The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-03
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION.
which ensued between them.

Grace cast her eyes around her for q
moment, just long enough to take in the
surrounding objects, and beheld on every
hand heterogeneous collection of stolen
property scattered about her.
In the centre of the room six men were
sitting around table playing at cards,
while her false lover, Pennington, was
busily occupied in changing his fashion
able garments for the coarser descrip-
ton worn by the robbers.
None of them paid any attention to
her, and soon after they passed out of
the room, leaving the taper burning on
the floor.
Grace heard them lock and bar the
door, and soon after pass away.
Then in the silence and solitude of
her marrow prison she noted the swiftly
consuming taper grow fainter and fainter
till it finally expired altogether, leaving
her in total darkness.
She raised herself to a sitting posture,
and at that moment she detected for the
first time minute ray of light resting
on her hand. She removed her hand
and all was again in darkness; she re-
stored it again, and the welcome ray Of
light was still there. She now became
fully satisfied that the outer world was
not very far removed from her.
On examination she discovered small
opening in the rock overhead, of about
foot in diameter, upon which rested
fiat stone, placed there no doubt to con-
ceal the aperture from observation. She
strove to remove it with her hands, but
the stone seemed firmly planted.
Finally, with one almost superhuman
effort she succeeded in moving the bar
rier so far aside that she found no fur
ther obstacle to her escape.
Trembling with fright and exhaustion,
she crept through the open space, and
throwing herself on the bare rock above,
her beautiful face upturned in the clear
autumn moonlight, she fervently thank
cd God for her timely and unexpected
deliverance.
She next looked about her, and per-
ceived that she now stood Oh the summit
OF vast ledge of limestone, with huge
forest trees around her springing out of
the mOssy assures of tho rock.
In moment she became satisfied in
her own mind that the entrance of the
cavern was just beneath her. Going the
other way she went through the forest
till she came to n travelled road. It was
then in the gray of morning, and in
few minutes her attention was arrested
by the sound of approaching wheels, and
she made up her mind to appeal to the
person, whoever he might be for protec-
ton. At length the team came up, and
Grace accosted the driver. She stated
in as few words rs possible who she was
and what had happened to her, and
begged him to conceal her if possible
somewhere in his wagon, for fear that
Pennington and his associates might
follow and overtake her. No sooner did
the driver understand that she was
niece of Farmer Atwood's than he asked
her if she did not remember him.
81 do now!' cried Grace, with thrill
OF pleasure. ''You are one of those very
persons who came to our relief one time
they attempted to rob my uncle's house."
"The samc," answered the driver: $50
you may as we'll Chamber into the vehicle
now rs ut another time and so give us
an hoppertupity to conceal you from
hobservation.
Grace thanked the loquacious but
hno-heartcd driver, who now assisted
her i'll mounting to the cart, the body of
which was filed with great number of
boxes, baskets, and casks. A whisky
barrel, with one of the heads knocked
in, seemed the only unoccupied thing
in the wagon; and Mr.. Sharp, with an
aptness worthy of the name of Sharp,
hoisted it up with the remark that the
bunghole was in the other end.
"Now, young oman, if you don't mind
it, I'll just cover You over with this
whisky barrel, so if any one comes they'll
see the sound head with the bung out,
an they'll think I'm just taking it to
market to be filled. A pretty good idea,
young 'oman," he said.
Grace assented, and suffered her pro-
tector to place the empty barrel over her
head, humping it two or three times to
be sure that it gave forth the right sound
after which he resumed his seat once
more and drove on. He had not pro-
ceeded far, however, when he apprised
Grace through the bungholc thnt two
men were in pursuit Of them, and that
sho must keep up q good heart md lay
snug.
, In few moments the clatter of horses
hoofs, was distinctly audible to her
above the heavy sound of the rumbling
vohicle. The next moment she heard
the strong voice of Pennington COM
manding the driver to halt.
"By what right, ant please you do
you delay an honest man on the kings
'iGh-way2" demanded tho 1rivnr i, q