Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-03-28

the oHcer OF the party, a vulgar looking
lieutenant, informed his comrades that in
one of his late forays, he had fallen in
with country lass, whose charms had
made sad havoc with his heart, but that
all his compliments and ardent expressions
of admiration had been received with con.
temptuous scorn /; and that. when taking
his leave he had attempted to snatch a
kiss from her rosy lips, she had dealt him
such hearty box upon the ear, that his
head fairly rang again. He had resolved
to humble the proud beauty, and to &C.
cOmplish that end, be proposed to his
troop. that they should assist him in bear.
ing her from her home
'Old Dernarest," said he, ''is rich, and
his cellar is well stocked with rare old
wines ; his money and his wine shall be
your share Of the booty; will content
myselfwith the charms of his pretty daugh.
ter. What say you, my lads? You take
the gold, and ransack the cellar, and IN
bear away the naughty Mary" r-a.
Ela.ed by the prospect of filling their
pockets with "the root of all evil" and
replenishing their exhausted canteens
with good liquor, the soldiers insisted upon
making the attack that very night and
after draining the last drop TO their success
in the expedition, they laid down upon IT,
grass to rest until midnight.
Scarcely had they composed themselves
to sleep. when John Van Cleft, who, seat.
ed in his skiff, with his head withou, the
cave, had overheard the whole converse
lion, tioated silently down the tide, and
keeping close in the deep shadow of The
bank, landed a short distance below the
soldiers. u.. .
He was. when his progress was inter-
ruPted by the approach of the drag
on his way to visit the house of Mr.. Cor
nelius Demarest, whose daughter, Mary,
had promised to become his bride as soon
as the war should be copcluded.
He delayed but moment to examine
the printing Of his rifle. and TO form an
estimate of the number of the troops, aud
then. borne upon the wings of anxious
love, hurried across the country, and soon
reached the house of his father in Law
elect, which was ab ,ut three miles from
Bruins wick, "A short distance from G gorge s
road Here he unfolded the whole plot,
and old Demarest, true patriot, armed
himself, his two sons, and three negro
men, and resolved to defe I'd his family.
altar to the last. and Van Cleft swore to
live or die with his betrothed.
They had scarcely time to take the
necessary precautions and make the prop
preparations of defence, when the party
arrived and demanded instant admittance,
and shelter for the night; which was
fatty refused. The demand was repeat
ed, accompanied by a threa, of violence il
their request was not Instantly acceded to.
Their answer was shout Of defiance from
those within, and a warning TO re.
tire or suffer the consequences of an at
tack. "+. f-.
! The soldiers laughed at the warning,
and one Of them, who attempted to force
the door, was shot through the head by
one of the negroes. '"f'.
| This somewhat dampened the ardor Of
the soldiers, who had expected TO meet
with no resistance; but as the plumber
was too valuable to be abandoned without
an effort, they began their assault in
earnest, and after losing two or three
more of their number, succeeded in for.
cling the door Of the kitchen and effectina
an entrance (; but the family had reiterated
to an inner room, and having strongly
baTricaded the door. all their efforts &c
force it were fruitess. .,4p a6, s4d.3
l-.... A &c, loI; a. r
of the soldiers went out andreturaed with
fence rail, with which they soon bat.
tered down the door, receiving, as it fell
the fire Of the party within, which die
much execution. a.. aHi ss -.sy-t,.
A desperate hand to hand encountel
ensued, in which one of the negroes wa:
killed outright, and all the heroic defend
ers wounded more or less severely, excep
one ofthe brothers. RI sna sa... eal ss
d The soldiers fought fnriously, fred BY
the hope OF booty and burning to avengt
their comrades, their attack was mos
, impetuous and the besieged family. hat
thing for their lives, their properly, ant
those who were dearer far than life Of
tprOperty, met their foes with unfinchine
bravery. 5iRt 5ssls aa5 IN g#
/ e Van Cleft, although bleeding profnsely
, from a sabre cut across the forehead, wieI
ided bis weapon with almost superhumar
energy, dealing deadly blows, a, every
r sweep, understanding every inch ofspact
r with the maddened assailants. sls.a u.s.
The tide was turning in favor of the
dragons, when the officer springing for
] ward to seize the girl, who had swoonet
: from fright, allowed himself to be, thrown
, off his guard, and received tremendou
4 blow from Van Cleff's rife butt which
r crushed his skull aud dashed him to the
0 floor, lifeless and bloody corpse.
: Dismayed by the death of their leader
D the dragons fled, leaving nine Of the