The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-29
A PATRIOTS WIFE.

One warm morning in tho spring Of
1880 Mrs. Slocumb was sitting on the
broad piazza about her homo on large
plantation in South Carolina. Her hus-
band and many of his neighbors were
with Sumter, fighting for the strug-
CLING colonies, but ON this beautiful
morning there were almost no signs Of
war to be seen. AS yet his plantation
had not been molested, and as Mrs. Slo-
,cumb glanced at her little child playing
near her or spoke to her sister, who was
her companion, or addressed word to
the servants there was no alarm mani
fest. But in moment the entire scene
was changed.
There come some soldiers" said her
sister, pointing toward an officer and 90
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 a Tightening Of the lips as sho
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 forid 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 tho leader, who
soon drew his horse to halt before her.
Raising his cap and bowling to his
horse's neck, he said, "Have l the
pleasure of addressing the mistress Of
this plantation?''
1t is my husbands"
"And is he here?"
He is not"
HE is no rebel, is hep
"No, sir. He is soldier in the army
of his country and fighting her invad-
ers.'
Gle 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 no made
no reply, and turning to one of bis
companions, gave orders for ~ camp tc
be made III tho orchard near by. Soon
the 1,100 men i'll 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
Z 10 occupy your place for time, and !
will have to make my quarters i'll your
house; that is, if it will not lie toe
great an Inconvenience to you.
My family consists at present of
only myself, lily child and sister, be
sides the servants, and we must obey
your orders.
In less than an hour the entire place
was transformed. The white tents GOV
cred the lawn, horses were tied to tb,
high rail fences, soldiers in bright uni
forms were moving here and there. Be
fore entering the house the British colo
y mel called some of his officers and CAV,
sharp orders for securing the countr,
within the neighborhood of 10 or 1
miles.
This sharp command was not lost up
on Mrs. Slocumb, nor was she slow t
act upon it herself, as we soon shall see
But for the present, trying to stifie he
fears, she determined to make the hes
of the situation and avert all the DANCE
possible by providing for the comfor
Of Tarleton and his men, and according
IL she had a dinner soon ready fit for
king, and surely far too good for sue
cruel and bloodthirsty man as Tarlt
ton soon WAS known to be.
When the colonel and his staff wei
summoned to the dining room, they Sc
down to table which fairly groane