Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-07-07

hs tHe bdlIOF naStlly leIt the room.
"PhGbus," to the butler. Ego tell Ce-
sar to call the slaves to the house. You,
Scipio," to n OF the footmen, "go
open the arm chest. Katharine, reach
me my sword. See that the doors are
closed, Billy" said the colonel to the
other servant rapidly and with perfect
coolness. II think, Katharine. that per
haps you would better retire to your
room" But eve as he spoke the
sound Of hurried footsteps and excited
voices outside was heard. After a few
moments n Of the field hands, fol-
lowed by Seymour. burst painting into
the room. his mouth working with ex
element and his eyes almost starting
from his head.
"Well. sir, what is 1T" said the colo
mel.
"Foh de Lawd's sake, sub, dey'ss
a-comin', sub; dey'se a-comin'! Dey'se
right benin me! Dey'll be heah In a
minute, suhr'
"Who is coming. you idioty' exclaim-
ed the colonel.
"De redcoats, de British sojuhs, sub.
Dey'se fohty boat loads OBJ 'em. Dey'se
come of fun de III sloop out In de
rfbah, and dey'se gwine kill we all and
bun de house down. Dey done shot
Mars Blodgett. and dey'se comm heah
special to get you. sub, Mars Kunnel,
kase l heahd dem say when l was
lyin' down on de WHAT dat de man dey
wanted was dat Kunnel Wilton"
at Is quite true, sir. They seem to
be a party of raiders of some Sort
said Seymour coolly. II fear that
Blodgett has been killed, as / heard
nothing of him. I saw them from the
brow of the hill. Perhaps you may
escape by the back way, though there
Is little time for that. Do you take
Miss Wilton and try II, sir. Leave me
to hold these men In play"
"Yes. yes, father urged Katharine.
IL know 1t must be Lord Dunmore's
men and Johnson. They know that
you have come back from France. and
now the man wants to take you pris-
oner. You remember what the govern
or told you at Willlamsburg-that he
would make you rue the day you cast
your lot in with the colonists and re-
fused to assist him in the prosecution
OF his measures. And you know we
have been warned at least a dozen
times about 1t. Oh, what shall we do?
DO fly. and let me stay here and re-
ceive these men,"
"What. My daughter. do you think
q Wilton has ever left his house to be
defended by his guest and by a wom-
AMI Seymour. l believe, however. as
m officer In the service Of our country.
your best curse is to leave while there
In yet time"
IL will never leave you. sir. l will
stay here with you and Mistress Kath-
arine and share whatever fate may
have In store for YOU"
But even as he spoke the crowding
footsteps of many men were heard at
both entrances to the wide hallway
which ran through the house. At the
same moment the door was violently
thrown open and the dining room was
filled win an irregular mass of motley,
ragged, red coated men. whose reck-
less demeanor and hardened faces in
dicated that they had been recruited
from the lowest and most depraved
classes of the inhabitants OF the COL
ony. They were led by a middle aged
hal Of dissipated appearance. whose
rough and brutal aspect was not con-
cealed by the captains uniform he
wore. nor was the malicious triumph
In his bearing and in his voice yelled
by the mock courtesy with which he
advanced. pistol In hand.
"what means this intrusion. sirY'
shouted Colone, Wilton in a voice OF
thunder.
'.This Is Colonel Wilton, l believe. Is
It not?" said the leader Of the band.
taking or his hat.
"Yes, sir, II Is; you. Mr.. Johnson.
should be the last to forget 1t. and l de-
sire to know at once the meaning of
this outrageous descent upon a peace
full dwelling"
The man bowed low with mock
courtesy. II shall have TO ask your
RuEuVus uy uCuK oiE, LVf uppcdIiuk Dc-
fore the great Colonel Wilton 90 un-
ceremoniously. But my orders. l re
gret to say. allow me no discretion
whatever: they are imperative. You
are my prisoner. l have been sent
here by my Lord Dunmore, the govern
or Of this colony OF Virginia, to secure
the persons Of some Of the principal
rebelli0us subjects Of his majesty King
George. and your name. unfortunately
y the hrst and chiefest on the list. 1
shaIl have to request you to accompany
me at once"
The master Of the situation smiled
mocktngiy. and the colonel. white with
anger. looked about the room. Re-
sistnnss was perfectly hopeless; al The
windows even wer now blocked up
~ The irregular soIdiery.
ne has choeen ! At man to DO hiG
work" sald the colonel. In naughty
scogn: railing ssptlsmen, he must
hssdS taks blAeksqards srd bollies Int
y Hn
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