The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-28

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for III warrant you my men, turning to his fol.
lowers) these old cellars are not dry
know no such persons as those you SEEK
replied the lady Alice firmly; "and what reason
have you to suppose that they are within my
housep
"We know it, and that Is enough replied
Jeffreys. They are known to have lain hid in
your neighborhood !; and we know that they
have been secreted by you and now, by
madam, unless you lead US to their kennel, your
body shall writhe 10 flames, or be hacked in
pieces by my soldiers"
"Infamous, cowardly wretch! replied Alice
Lisle, undaunted, think you your threats would
induce me to betray, more ESPECIALLY into your
blood.tl irsty hands, any unhappy individul who
had sought my protection |! Know Alice Lisle
better!
"Ho.ho, we are so brave! here, my men, take
this boasting mistress, give her dance upon
hot Goals! cried the ferocous Jefreys.
At that instant, little Edwin, still in his night
dress, opened the door of his little bedroom, and
ran terrified toward the Lady Alice; but he
was not permitted to reach her; soldier rude
ly seized the poor boy by the shoulder, and not
withstanding his shrieks, held him with such
grip as left the print of his fingers upon the ten
der flesh.
"Rufian, unhand the childr exclaimed the
lady, attempting to rise, but held back by the
iron hand Of Jefreys
Ho! pretty hostage truly he said: "Here
Ratcife, draw your dagger across his pretty
white throat, unless this stubborn woman yields
up our prey--do you hear thatP turning to the
Lady Alice.
80 save me-.save me don't let them kill met
screeched the poor little fellow, striving to break
away; then turning his beautiful eyes upon the
hard, stern features of the man who held him,
he clung pteously around his knees, repeating
his cry for mercy, his face uplifted, and his soft
golden curls falling over bis white shoulders,
from which the loose night-dress had slipped
away.
Tears, which neither her own danger, or the
insults heaped upon her could draw forth, now
streamed down the pallid cheek of the Lady
Alice.
care you men she cried to the rude soldiers
ARE you men, and can you stand by and see
that innocent. helpless lamb inhumanly mur.
dered before your eyes"
"Ah cried Jeffreys, with a hideous leer, we
are used to butchering lambs, madam; bless you
we do it so easy the poor thing don't have time
to bleed! Strike, Ratclifp'
A scream-a wild scream of angony burst
from the heart of Alice Lisle; then dashing off
the arm of Jeffreys, in the strength of her dis.
pair, as but feathers weight, she sprung to the
hoy and threw her arms around him.
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shout from the courtyard, coupled with oatbs
and imprecations, and one of the troop burst
in, waving his cap
"Hurra, your honorr they're caught, your
worship! we've got the rascals-hurra! hurrar'
"Now God help them" murmured Alice.
"Your life shall answer for this, vile traitor
esp muttered Jeffreys, in a voice hoarse with
rage, and shaking his fist at the unshrinking
heroine "But where found you the knaves 2"
he added, turning to the bearer of such fend-
ish Joy.
"Ha, ha, your worship-but I can't help
laughing; we found his reverence chin.deep in
a malt tub-ha, ha, hal and the other rogue
we hauled from the kitchen chimney, as black
as his master, the Devil"
"And to his master he shall be sent with a
crack in his windpipe," said Jeffreys
"Wounds, your honor, you loves joke" !"
said one, who might be called the Tros Achil-
les of the company, edging up to Jefreys with
a horrid grin; " shall we string the rascals up
below there yonder is good strong beam !;
or shall we leave their headsin the market.place,
as kind of warning to all traitorss"
"Peace, knavew replied Jeffreys, with a
frown which made the villain turn pale; at
tend to your duty, and see that the prisoners
are we'll secured; these fellows are slippery ras-
cals-and now, madam, turning to Alice Lisle,)
up with you, and prepare to follow either to
the scaffold or the stake, as suits my pleasure" !"
Then with brutal blow with the back oi his
sword, he rudely pushed his victim OIL before
him.
Her weeping and terrified domestics would
have approached their beloved mistress, but
were thrust back by the drawn swords Of the
soldiers; and when the unfortunate lady cross
ed the threshold it was over the dead body OF
her aged butler, brutally struck down before
her.
"Farewell, my friends" said Lady Alice,
turning to her faithful attendants, "I look for
no mercy at the hands Of these cruel men,
whose pastme is death; yet though they may
torture the body, into the mercy of my Re.
deemer do humbly commit my soul May
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