The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-24

closet door, adjoining the next room, shI
heard the low whispers of her father ant
the Tories; she heard the dice box rattle
as they were casting lots who should stab
Geo. Washington in his sleepl
And now, the words: "Beware, OF
this night you die u tremble halfformeC
upon her lips, when the father comei
hastily from that room and bushes hel
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 r.
Mary takes the light, trembling and
pale. She leads the soldier up the oakeH
stairs. They stand on. the landing, in thii
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 Marys chamber
on the other, the left, the chamber of the
soldier-tp him chamber of death.
For moment, Mary stands there trem.
bling and confused. Washington gazes
upon that pale girl with look of surprise
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
it's late-you'd better go into your own
room and go to sleep"
While the Tory watches them from the
head Of the stairs, Washington enters 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 hall
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 so 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 jcers of his comrades rouse
him to the work--the light in one hand
the knife in the other, he goes up the
stairs--he listens first at the door of his
daughters chamber which is on the right
All is still. Then he places the light on
the foor--he enters the chamber on the
left--he is gone moment-silence =
there is faint groan He comes forth
again, rushes down the stairs, aud stands
there before the fire, with the bloody knife
in his hand.
aLook r. he shrieks, as he scatters the
red drops over his comrades faces, over
the hearth, into the fire. "Look +" it is
his blood--the traitor Washington |"
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 wound, without even the stain
of drop of blood, stands George Wash
ington, asking calmly for his horse.
"What!" !" shrieked the Tory Mannheim,
"can neither steel nor bullet harm you ?
Are you living man9 Is there no
wound about your heart no blood upon
your uniform
That apparation drives him mad. He
starts forward-he places his hands trem-
blingly upon the arms, upon the breast of
Washington Still no wound. Then he
looks at the bloody knife, still clutched in
his right hand, and stands there quivering
as with spasm.
While Washing ton 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 horrid thought crashes like a
thunderbolt upon the brain of the Tory
Mannheim. He seises the light--rushes
up stairs--rushes into the room of his
daughter on the right. Some one had
lust risen FROM the bed, but the chamber
was vacant Then towards that room on the
left, with steps Of leaden heaviuess. Lookl
how the light quivers in his hand He
pauses at the doori he listensl Not
sounds stillncsslik the grave. His
blood curdles in his veins Gathering
courage, he pushes open the door. He
enters. Towards that bed through whose
curtains he strusk 80 blindly a moment
ago Again he pauses--not a sound--a
Stiffness more terrible than the grave. He
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