The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-04-02

and we will call at the parsonage to cheer
his family. Quick No time is to be lost.
The bloodhounds are upon the track. They
have scented their prey and will not rest un-
til they have secured him. They may re-
turn much sooner than we expect. So haste
lighter, and God bless ye %
Turning to the fugitive, she said
"Come, Mr.. Peters, do not stand upon
ceremony, but follow me-
She left the shop and proceeded but a
short distance up Ihe road. and then turnad
off in path through a strip of woods,
closely followed by the fugitive. A brisk
walk of half an hour brought them to a
small house that stood alone in secluded
spot. Acre Matte was received with q
warm welcome by several men, some of
whom were engaged in running bullets,
while others were cleaning their rifles and
fowling pieces.
Matte hurried home, but was somewhat
surprised upon reaching the shop to find it
was vacant. She fastened in the house,
but her father was not there. As she re-
turned to go to the shop she thought she
could hear tbs noise of horses boots clat-
tering down the road. She listened, but
the soundsoon died away. Going into the
shop she blew the fire into blaze then
beheld that the things were in great confu-
sion, and that spots of blood were upon the
ground. She was now convinced that her
| father had been seized and carried off,
but not without desperate struggle on his
part.
! AS Matte stood gazing at the pools of
blood, wagon, containing two persons,
! drove up, one of whom, an athletic young
man of fve-and- twenty years, got out and
entered the shop.
"Good evening, Matte. WhsTe is your
father 90 he said. Then observing the
strange demeanar Of the girl, he continued ::
why, Matte, what sils you? What has
happened ?"
The young girls heart was too full for her
tongue to give utterance, and throwing her
self upon the shoulder of the young man, )
she sobbingly exclaimed:
"IHey 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
narrate the events of the evening When
she had finished she exclaimed
"Oh, that should have lived to see the
uay In'at oid Tennessee was tn he tive die
graced. Here, Joe !"
At this, the other person 10 the wagon
alighted and entered the shop. He was a
stalwart negro.
''Joe, the white race have maintained
their liberty by their vaIor. Are you will
ing to fight for yours Ay, fight to the
death o.
Use fghs Tor yous any time, Massa
John"
81 believe you. Joe. But have desper-
ate work on hand tonight. and do not
want you to engage in it without prospect
of reward. If succeed l will make you
free man. 1t is matter of life and death
will you so ?"
81 will, Massa."
"Then swear it,
81 swear, Massa,' said the negro, kneel-
ing. can hope that Cor Almighty may
strike me dead if don't go wild you thro'
FIRE and water and cherry ting"
81 am satisfied, Joe," said his master
then turning to the young girl, who had
been mute spectator of this singular scene
be continued
Now, Matte, you get in the wagon. and
! I'll drive down to the parsonage, and you
remain there with Mrs. Peters and the chill
dren until bring you some intelligence of
your father"
While the sturdy old blacksmith was
awaiting the return of his daughter, the
party he had repulsed returned with increas-
ed numbers and demanded the minister. A
! fierce quarrel ensued, which resulted in
their Selling the smith and carrying him off.
/ They conveyed him to tavern half mile
distant from the shop, and there he was ar
raigned before what was termed vigilance
committee.
The committee met in large room on
the ground floor. dimly lighted by lamp
which stood upon a small table in front of
the chairman In about half an hour af-
ter BradIey's arrival be was placed before
the chairman for examination. The old
mans arms were pinioned, but nevertheless
he cast defiant look upon those around
/ him.
Bradley, this is a grave charge against
you. What have you to say ?" said the
chairman.
s.what authority have you to ask p" de-
manded the smith, fercely cycling his inter
rogator.
''The authority of the people of Tennes-
see," was the reply.
81 deny it,
'fYour denial amounts to nothing. You
are accused of harboring an abolitionist,
ana the penalty Ior that ACT, you Know, Is
death. What have you to say to the
charge ?"
81 say that it is lie, and that be who
utters such charges against me is scoun-
drel !"
.'Simpson,'' said the chairman to the
leader of the band that had captured Brad
ley, and who now appeared with large
bandage abont his head, to bind up wound
which was the result of blow from the
fist of Bradley Simpson, what have you
to say %