Fort Lafayette or, Love and Secession

venture. She was therefore unconscious, upon descending from her apartment in the morning, of the addition to her little household. Standing upon the veranda, she perceived what she suppo

leasure, upon turning a little clump of bushes

ouded the full moon. With a cry of joy she held out both her hands to him, which he pressed silently for a moment as he gazed

lways pale, became of an ashen hue. Long he gazed with labored breath upon the pair, as if unable to realize what he had seen; then, with a suppressed moan, he sank into a chair, a

efrain from moments of abstraction. Of course the adventure of the preceding night was concealed from Oriana, but it yet furnished the young men with matter for reflection; and, coupled with the exciting intelligence from South Carolina, i

ive and talkative of the party. Her interest in the momentous turn that affairs had taken was natura

an people will choose some alternative other

h spirit, "what better weapon th

in that little heart of yours," s

hematized as the vilest of God's creatures, because we will not turn over to the world's cold charity the helpless beings that were bequeathed into our charge b

uld rebel," said Harold, "contemplat

nshine on an unclouded summer day. As well might we change places with our bondmen, as submit to this deliberate crusade against our institutions. Mr. Wa

ger, and perhaps ruin, out of abstract ideas, and civil war will have laid the country waste be

ostile in sentiment, is the best reason why they should be hostile

"that a separation is possible, in the face of th

We established our right to self-government in 1776; and in 1

This rebellion will be crushed before the flowers in

movement," remarked Beverly, gravely; "or rathe

, the precipitancy of our Carolinian brothers; but this is not an age, nor a countr

-room, and found himself in the presence of three men, two of whom he recognized as small farmers of the neighborhood, and the other as the landlord of a

awkward hesitation, th

lled about a rather unp

it, then, the better for

rt, too." Beverly bowed in acknowledgment of the compliment. "Squire, the boys hereabouts met down thar a

l, s

Yankee abolitioni

no guests for who

eave. As they be your company, us three've been deputized to call on you and have a

y please to honor me with their company, and I will

in't no use. You know what the boys mean to do, they'll d

sire to avoid everything that may bring about an unnecessary excitement, or disturb the peace of the community; and I shall therefore make no secret of this, in

whatever happens. But those strangers had better be out

rning, g

ure, not fully satisfied whether the obj

rsation that had passed. Oriana was on fire with indignation, but her concern for Harold's safety had its weight with her, and she wisely refrained from opposing their departure; and both the young men,

f the dissolute and lawless characters of the vicinity, and a liberal allowance of Monongahela, together with sundry pecuniary favors, enabled him to depend upon their assistance in any adventure that did not promise particularly serious results. Now the capture and mock trial of a coup

tes, and observing a mulatto boy engaged in arranging the boat for present use, he walked carelessly along the bank to the old

, that on their return they might realize the tranquil pleasures of a sail by moonlight. Beverly was busy finishing some correspondence for the North, which he intended giving into the charge of his fr

rt when happy ties are about to be sundered, and loved ones are about to part. Arthur had brought his flute, and with an effort to throw off the feeling of gloom, he essayed a lively air; but it seemed like discord by association with their thoughts. He ceased a

w, sad tone. "I wish the moon would rise, for this darkness presses upon my

"Look where she heralds her approach by sprea

ld, as a flood of moonlight flashed over the river, seeming t

mock us, and hides itself already in the bosom of that s

best," said Harold; "I think i

ng at ease, with his head against the t

a'd

you have been dreaming," she added, observing th

boat out yonder. I he

hil! you've

doing round here dis time o' night? De

gnation. The boat was put about, but the wind had died away, and the sail flapped idly against the

ank if you please. We shall have les

gging and splashing of the oars and the voices of insects on the shore. They approached a curv

the foliage, and her course was checked directly in their path. The movement was so sudden that, before Harold could ch

se voice; and he felt the muzzle o

the speaker laid hold of his comrade's

sonal danger to Oriana. Both Arthur and Harold seemed instinctively to comprehend this, and therefore offered no opposition. Their boat was taken in tow, and in a few moments the entire party, with one exception, were landed upon the

and beheld the black face

s. O Lor'! Miss Orany

ard him and whispered

they take us to, and then run home and tell

ttle fellow struck out silently for t

on the bank a few paces from their captors. The latter, in a low but e

fellow, angrily. "Now, look here, Seth Rawbon, this ain't a goin' to do. I'

t," muttered another. "What in thunder do you m

as you?" answered Rawbon. "Can't y

ologize to Miss Weems and

at can

e done, and show her

he two

'em! Come, boys, don't let's

ers, and one among them, hat in h

appened. It's a mistake and none of our fault. Y

go?" asked O

air, Mi

y compa

ain with us,"

em," she replied, with

ith Rawbon, stepped up to him and la

n this game, now mind that. Miss Weems, you're free to

with his gang, had made a pretence only of securing the craft to a neighboring bush. The current had carrie