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

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but his heart stood still, and his hand was
idle, while the deadly monster slowly gath
cred himself for the charge. Even those
appealing eyes, which almost started from
their sockets, and those blanched and quiz
ering lips, which in vain essayed to call on
him for help, could not break the spell upon
his limbs.
The brute drew himself back almost upon
his punches for the plunge-another moment
and his frightful antlers would have pierced
the helpless form before him. The crack of
a rifle range sharp and clear upon the morn
ing air-the deer sprang with spasm from
the ground, and fell at Ellen's feet, shot
through the very centre Of the brain.
The reaction was too great; Ellen was a.
bout to fall on the ground, when a tall, ath-
letic young man sprang from whence the op-
portune shot had come, and, casting his rifle
aside, grasped the sinking girl and drew her
tenderly to his arms. Thornton, at last freed
from the spell of horror, hastily advanced
but he received only cold glance from Ell,
lens soon-averted eye; and, as her deliver,
er seated her reluctantly upon the sward,
there passed between them long look Of
deep and earnest meaning, which gave Thorn
ton far more pain than it could have given
them pleasure. -...
"You come too late to be of much service,
I believe, Mr. Thornton" said the other, as
he mutely and timidly offered his assistance;
"unless," he added, "you could take this
knife and bleed that buck little"
An indignant glance was Thornton's only
reply to this insolent speech, and he turned
to Ellen.
care you going home, Ellen?" be asked;
nfor am bound thither and have something
to say to you"
"No Sir" she replied, in voice of great
sweetness, "not until have thanked Mr..
Tilford for his timely interference. And
you ought to thank him, also;-that is, if
what you have to say is Of much importance;
for, had he not been present, probably you
would never have had the opportunity you
seek"
There was tone of contemptuous severi
ty in her voice, which brought the blood
mantling to Thornton's forehead; but Tilford
interposed.
"Thorntoa's gun was empty" he said,
Esand he was too much startled by your pres.
ence to act with much promptness, for, ]
suppose, he was not expecting you, as l
was"
GAS you were!" exclaimed Ellen, now
rising to her feet, but smiling archly and in
telligently in his face. "Why, what right
had you to expect meY"
Tilford laughed quietly, and said, as he
turned away, "Hear what Thornton has to
say, while 1 bleed this dangerous fellow
and then I will tell YOU"
There was an air of security in his manner
which CALLED Thornton exceedingly; but he
drew her gently aside, and when out Of ear.
shot, addressed her imploringly:
"Come away with me, Ellen DEAR" he
said, "for + have that to say which will not
brook longer delay"
"Can you not sayit here ?" she asked ir.
resolutely.
"No, no, not here" he answered eagerly
"come, come away"
He had almost conquered; but she CLAN.
ced at Tilford, who was busted with the deer,
and the opportunity was past.
at would be rude to 60 off in this man,
ner," she said, "and you can just as well
speak here as any where else"
"Ellen Elem exclaimed her lover,
"you grieve me beyond measured
"Grieve your" she said, opening her fine
eyes as in great surprise; chow sol"
care you not now casting me out of your
heart" he asked, with accents full of grief
and reproach, "to replace me with this inso.
lent Virginian"
The color, which her recent danger driven
from her cheeks, now rushed in deep flush
back to her very temples. She turned ber
face away, but gave him no answer for some
moments, while he stood eagerly awaiting
her reply, despairing, yet unwillingto believe
what was but too evident.
"Was this what you wished to say to me?'
she at last asked, covering her confusion by
feigning an indignation which she did not
feel.
But, before he could answer, Tilford, hav,
ing dispatched the deer, threw his rifle into
the hollow of his arm, aud cut their confer.
ence short.
"From your looks" he said, ri should
suppose Thornton's communication must have
been a serious one."
"More serious than agreeable" Ellen re.
piled and, with one earnest look of sorrow
and reproach, Thornton resumed his gun and
walked rapidly away.
For once jealousy had pointed to the truth
John Lowden, Ellen's father, and Basil
Thornton, having been reduced in circum
stances by the pressure of 1916, had set out
together from the Old Dominion, in search
of new home and for two years after theil
settlement in Illinois had continued as they
had been in Virginia, near neighbors and
warm friends At the end of that time,
however, disappointment, hard labor, and the
diseases incident to new country, brought
the latter to the grave, and his burdens de-
volved upon the untried shoulders of his on
ly son, to whom the reader has been intro
duced.
Between him and Lowden's daughter, Mel