Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-10-29

lures in the gloom of the night.
'One who knows why Captain Langsford
seeks the house of farmer Steel, replied
the man. But [ tell you Mary marries
another and more favored lover, who is even
now at the house.
Then his audacity shall cost him his
lifep retorted the Captain fercely, as he
put spurs to his horse and galloped on, fol-
lowed by his men,
And | rather guess yours will cost you
about the same p exclaimed the man who
had given the information, as he disap-
peared in the bushes
A half hour suficed for Langsford to
freach the house of Steel, which was sur
rounded in silence, he having ordered his
men to dismount when some distance from
the dwelling, and leaving part in charge
OF the horses approached with the remain
! der on foot.
Having stationed his troopers SO that no
one could leave the house, he approached
the parlor window, from which light
shone, and carefully peeped in Sitting
but few feet from him he discovered Mary
in conversation with a young man of some
| three and twenty years of age dressed in
the light blue uniform of the rebel army.
The first word he heard pronounced was
his own name, and almost breathlessly he
listened
Il have been constrained. he heard Mary
say, for the purpose of saving my fathers
life, and prevent our house from being pill
laged, to treat Langsford in a manner which
| would seorn to do were / placed in other
circumstances. If you knew how deteSt-
ed him, if you could feel how loath his
advances, you would see at once that policy
alone dictated my conduct. No, Harry, |
never loved any but you, and | would die
sooner than become the wife of that blood
thirsty British demon
And Langsford stood there and heard it
all. You should have seen his brow
contract, and his face turn red and pale in
rotation, and beheld his teeth sink into his
under lip until the warm blood ran trickling
down his chin, and fell, drop by drop, upon
his heaving bosom-yet he stirred not, but
with every muscle quivering like an aspen,
he listened for the reply.
4 believe you, Mary, and never yet have
doubted the real cause of your action but
trust there will be no more occasion for
assembling. Marion has again returned
to the Santee-his blood boiling to avenge
his countrymen upon this same Langsford;
and woe to the puppet of English power if
he leaves the streets Of Charleston for the
open country at present
But he is coming. [ got letter from
him the other day, couched in the most
l.. L. II. l. i l. L i
be out in few days TO claim me as his
bride. | threw the abhorred letter into
the fire, and wished he might break his
neck first
Langsford could stand it no longer The
warm blood had rushed into his face until
it was red as scarlet; and drawing back his
right hand, dashed the window in by Wig
orous blow, and exclaimed in voice Of
thunder
And he is here to claim his bride, and
hang the traitor who would seduce her
love
Saying which, he called his men to ad-
vance, and sprang into the room.
Mary Steel uttered one convulsive scream
of horror, and sank lifeless to the floor;
while the partisan, surprised at the unex-
pected interruption, retreated to the side of
the room and placed his back against the
wall, drawing his sabre as he did SO.
'Ay, ay, my fine fellow, caught in a trap
of your own sctting' exclaimed Langsford,
sneeringly, as he glanced at the REBEL
Seize him, men, he added, to several sol
diers who had by this time crowded into
the apartment, and guard him we'll
The men advanced to obey, and conclu-
ding that resistance would be useless against
such odds, the young patriot bent his knee,
across which he snapped his sabre and
threw the pieces upon the floor.
Langsford being left alone in the room
with Mary, advanced and bent over her
senseless form, which he was about raising
in his arms, when Walter Steel came into
the apartment Striding up to the Captain,
he placed his left hand against his shoul-
der and pushed Langsford somewhat rudely
from the body, at the same time raising his
daughter with the other.
"A fathers attention is best given his
daughter at time like the present. he
said sternly, noticing the scowl gathering
upon the officers brow.
But remember, Mr.. Steel, that am not
to be insulted with impunity,' he growled,
angrily.
1And you will recollect, Captain Langs-
ford, that am master of my own house
hold, replied Steel, calmly, though little
touched by the officers taunt If you
have anything to say to my daughter, you
must wait till she is recovered.
We'll, have much to say, and will give
YOU two hours to prepare her for what is to
take place, said Langsford, slowly
Much obliged to you for your conde-
scension, muttered Steel in an audible
voice, as he bore his child from the room,