The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-15


they had not gone Far before they
met q squad Of Federal cavalry, by
whom they were stopped. Mr.: Early
explained and demonstrated, but the
officer in command told him very
sternly that he was instructed to ar
ret all persons going toward Rich
mond under suspicious circumstances
They were placed in charge of cor
poral and three men, with orders to
conductthem to house near at hand,
and detain them there under strict
guard. The owner of the house was
supposed by the Federals to be a
Union man, but whatever may have
been his political proclivities, his wife
and daughter were staunch friends to
the South. The latter was q hand.
some little lynx-eyed brunette, named
Lucy, whose sylph-ike figure, keen
wit, and coquettish manners, enabled
her to dupe and mislead many Fed
eral soldier. The situation of the
prisoners aroused her sympathies at
once, and she determined to effect
their escape.
Keeping her own counsel, how
ever, Lucy pretended great friend
ship for the Union soldiers, gave
them dinner and feasted them highly,
permitting them to have as much
brandy as they wanted. When even
ing came on, she again furnished
them bountiful supper, and sup
piled them plentifully with some nice
cordial, which she had prepared for
the occasion. The wen-fed troopers
were jolly and hilarious and bolster
Gus for time, but it was not long
after dark before they betook them
selves to sleep, and were soon all
buried in profound slumber, except
the sentinel posted in front of the
door, who stilfs paced his measured
round, but lifted his feet high from
the ground, and let them fall with
sudden, heavy tramp.
Lucy had revealed her real charac-
ter to Ellen, and made her acquainted
with her design; and they now went
into room to consult and perfect
their arrangements.
"You see," said the little mink,
her dark eyes dilating with light and
pleasure, ssthere is q road from the
back gate of the barn yard, behind
the house, where the stables are,
leading around the farm and entering
the main road again, about mile
below here. They are all asleep but
that guard in front of the door, and
he will soon be down, too, for I put
opium enough in that cordial to put
Old Scratch himself 20 sleep. So,
when all are buried in slumber, we
will wake up your father and the aer-
wants, and, getting the vehicles ready,
L will let you out at the back gate,
and you can then easily make your
way, and be too far off for pursuit
before those drunken fellows awaken.
How do you like my plan?"
ut is admirable" cried Ellen, Joy
fully. ''I think we will be sure to
succeed. Why, Lucy, you ought to
be an aid to soma of the Confederate
generals. lam sure you would sharp
en- their wits good deal"
II have had some offers of that
kind, said the witty girl, with affect
ed gravity, ''but have not thought
proper to accept any position yet.
But let us attend to the business in
hand; there is no time to lose;' and
she glided softly to the front door
and opened it.
The lusty sentinel was still swag-
gering to and fro, humming in maud
lin tones, Hail Columbia, happy
land
''Youu sing another tune, after
awhile, my BIRDIE" she said to her
self, and, closing tho door, she went
back to tell Ellen that the last bat
terry would soon be carried, and all
would be right.
Ten o'clock, at length, came, and
every one was asleep in the house but
the two girls, who sat in Lucy room,
chatting in low voice, and waiting
patiently for the opiate to do its
work. When they ceased talking,
nothing broke the silence that
reigned except the snoring of the
sleeping troopers, in the piazza, and
the heavy tread of the sentinel in the
yard.
eve have very fierce dog, that
might have given Ills some trouble,
but have taken care of him, too, >"
said Lucy.
"How. Captain, did you give him
some of the cordial, too?" inquired
Ellen, laughing.
''No, sent him with my little
brother to neighbor's house before
dark orI ho will MI Ioa t,oo1- 4.l1