The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-08-03
A PATRIOTS WIFE.

| the servants there was no alarm mani
fest. But in a moment the entire scene
was changed.
''There come some soldiers, " said her
sister, pointing toward an officer and &c
troopers who turned out of the highway
and entered the yard.
Mrs. Slocumb made no reply, al
though her face became pale and there
was Tightening Of the lips as she
watched the men. Her fears were not
allayed when she became satisfied that
the leader was none other than the hat
ed Colonel Tarleton. That short, thick
set body, dressed in gorgeous scarlet
uniform, the ford face and cruel ex-
preston, proclaimed the approaching
officer only too we'll. But the mistress
gave no sign of fear as she arose to lis
ten to the words of the leader, who
soon drew his horse to a halt before her.
Raising his cap and bowling to his
horses neck, he said, "Have l the
pleasure of addressing the mistress of
this plantation?"
sit is my husbands -
"And is he here?'
''He is not. "
He is no rebel, is he?'
''No, sir. He is soldier in the army
of his country and fighting her invad-
ers. {"
He must be rebel and no friend of
his country if he fights against his
king"
"Only slaves have masters here, re-
piled the undaunted woman.
Tarleton's face flushed, but he made
no reply, and, turning to one of his
companions, gave orders for camp to
be made in the orchard near by. Soon
the l, 100 men in his command had
pitched their tents, and the peaceful
plantation took on the garb of war.
Returning to the piazza and again
bowling low the British colonel said:
Necessity compels his majesty's troops
to occupy your place for time, and
will have to make my quarters in your
house; that is, if it will not be too
great an inconvenience to you
My family consists at present of
only myself, my child and sister, be-
sides the servants, and we must obey
your orders. y
In less than an hour the entire place
was transformed. The white tents COW
cred the lawn, horses were tied to the
high rail fences, soldiers in bright uni
forms were moving here and there. Be-
fore entering the house the British colo
mel called some of his officers and gave
sharp orders for securing the country
within the neighborhood of 10 or 10
miles.
This sharp command was not lost up
on Mrs. Slocumb, nor was she slow to
act upon it herself, as we soon shall see.
But for the present, trying to stifis her
fears, she determined to make the best
of the situation and avert all the danger
possible by providing for the comfort
of Tarleton and his men, and according
ly she had dinner soon ready fit for a
king, and surely far too good for such
cruel and bloodthirsty man as Tarle-
ton soon was known to be.
When the colonel and his staff were
summoned to the dining room, they sat
down to a table which fairly groaned
beneath the good things heaped upon
it. 1t was such dinner as only the
South Carolina matrons knew how to
prepare, and the men soon became 10
vial under its influences. 'We shall have
few sober men by morning." said cap
tain, eff this is the way we are to be
treated. suppose when this little war
is over all this country will be divided
among the soldiers. Eth, colonel"
Undoubtedly the officers will occu-
Ply large portions of the country" re-
piled Tarleton.
eyes, know just how much they
will each occupy, said Mrs Slocumb,
unable to maintain silence longer.
"And how much will that be, mad
ann" inquired Tarleton, bowling low.
six feet two. !"
The colonel's face again flushed with
anger as he replied, Excuse me, but
shall endeavor to have this very planta-
ton made over to me as ducal seat. +"
81 have husband, whom you seem
to forget, and can assure you he is not
the man to allow even the king himself
to have quiet seat on his ground. ;"
But the conversation suddenly was
interrupted by the sounds of firing.
Some struggling scout running
away" said one of the men, not quite
willing to leave the table,
"No, sir. There are rifles there, and a
good many of them, too, said TarletoE,
rising quickly and rushing to the piazza,
an example which all, including Mrs.
Slocumb, at once followed. She was
trembling now, for she felt assured that
she could explain the cause of the COM
motion.
MAY l ask, madam" said Tarleton,
turning to her as soon as he had given
his orders for the action of the troops,
whether any of Washington's forces
are in this neighborhood or notP"
"You must know that General Green
and the marquis are In South Carolina,
and I have no doubt you would be
pleased to see Lee once more. He shook
your hand very warmly the last time he
met you, / am told. P"
An oath escaped the angry colonel s
lips, and he glanced for moment at
the scar which the wound Lee had made
had left on his hand, but he turned
abruptly and ordered the troops to form
on the right, and he dashed down the
lawn.
A shout and the sound of firearms
drew the attention of Mrs. Slocumb to
the long avenue that led to the house.
A cry escaped her at the sight, for
there was her husband, followed by two
of her neighbors, pursuing on horseback
band of five Tories whom Tarleton
had sent to scour the country.
On and ON they came, and 1t was evil
dent that the pursuers were too busy to
have noticed the army of Tarleton.
Broadswords and various kinds Of wea-
pons were flashing in the air, and it
was plain that the enraged Slocumb saw
nothing but the Tories he was pursuing.
Gould nothing be doneF Would they run
into the very heart of the oampV Mrs.
Slocumb tried to scream and warn her
husband, but not sound could she
make. One of the Tories had just fallen,
xvhan aha aaxv har and "a hngn0 and