The Pee Dee Times

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VOL. II.
GEORGETOWN, S. C,    WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 27, 1854.
PEE DEE TIMES,
Issued Every Wednesday Moniiiis;,
AT GEORGETOWN, S.C,
"R.  DOZIER. ;   Publishers and
J.  W. TAUBOX.   S      I'roprieiors.
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MAGOFFli^
OR,
Tim f EAI[^'©ia ©IF f Ml
Tiic (l;iy was n^trealiiie; to llic west, an ojow- ini: .•¦j p' aiaiici- o! liic ioicst in\ liie wes- Ii-rii   liiils,'sliowod   where   ih.e  sun was
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lloaiin.i; to !uid I'u) in lite lu';!veii.s tluriti^' some hours past, were t^raditallv iDellinj; f.vvay and leaving tiie wid- biue arch |iurc and iinobscure;': i!;i 'u^hotit the valley all was silont and c. - a mill was ihcje, lail iisiioisc, which had ech- o.'d aiiioiij^si ihe rf all, for she had imbibed largely of revolu tionary feelings, and nightly put uf' her prayers for the safety and success of Washington and her country's army.
And there was one there who shared her prayers; she had "neither father nor mother, nor knew she of a single relation except her uncle, who but illy supplied the place of a fond parent; it was not for a rtlrtion she petitioned heaven, 'twas'for a lover, a soldier in the army of Independence. She had given her heart to one whom she thought in every respect worthy off it, and who increased in worth when contrasted with Magof¬ fin.
Alfred Clendinning she knew was brave, noble, generous, possessing a minih niore cnltig&ted than ordinary, and from a close observation of his rival, she thought she detected a want of all these qualities. Alfred was not poor, but her uncle viewed him in no friendly light, and forbade him his house.
Ellen descended to supper, and af¬ terwards was compelled to endure the company of Magoffin for an hour, when hei uncle told her they wished to be alone, and she gladly availed herself of the leave thus given, to seek shelter of herrootn; the old liouse-keeper lighted her u[), and to her she put sotne casual questions concerning Magoffin, for she fell there was something concealed in his mode of life—the old woman was talkative and no ways backward in com¬ municating information, but she had not much to give; she said, however, that he was often absent for whole days and nights together, without saying whither he vvas going,   and that  several   times
there had been parties of men in the valley at night who would carry ofF the flout from the mil!—once or twice a gentleman had stopped all night in their house, and then they were sure to sit \alking till break of day.
Ellen reclined on her bed whilst a thousand thoughts passed over her mind. In the meantime, Ma'joflin and his guest were seated in the room below and were in a busy conference ; before thertlj^as a table covered with papers and letters, the contents of which busied them both ; from time to time a large silver watch that lay on the table was often corjsul- tea in considerable anxiet)-.
" The Major delays long," at length Magoffin observed.
"If those cursed rebel horse aio oui, he brings an escort, I suppose?" said Pattison.
" Ay, some dragoons to see him safe."
" ] wish he were here," rejoined the visitor.
" General Arnold is anxious to con¬ clude the treaty, and to night may en¬ sure the downtall of the union; my pow¬ ers are ample, and our rewatd will be so too ; you know my ofTer, give me El¬ len, and I relinquish one half my share to you."
"Ellen, ri.s I have alreadv said, is- yours ; I liave brought her with me, that here retired from the world, she may be¬ come your bride, where all o[)|)Osition would be vain, for I fiave found Iter stubborn antl perverse."^ ^^.*
"Alfred Clendinning has caused this, but he shall rue havitig crossed my path,"' saitl'TVIagoffin, and gathered his eyebrows I'nto a tletermined frown; at that moment life distant sound of fire¬ arms was heard. " Hark !" said he " by heavens! 'tis the pistols of the dra. goons!"
"For God's sake," said Pattison, "be cautious; these papers may ruin us; Confound the chance that brought the rebels on the hills at this time of night —they're at it still!" and the quick suc¬ cessive shots were distinctly fieard.
Whilst all this was passing below, El¬ len had remained in a dee[) anxiety of thought in her chamber ; the beauty of the night had brought her to the win¬ dow, and she hung with delight on tho scene before her ; the moon was wan¬ ing away. Iter full broad dise had dis- appeared, and a crescent of silver !ight now hung over the valley ; in the lower portion of this, dark trees and hills soon broke the view, but above, the light res¬ ted on the expanded water and showed an extent of clear land for some distanc-s here and there the dark shadows of hills and trees were visiLl^-. contrasting with the brightness around, and assuming grotesque forms, sometimes huge and undefined, .and again showing the ap¬ pearance of strange castles or armed giants, whilst the woods which resoun¬ ded at intervals with the voice of the night frog and katydid, vvas here and there burnished with long rays of bright¬ ness ; a pottion of the road too, was visible as it descended the hill at the extreme end of the valley ; and as she gazed towards it, for a tnoment she was startled, for she thought she perceived a dark body move along—but 'twas gone, antl her eye, which hung on the spot, could discover nothing moie; her attention wandered, and in an inslcnt the bright flashings of fire were visible in the wood below, ana Xh.c report of fire-arms struck on her startled ear; she bent frotn her casement with deep interest, every thing else seemed hushed, and between the successive discharges of fire-arms, she heard the noise of the distant turmoil; she saw lights moving about the little mill, half hid by huge trees and ponderous rocks, among which each moment, streaks of fire and the re¬ port of arms were discerned, for this seemed to be the center of commotion, and she heard the noise of bullets drop¬ ping into the water between her and it; the moon did not give light enough to dis¬ sipate the glooiri which hung round, but
now a brightness darted o'vei the water and through the darkness, and the next moment the straw roof of the mill flash¬ ed upwards in a column of vivid flame ; far and wide its light spr ad through the valley and up the hills, .and showed every leaf hanging on the trees, and lighted every fissure in the surrounding rocks; a shout from the combatents arose with it, and as it passed she heard the sound of lionses hoofs approaching at utmost speed.
The blaze made it as light as day, and she saw an officer on a gallant charger dash across the bridge at the lower end of the dam ; he seemed to support him¬ self on the saddle by the mane of his horse, over which he had apparently lost all command, whilst tlie light flashed on his uniform and played on tlie bright scabbard 'hat dangled at his side, and increased the terror of his frightend an¬ imal. The rider had lost his cap, and was evidently woundlfl, and now the rapid speed of his horse had brought him to the house, when a gate opposed a barrier to his further progress. ' \s though suddenly recovering his lost courage the steed stood still, but the officer vvas too far spent to vesist the shoci; thus given him, atui he vvas thrown stunned at the door. Magoflln had been securing the papers in much anxiety, and now and t'len throwing a hurried glance towards the fight—but when the event we have just spoken of occurred, he thrust the papers into a side pocket, rushed out, and seized the horse— '
'¦ Farewell, Pattison," he cried, "our stars are unlucky, I know it by the bur¬ ning of the mill ; the papers are safe"— and throwing wide the gate he sprung into the saddle, ami was lost in the trees below.
Pattison seemed confounded, and with¬ al treiTibling thoir,-ue of the fight. El'en vVas alone, and htr' fortitude vvas fast sinking, bul nr.v ..he saw ¦:; the door a fellow being v>fi;-:n'!ed ant, erhaps ex¬ piring ; this was cijougli to prompt iter to exertion, and si"? descended from her cha-tiber to succor the unfortunate. As thut beautiful gem c^i ilw east which spar¬ kles in its own native glory, is recog¬ nized it; the absence of light, so the heart of woman in the hour of misery and woe is known by its kindness and benifi- cer,' C-.
illlen felt all a woman's care for the wounded man ; by the assistance of the miller boy she had him brought into the parlor, and, now she saw that he was rather advanced in years, tall, and of manly tiiake, and of a foreign aspect; he vvas clothed in an American uniform, which showed him to be of rank ; his right arm was 'vounded, and he was bathed in blood, and senseless from the effect of the fall and bleeding.
The housekeeper slowly went away to get some nostrum for his use ; the miller went to the wood to gaze at the fight and burning mill, where her uncle already was, whilst Ellen bent over the wounded man, whose head she held, and from whose largo forehead she wiped away the blo:-id, and parted the clotted locks of Ic: gdark hair.
As she stooped over him, a thought dawned on her mind that she had seen that countenance before ; she drew a minature from her bosom ; the features there were those of a lady on one side, and on the other a young man, but though altered by years, the resemblance was powerful, and she had been told they represented her deceased parents; a thousand feelings possessed her, and she hung trembling o'er the stranger, who was beginning to revive.
At once sotne soldiers gallopped to the door, and an officer with his sword in his hand entered the room, whilst two soldiers led in Mr. Pattison; when •ho young soldier saw a lady lie doffed ids cap, looked a moment, and sprang forwtitd, and a glance showed Ellon 'twas Alfred Clendinning.
tion, " ever good and kind, how am I surprised to find you here! and my brave commander \"
" Alfred," said Ellen, raising her eyes suffused with tears, " what a time is this, with the dying, I fear, before me."
"I hope not! but stay," Siiid the sol¬ dier, and issued in a loud voice an order to search every^vhere for the traitor Magoffin, whom the soldiers said they could not discover. Ellen, however, ttjld Alfred of his departure, and sonie of the party daslied on in the hopeless pursuit. The soldiers guarded Pattison in the next room, on suspicion of a connexion with Magoffin, and the rest of the party soon arrived with the wounded and prisoners.
Colonel Vmcent, for so vvas the wounded officer called, had now recov¬ ered from his lethargic state; he re¬ clined on a couch provided for him, bul his eyes left not Ellen's face for a mo¬ ment ; at length with a strong emotion, he grasped her hand.
" Tell me," he said, " who are yjau ?" the nnnature hanging around her neel: caught his eye, he gaztd, " It is ! it must be so! tell me, tell tne, who you ate ; are not your features the counterpait of those ?" said he, pointing from Elicnor to the i'emale minature, " and my own ientures, are they not here portrayed?" gazing at the reverse, " for God's sake speak !"—Ellen trembled.
for they had already em'barked, when sickness seized or. the frame of her he so dearly loved, and she begged to be put on shore. lie reposed ev«ry confidence in Pattisog, but who then passed as ft*r. Brown; to his charge he gave his for¬ tune and his child, for death in all pro¬ bability waited for it tf takeaa to land. Receiving an acknowledgement from Brown for the amount under h'fe charge; he left the ship—and from that day for¬ ward liad never Iieard of this unprinci¬ pled miscreant. *
In a few day:; afti;r being ©n shore fiis wife died, and he became the object of an attack ol the same disease—after a tediotts illness he recovered, and almost destitute, embraced the first offer fertile United States, which vvas by «i English brig; but the third day out a French frigate, whic.'i nation was at war with England, captured them aiid he was ra-' ken to France. After many long months of bufferiiig anil delay, he rsached America again, but ail his exertions were unable t? Ji.p1y to maii'Ts widely different from the selection of carpets. A inan com¬ mits a sad mistake who selects a wife that cuts too large a figure on the green carpet of life—in other words, mt,kcs much display. The attractions fade out —the web of life becomes worn and weak, and all the gay figures that seemed so charming at first disappear like Sum¬ mer flowers in Autumn. Many a man has made flimsy linsey-woelsey of 1 'in- self by sti'iving to vveave Too large a fig¬ ure, and fitids himself worn out, used up, and like an old carpel hanging On the fence, before he has lived out half his ai- lotted days of usefulness. Many a m'la Wears oat like a carpet that i« never swept, i)y the dust of indolence. Like th ;t s«me carpet, needs shaking or whip- p'.g—he needs activity, something to think of—something to do. Look ou; tf:en for large figures, and there are thos j who now stowed away in the garret of the wo;', ^iWaiiiti^T their final consign- inent die cellar, who, had they prac- ticeci ii.is carpet philosophj', w i.id to¬ day be firm and bright as a i.russela /resh from the loom, and everybodj' ex- claioiing, " ft is wonderful Iiovv well' thevt;o i"
lips, '¦ but I, I am an  orphan ;   my   un¬ cle ;"—" Where, where is he '?"
"In tlis next room," said the lieuten¬ ant.
" Bri'ng him in!" Alfred flew to obey the order—in a ntiometil he returned with Pattison —on recollecting himself ills fright had left him; he knew that Magoffin had secured all the papers that could criminate him ; the idea of safety gave him courage, and he advanced with undaunted form, but had the thunder of heaven burst over his head, and the fires of a wild volcano hissed at his feet he could not have crouched with mom dis¬ may than when he met the gaze of Col. Vincent; one glance sufficed—the Colo¬ nel was cii his feet, fire flashed in his eye and his bright sword gleamed above his head.
" .'Meet the reward of thy villainy! meet the punishment of the villain!"
His right arm unheeding its wound, vvas raised aloft, but a feeble hand , stayed its course ; Ellen clung to it, and^ the sword fell harmless. His hand sought hers—"Speak, miscreant! need I ask it?—but speak?" Pattison's breast fieaved, and in a hollow '.one he said,
" She is your daughter !" and Ellen vvas clasped in the arms of a nolle father.
That night Ellen heard frotin her fatii- er the story ef his wrongs—his parents had left the United States to live in the West Indies; here he was born, settled in business, and married tl.e girl of his choice with whotn he vvas happy and content. In the course of business hfi became acquainted with Pattison, an adventurer, poor and friend¬ less ; he l;ad taken hitn into his employ, into his house, and extended him the hand of friendship and love—from noth¬ ing he had raised him to a respectable station, and good prospects.
When Ellen was two years old, and everything s'^emed going on well, an in¬ surrection broke out amongst the negro slaves, and the yellow fever at the same time made its appearance. Mr. Vin¬ cent was-sufficiently rich ; he had for some time contemplated returning tothe
land of his fathers, and for this purpose ^n u.corrigihle vtrag who lent a -¦ .n- had considerably abridged his business, ; igig^ ^ horse vvhich ranaway and lhrev\^ altliough doing it at this period to sc-'e   ,,ij, dericl rider, thoui^iit h^  'odd h^ve
^
some crcail for his aid in spreading the gospel f
disadvantage; he however sold all his property, and chartering a vessel, pre¬ pared to start for the United States; when, however, all vvas ready for tfie j The fellow who tried to get up af ¦ieparture, his heart was torn with an- | concert with the band of a hat, is the guish, for his wife was taken with the fever.'
ElleiKd«as Hlkwi,,"  way hiff saluia-}     To detain the vessel vvas impossible;
same genius who a few weeks sino- played upon the afections of an up tow. lady.