Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-04-29
And 1, One-eyed Saul y cried Pollard, i


while scowl of hatred gave additional ma
ignance to his expression.
+ He has visited the Burnsides at Iaure
wood remarked Langford.
, as it Judith Or Jessie ?' asked Pollard, wit
t a sneer.
sit shall be neitherr thundcred Vantassl
+ casting fierce glances around him. "Let !
join hands" he added, "and swear that we wi
|, respectively abide by the ballot"
This was instantly done; with clasped hand
and unsheathed sabres they renewed their tel
rible compact, invoking direful penalties fthe
, proved recreant TO their oath. The League @
the Seven was complete szez
They separated, and went their several ways
A moment later and nothing but the snouI
dering enlbers of their fire remained to mari
the spot where they had met.
CHAPTER II.
LAURELwooD.
Twilight stole silently upon Iaurelwood; il
curled in upon the mansion and surrounding
trees like pale, soft mist. 1t was a very
quiet hour, but to Jessie Burnside there was
something in expressibly oppressive in the air.
Her fair companions, Ruth Haviland and Ju-
these feelings of uneasiness With the ex-
ception of Blinko a black servant, and Jupe,
a mulatto girl, these ladies were at this time,
the sole occupants of the house, Mrs. Burnside
being absent in attendance upon sick relative,
while Mr.. Burnside was serving in Marion s
brigade. 1t was at that period when the strug-
gle for liberty was dark and hopeless. South
Carolina was overrun with pitilesS enemies, and
devasted with fire and sword. Toryism was
rite and stalked abroad like destroying angel
shifting old and young. No man trusted his
neighbor until he stood shoulder to shoulder
with him in battle No one knew where
to find faith and good fellowship till danger
and death had come to apply the test to
friend and brother.
Burnsides mansion-which had received the
name of Iaurewood on account of its
proximity to Laurel Swamp-was so distant
from towns and cities that he fiattered himself
its uuietude would not be intruded upon by
marching armies wandering bands of loyal
lists. 1t is true that he left his beloved ores
with reluctance, and was often harrassed with
fears for their safety; but duty-yea, necessity
called him to the field, and he went, hoping
that Providence would protect those he left at
home. So far, Laurelwood had not been mo-
Tested. The terrible tales of the atrocities COM
mitted in neighboring towns and hamlets were
daily reaching him. The young ladies had re-
Gently, too had their fears excited by the per-
secutions of certain persons, whose characters
and principles were alike obnoxious. With
these parties we shall soon become better ac-
quainted.
Wishing to conceal her detection of mind
and see if the open air were not more exhilira-
ting, Jessie Burnside opened the door, and
stepped out, as she believed nnobserved by
Ruth and Judith. There was small summer
house overgrown with vines few yards dis
tant; she entered it, and sat down. She
had scarcely done SO, when she heard a voice
pronounce her name. She sprang up with
cry of terror. A large rough hand was laid
rudely over her mouth; it was the hand of
Martin Vantassle.
"Come, Miss, don't be frightened, for l am
neither a wolf nor panther, but plain Martin
Vantassle-as good man as yon can find
atween here and the mouth of the Santee.-
What's better, I'm kings man, and the
kings men here have it all their own way
now"
"Y ou are rude and unmannerly, sir p cried
JESSIE pushing him from her Indignantly. "If
you have business with me, speak and be-
gomez
"Well, Mistress, have matter of busi-
ness with ye, l reckon, which shall last for life,
if you like it. l amt a person that can talk
much, and haven't great deal of time to spend
in that soft palaver they call love-making; but
want wife right hard, and you're the gal
I've kinder fixed my mind on
"Oh, this is your wooing " said Jessie, con-
temptuously. LET me tell you, Martin Van
tassle, that your wooing is odious. You are
bear"
That's right, Miss; call me pet Names
You can make me the best-natured bear in the
world, if you will"
Vantassle attempted to tap her playfully un-
der the chin with his clumsy hand.
Don't touch me! there is contamination in
the touch of one who turns traitor, and be-
trays his own country1nen to foreign invaders.
[ have no patience with you, nor those of your
character or habits of thinking, who are asso-
ciated with you in your crime and spoliation.
The word Tory makes me shudder; your pres
ence disgusts me, while your deeds fill me with
horror p
She tried to escape from the summer-house.
Vantasse caught her by the wrist
"Not so fast, my scornful Now is the
reign of might over right. Law and order
are fed the land. Fear of magistrates is now
before our eyes. We don't ask, Shall we do
this or that !? but we do as we list. l want
you, and ami come fol you
"This is frightful !" gasped Jessie. al shall
die with terror Blinko Help-help"
At that moment she heard the report of
rife not far off.
Did you hear that ?" asked the Tory with
triumph. at was for Blinko, I'll be sworn
I left a man on his track that can knock over
dollar at a hundred yards."
"Spare me! Have we not been ncighbors
Were we not friendly before this terrible war.
Remember, cntreat of you, that am poor,
| trembling girl, with no protector"
| "I shall have no trouble in remembering the
last, I'll warrant. shouldn't trusted myself
here if you'd been surrounded by the cursed
rebels Come, gal our home is in Laurel
Swamp"
With quick, unexpected movement Van
tassel drew her to him, lifted her in his arms,
and moved towards the dark and tangled mass
of wood lying in the rear Of the mansion, at
the distance of hundred rods, and covering
an area of ten miles in circumference.
By this time Ruth and Judith had missed
her, and came running to the spot as he was
bearing her away. They cried loudly for assis-
tance, while terror nearly deprived them OF
sense and volition. At the moment when the
catastrophe seemed complete, tall man, with
a large, black patch over his left eye, and
a long rifle in his hand, sprang from clump Of
shrubbery, seized Vantassle by the throat, wres.
ted Jessie from his grasp, and choking him till
he was black in the face, hurled him to the