The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-01-08

seated.
Complying with her invitation, the
Tories carelessly stacked their carbines
near an open window, and, seating
themselves at the table, fell to, greedil y
devourine the repast. u -
Mrs. Hart in the meantime, with
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, neise-
lessly approaching the open window, she
succeeded in drawing out three OF the
carbines before her little game was dis
covered.
-sFho moment the Tories perceived the
deadly purpose OF the giantess, the three
nearest the window sprang to their feet
in terrified establishment
t"Stand back!v she cried, in threat
oning tone, presenting one Of the loaded
carbines with an air OF resolute deter
minatfon. 1.-THE first villain OF you that
stirs step, I'll shoot; and the first one
that touches another mite of that pork
I'll blow his brains outr"
Without needing her blazing eye, or
her stern verbal warning, the Tory
leader sprang fearlessly toward the
stack Of arms; but before he could reach
them there was report of carbine,
and the advancing ruffian fell- to the
floor, while the slug, which had passed
entirely through his body, struck an
other in the temple, who was seated at
the table, killing him instantly.
4
trying situation. made reckless at
tempt to get possession of one OF the
carbines and instantly paid the penalty
with his life.
Throwing the second empty carbine
aside, Mrs. Hart caught up the third
one, with which she now covered what
remained of the terrified party.
There were but four left and not
one Of the four dared to move finger
ssLeah,4 the dinner -herHn1 eried
the mother, in q tone Of resolute tri-
umph. 1T is safc now to call in Silas
and your father"
The young girl, half-terrified out OF
her wits, promptly obeyed the maternal
command, and a long, winding blast
echoed and re-echoed through the in
teryening woods.
She had left the house and joined her
mother on the outside, before she es-
sayed to blow it, and as she lowered the
horn from her lips, now rendered color
less from her recent fright, her anxious
eyes were bent in the direction of the
distant corn-field, where her father,
and brother and faithful negro serv-
ant were at work, although narrow
belt of timber stretched between them.
She uttered quick exclamation of
joyous pleasure, for at that moment
she saw all. three strike out of the wood
and start on a rapid run toward the
house.
Hearing the first shot that had been
fred, and then alarmed by the other
two which had followed in such rapid
succession, they caught up their loaded
carbines, and started on run from the
field where they were then at work.
The moment they had quilted the
timber they saw at a glance, by the
several horses hitched to the fence. and
the belligerent attitude of the heroic
giantess at the window, pretty nearly
how matters stood at the house, and
they all three sent up an encouraging
shout to the women.
just at this point they heard the
ringing sound of horses hoofs in an
opposite direction, and. turning sudden
ly, Leah beheld her lover dashing
furiously toward the house. This ad-
ditional reinforcement, coming SO OPP
portunely, yet so Unexpectedly, filled
the heart Of the timid maiden with In
creased confidence.
''Oh, motherp' she burst out excited
ly: randolph is coming-see! He is
just leaving the wood. Isn't it lucky
for him to come just at this time, when
we had no reason to expect himW
II expected him." said Mrs. Hart.
with quiet assurance. 81 knew it was
he the Tories were in pursuit of, and I
was determined to outwit them, If it
lay in the power of woman to do it
Every thing has turned out for the best;
for had Lieutenant Darrell ridden
straight here, instead of lingering in the
wood, as he did, he would doubtless
have been captured, and perhaps muir
dered before our eyes. So you see, my
girl. the ways Of Providence are better
than our ways, for they always turn out
for the best in the end"
IN another moment, Randolph Darrell
had alighted at their side, and in the
next the blushing and happy Leah was
cnfolded in his manly embrace.
While the lovers were thus pre-oc-
cupied. Abijah, Silas, and. the negro
arrived, fearfully excited and wholly
out OF breath.
Silas recovered first, and was about
to shoot down one OF the Tories, when
his mother resolutely interfered.
Don't shoot them! Leave, them. to
me, Silas. ! will mete out their pun
ishment to them. We haven't forgotten
good for om. We will just hang them
slilee pack OF dogs, the whole cowardly
kit OF them. Get the clothes line, Leah;
We can afford to cut 1t Oh such right
eous and Heaven-sent oc1asionp
Randolph shudderod, for he under
stood the determined character OF the
woman and knew that she would not be
long in putting her terrible threat into
execution. Nor, indeed, was she; for
within the ensuing hour. in spite OF
their prayers and protestations, the
bodies Of the four Tories went dangling
from the nearest tree And thus, at
the hand Of resolute and heroic
mother, was the death Of beloved son
simply and satisfactorily avenged.
After tho Tories had hung sufficient
'uma ,ecy wcro cut down and tumbied