Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-05-24

renamed prisoner until his eXcnange,
which did not occur for many long months
after bis capture. No sooner was he ex-
changed, than circumstances made it Deces-
sary for him to enter upon active service in
the field again, having failed to obtain a
furlough. He remained with his regiment
until after the memorable charge upon the
enemies lines before Petersburg on the 24th
of June 1864, when he was wounded and
captured, but made his escape, returned to
the Confederate lines, was sent to hospital
and placed on the Retired list The
newspaper report of his death was incor-
rect. And now, to return to our story.
The clergyman, accompanied by FIVE
other gentlemen of the neighborbood, made
his appearance few moments after Edgar's
arrival. Mutual explanations were entered
into, and the reverend ecclesiastic was de-
lighted beyond measure, that matters had
taken such favorable and unexpected
turn. Edgar, in turn, was indignant and
surprised, when told of the circumstances
which made this assemblage necessary, and
seemed eager to encounter the cowardly
baronet, who thus dared to impose upon and
persecute an unprotected woman.
However, the night passed away pleas.
autly and quietly enough, and nothing was
seen or heard of Sir Richard. Night after
night passed away, finding Edgar and few
friends in constant watch and guard around
the old building; but nothing occurred to
provoke the least suspicion Finally the
watch was abandoned, and, were it not for
the unblemished character of the author of
the report concerning the intended abduc.
tion, the whole story would have been
disoredited and laughed heartily over.
The clergyman, however, insisted upon ex.
treme caution and watchfulness, and Edgar,
fearful of losing his prize, generally left his
hotel towards nightfall every day, and spent
the night under the roof of Harcourt Hall,
in old Mr.. Harcourt'S library.
A few days after the marriage of Minnie
and Edgar, and as the happy couple were
| wandering about the dreary rooms of the
abandoned portion of the building, which
was then undergoing repair, it was found
necessary to remove an old worm eaten oak
chest, to continue some repair and altera-
tion in that locality of the room. Several
workmen had attempted in vain to remove
it from its position, and Edgar called two
stout artizans from another portion of the
house, with which reinforcement of muscle,
they succeeded 10 drawing the ponderous
chest out into the middle of the room.
'Open it, Thomson said Edgar, as the
party turned quickly away, and looked in-
quiringly into each others faces. 'What in
the world does that old chest contain, Min
ME? Judging from the offensive odor, I
should certainly imagine it to be anything
but the Balm of a thousand flowers
Il am sure I do not know said Minnie,
| thoughtfully. TO the best of my recollec-
ton, the lid of that chest has been up for
the last ten years or more, and there was
certainly nothing within but few old pa.
pers, of no material consequence. Perhaps
some of the workmen had better open it.
See there! the key still remains in the lock-
Sure enough said Edgar, with Difficult
ty turning the rusty key, and throwing back
the cover of the chest; but, no sooner had
he done so, than he started back with an
exclamation of horror, and staggered to.
wards the opposite corner of the room, like
a drunken man.
The workpen now crowded around the
chest and Looked into it, but started back
aghast and confounded with horror, as the
blackened, half-putri6ed corpse within,
glared upon them with its dark glazed eyes.
CONSERVATION completely overwhelmed
them and, leaving coats and tools behind,
they rushed beadlopg from the house.
Sir Richard Beverly! exclaimed Min.
ME, her couutenance growing pale as death.
Oh Edgar! what an awful end "
The circumstances attending the baronet's
tragic and singular death, we're simply these.
Towards sunset of the afternoon that the
clergyman informed Minnie of the baronet's
intention of abductiug her be obtained
an entrance, by secret passage, into Har-
court Hall, and awaited the coming of night
to carry out his diabolical purposes. The
cough and the sound of footsteps in the
upper rooms, which Dinah had heard an
hour or so prior to Edgar's arrival, can be
accounted for thus. The unusual noise and
excitement about the house, occasioned by
the return of Edgar, and afterwards, the
arrival of the party of gentlemen, impressed
the baronet with the idea of discovery and
pursuit, particularly so, as be distinctly
heard his name mentioned several times in
no fattering manner. Imagining that he
heard approaching footsteps, and determin.
ed to avoid discovery and consequent arrest,
the unfortunate man concealed himself in
the old chest,
"But spring lock, that lay in ambush there,
Fastened him down forever!"
THE END.
From the Charleston Courier.