Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-01-02

now. A few moments longer, and they
woala be reinforced bya strong party o.
refugees; tie powder, rhe aru,s in the old
block house, perhaps that daughter herseif
was to be their reward. There was scarce.
ly hope for The old man, and yet be fad
determined, to make desperate fgh,.
we must bluff off those rascaIs,' said be
With a grim smile, turning to bis child
Now, Bess, m, girl, when | fire his rife,
do yon hand me another and so on, until
tbe whole shots are fred. That will keen
them on the other side of the wall. for few
minutes at least, and ,lsn We will have TO
trust to God for the rcst.'
Look down there, and see hani ste al
ing over the edge Of the wall! The old
man levels his piece-,hai British soldier
falls back with crushed hand upon his
comrades heads.
No longer quivering with suspense, but
grown suddenly firm, the young girl passes
loaded rife TO the veterans grasp, aud
silently awaits the result.
For moment all is silent below.-The
British hrayoes are sonlewhat loath to try
that vail when stout old Rebel rife in
land, is looking from yondeg window There
is pause--low, deep murmers, they are
holding council!
A nameai is gone and heads are thrust
above the val a, once--hafk. One-two--
three! The old veteran has fred three
shots--there are three men groseIipg in the
yard, beneath the shadow of The wali
'Quiek, Bes<, the rides
And the brave girl passes tie rides to her
fathers grasp. There are four shots, one
after the otber-threc more soldiers fall
back, like weights of lead upon the ground,
and single red coat is seen, slowly mount
ing to the top of the wall, bis eyes fixed up
on the hall door, which he will force ere a
moment is gone!
Now tie last ball is fred; the old man
stands there IN that second story window,
his hands yaiply grasping for a another load
ed rife. At this lnonleht the wounded aud
dying band below are joined by > party Of
some twea.y refagess-sssho clad n their
Too6ef -, fusaIls1s: isvs.s s-s~
woods, aud with one bound are leaping
from the summitof the wall.
Quick, Ress, my rifes
And look there even while the veteran
stood looking ou. upon his foes the brave
girl, for, slender in form, and wildly beauti-
full in face, she is brave girl, "Hero
Woman managed, as if ininstinctive
impulse, TO load rife. She handed it TO
her father, and then loaded smother and
another. Wasu't that beautiful sight
A fair young girl, grasping powder and bali
with the ramrod rising and falling in her
slender fingers
Now lock down on the wall again. The
refugees are climbing over its summit; again
horrible cry, and another wounded man
topping down upon his dead and dying
comrades
But now look A smoke rises there; a
FIRE blazing up around the wall, they have
6red the gate. A moment, aud the bolt
and lock will be burnt from rs sockets-tno
passage will be free! Now is the fiery mo-
ment of the old mans trial. While bis
brave daughter loads, be continued to FIRE,
With that deadly aim, but now-oh, horror
he falls, with musket ball driven into bis
breast, The daughters outstreiched arms
received the father, as with the blood spout
ing from his wound, he topples back from
the window.
Ah, it is sad and terrible picture.
That old man wriihing there on the oaken
floor, the young daughter bending over him
the ligh, from the windows streaming over
Ter fathers gray hairs while the ancient
furniture Of the small chamber affords
din back ground to the scene.
Now bark The sound Of axes at the ball
door-shouts-- s--hurrahs--curses,
sWe have the old rebel at last'
The old man raises his bead at that sound
--makes an effort 10 rise; clutches for .
rife, and then falls again, his eyes giariDg
as the fierce pain Of that wound quiyered
through his heart.
Now watch the movements of that
daughter. Silently she loads a rife, silent
ly she rests the barrel against the head of
that powder-keg, ana then, placing her 6a-
ger On the trigger, stsnd over her fathers
form, whac the shoass Of the enraged
soldiers came laundering fron isa stsirs.--
Yes, they have broken the iall ioor to frag
menis; thes arc 10 possession OF The old
block -house. ;lie7 .sre rushing toward .hs
old chamber ai:h murder IN their h.aris.
and ia their glariag ey e. ilaed the cid
ulan had thousand, lives, they were not
fartking's purchase now
Still sbst girl, grown Suddenly white as
tha barkcr,.is5ar raund har n,aaS stands