Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-10
CHAPTER xxx.
Mildred Beqins Her Journey.

The man who writes the history of
woman's love will find himself employ
ed in drawing out a tangled skein. 1t
is history of secret emotions and WV
id contrasts, which may well go nigh
to battle his penetration and to puzzle
his philosophy. There is in 1t sur
face of timid and gentle bashfulness
concealing an underflow of strong and
heady passion; seeming caprice that
a breath may shake or a word alarm;
yet all the while. an earnest devotion
of soul which, in its excited action
holds all danger cheap that crosses the
path of its career. The sportive,
changeful. and coward nature that dal-
lies with affection as jest, and wins
admiration by it's affrighted coyness;
that flies and would be followed, that
revoltS and would be soothed, entreat-
ed, and on bended knee implored, be-
fore 1t Is won; that same, nature will
undergo the ordeal of the burning
ploughshare, take all the extremes Of
misery and distress. brave the fury Of
the elements and the wrath Of man,
and in every peril be a patient COM
forter, when the cause that moves her
is the vindication of her love. Affec-
tion is to her what glory is to man,
an impulse that inspires the most ad-
venturous heroism.
There had been for some days past
in Mildred's mind an anxious misgiv-
ing of misfortune to Butler, which was
but i'll concealed in a quiet and re-
served demeanor. The argument of
his safety seemed to have little to
rest upon, and she could perceive that
1t was not believed by those who utter
ed it. There rose upon her thoughts
imaginings or presentiments of Ill,
which she did not like to dwell upon
but which she could not Danish. And
now when Horse Shoe had told his
tale, the incidents did not seem to war
rant the levity with which he passed
them by. She was afraid to express
her doubts: and they brooded upon her
1t was almost an instinct, therefore
that directed her resolve, when she an
nounced her determination to go in
person in quest of CORVALLIS, and to
plead Buffers cause herself to the
British general. Her soul rebelled at
the gross calumny which had been in
vented to bring vengeance upon Ar
| thurs head: and she had no thought
of thwarting the accuser's wickedness,
but by an appeal to the highest power
| for that redress which an honorable
soldier, in her opinion, could not re-
| fuse. even to an enemy. AS to the
personal hazard, Inconvenience, or diff
| ficulty of her projected enterprise, no
| thoughts of either for a moment oc-
cupied her She saw but her purpose
before her. and did not pause to reckon
on the means by which she was to
promote it. She reflected not on the
censure of the world; nor on its ridi-
cule: nor on its want Of sympathy for
her feelings she reflected only on her
| power 10 serve one uedrer W heI tiidii
friend upon her duty, and upon the
agony of her doubts. If her father had
been at hand she might have appealed
to him. and perhaps have submitted
to his counsel: but he was absent, she
knew not where. and she was convinced
that no time was to be lost. Even
now, whilst we debate" she said, Ibis
life may be forfeited to the malice OF
the wicked men who have ensnared
him."
Her conduct i'm this crisis is not to be