The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-03-03
A REVOLUTIONARY TALE.

A REVOLUTIONARY TALE.
God is everywhere. His words are in
the heart. He is on the battle field, and
in our peaceful home. Praise his holy
name.
It was in the wilds of Wissahicon, on
the day of battle, as the MONDAY sun
came through the thick clustered leaves,
that two men met in deadly conflict
near the reef which rose like some prim-
eval world at least a thousand feet
above the dark waters of the Wissahi-
con.
The man with dark brown face, grey
eyes flashing with deadly light, and a
muscular form, clad in q blue frock of
the Revolution, Is continental named
Warren. ,....... '..., .s.ses. I
1 The other, with long black hair droop-
ing along his cadaverous face, is clad in
the half military costume of tory refu.
gee. This murderer of Paoli, named
Delaney. .u
They met by accident, and now they
fought, not with sword and rifle, but
with long and deadly hunting knife
they struggled, twining and twisting on
the green sward.
! At last the tory is downtown on the
turf, with the knee of the continental on
his face.
Quaker, I yield!" gasped the tory
as the knee was pressed on his breast.
"Spare me: yield!"
my BROTHER" said the patriot in
tone of deadly hate, my brother cried
for quarter on the night of Paoli; even
as he chung to your knees you struck
that knife to his heart. I will give you
the quarter of Paoli." .-.. ....
And his hands were raised for the
blow and his teeth were clenched in
deadly hate. He paused for moment,
and then pinioned the tory's arms and
with rapid stride dragged him. to the
edge of the rock, and held him qu!ver-
ing over the abyss.
Mercy" gasped the tory, turning
ashy pale as that awful gulf yawned
fearfuliy below. "Mercy! I have q
wife and child at home-spare mel"
The continental, with terrible strength
gathered for the effort, shook the mur.
derer once more over the abyss, and
then hissed this bitter sneer in his
face: 49,
"My brother had wife and two
children. The morning after that night
at Paoli that wife was widow, those
children orphans; ask mercy from
them"
AS drowning man catches Mt straw,
the proposal made by the continental in
mockery and bitter hate was taken IN
earnest by the terror striken tory He
begged to be taken to the widow and
her children, and to have the privilege
of begging for his life. Another mo-
ment of serious thought-the patri otic
soldier consented. He bound the tory's
arms still tighter, placed him OH his
feet, and led him through the woods.
A quiet cottage embossd among the trees
broke on their sight. They entered.
There beside the desolate hearthstone,
sat the widow and her children.
She sat there, a matronly woman of
about twenty eight years, with face fa-
ded by care; deep, dark eye, and long
hair hanging in disheveled state about
her shoulders. On one side was dark
haired boy of some six years, on the
other side, a girl one year younger with
light blue eyes. The bible-an old and
venerable volume-lay upon the moth
er's knee. The pale faced tory flung
himself upon his knees and confessed
that he had murdered her husband OBJ
the night of Paoli, aud begged his life at
her hands.
"Spare me for the sake Of my wife
and child!"
He had expected this pitiful moan
would touch the widows heart; but not
one relenting gleam softened her sad
face.
"The Lord shall judge between us, "
she said in cold, icy tone that froze
the murderer's, heart. "Look, the bible
is in my lap. will close the volume
aud let my little son place his fingers at
random upon o line, and by that you
shall live or die.
This was a strange proposal, made in
good faith, of wild and dark superstition
of olden times. For moment the tory,
pale as death, was absorbed in deep
thought-then in faint voice he signi-
fled his consent.
Raising her eyes to heaven, the moth
er prayed to the Great Father to direct
the finger of her son. She closed the
book-she handed it to the boy, whose
cheeks Redeemed with loathing Is he
gazed upon his fathers murderer. He
took the bible and opened its holy pages
at random, and placed his finger upon a
verse. There was a silence. The conti-
mental soldier, who had sworn to avenge
his brothers. death, stood with dilated
eyes AMI parted lips. The culprit kneel-
ing upon the floor; with face like dis
colored clay, felt bis heart leap into his
throat.