Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-05-25


to danger. On the other hand, Duncan A
dair was depending altogether upon her as
surances that he should be free. She hai
offered her assistance If she had not, ht
probably might have obtained help from
some one else; but now it was impossible
to morrow would be too late. .a
Pauline grew pale as she said to herself
"Well, be must be free, that's all" Ther
hastily changing her dress for dark calico
wrapper, she ran down to the summer house
Uncle Ned soon made his appearance -
AS be came near she arose and said: "Un
Gle Ned, do the Yankees station pickets or
this road" - 20
"Why yes; bless your soul, Miss Pau
line, dem debils everywhar." s
"Is it not possible to go through the
woods and avoid them ?'
The old man scratched bis head eyes
Miss; people 'voids 'em some times, bu1
de got mighty sharp eyes-dem Yankees
every we'll, we'll get by them, or well
get round them at any rate"
"We get by 'eiaY WAo get by EN-,
Miss Pauline? ?" . - ~.
"You and I, uncle Ned" answered Pau.
line, "auietly."
"Mercy pom u.s.! What de chile think
ing Of"
"Hush unole Ned, don't speak SO loud.
I will tell you 7 have no one to help me
but you; depend upon you"
eyes, chile; you may pend upon me-
You been always mon'sus good to me, and
if you is gwine to take wild goose chase,
I'll stick close to you anyhow"
"Well-but you must not tell any one. "
"Don't you be afraid, Miss. I come from
old Virginny, nuff said"
"Wsll, as soon as it is dark, I am going
to town to night Iwish you 10 60 with
me. We cannot ride, for We should be
stopped by the pickets, 80 we must walk
and must start early, as early as we can
without being suspected. There is canoe
1 have frequently seen tied under the old
sycamore by the river. I am almost sure
we can get that, and you will paddle me
over to the other side."
eyes, Miss, but thar's some drift still
floating on the river"
"That cannot be helped; we must try
and avoid it."
"Sartinly, Miss Pauline; but I'm mighty
jubous about the weather." and uncle Ned
looked up at the sky, which mas becoming
darkened with those hassy spring clouds
that 80 often gather. -:
"Ifit rain," Pauline remarked, $50 much
the better"
-"Very we'll, Miss; be ready"
After tea, Mrs. Murray complaining of
a sngnJ neauacne, retired to her room, Pau
line dismissed the servants telling them
that she would see that the house was fast
eued; then fastening all the doors except
one at the back of the house, she passed
out through that, and in few minutes two
figures might have been seen, one envelop-
ed in black silk mantle, creeping STEALTH
y along through the lane, close in the
shadow of the fence. The moon was wa.
ding heavily through the clouds, and only
now and then, a burst of; light fell upon
them -Pauline's heart beat so fact, that
she felt as if It would burst through her
bodice: her suppressed breathing did not
seem to furnish half the air that was neces.
sary for her lungs.
They had intended turning into second
lane that led from the first; bnt Pss.Ss 1sp
oying she saw a man at the head of the lane
touched uncle Ned, and, climbing a fence,
dropped into the field beyond. There a
range of bushes screened them from the
fancied sentinel. The ground had been
plowed for corn, and every step she sunk
into the soft earth. She struggled ol, how
ever, until she came to . woodland pasture,
and there the walking was better, and the
shade more secure. By the time they had
reached the river, the clouds had quite over.
cast the moon, and flashes oflightning from
time to time, Illuminated their way. The
wind blew in gusts, and occasionally, large
drops of rain were felt upon their faces and
hands.
The ground was so familiar to uncle Ned
that the canoe was found without much
difficulty, but it seemed to Pauline that she
had never seen him so long about anything
as he was in untying the rope. She feared
every moment that Yankee soldier would
come. She bent her head and listened
painfully, and at the sound of passing
cow, she shrank upon the bank ready to
faint. -.:
The canoe was unmoored, and Pauline
crouched down in the bottom while uncle
Ned pushed it out from shore. It seemed
a mere egg she'll between them and the tuf-
bulent waters. The current was swift, and
although the river was no longer rising, oc-
casioual logs and other drift'came floating
past. The darkening sky aided the passage
of the boat, for to one on shore it appeared
to be but portion of the drift. Uncle
Ned used the paddle softly, and half floating
half rowing, he at last reached the other
bank, but far below the point he had at
tempted to gain.
Neither had spoken q word. Pauliue's
feet were cold and wet with the water in .
the bottom of the canoe, but she did not
notice it !; her soul was swallowed up in ap-
prehension, Once landed, she whispered :.
Irncle. where can you fasten the canoes