The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26

5
der. They saw a live man, swathed like
a corpse, holding in his hands two books,
while close beside him they beheld a
beautiful and commanding woman, with
a pair of elegant revOlvers levelled d.
rectly at themselves.
"Do not fear, gentlemen - said the
lady, never lowering her weapons, how
ever, and speaking in tone OF the most
imperturable GOODNESS; no harm is in
tended. But one thing / insist upon
that not one of you advance until give
the word otherwise, blood will be she'd"
The visitors, as though actuated by
soldiers and all, until they beheld enact
ed one of the strangest scenes they had
most likely ever been called upon to
witness.
Mrs. Belmont then speaking to her
husband, said:
!" Now then, sir, from that Constitu-
ton, which you hold in your left hand,
read aloud, so that we may all ear that
portion of Article Sixth which l have
marked. Read, STRIP
The helpless man read, in a trembling
voice:
"This Constitution, and the laws of
the United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof, and all treaties
made, or which shall be made, under the
authority of the United States, shall be
the supreme law of the land, and the
Judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, anything in the constitution or
laws of any State to the contrary not
withstanding."
Now then, sir" resumed Mrs. Bel
mont, as her husband finished, "SWear,
before God and his holy angels, that you
will uphold and defend the Constitution
from which you have just read, and that
you will bear true and constant allegi-
ance only to the Government of the
United States.'
81 swear!" murmured the mummy
husband.
"Kiss the Bible, which you hold in
your right hand"
Belmont, in the presence of tire friends
and armed defenders of jeff. Davis, was
compelled by his heoric and lovely, but
eccentric wife, to take "the oath of ale
glance"
The lady, at this juncture, lowering
her pistols, said to her astonished guests:
ssGentlemen and soldiers, it is useless
for me longer to resist, but here, in the
presence of you all, | forever renounce,
as my husband, the cowardly and unpa-
triotic man whom you have just seen
forced by me to swear fealty to that glo-
rious government and that glorious ban
ner which you are endeavoring to de-
stroy and dishonor. But the day is not
far distant when you will be sorry
for the part you are taking in this
wicked rebellion. | surrender myself
your prisoner"
Further detail is unnecessary. Suffice
it to say that the whole affair soon COM
ing to the ears of the rebel commander,
he laughed heartily at Mrs. BelmOnt's
method of making her coWardly hus-
band swear allegiance to the United
States. He complimented her on her
bravery, and ended by giving her an
escort good distance on her way to
Wheeling, giving as a reason, to a conf
dental companion, that "women like
Mrs. Belmont were too dangerous to be
allowed to remain in the Confederacy,
even as prisoners" Like chivalric
soldier, also, he allowed Mrs. Belmout
to take with her the starry banner which
she had so determinedly stood by.
The heroine, a true daughter OF the
Old Dominion, is residing now in her
native city, and is often compelled to
narrate the story of making her bastard
husband take the oath of allegiance by
se,ri,ag him ap in q sheet.