Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-02-03

DO cDange 70 ner couufenance except that II
grew Shade paler. she answered,
Il win GO
sYou ~ said the veteran, starting back
"And Why not ! am young. active. aud
feet Of foot. can 60 quicker than any one
else. Besides, the savages seeing it is only
a woman. may not ERE till they detect my
purpose; aud ia that case only the return
win be perilous. If do not CO. we are all
sure to die. Even if mortally wounded.
think can. succeed in gaining the fort again.
and if this can be done. aud your lives saved,
| am content TO fall
But Frank --"
For a moment her lip qnivcred. She
grasped her uncle's arm convulsively, gave
him an appealing look. and said baskily.
don don't. But let me go before it
is too late"
The tears came into the old mans eyes.
He pressed lis neicc 10 his bosom, and said
go. then, and God be with you heroic girl
And yet, he added glaneing around, If it
were not for these poor women and children,
neither !, nor any man here would suffer it. J"
When the intention Of our heroine was
made known, several Of the men insisted on
taking her place but her reply was mot
one of you can be spared woman viii be
less missed" Sadly the little garrison be-
he,d her depart on her terrible venture Her
uncle himself threw open the door, and. with
the feetness Of young fawn away she bound
Cd
The defenders of the outpost saw her de-
parture, and though ignorant Of its cause,
stood ready to receive her, Col Zane in per-
son hurrying to the door. The sayares, too,
beheld her exit At FIRST dozen guns were
leyelcd at her, but when 1t was seen the fu-
gitiye as they thought her, was woman. a
contemptuous cry Of "a squaw,' passed from
one gutteral throat to another, and she was
! suffered to gain the dwelling unframed.
What is the matter my child!" cried her
father, as he dashed into the doorway. "Why
do you thus madly risk your life"
| "Wc are out of POWDER" brcatblessly
grasped our hcoriuc. All is lost unless can
carry back supply. Give me- some. quick.
or the lndirns win have made their lastrush.
And, as she spoke, she sank, almost exhaus-
ted. on chair by the door,
For an instance her father regarded her in
silence. Wonder, tenderness aud admiration
succeeded each other in bis heart and we're
depicted in his face The whole peril Of the
proceeding rose before him. Her return, he
well knew. would he through a gauntlet Of
balls, which the sayages on detecting her
purpose, would pour upon her Escape With
life would be almost impossible She was
his ouly daughter too; and i. would break
bis heart to loose her. But though human
weakness whispered all this, tempting him tc
keep her from returning, lis sense Of duty
sriumphcd; aud with but single moments
delay, he snatched table cloth, which ht
himself fastened around her waist, while il
answer to his eager calls, one Of kis compsn-
lions brought keg Of powder edo poured Il
/ in. Then, snatching hasty kiss, he threw
open the door. and with voice heroically
calm, anlsa look like that Of Abraham when
about to sacrifice his only son. be cried; run
for your life aud God help us botIi.'
Away she bounded again, this time fecter
than before, If that were possible. Her APP
pcaranee was hailed by the sayages with a
storm of yells, for, with the craft of her race
they instantly OWNED her purpose A score
Of rifles simultaneously were brought to
shoulder. Some Of the Indians. fearful she
might escape, fred at once. The balls whis-
tied close by, but she was unframed Others
took time to aim, and the shots from these
now began to sing past her, but still, as il
protected by miracle, she bounded on APP
pareptly unhurt Her father stood watching
her. too absorbed to speak, but his beasi
beating like forge hammer. Nor was hG
uncle less dumb with emotion. Others, how
ever were not SO brcatbless silent.
4 "See,' cried one Of the Garrison. "that ball
went through her apron the powder pours
out Of the hole. She darts forward like an
arrow Tho shots ra.tlc around her like hail
but she is still unhurt. Only few rods re.
main Heavens she is struck. No. she on.
| y trippcd little; she is up again; the
stumble. has, perhaps. saved her life, for the
rife balls went over her like wild pigeons on
the wing. Huzza, she gains the gate, she i
safe. Thank God, thank God" And the
weather beaten bordercr burst into tears o.
mingled joy and excitement, in which the wo.
men loudly shared, as they rushed to vel
come our heroine back.
Her uncle. who had hurried to The gate
to meet her, now brought her for
Wdtu. CO.. ho Ciicu, uAie bci
embrace her, thank her, for she has saved
all of our lives There that is enough TO
your posts, all Of you; for the yell | hear
announces that the savages are renewing theil
assault. But ha What is this ?''hc cried
as he was taking up his post at his loop hole
he looked out "A horseman dashing towards
the gate, and Frank Duke as live liz
cries to open to him. A shower of balls arc
falling around him. Run, Lizzy, aud let him
in"
lie turned lis head to address bis neicc
but she had already darted to the gate -
Well was it that she had been 60 quick, for
Just as she flung open the portal shot
struck her lover, aud lie fell headlong from
bis stoed. Tho savages were close behind.
and, mad with SO many failures, seemed bcnt
on securing his scalp at every hazard; d
dozen. indeed. we're already within as many
yards Of the gate. The hesitation Of d mo-
nent would have lost all. But in that cri.
sis, our heorine's presence Of mind did not
desert her; she rushed forward outside the
/ gate seznd Frank NV tina arm with s;,ncrhu