The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-03-30

keep our Easter In seemly fashion
without the church this year"
Help yourselves, gentlemen, we ars
at your mercy. You will find small
portion of food in the cupboard We
have been imposed upon before by
our enemies, but God has graciously
preserved our lives" said Mrs. Mayo.
bitterly.
Ladies' said 3 the captain, with a
polite smile, ':you are sharing with US
the fortunes of war. Please be seated
at our festive board. We must not lose
sight of you while we eat"
The soldiers did their own cooking.
old Amy following them about ham
pering them at every step, And din
ming her EXPLANATORY phrases into their
ears. 3
''De good Lawd! l neber see such
wicked waste in all my bawnd days! All
dem Easter aiggs gwin ter feed dem
rebel sogers Use done sorry dey's fresh
aiggs, l is"
''Out of the way, old woman, stir
your stunps." said the soldiers, good
naturally.
"Allow me. madam, to escort you to
the head of the table," said the young
captain, gallantly, when the meal of
camp bacon and eggs was served, Offer
ing his arm to Mrs. Mayo.
The troubled and confused woman
rose feebly. and was about to take his
proffered arm, when. instantly a slight
form interposed between them.
''Do not touch that man, mother!
Bethink you, he is our natural enemy.
You shall not insult my mother, sir,
while live to protect her!"
LAS You WILL" answered the captain,
coolly, meeting the flashing scorn of
her fine eyes with look of admiration
he could not conceal. "Be pleased to
remain here, ladies'" he resumed in a
tone of command, ''or it will be peces-
sary to place you under arrest
owe consider ourselves under arrest
as we are" retorted Molly, holly. and
as she stamped her foot to give en-
phasis to her words the young officer
noticed its extreme beauty.
| They ate and drank hurriedly and
without evident suspicion of those
about them, drinking their own bitter
coffee without milk or sugar, both of
which old Amy offered them, with
many a grimace, however.
I'VE must to horse" cried the cap
tain suddenly, pushing his chair back
abruptly, and rising with such haste
that he nearly overturned the table.
He reeled and would have fallen but
that the soldier next to him caught
him.
'Ha! a plot, treason! poison!" he
gasped and sank insensible in his chair
| At the same moment each of the sol
diers began to reel.
"Drugged, by bu'. the man could
not finish his speech; he fell in heap
on the floor.
"Who hath done this awful deed?"
cried Mrs. Mayo, in tones Of horror.
''Be not alarmed, MOTHER" esaid Mol
ly, quietly. II merely blew little anti
mony into the end of each egg. Column
bus taught us the trick of making an
egg stand on it's little end, we are told,
but l have made my trick save my
brothers life. Allan will send us help
before these men recover from their
transient Illness
But they may die"
''They will not die, my mother. But
| this will give us respite of several
hours. Thank God for that, and for
Adams escape!'
| And then that crafty girl busted her.
self with administering warm potons
to her fallen foes. Old Amy brought
pillows on which she placed their
heads, but not too tenderly. Then the
three women withdrew to an upper
chamber, where they locked them.
selves in"
At noon company of American SOL
diers dashed up to the house and in a
trice the Britishers were taken prison
ers. The soldiers had partially recov-
cred, but were very weak. But the young
captain either had eaten more Easte,
eggs than his share, or was pretei.-
der, for he was too sick to be removed
and became-under guardian inmate
of the front spare room, where he
languished for a month. and heard AL.
Ian tell the whole story of how clever
~ he and his sister had ontwitted him.
What became Of him? This historian
does not know. But in the annals Of
the state of Pennsylvania, Ammo Dom
inc l776, appear the names of Pierre
pont and Mayo in honorab le mention
and my own impression is that from
being q prisoner of the American
army he becamc prisoner of Cupid
ant was held forever after in durance
sweet. But certain l am that he never
forgot that Easter experience.
Mrs. Nj. L. RAySE.