Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-18
CHAPTER LII.

her new and kind-hearted friends, under
the hospitable roof of the farmer, hard
by the Yadkin. The reader has, doubt
less, found reason in the course OF this
narrative to marvel much that lady
so delicately nurtured should, with so
stout q spirit and with such singular
devotion, have tempted so many dan
gers, and exposed herself to such un-
wonted hardships, for the sake Of the
man she loved. Perhaps, / might be able
to clear up this matter. by referring to
the extraordinary conjuncture Of cir
cumstances that surrounded her. 1t
was no secret that she frequently, and
with her whole heart-yea even with
fanatical worship-loved the man she
sought. Her affection had been nursed
In solitude. and, like a central fire,
glowed with a fervid heat, unobserved
at first, silent and steady; and by de-
grees her enthusiasm spread its color
ing over the passion, and raised 1t in
to a fanciful but solemn self-dedica-
ton. This warmth Of feeling might
still have been witnessed only within
her family precinct, had it not been
that, at a most critical moment, when
her fathers absence from the Dove
Cote left her without other resource
than her own unaided counsel, she was
made acquainted that her lovers life
was In imminent peril, and that word
from her might perhaps avert his
doom. We have seen with what anx-
ious alacrity she set forth In that emer-
gency upon her pilgrimage of duty;
and how, as she became familiar with
hardship and danger, her constancy and
resolution still took a higher tone
growing more vigorous even with the
impediments that lay across her path.
This may seem strange to our peace
bred dames-and little congrHous with
that feminine reserve and shrinking
ness which we are wont to praise; but
war; distress, and disaster work mira
cles In the female bosom and render
that virtuous and seemly, which ease
and safety might repel. Nature Is a
wise and cunning charmer. and In ar
fiction, makes that forwardness not
unlovely, which In tranquil and happy
times she would visit with her censure.
II these considerations do not suffice
to explain the present movements Of
my heroine must beg my reader to
have patience to the end, when, perad-
venture. he will find a still better rea-
son.
When morning came, Mildred was up
with the first blush Of light. Her
thoughts had dwelt with a busy rest
lessness upon the late intelligence, and
she had slept only In short and disturb
ed intervals. She was impatient to be
again upon the road.
Accordingly, as soon as the prepara-
tions for their Journey could be made,
our party, now increased by the addi-
ton Of Musgrove and his daughter, set
forward ON their travel towards Rurk
Court House.
This Journey was protracted through
several days. The disturbed state OF
the country. produced by the active hos
II prudent for our wayfarers frequently
to halt amongst the friendly inhabit-
ants of the region through which they
travelled, In order to obtain informa-
tion or wait for the passage Of troops
whose presence might have caused en-
barrassment.
The considerate kindness of Allen
Musgrove, and the unwearled atten-
tlons of Mary, who softened by her
own griefs, evinced a more touching
sympathy for the sufrerings Of Mildred,
every day increased their friendship
which their present companionship had
engendered, and greatly beguiled the
road of Its tediousness and discomfort.
The journey. however. was not with
out Its difficulties, nor altogether des-
titute OF occurrences Of interest to this
history. The upper districts Of North
Carolina present to the eye a very
beautiful country, diversified by noun
tain and valley, and gifted in general
with rich soil. Considerable portions
OF the region were consequently occu-
pied and put into cultivation at an
early period of the history of the pro-
vince; and, at the era Of the revolu-
tion, were noted as the most desirable
positions for the support Of the south
ern armies. This circumstance had
drawn the war to that quarter, and
had induced a frequent struggle to
tu
who came into possession of 1t. Such
state of things had now, as we have
before remarked embarrassed the prog
ress OF our friends, and had even COM
PEELED them to diverge largely from the
direct route of their journey.
1t happened, a few days after leav-
ing the Yadkin. that the hour Of sunset
found our little troop pursuing road
through the deep and gloomy forest
which, for several miles past, had
been unrelieved by any appearance OF
human habitation. Neither Horse Shoe
nor Allen Musgrove possessed any ac-
quaintance with the region beyond the
knowledge that they were upon what
was called the upper or mountain road
that extended from Virginia entirely
through this section Of North Carolina;
and that they could not be much more
than fifteen or twenty miles north OF
Burk Court House. Where they should
rest during the night that was now al
hand, was a matter that depended en-
tirely upon chance: and stimulated by
the hope of encountering some wood
land cabin, they persevered in riding
forward, even when the fading twi-
light had so obscured their path as
to make it a matter OF some circum-
spection to pick their way. Thus the
night stole upon them almost una
wares.
There is nothing so melancholy a:
the deep and lonely forest at night
and why it should be so will not stoI
to inquire, but that melancholy, /
seems to me. is enhanced by the chilli
ness of the autumnal evening. Th'
imagination people the impenetrabl