The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-04-01

tenr you, Suld inc Elrl, proudly. ITO
ceed with your search Or perhap,
you would honor us with your presence
at breakfast first, on Easter morning
"By Jove she is beauty" said the
young man TO himself, but he answered,
haughtily:
my men will prepare some break.
fast if you will lend them your kitchen
fire. We do not partake of food in an EN-.
emy's house, knowing that all is fair in
love and war"
The very words she had used that
morning. She forgot herself for one
moment, and stared curiously at the
British officer. He was @ goodly man
to look at young, litke, with fine
Face and an eagle eye. Her eyes fell,
she blushod, then desperately asserted
herself:
"You honor us by your condesceusion.
When you have reached the house you
may look where you please-but spare
my mother she is an invalid. You
will not find my brother here"
"Are you speaking the truth?" asked
the officer, almost rudely.
1--WE are not u nation of liars" re-
torted Molly.
The soldiers and their captain made
a thorough search of the house, but
found nothing that would indicate the
presence of the man they sought, or
any papers of state such as they were
seeking.
The captain requested Mrs. Mayo to
accompany them in their search, which
she tremblingly did, but she in no.
wise hurried them; on the contrary, ev-
cry expedient that she or Molly or old
Amy could think upon to detain them
was brought into requisition Nothing
was found.
Then the men were detached to pre-
pare breakfast. They were about to
forage on the barnyard, when they
espied great platter of eggs on the
side board.
"Ha! Easter eggs, the very thing"
said their captain, with a jovial laugh.
mo one can tamper with those de-
licious edibles. Cook in as many ways
as it pleases you, Stanley. We will
keep our Easter in secmly fashion
without the church this year"
Help yourselves, gentlemen, we are
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 the captain, with
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.
"De good Lawd! / neber see such
wicked waste in all my bawrfdays! All
dem Easter aiggs gwine ter feed dem
rebel sogers Use done sorry dey's fresh
aiggs, | is"
"Out of the way, old woman, stir
your stumps," said the soldiers, good
naturedly.
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 infused woman
rose feebly. and was about to take his
proffered arm, when Instantly n slight
form interposed between them.
DO not touch thai man, motherl
Bethink you, he is our natural enemy.
You shall not insult my mother, sir,
while ! live to protect her!'
AS you will, answered the captain,
oA1Il,r t,,Anf;nCr fnchinrr ~
her fine eyes with look of admiration
he could not conceal. "Be pleased to
remain here, ladies'" he resumed in d
tone of command, ''or it will be neces-
sary to place you under arrest"
"We consider ourselves under arrest
as we are" retorted Molly, hotly, and
as she stamped her foot to give en-
phasis to her words the young officer
noticed it's 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.
1--WE 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 coulc
not finish his speech; he fell in heaI
on the floor.
"Who hath done this awful deed?'
cried Mrs. Mayo, in tones of horror.
''Be not alarmed, mother" said Mol
ly, quietly. 81 merely blew little anti
mony into the end of each egg. Colum
bus taught us the trick of making AZ
egg stand on it's little end, we are told
but l have made my trick save my
before these men recover from theil
transient illness"
"But they may die"
'They will not die, my mother. Bu
this will give us a respite of severa
hours. Thank God for that, and fo
Allan's escape!'
And then that crafty girl busted her
self with administering warm potioni
to her fallen foes. Old Amy brough
pillows on which she placed theil
heads, but not too tenderly. Then tn,
three women withdrew to an upper
chamber, where they locked them
selves in.
At noon a company of American sol