The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-27

had been made, VantassIe turned to Herrck
and asked:
what names have you brought Y
Herrick drew a soiied paper from his waist
coat poker, and bending toward the FIRE, read
the following names: @
Paul Haz slhurst Frank Hayiland, Tom
Hutter. Podijah Makepeace. Gideon Grant.
Biinko, niger, and Que eyed Saul of Laurel
Swamp -5-ss.-.s
Men, said vantasse. these are for the
sword We are to hunt them down and kin
them. By virtue of my authority. and by the
oath which you have sworn. 1 command you
to pnrsne the persons whose names You. have
heard. night and day. I'LL you have swept them
out OF existence .aA soy $50
There are seven of them and seven of u.s.
a man for each said Herrick 5' -
Let us determine Our respective men by lot,'
suggested Langford. e s SO
The idea is good, and by lot the matter
shall be decided added Vantassie.
The suggestion was eagerly received; its
novelty made it welcome The names of the
parties doomed to destruction were written on
seven slips of paper and drawn from Vantas-
sIe's cap by his associates. Herriek drew the
firs, ballot. = :. -,
Frank Haviland r he exclaimed .sa
The br ,ther Of RUTH said Pollard, with
a .shrug, and looking inquiringly at bis com
rade. 5s55 80 5gi s.H s.. sd IS.
Tom HITTER said Laugford, drawing, and
reading his ballot. s1qz 80 ts4lsst -
| Aud /, Blinko, the black said Nieolson
5 And /, One eyed Saulf cried Pollard, in
dismay. Is z
You've gotsomething to do laughed Van
tlssle IfyouE outwit Saul of Laurel Swamp
yon'll be the greatest mau among MS.
.Podijah Makepeace, an Internal 7 ankee 7
declared Tim Becker. looking at his ballot.
Simon Arrowsmith was the last to draw
lie drew Gideon Grant. leaving Paul Hazel
hurst for Vsntassle.
.Itis Just as wish it, observed the latter.
while scowl of hatred gave additional malig
nance to his expression aH m l5as 81
.He has visited the Bnrnsides at Laurel
wood. remarked Langford.' 4
as it Judith or Jessief' asked Pollard, with
snesr. 43d 81 ts54 sat t t50
i. lit shall be neither r thnndered Vantassle,
casting ierce glances around him. Let Us join
hands, be added, and swear that we will re
spectively abide by the ballot As
This was Instantly done; with elasped hands
and unsheathed sabres they renesed their ter
rihle compact, invoking direful penalties if
| they proved recreant to their OATH The
League of the Seven was complete. Sic
They separated, and went their several ways.
A moment Inter. and nothing but the smom--1
dering embers of their FIRE remained to mark
the spot where they had met - IS 44a5s, =
i Chapter II. bras II.
i z asi1lsHA : la s;IAUREEwoeD.trsl "a
Twilight stole silently upon Laureivood; it
curled in upon the mansion and surrounding
4 3trees like q pale. soft mist 1t was very
quiet hour but to Jessie Burnside there was
Esonething inexpressibly oppressive in the air.
4 Her fair comp Mons, Ruth Hayiland and Jul
dith Burnside, her sister, sympathizedi with
these feelings of uneasiness. With the excep
4 ton Of Blinko. a black servant, and Jupe, a
mulatto girl, these ladies were at this time, the
i sole occupants of the house, Mrs. Burnside
4 being absent ia attendance upon sick rela-
tive, while, Mr.. Burnside was serving in Ma
4 rio1's brigade. 1t was at that period when the
struggle for liberty seemed dark and hopeless:
South. Carolina was oyerruh with Dltiless enc
mics. and devastated with fire. and sword
lToryism was rife, and stalked abroad like de.
stroying angel. shifting old and young. No
man trusted his neighbor until he stood
i shoulder to shoulder with him 10 battle, No
one knew where 10 find faith and fellowship
till danger and death had come to apply the
sttest to friend and brother, -
!. Burnside's mans on--which had received the
|, name of Laurelwood on account of its prox-
s unity to Laurel 7swamp-was so far distant
. from towns and cities that he hattered himself
|. its auietude would not be intruded upon by
# marching armies or wandering bands OF loyal
lists tits trne that he left his beloved ones
oftar haro coH uitl,
fears for their safety; but duty-yea, necessity
him to the ield, and he went. hoping
}, that Providence would protect tho e he left at
b home. So far Laurelwood had not been mo-
E liesied. The terrible tales of the atrocities
II committed in neighbofing towns and hamiets
e we're daily reaching him. The young ladies
IF too, had recently had their fears excited by the
: ipefseeution Of certain persons. whose charac-
d iers and principles were alike obnoxious
with these parties we shall soon become bet
s. Ter acquainted. - +.
is / Wishing 10 conceal her detection of mind
N and see if the open air were not more exhier
,fI atipe, Jessie Barusile opened the door and
inlls,epped out. as che believed, unobseryed b.
to Ruth and Judith. There was small sumn'e
re house overgrown with vinesa few yards distant
inI she entered it, and satdown. She had searcei
ir done so wheu she heard a voice pronounce he
.'s name. She sprarg up with cry OF terror =
% IA large rough hand was laid rudely over he
n mouth; it wus the hand Of Martin Vantassle
1e Come, Miss, don't be frightened. for In
nd neither wolf nor panther. but plain Marti
VantassIe,-a as good a man as you can lin
id atween here and the mouth of the e'Santee.-
What's better. I'm kings man, and the king
o. men have il all their own way, now
~ oulre rade and 5unmannerly. sirp erie
nd Jessie. pushing him from her Indignantly ;
IF you have business with me, speak it an
,h, begonep
bis Well, Mistress, have matter of bushes
Elk with ye I reckon, which shall last for, life
re-; YOU like it / amt person thatscan tai
to mueh.apd haven't great deal OF time to sper
in chat soft palaver they call love making; b'
IN I've kinder fixed my miId on
sOh. this is your wooingp said Jessie, cor
ck Etemptuously. Let me tell you, Martin Val
tassle, that yonr wooing is odious. You a
uc a bear --ss.-5.--e il1f9 $50 s7its8
ofE t.That's right, Miss; call. ne, pet names
Y on CAP make me the best natured man in Il
e ? world if yon will ~
.Vantassle attempted to tap her. playful
ho' Iunder the chin with his clumsy hand:
10 Hs,Don't touch mel there is contamination
so the touch of one who turns traitor, and betra
sis his own countrymen to doFeign iinvaders-
ere have no patience with you, nor those of 70
) to character or habits of thinking, who are ass
I'm, Eciated with you in your crime and spoiiaiit
kon The word Tory makes me shudder; your pr
cry sence disgusts me, while your deeds fill me wi
and horror 9s + - ftt 3 33 - '-l'
not She tried to escape from the summer hou
on Vantassle caught her by the wrist.a41, as
do Mot 40 fast Snv .seornflll / Now is the rel