The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-06-09
WHOLE No. e. 431

have been Indian or Chinese to under.
stand. Then more soldiers passed the
house from the south, tired, dusty
grimed, some Of them running, some
wounded and tottering along slowly.
All passed in steady stream behind
the forts.
Suddenly hJrseman dashed up to
the house-he was all dust and dirt,
ard his horse was covered with foam.
He threw himself from the saddle and
came up on to the veranda.
Good gracious the captain.
"Come away from here at once )" he
said "our men are retreating we are
gong to make a stand behind the
works. You are directly in range. Be
quick the fire is liable to open at any
moment
Then there was a scramble to snatch
few things. One took lamp, another
a pitcher, another photograph album.
1t seemed as if everybody took the
most useless thing to be found. All
except me were hurrying down the
walk to the gate l staid behind. The
captain was trying to make me hurry.
He was stamping up and down on the
yeranda and through the hall, almost
crazy at my delay.
"Come, be quick !" he said, as sharp
as if he were the general himself.
"Captain-" ! said, hesitating.
"What is it ?" he asked, imratiently.
The hostage"
"What hostage?"
"That you left when you went away !;
| couldn't find it. Must we leave it ?"
He looked at me a moment as if he
thought had lost my senses then he
burst into a laugh.
I never could stand TO be laughed at,
and just then it was particularly obnox-
ious. l made up my mind that he
should tell me what l had hunted for,
and tell me then and there.
"Never mind that" he said, seeing
that was irritated. "Save yourself and
it will be in no especial danger"
"I'll not leave it, whatever it is" l
said, resolutely.
"Come, come this will be a battle
field IN few minutes"
81 won't stir step till you tell me
what l want to know"
"Nonsense - he said, severely.
The more severe his tone, the more
resolute 1 became. l stood stock-still.
"For Heavens sake - he urged,
becoming really frightened i; "the gun
ners are standing with the lanyards in
their hands ready to fire."
"Let them fire ~ | folded my arms.
A volley sounded a short distance
down the line of forts to the west. The
captain tried to seize my wrist.
"Do come" he pleaded.
"Tell me what was the hostage" |
said, stubbornly.
"Here?'
"Here?'
mo, no this is not a fit place to
tell you that. For the love of Heaven
do come away!'
vowed | would conquer HIM or die
on the field.
"You shall either tell me or | will
stay here till the battle is over"
He looked at the frowning forts anx-
iously, then back at me.
"You must know"
"Yes.''
"Now?''
"Now.e
"Well, then, Molly dear, I left you
my heart.''
l stood as one who sees an engine
coming straight down on him, and
whose limbs are paralyzed from the
suddemess of the discovery. Merciful
Heaven what had | done? What stu
pidity The blood rushed in torrent
to my cheeks l covered my face with
my hands.
"And now, sweetheart ''-taking one
Of my hands from my burning cheek
and leading me away-"if you're salts
fed about the hostage, we won't stay
here any longer
As he spoke there was an explosion
in the forts, and it seemed as if a dozen
shrieking cats were whirling over our
heads. | almost wished one of them
would strike me dead. The captain
led me like child toward the forts
through smoke and noise and con-
fusion. | didn't think of the battle
that was opening; | only thought how
1mmodest he must think me, and that
he never would believe | could be Sc
stupid as not to know what he meant
by leaving hostage.
| have had to suffer all my life fol
that one mistake. | never can have my
way about anything for when my hus-
band finds all other expedients for gov
ernlng to be failures, he invariably
taunts me with having forced his secret
at the cannon's mouth.
| f. A. mitchell.
A TRUE STORY IN REAL LIFE.
IS LIFE WORTH LIVING?
| This question has been asked sc