The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-02-07

and could not but he respected by an enem
while David Watson was exactly the opposite
OF naturally coWardly disposition, he possess
ed not one Of those ennobling qualities that be
longs to the true hearted man. He was fire
quent visitor to the dwelling of Mr.. Leland an
although bis company could easily have bee
dispensed with by Clara, she did not wish t
make him an enemy by making decided sho,
of her dislike, for as yet the vindctveness 9
his disposition had not had the opportunity q
showing itself. But when the difficulties be
tween his own people and Great Britain arose
it gave free scope for his cowardly nature.
I He collected together number Of the law
less characters, for the avowed purpose o
helping to quell the rebellion which showed
itself in different parts of the colonies, but th
soon the name of the tory leader, ssDaye Wat
son." became fearfully notorious, and he wa:
known to be one of the most cruel desperadoe.
that ever disgraced a country, or made the leas
pretensons to humanity He had hoped to kee1
his proceedings from the Leland family, since
he did not wish to be disgraced in the eyes o
Clara, but fearful that time might not add any
thing to be desired to his character, he deter
mined to bring matters to an end, by making
an offer Of his hand to Miss Leland, and with
this purpose in view, he directed his steps to.
wards the sturdy old whig's home.
His call for admittance was answered by
| Clara herself, and he was invited to come in,
invitation that he was not 10th to accept.
Everything was arranged as he would have
desired, Mr.. Leland was engaged in out-of-doors
work, and Mrs. Leland was busily employed in
another room. After quite a number of bows
and other like demonstrations of Agreat pleas
ure in seeing Miss Leland in the enjoyment 81
good health,'' he took the profered chair and
commenced
! "Miss Leland, came here for the purpose
of honoring you with an offer off my heart, hand
and fortune, without the least reserve
When Watson commenced speaking Clara
was intending to give him mild but decided
refusal, but when he came to the last clause,
the comicality of the thing caused smile to
appear her features, which she could not con-
ceal from the eye of the other. .ss
"Miss Leland is pleased to be merry at my
expensen' exclaimed he, endeavoring to sup
press the chagrin he felt. .'And as my COM
pany does not seem agreeable, / will take my
leave, but not without assuring you that / shall
make another call soon.''
ssDo so, by all means!' returned Clara who
thought that he intended exacly the reverse
from what he said, and only expressed his anger
in some harmless manner. "Of course we
shall always be pleased to see you''
With curse Of disappointment upon his
lips, Watson seized his hat and rushed from the
house, vowing within himself to re. pay the
cruel insult he had received. And he fulfilled
|, 1a+t II. I...
told, he, with a number Of his associates sur
rounded the house of Mr.. Leland after the
family had retired put fire to it, and as fast as
their victims came from out of the doomed
dwelling, they prevented them from leaving the
spot until they should become aware that their
once happy home was past being saved. After
their work was finished, the incendiaries noun
ted their horses and guided them northward,
and ere long the last one of the cavalcade was
hidden from view by the dense forest
We left Ralph Milton and his party moving
rapidly in the direction to which the tory gang
had been seen to go. Not word or sound
passed the lips of the little band of wings, and
their horses needed no extra urging, for they
seemed hardly to touch the ground, and
skinned over the smooth surface, at speed
that testified their knowledge of the fact that
everything depended upon their own strong
limbs. EI on. @sta IDS v
..'should you think that we are coming near
to them?'' questioned our hero of the honest
countryman, who was riding by his side.
''It would be hard saying returned the
other s'If they had any suspicion of being
followed, they have probably travelled at
pretty good speed, if not, they cannot be far
from u.s. 49,. .rzz5
'tList!'' spoke the young leader in a low
deep voice, sshear you not the distant tramp of
horsemen?" @%5 @
Each man bent his ear, and remained silent
for some time, when the low milling sound of
horses hoofs reached the ears of the listening
patriot band.
.'It's them!'' exclaimed Milton in low
hurried tone. "Let each man secrete himself,
it will not do to meet them upon equal grounds
with the disparity of our numbers-we must
let them pass BY and then overpower them by
means ola surprise during their nights camp
Atlength the party Of horsemen came up to
where the detachment Of Americans had been
a few minutes before. Itwas evident that they
either did not fear OF considered themselves en-
tirely free from any pursuing party, rthey i'm
selected good convenient place and
making preparations fer encamp-
ng through the night. @
Il say Dave, what in the deuce do you in
end to do with the old gentleman and two
oettcoats we took?" exclaimed one of the
party to their leader, after the camp fire had
been lighted and the whole group had gath
,red around.
Il can attend tony own affairs without any
If your assistance'' re.orted the other in an
lngry tone. But he had hardly finished his
lot very courteous reply, when the group were
tartled by vivid sheet of blue fame, appear
ng from every side, which was instantly fol-
owed by the report of score of well-aimed
ihes
"Hurra for the continental congress! Give
hem ftsp' burst from a dozen brave hearts,
nd before the bewidered tories could recover
rom the first shock of the attack, they found
themselves roughly grappled by determined
'ody Of men, which the death dealing rifles
lad renderd nearly their equals in number
But such a contest could not last long for it
vas almost an impossibity for the attacked par E;
=, taken as they were entirely off their guard,
cf,,1 -, 4 ~