Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-12-14
A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION.
How General Marion Got His Rifles.

Liz CIOSCe VI InO ICdA 4tOO Voc @ ooo
period for America. The British held
the country from Charleston to the up
per Santee, and in order to complete
their conquest had established a chain
of posts throughout the State, each Of
which was strongly fortified and de-
Tended by good garrison. Organized
resistance to the British there was none.
On the American side the principal &C.
tors in the struggle were the men who
composed the famous slight brigade''
of General Marion. The favorite rem
devious Of Marion was at Snow Island.
This isa piece of high river swamp, as
it is called in the Carolinas, and was
surrounded on three sides by water, so
as to be almost impregnable. Here
Marion had his camp. From this fast
ness he issued forth at pleasure to
range the enemy's granaries or capture
q Struggling party of his troops. Sc
cure in his retreat, he had no fear of
pursuit. I
In the City of Charleston the despot-
ism of the British was at its height; the
proud-spirited people of that capital
were held down by a grinding tyranny.
Many of them were still open and I'M
compromising in their hostility to the
English, while others, thinking they
could best serve the cause IN that way,
affected o hearty submission to the con-
querors, and were seemingly the most
loyal to all King Georges subjects. Yet,
while the English saw this and con-
graduated themselves upon the good
effect it would have on the Colonists,
these very ssloyalists" kept the Ameri-
can commander constantly informed of
all that passed within the British lines,
and msny d disaster of the English was
in this way directly attributed to them.
One of these persons was a lady of
fine social position and great wealth.
Indeed, there were few persons in all
Charleston over whose submission to
the crown the British were more elated
than they were oVer that of Mrs. Anne
GardA. She was a young and beauti-
full widow, just twenty-five, and for
several years had been the standing
toast of the beaux of the Carolinas.
When the British took the city she was
ON of the first to submit to the King,
and since then her house had been the
favorite gathering place of the red-coat
gentry. Many of Mrs. Gardeners
friends, who were staunch patriots to
the last, quietly cut her acquaintance,
and shook their heads in quiet indigna-
ton when her name was mentioned,
and when they dared speak at all it
was only to condemn the widows
treachery. u the camp of Marion,
however, there was one cheek that
kindled with pride and not shame
when the lady's name was mentioned;
ard AZ for General Marion himself, he
could 1eve told tales that would have
startled the widows Charleston friends,
had it been safe to do so.
While Marion was creating so great
an excitement beyond the gates of
Charleston, Mrs. Garden resolved to
give o ball. Preparations were made
on an extensive scale, and the loyal
element of the city was in high feather.
The splendid mansion of the young
widow was. dressed with flowers from
cellar to garnet, and blazed with lights
or the evening appointed for the as
sembly, ard the band of the garrison
d~iscoursed sweet music to the assembled
crowds. The entertainment was at it's
height, when the crowd suddenly part
ed, and o young man came forward
hurrisdly. He was tall and splendidly
formed, and carried himself erect, with
p proud, martial air. He was dressed
in the uniform of an officer of the Tory
legion, and his general appearance was
that of q man who had ridden far and
hard during the day. AS the young
widow saw MIN, her face flushed and
then grew deathly pale, and she sprang
forward with a cry of alarm.
"What are you doing here?" she
asked, hurriedly.
"You ~willsee," he answered quick
Iy, in q low tone. "Only for heavens
sake, swear black and blue to what L
may say!" Then he added calmly, and
in D lower tone: "You see, my dear
cousin, I have come back to my allegi-
ance."
"I am delighted to hear it," she re-
piled, warmly, taking the hint at once.
4sI never thought your heart would
cling to the rebel cause"
ssFaith," he said, laughing, "if my
heart had chung to it, my Stomach would
have driven me from it. I'm not fond
Of starving, my fair cousin, and King
George lives we'll, you know. Hereaf-
ter, Thomas Wilson lives and dies o
loyal man" .
Colonel Watson had been standing
by, during this conversation, watching
the couple closely. Now he stepped
forward to the lady's side.
"Who's this gentlemanp" he asked,
somewhat sharply. "He seems won
derfully familiar,
"Oh," replied the lady, laughing,
~he is my cousin, Lieutenant Thomas
Wilson, aud, as you will perceive, is in
His Maiesty's service"
"You seem rather careless of your
dress, considering the occasion, SIR"
said the Colonel tartly. He was annoy
ed a. the great interest which the lady
had showed the newcomer.
"My business must be my excuse,
Colonel" said the young man, respect
fully. Slant the bearer of letter from
Major Gainey, and my orders are to lose
no Time in delivering it. 1 have ridden
hard all day, sir, and, upon reaching
vaur h~padouartars learned of yonr