Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-08-12
old times--vhat is the story. Of her brief

4 one haQ been reared bysner mother, now
dead and gone home, to revere this man
Washington, who, tonight will be attacked
and murdered TO revere him nextto God.
Nay more; that n,bther on her deathsbed
Joined the hands Of this daughter, in solemn
betrothal with the hands of young parti-
san leader, Harry Williams, who now
shares the crust and cold of Valley Forge
Well may that maiden's eye flash with
unnatural brightness, we'll may her pale
face gather a single burning flash, in the
center of each cheek! i 3 aa i.
For yesterday afternoon, she went four
miles over roads of ice and snow, to tell
Captain Williams the plot of the refugees.
She did not reach Valley Forge until WASH
ington had left on one Of his lonely jour-
neys; SO this night, at twelve. the partisan
captain will occupy the rocks above the
nelghboring pass, to trap the trappers' of
George Washington.
Yes, that pale tender girl, remembering
the words Of her dying mother, had broken
Through her obedience to her father, after
a. long and bitter struggle in faithful
daughters heart! She had betrayed his
plots to his enemies-stipulating first for
the life, the safety of her traitor father.
And now as father and child are sitting
there, as the shouts of the Tory refugees
echo from the next chamber---as the hand
ofthe old clock is on the hour eleven
hark!-Thcre is the sound of horses hoofs
without the farm house--there is pause
the door opens--a tall stranger, wrapped
in thick cloak. white with snow, enters
advances to tho fire, and in brief words soil
cits some refreshments and an hours re-
pose.
Why does the tory Mannheim stand q
ghast at the sight ofthat strangers blue and
lgold uniform-then mumbling something
to his daughter about getting food for iht
traveller rush wildly into the next room
where his brother tories are feasting?
q ,s Tell me, why does that young girl stan
y trembling before the tall stranger, veilin,
her eyes from that calm face, with its blu,
eye and kindly smile?
: Ah-ifwe may believe the legends of,ha
time,. few men, few warriors, who dare,
the terror of battle with smile, could stunt
unobashed before the solemn presence O.
Washington.
For it was Washington exhausted with
long journey-his limbs stiffened and his
It face numbed with the cold-it was the grea
It Rebel of Valley Forge, who, returning tc
9 camp sooner than his usual hour, was fore
ed by the storm to take refuge in the farm
e er's house, and claim little food and ar
y hours repose at his hands.
Il In few minutes, behold the soldie,
Q with his cloak thrown of, sitting at the
oaken table, partaking Of the food spreac
l. out there by the hands the girl, who nov
r stands trembling at his shoulders.
!. And look! Her hand is extended as if t
}, grasp him by the arm---her lips move as i
n to warn him of his danger; but make nc
/ sound. Why all this agony for the mar
n who sits so calmly theres
One moment ago, as the girl, in prepar
It ing the hasty supper, opened yonder close
r door, adjoining the next room, she hear
d the low whisper of her father and the to
h ries; she heard The dice boz rattle--ihe
,r l,csre casting lots to see ,uho should sta
George Wash;ngton in his sleep!
And now the words: 'Beware, or hi
D. night you diep. tremble half-formed upo
to her lips, when her father comes hastily fror
9. that room and hushes,her with o look.
ii Show the gentleman to his chamber
+ Mary!'-( How calmly polite murdere
k. can be-! that chamber at the head Of tn
. stairs, on the left. On the left, you mind
is Mary takes the light, trembling and pale
Y She leads the soldier up the oaken stairs
% They stand on. the landing, in this wing {
rk the farm house, composed Of two rooms, d
aa vided by thick walls from the main body
pe the mansion. Onone side, the right,
D. the door Of Mary's chamber; on the othe
: the left, the chamber Of the soldier-to hi
dv q chamber OF death. IN 3 n, t5,,.. IA {
81 For a moment Mary stands there trer
av bling and confused. Washington gaz
7 upon the pale girl with a look Of surpris
a Look! She is,about to warn him Of his da
20. ger, when, SEQ there! = her fathers rou,
TX. face appears above the head of the stairs
IT. Mary, show the gentleman into
ed chamber on the left. And, look, ye, girl
he it's getting late-you'd better go into yo
er. own room and 60 to Sleep .F ts
While the tory watches them from
,ry head Of the stairs, Washington enters
ass chamber on the left, Mary the chamber
IN, the right.
Ihe An hour passes. Still the storm be-
on the roof--stll the snow drifts on
Is hills. Before the FIRE, in the dim old h
ats Of that farmhouse, are seven half-drunk
ine men, with that tall Tory, jacob Mamie
,cR sitting in their midst; tho murderer's kn
i'm his hand. For the lot had fallen up
me him. He is to go up stairs and stab
ood sleeping man.