The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-09-10

to effect the capture, the magistrates re-
quested that q small military detachment
might be held in readiness to act in case of
need.
The colonel supplemented his informa-
ton by issuing the necessary directions,
and added that he should himself sleep in
barracks that night, although for the next
two hours, at least, he must unavoidably
be absent.
"Perhaps," he added, smiling, as he
threw on cloak and lit his cigar, AZ may
bring back some information of the enc
my's movements. am not going into the
town."
Permit me, sir" said the young Adju-
tant, "to recommend you not to 60 entire
ly unarmed. Your face is known, and if
these lurking rascals are in earnest"
"Well, well; lend me your pistols,
Baird" said the Colonel, and, thrusting
them into his pocket, walked away.
The clock struck eleven as the sentry at
the gate saw the Colonel suddenly quit
the high-road, and strike across the rising
grounds in rear of the barracks.
Another event of some interest had sig
nalized this especial evening, the 9th Of
May, at Brighton. That admirable come
dian. Mr.. L., had wound up a starring en-
gagement Of six nights, with benefit
that attracted nearly all the play-going
world of that gay watering place. He had
acted in three pieces with unsurpassable
humor, marked, however, as the night
drew on, with haste and excitement
unusual with him, and which did not
escape the notice Of his fellow performers.
He was perpetually glancing at his watch;
fell into quite passion at trif1ing delay
between the second and last pieces; order
ed fly to be waiting at the stage-door,
and, the moment the curtain fell Git was
then full halEpast eleven), threw himself,
dressed as he was, into the vehicle, and,
calling out Patcham quickp drove furi-
ously away, disregarding the very treas
urer, who, with his hands full Of notes
and gold, stood prepared to settle accounts
with the fortunate star, in order that the
latter might start, as he proposed, early
on the morrow.
The traveller who passes old Brighton
church, and, crossing the top of the hill,
takes by-path on the right, leading in
the direction, of Patcham, would, thirty
years ago, have traced the wind
ings Of q very pretty rural lane,
bordered on the one hand by beech
and chestnut trees, on the other by high
bank, beyond which cornfelds stretched
away in the direction Of the Dyke downs.
Halfway down the lane the path, widen
ing for few yards, left room for rude
seat, which was under the immediate shell
ter and protection of two large beech.
trees, so precisely similar in shape and
size, as to have impaired to the path in
question the title of Twin-Tree Lane. 1t
was, at the time of which we speak, q
sequestered place enough, and was ap-
proachable alike from the high-road
through Patcham, and from that which
crosses the Old Church hill
1t was few minutes only short Of mid
night, on the eventful 9th Of May, that
lady, muffled in cloak and hood, stopped
her carriage at the entrance Of Patcham,
and, desiring the driver to await her re-
turn, struck across the fields to the left.
The night was fair and still; with occa-
sional bursts of radiance, as the moon
struggled from one blue-blsck cloudbank
to another.
Whenever this occurred the lonely wan
derer strained her eyes to the utmost, as If
in search of some receding object, but
seemingly in vain.
At last she paused, and gave sudden
sniff
"Thank Heaven" she exclaimed, clasp
ing her hands in real thankfulness "That
is his pipe! 1 should know it among
thousand. He must be close before me-"
| In effect she fancied she could discern
her husbands form not far in advance, and,
| shrinking closer into the shadow Of the
hedge, she continued to follow him. At
the mouth of what was apparently
wooded lane the guiding shape suddenly
disappeared! Mrs. Horsfall hurried for
ward, and, pausng to listen, thought she
could now hear both the step and voice of
her husband. He was passing up the lane,
evidently with one or more persons, but
with little thought of danger, for she heard
"If they should have betrayed him into
some ambush" I" thought the anxious wife.
"He is so unsuspectilgp
The party ahead seemed to make sud-
den halt Instinctively, Mrs. Horsfall
shrank toward the border Of trees, and, in
doing so almost came in contact with
man who was stepping from them.
Fortunately, she did not cry out,
and the manner, unmistakably gen.
tlemanly, in which the stranger
rendered his apologies, at once disarmed
her fears. He looked at her, however,
with little astonishment, hesitated, then,
as if thought had struck him. said, -
ais it possible-pray forgive me-that
we are here on q similar errand? My
name is Lileham, Charles Lileham,
minister of the church"
mime is Horsfall," said the lady, quick
ly. "I-I am in some anxiety about my
husband, who is just before US, in com
pany with know not what dangerous and
desperate men. o, what shall we do?"
"For the inoffensive character of one, at
least, of his companions, am prepared to
| ola
a smile. at is the Bishop of L., my
uncle"
"The bishopf"
"Of his business here at this hour, I
am as completely ignorant as you ap-
parently are of Mr.. Horsfalps. l fear 1
am transgressing his wishes in following
him thus closely"
"Hark! There are more voices" eX-
claimed Mrs. Horsfall. "They seem
raised in anger"
not" said Mr.. LilehaIn. "But come: if
YOU will accept my guidance, you shall
see what is passing. They have assembled
under those two large trees. Will you
permit me to show you the wayY"
Mrs Horsfall assented. In less than ten
minutes they had reached the point in
dicated by Mr.. Lileham. A bright stream
of moonlight was pouring right into the
recess canopied by the twin trees, and
made the singular party therein assembled
distinctly Visible. 1t was composed Of five
individuals, seated on the curved bench,
engaged in earnest and animated dis
cussiOn. In the centre might be rec
ogniEed the reverend and stately form of
the Bishop of L., Immediately on
whose right sat the Bradford Dump
ling, supported in his turn by Mr..
Newton Horsfall, of Cowling Priors,
Herts On the left of the prelate might
be seen the familiar, mirth-awakening
lineaments of Mr.. L., the celebrated low
comedian, flanked by the commanding
presence of Colonel Reginald Spurrier, Of
the -th Hussars
The subject of their conversation was
manifestly Of the deepest interest. Of
what could they possibly be talkingi And
why,-O, why this mystery! Mrs. Hors-
fall saw that her companion was as puz-
zled as herself, ahd that his countenance
had become very serious indeed.
Suddenly they saw the Colonel start to
his feet. A horse-tramp approached from
below, and his quick ear had been the first
to catch the sound.
al fear we are suspected" he said aloud
"Listen. thought so. They are upon us
from both sides!"
And in truth, next moment, an armed
horse patrol rode in from either side, and
halted in the front of the party beneath