The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-08-10
From the Atlantic Monthly.
Strategy at the Preside.
1I.--[ooNTINUED.l

~ Dinwiddie rose, pale, trembling, and all
his features convulsedG Barbara covered
q h9r face with her hands and groaned. New
/, er before had seen such an expression on
her fathers face. Turning to his wife, he
said in a husky voice, which with a great
:, effort he seemed to make audible ,..,.
"Pegram was murderer, and you, n,ad>
am, if you commend his act, have in you
the stuff out Of which mnrderers are made.
Now hear me-yo,, and Miss Barbara here.
Here repndinte slavery, and every man,
woman, or child who helps by word or
deed to uphold such deviltry as that you
have Just read of. Long enough, madam,
I've allowed my conscience'to be jugglcd,
fooled, and blinded by your imperious will
and absurd family pride. ''ris ended
This day Subscribe ten thousand dollars
to the relief of the Geofgiafreedmen, made
free by Sherman. Utter, one syllable
against it, and, 80 help me God, I'll make
u Il twenty thousand. Further if either von
sor your daughter shall dare, after this
warning. TO lift needle in behalf of this
rebellion--if hear of either one of you
lending yourselves to the smuggling of
rebel MAILS, or giving aid of any kind to
rebel eInissares-f moment | give You
up to the regular authorities and disown
You forever. YoH know that am man
Of few threats; bnt You also know that
what say l mean Of
- Dinwidtle waited a full minute for some
reply to this unparalleled outburst, and
then left the room with an air of dignity
which Barbara nor her mother had ever
witnessed before. a'rnr
The mother first broke silence, She be-
gan with hvsterical laugh, and then said:
s'If he thinks to involve me III his cow
.rdly treason to the South, he'll find him.
self mistaken. Don't look so pale and
frightened, you foolish girl! Go, and pat
'on your things for the Bee" ...F. .-t,.4.a
The Bee was society of fashionable Ia
dies, of pronounced disloyalty, who met
once a week to make up garments for reb-
e officers.
sI shall go TO the Bee no more, mohrr,"
said Barb;iIa "besdcs, have given my
. promise to keep the house till have per-
mission to quit it, ' a.s
And do You venture to set your fathers
orders above mine, YOU presnming girl?--
Arc you, lDo, Soiiiss W tcSeit tiie 'oouticii
causc7' ... ........... ...
Barbara's reply was interrupted fv the
entrance of old AMY The scene which
had Just tranSpred had been faithfully
transferred to the memory of the listening
aud obseryant Nero, who had communica-
ted it all to the party chiefly interested. N
Mrs. Dinwid,,ie quailed Il little rs she
's6Get Anjy's glance; b,it Barbara rose and
ilrea her arms about the faithful creatures
neck. xad, bursting into tears, exclaimed:
..Oh. AMY! twas the act OF IL devil! L
hate him for it!' 3D.. .
Mind what you say, Barbara said
Mrs pinwiddie. .s
-. 10 Barbara.w fthdruw her arms, and. f,n,-
ing them, looked her mother straight i'll
ithe face and said .,rs'.
MY fathertlid not srrak too harSh!v Of
fl. Twas IL io,ii and c"wardly murder.
.Oh!' cried Mrs. DiE N'i6die, again thrrlt-
enine relapse into Mysteries.
My dear, dear AMY" said Barbara,
her tears flowing afresh, 'come up to my
INV room, and viii read you your letter
With a face fearless nfsa ,snfiex ihle, AMY
allowed herself to be led out of the dining
hall. and up stairs into Barharas apart
ment. The two stayed there couple of
hours, needless OF every Summons GSr
them to come forth.