The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1859-05-03
CHAPTER II.
FIRE AND s W o R D u.

point to point to meet and repel the invaders,
who cndeavored to force an entrance threngh
the windows and doors simultaneously The
voice of Tom Hutter swelled loudly above the
,dinsof conflict The struggle was kept up With
determined spirit by the besieged. While
s.sch was engaged with an enemy, Jessie Burn
side cried out that party of them had beaten
do&n one Of the doors aud were pressing into
the ball.-
Podijah and Haueiaurst sprang to meet them.
Fer q time the result was doubtful, but victory
finally turned in favor of the defenders whose
: powerfal blows and hearty courage they could
not withstand. Those who were not repulsed
we're left upon the floor with broken heads
The door was replaced and everything nova
bls piled against it. ~ '-7 -
The Tories ignominiously withdrew to the
shtlser of the surrounding trees and sl,rubbery,
and Hutter hoped that the attack would mot
again be renewed.
The girls during the scene, behaved nobly.
Overcoming the natural timidity of their sex,
they made themselves useful to. their brave
friends in various ways. Paul Hazelhurst
fought like lion, If he entertained fears,
they were not for himself, but for Jessie Burll
side and her companions When he paused
from the conflict, painting and thirsty, she
brought him water; her little hand presented
the cooling dranght to his lips. He would
gladly have imprisoned that ministering men,
Der in his own and pressed grateful kisses up
on it, had propriety sanctioned the act.
3AreI you wounded r she asked hurried
ly. .,,
u do not know" he replied. q have rot
thought of myself l have thought only OF you
and Your friends, I never have. time to think
of mysclfwhen yousare near; / should despise
myself if did"
@You are too brave, too gcnerous?" answer
ed Jessie, with emotion "You expose your
self needlessly you have too lnicll contempt
{ for DANGER Z Il - Z tSsssss
= IneFe Is no such worn as dssi.ss,,s men q
do battle for the safety and honor Of Jessie
Burnside" = 2.tat.4 H.
@Too chivalrous! toochivalrous!" exclaimed
Jessie. an. ~. .z.s
,I can't quite understand this silence" said
.Hutter, approaching Hszelhurst
.aWax nv fax, if don't believe the critters
has got enough on'tp said Podijab. "You see
theyr can't stan near so much -hammcrin' Us
folks can as are fghtin' for liberty. a few
right smart knocks takes the starch right out
Of EN-"
-Theyy'rc towards if they don't try it again.
returned Hufter. There's dozen OF 'em, at
least, and they ought to be match, in the
course Of natur', for four but we've got some
thing within US that they haven't-love of
friends, home, country and justice. See what
work they've made of your house, Miss Jessie
the winders are riddled, the doors broke, the
furnitary ruined, and everything at sixens and
sevens" Ak kESESn SE{ss5
1--WE love Laurclwood," replied Jessie, "bnt
we love the cause of freedom better. The de-
struction of property will greve us but little, If
valuable lives are spared and the Tory niscre-
ants punished"
Furnished 2-be assured that they will" ex-
claimed Paul Hazehurst. "Heaven is Just! !
Some of them are even now rcaping the reward
of their villainy. Look at those expiring wretch
es who fell near the door. Listen to their
means of anguish What thought have they
to comfort them and soften their pains of dis
solution They die-a horror to themselves
and every justice-loving mind. What re-
membrance the Tories ef South Carolina will
leave to postcrity r
1.-The word Tory will be the synonym of in
fanny" said Judith.
The night had set in quite dark, and objects
could BE- seen at short distance only. The
trees looked dim and misty in the nocturnal
gloom. Tom Hutter and his comrades strain
ed their eyes in every direction in search OF
their foes, but without discovering them. The
surrounding scenery was as qniet as if it had
never been disturbed bv the sound of human
conflict nothing broke the quictudc save the
proans of the wounded in the house, and, at
long intervals, the cry of wolf in the tangled
hedges of Laurel Swamp.
The fears of the young ladies began to sub
side: an assurance-faint and trembling, at
first-that those lawless men had retired and
would not return to renew the conflict, took
possession of their minds. A glow ofhope re-
turned to their pale checks As their own
danger grew less imminent, in their estimation,
feelings Of compassion for the wounded Tories
visited their hearts They would have produ-
ced lights to examine their condition, and make
remedial applications, had they not been eau
toned by their more experienced defenders.
Half an hour elapsed. The silence continued
unbroken Tom Hutter was not at case, but
walked about nervously, casting prying gances
from one window, then from another. He was
suspicious and unsatis6ed. He knew that they
had suffered loss, but not enough to prevent
brave r,en, or persons of even ordinary hardI-
hood, from making further attempts.
Paul Hazehurst at first shared Hutters s IN
quietude, but finally joined the ladies' confident
that there was no immediate danger to appre-
hend.
81 can't comprehendPit it p muttered Hutter
in a perplexed manner. "There's alters mis-
chief goin' on when folls sre STILL"
That's about my own way o thinkin,,' re-