White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-11

e laughing as / saw him 90 down the streets o
d Georgetown, the bayonet still sticking into him
c like skeWer into . trussed fowl. hauled up
. and came of safe; and that's the last we've
; heard of Major Gainey."
{ With narratives like these the night passed, tn,
: old butler listening with open mouth and ears
. At length, toward midnight, the tread of &
horses feet was heard, and directly clear, com.
) handing voice was heard calling Macdonald BY
/ name.
'The captain, BY the Lordn' exclaimed the
sergeant, jumping up as if struck by an electric
, shock. "Here he is at last alive and sound,
which began to fear for-huzzah.- but stop.
Now Jacob Snow, ESQ.,, deliver your mission
Stand up like man, as l do, and don't sway
about like pine tree in hurricane. Captain,
this gentleman has message for you from Miss
Mowbray, but he's too drunk to know it."
At these words our hero, who was regarding
the group with look Of silent rebuke, turned
suddenly on the old butler, who was, If the
truth must be told, the only sober one in the
party. flash ofjoy lit up Captain Preston's
face as he extended his hand for the supposed
letter. Jacob had no missive of that character
to deliver, but had come wholly on his own re-
sponsibility, and hesitated what to say. While
the two parties were thus regarding each other,
we will explain the incident which had brought
them Unexpectedly together.
Captain Preston had found great difficulty in
regaining the camp, in Consequence Of Major
Lindsay having left word of the place where he
sought refuge, with some tories in the neighbor-
hood. These men anxious to secure so redoubt-
able leader, had Immediately stationed pa
trolls at all the usual outlets Of the swamp, and
thus twice had our hero been driven back into
its recesses, once narrowly escaping death. At
length, however, in the night he Ia succeeded
in GLIDING his enemies, and gained the high
road. His fight led him into a district full of
tories, and he was forced to travel with great
caution and making long circuit in order to
return to camp. Meantime his absence there
had occasionod much alarm, especially among
his troop; and Macdonald had intended if he
did not appear by the next morning, setting
forth to make inquiries respecting him, fearing
he was dead.
The old butler had been in camp two days.
He had attended his mistress to Georgetown,
and was the only one who suspected the true
state Of Hates heart. He loved that fair eroa-
ture with the blind devotion dog shows to its
master; he had long been satisfied that her az
fectiOns were given to Preston. OF our hero he
had some such idea as the old romancers had of
Paladin of former days, looking on him as
capable of doing any deed, no matter how i'm
possible. To Jacob it seemed only necessary
that Preston should know of Kate's danger. in
order to secure her. Accordingly, when he
found the marriage actually resolved on and the
day fixed, he stole out of Georgetown, and made
his way to MaiOn's camp.
Here the news Of Preston's absence fell on
him like thunderbolt. But he knew that no
one else could assist; and moreover he held
Hates secret too sacred 70 be impaired to 9TH
ers. Meantime he found much amusement in
listening TO the tales OF the soldiers, and he was
never happier than when, with mouth wide open,
he sat devouring some story Of the war. He i'm
plicitly believed everything he heard, and he
thought with humble vanity what sensation he
would create in the kitchen at Blakely Hall,
when he rehearsed there those tales; for Jacob
in his lowly way, was a sort of Froisart, and,
with the unctious old canon, thought nothing
so honorable and glorious as gallant feats of
arms"
Preston now drew the butler aside and said:
"Have you the letter here?''
"PIease, massa," said the old fellow, deter |
mined to blurt through the business with round
falsehood as he could think of nothing else Just
then that would serve his turn: "Please, mas
"a, that was a cursed lie in Sergeant Macdon- !
add never had letter from Miss Kate, but |
have one lily message from her. She's in
Georgetown, IN pOlemic; she must marry Ma
jor Lindsay, or Mr.. Mowbray will be hung"
"Good Godr' exclaimed Preston, ewhat is It |
you say7 TriAe not with me" be said stsrnl y, |
seizing him by the collar.
"As true as dare is heaven above" said the |
old butler. trembling, and half frightened out of
his wits: "what say is de Gospel truth"
He then proceeded to give Preston more
detailed account of affairs, 80 far as they were
known to him, adhering generally to the truth,
except in roundly asserting that Kate had sent
him.
Preston's heart throbbed when he heard this. /
Kate leyed him afterall. Hope whispered TO him |
in a bewildered dream; for. If she could be res
cued what happiness might be his. But then
came the thought, how was this to be effected.
Kate was in Georgetown, post Of considerable
strength, and no succor could reach her except
BY stratagem; yet with time this might be ef-
fected. But in what manner could the vigilance
Of guards be sarmounted. and the prize carried
oE-for il was necessary 70 rescue her father rs
well as herself Suddenly the voice Of old ia
cab aroused him from the train Of thought into
which he was plunged.
"DAre IL lilly time LETT sare, ;" be said, "for
have waited here two days. Tomorrow night
it win be tOo. late. for den de wedding takes
place"
.'To-morOv night" said Preston sghast, for
now he heard, for the first, of the period fixed
for the marriage. "God ofheaven.it ia already
too late-she Is lost forever.''
He turned his face, tortured With anguish, mp
to the moon, which was sailing fall and bright
through the blue depths Of air How calm and
unrufIed vas that silr cry planet Ages ago it
had shOne thus, equally cold and unsympathis-
ing. Il had seen the sacrifice ofJeptha's daugh-
a 81 o.. q IL