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

itself into purpose-the vague attraction
settled into conscious resolution.
He began to move cautiously to the left,
around the sleeping circle, within the deep
or shadows of the grove, from tree to tree,
toward that beneath which Jane was slum.
bering. Nearer, step by step, and silently
as the closing in Of night, he approached
| like a shadow. He was now within the In-
fuenco of the light, and but one tree stood
| between him and that which he was en-
| deavoring to reach. A breathless pause, DUR
ing which he gazed upon the form Of every
sicerer-they were apparently as uncen-
scious, as if each had bcen>a corpse. And
yet. how fearful was tho risk at every step,
The slightest rustic Of bush, the breaking
ofa twig, even the grating eE his feet upon
the gravel might awake his cnemies-and
then farewell all hope of rescue!
But his was not n nature to shrink from
danger. Cautiously drawing the ramrod
FROM his rifle. he took the irr revocablc STEP
Swiftly, but silently, he glidc,i from one tree
to the other. Within four feet of him lay
Jane, in profound and tranquil sleep, her
head resting upon her arm, and one hand
extended toward him; while on each side
of her, but still nearer than he, her captors
were ready to awake at the first movement
But again he resolved to take the risk,
and stretching forth the ramrod, gently
touched her open hand. She did not move
he touched it again-and she slightly
drew it away. Once more--she opened her
eyes, and gazed upon the sleeping Indian
before her-fortunately, without disturbing
him lie passed tho rod slowly hACa-s -l,.-
head, and was about to speak, wher he
showed himself for an instant, and pressed
his finger to his lips. She was silent, though
brcathless with excitement. But the nerves
of true frontier girl were not easily sha-
ken and Jane saw at once that her lover S
safety, as we'll as her own liberty, depended
upon her selfcommand. Obeying q sign
from him, she commenced slowly and eau
tiously, though with trembling hands, to
unfold the blanket which protected, but al
so impcded her. AS fold after fold fell
gradually off, her heart beat with wilder
and stronger pu!sation; and when, finally,
she found herself free, she could scarcely
forbear springing to her feet, and rushing in-
to Edgars arms. BY great effort she re.
strained herself, and cautiously rose to her
feet.
Full fifteen minutcs-an age at such a
E time-had passed since Edgar approached
the tree. But the suspense was amply com
, pensatcd, when, without the least noise, he
, saw her, BY his direction, gain the shadow
of the first tree. He fingered still to sec
that she was unobservcd, and then one mo
ment brought him to her side, and joined
their lips in kiss as intense as was the
, danger by which they were surrounded.
Yet he dared not speak, and there was nc
time to be lost. The savages might discov.
the escape at any moment, and their last
chance would be gone. He took her by the
hand, and walkingly swiftly, though eau.
tiously, began to rctrace his steps through
; the wood. Five minutes brought them to
the head Of the ravinc, and here he should
turn to the left, if he wished to regain the
BY coHjs hish hee Be must 1s9 take wide circuit
to avoid the Indian cncampmcnt-and every
moment was precious. Turning, therefore
to the right instead, he led her, as rapidly
, as she could walk, in the direction, as he
supposed, of the dividing ridge, along which
he had Travelled i'll the evening His OBJ
servation of localities was usually so accu.
rate, that there seemed no danger of miss.
ing the way. But he had been so much
absorbed in the approach to the Jioouac,
that he had not noted the windings of the
compass and his surprise was very great on
finding, after an hour spent in pushing for
ward, that he was apparently as far as ever
from the ridge.
1t was long past midnight, and but a
short time could elapsc before the prisoner
escape must be discovered 1t was ytally
f necessary that he should recross the river
before sunrise; and yet, without his horse,
this was impossible. Jane expressed con-
fidence in her ability to walk even much
farther; but the speed Of even so active a
, walker as she was far from sufficient for es.
cape. Edgar grew silent and anxious
though the chcerfulness of his companion
t at another time would have drawn many a
smile from the gloom of his face.
awe can only push forward, john" said
she; ':an enterprise so successfully begun
, should not be given up in despair"
81 can never despair so long as you arc
, with me, Jane" he re piled; "but | ought
to tell you that, unless | can find my horse
our capture is certain"
"See, then. if am not a better night
ranger than Captain John Edgar" she said
, 81 hear your horse, now :"
The Ranger drew her to him and kissed
her warmly.
II shall resign in your favor" said he
81 should have passed without hearing
, | him %