Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-09
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
ByJOHN p. KENNEDY.

come! And how fortunate 1t Is that
should meet you! Get down from your
horse, I have something to tell you
Here, Stephen Foster, take this gentle
mans horse
You are a fine fellow, Harry" said
Butler, dismounting. THAT smiling
face of yours is full of pleasant news;
It assures me that all are we'll at the
Dove Cote" Then having given his
horse in charge to Robinson, and walk
ed a few PAGES apart with his young
friend, he inquired in low and anx-
ious tone, Mildred, my dear Henry
what Of your sister Mildred? Has she
received my letter? Does she expect
me? Is your father"
Now, captain" interrupted the 9TH
er-"but heigh! don't the newspaper
say you are brevetted? I am pretty
fellow to forget that! Well then, Ma
ior Butler, let me answer one question
] at a time. In the first place, sister
Mildred Is as we'll as any girl can be,
that has a whole bushel Of crosses to
keep her out Of spirits. Poor thing, she
frets so, about you and my father. In
the second place, she received your let
ter week ago, and has had me pa
trolling this ridge every day since, just
to keep a lookout for you; and, for the
sake Of company, I have had Stephen
Foster hunting here all the time-more
for an excuse than anything else, be-
cause on this side Of the river the
drives are not the best for deer-a man
might be here fortnight and not get
a shot. Sister Mildred wanted me If
should see you first, just to whisper
to you that it is impossible to do any
thing with my father, especially at this
time for he has one Of these English
officers staying at the Dove Cote now,
who, am afraid and so Is sister Mil
dred, has come to do some mischief.
Mildred says I must make some ap-
pointment with you to see her private
ly. though Of Mrs. Dimock's, but this
Englishman has a servant staying over
there, and maybe 1t wouldn't do. So,
major you will have to ride down
to the big chestnut, on the bank of
the river, just under the rock that we
call the Fawn's Tower-you know
where that is? 1t isn't more than two
miles from here"
81 know it well, Henry, I will wait
there patiently" replied Butler, as he
now returned to his horse.
Haven't we been in luck" said Hem
~, "to get so fine buck at last? This
fellow has eight branches. 1t is Ste
phen's rife that has done it."
The woodman, during this conver-
sation, had taken possession Of his
spoil, and was now busily engaged with
his knife in cutting open and preparing
the animal for transportation, accord
ing to the usages Of woodcraft, whilst
Robinson stood by, admiring the dex-
terity with which this Office was per-
formed. When the buck was, at last;
thrown by Stephen across his horse
Henry gave him orders to ride forward.
You will carry our game to your
own house, Stephen; and don't forget
tomorrow. to let us have the saddle at
the Dove Cote. And Stephen, you need
not say that we have found any ac-
quaintances upon the road, you un-
derstand!"
The man bowed his head, in token
Of obedience, and getting upon his long
backed steed, behind the buck, was
soon lost to view in the windings Of the
hill.
"Sister Mildred is sometimes down
right melancholy" said the young
hunter, after he had remounted, and
now rode beside Butler. "She is
troubled about you and is always tell
ing me Of some unpleasant dream. !
almost think she is over-fanciful; and
then she reads everything about the
army and talks almost like man
about soldering. Do you know she is
making a soldier of me? I am con-
stantly reading military books, and
practising drill, and laying out forti-
| fications, just as If I was going into
camp. My father doesn't know a
word Of It; his time is taken up with
these English officers, writing to them
and every now and then there are
some Of them at our house. Mildred
knows them-a famous spy she would
make! Isn't she an excellent girl, Ma
jor Butler?"
You and I should guard her Hen
ry, with more care than we guard oul
/ lives" replied Butler, with a serious
emphasis.
"I hope" returned Henry, "she
will be in better spirits after she
sees you"
"I would to heaven" said Butler
that we all had more reason to be
of good cheer, than we are likely tt
have. It is as cloudy a day, Henry. a!
you may ever behold again. should
you live. as I pray you may, to the
ripest old age"
Henry looked up towards the west
There are clouds upon the sky,
he said. land the sun has dropped be
low them: but there is a streak q
yellow light. near to the line Of tn
mountain. that our wise people say Il
sign that the sun will rise in beaut!
tomorrow"
There is a light beyond the noun
tain," replied Butler. half speaking t
himself, land it is the best, the onl!
sign 1 see of a clear tomorrow.
wish. Henry. 1t were brighter beam.
Don't you know Gates has passed
south?" said Henry, land has som'
pretty fellows with him, they say
And aren't we all mastering here
every man most? Ask Stephen Fos
ter what I am"
"And what will he tell me?"
why, that l am his deputy-cor
poral in the mounted riflemen; Ste
phen is the lieutenant"
"Oh, I crave your favor, brother of
ficer, good master deputy-corporal
Henry Lindsay! and does your fathe
allow you to ride in the ranks of tn
friends of liberty?"
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