Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-09-11

/ Cdfoi4iIS 10 CbulIOl n6I SOEFOW Win true
womanly y will, and Walter, brave though
he was, felt his heart beat hard against
his side; for the parting might be for
ever. God give us strength and victory,
said he at length, impressing a kiss on
her brow. God be with you, Walter,
said Madeleine, trying to speak FIRMLY
And so they parted. She watched her
lover disappearing up the dark stairway,
and then sat down beside her father, an
xious and watchfuI, but quiet as the very
stone that supported her.
Walters first act on leaving the cellar
was to take an old peice of rope ladder,
which Martin had found for him, and
hand it from the window of an upper
chamber, where projecting tower would
conceal it from the besiegers, who were
not likely to approach in numbers on
that side. This chamber was so situated
that lantern placed there would cast a
light down the main stairway. We shall
presently see the use of this.
And now all was ready, and Walter
took his station with Martin, behind the
barricaded door. Each held musket,
with another hand, ready for use.
should have mentioned before, that,
there was another servant, who now stood
behind them, to load the muskets as fast
as they should fire. Their lantern was
placed within the inner passage, 50 that
its light should not expose them.
"They are coming?" whispered Mar
tin, touching Walters arm there, in
the shadow of the pines"
" "Hu5hp' said Walter q look to your
arms, and as soon as you can see to take
aim, let them know that we are here and
ready"
They advanced stealthily, for their OBJ
ject was not merely to plunder-and no
alarm was to be given. Walter and
Martin fired together, and instantly pass
ing back their muskets, fired second
time. The effect was indescribable.-
Five or six of the robbers fell, and among
them was their leader. Thrown into
confusion by this unexpected reception,
they retreated to hold a council of war
however, in the same manner as before.
They now divided, and crept up close to
the walls, keeping entirely out of the
reach of the defenders, who could only
wait impatiently for what was to come.
The robbers finally decided to cut away
the door, ind preference to burning it, as
was first proposed. The first man, in
cautiously stepping forward with his axe
was shot by Walter; the second was
more cunning, and kept in the shelter o
the wall, while he piled his implemen
with energetic strokes. It was slow bu
sure work. Piece by piece the old doc
was cut, and shivered, and knocked in
o while not a shot could be fired with an
o effect. 1t was at last demolished.
"Now be ready" said Walter. The
will have to climb the barricade befor
= reaching US. Put in a good shot as the
n rush in, and then spring for the hall. y
:, So said, so done. Their fire must hav
+ done good execution, for the robbers re
coiled an instant, and returned to find
/, barricade and another door. Some tim
o was lost in forcing these, and then til
v foremost of them springing in, found til
70 prey flown. Seeing a light streamin
- down the stairway, he called his men
follow, and rushing up, found lanter
b and a rope-ladder suspended from a
IN open window.
to Escaped he exclaimed with a tr
u mendous oath. After them for yo
Pa lives! He flung himself upon the la
der, for Madeleine was his object. 1t W
n fatal leap. The old strands gave WI
70 under his weight, and fiery VIII lay de
he upon a heap of stones His fall "
. known to but few of his men. Some
,rt them wererushing after the fugitives a
others busted themselves in plunderir
ia and obtained ve~y little satisfaction
f. their pains. To end with, the castle w
IN fred.
: The fugitives, meanwhile, were ma
n ing the best of their way through t
- grim, low archway. 1t was toilsome, a
:. often they grew faint from the confin
ios air. The passage ended in thicl
nd near a river, and its mouth was so ov
Ike grown with roots and vines that it C
no an hours hard labor TO work their "
through. They were obliged to rem
., there till morning.
Inc Walter and Madeleine were SC
lst- afterwards married; and here ends
the the romance, and Of course my story.
he must add that the death Of two lead
10 and nearly dozen of the band on
sba same night, coupled with more vigor
r,aazurea on the r,arts of the oovernuuf