The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-02-03
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1896,

few words acquainted her with his deter
mination. She burst into tears.
"No, Mary" he said, "you must not
unman me. At first l resolved to leave
you without farewell, for knew how
much you dreaded my taking an active
part in this struggle. But could not be
so cruel as to desert you without word.
81 will compose myself said the girl,
with an effort to smile. 81 know | have
done wrong to persuade you to stay; but
you cannot imagine the anxiety suffer
on account of my brothers, and | could
not bear TO have you encounter their dam
ger. But since the dreadful defeat at
Camden, feel that every man is wanted
by our country. Go, then, dearest, may
God be with you. My prayers shall be
with you night and day."
David pressed the now weeping girl to
his bosom, snatched hasty kiss at the
sound of approaching footsteps, wrung
her hand and was gone.
The next day he left the neighborhoed
Of his fathers house, armed with mus
ket and mounted on sturdy horse. His
destination was the American camp, then
far to the northward; but as the interve-
ming country was filled with the enemy,
he knew there would be considerable ad
dIess required to effect his purpose. Be-
fore his departure he saw few Of his old
playmates, who promised to follow him
as soon as possible.
Co,,,,J hin, r,aor l0polvy fary,,
house to which he proceeded boldly in
pursuit of a lodging. At first the occu-
pant received him coldly, but chance
expression convinced David that his host
was tory-he affected the same political
creed, and was Immediately warmly well
coined. The royaIist produced his cider
after supper, and insisted that David
should join him in his potations. This
the young man did, taking care however,
not to indulge too freely, while the far
mer, overjoyed to find what he supposed
new recruit for his party, drank without
stint, and became moro and more COM
municative. To his horror, David soon
learned that party of loyalists, led by
Maj. Wilson, celebrated for his toryism
and ruthlessness, were to start early on
the ensuing day on an expedition to seize
and hang the two Bunkers, who had made
themselves particularly obnoxious to the
royalist leaders. David knew enough of
partiZan warfare to be assured that no
mercy would be shown his friends; he
also knew enough of the character of the
Major, to suspect that some strong perso-
nal motive had led to the planning of SO
distant an expedition, when there were
others as inviting near home. He accor-
dinghy set himself to discover the truth
from his half inebriated companion. Nor
was it long before success crowned his
adroit cross examination.
"Why YOU see," said the host, 'I be-
lieve there's little revenge for slight
received from these fellows sister, mixed
up with the Majors desire to catcn the
Bunkers. The girl is very pretty, they
say, and the Major, when he was down
there on visit last year before the war,
wanted to marry her; but she would have
nothing to say 10 him. Ever since he
mas vowed to make her rue the day. You
may depend on it he will have her on his
own terms now; thank Heaven! there's
no law any longer to prevent an honest
loyalist from doing as he pleases to these
rascally rebels. But yonder is the Ma
ior now," suddenly said his host, starting
up; Il will introduce you to him at once
"a merry fellow you will find him.
II 1.1 l0x ha,cy hrox
David, though Mortified at the diaboli-
cal plot he had heard, saw the necessity
of descending in order to learn further of
the tories plans, and find means if
possible, to circumvent them. He arose,
therefore, and shook the Majors hand
warmly; he pledged him Immediately in
brimmer; and soon contrlved TO make
the loyalist believe that he was anxious
to join troop and take part against the
rebels. This induced the Major to be
unusually civil, for he wished to secure
so athletic a recruit himself. II was not
long before a bargain had been concluded
between the two. David refused, how
ever, 10 sign the agreement that night; he
pretended thatseveral others of his friends
were disafected and desirous Of joining
the loyalists; and his object, he said, was
to secure a commission for himself by
inducing them to join. The tempting
bait took; the Major promised HIM COM
mission in his troops in case of success;
and David sIgnifed his intention of set
ting forth after he had taken few hours
rest, in order to lose no time in gathering
his recruits.
The dread of discovery had been con-
stantly before our hero during the man
agement Of his negotiation, for the reason
that he was well known to many of the
Majors troop, and if any of them had
come, his feigned name would not have
protected him from detection. He wish
ed to get on that night, as he hadproposed
but to this neither his host or the Major