The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-30


the first to laugh at your fears You are tired
make another girl of you, replied the young
man, gaily
III hope so, Harry. But, sometimes my
courage is every bit gone General Putnam
would not call me brave now. See, how |
tremble and my hands are cold as ice"
But your lips are warm as your heart, and
that never was cold or unkind to any living
thing, yet, returned the young lover, kissing
her again and again ere he sprung upon his
horse and then, with her Remember Harry"
ringing in his ears, dashed down the street.
CHAPTER V.
Notwithstanding the fatigues of the previous
night, Molly Graham was up with the sun the
next morning The dark forebodings that 20
sadly Swallowed her parting from her lover had
mingled with her dreams during the night and
she rose weak and disquieted, longing for the
hour to come when the sound of his voice
should again assure her of his safety.
She was not alone in her anxiety. The
events of the preceding night had sadly dis
turbed the usual quiet current of life in Andie
Graham's dwelling, and even his calm face
looked excited; and instead of going TO his
labor as usual, he walked the room, or out tc
the front gate, where young Andie sat perched
on post that commanded q view of the road
to the south. The grandmother battered about
among the pans and pals in the kitchen, as
usual: but, somehow, things in her department
did not go on with their accustomed regularity
for the pewter plates, which she set down
against the andirons to dry, went trundling
into the ashes and in her haste to save them
the good dame dropped her bunch of wet scour.
ng-gr into pan of milk. Well she might
wonder "what the posset had got into her.
g see nothing of them" said the old man,
coming in from the front yard. "They must
have passed the Bend before we were up. II
Harry gets leave to come over, as he said, he
will be most likely to go to his fathers first. !
guess I'll go across to the 'Squire's, and see
what news they may have got"
Even as he spoke, the figure of some one
passing darkened the kitchen window and in
stantly recognising young Stanforth, Molly
sprang forth with a cry of Joy to meet him.
and-not her lover, as she fondly thought but
his gray-hared father One glance at their
sorrowful faces, and that cry of Joy was turned
into a groan and, trembling with terror, the
poor girl caught at chair for support; while
her grandfather came forward to meet them,
saying
"You bring us bad news, fear, my friends.
But He will not try us beyond our strength.
Speak on"
Squire Lawton advanced, and taking Molly's
hand in his tried to speak. Every line and
wrinkle in his weather-beaten face was CULVER
ing with grief, and, unable to command his
voice, he as suddenly dropped it, and turned
away to the window with deep groan.
"He is dead Oh, he is dead Harry Law.
ton is dead God have mercy on me !" cried
the girl, clnging to her old grandfather in
agony of grief. ooh, knew how it would be-
all the while | have killed him.!
Young Stanforth approached, and, taking
her hand, said, while the tears filled his eyes
"This is, indeed, bitter reward for your
kindness. But God is my witness had rather
died in prison than brought all this sorrow
upon youl"
"Then the lad is indeed gomez" said old
Andie Graham, sadly.
"Ether dead or q prisoner, and we fear the
first" returned the young officer. CATER the
skirmish, which was bloody one, when the
signal of recall was sounded to call off the pur-
suers, young Lawton's horse, with an empty
saddle drenched in blood came tearing into
Vic billSCub sCuiCn u1uuc lOT JIlt
body but in vain SO there is hope at least
that he lives"
But whatever hope there was in this circum.
stance, it was lost on Molly; for he had no,
ceased speaking when her overtasked nerves
gave way, and she sank fainting to the floor
The young officer raised her in his arms, and
laying her on the bed, which, as was custom.
airy in those days, occupied one corner of the
al Al L. IL
of woman, assisted the terrified grandmother
and the sobbng Ande in recalling her to life.
At length, their efforts were crowned with sue
cess The poor girl opened her eyes but the
moment they rested on the young mans uni
form, she closed Gem, again, with deep
groan; and the heavy hearted officer resigned
her to the hands of her friends, while ne turned
to give old Andrew Graham the particulars of
the skirmish which had cost them all so dear.
1t seems that Young lansing acting upon
the information brought him by Bill Glover,
had indeed doubled his troops, and, after send
ing Miss Atwater and her uncle forward under
the escort of few trusty men and their house
servants guided by Jennings, had attacked the
Lieutenant and his small party, and made them
prisoners, though not until some of his men
were killed, and the Young man himself severe
ly wounded in his shoulder. Hastily binding
and gagging their prisoners, to prevent their
giving the alarm, they left them on the spot, all
but the Lieutenant whom they placed in the
centre of the troop, with two heavy dragons
for guards, and set off at rapid gallop to over,
take their party in advance
ave were passing at rapid pace cOntin-
ued the young man, "throug Oh a hollow, about
four miles below the scene of our capture, when
we caught sight of our advance party, rising
the brow of a hill; while at the same mo.
ment the sound of body Of horse coming at
full speed in our rear, came sweeping down on
the wind. There was one moments halt, and
then orders were given to push on in silence
Instantly every rein was frightened, and we
cleared the distance between us and the brow
of the hill, just in time to see orr advance party
attacked by body Of men who sprung, as il
seemed, from a narrow path or sheep-track
that led into the woods on the right
at was too dark to distinguish faces or uni
forms at that distance but the shout that
they gave as they charged, told me at once that
il was party of my own brave troop. Their
shout was answered from our rear; and know
ing that retreat was cut of, young Lansing and
his men fought like heroes. Their numbers
were about equal, and for few moments the
strife was horse to horse, and hand to hand.
From the first, the dragons at my side had
had orders to guard me- at the peril of their
lives but the excitement of the scene proved
too much for the patience of one of them, and
he dashed into the melee BY this time, our
comrades in the rear had pressed upon US,
until my guard found himself about opposite
the narrow sheep-track before alluded TO- and
which our men in the heat Of the strife had
left unguarded. He instantly seized the bride
Of my horse, and dashed down it at full speed.
Had it not been for my wounded shoulder,
which the frosty air rendered exceedingly stiff
and painful, or had even had weapon of any
kind, wouldn't have asked anything better
than ten minutes alone with the rascal there.
Az il was WAS OBLIGED 10 Weld to my fate.