Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-25

cried, rising from the table, which had
been dragged to the center of the room.
Get up, boys, and let's be going. I
told you at Wiley's that you had wine
enough, but you must bring some here
and drink yourselves stupid Tom Scott,
and you, Blakeson, | am ashamed of you !.
What would we do if a gang of rebels
should catch US in this condition? You
know the mercy we would get, and yet
you sit there as careless as statues-drunk
as old Bacchus himself
Then an expression of contempt passed
over the maa's face, and, STOPPING, he
cried -.# es. r-.0.
''UpL up! the rebels are comingr'
But his cry of alarm did not infuse
much life into the men at the table. One
or two heads were raised, but the drunk
en- leer that made the faces hideous was
enough to provoke smile, even from the
mad tory. ,-....
'''Menr' he sneered, contemptuously
" Dogs! every one Of you, I've mind to
ride down to the Pacolet swamp and tell
the rebels hiding there that the men they
hate are in their power. / have thought
that | commanded men, not drunkardsr'
and he struck the table with the butt of
of his pistol, but could not rouse his stu
pid followers.
The next moment, with an oath on his
lips, he strobe to the door, which he ierked
open and stepped upon the porch.
Curse such dogs as [ lead !" he Kissed.
C suppose [ must lead the horses up and
tie each fool in the saddle.''
He was stepping from the porch for the
purpose of attending to the horses, which
he supposed were still tethered at the trees,
when form rose before him and he
started back with gasp Of terror.
Who in the mischief -
"Alice Beauchampe!' was the inter-
ruption of the apparition. 6 The daugh-
ter of the old man basely murdered at
your hands! Down on your miserable
knees, Godfrey Lang, and beg for the
mercy you have never granted others
Down, / sayn'
Perhaps the shadows of the window
sash did not permit him to see the pistol
that was clutched in the hand Of the fear
less girl, else his rashness might have
been curbed.
"Kneel to you? Never!'' he cried.
The weapon that he raised dropped be-
fore the flash that followed his last words,
and with a groan of pain he staggered
back to drop dead among his drunken
comrades.
Alice Beauchampe, amazed at her own
courage, stood silent amidst the smoke of
her own pistol. She saw the bacchantes
try to shake off their torpor at the sight
of their stricken leader, and one rose to
his feet to fall as soon as he needed sup
port.
Now for the swampr' she cried, with
triumph, and the next minute rushed
from the disgusting sight.
An hour passed away, and the drunken
tories began to recover; their chief, who
had dropped to the floor, seemed to sober
them with his cold face and staring eyes,
and when they had almost recovered their
scattered wits the foe they dreaded was
upon them.
Alice Beauchampe's voice fired the
hearts Of a patriot band for vengeance.
On her way to the swamp she had en-
countered the parUisans who had captured
some of the flying horses, and were follow
ing the trail.
The conflict between patriot and tory
was brief and almost bloodless.
The five Avengers were made prisoners,
and sued like towards for the mercy they
had never granted to a living being.
I need not describe the scene that fol-
lowed Suffice it to say that the trees in
front Of Alice Beauchampe's home bore
the strangest fruit that ever hung from
living limb.
The vengeance of the patriots was COM
plete as terrible, and when the glorious
sun rose again the dreaded men of the
lovely district had ceased to brighten peo-
pie with their name.
Alice Beauchampe. whose courage had
led to the determination Of the avenging
band, became the heroine of the day, and,
after the termination OF hostilities, welded
Lieutenant of Marion's men. Her hero
ism is venerated, and her gallant exploit
narrated daily by hundreds of her de-
coo,5ao+C II, tho pa1no otto State