New Ulm review., 1903-08-05

mother should not. have the pleasure
Of welcoming you in person.
When she went to her room that
night she threw vide the windows
and looked out. The tents showed
little white specks in the dark. She
could hear the measured tread of the
sentries as they paced their beats
along the gravel at either side of
the house, and at its front and rear
as well. Another sentry paced the
length of the long, gloomy avenue.
This was war. brought home to her
more closely than it had been during
MI the six years of the conflict.
She drew down her blinds with a
sigh. She could not but remember
that her brother was on his way to
join in it on the British side, and that
others, almost as dear to her, were
already engaged upon the American.
She crept into bed with an ache at
her heart such as had seldom been
there in the 10 sheltered years Of
her life. She tossed restlessly from
side to side. Now hot Goals were be-
ing heaped upon her eyes. Good
heavens, what was it? She awakened
with a cry Of terror. A fierce light
was filling her room. There were
Ehrieks and shots and wild commo-
ton. The door between her bed
chamber and her dressing-room burst
open, and her black nanny ran in
screaming, with outstretched arms.
"Oh, my honey lamb, by Dressed
baby chile. Oh Lawd, presahv dis
innocent one from youah mighty
wrath"
''What is it? What is it?" Jane de-
manded, sliding from her bed and
staring with wide eyes, first at the
reddening window and then at the old
woman.
''It's de debbil, honey, de debbil
broke loose an come wild his legions
to devour us. De Lawd hab risen in
His wrath an our days am num-
bered." -, ~
Outside James door were shrieks
and means and prayers. Beneath her
window she could hear shots and the
trampling of horses feet and the
cracking of the flames.
She threw on dressing gown, sup
plemented it with long cloak,
dragged her nightcap from her head,
gathered her masses of hair into
loose coil, and, with hasty toilet, pre-
pared to descend.
"Oh Gawd," nanny screamed, "dis
heah chile amt nebah gwine down
dab to be shot like trapped BEASTS?
Oh my honey, my honey chile, don't
you do nothin' like dat. You stay
heah wild youah ole nanny"
'Nonsense," said Jane impatiently,
extricating herself from the en-
tangling black arms, lam I to stay up
here in truth like a trapped beast
and make no effort for the preserva-
ton of my fathers property? Me-
thinks I should ill deserve the name
of Ellery were I to remain inactive
at such time"
She unlocked the door wi tn en-
phatic hand, and, as it opened at her
and sobs that had been waited
through her keyhole. There, hud-
died in disconsolate group, some upon
their knees, others weeping upon
neighboring shoulders, were the wo-
men house-servants in all conceivable
styles of disarray. =
'Oh missy, sabe us! sabe us! De
day of Jedg'ment hab come! Sabe
us! sabe us!"
She made her way towards the
stairs, the women following at her
heels. A door at her left opened
and relocated figure rushed out.
buckling belt with nervous haste.
Eye gods, madam, let me pass" he
cried, and brushing past her with
scant ceremony descended the steps
at bound. ..-
Other marital figures, more coatless
than, coated, were running through
the lower hall. Evidently it was the
first of the strife which had awakened
her, and the British were only just
getting into line to repel the in
vasion.
She had expected to find the rear
of the house in flames, for it was
from the rear that the red glow came,
but the dwelling itself was as yet un-
touched, though some outbuildings
were burning furiously, the sparks
flying rather too thickly for comfort.
| Uncle Peter and Gabriel and even her
stepmother's pet, Sampson, with the
| other men-servants belonging to the
house, were standing in a group in
| the middle of the dining-room peer
ing towards the end window, watch
ing the flames rise towards the star
| filled heavens, for the night had
cleared and there was a sitter wind
| than was agreeable to Jane. Not long
was the group allowed to remain in
active With quick command, she set
! them to packing the silver and arti.
cles of value that could be easily
moved, while she herself placed the
precious china in strong box that
was kept ever ready for such emer-
] gency.
| She threw open one of the dining.
/ room windows and stepped out onto
i the broad side-porch to reconnoiter