The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-03-07
A Legend Of t776.

throa's with large draughts from an
oarthorn jar that stood ON the table
Thoy were heavily bearded, coarse
looking mon, aud from their drcss,
which somewhat rescmblcd tue Bsi~
tish uniform, they were evidently
torios. Tho other WAS q STOUT built
Young man. clad in Continental uni-
form. llo SGT in ono corner Of the
room with his face buried in his
hands.
Tom said ono of tho Tories.
rising from the table and seating
himself near tho Young prisoner
for such ho evidently was -"rom,
you and | woro school-boys toge,h.
or, and | love you yet Now, why
cant you give up your wild notions
aud join us You are our prisoner,
and if YOU don't wo shall hand YOU
over 60 tho head quarters to-inor-
row, while ii you join us, your for
tune is made; for with your bra
very and talents you will distinguish
yourself in The Royal army. and az
tor tho rebellion is crushed ont your
case shall be rewarded by knight
hood and promotion in tho army.
Now, there are two alternatives :;
which do you choose y'
Neither sNid the young man,
raising his heal and looking the
Tory straight in his eyes: 90; am
now, rs you say, your prisoner, but
when tho clock STROKES twelve !
shall disappear in a cloud Of fro and
smoke, and mother you nor your
com.aics, nor oven myself can pre-
vent. lou may watch me rs closely
as you please, tie ne hand and foot
if You will, but n higher power than
yours has orlainci that shall leave
you Mt that time precisely,
Poor follow ! his mind waulors, -
enid the Tory "iiell Talk different.
ly in tho morning" AMI he returned
to his scat Gt the table, leaving thc
youth with his head again rcstin8 in
his hands.
When tho clock struck oloycn the
young prisoner drew pipe and
some tobacco from his pocket and
asked tho Tory leader il he had any
objections to his emo;inc. Mono
in tho least. ho said. adding with Il
laugh, that is, il youll promise not
to disappear in n cloud OF tobocco-
smoke
The young man mGdo no reply, but
Immediately filed his pipe, having
done which he arose aud commenced
pacing tho floor.
lie took halg Il Gozon iulnsu up and
down each side Of tho room, ap-
preaching nearer tho tahlo each time,
when, having exhausted his pipo, he
returned TO his seat and rclillcl it.
He continued to smoke until The
clock strucl; twelve, WHOM he arose
from his scat, and, slowly knocking
tho ashes out Of his pipe, said
"Thorc, boys, it's twelve o'clock,
and ! must leave you. Gool.by.'
Immediately all around tho room
were seen strcaks OF fire Kissing and
sluirming, the cabin was filed with
dcnso sllphurous smoke. amidst
which was clap of thunder. The
tories sat in their chairs pOra!y2od
with fright !
Tho smoko cleared away, but the
prisoner was nowhere to bc seen.
The table was overturned, the win.
dow was smashed to pieces, and one
chair was lying on tho groGnd out
side of the building,
The Tory leader, after recovering
from his stupor, gave one glance
around the room and eprang ont OF
the window, followed By hi CON-
rados, They ran to the forest Mt the
top Of their speed, in the direction of
the British encampment, leaving
their muskots and other arms TO the
mercy Of the flames, which had now
began TO deyour the cabin.
Tho next day two young mon,
dressed in tho Continental uniform,
wore soon standing near the ruins OF
tho old cabin. One was our prisoner
Of the night previous. lot us hear
all about it, Tom," said the other,
"Woll," said be, "last evening, rs
was passing this place, two Tories
ran out of tho cabin and they took
possession Of mo. Before | could
make any resistance they took me in'
and who do yon suppose saw as II
leader OF their party but John Bar
ton, our old school-mate. He talked
with mo and tried to induce mo to
Join them; but I told them / could
not do it; that at twelve clock was
going to escapo-disappoar in n
cloud of smoke, But he laughed at
me, and said L was out Of my mind.
About eleven o'clock I asked him if
/ might smoke, He said he had no
so filed my pipe and
walking tho floor, had
about n pound OF gunpowder in my
pocket, and, as L walked, strowed it
all oyor the fooor. When the clock
struck twelve babe them good-by,
nnd told them had to go. then
knocked the ashes out of my pipe,
the powder ignited, and dazzling
fame of fire shot across, around, and
all over the room, filing it with
suffocating smoke. Before it clear
ed away hurled chair through the
window, sprang out, and departed,