Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-10
HORSE SA0k
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
Rv JOHN p. KENNEDY.
CHAPTER xXxvIu-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER AN1a-SONrlNOh@D'
A brief halt. and few words with
the good hostess, furnished Mildred
neither with a letter nor with any IN
formation Of moment from the quarter
where at this time the thoughts OF
nearly the whole Of the American peo-
pie were turned.
"woful days, Miss Mildred" said the
landlady, shaking her head, and wear
ing a face Of lugubrious length, "woful
indeed! nothing but hurry-skurry' and
Dragging and swearing. What with
Gates runaways, that-shame upon
them!-come whipping post haste
along the road and messengers, dra-
goons, and drill sergeants, all out OF
breath, out Of money. and out OF every
thing but appetites; which. mercy on
me; never fail in the worst of times:
and what with musterings OF volun-
teers, and drumming and fling OF It
I'D. hill and down dale, II Is as much as
one can do to keep ores wits. Heaven
help US, my dear! don't know what
we shall come to. But poor Arthur
she continued, in a mournful and lower
KEY, mot a word from him. 1t looks aw-
fully; 1 could almost sit down ana
weep. Nevertheless, Miss Mildred, my
child, be of good cheer, God will keep
his foot from the path that leads TO
the snares; we must all trust In His
goodness"
ALAS, alas!" breathed Mildred. In an
accent of sorrow. Brother, ride for
ward. II a good word reaches you'
Mistress Dimock, send 1t to me, even
II 1t be at midnight"
"a man naturally. sister," he said'
erecting himself in his stirrups, and
assuming the stiff carriage Of a con-
ceited young adjutant on parade a
man naturally feels proud on horse
back. It is what I call glorifica-
ton, to have a noble beast under you,
that you can turn and wind and check
and set forward as you please, as II
his limbs were your own. You feel
stronger: and, in this world, l do be-
lieve a strong man is always proud.
Now, / should think that woman
would feel even more so than a man;
because, being weak by nature, sne
must grow happier to think how much
muscle she can put in motion by only
pulling the rein"
There is some philosophy In that
Henry" replied Mildred. -: - So
$50 there is sister; and tell you
more, that when a person has this sort
of gloriflcation, as they call 1t they al
ways get more contented with them
selves. And that's the reason, as far as
l am a Judge, that you always feel In
better spirits when you are on horse
back: and especially, If it should be In
front of a troop-hallo, Stephen!
calculated Henry, taken by surprise, In
the midst of his discourse, by the sight
of a flock of wild turkeys that ran
across the road. some hundred PAGES
ahead. Did you see that? Halt, man
here's game for US" And, In an IN
slant. he sprang from his horse, which
he fastened to one of the neighboring
trees and ran off with his rifle In his
hand, in pursuit of the flock.
Stephen, whose instincts were those
of a keen sportsman when game was
before him, did the same thing: and In
a few moments Mildred found herself
left entirely alone in the road, half dis
posed to chide and half to smile at the
eager and ungallant desertion of her
attendants, who were now in quick but
cautious pursuit of the brood Of tur-
keys. The speed with which these birds
are accustomed to run through the
woods, allured their pursuers to some
distance into the depths of the forest;
and Mildred patiently awaited the re-
turn of her companions on the ground
where they had left her.
After five or ten minutes had elapsed,
II was with a sensation of some little
concern that she deserted, upon the
road a stranger mounted on horseback,
and coming at a brisk trot to the spot
where she had halted. The appearance
of the individual was that of one or
the irregular soldiers who had accom-
panied Gates army; his dress was rus
tic, and his weapon according to the
almost universal fashion of the coun-
try troops, the long rife. The condi-
ton of his sturdy steed showed long
and fatiguing service; whilst the bold
and manly person Of the rider left little
room to suppose that he was TO be
classed amongst the many who had
fled in panic from the field Of action.
AS soon as the stranger became aware
of the presence of the lady, he slack
ened his speed and approached with
respectful salutation.
IF mought be so bold, ma'am. how
far mought it be to river they call
the Roekfish?"
"It is scarce two miles away, sir"
replied Mildred.
"And there, II l don't disremember,"
said the traveller "is house kept by
the Widow Dimock; the Blue Ball.
Think"
There is, sir"
"And no forks in the road betwlxt
this and the Widows"
1T is a plain road" replied Mildred.
"And about two miles beyont-is
Squire Lindsay's at place they call
the Dove Cote?"
aDoes your business take you there?
asked Mildred. with interest; are you
from the army?-whence come you?'
"Beg pardon, ma'am," replied the
stranger, smiling, "but am an old sod
ger. and rather wary about answering
questions that consarn myself. | sup
pose 1t is likely mought see Mr.. Lind
say"
"Pray, sir. tell me what brings you
here. and who you are? 1 have special
reasons for presuming so far upon your
kindness. l myself live at the Dove
Cote, and"
Then, mayhap, you mought nave
hearn OF one Major Arthur Butler?"
"Oh yes. sir-if you have any news
OF him. speak 1t to me quickly" eX-
claimed Mildred. with much agitation
"Rv that sparkling of your eye