Page:Duty and Inclination 1.pdf/345

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
DUTY AND INCLINATION.
337

had been the last words of her husband. The night closed in, and she retired to her chamber, but not to rest; a sad presentiment and a thousand terrific images took possession of her, and when weary nature at last gave way, and she sunk asleep, it was but to start from her pillow, awakened by some torturing dream. "How awfully passes this night!" thought she; "Heaven grant it may only seem so from the effects of my own distempered fancy!"

Having pursued his course through this rebellious country, during the dead of night, the General, with his forces, arrived at the spot determined upon at the foot of the Killaway Hill, where he had given orders to Major Harrold to await his coming. But alas! to his astonishment, no trace of troops was there. The first suggestion occurring to the General was, that they had met with some forcible detention on their march; or they might have mistaken their route, notwithstanding the repeated explanations he had given.

But what flashed across his mind with the most poignant apprehension was, the thought that they might have proceeded further, encouraged on their march by an apparent tranquillity, until too far advanced to retreat, and that a rash engagement had followed! Thus impressed, in all the impetuosity of his character and disappointed zeal in