The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-11
The Meadow Dance.

Vcrdant strip Of land, known by the name
OF the Dancing Moad04-a name which
the following tradition will serve to illus.
tratc.
Ages ago the blooming daughters Of the
nelghborlng burghcrs were often IN the
haolt OIL assembling on a summers even
ing, when the weather was fine, to enioy
one ahothcr's society IN this enchanting
vale; during which the dance was never
forgotten.
BESIDES, 1t was tho custom for all younp
brides On the day before their nuptlals, t.
meet here the playmatcs Of their infant
years, whose circle they were about te
9ult 1or ever, and to join in a rar.inf
aance, along with the bordering tenants OF
tho well-known scene.
a party happened to have met on the
second evening OF these rural ceremonies
previous TO wedding. and were on the
polht OF escorting home their rich and
neautltul belrothcd, late on clear NOON
hight night. with all the mlrlhful triumph
Vi uancing, innocent galety, and song.
NoI 'he "ncle or the guests, however,
were destined to reach their homo.
Two OF tho most beautiful maidens die-
appeared.
Notwithstanding the most active excr-
tiohs on the part OF their friends and rcla-
tiVcs, no trace Of them could be discovered:
tnelr seats remained that night vacant in
INC domestic circle, and within Il few hours
all WAS confusion; 10 less among the
Parchts than IN the surrounding abodes
Many weeping cyos were kent awake:
thclr lovers swOrc tho dca,llicst revenge:
Tor they found reason to suspect thai
uhaer the veil of night grlcvous wrong
had been prcmeditatcd, and perhaps &C
comp'shcd. which left them nothing but
The hope Of revenge
Anu III part their fears were well
grounded.
| some dont sites III the service of the
| cniet OF Arusleln. Incoming acquainted
WIN inc hollr nt the intended festival, had
.'c auuacly, lor tho purpose Ot amusing
| themselves and irdulging their masters
propcnsit'ea, to- lie concealed In an ada
cent thickCs
un'ier cover OF the night, they succeeded
III selAllig upon two OF tho dancers, who
happening 10 stray frnm their companions.
haa apprnaHhoA nearest to them, aud they
were instantly conveyed, amid shouts of
surrounding revelry aud rcinnngs. un.
heard, INTO the ncighboring iinrtz noun.
talns, until q 1t time should occur TO con-
| vcy them TO thor ultimate destination In
Rnubbcrg
Scarcely hal the sun slrcnked the hor,.
Hon on the following mornng. when q
number OF the, citizens, whose anxiety had
Kep' Them awake, were seen assembled be
| lore their doors, in ORDER to advise with
tb~uU dffIupLcu.
Snon they learned that a secret mcssen
ger who had been despatched iipon some
| private affair, and was returning, ere day
| prcak, over tho mountains, had heard
sufficient TO prove the forcble abduction
OF INC young women, although he had lost
! the track OF the robbers among the hills
| mere was reason. however, to conclude
| that they must reside somcwhcr upon the
| Arustein
| INelr hnllnts were still secret.
Tue magistrate, upon thus bcng made
acquainted with the facts, Instantly solic-
tied meeting Of the relatives of the ad
Quoted partles while they attempted in
! the meantime to preserve calmncss and
! moderation IN the minds of tho inccnscd
| citizens.
The chief part of the assembly were Tor
| instantly armng tho whole of the inhabi-
| tants capable OF bearing arms in order, If
possible, TO surprise and destroy the hated
ana notorious castle of Arustcm, which,
thcy SAID, ought long since to have been
| lcvellcd with the ground.
Bnt, besides the uncertainty or the III
formation received, it WINS Justly remarked
| bY the magistrates who presided, that 1T
would require months of open and dc
cidcd hostility to capture 80 powerful
and well prOvisioncd castle az that OF
kaubbcrg, whence the formidable enemy
made his deprcdationa.
Moreover, the present case called for i'll
stant redress
AT length, after q long and stormy dis
cusfion OF the most eflcncious means fer
obtaining 1t, during which the heads of
the more hold and indignant had leisure TO
grow cooler, 1t was agreed to adopt the
1881 suggestion of tho oldest magistrates,
VINO explained to council the superior
OPINION nc ertertaincd OF a rusc dc gucrre,
ny which he trusted that the frection Of
tic abdnctcd party would bo more speedily
accomplished,
In the first place every one must return
quickly back to his own house, conccaling
h's feellnGs of indignation and revenge as
VOL rs he could.
| occurred at tho late fesllval--os If tho
absence of none of tho party had boon
I noticed or that their return was quietly
expected, another nnptial evening shonld
DC as soon as possible announced, with
even more hustle and splcndor than tho
| former; all their ncighbors to be Invited
to tho dance. and information sent by
lrnstv messengers TO tho adjacent villages
around.
Accordingly, these samG tidiDga reached
tho cars of the lord Of Arustciu, who, on
receiving an invitation along with his
knights and esqurcs. loudly ridicucd The
stupidity of the poor citizens who thus
actually threw their daughters in his way.
Then. amidst oaths and laughter, a still
moro extended iDcursion than tho former
was determined upon. the whole of tho
party present declaring that they would,
this time. each and every ono seize on his
individual prey, after the close of the
| dance.
About twilight on the appointed day,
tho meadow was seen covered with beau
tiful groups Of dancers; yet, with all this,
no virgins this day trod the scenc-thcy
were safe In thor parental mansions.
! 1t was tho stout citizens, and next TO
them their eldest boys, who were arrayed
in wOmcn's attire, with newly sharpened
weapons concealed under their clothes, all
intent upon avenging tho honor of their
daughtcrs--their sstcrs or their betrothed,