Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-11-28

WltteQ woman, with an a0mlroole pres
ence of mind, and an apparently cool in
difference to the subject, which carried
instant conviction to the minds of the
Tories, who again spurred on in supposed
pursuit of the fugitive; but, to their
great disappointment, the cart-road pres
emily terminated in bog, and, on care
fful examination, they discovered that no
| other horse-tracks had been left there
but those of their own animals.
"He must have taken to the thicket,"
said the leader, after fully satisfying his
mind on the subject. There is no use at
all in beating the ground farther, for he
has had ample time already to escape.
We may as we'll make virtue of neces-
sity, and go back and see what is to be
got of the squint-eyed old woman at the
farmhouse in the way of eatibles. But
isn't she big one in size, though"
Sand uglier-boking than sin, thun-
derin' sight!" added one of the men.
The Tory horsemen now wheeled about
and retraced their way to the farmhouse,
which was only short distance, just as
Randolph Darrell was on the point of
emerging from the wood; but luckily he
discovered them in season to escape their
notice, by abruptly retreating back again
under cover.
Alghting once more at the door of the
farmhouse, the Tory leader ordered Mrs.
Hart to prepare dinner for the party, and
bestir herself
GLOW can 1 give you dinner when
I've nothing to cooke" retorted the reso-
lute-looking woman, angrily. 81 should
need full larder to satisfy half-dozen
such dirty rascals as you are"
''Silence, womanr thundered the
Tory, in commanding voice, sand do
our bidding" "Ill soon give you some
thing to cook" he added, leveling his
carbine as he spoke, and bringing down
plump turkey gobbler that was strut
ting along under cover of the garden
wall. "There, now, go and pluck that
fine fellow, my beauty, and don't be long
about it, or we might be tempted to serve
you in the same way"
Leah, who had shrunS timidly into a
corner, started up in alarm when she
heard this threat, and made her way out
to the spot where the bird had fallen.
Randolph Darrell, alarmed at the shot,
was Just on the point of dashing out of
his cover to go to the rescue of the
females, when he saw his affianced rush
out, and bear the turkey hastily to the
house.
In a moment he OWNED the cause of
the firing; and not apprehending any
immediate danger to his sweetheart, so
long as the Tories we're only anxious to
appease their appetites, he went back to
his cover.
The quick eye of the Tory leader took
In the graceful outlines of the fair girls
figure, as she rushed from the house.
''By the beard of King George!" he
exclaimed, admiringly, "who 'ould ave
hexpected to see such hangel in petit
coats ere. Come, my lass, and give
us one kiss from the rosebud of
mouth"
"You dare to lay your cowardly hand
on my Leah" cried the enraged mother,
doubling up her great, bony fist, t'and
I'll strangle you like curl"
"Why, you squint-eyed old beauty"
retorted the Tory, mockingly, ~ took
you for hangel, but l find you are
wickeder than she wolf with whelps!"
The rest of the gang laughed bolster
ously at this weak attempt at wit. Then
turning to Leah with gallant smile,
the Tory inquired how long it would
take to pluck and cook the fowl.
Leah answered in modest tone of
womanly anxiety, that it would require
at least three hours to serve it to their
liking.
"But," she added, in a tone of con-
ciliation, "we have a piece of roast
pork and some cold potatoes and corn
cake in the pantry, if they will answer"
The hungry party, who had been some
hours fasting, declared that the articles
named were good enough, and that they
would forego the turkey on this occa-
sion for her sake.
With great alacrity, but with an anx-
iously beating heart, Leah spread the
homely board, and brought forth the
promised viands, which she laid out
temptingly before them. She then placed
what chairs and stools the house afforded
around the table, and politely invited her
unwelcome visitors to be seated.
Complying with her invitation, the
Tories carelessly stacked their cabines
near an open window, and, seating
themselves at the table, fell to, greedily
devouring the repast.
Mrs. Hart, in the meantime, with a
heroism superior to her sex, had watched
her hungry guests till she saw she was
not observed by them, when she slipped
out slyly from their midst, and, noise
lessly approaching the open window, she
succeeded in drawing out three of the
carbines before her little game was dis
covered.
The moment the Tories perceived the
deadly purpose of the giantess, the three
nearest the window sprang to their feet
in terrified astonishment.
"Stand back II she cried, in threat