Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-04-30

malienance to his expression. .sE -afos-
"He has visited the Burnsides, at Laurel
wood" remarked Langford.
Is it Judith or Jessie ?" asked Pollard
with sneer. +. ..I li -,
cit shall be neither ~ thundered Vantas
sle, casting fierce glances around him. lie
us Join hands," he added, land swear tina
we will respectively abide by the ballot. I"
| This was instantly done with claspet
hands and unsheathed sabres they renewed
their terrible compact, invoking direful penal
ties if they proved recreant to their oath.-
The League of the Seven was complete.
They separated, and went their severa
ways A moment later, and nothing but tn
smouldering embers of their fire remained tt
mark the spot where they had met.
CHAPTER II.
Twilight stsle silently upon Laurelwood
it curled in upon the mansion and surrounding
trees like pale, soft mist 1t was very qui
ct hour but to Jesie Burnside there was some
thing inexpressibly oppressive in the air. Hel
fair companions. Ruth Haviland and judith
Burnside, her sister, sympathized with these
feelings Of uneasiness. With the exception
of Blinko, black servant, and Jupe, mu
lato girl, these ladies were, at this time, the
sole occupants of the house, Mrs. Burnside
being absent in attendance upon q sick rela
tive, while Mr.. Burnside was serving
in Aariop's brigade. It was at thai
period when the struggle, for liberty
seemed dark and hopeless. South Caro-
lima was overrun with pitiless enemies, anG
devastated with fire and sword. TOryisn
was rife, and stalked abroad like destroy
ing angel, shifting old and young. No mar
trusted his neighbor until he stood shoulder
to shoulder with him in battle. No one knew
where to find faith and good fellowship til
danger and death had come to apply the tes
to friend and brother.
Burnside's mansion-which had received
the name of fLaurelwOod on account of its prox
unity to Laurel Swamp-was so far distant
from towns and cities that he flattered himsel
it's quietude would not be intruded upon by
marching armies or wandering hands of 10y
alists 1t is true that he left his beloved ones
with reluctance, and was often harassed with
fears for their safety but duty-yea, neces
sity-called him to the field, and he went
hoping the Providence would protect those he
left at home. So far, Laurelwood had not
been molested, The terrible tales of the at
ocities committed in neighboring towns and
hamlets were daily reaching him. The young
ladies had recently, too, had their fears excited
by the prosecutions Of certain persons, whose
characters and principles were alike obnox.
ious. With these parties we shall soon become
better acquainted.
Wishing to conceal her detection of mind
and see if the open air, were not more exhil
n fha
stopped out, as she believed, unOoserved by
Ruth and Judith. There was a small sum-
mer house overgrown with vines, few yards
distant she entered it, and sat down. She
had scarcely done so, when she heard voice
pronounce her name. She sprang up with a
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 afraid, for I am
neither wolf nor panther, but plain Martin
Vantassle-as good man as you can find
atween here and the mouth of the Santee.-
What's better, I'm kings man, and the
kings meu have it all their own way,
now"
"You are rude and unmannerly, sir r'-
cIie Jessie, pushing him from her Indignantly
eff you have business with me, speak it, and
begoner'
"Well, Mistress, have matter of husi
ness with ye, reckon, which shall last fol
life, if you like it. amt person that car
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 are the gal I've kinder fixed my mind
on"
"Oh, this is your wooingr' said Jessie
contemptuously. "Let me tell you Martin
Vantassle, that your woolng Is odious. You
are bear I"
"That's right, Miss call me pet names-
You can make me the best-natured bear ir
the world if you will"
Vantassle attempted to tap her playfully
under the chin with his clumsy hand.
"Don't touch me there is contamination
in the touch of one who turns traitor, and
betrays his own countrymen to foreign inva
ders. have no patience with you, nor those
of your character or habits of thinking, wht
are are associated with you in your crime ant
spoilation. The word Tory makes me shud
der your presence disgusts me, while YOU
deeds fill me with horror ~
She tried to escape from the summer house
Vantassle caught her by the wrist.
"Not so fast, my scornful Now is thu
reign of might over right. Law and ordel
are fled the land. Fear of magistrates is no
now before our eyes. We don't ask. "Shal
we do this or that 2, but we do as we list
l want you, and am come for you."
"Thls is frightful ~ gasped Jessie. 81
shall die with terror Blinko Blinko He'll
-help?"
At that moment she heard the report of
rifle not far off,
Ibid you hear that S'' asked the Tory
with triumph. 'It was for Blinko I'll b.
sworn l left man on his track that cal
knock over dollar at a hundred yards"
"Spare me Have we not been neighbors
Were we not friendly before this terrible war
Remember, entreat Of you, that am poor
trembling girl, with no protector
81 shall have no trouble in rememberin,
the last, I'll warrant. l shouldn't trustet
myself here if you'd been surrounded by tn
cursed rebels. Come, gal, our home is il
Laurel Swamp"
tassle drew her to him, lifted her in his arms
and moved toward the dark and tangled mas
of wood lying in the rear Of the mansion a
the distance of a hundred rods, and covering
an area Of ten miles in circumference.
| Dy CilS Iuuc hutQ anu JuulCn naU mlSSet
her, and came running to the spot as he wa
bearing her away. They cried loudly for as
sistance, while terror nearly deprived them Q
sense and volition. At the moment when tn
catastrophe seemed complete, tall man wit
large black patch over his left eye, and
long rifle in his hand sprang from a clump Q
shrubbery, seized Vantassle by the throat
wrested Jessie from his grasp, and chokin
him till he was black in the face, hurled hir
to the ground. While Vantassle lay stunne
upon the earth, his vanquisher took his mus
ket from his unnerved hand, discharged it int
the air, and broke the stock against the trun
of tree. He then drew the pistols from th
Tory's belt and thrusted them in his OWL
from which already protruded the butts {
four. The blade of Vantassle's knife h
snapped by thrusting it into the cleft of rocl
but the heavy sabre he buckled to his side
leaving the ruffian entirely unarmed.
"In, gals, in - cried the rescuer. "Bs
your doors, and say your prayers, for the Tor
hounds have SCENTED blood, and will not res
/ hoN horo Al