The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1878-08-01

stand trembling before the tall
stranger, yelling her eyes from that
calm face with its blue eyes and
kindly smile
Ah-if we may believe tho legandi
OF that time, few mon, few warriors,
who darod tho terror of battle with
o smile could stand unabashed be.
fore the solemn presence Of Wash.
ington.
For IL was Washington, exhausted
with long journey--his limbs stiif'
ened aud bis face benumbed with
cold---it was the great "Rebel' OF
Valley Forge, who returning. to
camp sooner than his usual hour,
was forced by the storm to take re-.
fuge in the farmers house, and
claim q little food and an hours res
pose at his hands.
Ia q few minutes, behold the SOL
dier, with his cloak thrown of, sit
ting at that oaken table, partakina
Of tho food spread out there by the
hands of the girl who now stands
trembling at his shoulder.
And look Her hand is extended
as II to grasp him by the arm--her
lips move as il to warn him Of his
dangers, but make 10 sound. Why
all this silent agony for tho man
who sits SO calmly there.
One moment ago, as the girl in
preparing the hasty supper, opened
yonder closet door, adjoining tho
next room, she heard the dice box
rattle, she heard the low whispers Of
her father aud the Tories, as they
were casting lots who should stab
George Washington in his sleep
But now tho words "Beware or
this night you die !" trembled half
formed upon her lips, when the faith
or comes hastily from that room and
bushes her with a look.
"Show the gentleman to his cham
ber. Mary--that chamber at the
head of tho stairs on tho left On
the left you mind !"
Mary takes the light, trembling
aud pale. She leads the soldier up
the oaken stairs. They stand in the
landing, in the wing of tho farm.
house, composed Of two rooms, di-
vided by thick walls from tho main
body of the mansion. On one side,
the right, is tho door Of Mary q
chamber, on tho left, tho chamber Of
the soldier, to him chamber of death.
For a moment Mary stands there
trembling and confused. Washing.
top gazes upon that pale face with a
look OF surprise. Look! She is a.
bout to warn him OF his danger,
when, see there Her fathers rough
face appears above tha.stairs.
"Mary, show the gentleman into
the chamber ON the left. And look
20, girl-it's late-you'd better go
into your own room aud 80 TO sleep
While the Tory watches from the
head OF the stairs, Washington en-.
ters the chamber ON the left, Mary
the chamber on the right.
An hour passes. Still the storm
boats on the roof--stll tho storm
drifts on the hills. Before the fire,
in the dim hell OF that farm -house,
arc seven half drunken men with
that tall Tory, Jacob Mapheim, sit
ting in their midst, the murderer's
knife in his hand. For the lot had
fallen upon him. He is to go up
stairs and stab the sleeping man.
Even this half.drunken murderer
is pale at the thought-how the
knife trembles in his hand-trem-
bles against the pistol barrel. The
ieers OF his comrades rouse him to
the work--the light in one hand, the
knife in the other he goes up tho
stairs-he listens-frst at the door
Of his daughters chamber on the
right, then at the door of the SOL
dier's chamber on tho loft. All is
still. Then he places the light on the
aoor-he enters the chamber on the
left-he is gone for o moment-si.
lenoe There is faint groan He
comes forth again, rushes down the
stairs, and stands before tho fire
with the bloody knife in his hand.
"Lookl" 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 around him
with yells Of Joy already, in fancy,
they count the gold which will be
paid for this deed, when 10 Z that
stair door opens, and there, without
q wound, without even tho stain Of
q drop Of blood, stands George
Washington, asking for his horse.
"What !" shrieked the Tory Man
helm ''can neither steel nor bullet
harm you : Are you living man 7
ls there no wound about your hearth
No blood upon your uniform 2
That apperition drives him mad,
He starts forwsrd-he places his
hand tremblingly ON the breast OF
Washington Still no wound. Then
he looks ct the bloody knife, still
clutched in his right hand. and
stands there quivering ~ with death
spasm.
While Warrington looks on IN d.
lent wonder, the door 10 dung opon,
tho troopers from Valley Forge
throug the room with the gallant
form and hronzed viaaua of Cankain