White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-28


suffered considerable diminutions. MANY of the
royal officers were absent With their commands
and large portion Of the gentry had retired
to their estates. Among these was Mr. Nov
Bray who secretly meditated joining the CONT
mental side again~ Kate, too, was absent with
her aunt, at the estate of the latter.
Il 10 this place the course Of our sssrTnoSc car
ries'us-f Mrs. Blakely's mansion had heretofore
escaped the visitation of war, but within few
days detachment under Colonel, Watson had
halted there on its march to Camden. With
him came Major Lindsay, still an eager suitor
for Kate. But scarcely had Colonel w tson en-.
camped on the plantation, when d body of Ma.
rion's men, conspicuous among whom was Cap
tain Preston, made their appearance, and daily
harrassed the British officer, by cutting off his
communications, assailing his pickets, and some.
times beating up his camp. yi-l
One evening Kate was sitting sewing with her
aunt in the parlor, conversing with Col Watson
and several of his officers, who were their guests
when the servant came in to light candles
Old Jacob, as he was called, filed the Office
of butler in the family, and was quite charac-
ter. He was Wing at heart, and cordially
disliked his mistress compulsory visitors. Ha-
wing been his deceased masters personal SER
want, he had thus acquired footing of familiar
ity which allowed him to have his joke even at
the table where he waited. He piqued himself
moreover on what he thought his good breed
/ ing and fine diction. He was a source of con-
slant amusement to the British officers, who,
however, found him sometimes to be their over
match in repartee. ea' s
"Well, Jacob, what news7'' said Maj. Lind
say. ANY more rebels captured7'
Old Jacob turned, bowed his head profound
ly, and showing his teeth in a broad grin, said:
f"Dare is no news yet, sar, dat knows on,
but 'spose dare will be some before mornin'; for
sartin, Capt Preston will beat up your quarters
as usual, and den how de red coats run.''
Kate looked up archly, yet coIored when she
met the Majors eye. That parsonage bit his
lip, and remarked -, .. ....-r ia .s I'D.
"Never mind Captain Preston, Jacob; he'll
be our prisoner soon. Has the flag of truce re-
turned7 % - trr.7.fHl eng ~
ooh, yes, sar,' said Jacob, his face radiant
with delight. " Hadn't you heard2 Dat great
news, sar,-'spose you know Sergeant Macdon-
ald?" "''" '.-
"What of himl'' said the Major, beginning
to suspect he Wss making a ridiculous fgure.-
" He's savage. Why he shot Lieut.. Toriano
yesterday three hundred yards off,
"Dat he did, said the old butler, waxing
grandiloquent "He hit the leftenant Judge
matically, insure you. But dat is not de news.
You knows Sergeant Macdonald, sent in word
toder day, dat if his baggage took in de sally,
was not recorded Immediately to him again, he
would kill eight of your men. You know dat'
To-day de baggage was sent back, for dat Ser
geant be ae berry devil-and now he sent word
dat, since his baggage be returned punctiGous-
Iy, he viii only kill four of your men"' And
the speaker, though too well bred to laugh at
what he considered good joke, grinned
from ear to ear. %
"The cannibaln' said Lindsay, Struggling
his shoulders, but what can be expected of the
men when their leaders countenance the firing
on pickets7' ''~-' '"
"And yet you hang them for rebels1'' said
Kate with spirit. "' 60.
"They shoot down officers" continued Lind
say, not thinking it advisable to reply to her pal
pable hit, " as II Mr.. Marion paid for them at
so much head. never saw such unchristian
fighting. They are set of Doors; and towards
at heart, all of them, I'll be bound"
Cowards they are not" said Kate, her eyes
flashing to hear her countrymen thus stigmatized.
" At least you did not seem to think them such,
when Captain Preston, at the head of his troop,
dashed up to your lines, and challenged you to
fight, singly or otherwise. heard myself the
alarm, with which the soldiers cried, here comes
Preston again'"
He well knew no one would accept his chai-
lsnge; so his bravade cost him nothing"
"Go meet him when he comes again, and see
, whether he meant it for bravado," retorted
Kate; and then all at once remembering the
enthusiasm into which she had been hurried,
she colored and resumed her work in some en-
barassment. r..4
t Major Lindsay stifed muttered execration
on his American rival, for he began to fear, from
the spirit which Kate had shown, that the chiv-
alric exploits of Capt. Preston were making a
|, decided impression on her heart The desper-
ate daring which the rebel officer had shown
within the last few days, Major Lindsay had
attributed. in his own mind, to desire on the
mart of Preston to dazzle his mistress; but Hates
behavior toward himself had been fattering
/, compared with that bestowed on others, that,
until that moment, he had eonsoled himself with
the idea that these exploits had been thrown
away. He sat silent and moody, and the con-
, versation ceased. asa aH .ra
q Gradually, one BY one, the visitors thinned
of, and returned to their quarters, until only
: Col. Watson and himself we're lef- The Col.
; and Mrs Blaksly hadsai dow to game ofcards
! in distant corner Of the apartment Here was
an opportunity to decide his fate. II might be
the last time he would find Kate alone, for the
: camp was expected to move in short time
The occasion was not 70 be neglected, and doubt
fsl rs he felt Of the issue, he arose. and leaning
over her, said, in low voice ssas.
r al fear, my dear Miss Mowbray, that Often
: ded you BY what said Of Capt. Preston for
{ got for moment that be was an old playmate
D Of yours You cannot tell how panied am that
: anything said should displease you.''
!. Il matters httle-I an not at all displeas-
E ed, - said Kate, keeping her eyes on her work.
3 her heart beat violently. Capt Preston needs