Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-28

crippled and helpless. the center of n
group of trembling. terrified women.
"Ohl Brother john" Mrs. Willis
gasped, have the raiders Gomez"
looking ut the waving hillside and
hearing now the loud talking of men,
Mr. Gibbs nodded his head without
uttering word. Brother John" said
the irrcprcssible Mrs. Willis. "tho demi-
John hadn't Charlotte better smash the
demijohnP
Yes he said, harshly, land lose no
time aboutit,n Here all the other females
of the party, except myself, ran To- fetch
that pernicious jug from its hiding place
in the back Of the tent. had entirely
forgotten the dcmjohn, and now that II
was brought to my mind, heartily wished
il 10 Kamschatka. To tell the truth. |
did not fancy going off NIL alone in the
dusk with that dangerous luggage. But
being celebrated veteran, was asham-
ed to object.
Here. hcrer' said Mrs. Willis, thrust
ing the dangerous burden into nay hands.
1.-THE raiders are coming. Run Run,
What makes you 60 so slow?n
Now, five gallon demiiolm of whis-
ky is mighty heavy, and my trembling
limbs could with difficulty support my
own weight. and the energetic shove she
gave me nearly upset me, ns ! tottcrcd
unwillingly away with my odious load.
! could but think what fool ! was to
run So far and then Mt last be caught like
rabbit in the woods, and | heartily
wished myself in Macon. While such
unpleasant reflections fitted through my
mind / staggered along with the hated
dcmuohn toward the swamp. On its
edge | stopped. for ! was afraid Ia 90 any
further. and getting behind "A large pine
tree threw my burden down. cohf-
IDENTIFY expecting il Ia smash. But IL did
nothing of the sort, but lazily rolled
about on its fat side. Then il burst upon
me that there was vast difference be-
tween the soft swamp soil of middle
Georgia and the rocky ground OF the
mountains where | had destroyed the
dcmUohns of my childhood. | looked
wildly about for = friendly stone, forget
ting that that was thing unknown in
this region. Then | looked for pine
knot, but strange to say, not one could ]
see in the gathering gloom. In my inn
potent wrath ! kicked the dcmijohn;
but. alus' ms shoes were Confederate
and thin and soft All The while could
hear talking going on at the tent and did
not know at what moment some invcsti-
eating raider might come in pursuit OF
me. In despair pulled out th" stopper
and tried to turn out some whisky. But
the cNaspcrating dcmiiohn calmly went
"gugslc. gugglc,' and discharged its
contents with "A dclibcration that ircn-
Zicd me. Worse still heard footsteps
approaching. Great heavens thought.
they are following me and If ih"y find
this whisky We are lost With ihscour-
age of desperation | stepped quickly in
front of the pine tree. behind which !
had the dreadful jug and faced about.
standing with hands mechanically
ciinchcd, ready 10 meet the intruder
The next instant. in the dim twilight. |
recognized Mrs Willis with hntchci
in her hand. Snatching il from her
dartcd back and ,hiycrcd the glass dcmi-
john nj n blow. The whisky flow in the
mir and bathcd us in avery odorifcrous
shower
How did you gct away from the raid
crs?" | asked
There is but one"
One Why. where j. all that cavalry
| saw riding down the hillsidc2n
Those were our horse. piCkctcd there.
which took fright and tried to stampede" ."
Aitcr all the murh-drcadDd raider had
com" as messenger OF peace. II seems
that th" head Of Gen Wilson, rhiding
column had reached Macon. whom. ru-
mors of Gen. Lees surrender having
arrived. the authorities had circctcd an
armisiiCc for ten days in which to learn
the truth. On hearing Of the armis;icc
the colonel commanding the rear guard
sent squads Of men in every direction
along his route to tell the inhabitants out
hiding 10 20 home. Engaged in that
crrand hc stumbled upon our camp.
How do | know You are telling me
tho truth2" asked Mr. Gibbs.
am here alone and unarmcd." d" said
the man; You might Kill ne II you
chose"
That was so: for one Of the two negro
men suggested that we should tie the
raider tD = trcc.in the swamp and leave
him there, and was surprised at our de-
clining. The news of AN armistiCc con-
veycd no idea To his mind.
The Federal soldier spent the night at
our camp. sleeping on pile Of carriage
cushions in the front Of Dir. Gibbs tent.
( took breakfast the next morning and cs-
"orted Us q part Of the way ON our Jour
nry home. No burning had been allowed
since the raiders left Columbus. So our
7 houses were uniniurcd. We returned
peacefully 20 our homes. had met my
/ first Federal soldier and broken my last
. dcmiiohn. -DctToI Free Pcss