Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-03

Nltn tHo uWc DONb.
"We claim peaceable entry here in
the kings name," said the leader Of the
marines, knocking.
You shall have it on one condition" /"
said tho colonel. "My wife is sick, and
has young baby. Promise that she
shall not be disturbed"
"We make no conditions with trai.
tors" WAS the answer. 'NTen, club your
guns and break door,"
Instantly three pistol shots, through
loop.holes recently bored in the wood,
sent their shock of flame and sulphur.
ous pulfs Of smoke into the faces of the
marauders, and two men fell. But it
was brief struggle only. The door
was carried armed men poured in at
the windows; the two boys came near
being killed and Col. Ralph was drag.
ged away overpowered. Then began u
riot of destruction. Sailors with their
cutlasses swept from the shelves of the
china closets the fine Dutch and Eng.
lish porcelain, shivering it to atoms.
The marines pried out the mirrors from
their places in the walls or ran their
bayonets through the pictures. "a
mark on the colonel's painted cheek
attests to-day where he was hit.) The
master of the house struggled with his
captors all the way to the boats. His
Continental coat was torn in shreds, his
yellow hair blew wildly about his still
wilder face, and he kept shouting,
"Marga'et, oh, my poor wife Let me
back to my boy, my little innocent
child, you cursed villains -
~ am sorry to SEQ this, Cuttance,"
cried Seaton, AS the men brought for
ward their prize. GLOW dld you come
to be here?'
Ralph glared upon him. "N1y an.
swer would be sharp ard to the point
with the sword III I had my weapon
he retorted. "How the deuce came
you here, calling yourselfa man, to tor
ture my wife, who lies yonder with her
new. born child?"
"Angels Of mercy!" exclaimed his
former friend. "Can that be SO Here,
corporal, go at once to the captain, and
inform him that an invalid lady and her
infant are in the house." The soldier
hastened off. "Cuttance," resumed the
lieutenant "you are too much of g
soldier 10 blame me for obeying my
superiors. l am here because 1 can net
help it. l don't command, but will
do what | can for you"
"Do you expect me to believe YOU"
demanded the colonel, hall crazed by
his situation. "You tried to make II
traitress of my sister, and now you
have come to slay my dearest. Is that
what you mean by doing what you
can?"
Seston made no reply for all instant.
"And your sister" he then inquired,
with faltering voice els she here?"
"You needn't fear for her." sneered
the colonel. "She is ont of reach of
your brutes. You may do your worst to
us freely, for I sent her away this very
day."
"Your wife must be seen to-" Seaton
burst out. ~ will go myself" and
leaving the colonel under guard, he
ran forward. But he was met by the
returning tide of men, and an order
from the captain to re embark. The
pillage was completed. Slaves were
being driven into the boats; the mir was
full of cries, songs, oaths, and drunken
laughter. As they were pulling out
into the creek the lieutenant and Col.
Ralph heard hoarse voice in one of the
other barges. "We've put q keg of
powder there" it said, "under the
woman and her brat, and the train is
it,"
Then the c)lonel throw toward his
captor, in the dim light, one look = f
abiect despair and entreaty.
Here, men, put back" commanded
Seaton, swiftly, in a loud voice. 81
dropped my pistols at the landing,
Back water-so Give way now"
The bows had not touched land when
Col, Ralph felt the knotted rope around
his arms suddenly part. He took the
hint, bounded up, sprang out, and was
flying like an arrow toward the house,
before q man had had time to think of
shooting.
"Let him alone" shouted Seaton,
who was standing up, with his sword
drawn ; "he's out OF reach now" And
to himself he muttered, "God help
him p
The men WHO had been charged with
setting fire to the house had hit upon
the tiendish plan of beginning the work
by an explosion which should destroy
mother and child but, with piodsre
gard for their own safety, they made
the train q long one, and kindled it
only as they embarked.
In her bedroom the colonel's wife
lay helpless, knowing well what had
been prepared for her, and in the
agony OF her approaching fate she
held close to her bosom the baby, who
was to share her death as she had
shared,@ith him her life.
The powder coil began blazing with
q spiteiul hiss, and thin track of fire
was scored through the grass for several
inches. Then it paused an instant, and
burned more slowly. Again it flashed
~ as if it were some harmless little
creature OF the night which had been
yesting-an uncanny sort OF glow. worm,
indeed. II continued to smoder. or
to rush hastily on, splitting ont golden
sparks in fairy showcrlets that barely
ooor,haI Tho oross blndas Nnw II