Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-22

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You must leave tonight"
"But how ?"
"Matte will conduct you to the rendezvous
Ct our friends. There is party made up
who intend to cross the mountains and Join
the Union forces in Kentucky. They have
provisions for the journey aud will gladly
share with you"
At this moment young girl entered the
shop and hurriedly said
Father, what IS the trouble tonight ?"-
Her eyes resting upon the fugitive, she ap.
preached him, and in a sympathizing tone,
continued, "Ah, Mr. Peters, has yonr turn
come SO soon ?"
This was Matte She was fine rosy girl,
Just past her eighteenth birthday, and the
sole daughter of Bradleys house and heart-
She was his aIl-bis wife having been dead
five years. He turned toward her, and in
mild but firm tone said
Matte, you must conduct Mr.. Peters 20
the rendezvous Immediately then return and
we will call at the parsonage to cheer his fam
lily. Quick No time is TO be lost. The
bIoodhounds are on the track They have
scented their prey and will not rest until they
have secured him. They may return much
sooner than we expect. So haste, daughter,
and may Con bless ye !"
This was not the first time that Matte had
been called upon TO perform such Office
She bad safely conducted several Union men,
who had heen hunted from their homes and
sought shelter with her father to the place
designated from whence they made their es'
cape across the mountains iuto kentucky.-
Turning 10 the fugitive she said
Come Mr. Peters, do not stand upon GER
emony, but follow me-"
! She left the shop and proceeded but short
distance up the road aud then turned of in
! by path through strip OF woods, closely fol
lowed by the fugitive. brisk walk OF half
aq hour brought them TO small house that
stood alone in u secluded spot. Here Matte
was received with a warm Welcome by several
men. some Of them engaged in running bullets
while Others We're cleaning their rifles and
towing pieces The lady of the house, hale
woman Of forty, was busy st fling the wallets
OF the men with biscuits. The fugitive, who
was known to two or three OF the party, was
received in a bluff, frank Spirit OF kindness by
all, saying that they would make him chap,
lain OF the Tennessee Union regiment when
they got to Kentucky.
When Matte was about to return home,
bat she protested, warning them of the dan
ger as the enemy were doubtless abroad in
search of the minister. But, notwithstanding
they insisted, and accompanied her until she
reached the road a short distance from the
shop. Matte hurried on, but was somewhat
surprised upon reaching the shop TO find it
vacant. She FASTENED into the house, but her
father was not there As she returned TO 90
into ba ,-I,, +Ho - Il tI,,
noise OF horses hoCfs clattering down the road.
She listened, but the sound soon died away
Going into the shop she oew the fire into
blaze she then saw that the things were in
great confusion, and that spots of blood were
upon the ground. She was now convinced
that bee father had been seized and carried
OF, but not without a desperate struggle on
his part.
AS Matte stood gazing at the pools of
blood, wagon containing two persons drove
up, one of them, an athletic young man of five
and twenty years, got out and. entered the
shop.
Good evening, Matte Where is your
father" he said. Then observing the strange
demeanOr OF the girl, be continued. why.
Matte, what uiIS you? What has happened 7"
The young girls heart Was too full for her
tongue to give uttereBce, and throwing her
self upon the shoulder of the young man, she
sobhingIy exclaimed:
They have carried him of. Don't you see
the blood ?"
Have they dared to lay hands upon your
father The internal wretches !"
Matte recovered herself sufficiently to mar
rate the events of the evening. When she
had flushed, he exclaimed
"Oh, that | should have lived to sec the
day that old Tennessee was to be thus dis
graced. Here, Joe y
At this the other person in the wagon
alighted and entered the shop. He was
.talwart negro.
joe continued the young man, "Would
you like your freedom ?"
"Well, Massa John, wouldn't like much
to leabe you, but den Use like to be free
man."
Joe, the white race have maintained their
liberty by their valor. Are you willing to
fight for yours! Aye, fight tc the death ?"
"Ise fight for You any time, Massa John"
II believe you, Joe. But l have des
perate work on hand tonight, and do not
want yon to engage in it without prospect of
reward IF | succeed will make you free
man. 1t il matter of life and death-will
you go?;'
81 will, Massa"
Then kneel down and swear before the !
everlasting God, that, if you falter or shrink |
from the danger, you may hereafter be con-
signed to everlasting fire !"
II swear, Massa," said the negro kneeliDg |
"An | hope dat Cor Almighty may strike me
dead if don't go wild vou through FIRE and |
water aud ebery ting -
81 am satisfied, Joe, said his master then |
turning to the young girl who had been
mute Snectatnr OF The stranna SCENE he con.