Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-08
A TALE OF THE OLDEN TIME

In the summer OF llOI, Wnen we Wer'
fighting against the encroachments o
France on the northern and western
borders, there lay among the pictures
que hills of Northern Virginia large
plantation. The family mansion stood
on elevated ground, with sloping lawn
and broad piazzas, shaded by an abun
dant growth of ivy and tall poplars.
The owner of this beautiful estate
was an eccentric old planter, whose
chief pride lay in the immutability o
his word A law of the Modes and Per
slams could sooner have been broker
than his commands chan ged /; and under
his arbitrary rule he had brought up {
daughter-his only child. She was JUS
seventeen, and was possessed of beau
ty so rare and unconscious that, added
to her prospective wealth, it caused hel
fame to spread far and wide.
About this time the atrocities of the
Indians grew so daring and terrifying
tn t the planter determined Oh getting 8
SOL in-law possessing strength and cour.
age, even at the sacrifice of his daugh.
ter's happiness but he matured hi:
plans before he revealed them.
One afternoon, late in August, the
planters daughter stood ON the western
piazza, leaning against pillar covered
with climbing roses. She was detected.
ly gazing into the golden, hazy clouds
that lay piled in the distant west, and
nervously pulling apart the roses, until
the floor at her feet was covered with
petals. "Oh, DEAR" she exclaimed at
last, II wonder if anything can be
done
"About what, honey?" asked moth.
erly looking colored woman, looking up
from her knitting through a pair of large
brass spectacles. ....
"Haven't you heard, nanny, OF
fathers last whim ?" sighed the girl.
"We are to have jumping match Oh
the east lawn in two weeks. All the
young men of the village are invited to
take part, and I am to marry the one
who jumps the farthest."
"Lord O massy, chile de butchers
son might Jump de furdest |"
"Oh, no; there is little danger of
that. fear others more.
"I reckon, darlin', dem savages is de
cause OF all dis here trouble" said the
woman thoughtfully. "Massa is awful
ly 'fraid dey'll come up here an butcher
us widout judge or jury, an he's gettin'
ole, honey, and needs son dat can fite,
an larn the boys to fite, too"
A quick step on the gravel walk made
the young girl turn. "Oh, here is Tom
at last /" she exclaimed, as, with beam.
ing face and heightened color, she sprung
lightly down the steps to meet a fine,
looking young military officer.
- I am so GLAD 10 aaa ynn +" shn snia
extending both hands. "And so old
Tim actually found you ?"
eyes" he replied, taking her hands,
and then lifting her tell-tsle face to fl d
a confirmation of her words in the inno-
cent depths of her dark eyes. "Tim
found me, and here I am, Nettie; but |
have only ten or fifteen minutes to stay.
Let us walk in that path yonder, where
we can talk undisturbedly;" and he
drew her hand through his arm. "Youl
note tells me of this iack-a- napes whim
of your fathers, and the consequent son.
in-law business. 1t fairly makes my
blood boil to think he would subject
you to such trial.
''But You can Jump further than any
one else, Tom; and you won't have tc
go to Carlisle, will you ?" s..
"No, thank fortune, not for some
time. We are at Fort Cumberland now
but in few days will be nearer this
plantation. Col. Stanwix sent me dowr
W th party OF men to help dose thes,
Indians with gunpowder. They havt
committed some fearful ravages not yer,
far off,"
az wonder where Col. Washington
is? Why doesn't he stop these cruel
ties, if he is as brave as they say9'
asked Nettie. ..
Because Gov. Dinwiddie is Away
interfering with him. He has scarcel,
more than enough men at his own head
quarters in Winchester to protect For
London alone. AS to his bravery, i
can't be questioned. He received fou
bullets through his coat at the battle O
Monongahela, two years ago, and haC
two horses killed under him, and he wa
just recovering from fever, too. But
Nettie, we csn talk of this some othe
time. Now to business On the day O
the match, if''- e.. -..5
"Oh, don't y it, Tom," interrupte,
Nettie, hiding her face on his arm
"You know father is inexorable, and
you fail ~
"Fail or not fail, you belong to me
darling" exclaimed the young man
emphatically. "and nothing shall sepa
rate us. Wear this ring as pledge
and, if the worst is realized, you and
must be among the missing immediatel
after the festivities. Will you do jus
as I tell you, Nettie 2"
eyes, Tom," she replied, in a 10,
tone.
"Then we can make arrangement
for failure when we meet, for can
think it possible that I can fall" Fl
spoke hurriedly, for there was not
moment to spare. "Duty is imperi
tive," he continued, with smile, "an
/ have scarcely time to reach my pos
SO good. bye, Nettie, for two weeks"
The appointed day dawned bright an
clear. Promptly the young men a
sembled, each eager to win so muc
beauty and wealth. The gentry an
farmers also came to witness the unusu
spectacle. The old planter, with h
friends. took places on the judges pla
form, while Nettie, at her fathers con
mand, stood at little distance, under
group of trees, with her old nurse and
few young friends.
The contest began, and had near
closed, when q horseman galloped I
the road, and seeing the crowd, fasten,
his horse, and walked over the lawn
! inquire what was going on.
He was about twenty-five, very Ca
and with military bearing remarkab
in one so young. Such dignity OF d
pertinent would seem, in these days, j
consistent with such pastime as jun
, ing, but then it was common anus