Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-09-21

Hewson's attachment to hisdaughter, however
had been long known, and his previous interfer-
ence on behalf of her father had been successful
on that account only Now, however, the plan o.
attack was laid without his coghSance, and thai
with the most So mn injunctons to every one con
c.rned in it not to disclose their object to any hui
man being not officially acquainted with it, much
less to Hewson, who they calculated would once
more take such steps as might defeat their san
culinary purpose. These arrangements having
been made, matters were allowed to remain quiet
for little, until Moore should be off his guard
for we must observe here, that he had felt it neces
sary, after the execution of the captured rebels.
to keep his house strongly and resolutely defend
ed. The attack was therefore postponed until the
apprehensions created by his recent activity should
gradually wear away, and his enemies might with
less risk undertake the work of boodshed and de-
struction. The night at length was appointed on
which the murderOus attack must be made. All
the dark details were arranged with dellberatlon
at which, removed as we now are from the san
culinary excitement of the times, the very soul
shudders and gets sick. A secret, however, com
municated even under the most solemn sanction
to great number, stands great chance of being
no secret at ALL especially during civlwar, where
50 many interests of friendship, blood and mar
riage, bind the opposing parties together in spite
of the public principles under which they act
Miss Moore's maid had a brother, for instance,
who, together with several of his friends and rela-
tives, being appointed to aid in the attack, felt
anxious that she should not be present on that
npht, lest her acquaintance with them might be
ultimately dangerous to the assailants. He ac
cordingly sought an opportunity of seeing her, and
in earnest language urged her to absent herself
| from har, hn pd
The girl was not much surprised at the ambiguity
of his hnts,-for the truth was, that no person.
man or woman, possessing common sense, could
be ignorant of the state of the country, of the
evil odor in which Moore and Irwin, and all those
who were active on the part of the government,
were held. She accordingl ly told him she would
follow his advice, and spoke to him III terms so
shrewd and significant, that he deemed ituseless
to preserve further secrecy. The plot was thus
disclosed, and the girl warned to leave the house,
both for her own sake and for that Of those who
were to wreak their vengeance upon Moore and
his family.
The poor girl, hoping that her master and the
rest might fly from the impending danger, COM
municated the circumstances to Miss Moore, who
forthwith communicated them to her father, who
again, instead Of flying, took measures to collect
about his premises, dpring the early part of the
dreaded night, large and well-armed force from
the next military station. Now, it so happened
that this girl. whose name was Baxter, had lean
! inc toward Hewsons foster brother, Finnegan,
who, in plain language, was her accepted lover.
If love will not show itself in case of danger, it
is good for nothing. We need scarcely say that
| Peggy Baxter, appreheusive of danger 10 her
sweetheart, confded the secret to him also in the
early part of the day of the attack. Finnegan
was surprised, especially when he heard from
Peggy that Hewson had been kept in ignorance
of the whole design, (for so her brother had told
her,) in consequence of his attachment to her
young mistress There was now no possible way
of warding off such calamity, unless by commu-
nicating with Hewson and this, as Finnegan was
sound United Irishman, he knew he could do
without any particular danger. He lost no time,
therefore, in seeing him; and we need scarcely say
that his foster brother felt stunned and thunder
struck at the deed that was about to be perpetra
ted without his knowledge. Finnegan then left
| him, but ere he reached home the darkness had
set in, and on arriving, he sought the kitchen and
its comforts, ignorant. as were indeed most of the
servants, that the upper rooms and out houses
were literally crammed with fierce and well arm
ed soldiers.
Matters were now coming to crisis. Hew-
son, aware that there was little time to be lost,
collected small party Of his own immediate and
personal friends mot one of whom, from their known
attachment to himself, admitted to knowledge of
their attack upon Moore. Determined. therefore,
to be beforehand with the others, he and they met
at an appointed place, from whence they went
quickly, and with as much secrecy as possible, to
Moore's house, for the purpose not only OF apprs-
ing him of the fate to which he and his were DOOM
ed but also with an intention ofescortng him and
all his family as far from the house as might be
consistent with the safety of both parties Our
readers are of course prepared for the surprise and
capture of honest Hewson and his friends, of whose
friendly intentions they are aware. 1t is too true.
Not expecting to find the house defended, they
were unprepared for an attack. or sally; and the
upshot was, that in few minutes two of them
were shot, aud most of the rest, among whom was
Hewson, taken prisoner on the spot. Those who
escaped communicated 10 the other insurgents an
account of the strength with which Moore's house
was defended; and the latter, instead of making
an attempt to rescue their friends, abandoned the
meditated attack altogether, and left Hewson, and
his party to their fate. A gloomy fate that was.
Assertions and protestations of their innocence
all in vaiu An inSurgent party were expected to
attack the house, and of course they came, headed
by Hewson himself, who, as Moore said, no doubt
intended to spare none of them, but his daughter,
and her, only, in order that she might become
rebels wife Irwin. too, lis rival in love, and
his toe in politics, was on the court-martial, and
what had Inc to expect2 Death and nothing but
the darkness of the night prevented his enemies
from putting it into immediate execution upon him
and his companions.
Hewson maiutaineda dignifed silence and up
on seeing his friends guarded from the hall where
they were now assembled, into large barn, he
desired to be placed along with them.
"No," said Moore ''ifyou are rebel ten times
over, you are gentleman; YOU must not herd
with them and besides, Mr.. Hewsou, with great
respect to you, we shall place you in much safer
place In the highest room in house unusually
high, we shall lodge you, out OF which, if you es-
cape, we will say you are an innocent man.
Frank Finnegan show him and those two soldiers
up to the observatory; get him refreshments and
leave him in their charge. Guard his door men,
for you shall be held responsible for his appearance
in the morning"
| The men, in obedience to these orders, escorted
him to the door, outside of which was their station
for the night. When Frank and he entered the
Observatory, the former gently shut the door, and
turning to his foster brother, exclaimed In accents
of deep distress, but lowering his voice. "Ihere
is not moment 70 be lost you must escape"
nat IL lhfpoSslole, repleu iie"soE, uhiess
| had wings and could use them"
"'We must try" returned Frank "we can on
ly fail-at the most they can only take your lifej
and that they'll do at all events"
81 know that" replied Hewson, sand am pre-
pared for it,"
''Hear me-" said the other; ''I will come up
by-aud-bye with refreshments, say in about halt
an hour; be You stripped when come We are
both of size and as these fellows don't know eli
ther of US very well, wouldn't say but you may
go out in my clothes. III hear nothing" he add
ed, seeing Hewson about to speak. Il am here