The Portland daily press., 1870-01-29

to tempt them from the house, Tom set him
self to keep watch, patroling the long halls,
down into the kitchen, then to the parlor,
and back again, the night long.
When Tom was a man, he kept guard many
a night on the battlefield, and felt IL was
child's play compared to those slow, creeping
hours, in which he tramped to ana fro, bis
little legs weak with terror, put his heart
brave enough to stand between his father and
mother. and their horde of enemies. The
moonlight fell in level beams here and there
across the long stone hall; at one end the fire
smouldered low in the stove; overhead he
heard at intervals his mothers soft stem in tho
sick chamber; from outside came aft times an
owls boot, or the baying of the vatcb-doo At
the moon: That ceased presently. Had thew
poisoned Lion!
sudden heart, he hurried boldly to an 10 'ahans
door, and flung it open. The moo, ,n 1oa siI IN
hind cloud. The courtyard was darl Int
close behind him he heard the cIang of ,nrs'
Ket on the stones, and, the moment after a
quick, sharp click. He drew back. and shut
the door; but, climbing up, looked thronoh
the transom. When the white. chilly moon
light shone out again over the fields. he saw
that the dark and masked figures which he
had seen once before, stood sentries around
the house, while large bodies OF armed men
passed noiselessly as ghosts across the slope
between him and the woods.
The Shan Van Voght did their work of
murder (if murder it was) in silence.
All night long! He did not look out again
but he never rested Tor moment. Now he
fanced he heard stealthy steps above or he
low; now he was sure it was the cracking of
fire kindled in one of tie &c lars underneath
relieved OF one lear, another and greater fol-
lowed continually. The deep of the night
had passed The moon had set, and the fire
gone out. Tom .crept up and down. to and
fro his limbs stiff with cod and damp, through
| the pichy darkDess. A sickIy light began TO
struggle through the windows; far off he
| heard the cocks crow. The sound reached
him, poor Tom, as in a dream. He dragged
himself to the door OF his mothers room, and
| heard her voice within, and his fathers.
| Morning had cone, and they were safe
He turned to go down and resume his weary
way; but en- the ma, ch, the poor little head
reeied, the brave heart stoplei beating, and
Tom lay stretched Oh the cold stone floor over
which he had kept his loLg vigil so we'll
lie was reused by warm cordial at his
lips, and the doctors breezy voice, calling
him.
| Good news, Tom, boy! Good ews Look
up!'
| Somebody had him in their arms. 1t was
Captain Duncan; his mother, half sobbins
and half laughing, was kneeling before him,
| chatting his icy feet, and holding them to her
breast. But when Tom tried feebly to rise
| there was his father! Sitting up in the bed,
his eyes bright, and his cheeks full of rudy
| color, as they had not been Tor months.
"Your're safe, .ather?" Tom chung to his
hand.
Safe, my boy cried the doctor; the crisis is
past, thanks to Cod"
But Toms brain wen. back to the old
thought; Whom did they murder? Father,
father, to call them Gods creaturesw :
No one spoke. But the captain led Tom to
the window, and threw it open. The red
flush OF the early day lay soft and bright on
the green slopes, and the dewy woods, and
gIanclng river; and there, as lar as the eve
could see, was the cut grain, in long, even,
golden heaps, shining in the sun!
Tom tried to speak, but great lump in his
throat choked him. Underneath the window
were stacked the arms taken from Mr. Kesoe,
IONS pretty fowns-piece laid on the top.
They lett this bit OF paper" said Mr. Kel-
soc. Tom read the words Scrawled on it,
iky."
There will be a free pardon issued" said
the captain. "And, upon my word, Pm al
most glad the scoundres have escaped"
But Tom was looking at wretched fig
ure below, with an empty sleeve pinned TO
nis breast. Its Kit, father," he said, plead
ingy. "He's my foster-bro;her
Yes. go, Tom, and bring him in. And
never forget that it was the hated croppies
who have saved us from rum and that the
man who seems vilest to you, is only your
brother with blood and heart just like your
own"
They've given you new life, Kelsoe, that's
TACT" said the captain. He stopped, turn
ing bis head away, that they might Tot see
his wet eyes, sits a curiously pleasant day."
be said, after while. 81 suppose it is some
thing in the air. But feel as if could find
brother in any man, even d scoundrelly
croppy. and see something good even in the
Shan Van Voghtw