Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-28


were Federalists, ordered his men in
the house and established a ness
room in the paneled parlor. The
house was soon filed with soldiers,
whose rude manner and coarse talk
made the master and mistress thank
full that pretty Dorothy was safe out
OF sight in the paneed closet. The
old people were commanded to stay
in their bedchamber, which was first
thoroughly searched for booty. The
slaves were ordered to serve meals
and the farm and pantries were ran
sacked for eatables.
Bring thai old rebel down here"
commanded The captain. A soldier
assembled the stars and brought Geo.
Sinclair 10 face his enemy.
Are these all the valuable you
have?' demanded the captain, point
ing to a small pile Of silverware and
inferior household linen.
"Yes," answered the old man sadly;
"the fortunes of war are haru for
tunes, and we have been forced to
part with all but these; | pray you,
captain, save us these few heirloUms.'
The captain dismissed him with an
oath, saying:
II take all | cam get from rebels.
When George Sinclair returned to
his wlfe's room he tod her Of the ruse
he had used, Saying:
81 left a little silver and linen that
he might think we had made no eff
fort to conceal our belongings"
The ruse was successful and the
captain, thinking he had obtained
everything, ordered his men in for
the night, but fntling they needed the
masters sleeping room, they turned
him and his wife out of the house,
telling them to sleep in he barn.
George Sinclair's Indignation at
this outrage was thoroughly aroused;
bidding Uncle Pomp to harness up,
he and his wife left the place under
the cover of darkness to obtain help
from neighbors living some miles dis
tant.
"l,ut we must not leave Dorothy"
whispered the grief-stricken mother.
Cur child is safe" answered her
husband.
"Not if they should fire the house."
"They will NOT do that. They need
Vt for shelter. Come! come! we must
not waste a moments time. There
must be quick action TO save our dar-
ling and our home"
They drove rapidly away through
the gloomy night.
Dorothy spent day she never for
got. 1t grew dark, and she could still
bear the soldiers i'm drunken revelry
in the dear paneled room. Presently
she heard agtated voices, then low,
anxious discussion. Pressing her ear
against the panel she caught enough
Of the convewat ion to learn that
something was coming which seemed
to fiji the hearts of THE soldiers with
terror. Quick, sharp, commands were
given.
"Fall in! March to the boats!" But
instead of the orderly tramp of
marching feet, there was the con-
fused hurry of retreat. The house
was silent, and Dorothy fell on her
knees and prayed out her thankful
ness, Hank! What was that noise?
1t was the even, steady tramp of SOL
lers' feet. Her heart sank within
hen again. 1ney were coming back!
Then there came a sound Nike the
rush Of q whirwlnd, sharp shots rang
in the air, shr'iIIl cries were heard, and
Dorothy realized a little the horrors
of war.
A short time before the retreat no
the beats the HesSian guards recog-
nized the tramp of soldiers far up
the road, and ran to the house with
the news that an army was march
ing down upon them. The cowaNIIy
men feared being caught in the house
like rats in a trap and fled to the
boats. As the last man ran down the
lawn Henry Fairfax and Lewis Sin
clair, with a few officers and men
came down the road, little dreaming
that an enemy was in possession on
uhe homestead; but Uncle Pomp gave
the word in time, and they galoped
to the shore and sent shower of
bullets after the fleeing enemy. Uncle
Pomp told the story of the eventfnl
day to Coz. Fairfax.
"But where are ne folks?' he in
guired eagerly.
"Deys gone! De debbils turned EN-
out but, oh, Unwd massy!" Uncle
Pomp's voice broke into hoarse
whisper as he gasped; whar, oh,
whar. is Miss Dolly.
"What do you mean?" demanded
Fairfax, sharply. Did not Miss Dony
90 with her father
mo! no! Massa Harry! nebber
fought tin iis dis minnit. Massa an
old missy done gone alone; de debbils
hev carried off MISS Dolly. Oh, my
Lawd!"
Fairfax staggered like a man who
lad received his deaIthbow, then, re-
covering himself, he shouted his or
ders.
ride back for reinforcements! Get
boats alt any price! Quick, for the
love Of God" Then he staggered to-
ward the house.
"Dere Dere. Massa Harry, youl0
find her all right. Come inter de
house an Uncle Pomp will give YOU