Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-07
The Bride of the Santee, or the Ride of
MariOn'S Men.
BY A. L. MESERvE.

"We don't care for the danger, Cap
tain, we're too used to that. There amt
one of us but had rather risk his life
than that old tory should rob you of your
bride. She's staunch patriot, too, and
hates the very ground that q redcoat or
a tory walks on. Well save her, Cap
tain, from mating with Silas Hall, or all
of us will die in the attempt"
Spoken like your own self, Robert !;
I felt that could depend upon you and
the rest of my men, to help me carry out
my plans. 1t is the only way there is to
save her. Her uncle, Amos HeElip,
watches her like a dragon. as does Silas
Hall, who declares he will marry her
before two days are over. He has such
influence with Tarleton that he has sent
a half-score of his cut-throats to guard
the house. This much learned from
Rose, who managed to get meta 20 me
by the hand of Pip, haE servant. Her
uncle is determined I'd marry her to
Hall, whether she Will or no-and Par
sou Sabine is just the man to do the foul
deed for them. He would pronounce
the ceremony whether she was willing
or not. There is but one thing to do. we
must steal her away from under ..as
friends. 80 ala n IT wa
and We Will do it, Captain. There
never was time yet, but that we could
outWit them when we tried. 1t never
was said, and I hope it never will be that
Marfon's men were not a match for the
enemy. Tonight we will pay them a
visit If you say so, and when we come
back We will bring Rose Herlin With
us,n a"'
THAT we wiil, Captain u echoed all
the men gathered about him.
ts'Thank you, boys. 1T Is not often we
fail, and feel that we shall not in this
ease=we must not. If we do not it will
be too late, and all will be lost. Rose
Herlin must be saved tonight. She
knows of what we mean to do if the
black boy. Pip, gets back all right, and
know no reason why le should not
AS soon as it ia dark We will set out, and
trust in Providence and our own strong
farms to help us."
A few words here by way of explana-
ton, that the reader may better COM
prehend that which has already been
partly revealed to them. '"fa '"'
Captain RlaHe commanded a company
| OF his own raising III the forces Of Gen.
Marion. a braYer officer than he there
was not in the command,
| Marion hoporad and trusted him, and
he was the idol Of his men.
For two years past Rose Herlin had
been his promised bride.
She was an orphan. Fer parents had
been dead for several years, and he,
home lad been with her uncle,
/ Amos Herlin was tcSy OF the mos
virulent sort. Ee was loyal to the kins
and crown, and held in utter detestatior
those who were battling oppression ant
for the liberty of their country. One
thing if possible angered him more thar
Iany other; Rose, member of his house
Ihold and his dead brothers. child, wa.
as sturdy patriot as there was in til,
Ieolonies.
i His anger against her seemed TO- in
Hcrease day by day, until his house be
came so uncomfortable that she felt tha
Eshe could no longer abide beneath it
roof
Heknew encouragement to Captain
Blake, and he stoutly swore that ther
Fshould be an end to the matter forever
Over and over again he declared tha
he had rather she should die than we,
with him.
A friend ofhis, a tory like himself, AM
nearly as old, demanded her of him 70
a wife, and he roundly sW2ge taat h
should have her,
If she Yould net of her own accord
lsha would be forced to do as they wish
fed, and to carry out this threat, the da
was set for the wedding, and to leave n
avenues for her escape the would-k :
bridegroom, Silas Hall, had procure
some of Tarleton's ,siaions to gdard th
home of AMOS HELM, under the pie
THAT il was IN danger of being robbed, b
Hthe patriots, who were known to b
lurking near at hand.
This was the condition oSa15airs at th
time our story opens, and We row prt
esed ;xs to take axe Up ~ lhe thread Of the parT'
j. was the afternoon preceding IL
day IN which Rose was to be forced
become the wife of Silas Hall.
IN spite OF her protestations her unc
: ola not altar in his avowed purpose.
Ine wife of Silas Hall you snail be
ne cried. II have sworn it, and l wi
not De turned from my purpose"
Never, neverv cried Rose in desper
ton. EDO not hope for it (; my lips shs
never speak the words that slaah bill
me 10 that old villain II will die first
You need not speak them unless "
d fWlsH 70. Parson Sabine will not be pa
61cular. License pivea consnnt ~