Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-14

ed in time for dinner, which consisted of part o
the sheep which he had brought home in the morn
ling. At this mealhisyounger brother, Robert, wa
present, and after the meal the two held a whis
pered conference in the adjoining room, Of which
however, Mrs Gregson heard nothing. She infer
red however, that the plan, whatever it was, wa
one which required the cooperation of both. Far
ther than this there was no means of learning.
Il After this conference, Dick retired to bed, anc
his brother who occupied the next room, followed
his example. Mrs. Gregson Judged that the en-
terprise might be undertaken in the evening" bu
neither of the brothers showed any disposition II
leave the cabin at night. "a
The only clue which she obtained, was few Incl
dental words let fall by her husband. These wert
''the old cabin in the edge of the woods" They
were part of his conference with his brother, ane
the only words which she caught
'The next morning at ten, after carefully loading
their guns, the two brothers set out. Mira Greg
son followed them with her eyes until they were al
some distance, and then slipping on her bonnet, fol
lowed them, but not directly.
She entertained little doubt that the "old cabin
was their destination, and she determined to take
nearer course than they were likely to follow, anc
which would bring her thither some fifteen minutes
in advance of her husband and brother-in-law
When she arrived at the place referred to, there
was no one to be seen After little reflection she
crouched behind stone-wal, through the aper
lures in which, for it was loosely built, she could
survey the scene, without herself being seen
Soon AFTER the two Gregsons appeared in sight
They seemed disposed to court concealment, ano
glanced frequently at the old cabin which, however
appeared to contain nothing noticeable.
'They, as well as herself, appeared to desire 0
hiding place. At one time they moved, in the di
rection of Mrs Gregson's place Of refuge, SO that
she trembled with apprehension. She knew that
if she were discovered in such position as to make
it certain that she was acting as spy upon thell
movements, her husband anger would be fearful
and he might even i'll treat her. The drops of per-
spiration stood upon her brow, and she felt as il
she would like to sink into the ground, but luckily
for her the chance impulse was changed before il
had time to be carried into execution, and the two
men, instead moved towards the old tree.
Their purpose, now was evident. This tree was
an ancient monarch Of the forest outwardly vigor'
GUS, but within, mere shell. 1t had once been
riyen by lightning, and there was still a fssure
large enough for man to creep through, and In
the inside, room for four or five. Through this
fssure crept the two brothers Gregson, and no one
who did not know their whereabouts, would have
suspected that the old oak contained aught save,
perhaps, squirrel, of which, now and then, one
was seen leaping from branch to branch
''What is going to happen next?" thought Mrs.
Gregson, not without feeling Of apprehension.
The secrecy which had been observed, the conceal
ment which was evidently so carefully sought for,
together with the conference with stranger whose
manners did not please her, all these circumstan-
ces impressed her with fear. Still she was detaln-
ed in her place by kind of fascination.
Meanwhile, the two men were speaking, one to
the other
"What time did the man say they were to ap-
pear, Dick?'
"About ten, I believe, Bob" was the reply.
"And what time, may it be now, should you
think ?"
"I could tell if 1 could catch glimpse Of the
sun, but didn't think to look before got in, and
now, perhaps, it would hardly be prudent to go out
on purpose.
''I suppose it can't be far from the time he men
toned"
"No"
''Will the fellow be likely to make much resis
tance, think you?''
Eyes, unless we take him on the sly. He is a
stout fellow with well knit frame, and will, nc
doubt, have arms with him"
'Itwould beconfoundedly awkward, if he should
get chance to pink either one of U.S.
eve must give him shot sooner than let that
happen Still that would be pity, and we must
if possible, take him by surprise.
"Have you got the cords with you, to bind him
Dick?'
eyes; trust me for not forgetting 50 important
an article"
''Hist, what was that p exclaimed Robert
clutching his brother by the arm.
II heard nothing"
1T sounded like suppressed cough, and ap
peared to come from that wall, said Robert point
ing out the one behind which Mrs. Gregson hac
taken refuge.
'sTush, it is nothing but the sound of some birc
or animal. 1 shall think you are getting chicken
hearted" =.
ssNo more chicken-hearted than yourself, sale
Robert, offended.
'aThen don't trouble yourself with such foolish
fancies, but watch in silence for this man Peter
sons approach"
In spite of the elder brothers. reprimand, Rob
ert's senses had not deceived him. Mrs. Gregsor
was troubled with short, sharp cough; cougf
which, probably, at some time, would terminate il
consumption, and the fit seized her just before hi
spoke. 1t came so suddenly that she was not abl'
to stave it off entirely She did succeed, however
in so mufling it that the sound was very much dl
minshed, but not sufficiently so to escape entirel!
the senses of hunter, preternaturally sharpenet
by his habits of life and the present emergency.
| Mrs Gregson was struck with terror at the sount
of her involuntary cough, and feared that it nigh
lead to her discovery, but at this moment her at
tention as we'll as that of the party concealed il
the tree, was drawn to young man who was seel
5 slowly approaching the old cabin.
CHAPTER TX.