The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-02-24


tho dark palmetto grove, behind the
building.
There was no sash in the window,
and the cool winds Of the night kiss
ed tho palid cheek of the partisan's
daughter. For a moment she tried
to pierce the darkness beneath tho
window; but, failing in her ondeavors.
she crept over the sill, resolved to
trust to fortune for success.
The distance to the Ronnd was
not great, and tho daring girl alight-
cd without injury.
Now she was FREQ to mako her es-
cape to tho friends she had lately
left; but immediate flight in that di-
recton was not her intention.
"I1eayon aid me T. she murmurod.
ms she glided around tho old house
aud approached tho horses which the
tories had left tothered to tho small
trees few yards from the door.
A glance into the room revealed
the forms OF the Avengers discussing
the wine with oath and jost, or
watching the roasting Of tho fowls.
They did not fear danger, for their
horrible deeds had completely ter
rorized tho country, aud under the
sway of their lawlossnoss it was fast
becoming desert.
Alice counted thcm before che
touched n single rein; aud then in u
brief period of time she lossoned the
horses aud quietly led them into a
small copso not fur away. The
stecls did not refuse to obey her
guidanceship, and when she had
reached the copse, she struck them
with whip which she had found be-
meath saddle. 1t WAS n smart blow
that she administered. and the horses
started forward aud disappeared in
au instant
Thus in raw moments Ferguson s
Avengers Lad been deprived of their
horses.
Flushed with triumph, Alico Beau.
chnmpe returned to tho house, and
again looked in upon its hilarious
tenants.
She now held pistol in her hand
a weapon which n holster had
granted hor, and sho crept to tho
edge of the porch before she halted.
There was tho ilnsh OF vengeance in
the dark eyes Of the partisan girl
while she gazcd upon the party be.
yond the threshold. Once or twice
sue raised tho weapon, but lowered
il again, as if playing with the life
of tho leader of tho six, whose burly
form was revealed by tho light Of the
! fro
She saw the fowls. smoking and
we'll burned, placod on tho table, and
watched tho greedy men crowd a.
round for thoir shares. Thcil
lounges and movements told her the
stolen liquor was doing its accustom
oil work on all save tho giant, who
had supcrintondod tho cooking o
tho late repast. This man appeared
perfectly sober, and tho angry
glances which ho often cast at his
comrades told that no did not sane.
ton their bacchanalian conduct.
"Como enough Of this - he sud
denly cried, rising from tho table
which had been dragged to the con.
tre of the room. "Got up, boys, and
let's be going. told you at Wiley't
that you had wine enough, but you
must bring some here aud drink
yourselves stuped. Tom Scott, and
you Blankeson, | am ashamed o.
you Whnt would wo do If a gang
of rebels should catch us in this con
dition : You know tho mercy We
would get, and yet you sit there as
careless rs statues drunk as old
Bacchus himself
Then IN expression OF contempt
passed over tho mans face, and
STOPPING, he cried
"Up up the rebels are coming
But his cry of alarm did not infust
much lifo into tho men at tho tablo
Ono or two heads were raised, but
the drunken leer that made tho
faces hideous was enough to pro-
woke q smile, even from the mac
&. tory.
"Mon !" he sneered contemptu
ously. "Dogs! evory one OF you
I've mind to ride down to th,
Pacole swamp and tell tho rebels
hiding there that the men they hat
: are in their power. have though
that l commanded me,, not drunk
ards y and he struck the table wit
the butt of his pistol, but could no
, rouse his stupid followers.
The noxt moment, with an oath o.
his lips, he strobe to the door, whicl
he jerked open and stepped upo
the porch.
"Curse such dogs as lead |" h
hissed. ~ suppose I must lead til
! horsos up, and tie each fool in til
5 saddle
He was stepping from the pore
for the purpose of attending to tn
+, horses which he supposed were sti
! tethered at the trees, when a forI
! rose before him and he started bac
!, with gasp of terror.
who in the mischief-'
. "Alice Beauchampe," was the il
terruption of the apparition. "Tll
: daughter of tho old man basely mu
! dered by your hands Down o
your miserable knees, Godfrey Lans
5 aud hnoI for ihn tnnrou unn hn,