Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-01-14

| lips. He closed his book ard re.
mained motionless, with bis eyes
rivited on the open door.
| Surrender or 'iei' called q loud
voice. Escape is impossible, for
both doors ale guarded
| Three or four young men climbed
out CT the windows, but the shots
fred after them warned others OF
the dangers of flight. With clank-
ing arms number of British Sold
iers, led by some of the Middlesex
Tories, rudely entered the church
and proceeded to plumber the con.
gregation. Silver watches we're
taken, silver buckles were torn from
knee-breeches and shoes and ear
rings were roughly snatchcd from
women's ears.
Molly started up indignant, rs a
trooper pointed to the gold beads
on her neck. "I'll thank We for
those gewgaws, ma am" said be.
eSoftly, softly, Mistress Pidgir, =
exclaimed neighbor; resistance is
of no use.7 And Molly gave up the
necklace.
Then. she whispered to Ruth;
Keep close by me, little sisterl Do
just as do--keep getting nearer to
the door-a step at without
attracting attention. If can only
save Dake!n The British tied the
men, two by two, and, amid the
soldier 8 jeers and hooting, the gray
haired minister was dragged from
the pulpit.
"Let the rebel parson lead the
march," DRIED one; "and bark ye,
sirrah, step lively, or you'll feel the
prick Of my bayonet--we must make
haste or the whole town will be
after u.s." be added in lower tone,
addressing one of his comrades.
In the meantime, Molly and Ruth
had reached the door without being
seen, and Mistress Pidgin peeped
out cautiously. The guard had left
his post to help lead the horses to
the front of the church. Most of
them had been taken, but Duke was
still standing under the tree.
The two sisters darted down the
steps, climbed up on stone fence,
united Duke, and mounted, but had
gone only few yards when they en-.
countered two men.
"Stopl" cried one of them, selling
the bride. Molly bent over Duke,
and patted him gently on the neck.
Then she raised her whip and
brought it down with all her might
on his flank. Hs reared wildly, and
with a furious plunge that would
have unseated less skillful rider
than Molly, he freed himself from
his captor, dashed across the green,
aud, with ears laid flat against his
neck and his tail streaming out like
white banner; he darted like an
arrow up the road.
Ruth was partly thrown from the
pillion, but Molly's strong arm was
around her, and her calm voice
sounded re-assuringly:
"Pull yourself up to the piliion!
Never fear! | can hold YOU" and
even in that mad fight the little
girl was able to draw herself up to
secure position. As they reached
the top of long hill, Molly drew
rain and looked back. A few
mounted men had started in pursuit
but Duke vas too feet for them, and
they had turned back.
"Oh, my brave Duke said Mol
ly; "may you always carry your
rider as you have carried us today"
Duke bore them swiftly up the
old road to Canaan Parish, and as
soon as they reached home safely,
the alarm was given by tho ringing
of bells and the firing of guns, and
several of the men started at once
for Middlesex But they were too
late! The prisoners had been car
ried across the Sound and from
thence they we're sent to the prison
ships in New York Bay, where some
OF them languished and died and
others, among them Parson Mather,
after long delay, we're returned to
their homes.
Meantime. Duke was sent to the
headquarters of the Continental
Army, and it was the proudest day
Of Molly's life wher, soon after the
declaration of peace, she stood on a
balcony with Edward and the chill
dren beside her, and heard the
thunder of artillery, the ringing Of
bells, and the wild cheers of the
people. For, as she looked up
the street she saw, amid the
waving of flags and the flutter-
ing of handkerchiefs, passing under
the triumphal arch. with proudly
arched neck and quiyering nostr lie,
a magnificent gray horse, bearing
Cd his back that martial figure so
well known and loved-that noble
Washington.
| A Leader.
Since its first introduction, Flee
trio Bitters has gained rapidly il
popular favor, until now it is clearly