Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-03-24
The Ride OF MariOn's Men.

"We don't care for the danger, Captain,
we're too used to that. There amt one
of us but had rather risk his life than that
old tory should rob you of your bride.
She's staunch patriot, too. anil hates
the very ground that redcoat or tory
walks on. Wen save her, Capt. from
mating Silas Hall, or all of us will die in
the attempt.
''Spoken like your own self, Robert; |
felt that could depend on you and the
rest of my men, to help me carry out my
plans. Ii is the only way there is TO save
her. Her uncle, Amos Herlin, watches
her like dragon, as does Sllas Hall, who
declares he will marry her before two
days are over. He has such influence
with Tarleton that he has sent half
score of his cut throats to guard the
house. This l learned from Rose, who
managed to get note to me by the hand
of Pip, her servant. Her uncle is deter
mined to marry her to Hall, whether she
will or no-and Parson Sabine Is just the
man to do the foul deed for them. He
would pronounce the ceremony whether
she was willing or not. There Is but one
thing TO do, We must steal her away from
under the very nose of the redcoats and
their terry friends"
sand we will do 1t, Captain. There
never was time yet but that we could
outwit them when we tried. 1t never
was said, and hope it never will be that
Marion's men were not match for the
enemy. Tonight we will pay them Wis
it if you say so, and when we come back
we will bring Rose Herlin with us.
THAT we will, Captain" echoed all the
men gathered about him.
''Thank you, boys. II is not often we
fail, and / think we shall not in this case
we must not. If We do it will be too
late, and all will be lost. Rose Herlin
must be saved tonight. She knows of
what we mean to do if the black boy, Pip,
gets back all right, and know no reason
why he should not. AS soon as 1t Is dark
we will set out, and trust in Providence
and our own strong arm to help me-"
A few words here by way of expiana-
tion, that the reader may better compre-
hend that which has already been partly
revealed TO them.
Captain Blake commanded a company
of his own raising in the forces of Gen.
Marion. A braver officer than he was not
in the command.
Marion honored and trusted him, and
he was the idol of his Dlen.
For two years past Rose Herlin had been
his promised bride.
She was an orphan. Her parents had
been dead for several years, and her home
had been with her uncle.
Amos Herlin was tory of the most vir-
ulent SOFT. de was loyal to the king and
crown, and held in utter detestation those
who were battling oppression and tor the
liberty of their country. One thing if
possible angered him more than any ether.
Rose, a member of his household and his
dead brothers child. was as sturdy a pa
triot as there was in the colonies.
His anger seemed to increase day by
day, until bis house became so uncomfort-
able that she felt that she could no longer
abide beneath its roof.
de knew of her engagementto to Captain
Blake, and he stoutly swOre that there
should be an end to the matter forever
Over and over again he declared that
he had rather she should die than wed with
HIM.
A friend of his, tory like himself, and
nearly as ole, demanded her of him for a
wife, and he roundly swore that he should
have her.
If she would not of her own accord, she
would be forced to do as they wished, and
to carry out this threat, the day was set
for the wedding, and to leave no avenues
for her escape the would.be bridegroom,
Silas Hal, had procured some of Tarle-
toms minions to guard the home of Amos
Herlin, under the plea that it was in dam
ger of being robbed by the patriots, who
were known TO be lurking near at hand.
This was the condition of affairs at the
time our story opens, and we now pro-
ceed to take up the thread of the narra-
tive.
1t was the afternoon proceeding the day
in which Rose was to be forced to become
the wife of Snas Hall.
In spite of her protestations her uncle
dld not alter in his avowed purpose.
1.-THE wife of Silas Hallyou shall be !"
uC CI1CuS AdNC SUOlA Aby ehAo VIII hOO
be turned from my purpose.
"Never. never !" cried Rose in despera-
ton. "Do not hope for it; my lips shall
never speak the words that shall bind me
tt that old villain; will die first"
"You need not speak them unless you
wish to. Parson Sabine will not be par
ticular. Silence gives consent"
The afternoon in question. Rose sat
alone in little apartment off from the
drawing room. She was thinking of the
coils that were closing around
her, and the chances there were for her to
escapethem. The blackboy, Pip had returned
and the message he brought awoke hope
in her heart. If it was possible to save
her she knew Capt. Blake would do 1t.
She knew his heart well, and felt he would
give his own life freely, if need be, to
save her.
She was thinking of him, and hoping
that it would not be long ere abe would