The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1864-02-17

on the morrow that she had really visited
the spot, she rapidly walked towards the
z bbst. When close beside il, she star
ted, f.ncying she heard a noise; however,
after moment Of hssitation, she stepped
forward, ready to take to nghs AT the
least danger. The noise was renewed
krstlel listened inteutIy, and the sound
Of = horses foot struck upon her ear
her terror prevented her At first from
seeing how near it was to her; but the
next moment she perceived tha, the oh
jsst Of her fear WAS fastened TO tho gib.
bat itsslf. She took courage. dartsd for
ward, and traced the cross. At the same
in'tanLths report Of a pistol showed her
that sbe had been noticed. BY move
msut swift A. thought, she unloo,ed the
horse. lsapt on the saddle, and fled like
lightning, She was pursued; but. r..
doubling her speed, she reached the barn
yard, called out 10 them 10 elose the
gate, and tainted away. When the brave
girl recovered. abe told her story. and
was warmly congratulated on her courage
and presence Of mind. All admired the
horse, which WAS Of striking beauty. A
small lenthsrn vaIiss WAS attached to The
saddle; ba, Father Hotfkireh would not
suffer it to be opened, except in til. prss
snce Of the burgomastsr.
Op toe morrow, which va. SUNDAY,
the inn keeper, his wife and his guests, aIl
set OIL To THO neighboring town, where
they intended, after service, to acquaint
the burgsDss,er With their last evenings
adventure. .krs,lsl, lef, sole guardian Of
tho hSuss, WAS advised not to admit any
one until her master. return. Many =
girl would have trembIsd At being lsf, IN
such y sltsstion; but this young ssrvau,
maid, having watched tbs party di..p-
pear, fsarlessly set about her household
dates, singing, with = light heart aud
clear voice. some pious hyma which her
kind mistress had taugh. her.
An hour had scarcely passed by. when
there cays q knock ut the outer door
1t "as traveller on horseback, who ask.
cd leave to rest for little. Krettel at
first refused but, on the promise Of the
cavalier tha. hs would only breakfast AID
depart, she agreed 10 admit him. The
strange, wished h,msslfto take his horse
to tho stable, and remained y long time
examining and admiriug the noble .teed
which had arrived the previous evening
in = manner so unexpected. While break
fasting, he asked many questions about
tho inn and it's o~nen; inquired whose
horse had attracted bis attention 40 much:
and, in short, acted 90 successful lha, the
poor girl, innocent Of all deceit. told him
her late adventure, and ended by confsss
ing that she was all alone. She felt i'm
msdistety = vague .snss Of having com.
m'lted some inprudsncs, for the stranger
listened to her with singular attention,
"sd seemed to take a. greater Interest,
than curio.ity in wha. she WAS saying.
The brs.kfss. was prolonged to its ut.
"ost length at last, after few unimpor.
'snt questious. tho traveller desired the
servant girl to bring him = bottle Of wine.
hre'tls rose TO obey; but reaching the
cellar, fond that the stranger had follow.
cd her, and, turning round, she saw the
glitter OF pi'.ol handle through hi. ve.,.
Her presence Of mind failed her not a.
this critical moment. When they had
'sachsd the foot Of the steps, she sudden
ly sxtingni'hs1 the light. auo stood up
close against the wall; the man, u,tsrine
'mprscations, advanced q few stops, gro.
ping his w.y. kre..Is, profi;ing by ,hi.
movement, rsnouutsd tho steps, agile and
"o's'lss'ly. closed and firmly boI,ed the
door upon the pretended traveller, and
then barie+dsd herself secure in an upper
eh hsmbsr, there 10 await her master. .r
rival.
Krs.,sl had not been many minute.
osconssd in her retreat whom q fresh
knocking rssoundsd At the iLn door, and
'hs perceived there two i'll looking men,
who asked her what had become of a
traveller Who had been there a short time
before. From their description Of his .p
psarsncs. the young girl i'm mmsdIstsIy
discovered ths, the person sought for ~ss
The stranger whom she bad ocksd in the
'sIlsr nevsrthsisss, abe thought it mos,
prudent TO make no sdmissiop on the |
utjaet. On her refusing their rqus,,
. open the door. the two men threaten
I'd 10 scale the wall. The poor girl usm
led with fear: her courage wss nigh do
siting her; Tor she knew they could sss.
Il.