The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
p DETERMINED WOMAN.


Carolina, in the days which rendered the
names OF Marion and other heroes forever
glorious in the annals of their country,
dwelt brave and devoted family OF pa
triots named Hart.
Abijah and Abigail Hart were scarcely
past the prime OF life, although they had
been blessed with large family of chill
dren, only three of whom, however-two
boys and a girl-had survived the common
ills incident to childhood
The elder son would have been two and
twenty had his life been spared, but eight
months before he bad fallen an innocent
victim to the rage and malice of the to-
ries, who swarmed in predatory bands
throughout this section.
Upon these murderous wretches, who
had thus wantonly deprived them of their
eldest born at time when he might have
been of inestimable service to them, the
father and mother and only remaining
son, Silas, now in his nineteenth year
afterward the celebrated Indian fighter Of
Hardin county, Kentucky-swore to be
revenged whenever and wherever an op-
portunity offered to wreak their ven-
geance.
Leah. their second remaining offspring.
was beautiful and warmhesrted maiden
OF seventeen, and the affianced bride of
Randolph Darrell, brave young officer, at
one time upon the staff OF Gen. Marion.
Young Darrell was in the habit now and
then, whenever he could make an excuse
to obtain furlough, OF paying visit to
Gum Tree farm, the humble though COM
Portable home of the Harris.
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 Harris, he,
however, continuing to elude them in a
piece OF woods just before reaching the
farm.
An abrupt bend in the road had favored
him, and the tory rangers, not dreaming
OF this adroit move on the part of the fly
ing fugitive, dashed iuriously on till they
came to the farm house. where they
tumultuously demanded of Mrs. Hart,
who was standing in the doorway, if she
had seen horseman pass by vino Wore
The woman shrewdly surmised who the
officer might be who would be coming
alone in that direction, and promptly in
quired if the horse he rode was a sorrel
one. To her seemingly careless question
the tories promptly gave an affirmative
reply.
Then he has rid into the swamp yon-
der by cart path that leads on to the
Beech-knoll road" answered the quick
witted woman with an admirable presence
OF mind and an apparently cool inditier-
ence 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 disappoint-
ment the cart road presently terminated
in a bog, ana on careful examination they
discovered that no other horse tracks had
been left there but those OF their own ami
mails.
"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 further, for he
has had ample time to escape. We NAV
as well make a virtue of necessity and go
back and see what is to be got of the
souint-eyed old woman at the farm house
in the way of eatables. But isn't she a big
one in size, thought
"And ugier-looking than sin, thun-
derin' sight, added one of the men.
The tory horsemen now wheeled about
and retraced their way to the farm house,
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.
Alighting once more at the door of the
farm house, the tory leader ordered Mrs.
Hart to prepare dinner for the party, and
bestir herself
"How can give you dinner when I've
nothing to cook?" retorted the resolute-
looking woman, angrily. SCI should need
full arder to satisfy a half dozen such
dirty rascals as you are"
"Silence, womanl" thundered the tory
in a commanding voice, "and do our bid
ding. I'll soon give you something to
cook" he added, leveling his carbine as
he spoke and bringing down plump tur-
key gobbler that was strutting along I'M
der 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 shrunk 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 90 TO the rescue OF the females
when he saw his affianced rush out and
bear the turkey hastily to the house.
In moment ne OWNED the cause OF
the firing, and not apprehending any i'm
mediate danger to his sweetheart. SO long
as the tories were 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 fig
ure as she rushed from the house, and on
her hasty return his brutal passions were
instantly fired by single glance at her
lovely, anxious face.
"By the beard OF King GEORGE" he ex-
claimed admiriugly, who 'ould ave hex
pected to see such hangel in petticOats
ere. Come, my lass, and give Us one kiss
from that rosebud of a mouth"
"You dare to lay your cowardly hand on
my Leah" cried the enraged mother,
doubling up her great, bony fist, land I'll
strangle you like cur!
"Why, you squint-eyed old beauty" re-
torted the tory mockingly, 81 took you for
! hangel, but 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