The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-07-18
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By j. FENIr1ORE COOPER
A STORY OF The REVOLUTION


pdlliu features. leaVlng Denln0 IL the I'M
preston of death. more awful by the con-
trast. The peddler applied restorative
TO the parched lips of the sick man, and
for a few minutes new vigor seemed i'm
parted to his frame. He spoke, but slow
". and with difficulty.
My son." said the father. in hollow
voice, God is as merciful as he is just |:
If l threw the cup of salvation from my
lips when a youth. he graciously offers it
to me in mine age. He has chastised to
purify, and | go to join the spirits of our
lost family. In little while, my child,
you will be alone. know you too well
cot to foresee you will be a pilgrim
through life. The bruised reed may en-
dEre, but it will never rise. You have
that within you, Harvey, that will guide
you Alright, persevere, as you have begun,
for the duties of life are never to be neg
lected-and"- noise in the adjoining
room interrupted the dying man. and the
impatient peddler FASTENED to learn the
cause. followed by Katy and the black.
The first glance of his eye on the figure
in the doorway told the trader but too
well his errand, and the fate that probably
awaited himself. The intruder was man
still young in years, but his lineaments
bespoke mind long agitated by evil
passions. His dress was of the meanest
materials, and so ragged and unseemly
as to give him the appearance of studied
poverty. His hair was prematurely whit
ened, and his sunken, lowering eye avoid
ed the bold, forward look of innocence.
This man was a well-known leader of one
of those gangs of marauders who infest-
ed the county with a semblance OF pat
riotism, and who were guilty of every
grade of Offense. from simple theft up to
murder. Behind him stood several other
figures clad in a similar manner. but
whose co,ntenances expressed nothing
more than the Indifference of brutal in
sensibility. They were all we'll armed.
Harvey knew resistance to be in vain. In
the twinkling of an eye both he and
Cesar were stripped of their decent gar
ments, and made to exchange clothes with
two of the filthiest of the band. They
were then placed in separate corners of
the room, and, under the muzzles of the
muskets. required faithfully to answer
such interrogatories as were put to them.
where is your pack?" was the irst
question to the peddler.
Hear me-" said Birch. trembling with
agitation; lin the next room is my father,
now in the agonies of death; let me go to
him. receive his blessing. and close his
eyes. and you shall have all-all. ALL
Answer me as / put the question, or
this nnusket shall send you to keep the
old driveller company; where is your
pack?"
Birch told. and a man was dispatched
in quest of the booty he soon returned,
throwing the bundle on the floor, swear
ing it was light as feathers
"Ay,y cried the leader. ''there must be
gold somewhere. Give us your gold. Mr..
Birch: we know you have it: you will
not take continental, not you."
"You break your faith" said Harvey.
Give us your gold.' exclaimed the 9th
er, furiously, prickins the ped,ller with
his bayonet until the blood followed his
pushes in streams. At this instant a
slight movement was heard in the adjoin-
ing room, and Harvey cried. imploringly
Let me-let me go to my father, and
you shall have ALL"
II swear you shall go then" said the
Skinner.
"Here, take the trash. cried Birch. as
he threw aside the purse, which he had
contrived to conceal Notwithstanding the
change in his garments. Father hush
father. i come-I Gomez" he darted by
his keeper, and was the next moment
pinned to the wall by bayonet. Fortu-
nately his quick motion had caused him to
escape the thrust aimed at his life. and
it was by his clothes only that he was
confined.
NO. Mr.. Birch" said the Skinner. "we
know you too well for slippery rascal,
to trust you out Of sight-y0ur gold. your
gold, Where is your hoard? Without it
you win never see your father"
Remove the stone underneath the wom-
an cried the peddler, eagerly. and you
will find that which will make you rich,
and me beggar."
And then you will be despisable." said
the housekeeper, bitterly "A peddler
without goods and without money is sure
to be despisable."
''There will be enough left to pay for
his haller," cried the Skinner, who was
not slow to follow the instructions of
Harvey, soon lighting upon a store of
English guineas. The money was quickly
transferred to a bag.
Delighted with prize that greatly ex-
ceeded their expectations, the band pre-
pared to depart. intending to take the
peddler with them. in order to give him
up to the American troops above, and
to claim the reward offered for his ap-
prehension. Everything was ready, when
a form appeared in their midst which ap-
palled the stoutest hearts among them.
The father had arisen from his bed, and
he tottered forth at the cries of his son.
Around his body. was thrown the sheet of
the bed, and his fixed eye and haggard
face gave him the appearance of a being
from another world. Even Katy and
Caesar thought it was the spirit of the
elder Birch, and they fled the house. fol-
lowed by the alarmed SINNERS. in body
The excitement, which hal given the
sick ran strength, soon vanished, and
the peddler, lifting him in his arms, re-
conveyed him to his bed. The glazed eve
of the father was fixed upon the son.
Harvey bent down, and, with the part
ing breath Of his parent, received his
dying benediction. A life of privation
and wrongs embittered most of the future
hours of the peddler. But under no suf-
ferings, in no misfortunes. the subject
of poverty and obloquy, the remembrance
of that blessing never left him; it con-
stantly cleaned over the images of the
past, shedding a holy radiance around
his sad0est hours of dependency; it
cheered the prospect of the future with
the prayers of pious spirit; it brought
the sweet assurance of having faithfully
and truly discharged the sacred Offices
of flial love.
CHAPTER IN.
The weather, which had been mild and
clear since the storm, now changed with
the suddenness of an American climate