, 1861-02-14

else. So much the better, for we have none too
many. Now boys"
Another fash, and again the voice Of Mr.. Oak.
ley. :.
waste powder"
A dead silence ensued.
"They are cowed, father; they are sneaking
off to cover" exclaimed Simeon.
"Not they; they are only contriving some
new deviltry. John and Mathew, round with
you to the back Of the hou G. Grace-my God !
where did that shot come from 2" as with sharp
cry, Reuben, the eldest leaPed three feet up in
the air, and fell forward on his face, stone dead.
Mrs. Oakley sprang forward and threw herself
upon his body. The fair.haired eldest boy was
her darling. Another shot now came rushing
through the window, and bedded itself in the
opposite wall.
aAim at yondor tree" said Mr.. Oakley. 81
saw tie glOam Of q rihe-stock among the leaves" !"
A third shot, whizzing past US 50 close as to
make US start back, and then ours answered, and
q dark body went down and struck with aheavy
thud' on the ground. .......a
HE Is silencedl" said Mr.. Oakley, with Q
CLEAN Of stern satisfaction shooting across his
manly face. "But can see none Of the rest
Where are they hiding" a .sH H.a'r -
"FatherI father !" called Grace, in an agon-
lied tone.
Mr.. Oakley ran hastily into the back room,
where she was. A stalwart man, in hunting
frock, and so bronzed rs to make It doubtful
whether he were white or red, had swung him
self from an adjoining tree on the balcony, and
was trying to force himself through the little
window. s''r
As Mr.. Oakley rushed forward, he drew the
hunting knife he wore in bis belt; but seizing
the sharp edge In his hands, the iniuriated father
wrested it from his grasp by main strength, and
plunged Il up to the hilt in the mans breast.
A fierce yell and harmless volley from those
in ambush, received this new defeat and then
came another Of those onIinous pausea
"What can they be about now 2" muttered
Simeon, who was again at the lookout.
"The door the door I" gasped Jut Grace.
"Right," said her father. "Tlle girl has more
wit than US all. We must barricade the hall"
"Never mind the shutters" exclaimed Ms
Oakley, who had now recovered her marble-like
cOmposurc. ave will bar them" and she be-
gan to draw the bolts.
Mr.. Oakley hesitated, for the task was one Of
danger; but there was no time TO Lose, ana
chairs, sofas, and tables were piled up at short
distance from the door in what was really for
midable barricade, guarded as II was by those
unerring rifles The smell Of the burning wood,
and the smoke that filed the hall, now grew in
tolerable. Mr.. Oakley placed Us on the staircase.
and exhorted his sons 10 stand close and take
gOod aim. A portion If the door lell in. Mr..
Oakley raised his rife, and Walter Van Cuyler,
who was the first to spring in, staggered back
with groan. The second and third deadly
shots brought them to q stand. No one cared to
expose himself to such certain death. ai- o.
Mr. Oakley turned impetuously to bis sons
"Give 'em another, boys; well beat 'em of
~ hat . shaka n the haah fha onlv an.
swer. 4",f ". OF
The powder was exhausted. For moments Q
deadly pallOr overspread his face, the next his
voice ran out clear and firm as ever.
"Close up, boys. Draw your knives We
will sell our lives as dearly as possiblep 80
"Come, on, their powder Is out," cried q man
who, with half dozen Others had succeeded in
scrambing over the barricade, and was making
his way towards the little group.
"You'd better be careful; our women have
their knitting needles yet," said Mr. Oakley, de-
risively. Jf r.l I.l...t..f 49,
Wen take care Of you and the women both," ("
returned the rufiian, aiming blow at Simeon
that brought him to the floor.
A spasIn cORtOrted Nc. 0Akleys stern features
for moment; and then with . strangled sob he
threw himself headlong on his assailantS
"Kill hm--cut him down--hes : the devil him
selil' shouted dozen voices. But at this mo-
ment arose another and fAr different cry.
The rebels--they are on sln Bs thunder
ing on--Iramping the cOwardly wretches under
the horses feet-came Mark Warner with his
light horse troop. In an instant ell was confu-
sion. No one thought Of anything but fight !;
and the enraged Americans moved the flying TO-
| ries down like grain. la7.a5 .r.4l..s = a..
Then burst forth all the emotions so long pent
up. Fathers and sons threw themselves into
one another's arms, tainted and Mrs. Uakley's
stony coInposure melted into food Of hysteri-
cal tears.
Ours was joyful, and yet sad house that
night-for though we had been delivered, on Il
were, fom the very jaws Of death, yet the bodies
Of our dead were with us. All, children chill
drehi those times were sad times-tFying tiInesi I
There was wedding afterward between Mark
an Grace, and danced as merrily as any Of
them; but poor Mrs. Oakley wore mourning TO
the end Of her days, and the last words on her
lips were the names Of her murdered sons
And, greatly affected, my grandmother took
of her spectacles and wiped her eyes
A curious legend Is relat Of Eginhard, q
secretary Of Charlemagne, and Q daughter Of
the Emperor. Tho secretary fell desperately in
! love with the princess, who ct length allowed
his advances. One winters night bis visit was
prolonged TO . late hour, and in the meantime q
deep tall OF snow had hllen. II ne Ieit his loot
marks would betray him, aud yet to remain
longer would expose him 10 no less danger. At
| length the princess resolved to carry him on her
back to q neighbOring house, which she did. Il
happened, however, that from the window Of
his chamber, the emperor witnessed this novel
| prOceeding and in the assembly of the lords
on the following day, when Eginllard and his
daughter were present, be asked what ought 10
be done To 4 man who should compel kings
daughter TO carry him on her shoulders through
frost and snow, on = winters mighty They an.
sweree that he was worthy Of death. The lovers
became alarmed. but the emperor, addressing
Ertk..N - - 4. A