THE MOTHER’S REVENGE.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 49, 9 December 1867, Page 3

THE MOTHER’S REVENGE.

BY EMERSON BENNETT. When the bands of British guerillas began to overrun South Carolina, during the war of the Revolution, a woman named Polly Blodget lived in an humble log-cabin on the banks of the Santee, la person she was tall, and had a harsh, stern countenance. She was a widow, with only one child, a poor, pale, delicate cripple, on whom she doated with a maternal fondness, amounting to idolatry. Ay slight to, the poor boy was an insult that she never forgave and there were few persons in that region who .cared to have the ill-will of one who was sure to manifest her resentment in a most unpleasant manner. Some two or three years before the breaking out of hostilities, a man by the name ot Hogan—a low, brutal, ignorant fellow, though the owner of some property —having lost a few of his cattle by disease, took it into his head that they had been bewitched by Mrs Blodget; and, meeting the son soon after, he grossly insulted, and finally struck him on his mother’s account. At this the widow became justly enraged ; and procuring a loaded pistol, a stout rope, and a heavy whip, she waylaid the aggressor, compelled him on pain of death to suffer himself to be bound, and then belaboured him till he was barely able to crawl home. Keenly feeling the disgrace of his chastisement, and getting no sympathy from, neighbors, Hogan soon after sold off his property and removed to parts unknown, swearing he would some day be even with, the old witch. A coward at heart, he feared to commit a single-handed assault upon Mrs BJodget, who for a long time went prepared for him, firmly resolved to take his life should he ever again venture near her. But the man not appearing within a reasonable time, it was generally supposed he would never come hack-; and the widow ceased to be apprehensive of secret assaults,.

One night after the British guerillas had begun ta lay waste the country, Mrs Blodget was awakened with a loud knocking at her door, accompanied with a demand, from a gruff voice, to open in the. King’s name. The only tenants of the dwelling were herself and son; and the la ter being sickly, nervous, and timid, and now fearfully frightened, could afford her no aid in the way of resistance; while, on the contrary, she could hear the stamping of horses, and the voices of several men, and knew that resistance on her part, under the circumstances, would be worse than useless.

So, quietly hurrying- her trembling- sou into the loft, and charging him to remain, ■perfectly silent no matter what he might hear, she hastened to undo the fastening* of the door, saying, as she threw it open, “ There, now, what do you want, that you come in this rough way to disturb the rest of a poor, lone woman, at this hour of the night ?” “ Well,” said the leader, as he pushed in, sword in hand, followed by several of his men ; * first, we want something to eat—the best you’ve got, too, mind you; secondly, we want something to drink, and the best of that also; and thirdly, we’ll take all the rest you’ve got that’s worth the taking I” ■“ And fourthly, you old wretch, I want the rebel cub!” said another harsh voice from near the door.

For the first time the brave woman, turned pale. She recognised the voice, and an awful dread of impending woo fell heavily upon her heart. She caught up the rude light, took a couple of strides forward, and flashed it full in the dastardly face of Hogan. “ So it’s you, is it? the sneaking coward that I once beat within an inch of your life!” she exclaimed, with the most withering scorn. '“You feared to comb alone, you worse than & thief! and so went and got these brave gentlemen to come with you!”

“ I swore I’d have revenge some day;; and you’ll find I’ll make my words good!” answered Hogan, gruffly, taking care to keep one or two men between himself and the angry woman, u Where’s that crippled cub of vour n ? I want him.”

“He’s not here—he’s away'!" replied, Mrs Blodget, turning' deadly pal©, and trying to keep down her fearful anger for the sake of one more dear to her than life.

“ That’s a lie (" rejoined Hogan; “you know he’s hardly ever out of your sight; and never for a night. Oh, I know you, you old witch of Satan; and I know what’ll punish you too. You can live and go your ways after I’ve had one more chance at the limping whelp.” “ What would vou do to him ?” demanded the excited mother. “ Only let out his bad blood, that’* nil."

“ Como, come, woman,” thundered the leader, “ fetch your food, and your spirits, and shell out your money, for we can’t stay here palavering all night!” “ Certainly, gentlemen, yon shall hath the best I’ve got,” answered the widow; as she turned away from the scowling Hogan, and hastened to a cupboard at the other end of the room. The next minute, she came back, with, a jug in one band, and a drinking-cup in the other. She handed both, to the leader, and bade him drink sndgivehis opinion. As the men' crowded up to secure a share also, Mrs Blodgptstepped back from the crowd, and, getting a fair sight at Hogan, presented a pistol she had just procured, and pulled tne triggers

It rrissed fire; and the next instant she was roughly seized by the men beside her, and the weapon wrenched from her "rasp. “ Bind her! bind her!” shouted Hogan; “our lives ain’t safe a minute whilst the old she-devil’s free!”

A rope was soon found; and, in spite of her struggles and protestations, the woman speedily bound, and cast upon the floor like a log, where she lay perfectly helpless. The soldiers now began to ransack the house for plunder; but Hogan, who only belonged to the party in the capacity of guide, and had conducted it thither for the sole purpose of personal revenge, though in the main concealing his motive from the leader, under the .pretence of extra zeal in the Royal cause, now found the opportunity he wanted -to vent his devilish malice upon the female who had once chastised and disgraced him. He accordingly paid his farst attention to her. Approaching, ‘and giving her a hrutal kick in the face, to which she only responded with the single word ‘ coward,’ which was hissed out with anger comEressed into agony, he stooped down to er and said, “ At last, my old she-wolf, you’re in my .power! and if I don’t pay you off for the past, then just call Bill Hogan a fool! Come, where’s that cripple of your’n ? I want him.” “ But he never hurt you, if .1 did!” said Mrs Blodget, trembling’ at the thought of harm coming to her poor, helpless son. “ No, but I’ll hurt him, to get even with you.” “ Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t!” pleaded the doating mother. “Do -with me what you please; but spare him, as you hope for mercy yourself!” “ Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Hogan; “it does me good to hear you plead to me, you old witch—it really does.” “ Hark you!” whispered the woman; “ I’ve got gold hid away—gold enough to make you rich—and if you’ll get these men out of the house, and let me be certain of my boy’s safety, you may have it all.”

“ Only set jou free first, I s’pose ?” said Hogan, with a malicious grin. “TSo, you may even keep me bound till I keep my words good.” “ But s’pose we'd happen to find this gold before you tell ?” “ That you never will; for it’s too carefully hid.” “ And you think I’ll let my revenge go for that, do you? Well, I’ll show yau.” Hogan now joined the others, not to search for plunder, but for the widow’s eon. The house was by this time like Bedlam—the men cursing, swearing, singing and shouting, smashing crockery and furniture, ripping open beds, and everywhere seizing and destroying, and rejoicing at the destruction. Suddenly, high above this 'tumultuous uproar arose a wild, fearful shriek. The widow knew the sound, and her very soul shrieked hack a fearful response.

3?otiß few minutes a dead silence followed—the men seeming surprised, if not awed. Shortly utter, Hogan was seen by the wretched mother, descending from the loft, holding in his hand a bloody knife. Approaching her, he bent -over her, fixed his black, wicked eyes upon hers, and with a grim smile upon his ugly countenance, held forth the bloody biaae.

“ It’s his blood!” he said, with a significant.emphasis on the pronoun; “hie heart’s blood! And now that I’ve had my revenge in a way to suit me, by giving you a cursed torment the rest of your life, I’m ready to treat. -I don’t -want to kill you; and if you’ll just tell me where the money is, I’ll come back after these fellows have gone, and set you free.” “ Must you have my money too, as well as the blood of my poor boy, you inhuman wretch?” groaned the poor, almost lieart-hroken mother.

“ See here—no names !” growled Hogan, giving her another kick in the face, which brought the blood from her mouth. “ Say now, once for all, will you tell me where that money is? “ And you’ll set me free if I.tell?” ‘•‘l said I would, and I’m the man to keep my word. But, hark you I you don’t get your liberty till I see the money—mind that!” “Come back, then,.after the others

have gone, and we’ll arrange it,” said Mrs Blodget.

This conversation had not been carried on in a loud tone, and had notheenheard by, any of the others, who were still busy at their nefarious work. Half an hour later, they remounted their horses and -rode away, leaving Hogan behind, at his own request, to settle his score with the widow, and rejoin them at the next farmhouse they expected to plunder. “ Now, woman, we are alone; and now for the money,” “ It’s buried in the cellar, and can’t be got, except by incantation; and unless I’m down there, and have my arms free, I can’t get it for you.” “ Oh, yes,” sneered Hogan, “ set you free, and no doubt you’ll get it for me ! Yes, I understand all that!”

Mrs Blodget then proposed that the ruffian should free her feet, and let her go to the spot; and then he .could bind her feet and free her arms, which would answer her purpose to point out the treasure .and go through the incantations necessary to secure it. Knowing the man’s ignorant superstition, she adopted this plan to carry out .the ohject she had in view. After some further parleying, Hogan consented id her plan, the more readily .asnhe, would he .partially bound all the time, and all the weapons which might render, her dangerous would he in his possession. .So freeing her lower limbs, and talcing a spade’as she directed, the villain followed her down into a damp -cellar,Jidlding the light before him, and looikjng ■ nervously round upon ; every

“ There,” said the widow, stopping in one corner, where the earth had the appearance of having recently been removed ; “ now set my arms free, and I’ll show you where to dig; and then, when you’ve got the money, I’m to be free altogether, you know!” “ Oh, yes, that’s all right, except that I’m to hind you, so you can’t run, before I cut the cords around your arms.” “Make haste, then.” In a couple of minutes this change was effected; when, waving her hands mysteriously, the dame began to mutter unintelligible words, and roll her eyes in a strange manner.

“There,” she said, at length, “the spirit’s propitiated; andnow if you’ll strike your spade here, you’ll came to a dark keg, which will put you beyond want.” Hogan, though awed to trembling, hut eager for the gold he supposed to be there, at once proceeded according to directions, and, in less than a minute, was in possession -of a dark keg. “ You must break the head in with a spade—for so the spirit wills!” said Mrs Blodget, in a lofty, mysterious tone. He had previously given her the light to hold; and now she held it down near the keg, while he, thinking only of gain, hurriedly complied with her, directions. The woman’s face was very pale; but her lips were compressed and firm, and her almost glaring eyes saw nothing but the keg before her. The first blow sprung the head, and she held her breath—the second drove it in. Then, with a shriek of triumph, she dashed the light into it. There was a quick, bright flash, followed by an explosion that shook the whole building. The ruffian was instantly tern to pieces, and she, scorched andhlacfkened, was thrown back senseless against the wall.

The pretended money keg was a keg of powder, which she hadorecently hidden there for safety and preservation. When the neighbours .gathered at the house next day, they found the son dead, stabbed through the heart,"but the mother still living. She became conscious long enough to relate what had occurred; but died before night, not once regretting the vengeance she had taken upon the murderer -of her child.