Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-02-13

Look down there, and see. hand steal
ing over the edge Of the wall! The OLD
man levels his piece-tlai British trooper
falls back with crushed hand upon his
comrades heads
No Ionge" quivering with suspense. but
grown suddenly firm, that young girl pas
ses a loaded rifle to tile veterans grasp.
and silently awaits the result.
For moment all IS silent below; the
British bravoes are somewhat loath to
try that wall. when Stout ole Reble.'
rifle liz hand, is looking from yonder win
dow! Here is pause-low, deep MUIR
murs-they are holding council!
A moment is gone, and nine heads are
thrust above the wall at once-hark? One
,-two-tIlree! The old veteran has fired
three shots, there are three dying men,
groveling IN The yard, beneath the shadow
of the wall! ..1 Sd. f..
Quick. Bess, the rifles = ..r-.. .- ...
And the brave girl passes the rifles to
'rer fathers grasp: there are four shots.
one after the other; three more soldiers
fell back, like weights of lead, upon the
ground, and single red coat is seen slow
Iy mounting to the top of me wall, his eye
fixed upon the hall door, which he will
! force. ere moment is gone! -...- ..
Now the last ball Is fired, The old man
STANDS there, in that second story window.
his hands vainIy grasping for another load
l..I r1H t1,o nj Il
aud dying band below. are joined by a
party "l some twenty refugees. who, clad
in their halt robber uniform, came rushing
from the woods, and, with one bound, are
Ieaplng from lhe summit Of the wall
Quick. BesS. my rifle y
And look lhere-even while the veteran
stood. looking out upon his foes. the brave
girl. for ,ender in form. & wildly beautiful
in face. she is brave girl. Hero Woman
had managed, as if by instructive Im-
pulse. to load rifle. She handed ii to her
father, and then loaded another and anotll-
er! Wasn't that beautiful sight? A
fair young girl. grasping powder and ball,
with the ramrod, rising and falling in hel
slender fingers .,-.s ...-,. .
| Now look down to the wall again -
The refugees are clamberihg over It's sum.
mit-again that fatal aim-agan a horrid
cry, and another wounded man topping
down upon his dead and dying comrades
i But now look "A smoke rises there, {
fire bazes up around the wall; they have
fired The gate. A moment. and the Dol
and tie lock will he burnt from its sockets
1.-The passage ill be free! Now is the
fiery moment Of The old plan's trial! While
his brave daughter loads, he continues II
fire, with that deadly aim, but now--oi
horror! lie falls. he falls, with mu>ke
ball driven into his hreast-lhe daughter:
uul.sEretched arms receive the father. AZ
with the blood ~pouting from his wound
he topples back from HE window.
! All. il is sad and terrible picture!
That old man, wri'hlng there. on thu
, naken floor, the young daughter bendln!
, over him, the lighl from the window stream
r ing over her face, over her fathers gre,
hairs. while the ancient furniture of Eh
f small chamber affords dim background
, 10 the scene!
Now bark Tile sound OF axes, at tn
| hall -shouts-hurras-c
We have the old reble, at last!
: The Old man raises his head al tina
: sound: makes al eff"ri To rise cInlche
p for fife. and then falls back again. hi
: eyes glaring. as the fierce pain of tia
wound quverS through his heart BY.
: Now watch the movements of that daugll
= ter. Silently she loads rifle. silently sh
t rests its barrel against the head Of tia
powder keg. and then. placing her fnge
1 Oh the trigger, stands over her father
5 form, whiIe the shouts Of The enraged so
n diers come Numbering from the STAIRS
Yes. they have broken The hall door I
e fragments, they are in possession ct tn
: old block house, they are rushing towar
r that chamber. with murder in their heart:
: and in their glaring eyes! Had the oil
= man thousand lives, they were not wort
: a larlhing's purchase now.
l. Sill that gIrI-grown suddenly whit
If as the handkerchief her neck-stand
a there, trembling from head to foot. the riff
= in her hand, its dark tube laid against th
powder keg. T.. -..-
!. he door is hurst open-look there =
d Stout forms are in the doorway, with mus
!. kets in their hands. grim faces, stained Wit
e blood. g are into The room.
V Now, as if her very soul was coined If
# to the words. that young girl. with he
e face pale as ashes. her hazel eye glarin
r. with deathiy light, Utters this short y
;" meaning speech
d Advance one step into The room. and