Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-09-13
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From the Cincinnati Commercial.
THE REBEL PEDLA
CHAPTER ]

! 1t was near six o'clock, one warm, sui
try night in the month of September, 1878,
/ that a party, consisting of some one hun
! dred horsemen, dressed in the uniform of
British light horse, rode rapidly along the
road traversing the right bank of the San
! tee, South Carolina, and took their way
toward the dwelling house of Waiter Steel
They were commanded by Hugh Langs-
ford, bloody and cruel officer in the
English seryice-one who had been select
ed and placed in the position he occupied
on account of his adamantine heart and
tyrannical disposition, for the express pur-
pose of teaching the surrounding inhabi-
tants due observance of his Majesty laws
On many occasions he had exercised
his authority in the most barbarous man
ner, wantonly burning the houses of known
Wings, and rutlhessly hanging the owners,
without provocation, save their liberal
opinions. His name had become a terror
TO all the patriotic inhabitants of the
States; the more so, as Gen. Francis Mar
ion, the only rebel partisan who offered
any resistance TO the British troops, had
been for some time absent in North Caro-
lima, leaving Langsfocd undisputed sway
over the region.
Walter Steel, toward whose house
Langslord was now making his way, was
well-known sterling whig, and had been
heard TO advance opinions boldly in favor
of the Revolutionists, and directly in op-
position to King George. Many wondered
why he had escaped the vengeance Of
Langsford but there had been a charm,
powerful in its nature, hanging around the
dwelling of the aged rebel, which had so
far preserved his home scathless.
Mary Steel had won the admiration of
the captain, and this had ripened into love
on his part, and as is usual upon such oc-
casions, he wished and strove TO appear in
j favorable light TO her, and of course
treated her father and his family with all
the lenity in his power.
From the bottom of her heart Mary de-
spised the bloody officer but aware that
her fathers life depended upon her actions,
she coquetted with Langsford in such
manner as to induce him to believe he
was the idol of her heart. But he was
soon to be undeceived.
lie had been called to Charleston, and
had been absent from Santee about two
weeks, and at the time he is here ialro-
duced he was returning with fond expecta-
tions to Steel's, having determined TO be-
come at once united 10 the object of his
affections.
AS he was riding leisurely along the
road, the distance to the farm house being
about three miles, he was suddenly accos-
ted by man, who sprang from the bushes
by the way and placed himself in front of
his horse.
" Your mission is bootless," exclaimed
the conner. Return at once to Charles
tom"
=" Who are you - demanded Langsford,
in vain cndeavoring TO trace the mans
features in the gloom of the night.
zone who knows why Captain Langs-
ford seeks the house of farmer Steel" re-
piled the man. But | tell you Mary
marres another and a more favored lover
who is even at the house now"
"Then his audacity shall cost him his
Iile," retorted the Captain fiercely, as he
put spurs TO his horse and galloped OH,
followed by his men.
" And ! rather guess yours will cost YOU |