The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-07-07
Thrilling Revolutionary Tale.

aud in our peaceful home Praise His
holy name.
1t was in the wilis 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
primeva 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. aud a
muscular form, clad in blue frock of
the Revolution, is Continental named
Warren.
The other, with long black hair,
dropping along his caiayerou, face, is
clad in the half military costume of
Tory refugee This is u murderer of
Paoli, named Delaney.
They met by accident, aud how they
fought not with sword or rife, but with
long and deadly hunting knife, they
struggled, twining aud twisting on the
green sward.
At last the Tory is down-down on
the turf, with the knee of the Contineu.
tai on his brcast-thc upraised knife
flashed death in his face
"Quartcr! Iyield !" gaspcd the Tory,
as the knee was pressed un his breast.
Spare me, | yield I"
My brother said the patriot, in
tone Of deadly hate, my brother cried
for quarter on the night of Paoi; even
as he clung to your knees you struck
that knife into his heart. | will give
you the quarter Of Paoli."
And his hand was raised for the blow,
aud his teeth were clenchcd with deadly
hate he paused for a moment, aud then
pinioucd the Tory's arms, aud with a
rapid stride, dragged him to the verge
Of the rock; aud held him quivering
over the abyss.
Mercy" gaspcd the Tory, turning
ashy pale by turns, and that awful gulf
yawnug below. " Mercy | have
wife aud child at houe-spare me"
The Continental, with muscular
strength gathered for the effort, shook
the murderer once more over the abyss,
and then hissed his bitter sneer in his
face.
My brother had wife and txo chill.
dren. The morning after the night at
Paoli that wife was widow; those chill.
dren iatherlcss. Ask mercy from
them"
The proposal made by the CoutineR
tai in mockery and bitter hate, was Ia.
ken into serious eareest by the terror.
stricken Tory. He begged to be taken
to the widow and her children, and to
have the privilege Of Begging for his
life. Another moment ofserious thought,
and the patriotic soldier consented -
lie bound the Tory's arms still tighter,
placed him on his feet, and led him
through the woods. A quiet cottage
embossed among the trees broke ON
their eyes. They entered the cottage.
There, beside the desolate hearthstone,
sat the widow and her two children.
She sat there, a matronly woman of
about twenty.eight years, with face
faded by care u deep, dark eye, and
long black hair, hanging in a disheveled
state about her shoulders. On one
side was dark haired boy of six years,
on the other side, a girl one year
younger, with light blue eyes. The
Bible-an old and venerable volume
lay open upon the mothers knee. And
the pale faced Tory flung himself on
his knees, aud confessed that he had
murdered her husband on the night of
Paoli, and 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 face.
"The Lord shall judge betyeeu US"
she said, in cold, icy tone, that froze
the murderer's heat. Look, the Bi.
bic is in my lap. will close the vol.
ume, and let my little sou place his
fingers at random upon line, and by
that you shall live or die"
This was strange proposal, made in
good faith, of a mild and dark supersti-
tion Of olden times For moment the
Tory, pale as ashes, was iu deep thought
then in faint voice he signifed his
consent.
Raising her eyes to Heaven, the mo-
ther prayed to the Great Father to
direct the finger Of her sou. She closed
the book-she handed it to her son.
whose check Redeemed with loathing as
he gazed upon his fathers murderer.
lie took the Bible and opened its holy
pages at random, aud placed his fingers
upon line. There was silence. The
Continental soldier, who had sworn to
avenge his brothers death, stood with
dilated eyes and parted lips. The cul.
prlt kneeling upon the floor, with face
like discolQred clay, felt his heart leap
in his throat.
Then, in clear, bold voice, the widow
read this line from the Old Testament.
1t was short, yet terrible:
That man shall surely die"
Look the brother springs forward to
plunge the knife into the murderer's
heart. The Tory, pinioped as he is
cllngs to the widows knees. He begs
that one more trial may be made by the
little girl, that child of Eve years, with
golden hair and laughing eyes.
The widow consents Thcre ia an
awful pause. With q smila In her evn
aud without knowing what she was
doing, the little girl opened the Bible,
as il Law unou her mother,s knao gha.