The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-10-30

person, apparently about forty years
of age. He overwhelmed us with apOl-
| ogleS for the Inconvenience which he
doubted not that he had occasioned:
and assured us. in the same breath, that
no efforts would be wanting on his part
to render our sojourn with him as little
irksome rs possible. 1t struck me. at
the moment. that there was rather too
much civility in this, considering the
relltion in W ..ch we really stood to-
wards each other; and | confess, that
50 far from feeling my uneasiness less
ened, it became more powerful than be-
fore. through vague apprehension of
treachery, for which could not salts
tactorily account resolved. how
ever, to be peculiarly on my guard:
and perhaps it was well for our little
party that my suspicious chanced to
b. thus easily excited
Having established our men in one
Of the -building@. as many of them,
at least. rs were not required to keep
up the communication between the
chateau and the nearest pickett we
inquired, before entering the house,
how many servants there might be
about the place, and in what manner
they were disposed of. 1t appeared,
that, independently of domestics, no
fewer than thirty male slaves. besides
women and children, dwelt in the huts
adjoining. Now, though we were not
afraid of these poor creatures them
selves, the thought occurred to us, that
were their master disposed to play the
traitor, he might make of any or all of
them, very ready instruments. We,
therefore, though with thousand
declarations of regret for the necessity
under which We lay. insisted upon
lodging tn, whole body. for this nj 5ht,
under one roof: and planted sentinels
so as to hinder them from holding any
secret intercourse with the family.
Besides this, we mustered all the do
mestic servants, placed soldiers in the
kitchen beside them and took every
other precaution which the sinYularlv
exposed nature of our situation seemed
to require.
This done, we followed our host, who
conducted lis through spacious and
well-li@hted hall, up Il winding oaken
staircase. and introduced us into 4
drawing room. fitted up and furnished
with considerable taste and elegance
There We found the rest of the family
assembled: it consisted of an old lady
whom he introduced to us as his moth
er-a Young lady whom he named as
his dau9hter-and a middle-aged per-
son in black, who. we were given to
understand, was the family priest or
conlessor. Our acquaintance. it ap-
peared. was a rigid Catholic; and there
being no Romish place of Worship in
his neig ghborhood, he afforded home
and a maintenance to domestic chap
lain. They We're all, especially the
master of the house and his chaplain,
well-bred people. The old lady was
frank and loquacious; the young one,
without being either shy or forward,
maintained her own share in the con-
versation; and both the priest and his
patron had seen the world, and seen it
to advantage. Nor was it 10y their
conversation alone that they sought to
amuse us. Tea. or rather Il sort of
compound between tea and dinner, was
ordered in. On the same table were
arranged cups and saucers. several
dishes Of cold meat, few bottles of
different kinds of wine, and fruit in
plentiful variety. OF all of these we
were Hospitality invited to partake;
and, as the reader will easily believe, it
required no violent pressing on the
part of our entertainers to urge us to Il
compliance.
All this was satisfactory enough, nor
had we any better reason to complain
either of the beds or lodging apart
mentS which We're offered for our ac-
commodation. Our meal being con-
| cluded, and as much claret consumed
rs we felt dispose to indulge in. the
master Of the house led us up stairs,
and ushered us into Il large, well-fur-
nlShed chamber, from which door
opened into Il smaller apartment be
Nond. In the former stood Il capa-
clous tour-post bed; in the latter, a
neat French couch was erected. These
conveniences he pointed out, and leav-
ing us to decide by whom they should
respectively be occupied, he wished us
goodnight, and withdrew.
My companion happened to be, at
this time, in delicate state of health
the tatigues of the two last days
oyercame him, and he readily and glad
ly threw himself upon the bed. 1t was
not 50 with me If not robust, | was
at all events capable Of enduring my
full share of privations: and felt my.
self, under existing circumstances
called upon to eNelt my powers o
vigilance to the utmost. | did exert
lhem-instead Of lying down, | wrap
ded my cloak about me, and descend
ing quietly y to the courtyard, walked
about in the cool night air; sometimes