The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-12-20

regarded his DCSt anu his companion
while they tossed off the toast gleefully
s" Permit me now to give you a toast
said he raising his glass from the board
while his eyes flashed with pride "Geo
Washington, the Continental Congress
and American Independence
"That is toast to which freeman
can drain his cup
Little Billy Stolser, almost petrifed
with establishment at the audacity of oul
hero looked from his companion tC
Michael, and from Michael to his com
panion as though looking to see the lat
ter annihilate him for his temerity.-
That individual, however, 50 far from
fulfilling the anticipations of his subor.
dinate, bit his lip with modification
and with an irresolute air passed his
hand over his beard yet at the same
time casting a side-long glance towards
the corner of the apartment beyond
Michael, where couple of rifles were
leaning against the wall The watchful
eye of hero at once detected the signif-
cancy of his glance.
But my friend, :" said his host,
ayerting his fixed and steady gaze, 'do
l understand that you are not friend
to King George? +"
Michael's heart began to beat thick
and fast The name of that misguided
king had become odious to every lover
of his country and our hero of an inn
pulsive and excited temperament, was not
one to 6issemble his sentiments, es-
pecially when such dissimultation sin-
volved recantation of those political
principles in the maintenance of which
he would have suffered martyrdom.-
Sooner would he have torn his tongue
from his mouth than have given utter
ance to so degrading and hypocritical an
avowal as that of allegiance and respect
for king against whose powers he had
swore to do battle while the breath of
life was left him.
" A friend to King George?" he ex-
claimed with honest Indignation. "Nay.
God forbid that / should be the tool of
so odious and despieable tyrant. Look
around you, and neglected fields, ruined
homes, and vast host of bleeding mar
tyrs proclaim his tyranny. No, am a
foe to him and his government and
God grant that his contemplate and
bloody tools may meet with the fate
they so richly merit -
+" My good sir" answered his host,
you suffer yourself to speak too freely.
Such language might not prove agree
able to every company into which chance
might throw you"
H.And what signifies that?" answered
Michael -bifuntfyy think you I am
kuave or paltroon enough to fall in with
the humor of the hour, and measure my
language to suit the ears of eravens.-
On my soul, 1 shall ever speak as
think, even if I stood before the tyrant
George himself
"But have you no fear Of the failure
of your rebellion" asked the other red
dening with irritation" 70 sauisions of
halters in perspective to such you as
the sword may spare ?"
Rebellion, sir do you talk to me of
rebellion !" responded Michael, while
an angry flush began to burn upon us
check "and who are you who pres q
to brand our holy resistance to tyranny
with the name rebellion ?"
The eye of the tory-for such he in
deed was-quailed before the firm and
angry glance of Michael, and for a mo-
ment he looked around at his compan-
ion, hesitating and doubtful as to the
manner in which he should reply to the
premptory and menacing language of
Michael.
/" might well object to the tone and
manner in which YOU demand my name, y
answered the other, shifting, as casually
his position, so as to place himself be-
tween Michael and that corner of the
apartment whetet the firearms stood,
/" but siAce you2ppear urgent for a more
intimate aequaiH$ance, know my
name isARobert Harrison. Nay, you
need rot introduce yourself he con-
tfSued, observing our. hero to SstaFt at
of his name, and wishing
if possible to intimidate him by follow
ing up one surprise wit Npother-syou
n ed not introduce you ~ you are al
ready, known to US as Michael Allscott,
the rebel follower of rebel camp, now
by>a lucky chance thrown into the hands
of those who will deal with you as a
traitor ~
Little Bill Stoker was overcome with
joy at the surprise which the tory lead
er, Harrison, had prepared for Micheal,
and seeming to anticipate that he would
fall upon his knees to plead for his life,
In the extremity of bodily terror, he
clapped his hands gleefully and shouted
aloud with laughter.
Michael was indeed, in sailor phrase,
taken aback, and astounded at finding
himself thus unexpected in the power of
a merciless and malignant foe, whose
savage deeds, had made his name by
word of cruelty among both friends and
foes, but as swift as lightning, and be-
fore his intention could have been sus-
pected, he seized upon chair which for
tunately stood within his reach, and
dealing his blows to the right and left,
laid the panic-stricken tories stunned and
PROSTATE at his feet. Then rushing
from the house, he mounted his horse,
was firmly seated iu his saddle and far
beyond pursuit before his discounted
foes had recovered from his stunning
blows sufficiently to followed in pursuit.
Cup Bill, and to your horse ]" grasp
ed Harrison, in voice hoarse with rage
SO soon as he had regained his feet
+" As 1 live the rebel shall hang for this,
though 1 follow him to the ends of the
earth ?''
AS great as was the rage of the tory
loaded, and as sharp as was the spur of
anger, twas nevertheless deep twilight
when with his confederate in guilt he
sat out in pursuit of our hero. He had
determined upon collecting to aid him
in tho pursuit and capture, all of the
tory party who were in his immediate
nighborheod.
q By the Gods of Olympus, he shall
-. u h;rnod anr.isor, Ia