Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-22
CHAPTER LV.

GilDert-toWn only until NluellS HUN
Williams brought tidings of Ferguson's
late movements. These reached Camp
bell early in the day succeeding his ar
rival at the village, and apprised him
that williams followed on the foot
steps of the British partisan, and would
expect to unite his force with that or
the allied volunteers at the Cowpens-
"a field not yet distinguished in story
whittier he expected to arrive on the
following day. Campbell determined
in consequence, to hasten to this quar-
ter.
The present position of Mildred, not
withstanding the kind sympathy with
which every one regarded her, was one
that wrought severely upon her feel
ings. She had heretofore encountered
the hardships of her journey, and borne
herself through the trials, so unaccus-
toned to her sex, with a spirit that
had quailed before no obstacle. But
now, finding herself in the train of an
army just moving forth to meet Its
enemy, with all the vicissltudes and
peril of battle in prospect, 1t was with
a sinking of the heart she had not
hitherto known, that she felt herself
called upon to choose between the alter
native of accompanying them in their
march, or being left behind. To adopt
the first resolve, she was painfully con-
scious would bring her to witness
scenes, and perhaps endure privatlons,
the very thought of which made her
shudder; whilst, to remain at dis
tance from the theatre Of events In
which she was so deeply concerned,
was a thought that suggested anxious
fears, not less intolerable than the un-
tried sufferings of the campaign. She
had, thus far, braved all dangers for the
sake of being near to Butler; and now
to hesitate or stay her step, when she
had almost reached the very spot of his
captivity, and when the fortunes Of war
might soon throw her into his actual
presence, seemed to her like abandon
ing her duty at most critical moment
of trial. She was aware that he
was In the camp of the enemy;
that this enemy was likely to
be overtaken and brought to combat;
and II was with magnified terror that
she summoned up to her imagination
the possible mischances which might
befall Arthur Butler in the infiction OF
some summary act Of vengeance pro-
voked by the evaporation of conflict.
II have tempted the dangers OF flood
and storm for him-of forest and field
-noonday battle and midnight as
sault," she said, with an earnestness
that showed she had shaken all doubts
from her mind; Il have taken my vow
of devotion to his safety-to be per-
formed with which fidelity as BELTS the
sacred bond between us. l will not
blench now, in the last struggle, though
perils thicken around me. I'm pre-
pared for the worst"
Allen Musgrove Robinson and Hen
ry combated this resolve with joint eX-
postulation, urging upon Mildred the
propriety of her tarrying in the village,
at least until the active operations of
the army were terminated-an event
that might be expected in a few days.
But it was not until Campbell himself
demonstrated with her against the in
discretion of her purpose, and promised
to afford her the means of repairing to
the scene of action at any moment she
might think her presence there useful,
that she relinquished her determination
to accompany the army on its present
expedition. 1t was, in consequence, ul-
timately arranged that she should re-
main in the quarters provided for her
i'm Gilbert-town, attended by the miller
and his daughter, whilst few soldiers
were to be detailed as a guard for her
person. With this train of attendants
she was to be left at liberty to draw as
near to the centre of events as her con-
siderate and faithful counsellor, Allen
Musgrove. might deem safe.
Another source of uneasiness to her
arose out of the separation which she
was about to endure from the sergeant
and her brother Henry. Horse Shoe.
swayed by an Irresistible and affection
ate longing to be present at the eX-
pected passage of arms, which might
so materially affect the fortunes of his
captive fellow soldier, Butler. had rep
resented to Mildred the value of the
services he might be able to render;
and as the friendly solicitude of the
miller and his daughter left nothing
within their power to be supplied, to-
wards the comfort and protection OF
the lady, she did not refuse her consent
to this temporary observation-disclosures
II naturally awakened some painful
when her excited feelings most requir-
ed the consolation of friends.
Henry, captivated with the prospect
of military adventure, and magnlhed
in his own esteem by the Importance
which Stephen Foster and the Rangers
playfully assigned TO his position in the
ranks, had so far lost sight of the spe-
cial duty he had assumed, as his sis
ter's companion, that he now reSolutely
rebelIed against all attempts to per-
suade him to remain in the village; and
Mildred. at last. upon the pledge of the
own eye. reluctantly yielded to a de-
mand which she found il almost impos-
sible to resist
These matters being settled 1t was
not long before Mildred and Mary
Musgrove. seated at the window OF the
house which had been selected as their
present abode. saw the long array OF
the army glide by at a brisk pace ana
watched the careless and laughing faces
of the soldiers, as they filed off through
the only street of the village, and took
the high road leading south.
The troops had been gone for seVerai
hours. and Allen Musgrove and the few
soldiers who had been left behind had
scattered themselves over the village
to get rid of the tedium of idleness In
the gossip of the scant population
which the place afforded. Mildred had