Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-04-07

examination, it would have bssD disoov-
cred that her eyes were closed. and that
her eyes lashes we're moistened With tears.
while few had slowly triokled down her
cheeks and had fallen upon the page
While she was thus occupied. the clock
struck the hour Of twelve, midnight. when
she started up. closed the book and laid it
upon the table. That moment low rap
was heard on the outside of the door. aud
the next instant the muffled individual
whom we saw entered tbe apartment.
rs hc pafe ?" she exclaimed, advanc-
ing toward the man. her voice tremulous.
and an unutterable expression on her fea.
lures. lis Ellis safe? Has be eecaped7'
Edna, there is nothing to hope!" be
answered coldly. Il have made use OF
every means ia my power to effect his re-
lease. but have failed. He was taken as
a spy, and has probably. ere this. suffered
according to common, usage of Law" !.
20 God ~ sebbed the young lady. fall
ing on the floor. and wringing her hands
|in the most acute -sgony. Must. O..
must he die? Ii" there no possible es-
cape"
mot the leastw replied the man. in
the same frigid tone. II do beg Of you
to be more calm. for you willinjure your
health if you allow this matter to trouble
you 20 severely. ~. - 'A'.'
And be attempted to help hsr 70 rise
up. = !.
Her grief was Instantly checked. and
she sprang to her feet. The colos, bed
entirely forsaken her features. e and she
stood as statue. with her large, lussrons
eyes fixed in steady gaze upon the face
Of the man before her.
Henry, what do you. mean :" she
stammercd, the moment she could com!
mand her voice. "Have I been deceiv-
ed2 Have you selfish motives in this
matter T. Great God, Henry, this is aw-
full" az. II 5,..1 ~-a Z
These words caused q sudden tremor 70
pass over the mans heart and his cheek
to blanch, but the sensation was immedi-
ately subdued. and his countensnee wore
its usual serenity. ,h.,.t. y .
better familiar with the peculisr position
of these two persons, ere we ptoceea fur'
ther. . eszAilla IL ioDsaoa ho--Ls s.
Col. Dunsforth, nm enthusiast iu th,
cause Of the colonies. and friend gof ;Gen
Dr<o..n .n-woo thu nvnnp of sho n<kAauA II
which We have slluded. His sife has
been dead several years, during whict
ttime Edna, their only child. had super
intended her fathers domestic affairs q
the Willow Cottage" ;" - the place VA
called. $50. .sl.'.1 50 'F
Edna was rich in knowlslas'snd good
ness Of heart; possessed el sat besuty
and her worldly psospeetse~sse snch ss =
have attracted the attention Of many suit'
fors;. yet entertaining no respect for the
arts of . coquette. she. had studiously .
voided giving encouragement where bel
heart could not sympathixe with. the OBJ.
lject.
There was one, however. q might have
been expected. on whom tho heart Of the
Ihigh-minded Edna could turn with full
confidence. That person was Ellis Dsns-
ford, . private in the Federal aroy yuudes
Gen. Putnam, 1ss.>tss nspii9
Ellis. by his uprishs dspsstmsst and
bravery. had obtained the good opinion d
his general aud the confidence Of his COM
rades. He was generous, kind, courte.
GUS. condescending. yet resolute and Do.
termined when 10 pursuit Of right, and ex:
hibited will aud fixednesS Of more than
ordinary capacity. go
Forty.eight hours preceding the inter.
view between Henry and Edna. Ellis hav.
ing been entrusted with the important
duty of spying out the movements Of the
British garrison at Brunswick. was de-
tectcd and captured. The appalling news
fell heavily upon Edna's heart. and vel
nigh crushed it beneath the overwhelming
grief.
The young m,n-Henry Dansford-
who held the colloquy With Edna. was bel
own cousin: Five years before this pc.
riod. be was suitor for her hand, and
had been most determined 10 bis endesv'
ors to win her heart. She, however, had
never encouraged him. and supposed tha
be had long since relinquished, all .claini
as lover, and she had taken him into he,
confidence to . certain extent. :.
Edna. being anxious to. secure the aid
of the commander in rescuing her love-
from the British. had perhaps opened bel
heart more freely to her cousin; yet sha
never questioned his faith nor doubted hi'
profession Of friendship. sntil that even
ing: and the fact that be still entertained
such feelings had chilled her hesrt 70 th1
very core, causing her 70 start In sste's
mazement., 7a33 81 H.. =. :. ;
We now turn back TO the time xhet
Ellis Dansford took his leave Of Gen. Pat
nam, and started on the hazardous under
taking Of reconoitering the British camp
The movement was necessarily attended
with great peril, aud there was not : mar
in the American garrison better qualified
for the mission than young Dansford. MOI
one in whom Gen. Putnam would have
placed more confidence '@sf 17773 7
Ellis bad received careful instruction II
the course which he vas to pursue and
with aattering prospects Of. success. b
passed the outer sentry, on hiS way TO-
ward Brunswick.
He had not, however, proceeded twe