and in pairs, to appear along the roads and
through the timber; and by three o'clock,
all, to the number of twenty-five, had arrived.
A repast, more remarkable for profusion than
elegance, was set before them, and bolted
without ceremony. A large room was then
prepared for their reception, and their deli
berations commenced.
During the day Lowden and his wife had
repeatedly visited Nelie's chamber, and en-
deavored to persuade her to come forth
She had regained her composure, to some
extent, but the swollen eyes and aushedface
too plainly indicated that she had weptlong
and bitterly. Even Tilford, who, however,
did not feel at liberty to enter, failed, after
repeated knocking at her door, even to elicit
an answer AS he turned away, Lowden
took his arm and led him out to the detach-
ed building, in which the Regulators were
only waiting their appearance to open the
council.
On leaving home, Thornton, as we stated
before, had, almost unconciously, taken the
road which lead him past Lowden's door
But recovering himself as he approached the
familiar enclosures, he turned sharply to the
left; and crossing the little stream below the
point where he had shot the deer, in the
morning, struck into path which led to the
west, in the rear, but out of view of the
house He had walked on for half mile or
more regardless Of the direction, but hover
ing without purpose round the point to which
his feelings tended, when he was startled by
a hail from the very depths of the wood:
"Holloa, stranger p shouted avoice, chow
in the name of Moses, is a man to get out Of
this? ?" p.
"Walk out-or, if you have horse, ride
out" Thornton answered gruhly, and was
walking on.
A glance at the man showed Thornton
that the stranger was peddler,-quite a
common class in all new countries.
He walked on, and the peddler followed,
driving over the broken ground with skill
and circumspection which made Thornton
wonder that he had ever fallen into the blum
der from which he had assisted in rescuing
him. Fifteen minutes brought them to the
inclosure of Lowden's stables and, opening
the rude gate for the peddler to drive through,
Thornton turned away on the path by which
he had come.
ole might have stayed till I thanked him
for his help, any how" the peddler mutter-
ed, as he sprang from his seat, and proceed
ed, without ceremony to unharness and sta
BILE his horses.
AS he issued from the door, after perform
ing this latter duty, he made complete cir
cult about the stables and corn-cribs, prying
under the floors of each, and apparently seek
ing some place of coneealment. He then
went to his wagon, and, after glancing sharp
ly around, to assure himself that he was not
observed, took from one of the boxes small
bundle, which, judging by his manner of
handling it, seemed to be both heavy and
precious. With this he returned to the rear
of one of the corn-cribs, and, STOPPING, thrust
it between the logs under the flooring, and,
drawing it close to the corner, effectually
concealed it from sight or accidental discov-
cry.
"They may be all honest enough" he
muttered, "but three hundred dollars in sill
yer is rather too much to try them with"
As he stood thus soliloquizing near his
treasure, he suddenly perceived Thornton
walking slowly away, along the fence. The
peddler's first thought was that he had been
watched, and his first movement was toward
resuming possession of his money. But his
purpose was arrested by voice whose very
tone BODIED more dangert to his property than
he had apprehended even from Thornton's
knowledge of its place of concealment.
"Halloa, here! what are you about?" de-
manded rough-looking fellow, in a blue
jeans hunting-shirt, with huge knife stuck
into his belt, and his bullet head covered by
a cap of raccoon-skin.
"Ive just been putting up my horses"
the peddler answered hastily. M'm trav-
cling merchant, and my name is Isaiah
Ketchum."
"Confound your namev' said the fellow
insolently. "What have you got to sell?"
"Everythinga gentleman wants-ora lady,
either" the peddler replied, leading the way
anxiously toward his wagon, and volubly
ringing the changes on the catalogue with
which he had endeavored to tempt Thornton.
But his merchandise was fated to remain, for
the present, on his hands. He was inter-
rupted by another, who called to his "cus-
tomer,"
"Come, Bolton" said he, "the company
is about to meet
"Let's go in, then," Bolton said; "we
can trade after a while"
The peddler would fain have remained be-
hind, in order to remove his precious depos-
it, but he imagined that Bottoms eye was
upon him, and, making virtue of necessi-
ty, followed that worthy across the Enclosures
and entered the house. As they crossed
the threshold they met Nellie, who had just
issued from her chamber, for the first time
since morning. The struggle seemed to be
over, but the ravages of the conflict were yet
visible in her face. There was glitter in
her eye and flush upon her cheek, which
were eloquent in both her grief and her res
oution to restrain it.
nIs your father in the house Miss Nellie?'