Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-12-01
The Renegnde's Mother.

On the western shores of Lake Champlain,
during the first years of the war of the Revolu
ton, there dwelt an aged but evil-hearted
woman. known among the settlers of that re gion
hv the name of Hester Madge. 1t was rumored
that she had sought the solitude of the woody
shores 10 evade the punishment due her for the
preparation OF some henous but unknown crime
many years before in the city of New York. To
have attempted TO trace this rumor to its fount-
ain head would have been futile and men were
contented to believe it after one glance at the
lowering, black browed, and scowling visage of
the shriveled hag, who seemed to have no affinity
for any of her species, save for tall, lean,
savage faced man who called her q" mother, or
devil" as the humor suited him, and who APP
p"ared at long intervals to make brief sojOurn
at the lonely log hut in which she passed the
greater portion of her existence Sometimes the
hunter, strolling by accident past only the door
Of her dwelling, might pause to stare in wonder
AT the wich-like shape, smoking pipe in the
doorway, and glarng with baleful eyes at the
Wavelrss lake, as if she envied the water its
calm. and would conjnre storm TO tear it from
the distant and rocky shores. But he would soon
hurry from the step when the hag lcapcd toward
him ferociously, hurng stones and curses after
him. Otherwise, no visits were made to Hester
Mndge.
The rumor of the rapid approach Of Burgovnc,
WIN an immense force OF redcOats and redskins
from the Canadas, was driving all those whom
the British fury stigmatized as "rebels,n from
the sparsely settled region of Lake Champan {;
aud while the woman and children were hurried
to the safety of the interior. the men FASTENED to
J"n the American army, that was springing into
armed LIE from every town and hamlet, to check
the boastful invader.
Hester Madge did not fly from her mountain
home but perched upon a projecting rock that
overlooked the borders of the lake, screamed
hpr ma Oh f,,<; <;t;,, LII
it glided by. Save the loud jeer of some reckless
lakeman, as he laughed at her rage, no greeting
was given her but the silence of contempt.
Kun, run ye dogsl and may the redskins
give all of ye bloody night caps p was her con
tinual song, until the last boat had vanished
from her sight.
One moonlight and silent night, after a day of
curslng, because no boat had passed her door,
the sat crouching over a gloomy fire, shoulder
ing upon her rude heart muttering "They are
all gone, and | am queen of the lake-queen of
the lake-qneen of the lake ! But the redskins
VIII roast them. They hated me, and | hate
th"m-curse them all Curse and blight every
one ~
Hours of this sensccss jargon had flown by,
and the weird stiffness of midnight had settled
upon shore and water, when as she heapcd fresh
1aggots upon the cmbrrs, her long absent son
threw open the unbarred door and entered, drag
Elng after him bound and beautiful girl.
tie was man whose shaggy and uncOmbcd
locks were already grizzlcd, but more by crime
than by time; aud his cat-like eyes, grcenish and
phoSphoric, cleaned from visage stamped with
every feature Of vice.
The captive, whose white and tender arms
were bound with cruel thongs Of buckskin, so
tightly kno,ted that the small and delicate hands
were purple and swollen, was a maiden Of some
seventeen years, tall and stately, despite her
bonds and with large black eyes flashed scorn
and defiance upon her unmanly captor. Her air
aud dress much superior to such as usually
belonged to the girls Of the irouter, and her
whole bearing was that of n refined and brave
woman above all misfortune.
"D'ye know her. mother ?" were the first
words of the ruilian whose semi-savage and
semi civilized grab denoted one of those soulIess
merccnary renegadcs who sided with the British;
net from loyalty to the king, but because the
red coats was in the aecendancy At the first
turn of fortune Abner Madge would have
changed sides to have Stayed his former compan
ions
The hag plucked brand from the fire and
held lis flame near the face OF the pale proud
captive gazed intenily for moment and then
slapped the defenseless cheek with her open
palm.
- Do know her ?" she screamed with fiend-
ish glee, and tossing aloft the brand ; Do
know a snake from fish? 1t is the daughter of
Henry Upson, the rich rebel TO the king and the
the grip of the law. LA mink you may curl
your lip at me, but when tell you that your
father saw me do what my hate made me do"
Bah!' exclaimed Abner, impatiently, "out
with 1t, old woman. You dirked my step-father
brcause the old man had made up his mind never
to die, and we wanted his gold. Henry Epson
saw it done, and saw me help. SO we fled from
The city ten years ago, and having heard that the
only witness of the deed had settled not many
miles from here year ago. we have laid in wait
10 put MN out OF the way, that we night 90
back and enjoy the wealth that now rests for the
want of an heir. But must be on again for a
few hours to gather my band of Hurons. Yon
see we are the advance of Burgoyne's host, | and
my ten savages, and coming upon old Upson
and his family in full fight, we bounced upon
th m"
g. Tell me that is Henry Upsons scalp that
hangs at your belt and will bless you, shrirked
the hag.
:" wish it did, was his savage answer, as the
renegade glanced at the pair Of CORY scaps
pinned TO his girde but the old man and bis
intendcd sou-in.law, Harold Holmes, the rebel
captain made their escape after we left them for
dead, but before we could give them red night
caps their party rallied and scattered ours. But
mad secured the girl and when flying with her
on my horse, | saw Upson and Holmes in full
chase after my Hnrons while | pursued an OPP
posite course hiiher. Now look TO the girl and
the bounty on these scalps shall be yonrs-the
British pay well for rebel scalps. / must be
after my braves for the rebels cannot long keep
up the pursuit: keep your eye on her mother,
for with her we shall pave our way back to home
and fortune old Upson has no kin but his
daughter Clara, and loves her as his life. Re-
sides hope to catch the father and lover before
morning by the aid of this bright moon"
Abner FASTENED away and Hester sat staring
at the captive with malicious eyes
:" want TO kill you, you look so much like
Henry upson," said she between her curses, but
ye snail i've am too old, battered, TO care
,or wealth. how' but we may never grow too old
TO love revenge. Clara Upson We shall live IN
shame and sorrow as | have lived and Abner
Madge and | shall be the only ones at yonr
bounty wedding. The idings will wither the
heart strings of Henry Upson-if he escapes NV
boy $ hatchet ] love to look at you and think
about it,"
The calm, bright eyes of the queenly captive
did not finch from the malicious hate that
srem'd to eloat upon her youth and beauty.
The exulting hag sat with her back to tho dooo |