Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-11
A DETERMINED WOMAN.
How She Avenged Her Sons Death
 in Revolutionary Times.

In ono of tho back settlements of South Carolina, in the days which rem dered the names of Marion and other heroes forever glorious in the annals of their country, dwelt brave and de- voted family of patriots named Hart
 Abijah and Abigail Hart were scarce ly past tho prime of life, although they had been blessed with large family of children, only three of whom, how ever - two boys and girl-had survived the common ills incidental to childhood.
 The elder son would have been two and twenty had his life been spared; but eight months before he had fallen an innocent victim to tho rage and malice of the Tories, who swarmed in predatory bands throughout this sec- tion.
 Upon these numbering wretches who had thus wantonly deprived them of their eldest born at time when ho might have been of inestimable service to them, the father and mother and only remaining son, Silas, now in his nineteenth year-afterwards the cele- brated Indian fighter of Hardin County, Ky.-swore to be revenged, whenever and wherever an opportunity should of- fer to wreak their vengeance.
 Leah, their second remaining off spring, was beautiful and warm hearted maiden of seventeen, and the afflanced bride of Randolph Darrell, a brave young officer at one time upon tho staff of General Marion.
 Young Darrell was in the habit now and then, whenever he could make an excuse to obtain a furlough. of paying flying visit to Gum-Tree farm, the humble, though comfortable, home of tho Harts.
 On one of these occasions a party of seven mounted Tories pursued him nearly the entire distance from the American camp to the residence of the Harts, he, however, contriving to elude them in piece of woods just before reaching the farm.
 An abrupt bend in the road had tav- ored him, and the Tory rangers, not | dreaming of this adroit movo on tho part of the flying fugitive dashed furi- ously on till they came to the farm l house, whore they unanimously de- manded of Mrs. Hart, who was standing in the doorway, if she had seen a horse man pass by who wore the uniform of | an American officer.
 The woman shrewdly surmised who the officer might be who would be com ing alone in that direction and prompt | ly inquired if the horse he rode was a sorrel one. To her seemingly careless question the Tories prom ptly gave an affirmative reply.
 ''Then he has rid into the swamp yon. dor, by cart-path that leads onto the Beechknoll road" answered the quick witted woman, with an admirable pres ence of mind, and an apparently cool in difference to the subject, which carried instant conviction to tho minds of the Tories, who again spurred on in sup posed pursuit of the fugitive; but, tc their great disappointment, the cart road presently terminated in bog, and on a careful examination, they discov cred that no other horse- tracks had beer left there but those of their own ami mals
 ''He must have taken to the thicket, said the leader, after fully satisfying his mind on the subject. "There is nC : use at all in beating the ground farther for he has had ample time already to e cape. We may as we'll make a virtue O necessity, and go back and see what il to be got of the squint-eyed old woman at the farmhouse in the way of eata bles. But isn't she big one in size thoughp
 "And uglier-loolzing than sin, a thnp derin' sightr' added one of the men. The Tory horsemen now wheeled
 about and retraced their way to tn
 farmhouse, which was only short dis
 tance, just as Randolph Darrell was ol 1. the point of emerging from tho wood
 but luckily he discovered them in sea
 son to escape their notice, by abruptl
 Fetreating back again under cover. Alighting once mora at tho door of tn farmhouse, the Tory leader ordere
 Mrs. Hart to prepare dinner for the par
 ty, and bestir herself
 |, "How can l give you dinner whe , I've nothing to cook?" retorted the Fes
 olute-looking woman, angrily. q
 should need full larder to satisfy s half-dozen such dirty rascals as you are.
 "Silence, womanr thundered tn
 Tory, in a commanding voice, land