The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-05-01
General Miscellany,
MARK RICHARDSON;
OR.
The Patriots Trials.
4 LegeHd ~ the EcrOTHfj0H.
BY l.. A. WILMER.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER 1.
The first scene of our narrative opens
with the view OF a sandy highway, pas
sing through a dark pine forest, in the
state of South Carolina. The date of
the story refers To that period i'm Ameri-
can history when the British had OBJ
tanned possession of Charleston. and
hoped that they would soon bee able 10
secure the general submission of the
Stale. ID Was misty morning i'm Octo-
Der the wind scarcely agitated the tops
OF the tall pines and family murmured
among the thin foliage A. the coun-
try was spar9ely settled, there Were no
signs of human habitation-not even
q fehce-and, indeed, no object-eXcept
the family traced road-tO show that
man had hitherto visited the spot \
solitary hOrseman, seemingly a. melan-
choly as the aspect of nature in that des-
olate place, proceeded slowly along the
road the horse appeared TO choose
his own pace-for either in profound
thought or deep detection of spirits, the
rider sat in the saddle with his head de-
clined, and the reins hanging loosely
about the neck of the quadruped
And vet there was little in the APP
pearance of this equestrian which could
makean observer had one been present.,
suspect that he labored under habitual
low spirits He was young, in the full
endowment of rosy health a. his cOun-
tenance indicated). and his equipments
were such as TO make il very unlikely
that DeaUrV had any share in the pro-
ducIi0D OF his disquietude. His figure
and countenance, moreover, were such
a. would not lead one TO suspect that he
had been fOiled i'm am affair of love-
What then was the source of this young
mans uneasines2 That Is the problem
which this narrative j. intended to
solve.
But another horseman appears with
in the scope of vision. He is travelling
the same way, but at a much more rap
id pace His manner is by no means
dropping, though his dress does not ac
quit him of a strong suspicion of power
~. and his figure and countenance make
il very probable that he may have been
crossed in love, for there was not much
i'm either which would be supposed to
take we'll with the ladies. This new
traveller was a thin, small man, at least
five-and-forty years old, witha long sal
low visage, where even the expression
Of good-humor seemed to be out of place;
for a lean. spare, MISUNDERSTANDING per-
son Is scarcely expected to wear a cheer
full aspect. The coat worn by this tray
eler was. of course, gray cloth; the ma
terial was rather unsightly, but the
workmanship, 70 use Scotch form OF
commitment. was mot bad The gar
ment fitted well, probably closer than
the wearer's skin, for that, owing to low
diet and consequent emaciation, was
most likely, loose enough. The beast
which lie bestrOdc was scarcely more
| respectable inappearance than the trav-
eler himself, a. he was Il gauHt, bOny,
angular. iil-shaped s.eed, with that pc
culiar wildness ofeXpreSsiOn in the eyes,
that hideOus vivacity, which semi-star-
walton imparts 10 most animals, and
sometimes to the human species.
But. To have done with descriptions,
which are often a. troublesome to the
writer a. they are veXatious and tantal-
! ling to the reader, the second horse
man has overtaken the first, and dla-
lOgue begins:
a good morning to you, fellow-trav-
eler," said the person last described
! ~ should have missed your company,
| if that fine horse of yours had been put
! to his speed But ! am glad that no
| urgency Of business on your part has
prevented me from overtaking you-for
! society on this dreary road is almost
| luxury
"Sir, | thank YOU" said the other,
somewhat dryly and slightly turning his
head to glance at the last speaker. p" on
remind me that my business is urgent,
and | fear il will be necessary for me to
travel faster. even if | should be COM
PEELED to forego the pleasure of your
| company, the offer of which | most
| gratefully acknowledge.
"Well, really" remarked the gray
coated traveller (who, as the reader will
| observe hereafter, was not easily repul-
sed). II Judged from your pensive air
that companion might be desirable, if
| only for the purpose of consultation.
Perhaps an older man than yourself
might be able to help you with his ex-
perience-if there is anything in your
| present circumstances to make the Sug-
gestions of a friendly adviser accept
able
There was something in the tone and
substance of this speech which appealed
to the sympathy and confidence of the
Young traveller. He made more ac-
| curate survey of his companions coun-
tenance. and, after short pause said:
''You seem to have some perception
of my endorsements. The truth is, L
! have been debating in my own mind
whether l may not honorably avoid
task which cannot conscientiously per-
| form.n
''Do YOU imagine, y said the elder trav-
| eller, "that honor and conscience can OPP
pose each other? that the former can
require you to do what the latter tells
YOU ought not to be done?'
"Nay-but having undertaken mot
| voluntarily to be sure), TO deliver GER
| tain message, would it not be breach
of good faith-would it not be absolute
treachery-to fail in the performance ~
"But say that the person who charged
YOU with the commission were himself
| traitor
"That must not be said to me" an
swered the young man somewhat fierce
ly.
The other smiled as the youth contin-
ued:
"Yet your suggestion is doubtless well
meant, and, as loath as | am to confess
it, it may be an approximation to the
TRUTH
"Then you cannot be bound in honor
or conscience to comply with his requisi-
tons"
"You seem to be an honorable and
ljudicious person." said the youth, 'and
/ would gladly have your counsel; but
if, instead of stranger with whom /
have had scarcely ten minutes con-
versation, you were an old and tried