The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-03-14
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SOLDIER ON GUARD.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE SOLDIER ON GUARD.
That midsummer evening, for Edward
! Bolton Revere, was happier one, as Q
! said to himself, than he had ever known in
| his life; and it was an evening to be re-
membered by all the Macy household.
! "Twelye O'Clock struck before Saul Macy
| showed his guest to ''spare ROOM" and,
| for some minutes after he had said 'good
| night, - the Massachusetts, volunteer sat at
! an open window, over the garden, inhaling
| the fresh air of that sultry hour; while
many golden visions rose out of its darkness,
all wearing in passing, one sweet face, from
| which brown eyes were smiling at him.
"The old, old story o. love" was singing It
self through the young mans heart.
But his natural alertneSs, and such ex-
perience as picket-seryice had afforded him,
made the sergeant's senses alive to sounds
and apprehensions, even while he smoked tho
last Of his ''good cigar at the window
which overlooked NIacy's garden. At first,
| he became aware OF a sudden streak oflight
at some part of the grounds, which showed
him window family illuminated for a
second, and then left in darkness. There
was no moon, and the sky was cloudy; so
that he could not fix any object below, al
though he remembered the stable he had
noticed that afternoon, in looking out from
OccaSi0ned no reflection in his mind; be-
cause it might have been from a match
drawn by some servant in the stable; but
as hesmoked on, there came to him on the
still air, dull, cautious, grating sound, as
if some one were slowly filing solid iron
bar. It ceased at intervals, and then con-
tinued, precisely as the machinist knew to
be the way a man would stop and go on, if
he were filing thick bolt. As be listened,
H., J. -
thing was wrong; even though the noise
was so faint, so measured, that it might be
taken for the gnawing Of rats in the out
house by one not trained to distinguish
sounds 81 think there's a burglar at
work out there !" said Rekere to himself.
81 wonder if / oughtnt to alarm Mr..
Macy !" As he thus concctured, he heard
Saul open a window on the balcony, beyond
his own easement, and say to his wife
81 don't think twill rain, Susie!"
''Mr. Macy!" the soldier called out, ris-
ing to step out upon the yeranda roof,
which was below his own window. ''Can
come to where you are 20
Certainly answered Saul. "The
veranda roofjoins this lower balcony!"
Next moment Revere was beside Macy,
whispering his surmises. Saul trembled,
him; and strained his ears, to catch that
grating noise; but nothing came to his hear
ing.
F.You have better ears than l hayel''
said he. ''But it may be as you fear! We
will go down there!" He stepped back to
his library, which opened on Susie's cham
Der, and spoke word to the wife, which
sent tremor through her; for Susie was
aware that all their treasure lay concealed
in the casket, almost precisely where it had
originally occupied nook behind the man
ger slab; for Saul, after the wOrkmen had
repaired the stable, thought its old wall
the best hiding-place for his wealth, and
had, therefore, made place of secure de-
post, as be believed for the iron Golfer which
contained it.
Susie sat full of foreboding, on the bed;
and her husband, after looking carefully at
his revolver, returned to Revere.
The sergeant had his own pistol; and they
descended quietly, and proceeded toward
the stable. As they neared it, Macy said
81 hear the noise - and few more steps,
in the darkness, brought them so close to
the stable, that Revere could discern a fig
ure shadowed against the wall. He laid
his hand upon Macy's arm to detain him.
But Saul had seen also, and made stride
forward: to clutch the burglar.
But the man was not to be surprised so
easily. Sauls hand reached his throat. but
his strong arm suddenly fell. The weight
of a heavy blow, with some iron weapon,
brushed Saul's left temple, and then struck
his shoulder so violently that he fell back
benumbed; his revolver dropping from his
left hand But quicker even than that blow,
Edward Revere threw himself upon the bur-
glar, with strength which no one might
deem possible in SO slight a frame. Robber
and soldier went down together, and
grappled on the tagged walk; while Macy,
sure that his own arm was broken, leaned
for moment against the stable wall Then
Susie's light form came flying from the
house. The wife had followed her hus-
band
Saul sprang into her way, to keep her
back, and at that instant pistol exploded
on the ground, and, by its fash, the two
men there were seen locked In deadly
embrace.
s'Oh! SauI!-Saul-are you hurt, dear2
''No loye!-keep backl' cried Macy.
"My pistol is on the ground Let me
find it p
He stopped, cropping with his left hand,
while one of the struggling figures rose, and
darted away, the other remaining prostrate.
"Oh!" cried Macy. 1.-The young man is
murdered!" He ran to Reyeres side, and
found him lying motionless; with blood
pouring from his breast.
"Wife, go for help!" cried Saul, lifting
the soldiers head, but unable, in the dark
ness, to see his face. Susie sped away and
met Captain Hooper, who had been aroused
by the pistol shot. She hurried her father
toward the stable, and then ran to awaken
their servants; gathering up, instinetiyely,
some linen napkins and wine bottle from
the table. When she returnedt to the stable,
Saul Macy had unlocked the door, and lit
the gas: and, with Captain Hooper's help,
was lifting Revere into her old "spare
room.'
And upon sea-chest, which had been
the resting place, in her childhood, of the
girl this young soldier loved, his bleeding
form was now laid. Amelia, with pallid
lips, stood by her mother.