The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-04-20

&E-u4-,-.3zasA province, he at
CD once set to work to
make himself and the Kings cause
popular in a social way, by giving a
series of fine entertainments in the
stately Province House.
To these entertainments were hidden
all the Boston townsfolk who we're
loyal to the British crown. Amongst
such, none were more prominent or
made more welcome, than Mr.. Jeffrey
Merridew and his pretty young niece,
Sibyl.
Mr.. Merridew was a stanch Royal
list, though he was by no msans VIC
lent hater of the rebels. Many of them
were his old friends and neighbors,
and his only brother, Mr.. Fphraim
Memberships father-was a rebel
at heart, though in far away Barba-
does, where he was at that time en-
gagged in business, he could not serve
the rebel cause IN person, as he would
gladly have done. But he left behind
him a son who, in full sympathy with
his fathers views, ranged himself
boldly on the rebel side, as part and
parcel of the American Army.
A rebel relative in Barbados was
not a matter to trouble oneself about
greatly, but a rebel relative on the
spot, so to speak-for young Ephraim
was only six miles away at the Cam
bridge rallying ground-was q differ
ent thing, and amiable and easy going
as Mr.. jeffrey Merridew was disposed
to be, his nephew's close proximity
coold not, under the peculiar circum-
stances, but be embarrassing and dis.
turbing on occasions; for the young
man, besides being his nephew, was
Sibyps brother, and Sibyl, as a mem
Der of the Royalist's family-for her
father on his departure for the Barba-
does had left his motherless girl in her
uDcle's charge-could not, of course.
be allowed free intercourse with one
who had placed himself in an attitude
Of active hostility to the Royal cause.
When Sibyl was apprised of this die
tum she at once made passionate pro
test against it. What harm do the
Kings soldiers think poor Eph can dc
them by now and then paying visit
to his sister?' she asked her uncle
soOrnfully.
Harm? You are very young, Sibyl,
aBd don't understand these things.
Your brother has chosen very foolishly
to join the rebel forces, and SO har
made himself one of our acknowledged
enemies and ! never heard of declared
enemies in time of war walking in anC
ont of each others houses like tam,
cats, answered Mr.. Merridew sarcas
tically.
"But Eph, such a boy as Eph-only
nineteen, only two years older than l
What harm could he do now, NOR,
than he has ever done, by coming on
to his uncle's house as a visitor?" still
persisted Sibyl rather foolishly.
''What harm !" exclaimed Mr.. Mer
ridew impqtiently. "What a child yo,
are, Sibyl! Why, his coming her,
would compromise me fatally with tn,
royal Government. I should be sus
pected of disloyalty, and do you thInl
that he, your brother, could be in an,
such communication with us and fai
J to see and hear things that Nigh
bring lis disaster if reported to his OF
fcers?"
"You think Eph would be so mea
as to tell tales?" exclaimed Sibyl i
high indignation.
"Tell tales" repeated Mr.. Merri
dew, finging back his head with IRE
pressible laughter at Sibyls ignorance
why, my dear, the reporting of i'm
portant facts, however gained, in time
of war, is part of war tactics-it is Nc
called telling tales.
"And would you-would you, if yo
were in Ephraim's camp as n visitor
would you"
"Tell tales" laughed Mr.. Merridev
"indeed I would, if heard anythln
worth telling-anything that / though
would save the cause | believed to be
righteous cause Then more ser
ously, why, Sibyl, it would be m
duty to do it. -
"Oh, OH" cried Sibyl, cit
odious, odious, all tins war business.
Eyes, / grant you that but who
to blame for bringing this odior
business upon us? Who but thes