The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-20
CHAPTER XVIII.


1871 HAVE seen the same effect
Xxi u when q stone was thrown
Ial into a boil Of river rapids
tS& an enhancement and marvel
Gus enlargement of swiftness and fury
and spread Of broken circles which
confused the sight Mt the time and the
memory afterward.
1t was but small body OF horse and
foot which charged US whilst we were
cutting the tobacco on the plantation
Of Laurel Creek, but 1t needed not a
large one to put to rout company so
overbalanced by enthusiasm and cider
and that marvellous greed of destruc-
ton. No more than seven gentlemen
of us there were to make stand, and
not more than some twenty-five of the
rabble to be depended upon.
AS for me. the principal thought in
my mind when the militia burst upon
us was the safety Of Mary Cavendish.
Straight to the door of the great house
l rushed, and Sir Humphrey Hyde
was with me- As for the other gentle
men, they were fighting here and there
as they could. Captain Jaynes making
efforts to keep the main body of the
defenders at his back, but with little
avail. I stood against the door of the
house, resolved upon but one course
that my dead body should be the
threshold over which they crossed to
Mary Cavendish. 1t was but pitiful
resolve, for what could l do single
handed. except for the boy Humphrey
Hyde, against so many? But it was
all. and a man can but give his all
knew IL the militia were to find
Mary and Catherine Cavendish in that
house grave harm might come to them,
If indeed it came not already without
that. So I stood back against the
door. which had previously tried and
found fast, and Sir Humphrey was
with me. Then came a hush for a
moment whilst the magistrate, with
Captain Waller and others sitting on
their horses around him, read the riot
act and babe us all dispense and repair
to our homes, and, verify. l wonder IL
ever there hath been in all the history
as that same riot act, and IL ever it
we're read with much effect when riot
were we'll under way.
Scarcely time they gave the worthy
man to finish, and indeed his voice
trembled as IL he had the ague, and
he seemed shrinking for shelter under
his big wig, but they drowned out his
last words with Kisses. Then there was
wild rush Of the rabble and cry
of Down with the tobaccor' and "A
Bacon, a Baconw Then the militia
swords and partisans and the thunder
of firearms.
| stood there, feeling like a deserter
from the ranks, yet bound to keep the
door of Laurel Creek, and l had a pis-
tol in either hand, and SO had Sir Hum
phrey Hyde, but for a minute nobody
seemed TO heed us. Then as / stood
there I felt the door behind me yield
a bit, and hand was thrust out. and
a voice whispered: Harry. Harry.
come in hither. We can hold the house
against an army"
My heart leapt, for it was Mary,
and quicker than a flash / had my
mind made up turned upon Sir
Humphrey and thrust him in before
be knew 1t through the opening of the
door and called out to him to bar and
bolt as best he could inside while held
the door. He, whether he would or
not, was in the house and. seeing some
Of the soldiers riding our way with
Captain Waller at their head was
forced to clap to the door and shoot the
BOLTS, but as he did SO heard a wom-
ans shrill cry of agony ring out.
l stood there, and Captain Waller
ode up with his soldiers and. flashing
lis sword before my face like q streak
II his majesty and stand aside. But |
stood still with my two pistols leveled |
md had him full within range. Captain |
Waller WAS young man and a brave |
me. and never to my dying day shall /
forget that face which had the pow
r to still with death. He looked into |
he muzzles of my two pistols. and his
osy color never wavered. and he shout |
d out again to me his command to /
and stand aside in the name /
( the king, and stood still and made
70 reply. / knew that 1 could take /
wo lives and then struggle unarmed |
or perhaps a moments space and that
II the time saved might be precious
or those in the house. At all events, it
vas all that could do for Mary Cav
ndish.
I held my pistols and watched his
res, knowing well that all action.
arouEh having its source in the brain ]