The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23

the enemy. The trouble was-whether
by design, or because some one had
blundered-there was no ammunition.
The brilliant pageant after all was but
like painted picture of wars alarms
When. however, they reached the
docks, and found the broad wooden
quays deserted. the laugh went round.
and the men fell in with many sim
pie jeer at each others nervousness.
1t was not till they reached the streets
that the storm burst upon them. A
cloud of dust it seemed to them at first
Then ont Of ii crashed the roaring din
of a frenzied mob shrieking vengeance.
For moment the ranks halted
Then. loudsand clear as trumpet came
the commands:
Fix bayonets. Charge
And, with "A steady step, as though OH
parade, those gallant lads marched in
solid phalanA sweeping the bowling
crowd before them.
Frank Besant was in the rear rank
of the last company. and as the rioters
rallied round by-streats and massed
behind the soldiers. the hardest brunt
of fighting was Immediately around
him. As yet no serious wounds had
been received by the soldiery, though
many were cut and bleeding. when
suddenly Frank saw his Captain,
Charles Fulton, the gallant young son
Of his Colonel, reel and fall PROSTATE
on the sidewalk, struck on the temple
by rock hurled from a ncighboring
window. In a moment he sprang to the
side of the insensible man. and ere
the mob was upon him. managed to
drag his body to the shelter Of the door
way of a handsome residence. In the
turmoil the incident was unnoticcd by
his comrades, who marched away be-
yond hope of rescue.
The mob was on him. In the strength
of desperation he dubbed the foremost,
not in his ineyperience daring to trust To-
the bayOnet: but do all he could it
seemed hopeless. for as one of the
crowd fell another was upon him.
Then his muslsct was wrenched from
his hands and he was dcfenseless-but
only for an instant, for his eye fell on
his officers sword, and he snatched ii
from his scabbard and turned once more
upon his foes. But ut the first blow,
which was Tended by the appraised hlud-
geon of brawny rufiian, the paltry
blade snapped at the hilt.
Aye, | know many rich ladies nova
days, dressed in silks and seal-shins,
whose fathers made their money by
selling just such murderous trash To
their country's defenders. and who have
| not even a blush for the blood that
stains their finery.
| Fighting to the last, Frank braced
| himself against the door and lid his
best. There was not Il hope for him, for
the mob was wild with rage i. his de.
termined resistance.
Then, as crashing blow from an
axe-handle fell on his uplifted arm. the
door suddenly opened and he tumblei
headlong into the hallway. Luckily
| too, at that moment the mob behind
impelled by the false alarm of soldiers
advancing in the rear, hurled his assail
ants forward and he had time 10 recov
er himself and drag his wounded Captain
inside the house. The heavy door wa.
slammed and bolted, and for tic time ht
was safe.
Well might he stare around h:la Will
wondering eyes. Before hisa stood
young girl, pale as ii sheet with excite
ment, but beautiful beyond his dream
of womans loneliness. lie had ncvc
seen that peculiar type of feminine per
lection found only among the Southern
ladies, which combines the flashing
beauty of the daughter of Italy wit
the healthy vigor OF the Saxon maiden
Somehow or other he had got it int
his head that all the young wome
south of Mason and DiXon's line ycr
sallow specimens Of humanity wit
lackadaisical manners and feeble cnl
stitutions; SO this glorious young crca,
, ure was revelation To him.
She blushcd under his art;ca: gazc
| and said, demurely:
Il was watching yonr nnequl. strus
gle through the window-blinds, ami q
, last summoned up courage enough I
= unbar the door and give you shelter
: His eyes alone thanked her.
, "But come," she added imputientl,
, this is no time for explanation
Raise your friends head while sun
I mon assistance, for we are only womc
1 in the house as the domestics have lie
Y in terror to their quarters"
, Even as she spoke she left him.
Presently, however, she returned, a
> companied by Il sweet old lady wit
, silver hair, and a bcvy Of colored won
en-, whose neat white caps and apro.
showed Il cleaning contrast to the
ebon skins.
AT once the elderly lady took COZ,
, mand Of affairs.