The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-04-19

haps that daughter herself, was to be
their reward. There was scarcely q
hope for the old man, and yet he had
determined to make desperate fight.
"We must bluff off these rascals u
he said, with grim smile, turning to
his child. Now, Bess, my girl, when
I fire this rifle, do you hand me another,
and so on, until the whole eight shots
are fired That will keep them on the
other side of the wall for few moments
at least, and then we will have to trust
to God for the rest /" -. ... ..
Look down there, and see hand
stealing over the edge of the wall. The
old man levels his piece-that British
trooper falls back with crushed hand
upon his comrades headsl
No longer quivering with suspense,
but grown suddenly firm, that young
girl passes o loaded rife to the veteran e
grasp, and silently awaits the result.
For moment all is silent below; the
British bravoes are somewhat 10th to try
that wall, when stout old "rebel, y
rifle in hand, is looking from yonder
window There is pause-low, deep
murmurs-they are holding council
A moment is gone, and nine heads are
thrust above the wall at once-hark
Ore-two-threel The old veteran has
fired three shots, there are three dying
men groveling in the yard, beneath the
shadow of the wall
UO1;ob Poeo &bo ,-,Aoo %
And the brave girl passes the rifles to
her fathers grasp; there are four shots,
one after the other; three more soldiers
fell back, like weights of lead upon the
ground, and a single red-coat is seen,
slowly mounting to the top of the wal,
his eye fixed upon the hall door, which
he will force ere q moment is gonel
Now the last ball is fred, the old man
stands there, in that second story win
dow, his hands vainly grasping for an
other loaded rifle At this moment the
wounded and dying band below are
Joined by party of some twenty refu-
gees, who, clad in their half-robber uni
form, came rushing from the woods, and
with one bound are leaping for the sum-
NIT of the wall | r., .....;;lc1
"Quick, Bess, my rifle" .. l.,,.,
And look cthere-even while the vet
eran stood looking out upon bis foes, the
brave girl-for, slender in form, and
wildly beautiful in face, she is brave
girl, hero woman-had managed, as If
by instructive impulse, to load rifle.
She handed it to her father, and then
loaded another and another ...s
Now look down to the wall again !
The refugees are clambering over its
summit again that fatal ,aim-again q
horrid cry, and another wounded man
topping down upon his dead and dying
comradesl -. ..,
But now look A smoke rises there,
fire blazes up around the wall they
have fred the gate, A moment, and the
bolt and the lock will be burnt fromiits
sockets passage will be freel Now
is the fiery moment of the old mans
trial! While his brave daughter loads,
he continues to fire, with that deadly
aim, but now-o,', horror He falls,
he falls, with musket ball driven into
his breast-the daughters outstretched
arms receive the father, as, with the
blood spouting from his wound, he top
pies back from the window.
All, it is sad and terrible picture!
That old man. writhing there on the
oaken floor, the young daughter bending
over him, the light from the window
streaming over her face, over her faith
er's gray hairs, while the ancient furni-
ture Of the small chamber affords dim
background To the scene!
Now, harkl The sound Of axes at the
hall Observation-Disclosures curses
"We have the old rebel, at last !" $685..
The old man raises his head at that
sound; makes an effort to rise; clutches
for q rife, and then falls back again, his
eyes g1aring, as the fierce pain of that
wound quivers through his heart.
Now watch, the movements OF that
daughter. Silently she loads rifle, 81
lently she rests its barrel against the
Lead of that powder .keg, and them
placing her finger on the trigger, stands
over her fathers form, while the shouts OF
the enraged soldiers came laundering
from the stairs. Yes, they have broken
the hall door to fragments, they are in
possession of the old block house, they
are rushing toward that chamber, with
murder in their hearts and in their
glaring eyes Had the old man thou
sand lives, they were not worth a far
things purchase now. ~. = = -
Still that girl-grown suddenly white
as the 'kerchief round her neck stands
there, trembling from hend to foot, the
rifle in her hand, it's dark tube laid
against the powder keg.
The door is burst open-look there
Stout forms are in the doorway, with
muskets in their hands, grim faces STAIN
ed with blood glare into the room. . :
Now, as if her very soul was coined
into the words, that young girl, with her
face pale as ashes, her hazel eye glaring
with deathly light, utters this short yet
meaning speech: -. -,r., ~-.--
= "Advance one step, into the room,
and I will fire this rife into the powder
there p . ..lj.
No oath quiyers from the lips of that
girl, to confirm her resolution, but there
she stands, alone with her wounded
father, and yet not soldier dare cross
LQc GQI6S1OlQ uco dS tl1OJ oAO LII
deeds of blood, there is something ter
rible to these men in the simple words
of that young girl, who stands there,
with the rife laid against the powder
keg. - - - ;,
They stood as if spellbound, on the
threshold of that chamber.
At last one bolder than the rest,
bravo, whose face is half concealed in
thick red beard, grasps his musket and
levels It at. the young girls breast !; = !, s
"Stand back, or will fire r! u.
Still the girl is firm; the bravo ad-
vances step, and then starts back.
The sharp 'click of that rife falls
with an unpleasant emphasis upon his
ear.
"Bess, I am dying" gasps the old
man, family extending his arms. " Ha'
ha, we foiled the Britishers Come
daughter-kneel here; kneel and say
prayer for me, and let me feel your
warm breath upon my face for I am get
ting co1d-oh, dark and cold! 80 -.
Lookl As those trembling accents
fall from the old mans tongue, those
fingers unloose their hold of the rifle
already the troopers are secure OF one
victim, at least, q young and beautiful
girl; for affection for her father is mas
tering the heroism of the moment