The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1890-01-16

ever Hospitality open, and raped with
his swordhilt His knock was
answered by Mrs. Littlepage, a slight,
refined, gentle Virginia matron.
II want this house for my head
quarters. " was the officers rough de-
nand.
General Wise, my husband is pow
less to resist your force, but this
properly is mine as much as his, and |
shall under no circumstances allow
you to enter it, Be good enough to
leave the premises. Mr.. Littlepage's
mouth is closed and his hands P
tied. but mine are nat-yet"
Her husband could be seen within
and Wise called to him tauntingly.
While | am home | rule my house
Remove your wife and yield To my
demand without any further foolish.
ness il you are a man
Il am as much the head of my
family as YOU" he replied, "hut in
this yield to my wife's judgment
"lhen | shall blow the house down
over your head, was the angry re-
tort, aud the General strobe away.
Ten minutes after there was a crash
and CHATTER of salloping horses and.
the loud rumbling of guns and caissons
as battery OF artillery rushed down
the river road, wheeled into position
in front # the mansion aud unlim-
bered its six guns, which were trained
on the house, willie curious crowd Of
soldiers and officers gathered behind
them.
But while the gunners wheeled
their cannon, Mrs Llttlcpage collect
ed every one Of her seven children and
placed them ar lnnd her on the porch.
The great crowd aas hushed to silence
and the gargllng music of the thrush,
the buoyant melody Of the black bird
aud medlark tinkled through the
noise of rammer aud sponge, aud the
artillerymen, with scowliqg brows,
loaded their pieces.
Wise sat upon his horse in front of
his staif. the June sunlight glistening
from his gold lace and the trappings
Of his saddle The guns were loaded,
and the men stepped back to their
/ places and stood erect, the concourse
of soldiers and citizens looked on as
still rs death, the birds sang more
sweet and loud than ever.
Orderly. tell that woman | will
give her two minutes to get her
ehildreu cut of the way"
The message was delivered, aud the
orderly, returning touched his cap aud
y ported:
'She refuses to move, sir, and
says"
Here he hesitated.
"Well, what was it she saidl--
quick"
"She said that if you came here to
make war upon women aud children
she and hee little ones might as well
fall us live dishonored "
There was stir among'tl.e staff and
hoarse murmurs among the few that
overheard. Wises countenanee
blackened with a rage as Returned to
an aid dc camp.
"Order them to fire at once.n he
commanded
General, | cannot be party to
such an act, - was the dignifed reply.
Furious. the COMMANDER galloped
over to the battery.
open fre!" he shouted to the
Captain in charge.
"Neverh was the prompt and in
dignant response.
You are under arrest for insub-
ordination Wise cried with an oath,
and, turning around, himself gave the
order.
Not man left his place or raised "A
finger to obey. No discipline was
strong enough to make those Ameri-
can soldiers discharge their cannon at
that brave woman aud her seven
children; and Wise set up his tents in
the next field, while Mrs. Lttlepage
saved the house which is The home of
her children to-day Philadelphia
Times.