The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-20

zen 10 MS nome, rs ne mad al one time de-
termlned to cut his throat for his baseness
toward Alice, but in consideration Of his
conduct, before the tories he should mere
turn HIM over to his own c0nscience.-
The doctor rcjoiccd 10 escape from his
company; did not wait for second bidding
but turning upon his heels, made rapid
strides IN the direction oC his home.
CAApTEn XVI.
One right morning in the August after
Inc events de,ailcd in the previous chapter
. had occurred, Meryale, Alice and Schuy.
Ter accompanied by Jacob, set out for the
residence of Van Loan. They proceeded
with horses as far as Schenectady, where
they took boat, then the only mode Of
travel TO the new settlement up the river.
They proceeded easily along, and did not
arrive at their place Of destination until the
afternoon Of the third day, from their de-
parture from the residence Of Schuyler -.
1t had been agreed that they should not
halt at the mansion, but should proceed at
once to the Station. When they came
within view lthe mansion, Alice was az
lecied to tears, and she wcpt freely. All
around the mansion seemed silent and de-
serted. There was no one to be seen about
the premises, and everything seemed to be-
token the absence oC the owner. Ashley
came within mile of tie Station, they
frequently beard the discharge of fire arms,
and an occasional shout hoatcd on the
gentle western breeze, and greeted Their
eats All were at loss TO account for it,
but they continued on their Journey. Ar.
rived near to the settlement, they saw a
dark and heavy cloud of smoke hanging
over the place, and the discharge OF fro
arms, land the shouting of combatants be-
came continlous. There was no mis-
taking the sounds. A battle was raging at
the settlements without doubt, Jacob re-
quested TO be put ashore TO earn the cause
aud the boat was pushed over to the oppo-
site shore to await his return. lie was
absent two hours, during which the firing
ceased. On his return it was asceriained
that there had been deadly contest be-
tween the wings and tories, brought on by
the barbarites of the latter, Of whom Van
Loan was the principal offender lie hal
ordered five or six to be executed which
coming to the knowledge Of WiIIet, he
marched on his bold little army, and swept
the whole band oGtolies from the EARTH
So complete was the work Of destruction,
that not tory house was left standing in
the settlement, and Van Loan and his son
persisted with the rest. Having conveyed
Alice to the house Of friend the two COM
panions went to view the scene. The VIC
torious troops of Willet were Just encnmp.
ing on the side Of the hill where Mervaos
gaIlows had been erected The wounded
the dead and the dying lay upon the battle
field and as Nlcrvale wandered among
them, he suddenly came upon The corps of
Van Loan, He was stretched at full length
upon the ground, in hls uniform, as cap
tain of the Tory's Guard. A hideous grin
distorted his features, and he appeared to
have left the world in great physical agony.
A short distance from him,a his son Fred
crick and in every direction around were
strowed the bodies Of his illlaicd compan-
Ions
Alice caused the bodies finer uncle and
cousin to be deccniIy inferred. The body
of Van Loan was laid in the very grave in
which he pretended to doposite the body
Of Alice a year before, and his son was
laid beside him.
The day after the battle, Alice and her
friends proceeded to the mansion, of which
she vas now the sole and undisDuied ovn-