The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-14
RenfreW.

'onllrc, ana you n0u DCttncr DC III Il ntlf-
ry, for the red divils arc near" cried Pat
Malloy to the Renfrew sisters as he hurried
past tho little cottage in which the girls
lived.
The alarm had already been given of the
presence Of the Indians in the ncighbor-
hood and the Rcnfrew girls had each Il
horse nearly ready for the purpose of cs-
Gaping on horseback when the lrshmun
passed
The sisters lived alone in small log
house on the banks of the Antietam. They
were very pretty girls, young and much
courted by the rustic beauX Of the settle
ment. They were very industrious, with
al;-could cook to perfection and their cot
tage was model Of ncatncss and clcanli-
ness. Just previous to the time when the
lrshman passed, calling upon them to make
haste in effectng their escape, they had
been engaged in washing clothes and hang
ing them upon line to cry.
AS the Antictam flowed by, rejecting
their 1.-the forms and pretty faces and flow
ing hair in the crystal waters, and holding
itself up to them us Il mirror in which to
see their beauty and lovelncss, they little
dreamed that in the bushes on the other
side of the stream were concealed two saw
ages intently watching the shadows with
which the bllbbling brook was toying.
eff Robby and Argyle could see us now. !"
said one OF the sisters, laughing and draw
ing her wet garments round her well shaped
ankles, "thcy might not think we are such
pretty girls az they always say we are"
''Thcy would have to look in the stream.
the other answered contemplating herself
mirored in the water. ''l'hc Antetam is
II looking glass that always fattcrs me in
my own eyes and think our bca,,x would
like to see the picture"
"HumpIL" muttercd one of the savagcs
as If preparing for Il spring.
Just then n fleeing family came down the
road past the mill and seeing the girls at
work gave them notice of the danger. In
alarm the sisters began at once to saddle
their horses, but they were as brave as they
were pretty, and their neighbors were out
of sight before the horses were ready. The
Indians, still crouchng in the bushes, mar
rowly watched their intended victims and
were taking deliberate aim to slay the de-
fcncelcss girls when the Irishman appeared.
''Shure, and you had betthcr be in hur-
ry, the red diyils are near" the lrishman
cried, and then passed on, little dreaming
that he was leaving the two girls to their
fate. Passing over the brow Of the hill he
soon disappeared and mile away he met
Robby and Argyle descending from spur
of the mountain where they had been all
the morning hunting. Quickly communi-
eating the danger of the Rcnfrcw girls to
their lovers, he continued his retreat, while
they, well armed and skilled in Indian war;
fare, hurriedly moved towards the cottage
TO save their sweethcarts from foe they
knew To he relentless.
Unfortunately 1t was then already too
late.
A f1,o I,;o
the hill the savages again took deliberate
aim, each of his allotted victim-for there
were only two of the monstcrs--and as the
girls were about mounting their horses they
both fell dead, pierced by bullet. The
lovers heard the shots and increased their
speed, but before they reached the scene of
the tragedy the Indians had made their es-
cape.
The sight that met the gaze of the two
nen brought anguish to their hearts and
tears to their eyes.
On the ground near the door Of their cot
tage lay the sisters dead and scalped.
''Revengei rcvenge' cried Robby, sob
bing with grief.
"We'll pursue the red brntes and punish
them for this crime," Argyle answered, re
pressing the sorrow at his heart.
Tho hunters lifted the lifelcss forms of
the murdered girls from the ground and car
ried their dead bodies, still warm with the
life-blood which had only ceased to flow,
into the cottage. Placing them on q couch
side by side, the men smoothed the few
locks that remained over the scalp wounds
which the savages had made, and then stood
for awhile in silent grief over the inanin,ate
remains they loved so we'll.
"Revenge! revengel" Robby again NUT
faroI oo6tv ,Oovinr toward tho door
"We must find the trail," Argyle said,
and closing the door softly behind him, the
hunters started In search of the murderers.
1t was not long until the trail was struck.
1t led away to the westward.
Pursuing 1t steadily, the hunters were far
in the monntuins before nightfall, but the
darkness of the night compelled them to de-
lay their pursuit until the next day. With
the dawn they were again on the trail and
by noon they had reached Sideling Hill, d
bold spur Of the of the blue mounta ns, far
to the westward of the Kittochtinny ranges.
Above them frowned the overhanging rocks
which give threatening aspect to tho wild
mountain scenery of the Upper Juniata,
while belowithem were the deep gorges aud
valleys of a singularly picturesque locality.
The hot sun of noon poured It's blistering
rays even upon the mountain side, and the
men, who had eaten nothing and slept but
little, began to feel overcome with the heat,
with fasting and with exertion. Still they
did not relax their efforts and rs kccnly as
at the start they looked about them for the
trail. n. za2 Hill
eve must be more and moro careful, y
Argyle said. The trail Is getting frtsner
and think 4e are now very close to the
brutes for whom we are looking" ISL,
ssThere ls asnall opening In the trees
ahead, Robby answered In q whisper; 81
should not be surprised If the Indians were
In there, resting from the noon heat.
The hunters cautiously drew near to the