Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-08-04
THE HIDDEN CONTINENTAL.

campaign IN the tlondas had en-
feebled his men by disease, and
deeming ''discretion the better part
of valor," he retreated up the river.
OF course then the capital of
Georgia fell into the hands of the
enemy, who abused his triumph,
and consigned his name to an unen-
viable fame.
There was a strong tory element
in Savannah " hich had been kept in
check by the presence of the CONT
nentals; but when the British march
ed into the city, it rose and asserted
its strength. Houses were piunder-
ed. and a number of patriots Day0net-
ed in the streets. Neighbor rose
against neighbor, and tories led a
pIundering soldiery to the homes of
the patriots.
Tie Holly family that dwelt in
Savannah at the time of its capture
and sack, then consisted of three
persons the mother of two child
ren. The father, a man of wealth
and influence in Georgia, had died
during the year that preceded the
outbreaking Of the. war, and the
home of his family was one of the
finest residences in the city.
Miriam Holly, the oldest child,
was a beautiful girl of nineteen,
while her brother was five years her
Junior. If the father had lived, he
might have proved tory, for he
was attached to the mother coun-
try, and when the kings troops
took possession of the capitol, Colonel
Campbell commanded that the Holly
nome should not be ransacked. 49,
Thus the house escaped pillage,
and Miriam fastened TO thank the
soldier e. mIs kindness.
Colonel Campbell was struck by
the girls grace and remarkable love
illness, and detained her at his head
quarters until he had learned her
family history by many adroit ques-
tions.
"There goes the handsomest wo-
man in Georgia." cried Campbell,
as the girl left the house.
"His companion, who happened to
be his chief of staff, looked after
Miriam and remarked:
81 quite agree with the colonel.
These American rebels are all beau
tiful."
Campbell was silent for a mo-
ment.
eve will not occupy this build
ing after tomorrow" he said sud
denly. 81 am going to take up my
abode beneath the same roof Of that
Miriam Holly"
Glove at first sight, colonel" said
the chief of staff, with a merry twin
kle in his eyes. SIS Lady Bonn so
soon forgotten5 my dear colonel?"
"Lady Bonn be hanged!" cried
Campbell. ga soldier loves when
and whom he pleases, and besides,
major, one is not obliged to marry
these American girls because he
loves them"
The conversation was interrupted
by the arrival of an orderly, and
was not resumed.
On the following day Colonel
Campbell made Miriam Holly's
home his headquarters.
The girl grew deathly pale when
she learned of the sudden change,
and said in whisper to her mother:
"This is a terrible event. He is
not fit to depart yet, nor will he be
for a week to come" -
"Miriam, l have been thinking
that it might be policy for us to
give him up to the army" replied
Mrs. Holly. ~
"Give him up now?" cried the
girl. "Give him up and hear every
tory in Savannah cry for his blood?
No! Unless discovered, he shall re-
main where he is until he is able to
escaped" "a
Miriam Holly spoke with much
frmness, and tears stood in the
mothers eyes when she opened her
arms and received the daughter in
her embrace.
Forgive me, Miriam!" she cried.
owe must keep our secret from Col
onel Campbell. He must not know
who lies to-day beneath our roof"
So Miriam hastened from her
mothers presence, and by touching
a concealed spring in the wall of an
unfinished room, revealed narrow
stairway. She at once mounted the
steps and entered very small apart
ment into which light streamed
from a sky-window.
The room was tenanted. On
low cot lay a man in his twenties.
His dark hair oontrasted vividly
with the deathly pallor OF his face,
and the suit of faded continental uni
form with a sword, that hung
against the wall over the bed, told
that he was an American soldier. A
boy of fifteen who sat on the edge
of the bed was reading aloud, but in
a cautious tone, when the door open
ed to admit Miriam.
The idvalid's face lit up with a
smile when the fair girl came for
ward and took his fevered hand.
Then she told him about Colonel
CampbelPs change of quarters, and
he listened without a question.
"Well?" he said at last, "what are
we going to do?"
"We are going to remain here till
we get strong enough to leave the
city,' answered Miriam, with a
smile, and even while she spoke a
faint noise below told her that the
British colonel was moving into his
new quarters.
The continental was captain in
Howe's little army. He had served
the colonies with a zeal surpassed
by none who rallied round the cause
of freedom; but disease had seized
upon him in Florida, and he return
ed with the troops to Georgia to find
an asylum in Miriam Holly's home,
and be nursed by her through the
long hours of his fever. The at
tending physician was man who
knew how to Keep a asecret, and as his