Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-06

fled from her eyelids, and her anxi-
Gus thoughts dwelt upon and even
magnified the threatened perils. 1t
might be too late, she reflected, to
wait for tn = dawn Of day; Adair
might be before her at the door of
the guests, and his constant pres
ence might take from her all hope of
being able to communicate the i'm
portant secret to them; 1t was un-
doubtedly her surest course to take
advantage of the stiffness of the
night, whilst the household was
wrapped in sleep, and apprise the
strangers of their danger. But then,
how was she to make her way to
their apartment and arouse them,
at this hour, from their slumbers?
To what suspicious might the at
tempt expose her, even from Arthur
Butler himself? And, more particu-
larly, what would John Ramsay
think Of 1t, II the story should be
afterwards told to her disadvan-
tage? t.
This last was an interrogatory
which Mary Musgrove was ever
found putting to herself, in winding
UP a self communion. On the pres
ent occasion this appeal to the opin-
ion Of John Ramsay had the oppo-
site effect from that which might
have been expected from 1t. 1t sug-
gested new lights to her mind, and
turned her thought into another cur
rent, and brought the resolution to
her aid which her prayer was in
tended to invoke. What would John
Ramsay think-he the friend of lib
erty, and Of Washington, the compa-
triot Of Butler and Robinson, now
toiling with them in the same cause!
What would he think, If she, his own
Mary, (and the maiden rested a mo-
ment on this phrase), did not do ev-
erything in her power to save these
soldiers of independence from the
blow which treachery was now aim
ing at them? "John would have
good right to be angry with me-" she
breathed out in a voice that even
startled herself, "if l did not give
them full warning Of what I have
heard. This I am sure Of, he Will
believe my story whatever others
may say"
Innocence and purity Of mind are
both sword and shield in this world.
and no less inspire confidence to de-
fy the malice and uncharitableness
of enemies than they strengthen the
arm to do what Is right. Mary
therefore, resolved to forego all
maidenly scruples and bravely
to perform her duty, come what
might; and having settled upon this
conclusion she impatiently awaited
the moment when she might VEN
ture forth upon her office Of hu-
manity. In this situation 1t was not
long before she heard the distant
football of horses gallop along the
road, indicating to her the departure
of Michael Lynch upon his traitor
Gus embassy.
The time seemed to be propitious,
so Mary arose and dressed herself.
Then tripping stealthily to the door
that opened upon the porch, she
undid the bolt. A loud and pro-
longed creak, from the wooden
hinges, caused her to shake from
head to foot. She listened for mo-
ment, and, finding that no one stir
red, stepped forth with the timid ana
faltering step which would no less
have marked the intent Of a burglar
than, as now it did, the frightened
motion of a guardian spirit bent
upon an errand Of good. Midway
along the porch she had to pass the
window of Adair's apartment: first,
the low growl. and then the sudden
bark of the watchdog saluted her
ear, and made her blood run cold.
The maiden's hand, however, sooth-
ed him into silence; but the noise
had attracted the notice OF wat
Adair, who grumbled out a snort
curse from within which was dis
tinctly audible to Mary. She hastily
fled to the other end Of the porch,
and there stood covering close
against the wall, almost as mute ana
as a statue, scarce daring
to breathe. and poised, as In the act
to run. with her weight resting on
one foot, the other raised from the
floor. In this position she remained
during a long interval of fear, until at
length, convinced that all was quiet
she again ventured forward. The
window of the travellers chamber
looked out from the gable end OF the
dwelling. and she was now immedi-
ately before 1t. One Of the peds Oh
the room. she knew, was placed De
side this window, and was occupied
by either Butler or Robinson. Trem-
blingly and mistrustfully, she gave
feeble tap with her hand against the
sash There was no answer the
sleep within was the sleep Of tired
men, and was not to be broken by
the light play of maiden's fingers.
She now picked up pebble from the
ground. and with it again essayed to
wake the sleepers. This, too, was un-
In utter hopelessness OF
her purpose by other
means, she ventured upon raising the
sash: and having done so. she thrust
her head partially into the room as
she held up the window-frame with
one hand, crying out with an almost
choked voice:
"Mr. Butler Mr.. Butler! For
mercy sake!"
There was no other response but
the deep breathings Of the sleep-sub-
dued inmates
"Oh, what shall I do?" she ex-
claimed, as her heart beat with
violent motion. II might as we'll call
to the dead. Mr. Galbraith Robinson!
All, me, cannot rouse them without
alarming the whole house! Major
Butler" she continued. laying par
ticular stress upon this designation or
his rank, "Oh, good sir, awake!"
What do you want?" muttered