Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-23
CHAPTER II.
LAU r Z L W o oD.


trees like a pale soft mist. 1t very
quiet hour hut to Jessie Burnside there was
something ineXpressiblv oppressive IN the AIR.
Her fair companions Ruth Haviland and Ju-
dith Burnside, her sister, sympaihized with
these feelings of uneasincss. with the eX-
ception of Blnko. "a black 5, rvant, and Jupe,
a muIatto gill, these ladies were, at this time,
the sole occupants Of the house, Mrs. Burn
side hainp absent in attendance upon a sick
relative while Mr.. Burnside was serving III
Marion's brigade. Itwas at that period when
the Struggle for liberty seemed dark and hope
less. South Carolina was overrun with pitt
less enemies. and devastated with hre and
sword Turyism was rife, and stalked abroad
ike a destroying angel, smiling old and
vouno No man trust, bis neigbbor until he
stood shoulder to should with him III battle
No one knew where to find faith and good fel-
| lowship till dang, and death had come to ap-
ply the test to friend and brother.
Bnrnside's mansion-which had received the
! name of LaurelwOOd on account OF IT'S proX-
| imity to Laurel Swamp-was so tar distant
! from towns aud cities that he Il ittered himself
| its uuietude would not b. intruded upon by
| marching armies or wandering bands OF 10y
alisis. 1t is true that he left his beloved ones
| with reluctance. aud was often harrassed with
! fears Tor their safety; but duiy-yea. necessl-
! ty-called him TO the field, und he went. hop
! ing that +. evidence wnuld protect those be
| left ut home. So far. LaurclwOod had not
| been molested The terrible tales oil the
| atrocities commit in nrighhorlnS towns
! and l,anlrts were daily reaching him. The
Young ladies had recently, too, had their fears
| excited hy the persecution Of certain persons,
whose characters and principles were alike
! obnoxious. With these parties we snail soon
| b, come b, tier acquainted.
Wishing to conceal her detection of mind.
and see if the open air was not more eXhiltr-
! aling Jessie Burnside opened the door ana
| >t-pp, out a. she believed, unubScrvcd by
| Ruth and Judith. Th,re small sum
mcr house uvcrgl own with vines, IA lew yards
! distant: -he entured il and sat down. She bad
| scurc.ly done 50, wren she heard a voice pro-
uouuc, her name. She sprang up with cry
| of terror 4 large rough hand was laid rude
ly over her mouth; it was the hand Oi Martin
! VdntasSlr.
..C"me. Miss. don't he frightened. for am
| neither a wolf nor panther. but plain Mar
| tin Vantas~le-as good a man as you can mud
| atwecn here and the mouth Of the Santee.
| What's better, I'm "A kings man, and the
| kium's men have il all their own way, nos"
| ..You are rude and uumannery, SIR" cried
| Jessie. pushing him from her Indignantly.
| If YOU have business with me, speak 1t and
begone.
| well. mistress, | have matter of business
with We. IT exon. which shall last for lite. II
Won like it. | amt person that can talk
much and haven't great deal OF time to
sprnd in that sUIt palavcr they call love
making; but want IL wife right hard, and
you're the gal I've a kinder fixed my mind
on.
.:Oh This is your wooing!" said Jessie,
contemptuously Let me tell you, Martin
Vaulasslc. that your wooing is Odious You
are a bcar!
That's right, Miss call me pet names. You
can make me the best naturtd bear IN tie
world, if you will
Vantas.le attempted to tap her Playtully
und the chin with his clumsy hand.
Don't touch me there is contamination IN
| the touch of one who turns tran or, anu beti eyS
his own countrymen To foreign Invaders. l
have no patience with you, nor those OF your
i. character ur habits Of thinking. who are as
sociatcd with you in your crime and spolla-
lion. The word Tory makes me shudder;
your presence disgu,ls me, while your deeds
ill me with hOrrOr.'
/ She tried 10 escape from the summer house.
Vantasslc caught her hy The wrist.
Not so fast, my scornlul! Now is the
rcign Of might over right. Law and order
ARE # d the land. Fear of magistrates Is not
t now before our eyes. We don't ask, Shall
we do this ar IhatT but do ~ we list. /
want YOU and am come f"r YOU
This is lrighlful.' ga>prd Jessie. shall
de with terror! BlinkO! Blinko. Help =
/. help -
I Al that moment she heard the report of a
/ rifle not far oil -.
. ..Did Won hear that - asked the Tory, with
: a triumph lit was for Bluko. I'll he sworn
;, 1 left "A man on his track that can knock over
! "A dollar AT a hundred yards"
!, "Sparc me-! Have we not been nclghbors
/ We're we not friendly before this terrible war
2 Remember / eutrcal OF you, that am a poor
| II, milling girl, with no protector"
I Il shall have no Irorble In remembering
/ the lust, I'll warrant. | Shouldn't trusted my
i myself here, if YOU d bccu surrounded 10y th'
/ Cursed rebels. Come, gal. our home is II
1 | Laurel SSump.'
u WITH "A uuiv X, unexpected movement Van
ta>slc drew h Z To iim lifted her in his arms
c aud moved toward th dark and tangl1'
T IN ,,s Of wood lying Ia the rar OF the man
I sion AT the dislunuc of a hundred rods, ant
4 an area of ten miles IN circumference
| By thc lime Ruth aud Judith had missc'
Z her and came running to ihr spoi as ne wa
= bca. ing her away. They cried luudly lot a.
{ | ,iStancc, while terror nearly deprived
= n,,. and volition. At the moment when th'
= catas rophe seemed complete, tall man
: with "A large black patch over hts icli eye, dh'
L ! "A long rih, in his hand. sprang lton cluinl
= of shrubb, ry. seiZ, Il Nanta-sie hy Tue throat
y | wr,stcd Jtss.e from his grasp, ANA chnklhi
. him Til hc was black in Tie lace, huri'd hIh
| '
1 upnn the rarth his Vauquisher took hs mus
K | III tr,tn his uuueIVtd hand. discharged !
into the mir aud broke the stock aSaIh-t ia
trunk of "A tree. lie then drew tue pistol
/ from the Tury'S belt aud thrust them lnto IA
81 own IRON which already protruded ihe hutl
Of four Tue blade oI NaniasSies knlle IL
n snapped by thrusting II into the ei.H oi
{, rock but the heavy sable he buekied 10 hi
l. side leaving the ruiIiln entirely uuIfmcd.
Il II f .FI. al he
le your doc, aud -ay your prayers, Tor the lor.
IL hounds have scented blood, aud VIII h"t les
/ till they have gnrgvd ia ms, lves-'
II The tall. wild looking man glanced at Ie'
e sic. aud obsei wing that she WAS faint caugi
q her up as il she wrre an infant, aud cdrrie
her 10 The door. Placing her carefully NJ! hi
Is thr,shold hc rep, at, ii his startling warning
and vanished la the deepening shadows {
y night. lie wa, gonv before the young iadi'
had recovered sufficiently from their disnia
er To thank him.
Wbil, they gazed at each other In a stupc
II or wonder !, maa lrap,d high Z nee at "a
he right. aud crossing the Intervening gfonn'
n seood before thcm painting aud covered "i'
m ,,.r.uir,,tion. IL VAS Tom nuIIer, the pa
L iisan and scout. who Was known to tue heis
boring loyalists as a stauneh aud uns"er'in
pati iol aud brave nan, shrinking IRON
ID danger. and stunning none oi the Trepohs
n blliIirs II the part he nad ehoseh-
..Iom nutier = exclaimed Judith al
z, Ruth, simultaneously, what has haPPch'd
You are excited with effort; you can se1fsei
n. stand
ia Il have been pursued said Hutter.
have had a race ior dear iitc. la, aud barr
ii eade the doors A parry of the mis,'rao
el rene gadrs will be aers in inmate hhSre
X BnukoF"
Il don't know - said Judith. He went oS
y a tw minutes ago.
(Which way :" Asked ilutter.
v. Judith indicated The direction wiih h'