The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-05-16

to the light, all doubt vanished-it was the
Captive Bride, seated apart from ber captors,
with her face buried in her hands. Could
she have known whose eyes were at that
| moment straining their gaze upon her, how
different must have been her emotions.
Edgar grasped his riAo and knife with
| fierce energy, which threatened the suicide
of an immediate attack But he coon re-
covered his calmness, and set coolly about
making thorough examination of the po-
sition, and calculating the chances of a res
| cue.
The place had been well chosen for con-
ccalment. 1t was a circular area, inclosed
on all sides, except the southexpssshSsttc.
Tbroken and rain.w6shed d<tidS and not
more than an acre in extent. 1t was,s in
deed, sort of basin among the hills; and
| it was the volume Of water, collected here
into one stream, that had cut out the ravine
along which Edgar was advancing. 1t was
| dry now, however, and the grass, which in
this country everywhere follows the rains of
spring, was growing luxuriantly beneath
! the shelter of large oak and hickory trees
OF these there was little clump or grove
in the northern arm of the area; and it was
just within the edge Of this that the fire
was kindled. From that side an experienced
scout might have approached within few
PAGES unobscrved but what could one man
| do against twenty? All that hs could now
effect, Edgar thought, was to watch the
movements of his enemies, and take advan-
tage Of whatever opportunity might offer !;
or, if none should present ITSELF as was
most prnbahle ratiAntly TO a~ait tho arri-
val OF his men.
Aud now harassing reflection occurred:
What if White should not meet them, or
they should miss the way? He would lose
the benefit of all the diligence he had used,
aud having success and rescue almost with
in his grasp, would have the misfortune to
sec them glide out Of his power Here,
within few rods of him-buried, perhaps,
in thought of him-sat the captive, snatchcd
almost literally from his side at the altar !;
and, though she might have heard his voice,
he dared not raise it-though he might
reach her side in one minute, he dared not
advance! His rifle might do him service
for, even at that distance, his unerrng skill
would have disabled an en- envy at every shot;
but he knew that, at the first discharge, the
pursued would become pursuers, aud all
chance of rescue would be at an end He
was sure, besides, that the first motion OF
the savagcs upon an attack would be the
murder of their prisoner and brave as he
was, he shuddercd and shrank from the
thought
While he stood in the shadow OF n tree
harasscd by these reflections, sudden
movement took place in the circle of sava
ges. One, who seemed the chief rose tc
his feet, and the council broke up The
warrior turned toward the captive, and tax
ing larg. blanket from the ground, spre,d
it at the foot of tree, and bcckoncd he,
to take it. He did this with so much more
courtesy than was usually displayed by In
dians to their female prisoners, that Edgar's
blood tinglcd to the very ends of his fin
gers.
The rcdskin dog designs her fol, hi.
wife - he ygtaTb"9'
Jane rose quietly from her scat, and
wrapping the blanket about her, lay down
upon the ground. The chief and two
other warriors then placed themselves
near her, to prevent escape; the re-
mandcr of the party spread their blan
kets around the fire and, within few min.
utcs, all was rs still within the family light
cd space, as if not living being breathed
between the rivers. The fire gradually
burnt down to a bed Of Goals rs the flame
went out the shadows crcpt closer and clos
cr to the dusky group; and so still was the
night that, on stealing little nearer, Ed
gar could plainly hear the heavy breathing
of the tired slccpcrs.
Still nearer and nearer he slowly crcpt
though with no definite design or plan OF
action. The bride who had been snatchcd
almost from his arms, was within that cir
cle-and this gave it a fascination not tc
be resisted. lie was now upon the bank
which sloped gently down to the level of the
b'0o"oc; and here narrow, sandy path
wound round the jutting points, and led d
rcctly toward the smoulderng fire. Almost
without an effort of the Withdrawn by the
charm OF her prcscncc-hc stepped upor
the noisclcss sand. lie commenced the de-
sccnt-issucd from the shadow of littl,
ridSc-was, for moment in full view o.
the whole party-passed on again into the
shadows, and stood within twenty feet o.
the object of his search
The light from the dying fire played fit
fully upon James face, and a smile, serene
as in her happiest moments, gave meaning
to the fitting shadows. Beside her, mo
tionless as fallen statutes, lay the stern. i'm
passive forms of her captors but Edgar
knew too well that, rigid as they seemed
| profOunldv nc thew slept tho el;rht ost ,o;s,