Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-11


 plump turkey gobbler that Was strut. ting along under cover of the garden wall. 'sTherc, now, go and pluck that fine fellow, my beauty, and don't bo long about it, or wo might be tempted to servo you in the same way" Leah, who had shrunk timidly into corner, started up in alarm when she heard the 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 tho rescus of the fe- males when he saw his affianced rush out and bear the turkey hastily to the house.
 In moment he divined the cause of the firing; and not experimenting any immediate danger to his sweetheart, so long as tho Tories were only anxious to appease their appetites, he wont back to his cover.
 The quick eye of the Tory leader took in the graceful outlines of the fair girls fignre, as she rushed from the house; and, on her hasty return, his brutal passions were instantly fired by a single glance at her lovely, anxious face.
 By the beard of King George!' he exclaimed, admir- ingly, ''who 'ould lave hexpocted to see such a hangel in petticoats 'ero. Come, my lass. and i give us ono kiss from that rosebud of a mouth"
 "You dare lay your cowardly hand on my Leah," cried the enragcd mother, doubling up her great. bony fist ''and | I'll strangle you like curv' "Why, yoG squint-eyed old beauty" retorted tho Tory, moclSingly, Il took you for hangel, but l find you arc wickeder than a she wolf with whelps!
 The rest of tho gang laughed hoister- 1 ously at this weak attempt at wit Then turning to Loah, with Q gall.nt smile, the Tory inquired how long it would take to pluck and cook tho fowl.
 Leah, answered ill modest tone of l womanlY anxiety, that it would take at least three hours to serve it to their liking.
 "But," she added, in tone of coacil- ] iaton, i've have d piece of roast pork and somo cold potatoes and corn-cake in the pantry, if they will answer"
 Tho hungry partg, who had been some hours fasting, declared that the articles named were good enough, anl that they would forcgo the turkey on this occasion for her sake.
 With great alacrity, but with an anx- iously- beating heart Leah spread the homely board, and brought fopeh the promised viands, whicl, shc laid out Lcmptingly before them. She then placed what chairs and stools the house afforded around the table, and politely invited her unweIcomc visitors to be seated.
 Complying with her invitation, the | Tories carelcSsly stacked their carbinc. near an open window, and, seating themselves at the table, fell to, grecdily devouring the repaSt.
 Mrs. Hart, in tho meantime, with a hcroi&rn nuparior to her sex, had w~ tchcd her hu :gry guests till she saw s:.c wa9 not observed by thom, when she slipped out slyly from their midst, and, noiso- lessly approaching the oTen window, sLe succeeded in drawing out three of tho carbines before her little game was dis covered
 Tho moment the Tories perceived the deadly purpose of the giancc is, the three
 nearest the window sprarg to their feet
 in terrified astonishnent.
 Stand back!" she cried, in a throat ening tone, presenting ono of tho loaded carbines with an air of resolute deter
 imitation. "rhe first villain of you tha
 stirs & step, I'll shoot; and the first one
 that touches another mite of that pork
 I'll blow his brains outl'
 Without needing her blazing eye, oI
 her stern verbal warning, the Tory
 loader sprang fearlessly toward the
 stack of arms; but before he could reach
 them there was report of a carbino
 and the advancing ruffian fell to the
 floor, while tho slug, which had passed entirely through his body, struck an other in tho temple, who was seated a
 the table, killing him instantly. A third, rendered desperate by tho
 trying situation, made a reckless at tempt to get possession of one of tho carblnos, and instantly paid the penalty
 with his life.
 Throwing the second empty earbin' aside, Mrs. Hart caught up the thirC one. with which she now covered wha
 remained of the terrified party. There were but four left, and DO 3 one of the four dared to move a finger Leah, blow the dinner-horn!" criet . the mother, in a tone of resolute tri . umph. Tt is safe now to call in Sila l and your father" Q The young girl, half-terrified out o - her wits, promptly obeyed the materna 0 command, and a long, winding bias : echoed and re-echoed through the in !, tervening woods.
 - She had left the house and joined he n mother on the outside, before she es E saved to blow 1t, and as she lowered tn
 horn from her lips, now rendered colol " less from her recent fright, her anxiou g eyes were bent in the direction of tn o distant corn-feld, where her father ,, and brother and faithful negro ser, s ant were at work, although a narro' if belt of timber stretched between then s She uttered quick exclamation ( n joyous pleasure, for at that momer s- she sawall three strike out of the woo ), and start on 8 rapid run toward th
 house.
 l- Hearing the first shot that had bee l Ara6 fhnr a1o kl