The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-16
WASHINGTON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16 1852

Cove tonight. He's to make his way up here
lie hid at old Andrews's until tomorrow night
when he il to escort the old man and Miss
Annie to the Cove and take them across the
Sound know he would give a good round
sum to get this young spark out on the way
and you've only to tell him how the land lesEif
he'll double his troops, and hurry ON tonight,
he can kill two birds with one stone. But he
must be quick and get back and under sail
before daylight tomorrow mornin. or old
Put III be down upon him like judgment"
"Why don't ye go yerself Matt" asked Bill
after pause.
"Cause must sec old Andrews. and get him
ready to start. To be sure you might do this,
but then the old man haint no great likin for
you; besides, you know you are neutral, Bill,
and be might suspicion some trick"
There's little love lost between us-the
cantankerous old rascal Eftwarnt for making
him shell out handsomely, | wouldn't stir
step. Well, a teller must do suthn to get an
honest livin. | wonder where the horses are
In the three-square. | put up the bars my
SELF"
Molly shrank deeper into the thcket of al
ders, for during the last few moments the
voices had seemed to approach her; but she
brcathod freer when she found they had
turned of, and were taking shorter cut
across the meadow toward the house When
she could no longer hear their voices, she
sprang to her feet, and stood for some moments
gazing round with bewidered air, as if not
quite certain that she had not been dreaming
hat the sound of falling bars and the echo of
a horses steps convinced her Of the truth OF
what she had heard, and filled her with terror
and distress Though she had never heard
young Stanforth speak before that day, there
was a bit Of romance connected with his his
tory that gave him a peculiar interest in the
eyes of all true hearted maidens From early
boyhood he had been the acknowledged lover
of Annie Atwater, the only daughter of dis
tingushed patriot of his native town A year
or more previous to the commencement of our
story, the bctrothal of the young couple had
been sanctioned by her father, and day APP
pointed for their marriage. Before that period
arrived Squire Atwater was killed in Skin
mish with the British troops and will, made
some years before, consigned the young lady
and her large possessions to the sole guardian
ship of half brother of his, most violent
Tory. This gentleman, Simeon Andrews, at
once signified to young Stanforth that he had
other views for his niece, and forbade him his
house. He soon learned that the young lady
possessed no small share of her fathers high
spirit, and he found it necessary to resort to
some more stringent methods to prevent her
seeing or communicating with her lover Re-
port said that Miss Annie was little better
than prisoner, and the fact that she was not
permitted to hold any intercourse with her
fathers old friends seemed to prove it true.
But young Stanforth was not a man to WELD
his bride for trife; and Bill Glover, the neu-
trail, partly from desire to spite Mr.. Andrews
whom he disliked, and partly because his rn-
conquerable laziness made it impossible to re.
fuse the bride which the young man offered
readily promised to find means to transmit
his communications to the young lady He
had been true to his promise until the sche-
ming plOtter, Jennings, became master of his
secret and induced him to betray it to Mr.
Andrews
Besides, Molly Graham, of all maidens, had
particular reason for feeling a warm interest
in young StanfOrth; for in that gentleman s
own troop there was q certain young soldier,
quite as brave and quite as leal-hearted, who
was never weary of praising his favorite officer,
and every word his voice uttered, Molly be-
lieved in her heart of hearts Though she did
not understand Mat Jcnnings's alluson to the
letter-for Bill had kept his secret from his own
family-she knew that separation, danger
perhaps death, awaited the lovers and her
cheek flushed with shame at the thought tina,
one who claimed kinship to her, even though il
was only as the husband of her mothers
brothers widow, should be guilty of such base
ness. Well knowing that there was no one in
the neighborhood to whom she could trust her
secret for the Tory interest prevailed there,
and trembling with terror at the thought of
the responsibility resting upon her. she covered
her face with her hands, and gave vent to her
distress in the usual feminine ejaculation
"Oh dear! what shall do ?"
TO BIZ CONTINUED.