Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-23
CHAPTER XXXII.
Mary Musqrove's Perplexities.

AS a mariner who watches the heav-
ems from the deck, and notes the first
uprising of the small cloud, mo bigger
than a mans hand" that to his prac-
tised eye shows the sign Of tempest;
and anon, as the speck quickly changes
into a lurid mass, whence volume after
volume of dun vapor is driven in curled
billows forward, covering the broad
welkin with a gloomy pail, he looks
more frequently and more intently up
: wards anxious to lay his vessel safe,
and assure himself of his proper course
to steer; so-not with the same doubt
Of safety. but with the same restless
inspection of the heavens-did Mary
watch the slow approach of night.
First, she looked wistfully at the de-.
clining sun, and observed with pleasure
the night begin to soar; then,
through the long twilight, she noted the
thickening darkness, and saw the bat
take wing, and heard the frog croaking
from his pool. And as the stars, one
by one, broke forth upon the night, 1t
gladdened her to think the hour of her
mission was approaching, for she was
troubled in her spirit and anxious to
acquit herself of her charitable office;
and perhaps, too, it may be told of her
without prejudice to her modest maid
enly emotions, a spur was given to her
wishes by the hope of meeting John
Ramsay.
For an hour after supper she paced
the porch, and still looked out upon the
stars. to mark the slow waxing Of the
night: and. now and then she walked
forth as far as the mill, and fingered
by the bank of the river, and again re-
turned to ask the sentinel the hour.
You seem disturbed, Mary said
Macdonald, p!ayfully. Now, I'll ven
ture to say can guess your thoughts;
this star gazing is a great telltale. You
were just now thinking that, as the tug
borne a musket lately. will be very
naturally tripping this way tonight in
stead of going home to see his mother
ComC-isn't that a good guess?
do you know him, sir?" asked
Mary. with composure.
| AYE, to be sure l do; a good. brave
fellow, who eats well, drinks well, anc
fights we'll"
"All men do that now," replied the
maiden, but l am sure you are wrong
sir. if you think any such considers Il
worth his while to come here"
He must come quickly, or we can
not let him in without a couatersign
said the officer; sergeant, order the
tattoo to beat. it is o'clock. Mary
stay. must cross question you a little
about this same gallant"
Indeed. sir. did jest, and so
thought you did. My father says 1t l:
not proper l should lOiter to talk will
the men: good night, sir; it is our time
for prayers" And with these words
the young girl withdrew into the house
In some half hour afterwards Mary
escaped by another door and, taking
Circuitous path through the garden, sh'
passed behind the sentinel and spec
towards the mill. intent upon keeping
her appointment with the friends o
Butler AS soon as she reached th'
river bank. she quickened her pace
and hurried with a nimble step towards
the distant thicket.
What no! who goes there?' shout
ed the voice of a man from the neigh
borhood of the mill: "who flies 81
fast?"
Faith. Tom, 1t must be a ghost
said a second voice, loud enough to b.
heard by the darhsel, who now increas