Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-08-31
THURSDAY, AUGUST 81, 1866.

contriving how to way-lay him, and am afraid
they will take his life"
LET us pray for his safety, and for termi-
nation of our domestic troubles" said the mo-
ther, and kneeling down with her son and daugh-
ter by her side the girl read the Evening
Prayers for Family, from the Church Com
mon Prayer Book, and at the end her mother
made short extemporaneous prayer in behalf
of the stranger, and as she closed her petitions,
Sophia pronounced Amen, with such an un-
usual emphasis that she was somewhat fright
ened at the echo of her own voice in SO loud a
sound.
They arose from their humble posture, and
at the same moment rap was heard at the
door, at which they started, and in comes at
the boys opening the door, the person for whom
they had been addressing the Father Of Aler-
cies-the stranger, w@ had returned from the
red mills.
"We have just been conversing about you, I"
says Mrs. Thompson. "Yes, and praying for
me too" returned the stranger, which over
heard as came to the door" The ladies both
blushed; for bushes will sometimes crimson
the cheeks of the purest devotional being, if
they spring from the warmth of devotion
itself, as the beams of the heavenly sun open
and expand the buds of the morning rose
" Yes, sir" rejoinci the old lady, eve were "a
larmed for your safety, and feeling grateful for
the interest you seemed to take in our forlorn
situation, we put up our feeble prayers for your
success in whatever laudable enterprise you are
engaged" 81 thank you, madam, he replied,
" / can stay but a momeut-where are those
rufians that | saw here 2" They went to-
wards the village, sir, and we fear they are de-
termined to injure you-perhaps they will at
tack you from an ambuscade" "Never fear
that" says he, 81 am well prepared for such
fellows la the meantime, comfort yourselves
with the hope of better times" So saying he
babe them good night, and was off in mo-
ment.
They looked from the window, but saw no.
thing except the sparks Of fire which his horses
shoes struck from the iiuty rocks, over which
he bounded with full gallop, as they judged
from the sound Of his feet. +" Heaven preserve
himp cried the mother. The daughter looked
pale, and family uttered, q HOPE So"
During this time, the lawyer had been to
the village and hired two more men, armed
with muskets; all five had planted themselves
in the pine woods, at proper distances, to seize
the robber, as they called him, dead or alive; for
they understood from another man in the vii
lage, who came with the stranger, and who
they supposed was his accomplice in robbery,
as he would give no direct answers to their in
quiries, that the stranger would positively be
there that night.
1t was about ten o'clock when our stranger
left the log hut, and as he entered the pine
woods an awful black cloud hovered over the
tops of the gloomy pines, rendered visible by
now and then flash of Lightning aRd hpsill-
ming to wave brlskIy 70 and fro BY tiIe gusts of
wind that began to roar among the branches,
with claps OF heavy believing thunder.
He had proceeded little more than half way
thro' the woods, when he found his horse sud-
denly stopped by two men seizing him by the
bride, one on each side. He drew pistol from
his pocket shot one, who fell, and knocked
down the other with the butt of his whip, as
he put spurs to his horse; but had NOT gone but
a few rods, when two muskets were discharged
at him, the ball from one went through the top
of his hat crown, and the other cut a button
from his vest, but did not injure him. At the
same instant, all the three sprang in the path
before him, and with the butts of their musketS,
laid his horse over the head, and so staggered
him, that, with the others behind, who had
now come up, being recovered from their
wounds, they succeeded after violent strug-
gle in tearing the stranger from bis horse, who
had dischar ged another pistol among them with
out much effect, and had fought most dcsper-
ately with his heavy loaded whip, and given
several of them severe contusions They made
him their prisoner, pinioned his arms behind
him, and led him in triumph to the village,
where they secured him under keepers until
morning.
TO RE CONTINUED.