The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-24

his preoccupation and bewilderec
indifference to her safety.
What shall we do? she exclaimed
glancing nervously behind her
Whittier shall we go? We can
not remain here, and alone. How
can Col. Marion with his handful O
men defend us against victorious
army. oh, my father | am so afraid
She crept trembling to her father:
breast. The cid man had an orchic
in one hand and looked perplexedly
from it to her. Then he held i
carefully off distance from danger
while he put an unaccustomed arm
about her shaking figure.
Do not cry, pet. Look at this. Is
it not beautiful? Observe the brown
spots, the rich depth OF purple in the
cup x All! If mistress
Middleton were but here to see it.
She is woman OF learning and ap.
probation IN these matters. Per
chance | can send negro to Charles
ton with it.
He gszed demured at the strange
flower, his limp arm dropping from
his daughters slim waist.
Camille dried her tears and began
to laugh little.
Dearest. most imprac,icable OF
fathers have you forgotten already
that the British are in Charleston
Listen we must pack up our few
belongings here and find some place
of satetv; else the good God alone
knows what may chance. Come,
come! we have no time to lose. The
ground burns my feet.
| She stood on tiptoe with nervous
impatience.
In moment, muttered Michaux,
grovelling at the root of a plant
again.
Camille hesitated a moment, lifted
her bare shoulders in faint, despair
ing shrug, and flew back to the
house. She gathered up whatever
of plate and valuables had been
left behind when the family had been
detained in the city not forgetting
various papers of importance and
some money belonging to her father.
The greater part of the Middleton
plate was stored in a chest in one of
the lumber rooms.
She knew it might as well be
spread upon the piazzas. But
where to hide it was the question.
They could not go away and leave
it for pillage of soldiery and slaves.
She went disiractedly from room to
room looking eagerly out of every
window as she passed it, racking her
brain to discover not only hiding
place for gold and silver, but for her
father and herself. She paused in
the hallway and looked long at
panel in the wall, then pressed
boss in the carved border of leaves
and flowers, and it slid aside, reveal
ing a confined space in which not
only plate but human beings had be-
fore found shelter; but the thought
of fire occurred to her, and she let
the panel slip noiselessly into place
again.
1t was late in the afternoon and at
sunset the old botanist came into the
house, iorgetful OF everything save
the fact that he had discovereda new
bloom on long disappointing plant.
He descanted at great length upon
it, eating his supper absentmindedly
and not seeing that Camille ate moth.
ing at all but sat opposite him, white
with apprehension.
After supper the old man buried
himself among his books and dried
specimens, while Camille, accom-
panied by a black woman with
branched candlestick, went about
the house securing it as best she
could. The night was bright and at
the back door Camille stepped upon
the piazza to look about her. Two
horses were standing in shadow near
the steps held by a man who looked
like soldier, although he was not
in Uniform. Camille spoke to him:
he replied in low voice. She sent
the woman to the slave quarter and
went into the house much lighter of
heart.
As she entered the drawing room
a figure, cloaked met her at the door
took the candle from her and, hold
ing it alott studied her fair face in
tentlY.
Francis, she explained-Col.
Marion, l mean, she added, blushing
| deeDly. You here x X and
the British?
Yes, l know, said Marion with
smile. He set the candle down and
drew her to sofa, taking both her
hands in his and kissing them ard
emily.
Camille, he said hurriedlv, forgive
my presumptuous bluntness. l love
you-love you. | cannot tell why l
have waited all this time to say it,
when my heart has said it every
day, ever since laid eyes upon you.
l was afraid 10 say it before.
but now i * the thought
OF Archibald Campbell i; go
Camille shuddered. Mad Archy!
Do not mention his name. Why
should you speak of him now?
Then he is nothing to you? cried
Marion lookingsfull into her eyes.
That staggering, fighting English
man2 whispered Camille, scornfully.
: | detest him.