Middletown transcript., 1876-07-15
could stand unabashed before the solemn
presence Of Washington.

Win iouS Joutocy '
and his face numbed with cold-it was
the great Rebel of Valley Forge who
returning to camp sooner than bis usual
hour, was forced by the storm to take
refuge in the farmers house and claim
little food and an hours repose at his
hands.
In few moments, behold the SOL
dier, with his cloak thrown of. sitting
at that oaken table. partaking of the
food, spread out there by the hands Of
the girl, who now stands trembling at
bis shoulder
And look Her hand is extended as
if to grasp him by the arm--her lips
move as If to warn him Of his danger.
but make no sound Why all this
silent agony for the man who sits SO
calmly there?
One moment ago, as the girl, IN pre-
pairing the hasty supper. opened yonder
closet door, adjoining the next room,
she heard the low whispers Of her father
and the Tories she heard the dice box
rattle as they were casting lots who
should stab George Washington in his
sleep!
And now, the words: "Beware, or
this night you die y tremble half
formed upon her lips, when the father
comes hastily from that room and bushes
her with look.
'Show the gentleman to his chamber
Mary-that chamber at the head Of the
stairs, on the left. On the left, you
mind %
Mary takes the light, trembling and
pale. She leads the soldier up the
oaken stairs. They stand on the land
ing, in this wing Of the farmhouse,
composed Of two rooms, divided by
thick walls from the main body Of the
mansion. On one side, the right, is
the door of Mary's chamber; on the
other. the left. the chamber Of the SOL
dier-to him chamber of death.
For moment Mary stands there trem-
bling and confused Washington gazes
upon that pale girl with a look of sur
prise. Look She is about to warn
him of his danger, when. see there her
fathers rough face appears above the
head of the stairs.
MARY, show the gentleman into the
chamber on the left. And look ye, girl
its late-you'd better 60 into your
own room and 60 to sleep"
While the Tory watches them from
the head of the stairs. Washington en-
tiers the chamber on the left, Mary the
chamber on the right.
An hour passes-still the storm beats
on the roof-still the snow drifts on the
hills. Before the fire. in the dim old
ball of that farmhouse, are seven half
drunken men, with that tall Tory.
Jacob Mannheim, sitting in their midst;
the murderer's knife in his hand. For
the lot had fallen upon him He is to
go up stairs and stab the sleeping man.
Even this half drunken murderer is
pale at the thought-how the knife
trembles in his hand-trembles against
the pistol barrel. The jeers of bis COM
rades rouse him to the work-the light
in one hand, the knife in the other, be
goes up the stairs-he listens first at
the door of bis daughters chamber
which is on the right All is still u
Then be places the light on the floor
he enters the chamber on the left-he
is gone moment-silence there is a
faint groan! He comes forth again.
rushes down the stairs. and stands
there before the fire. with the bloody
knife in his hand.
Look p he shrieks, as he scatters
the red drops over his comrades faces.
over the hearth, into the fire. "Look
it is bis blood-the traitor Washing
ton p
His comrades gather round him with
yells Of joy; already, in fancy. they
count the gold which will be paid for
the deed. when 10 \! that stair door
opens. and there. without a wound,
without even the stain of drop of
blood. stands George Washington, ask
ing calmly for bis horse.
"What!" shricked the Tory Man
helm, "can neither steel nor bullet harm
you? Are you living man? Is there
no wound about your heart? no blood
upon your uniform
That apparation drives him mad. He
starts forward-he places his hands
tremblingly upon the arms, upon the
breast of Washington Still no wound.
Then be looks at the bloody knife, still
clutched in his right hand, and stands
there quivering as with spasm.
While Washington looks on in silent
wonder, the door is flung open, the
bold troopers from Valley Forge throng
the room, with the gallant form and
bronzed visage of Captain Williams in
their midst At this moment the clock
struck twelve Then a horrid thought
crashes like a thunderbolt upon the
brain of the Tory Mannheim. He seizes
the light-rushes up stairs-rushes into
the room Of bis daughter on the right
Some one had just risen from the bed,
but the chamber was vacant. Then
towards that room on the left. with
steps Of leaden heaviness Look how
the light quivers in his hand! He
pauses at the door he listens! Not
sound-a stiffness like the grave. His
blood curdles in his veins !! Gathering
courage, he pushes open the door. He
enters. Towards that bed through whose
curtains he struck so bliudly moment
ago! Again be pauses-not a sound
a stiffness more terrible than the grave.
He Aings aside the curtains. There. in
the full light O. the lamp. her young
form but half covered. bathed in her
own blood-there lay his daughter.
Mary!
All, do not look upon the face Of the
father as be starts silently back, frozen
to stone but in this pause Of horror
listen to the mystery of this deed!
After her father had gone down
oko:.. - Lo,. 49, M..u cs1.rtl~ ,tolo