Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-04-04
[From tho Now York Metropolitan Reeord.l
HELEN AND MAUDE.
A TALE OF THE, CoNFEDERACY.

have been restless all this eveaing-
Thought is positive torture; for feeling Of
sadness oyershadows my heart. irresistibly,
uuaccountably. HOPE seems to have taken
flight, and sweet meu,ories of the past CONS
rushing over my recollectons making me
.wretched and lonely. Think my darling ma
tive city is in imminent peril; the foe is
Knocking at its gates, and the cannon are a.
ready booming gloomily. Oh! the lives the
precious lives that will be sacrificed for her
sons have sworn to defend her. How my
heart sinks within mo when think th9tper-
haps their efforts, their daring bravery and
unhinching courage may be in vain. God
pr,7ent anything so terrible. How dark il
grows without, and tho drcary pattering of
the rain, how it chimes mournfully with my
ssd thoughts ant painful apprehcusions. Ohl
for something to break lh;s suspense; how q
visit from the boys would cheer me.
Thus solilouuxrd Helen Brock, ths youth
full housekeeper aud pet of her three bachelor
brothers. Ske is petite blonde beauty, pos
sessing figure spelte elancee, and her lace,
when in r.pose, as it is this evening, has g
dreamy, lovely expression, but when lighted
up with smile, her eyes brighten Ike stars,
aud her countenance beams with animation.
As she finished speaking, Cheres, the gray
haired butter, opened the door aid ushered in
lady closely veilsd. Throwing aside her
wrappings, Maude Middleton stood in her
marvellous beauty before her friend aud school
mate like an appsrition. Why had she left
New York; What had she come to the
! Confederacy for? and what what brought her
to Fred rick,burg at such timc? eagerly
oueried Helen after welcoming her une1-
pected guest. Overcome by fatigue and ex-
element, she could explain nothing until
having partaken of refreshment, when she
began to frame answers to the volley of in
tsrrogations.
aOh, Helen, can you guess what brings
me here? Alone and unprotected, ! have
iouraeyed from my home night anclday to
reach here ere this i'll fated city is attacked" J"
Helen's wonaerment increased. But
what interest can Jou, the beautiful i'd
mired Maude Middleton, have on this side OF
the Rappahaunock am at loss to under
stand"
"Come closer to rue, darling, nestle at my
side, while tell you all my reasons" replied
the agitaLed young girl You certainly re.
member my gay, handsome, true hearted
brother, Hugh, who gallsntsd and admired
YOU when you were at Madame C.'s school in
New York. Well since the Old Domil ion
I seccdsd he has been heart aud soul with the
South, longing and pining to unite with her
sons in their struggle for freedom! Was
made the cou6dant OF bis secret wi,hes. Full
we'll knew that if my tatha. dreamed that
his only and beloved son entertanej ;ueA a
treasopable dosire, b. would bs the first to
denounce him publicly, SO devoted is ha to
the interest Of the Union. plead aud be-
sought him " give up the preposterous fancy,
planncd gaieties of the most enticing descrip-
| lion to divert him from his absorbing idea,
but TO no avail. lie grew impatient when
ever the war question was discussed st home
or abroad, was iuattentive at the Office, much
to fathers surprise, took no interest in the
club, refused to contribute 10 any OF the aid
societies established for the soldiers when
father was prime mover. In word, was fast
becoming q rsbid rebel. Three weeks ago
he left as usual for the office after breakf:s /,
but did not return to dinner, and fey no
meuts after the meal was over note was
left for me-a hurried little-note fy0m him
written Just as he was leaving the city. He
wrote that he had at last discovered o way oi
reaching che Confcderacy by the Baltimore
underground railroad, and thenceforwSrd his
lot would be cast with his favori,e regiment
the Hampton Legion, stationed, he had
learned, near Fredericksburg, telling lne if
desired to communicate with my rebel brother
to address any lettsrs 70 the care Of Mr.
4 Howard, q warm synpathizer aud dsstrong ae-
eessiopist of Baltimore; !. begged of inc tc
announce his departure az gently as possible
to mother and father, ard hoped wewould
Inject again wlaen his adopted country was
freed from the tbraidom Of tyranny. / con.
jec'ured and wondered What plan 10 adopt
and concluded it were best to tell mother
knowing she was noe 80 bitter, nor SO deeply
concerned in politics as my father. SO has
tened 10 her with The note, told her 10 resc
it, and turned my head away that / might
not see the expression Of heriface. She saul
into q chair perfectly overcome, and slmos
tainted. All sho could find strength to So,
w2s,." Your father; oh +! Naude,.it will crusf
4 him. Go iuslaasly, child, and tell him all
tI:aIn .heart-bfokeliss. Til y,kiIig. my arm.
j;spund her, / Kissed her and told aer,tAst h,
i Ssn1a coae nome asaia ers saas, ss7ea df 81