The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-01-28

| ces from her side. were seven loaded ri
fes and keg of powder.
Leaning from the easement, she lis
tened with every nerve quivering witt
suspense to the shouts Of the ombatsnts
the hurried tread of armed men echoin,
from the south.
There vas something very beautiful
ia that pictured The form Of the young
girl, framed by the square massive win
dow, the contrast between the rough
timbers that enclosed her aud that round
face, the lips parting, the hazel eyes di
lating, and the cheek warmiug and flush
ing with hope and fear; there was some
thing very beautiful in that picture-s
young girl leaning from an old mansion,
with her hair waving in glossy masses
around her face.
Suddenly the shouts of the south grew
nearer, and then, emerging from deep
hollow, there came an old uan running
at full speed, yet every few PAGES turn.
ing to fire bis rifle, which he loaded as
he ran. He was pursued by ten or more
British soldiers. who came rushing on,
their bayouets fixed, as if to strike the
victim down ere he advanced ten PAGES
nearer to the house.
On and on the old man came, while
his daughter, quivering with suspense.
hung leaning from the window. He
reaches the block k-house gate; look !!
He is surrounded: their muskets are
,Ieveled at his head; he is down, down
at their feet, graphing for his life i
But look again He dashes his foe
aside; with one bold movement he
springs through the gate; an instant,
and it is locked; the British soldiers,
mad Hieh rage, gaze upon the high wall
of logs and stone, and vent their anger
10 drunken curses.
Now, look to yonder window! Where
the young girl stood moment ago,
quiveriug with suspense, as she behcld
her father struggling for his life, now
stands the old man bimself, his brow
barred, his arm grasping the rife. while
his gray hairs wave each from his wrink
led and blood .daubed face! That was
a fine picture of arnold veteran. nerved
for his last 6ght-a stout warrior, pre-
pairing for his death struggle az
Death struggle! Yes. for the old
man, Isaac Wampole, had dealt too
many hard blows among tie British
soldiers; tricked, foiled, and cheated
them too often, to esca now a few
moments longer, and they would be re-
By a strong party of refugees
the powder the arsas in the old block
house. perhaps that daughter herself,
was TO he their reward There was
scarcely hope for the old ~,an, and yet
he had determined to make desperate
fight.
I" We must blug off those rascals,"
said he, with grim smile. turning to
his child. "Now, Bsss, nv gi,l, when
I fire this rife, do you hand me another
and so on. until the whole seven shots are
fred. That will keep them on the other
side of the wall, for few minutes at
least, and chen We will have to trust to
God for the rest"
Look down there, and see q hand
stealing over the edge of the wall! The
old man levels his piece-that 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 rifle to the veterans
grasp, and sileutl, awaits the result.
For a moment all is silent below
The British bravoes are somewhat loatb
to try that wall when q stout old " "Reb-
el," rife in hand. is looking from you-
der window There is pause-low,
deep murmers. they are holding coun-
ell ~
A moment is gone and nine heads are
thrust above the wall at once-hark
One-two-threel The old veteran has
fired three shots-there are three men
groveliug in the yard, beneath the sha-
dow of the vail -T -.--.... .
"Quick, Bess. the rifles
And the brave girl passes the rifles to
her fathers grasp. There are four shots,
one after the. .other-three more soldiers
fall back, like weights of lead upon the
ground, and single red coat is seen,
slowly mounting to the top Of the wall,
Dis eyes fixed upon The hail door, which
he will force ere moment Is gone
o Now the last ball is fired the old
N an stands there in that second story
wind ow, his hands vainly grasping for
another loaded rife at this moment
-he wounded aud dying band below are
Joined by a party of some twenty refu-
gees, who, clad in their robber uniform,
came rushing from the woods, and with
me bound are leaping from the summit
If the wal!
"Qaick, Bess, my rias?"
Aud look there-c en- while the vet
srap stoad looking out upon his foes
the brave girl, for. slender in form, and