Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-04-03

alarm you terrify me. Are you here with,
out permission without pass Z"
"Yes-did not say played the fool TO
the sentries and got past them Z"
" But 1 thought that was for your own
amusement. Oh. William, if you should be
discovered Why did you venture in this des
perate manner ?"
90 | could not GET pass, ard was so anx
ions to see you and Mary, that resolved to
risk all "
Quick, then, come up stairs, and let US
fix a hiding place at once, before anything
happens. Oh, William, | am so alarmed"
Both hastened to the third story, and after
considering several places, DECIDED that the
loft, close under the root, might be the best
place for concealmeLt, as the trap-door lead
ing TO it, could be fastened underneath, which
would tend TO blind the search while the
young man, if pressed, could escape to the roof,
and 10y means of long rope, fastened to the
chimney could lower himself either into the
street or yard This would not insure his
escape, but it was the best plan the two could
think of, aud served to render both less fear
ful of detection and the serious consequences.
Having provided the rope, the mother hasten
ed to bring up large quantities of food, which
tile, which showed be had told no truth
" hen in Iho character of beggar, he had de-
clared himself in a state bordering on StarVa-
/ ton.
/ While he was eating, his mother piled him
| with questions concerning the armv ut Valley
! Forge, 10 which he had a LeItenants com.
mission, aud which he had left on furlongh,
and the answers of the young soldier depicted
hot. cod
bis hearer to weep for very sympathy. Three
thousand soldiers were down on the sick list
at one time. and without the common neceS-
saries Of Ile had perished Gy hundreds while
those capable OF doing duty, scarcely any had
a blanket 10 cover him at night, or food
enough to keep soul aud body together. Pale,
emaciated, ragged and dirty, many with their
bare feet upon the frozen earth, they walked
shverng through the camp By day, and crowd
I'd themselves together hy night to get what
little warmth they could from each others
hodieS-the most forlorn and wretehed SCI Of
beings that ever a nation called 10 arms.
"God help US !" CALCULATED the mother, in
a DETECTED tone IL suppose, after all our
I hardships, We shall be compelled to succumb
/ to or tytannical foes"
Never !" cried the young officer, "whie
there is thousand men left in cur country 10
make a desperate stand. We can Only be
conquered by annhilatlou aud If 1t is God
will that tyraut should rule over this broad
continent, not a single true heart will live to
feel the oppression and sgrace Ere that
time, dear mother, | shall be beyond the reach
Cf earthly monarchS !"
God bless you, William !" cried the mother,
enthusiastically grasping his hand. " Your
fathers spirit speaks in you. He died on the
battle field with those sentiments in his heart !;
and freely give you-my only son and hope
to the glorious cause which his blood aud
tha. of thousands of others has hallowed"
For several days the intrepid young officer
remained beneath his mothers roof, suppOsing
his presence TO be known only to themselves.
But, one evening at the end of his furiough,
when he was beginning to think about prcpar,
/ ing for his secret departure, an officer and six
men appeared at the door, and sal he had
orders to arrest one William RuggIes, sup
posed to be somewhere in the dwelling.
Why, that Is my son." said the widow, in
great tr,pIdaIion.
SO muci more likely that he should be
here, then" was the unleeng reply.
And for what would you arrest him, aud
what will he do with him if found 2"
We shall take him for spy, and if found
guilty, be will be hung, of course, as every
cused rebel should be- Here, yCu, Bent and
( Walters, begin the search and you, Jones
/ aud Johnson, remain where you are Sharp,
| now, all of you ! Let the fellow be takeG
alive, it poSsbIe-but, alive or dead let him
| be taken. Now, good woman, if he Is in the
house, OF which We are strongly assured, let
him appear, aud save yourself much trouble !;
otherwise, the consequences be on your own
head !"
If you think my son is in the house, search
to your aealt's couteLt !" returned The mother,
externally calm, internally suffering.
! Aud forthwith the search begun.
! Meantime, the young Lieutenant, who had
heard enough TO comprehend his danger, had
set about effecting lIis escape, 0ut not alto
gether in the manner first intended. He went
on The roof it is true, and tied the long 'opc
! to the chimney casting one end of it down
toward The street, but this only for blind
ii had seen that the bricks of the dividing
wall, between the houses occupied by his
mother aud one of two adjoining buildings,
had been loosely put up under the ridgepole,
aud his present design was 10 remove few OF
these, crowd through into the loft OF the other
house and then replace. This purpose he ef.
fected before the soldiers searching for him
came up near enough to hear the little noise
he was compelled 10 make. The open trap
door of the roof, and the rope around the
chimney, served to mslead them as he bad
hoped and it was with intense satisfaction that
he heard them announce the manner of his
escape Immediately after, the whole party
left 10 haste, first threatening Mrs. Rugges
with subsequent vengeance, for harboring, con-
cealing, and cOnniving at the escape Of rebel
spy, even though the man were her son.