The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-10-08

SHN >o'iA - iheo " passion oNSl d
deed which she imputed to him, but
he had heard no word of condemna-
ton from her lips of Bessemer's
barbarous treachery in firing upon
an enemy during a flag of truce and
of slaughtering opponents who
begged for quarter. Nay, had she
not received the monster into her
house with friendliest hospitality
Immediately after his outrageous
action?
When he had done all he could
for the exhausted horse, Worthine-
ton mounted his own and rode away,
but not through the forest this time.
He took the road that lay along the
creek, sandy and barren and desc
late, better suited to his mood than
the close, sweet intimacy of the
woods.
Turning suddenly to the right, he
entered Il ravine along whose rocky
bottom ran a swift-fowing stream.
Following this for a tedious distance,
while his horse snorted and shook his
head in frequent protest oven the
roughness of the way, he finally
came within sight of Il curl of blue
smoke. and it was not long before he
was able to see that the smoke arose
from 4 campfire.
Scattered along the rocky base
and edges of the ravine, at con-
vcnient proximity to the fire, were
some 25 or 80 men, their horses
tethered near. They were a sturdy
looking set, some of them with fierce
expressions, some wearing a devil
may-care air, but most of them with
phlegmatic countenances that defed
the observer, however keen, to read
their thoughts. AS a rule, they were
unshaven and roughly dressed, most
of them in doeskin trousers and home
spun shirts. Their rifles were by
their sides o. slung across their
backs. These were the men whom
Godfrey had gathered together to
help revenge Buford.
His vas the only continental uni
form among them, and he the only
trained soldier, but every man in
that company was a dead shot, an
expert horseman, and an intrepid
spirit. In fact, he had gathered one
of those bands of mounted rihemen
that were to make Sumter's fame
and do SO much for the preservation
of South Cardinals liberty.
In the ashes of the fire were bak-
ink sweet potatoes and hoe-cakes.
and Worthington was just in time to
partake of the MONDAY meal.
The next two months were monot-
onous ones for Jane, despite the re-
turn of her father and mother from
Charleston and the weeks visit
which her brother made them. Ar
irving from England with his COM
mission as a lieutenant in Lord Corn
wallis army, he was assigned by that
general to Bessemer's command. and
the latter graciously obtained for
him a ten-days' furlough that he
might visit his home, sending by him
numerous messages to Jane.
The morning of the seventeenth of
August, -17sO, was hot and sultry.
James father had been carried out
by Gabriel and Absalom, and placed
in his chin%tz-covered armchair in the
s~ummer-house. Jane sat beside him.
reading aloud passages from his ia
vorite Cicero.
His two months treatment under
the famous Charleston doctor had
done him but little good. The hands
which lay upon the arms of his chair
were as tremulous as leaves of the
aspen-tree, while the veins stood in
thick blue cords above the scared
and yellow skin. The face. once
beautifully white, was covered with
brown blotches, and the silken gray
curls hung with distressing thinncss
upon his shoulders.
Nevertheless, he made an exquisite
picture in his Powered chair. His
yellow silk-lined coat vas thrown
open: displaying the dainty white
ness OF his ruff1ed shirt. His brown
silk hose We're drawn up without a
wrinkle over his thin legs and met
his brown knee-breeches under Jewell
buckled carriers. The great magnolia
trees, one on either side of the sum
mer-house, cast a luxurious shade.
making the wearing of the three
cornered hat which lay beside him I'M
necessary. The air was heavy with
the rich odor of the ripened grapes
in the vineyard to the left, while on
the right the fower-garden was ra-
diant with hollyhocks and ]arkspurs
n marigolds, and great tubs of
Towering oleander. The summer
house itself was a mass of morning
glories and passion-fowers.
Jane was not the least attractive
bit of the pleasing picture, in her
white frock with its pulled paniers,
its elbow-sleeves, and it's low-cut
bodice modestly filled in with a lace
trimmed kerchief that was drawn
not too closely about the white
throat.
Into the peace and quiet of this
scene broke the sound of many
horses feet. "What is it,, my daugh-
ter"' Mr.. Ellery asked, grasping the
arms of his chair with trembling
hands. "Is it the rebels?"
NAY, father" Jane answered. me
thinks it is rather the British, to
judge by the dashes of red see
among the trees; but 1 will go and
find out"
She laid her book upon the table
as she spoke, and, rising from her
seat. left the s"ummer-hOuse and