Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-05
CHAPTER z
ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL

swOOn, for Farmer Price had noWn IN
to towering rage on recognizing her
former lover He had learned Of his
escape from Jail, accompanied by Joe
Westbrook's pretty daughter. and had
heard it darkly hinted that they had
taken refuge with the Tories in the
mountains. and now he jumped at
the conclusion that Robin had led the
Tories hither for the purpose of carry
ing off his daughter. 1t would be an
effectual way Of wreaking his revenge.
he argued. and at the same time pro-
curing plunder for his comrades.
"You Internal desperado" be bawl.
ed loudly. $50 you thought to fin of
with Zadie, after all! Oh. never fear,
we'll not kill you. for it would be a
shame to rob the gallows of its prey
No. you thieving varletI Well put you
back.in prison and keep you there until
the hangman calls for you That 8 what
we'll do.
Robin glared at his prosecutor def.
antly and replied
"Whatever l may be. old man, am
not perjurerl l never kept man in
Jail on false charge And. as for wish
ing to steal your daughter, | have risk
ed my life to protect her.
"Yes. indeed" broke in Zadie. who
had at last found voice to interpose.
"this man has defended me bravely
without letting me know who he was
Then. turning to Robin. she continued
in a sorrowful tone of voice $50 it
was you. Edward, who so bravely de-
Tended me from the Tories Strange
that 1 did not guess it beforel'
While she was speaking her father
gazed at her in bewilderment. for her
words had a cooling effect upon bis
rage.
"You say that this man defended
you, ZadieY" he stammered out at last
"Yes. father. she answered eagerly
"He fought the whole band for my
sake
"But he came here with the Tories
He was one of them. returned Farmer
Price obviously
~ can explain all that. broke in a
sweet voice from the direction Of the
staircase.
And moment afterward Polly came
tripping into the attic.
She carried lantern in her hand.
and her countenance was illumined by
its light. 1t could be seen that her
cheeks were flushed with excitement
and that an expression of triumph gilt
tered in her eyes
"Come. she said gayly, beckoning
to the group surrounding Robin. Fol
low ME into the kitchen. and / will tell
the story of this nights doings. The
Tories have fed to the mountains and
we need not fear disturbance.
"But my husband -Caleb-has he
escaped unharmed2" asked Zadie in a
tone of voice which suggested the sus'
picion that a negative answer would
not have broken her heart.
"Mr. Shurker has been brutally NAL
treated. answered Polly. "but he will
soon be himself again. / will tell you
all about him when we reach the kitch'
en-"
"Thank you" returned Zadie faint.
ly, with just trace of disappointment
in her tone.
So they all followed Polly into the
kitchen. where the remainder Of the
rescuing party were already gathered.
resting from the fatigues of the battle
and administering to the needs of Caleb
Shurker For. as Polly had said. this
unfortunate man had been very rough
ly treated by the bandits and was much
nearer dead than alive
While passing down the stairs from
the attic into the lower part of the
house they stumbled over the bodies OF
several Tories who had been thrown
into such a panic by the sudden onrush
of the rescuers that they had scarcely
raised hand in defense Of their lives
Evidences were nowhere wanting that
the surprise had been complete. On
reaching the kitchen Polly bade the
others be seated. while Zadie. like du-
tiful wife, went over to soothe and con-
sol her moaning husband. Farmer
Price, who was familiar with the do
mestic arrangements of the household,
brought a.. great jug of cider from the
cellar and also a store Of more substan-
tial refreshments. These he placed on
the table. saying:
"Fall to, my lads, and eat and drink
your fill Yell find that cider most ex-
cellent and the corn bread and bacon
very strengthening.
The frontiersmen did not wait for a
second invitation. but fell to with a
will. and while they were disposing of
the eatables Polly told the story of her
ride.
THANK you, kind friends. she be-
gan. "for the service you have rendered
me this night Perhaps you are not
aware of the great obligations you have
placed me under Well. listen. and
will tell youl
"This man." pointing proudly at
Edward Robin. twas a captive with
me in the mountains. I had helped him
to escape from the Jail in which he was
wrongfully confined. and we had fled
together to get married and begin life
oror o1oin in another mart of the world