Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-26
Oh ApTEP "

The morning meeting had been devoted
to principles ard TO the awakening of
enthusiasm; in the evening the conspira-
tors condescended upon details, and we
held prolonged and anxious conference
az the Signorina'S. Mrs. Darlington was
commanded to have a headache after din
ner, and retired with it to bed; and from
ten till one we sat and conspired. The
result of our deliberations was a pretty
plan, of which the main outlines were as
follows:
This was Tuesday. On Friday night,
the Colonel, with twenty determined ruff
fans Cor resolute patriots) previously
bound to him, body and soul, by dona-
ton of no less than fifty dollars a man,
was to surprise the Golden House, seize
the person of the President and all cash
and securities on the premises; no killing
if it could be avoided, but on the other
hand no shillyshally. McGregor wanted
TO put the President out of the way at
once, as a precautionary measure but |
strongly opposed this proposal, and, find
ing the Signorina was absolutely infiex-
IDLE on the same side, he yielded.
| had strong desire to be present at
this midnight surprise, but another duty
called for my presence. There was a
gala supper at the barracks that even
ing. to commemorate some incident or 9TH
er in the national history, and l was to be
present and TO reply to the toast of THE
Commerce of Aureataland" Ny task
was, at all hazards, to keep this party GO
ing till the Colonies job was DONE when
he would appear at the soldiers quarters,
bride in hand, and demand their allie
glance. Our knowledge of the character
of the troops made US regard the result
as certainty, if once the President were
a prisoner and the dollars before their
eyes. The Colonel and the troops were
TO surround the officers messroom, and
offer them life and money. or death and
destruction. Here again we anticipated
their choice with composure. The army
was then TO be paraded in the Piazza, the
town overawed or converted, and, behold,
the Revolution was accomplished
The success of this design entirely de-
pended on its existence remaining a dea
secret from the one man we feared. and
on that one man being found alone and
unguarded at II o'clock on Friday night
If he discovered the plot, we were lost
If he took it into his head to attend the
supper, our difficulties would be greatly
increased. At this point we turned TO the
signorina, and | said, briefly:
This appears TO be where you come in.
Signorina. Permit me to invite you to
dine with his excellency on Friday exen-
ing at s precisely
You mean" she said slowly. that
am TO keep him at home on Friday?"
Yes" said l. rs there any dificulty?"
II do not think there is great difficult
ty," she said, ''but 1 don't like it; it
looks so treacherous."
Of course it did. l didn't like her do
ing it myself, but how else was the Pres
ident TO be secured?
Rather late TO think of that, isn't
itF' asked McGregor, with a sheer. "a
revolution won't run on high emotional
wheels"
Think how he jockeyed you about the
money" said 1, assuming the part of the
tempter.
by the way" said McGregor, cts un-
derstood the Signorina enters into pos
session of the Presidents country villa,
isn't it?''
Now my poor Signorina had longing
for that choice little retreat, and between
resentment for her lost money and a de
sire for the pretty house, she was sore