Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-08-30

and has, probably, ere this suffered accord
ing to the common usages OF war; g,,
20 God "sobbed the poung lady, falling
on the floor and wringing her hands in the
most acute agony. Must, Oh! must he
die Is there no possible escapeg
.Not the least !'repled the man in the
SINE figid tone. 4 do beg Of you to be
more calm, for you will injure your own
health, if you allow. this matter to trouble
you SO severely; and he attempted TO ass;st
her to rise. r
Her grief was instantly checked, and she
sprang to her feet. The color had entirely
forsaken her features, and she stood as a
statue, with her large lustrous eyes fixed in
steady gaze upon the face of the man be-
fore her,
Henry! what do yoa mean 2 she STAN.
mered the moment that she could command
her voice. 'IIavc been deceived? Have
you selfish motives in this matter? Great
God, Henry, this is awful
These words caused sudden tremor to
pass over the mans heart, and lis check 70
blanch, but the sensation was Immediately
subdued, and his contenance wore its usual
serenity. "o
Let US pause here and make the reader
better acquainted with the peculiar position
of these two, persons eere we proceed any
further. -
Col. Ransford ian enthusiast in the cause
Of the colonies, and particular friend of
Gen. Putnam, was the owner of tl,o cot
tage to which we have alluded. His wife
had been dead two years, during which
lime Edna, their only Child, had superinten-
ded her fathers domestic affairs at Will
low Cottage as the place was famiIiarly
called.
Edna was rich in knowledge and good
ness of heart, possessed of great beauty, and
her worldly prospects we're such as to have
attracted the attention Of many suitors !;
but entertaining no respect for the arts of a
coquet, she had studiously avoided giving
ncouragemcnts where her heart did not
sympa,hiz. with the object.
There was onc however, as might have
been expected, 10 whom the heart of the
high-minded. Edna could open with full
confidence. That person was Ellis Dan,
forth, q private in lilo federal army under
Gen. Putnam.
Ellis, by his upright department and
bravery. had obtained the good opinion Of
his general, and the confidence Of Iris fellow
soldiers. lie was generous, kid, courteous
and condescending yet resolute and de-
'ermined, when in pursuit of right; and
exhibited will and fxedpess of more than
ordinary capacity.
Forty.eight hours preceding this inter-
view between Henry and EJna, Ellis, hay
ing been iutrusted with the important duty
Of spying out the movements O, the British
garrison at Brunswick, was detected. The
appalling news fell heavily upon Ednas
heart, and well nigh crushed it beneath the
overwh Ginning grief. ~.
The young man-Henry Ransford--who
held the cologuo with Edna, was her own
cousin. Five years before this period he
was suitor for her hand, and had been
most determined in his endeavors to. win
her heart. She, however, had never en-.
couraged hims and supposed that ne had
long since rclipquisbef all claims as n lover,
and she had even takeuhi into her conf
dence to certain extent.
He was a captain .in,the American army,
and very intimate with General Putnam,
who looked upon the yonng officer as
brave, honorable ieman. - W. =
Edna, being anxious to SECURE The aid of
the commander, in reseuipg her lover from
tl'e British, bad, perhaps, opened her heart
too freely to her cousin I; yet she. bad meyer
questioned his faith; NOR doubted Biz. pro
fessions Of friendship1ptil thateyeniog, ana
tbs faotthat he still entertained. spch. feel.
iigs had chilled her heart 70 the very core
causing her tQ.start back With mute aston
ishment.
CHAPTER H. ~. .
i We now turo back,to the time when
Ellis Dahforth .1oek his lesvc eas Gen. Pass
nam, and started op the hazasaops lndetk3
ipg Of reeopnoiterings the British. camp.
Iahe movements wouldauscessarily sbsa aatten-
dsd with great peril and, there WAS not d
man IN The 4nerief gsrrisoi, bettatsquali
fed for the misaioi youpg Daofdstb;
norepe in WHOM SD Pufasm wouldshave
placed mofs eonfas
ELI. pspfoilh hid fscssiYsa carefa,jn-:
stEgetions satthe cdurse.vhts sbesswsato
Rh<sue, and XVIII aatsrine prpspscs Of DO. DO
1eess, be passsa The oaif ssneso lis way
toward BEpfswick. ..'seH - :,