Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-11-03

Get out of the carriage, Dedrick, and hold the
horses. am about to discharge my revolver
There-are you ready now? Don't be alarmed
the horses will not start A moment after, three
loud reports re-schoed over the moor in rapid
succession; after which, Milton shouted thrice,
and then quietly re. entered the carriage.
Vat you do dat for 2 asked Dedrick, holding
in the horses.
None of your business said Milton but il
you are particularly anxious, wait few mo-
ments.'
After the lapse of some fifteen minutes, light
shoue through the thickly-wooded forest, and
few moments after, an old man, made his appear
snce with lantern in his hand.
Hal said he Claude Milton here :? ..
Lead the way, JASON said Milton; 4 have
something to say to you Then turning to Ded-
rick, he continued: Remain where you are for
a few minutes, and will soon rejoin you
Jason Immediately turned about, and walked
slowly, and with hating steps into the dark, and,
apparently, painless woods; while Milton fol
lowed him in silence. At last they came to the
old, dlapidated cabin, into which they silently
entered.
Where is old Loo p asked Milton, seating him
self upon an old chest, and fixing his darkly flash
ing eyes upon Jason.
She's gone, sir, said Jason, seating himself
upon the head of an empty barrel, and throwing
o blanket over his shoulders.
Gone where % asked Milton, sharply.
Don't know
sWhy did you suffer her to escape ?-answer
me, thou Internal old william! said Milton.
Il am an old man, Claude Milton, and could
not keep her here against her will. She told me,
that she was going; and in trying to prevent
her, she struck me here'-pointing to scar up
on his forehead-tand felled me to the earth with
a blow from that old gun barrel, which deprived
me of sense or movement for many hours. when
came to myself. she was gone
Thou liestv said Milton, stamping his feet
You allowed her to escape, without an effort to
prevent it. Hell-houud did you not promise to
keep her here until you heard from me!'
Claude Milton said Jason, if were few
years younger would smite you to the earth and
trample your life out-you heartless william
How, sir = said Milton; dare you thus address
me?'
.Hark We, Claude Milton = said Jason, stag
gering from his seat, and throwing back his sill
very locks, Il have served you we'll and long;
have sold soul and body to you for your accursed
gold-but,' and the old man raised his hand to
heaven, He, whose retributive justice ever over
takes the transgressor is about to bring to naught
our devices and plots and reveal to the world
our true characters. am an old man, Milton
and already has the icy finger Of death been feel
ing about my heart. strings. I know that shall
soon be elsewhere God knows where and,
therefore, it matters not to me how soon the hang
man comes along but, oh Milton! you are COM
paritvely young you have wife and daughter
to live for, who look up to you for advice, coun-
sell and support. Hearken to me, and leave Eng.
land Immediately, before your plots and wicked
schemes are all revealed; your life sacrificed,
and your family disgraced. That strange woman
Loo, has told me wonderful things; she knows all
that we have been guilty Of; and left this cabin
with the full purpose of revealing all to Edward
D'Vilton.'
sMercful heaven! = exclaimed Milton And
YOU know all this and yet allowed her to escape
Wretch Traitor you are leagued with Loo to
work nv ruin-to bring disaster upon my head =
L could not prevent her escape, Milton SAID
the old man glancng tremblingly upon the un-
sheathed dirk in Millions hands.
Thou liestr almost shouted Milton; rushing
upon Jason, and grasping him by the throat !;
'couldst thou not have poisoned her while eating;
straugled her when sleeping, or shot her when she
was leaving speak!
Coward said Jason, breaking from the grasp
of Milton; and, seizing apistol from a shelf, he
pointed its muzzle directly towards the breast of
Milton. Hast thou left thy home he continued,
sto murder q poor old man on this desolate moor.
Gods have mind to send thee bowling into
hell-thou wretched, cowardly monster!
Quick as thought, Milton, like an enraged tiger,
sprang forward, and struck the pistol from the
feeble grasp of Jason then, grasping him by the
throat, he pressed the old man to the floor.
.Dier said Milton; die, thou traitor dog?' and
his grasp tightened about the windpipe of Jason.
A few smothered cries, few feeble efforts and
on the part of Jason; and the lamp OF
life went out forever in the blackness Of an end
less death.
.Han Milton exclaimed as he sprang madly
to his feet and gazed upon the ghosty features Of
poor old Jason, distorted by the horror of the
death. struggle; 'ha! that black and protruding
tongue will tell no tales hereafter those eyes,
now bursting from their sockets, will never again
watch my movements Then, starting as ter
rife peal of thunder crashed along the dark heav-
ems, and died away in low mutterings in the dis
lance, he smote his brow with his clenched fists,
and exclaimed: The end oh God how will
it all endn
Silently, tremblingly, and with long, linger.
ing look into the dark wildwood, Milton approach
ed the carriage. Dedrick, poor, honest fellow,
with difficulty that he was awakened.
Get within the carriage, Dedrick,' said Milton,
jumping up beside him and taking the reirs. You
are too sleepy to drive safely
Dedrick silently alighted; after tumbling him
self into the bottom of the carriage, adjusted his
portly person for quiet nap, and was soon Iost
in the mazes ofsweet forgetfulness.'
Milton had but just started the horses, when
A. = doo, cd 90 o6rn1 he11 acrosS the
er pealed out with quick rapid strokes upon the
midnight air; then another, and yet another bell
rung out its tale of fire. until presently bright,
livid fame shot up from the very heart of Mono
town, accompanied with volumes of dense black
smoke.
"A fire, as live! exclaimed Milton, applying
the lash to the horses and my wife and child
alone. On! on! like winged things, the infuria-
ted animals dashed over the dreary moor. Bright
er and broader flames were bursting from the dis
taut town huge black columns of smoke rose
sullenly into the air. then foated off to the east
upon the wings of the night wind. This, with the
pouring rain, vivid lightning, and muttering thun-
der; together with the dark painless moor, and
the shrieking wind; this, with the sickening
screech of the owl, the neighing and snorthing
horses together with the terrible emotions Of his
bosom, this was enough to blacken the brow, un-
nerve the heart, and pale the cheek Of such man
as Claude Milton.
Onward! They are nearing the bridge now up
on it-now over it! Soon, very soon now, will
the boots of the weary horses clatter upon the
stormy streets of hometown.
sDedrick' shouted Milton, as he drove within
the limits of hometown but poor Dsdrick was too
sound asleep, and too closely embraced by King
Alcohol to pay any attention to the call, or to
e a. u. L. II4