Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-12-05
nette joyfully but what she had, must at the pres

! old faithful negro woman. Hecuba or Cuba, as
she was commonly called, was never black Ve-
nus, and age was far from adding to her charms.
| Her appearance was more like that of some anti
quated monster than what is supposed to belong
to the female sex. But almost double with the
weight of years, her motions were as slow and tor
tuous as those of a wounded snake. 1t was in
these peculiarities as will soon appear, that An
nette placed her security. Placing the smoking
viands on the table, and whispering few words
in Cuba's ear, she anxiously awaited the termina-
ton of their repast. The liquor which was fur
nished them, though insufficient TO intoxicate so
many, was yet, thanks to the care of Charles who
mixed the different sorts together9 sufficiently po-
tent not to rendor them merry, but also to bewild
er their intellects. Hecuba was ordered to wait
upon the table, and many were the brutal jokes
cracked at her expense. ,ae
Here, old ,rigle,' cried one pass along those
eggs, hurry or they'll hatch before you get here
while another, with drunken gravity, demanded
the price Of wool declaring his attention of pro-
curing sample forthwith
Poor as these jokes were, they were received
with shouts of laughter, increased by the low,
muttered grumblings of Hecuba. Bad nough to
have to sleep in de barn TO make room without
being made game Of Must have been a scarcity
of hemp last year any how Luckily for her,
her last words were dorwned in the general up
roar. s zH
The meal was at length finished, and the sem
tries posted around the dwelling for the night
But Two or three we're thought necessary, as the
house stood by itself in a large meadow, render
ing the approach of any object, without being
seen, impossible. They had just begun, with un-
steady steps it must be confessed, to pace their
rounds when the bent form of Hecuba was seen
crawling along towards the barn, building about
forty yards distant : Who goes there = was the
prompt challenge of the sentinel, but indistinct
muttering was the reply. Drawing up his piece
he was just about to FIRE, when his comrade ex-
jaw among thousand Let her pass. heard
the old hag grumblng at being turned out of her
den at supper Needless alike of words and
deeds, the old woman kept on her way, until at
last she reached the barn. christening the
large door, she entered and carefully closed it be-
hind her but instead of pausing when this was
accomplished, she crept to the other end of the
barn, when feeling about among the straw she
found another door, small, as to be unno-
ticed on the EXTERIOR but of sufficient size to per-
nit her egress.
Whatever might have been her motive, she did
not however Immediately avail herself of this, but
remaining in listening attitude for some fifteen
or twenty minutes. At the expiration of that time
she slowly cIept through the opening and artfully
keeping in the shadow of the barn, she stole to
the river. Half an hour sufficed to bring her to
the tree which grew on the bank, when changing
her hent and decrepit gait to a quick and active
step, she threw back her hood and the moonbeans
fell bright upon the face Of Annette Murray
Rapidly she sped along the stream under the shell
ter of the high banks, until she reached place
where the river suddenly narrowing, permitted the
accommodation of foot bridge. Rapidly she
flew across it; slow as had been her former pro-
gress, she now more than made amends for it
Annette Murray was girl not to start at imagin-
AIRY dangers but her heart beat at the thought Of
the risk she ran, should she meet any of the trait
or tories.
Old Cuba's cloak and bonnet would she feared,
her only hope. But very short time sufficed to
bring her in sight of the first house of the village.
The third Of these the residence of the father
OF Hugh Robertson. The hour for retiring in
those primitive times, was somewhat earlier than
at present, but luckily the family was still up.-I
With joyful exclamation she flew up the steps,
the throbbing of her heart almost rivallng her
knock at the door, Shall we confess her womans
weakness! Even at this moment thought Of
Hugh compelled her to throw off poor Cuba's old
hood. In an instant, although it seemed to her an
age, the door was opened by Hugh himself I'm
agine his astonishment as Annette breathless, her
cheeks flushed. and hair dishevelIed, bounded for
ward almost into his arms. i sf Aaa.r st.A
Few words were necessary to tell her tale; and |
while Hugh dispatced his brother for assistance,
he was arming himself for the fray. How many |
did you say there were Annette Z
There were eighteen men and two officers, and |
the house is watched bytwo half drunken sentries;
and Charles knew l was coming, but perhaps he |
could not help'-Hugh staid for one embrace, and |
if the parting kiss was less reluctantly gwen than
one before that night, let not Annette be blamed
In an hour from the time Annette SET FORTH ff-
teen hardy young colonists, led on by Hugh, were
on the way to her fathers, Instead OF taking the
road by which Annette came, they marched 81
lently along the customary road, and so benumbed
were the faculties Of the soldiers, that they reach
ed within thirty yafds of the house be fore thew