The Somerset reporter., 1897-07-15
A PATRIOTS WIFE.

A PATRIOTS WIFE.
One warm morning in the spring OF
1850 Mrs. Slocumb was sitting on the
broad piazza about her home on large
plantation in South Carolina. Her nus
band and many of his neighbors were
with Sumter fighting for the strug
Cling colonies, hut on this beautiful
morning there were almost no signs of
war to BIZ scon As yet his plantation
had not been mole-tcd, 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 Il moment the entire scene
was changed.
There come some soldiers, " said her
sister, pointing toward an officer and 20
troopers who turned out of the highway
and entered the yard.
Mrs Slocumb made no reply, al
LnOukH IltI ldit DttdIllt IJdlf' anu lIifIb
was tightening of the lips as she
watched thu men. Her fears We're not
allayed when she became satisfied that
the leader was none other than the hat
ed Colonel Tarlcton. That short, thick
set body, dressed in a gorgeous scarlet
uniform, the florid face and cruel ex-
preston, proclaimed the approaching
IN +,.a p,,t no ,Sf
gave no sign of fear rs she arose to lis
ten to the words of the leader, who
soon drew his horse to IA halt before her.
Raising his cap and bowling to his
horses neck, he said, Have l the
pleasure of addressing the mistress Of
this plantationf'
at is my husband 8"
"And is he here?"
Gle is not. "
"He is no rebel, is he?"
"No, sir He is soldier in the army
of his country and fighting her inyad
ers. "
"He must be a 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 1, 100 men in his command had
pitched their tents, and tho peaceful
plantation took on the garb of war.
Returning to the piazza and again
bowling low the British colonel said
Necessity compels his majesty troops
to occupy your place for a 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. .
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 stiff 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
a cruel and oloodthirsty 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 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 jo-
vial under its influences I'VE shall have
few sober men by morning." said a cap
tain, ''if 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.
Yes, 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-
tion made over to me as ducal seat"
II have husband, whom you seem
to forget, and / can assure you he is not
the man to allow even the king himself
to have a 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,
mo sir. There are rifles there, and
good many of them, too, said Tarleton,
rising quickly and rushing to the piazza,
al example which all, including Mrs
Slocumb, at once followed She was
r. Il, g.,