The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-18

Of these roses. bright and glowing. TO
be seen from the doorstep of the hip
rooted house of the Ashes.
On a summer morning in ISL Mis-
trss Ashe stood on the threshold OF
her house. and, shading her eyes with
slim fingers, she gazed intently New
bern way. lin the dusk of the great hall
behind Mistress Ashe showed a crowd
Of dark frightened faces: the slaves
had crowded to the mansion at the
first report Of the coming Of the Brit
ish foe. Except for these slaves Mis-
tress Ashe and her sister were alone.
The sister was hat Mistress Wiley
Jones stories of whose charm Of man
ner still bloom perennial in North
Carolina history and song. Mistress
Jones was now on a visit from her
own home in Virginia.
The column Of dust rapidly approach
ed. The sound of mrching feet might
almost have been heard.
Mistress Ashe turned to one of her
sIa yes: Go quickly" she commanded.
Request my sister to come hither with
all haste to tell me what heer the Of
fered this PaTletOn, whom | 9 brings
now on us his host
The slave had scarce disappeared
wheu Mistress Jones. just learning Of
the dreaded approach of the enemy,
was fastening to her sister.
is it. indeed. TarletOn2'' cried Mis-
tress Jones. rs it, indeed. that brag-
ging colonel? I must tell you. sister.
hat this same Tarlesn bears me 4
grudge.'-
Heaven forbid" exclaimed Mis-
tress Ashe, for TarletOn's wrath was
to be dreaded.
When the English under Cornwalls
marched from Wilmington u Virginia
prSued Mistress Jones eXcitedty,
while they tarried upon the Roanoke.
Il party of officers we've quartere' upon
us. Among them was this TJ-iatCn.
On the night on which they We're -
leave us the braggart grew very bold
in his talk of us of the rebellion as
he called us. Roundly he abused our
noble friend. General George Wash
ingtOn: more rudely still our dear
friend and the generals kinsman. Col
OneI William Washington. He spoke
of him as that iIliterate fellow
What cried Mistress Ashe.
"TrUa And moreover" quoth Mis-
tress Jones. "he said: I hear this
much-vaunted fellOw-this Will Wash
ington-can scarce write his own
name"
All" quoth Mistress Ashe indig-
nant1y.
Then. ere pausing for prudent
thought. I cried: But. Colonel Tarle-
ton. you ought to know better than
that. for YOU bear on your person
proof that he we'll knows now to make
his mark"
My sister" cried Mistress Ashe.
dared you so alIude to hat saber
stroke in the hand which the gallant
Washington did give the Tarleton at
C~owpensi"
Il had cause to regret the swiftness
OF my tongue" declared Mistress Jones
for he straightway put his mark of
devastation on h sundry parts Of ny
property"
stay" cried Mistress Ashe. with a
Startled gesture of remembrance.
Hast thou heard of the three-fold oath
that this Tarleton rag registered, re-
peating it till its braggart echoes re-
sound from seabord to untouched
forest?''
Tel me in all haste" urged Mis-
tress Jones. for they are now almost
at earshOt."
H has sworn that he will plant the
flag of old England on every hOusetOp
in our land-if not on turret, then,
~fOrSOOth. on the ashes of every dwelling
He hath sworn that he will carry our
noble leaders, the Washingtons. in
chains to England. He hath sworn
that he will quaff a stirrup cup, a luck
drink to these horrid accomplishments,
from the Ashe punch BOWL"
Heaven defend u.s." calculated Mis-
tress Jones.
On the instant the two beautiful
sisters presented an undaunted front
to the foes.
General Leslie was in command. and
right glad were the sisters that the
h~Otheaded Tarleton was accompanied
by a superior officer. Right gracious
ly did General Leslie request what he
might have demanded from the de-
fenSeleSS women. food and drink for
his men and his officers.
The shining mahogany was soon set
put with ample store. The Saracen's
head peering from the heraldic device
on every glittering piece of silver SEEM
ed to desire now to exchange its noble
motto, Non sibi sed alienis.' to a
ringing "A strong arm for us and a
sword-point for Others"
But the Saracen heads kept all to
their inviOlable silence. Mistress Ashe
also held her lips silent through all
Tarleton's braggart abuse of the forces
of her countrymen, while her heart
beat with anxiety lest he take this
occasion to demand q brew in the Ashe
punch bowl.
Minded of the thrust in the parrying
Of wits that Mistress Jones had dealt
him on the Roanoke. he was fain now
to repeat his bit of braggadOciO. sure
that Mistress Jones would now be at
his mercy. fearing, as she surely would
fear. to bring by any bit of her tom
CUES sharpness his anger pom her
sister.
Here. too. Mistress Jones" he cried
loudly. Il find friends of those ungain-
y woOdsmen, the Washington Would
l could see these wonders of the west
ern world. these
All. Colonel TarletOn.f rang out Mis-
tress Ashes clear tones. had YOU but
looked behind you at Cowpens. when
you fed so unceremOniously. you could
nave had that pleasure"
ON he instant TarletOn grasped his
sword hilt. Bitterly did Mistress Ashe
repent on the instant of the piece Of
repartee. since become a line of our
history.
What would have been the instant
result of TarletOn's wrath none could
tell. for at that moment General Les
lie. hitherto detained -irboI- o0tar-