Year: 1861

girl OF great beauty IN the middle OF the Kew
olution which gave freedom home on our be-
loved soil During that period when cruelty was
but too prevalent among both partes-when
tories. American born, if possible, where more
relentless than the British.


The father, q noble looking man of middle
age. turned q glance out of the window which
opened towards Long Island Sound, the green
waters of which could be seen sparkling beyond
a grove that fronted his dwelling near Hurl
Gate. He turned to this to hide from her his
emotions, for she was his only child, he feared
that her young heart would break when he
should tell her all the sad news that now lay SO
heavily on his heart.


"Speak, father tell me is there no hope? |
: will go myself and, kneeling to the tyrant. will
: plead for the life of him whom love only as
woman can love- she continued"
Alas my child, mercy is dead in the British
generals breast, his heart Is calous to pity |
have rsked much by pleading for him, but for
your sake would almost be willing to die in
Nathan's place.


"Cruel, cruel fate ! When is he to dieY There
must be some hopes of his rescue He was Ia
voritc of Washington, aud he is ut White Plaius
| will go to him."


"Alas! my child" said the father "nerve
yourself for the news. 1t is already too late


dead dead" shrieked the poor girl. "Oh,
father, say that 1t is not So


"Alas! my child cannot lie was hung at
sunrise, aud was summoned before his Maker"


For a moment the poor girl stood silent not u
tear came from her eyes, but II wild light ilu-
minated them. A flash as bright rs fire itself
gathered over both face aud brow-she clenched
her fair hands together until the nails seemed To
enter the flesh, and in II cold bitter tone she
shriekcd-


Life for life shall be revenSed-yes deep
ly revenged.'


"Child, dear child be calm" said the fond
parent.


Father, am calm, very calm Calm almost
as he And | swear he shall be revenged il my
own hands have to reach the tyrants heart who
sealed his doom | will act as widow OF II
soldier ought to act'


"My dear child, you will bring ruin upon our
heads"


Not yours father, but to me what is ruin
now? But will not be RASH | will go to my
room and pray, and think of him who lies cold
in death"


She turned and left the room, while the father
still stood looking from the window out upon the
waters, which were dashed with II rising storm,
and the old trees, which already began to writhe
beneath the force Of the gale like some huge
giant wrestling with some unforeseen power.


Meanwhile his daughter had gone up to her
room in one of the cheerful gables OF the old
fashioned house, and forgetting to pray IN the
mad tumult Of her wrongcd heart, was gazing
out upon the storm, which was not wilder than
the tumult In her own heart


From her elevated position she could look over
the tree tops and the serried clouds, as like u
battling host marshalled to the charge amid
stlphurous flames and smoke they rose aud
spread athwart the sky.


She could see the eddying Of lIurl Gate tossing
with whirs the foam caps, white rs drifting snow,
! in the air-the breakers tumbling up against the
rocks as if they would hide their dangers from
| the bold mariners view


Suddenly the sound OF cannon was heard,
aud as she looked upon the Sound she saw that II
Ion. a
at the Gate. A signal for pilot was flying at
the fore top, and the hated cross of ST. George
! flew from the spanker gall.


with one wild cry Of fierce delight the fair
girl bounded from the room.
| " Life for life Nathan Hall shall he avenged"
What was her ideay Within another room
| in the house was clothing of a brother who long
since had been laid under the sod aud to this
| room she fed, and was soon arrayed ia suit OF
| such clothing as the young men generally wear
when on boating expeditions. Without the least
hesitation she cut the long glossy tresses OF her
hair and in q brief period she bore the appear
ance of any young man OF eighteen not more
| than her age Having made these arrangements
with u rapdty that only desperate resolve
could cause, she instantly left the house, passing
down the avenue before her fathers face, he little
! thinking that the apparently spruce young wa
terman who chose to breast such Il Storm was
the person of his accomplished daughter


Iurryng down to the boat house which front
ed the avenue, she lOosened one Of those small
! light skiffs which are still the models Of the pilot
| at Iiurl Gate, hOsted a small sail aud ln few
moments was out upon the last Of the Hood tides
as freely and boldly as if she had been in stout
ship, instead of so small and frail boat. IL was
nothing Tor her TO be on the water, being reared
! close to it, and hundreds Of tunes had she been
dancing over the waves but never in such gale
as that. Yet coOlly she stcered her tiny craft,
avoiding the dangerous whirlpools and rocks,
and heading towards the irgate, which, impa-
tient for pilot, had fired another gun.
Within less than twenty minutes from the time
she started, she had lufed along side the man
ofwar, having caught the line thrown out to her
aud fastened the boat had mounted the vessels
side, and stood upon the quarter deck in the
presence of the commander


81 Are you a pilOt?" said the latter impatiently,


al am, sir" was the reply.


Young for such business. Could you take
us through lIurl Gate"


GAS well as my father who has been pilot
here these thirty years, was the reply"


Why did he not come out instead Of sending
boy like you, in a blow as fresh as this?'


because he is laid up with rheumatism. sir
and then he knows | can pilot you through as
well as he can. Sir Henry Clinton knows me,
sir"


"Ah, does he well that is all right Can
we bear away yetY


! "NO-nOt within an hour-tl the tide ebbs."


60 That is bad; this gale keeps rising Is there
no anchorage hereabouts"


6" No sir, not within twenty miles, where your
anchor would hold.n


Then we must go through"


4" Yes sir as soon as the tide comes. | would
not risk it till then, for II the current should
catch you on either side of the bow you would
go on the rocks sure"


"Thats true, young man. Let me know the
very earliest moment we can go through"


AYE, aye, sir"


And while the English commander turned off
to speak to one Of his officers, the patriot calmly
went to the gangway, and looked over the sides
as il watching for the change Of tide,