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Page 50
"Noble Harry!" thought Miss Heywood--"your confusion,
your vexation of yesterday, arose from not being able to
follow your own generous impulses: but now I fully
understand the resolve you secretly made--and all for my
sake. Do not think me very romantic," she said aloud to
Mr. Elmsley, "but really, Margaret, I cannot despair
that all will yet, and speedily, be well. The only fear
I entertain is that the strict Captain Headley may rebuke
him in terms that will call up all the fire of his nature,
and induce a retort that may prove a source of serious
misunderstanding--unless, indeed, the greatness of the
service rendered, plead his justification."
"Now that we are on the subject, dear Miss Heywood,"
remarked Elmsley, "let me once for all disabuse you of
an impression which I fear you entertain--or is it so?
Do you think that Ronayne has had an opportunity of
joining the party at the farm?"
"Certainly, I do," she answered, gravely, "or why should
he have gone forth? Pray do not rob me of what little
comfort, in expectation, I have left."
"That he went forth madly and single-handed for the
purpose, I can believe--nay, I am sure of it; but I grieve
to add that he has not been seen there."
"This, indeed, is strange," she returned in faltering
tones, and with ill-disguised emotion, for, hitherto she
had been sustained by the belief that he was merely
lingering behind the party, in order to satisfy himself
of facts, the detail of which could not fail to be
satisfactory to her ear. "How know you this?"
"I questioned Corporal Nixon, who commanded the party,
and who apprised me of Mr. Heywood's having been carried
off by the Indians, for I was deeply anxious, as you may
presume, to know what had become of my friend--and this
far less even for my own sake than for yours."
"And his answer was?" and there was deep melancholy in
the question.
"That no American uniform had come under his notice during
his absence from the Fort, save those of the party he
commanded. These, as far as I can recollect, were his
precise words."
"Mr. Elmsley," said a sentry, who now appeared at the
door of the breakfast-parlor, "Captain Headley waits for
you in the orderly room."
"Is Corporal Nixon there?" asked the lieutenant.
"He is, sir."
"Good, Dixon, I shall be there immediately."
"God bless you," he continued, to Miss Heywood, when the
man had departed. "We shall, perhaps, elicit from him,
something that will throw light upon the obscure part of
this matter. Margaret, do not leave the dear girl alone,
but cheer up her spirits, and make her hope for the best."
So saying, he shook her hand affectionately, pushed back
his chair from the table, and resuming his cap and sword,
left the friends together, promising to return as soon
as the examination of the man should be concluded.
CHAPTER IX.
Mr. Heywood's history may be told in a few words. He was
the son of an officer who had served in one of the American
partizan corps, during the Revolution, and had been killed
at the attack made by General Green upon the stronghold
of Ninety-Six, in the South. At that time he was a mere
youth, and found himself a few years after, and at the
age of eighteen, without fortune, and wholly dependent
upon his own resources. The war being soon ended, his
naturally enterprising disposition, added to great
physical strength, induced him to unite himself with one
of the many bands of adventurers that poured into the
then, wilds of Kentucky, where, within five years, and
by dint of mere exertion and industry, he amassed money
enough to enable him to repair to Charleston, in South
Carolina, and espouse a lady of considerable landed
property, with whom he had formed a partial engagement,
prior to his entering on that adventurous life. The only
fruit of this union was a daughter, and here, as far as
fortune was concerned, they might have enjoyed every
comfort in life, for Mrs. Heywood's property was
principally situated in the neighborhood, but her husband
was of too restless a nature to content himself with a
sedentary life. He had at the outset embarked in commerce
--the experience of a few years, however, convincing him
that he was quite unsuited to such pursuits, he had the
good sense to abandon them before his affairs could be
involved. He next attempted the cultivation of the estate,
but this failing to afford him the excitement he craved,
he suddenly took leave of his family, and placing every
thing under the control of a manager, once more obeyed
the strong impulse, which urged him again to Kentucky.
Here, following as a passion the occupation of his earlier
years, he passed several seasons, scarcely communicating
during that period, with his amiable and gentle wife,
for whom, however, as well as for his daughter--now
fifteen years of age, and growing rapidly into womanhood
--he was by no means wanting in affection. Nor was his
return home THEN purely a matter of choice. Although
neither quarrelsome nor dissipated in his habits, he had
had the misfortune to kill, in a duel, a young lawyer of
good family who had accompanied him to Kentucky, and had
consequently fled. Great exertions were made by the
relatives of the deceased to have him arrested on the
plea that the duel, the result of a tavern dispute, had
been unfair on the part of the survivor. As there was
some slight ground for this charge, the fact of Mr.
Heywood's flight afforded increased presumption of his
guilt, and such was the publicity given to the matter by
his enemies, that the rumor soon reached Charleston, and
finally, the ears of his family.
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