At the Cannon's Mouth- They said it was a forced march, First, some soldiers oun horseback went tearing by with a terrible clatter leaving a cloud of dust behind them, then it was all quiet for an bour. I heard a tramping, and looking up to the crest ofrising ground to the north saw the road packed with soldiers on foot. They came quickly up, and I scarcely had time to see what they looked like before those in front had passed. They didn't march like sol- diers I had seen in the city on a gala- day, when I was a little girl; they hurried along, each man walking as he liked. I wondered how they could 0 80 fast, they were loaded down so. hey carried great heavy knapsacks and blankets, and tin pans and can- teens, besides their muskets. They looked more as if they were gone to sct up house-keeping thanto war. While I was leaning on the win~ dow-sill, looking out and watching them, I saw a young officer ride iato the yard, just as it he belonged to the place—or, rather, as if the place belonged to him—and back toward the barn. Two soldiers rode close be- hind him, and they got down off their horses and went into the barn. I thought at once they were afier our horses. My pony was there, and I made up my mind theyshouldn't take | him without walking over my dead body. I ran down s'airs and out to the barn. If I had been making a forced march myself I couldn’t bave one faster. Before I got there they ad two hot ses out, and were haroess ing them to the farm wagon. I marched straight vp to the officer and asked him what he was doing. He was a trifle startled at seeing a of men. The rst day they drank up all the water in the well. Then the regiments marched by almost fast as when they were making their forced march south. They passed cn by the house, but stopped on the crest of the hill up the road. There they began to dig with spades and shovels, and the next morning when I looked out there was a long line of forts, and the Yankee flag flying above them; and. great heavens, the black mouths of cannon frowning down at us. While I was looking I heard some- thing rattle far down the road, It sounded like emptying a barrel of stones into another barrel. Then another rattle, mingled with a con- stant dull booming.—All the morn- ing the sounds kept coming nearer { till at last I could distinctly hear the | loud reports of cannon and of muskets all fired at once. I noticed a great stir in the forts above. Horsemen were galloping back and forth; new | guns were every moment thrusting | out their ugly mouths, and men werd | marching snd countermarching. 1 | could hear their officers shouting gib- | berish at them which they must bave been Indian or Chinese to und ei stand, Then more soldiers passed the house from the south tired, dusty, grimed some of them running, some wound- ed and tottering along slowly. All passed in a steady streaw behind the fois, Suddenly a horseman dashed up to the house—he was all dust and dirt, and his horse covered with foam. He threw himself from the saddle and game up on the veranda Guod gracious! the captain, Come away from here at once, he said: our men are retreating; we are going to make a stand behind the girl standing before him, looking as | if she intended to make a rusistance. | “We're "pressing all the horses and wagons we find, along the road,” be | said. “ What do you mean by ’pressing them ?” “ We're ’pressing service.” “ What for?" “To carry the men's knapsacks. They can march faster:” “Do you think it makes it any them into The officer's face was flushed. thought it was because he was ashamed of his work; but I soon noticed that he was in a burning fever. “ You shaa’t take my pony, any- way,” I cried, going to the msn who was leading him out of the barn, and seizing the balter. “Never mind that horse,” said the officer; ‘it's only a pony. Take it back into the stable.” The man obeyed at once. They barnegsed two horses to the wagon and led the team into the road. As the soldiers marched past they threw their koapsacks upon the wagon aud it . Was soon loaded, and one of the ne groes drove it away. Just then an officer came along with 2 number of other officers sod a train of horsemen followed him. noticed that he had stars on his shoulders and wore a straight sword instead of a crooked one like the rest. “ Captain!” officer who had taken our horses and wagon, “ you'd better not try to any farther.” “1 can go on, general. It's only intermittent.” The general “Stop where you are.” Fy it witli, cat him short He spoke 8G sharp that [ thought be was going to | bite the captain's head off 1 wished the captain had the courage tio an- swer him, but he hadn't. The general and those who were with him rode on leaving the sick man sitting on his horse looking after them, to take care of himself as best be could. I noticed he wore the same ornaments on bis cap as those about the general-—a wreath—and [ concluded he was one of them. There was an interval in the pas ing regiments, and no one was near but the captain and me. With that, he gave my band a pres, sure, and looked long and steadily in to my eyes. Then he mounted bis horse and rode wway without once looking back, As soon as be had gone I comhen- ced to think what he could mean about leaving his hostage. I was sure he wouldn't offer anything very val- usable. He must know that I wouldn't like that; but I thought he might leave some little trinklet for me to remember him by. I ransacked the room he had occu pied, looked into bureau drawers, into closets, any place the ingenuity of man could find to hide anything. I even looked behind the pictures hanging on the wall. Then I went all over the house from attic to cellrr. Not a thiog could I find. Then 1 recalled his words, If you are shrewed enough to guess what it is, and went all over my search again. At last I gave it up. A pretty way to treat me, I mbled, after taking care of him 20 g! I vowed that if ever I should see him again he should tell me whether he had really left anything and what it was. » * ® * w News came of terrible fighting at the front. Btragglers, broken-down horses, mules, wagons, ambulancea from which now and then a ghastly face would look out ps by day after day for several days. The yard, bar, and the kitchen were full | graph album, body took the most useless thing to be the | works. You are directly in range be quick! the fire is liable to open at any moment. Then there was a scramble to soatch a few things. Ope took a lamp, another a pitcher, another photo It seemed as if every- fonnd. All except me were hurrying down the walk to the gate; I staid He looked at me sort o' dazed He put his hand to his head, and didn't seem to know what to do. [I led his horse up to the veranda. He dis monuoted and walked fecbly up the steps and sat down on a bench, while I took his horse round to the barn. Well, the captain was put to bed, He had typhoid fever. Occasionally when troops would come into the neighborhood, I would mount my pony, and ride over to their camp and ask to have a surgeon come and see him. Between the su.geons and my nursing we got him through the crisis. I nursed him for six weeks. Then he became convalescent, sud it was very nice to have him sitting up in an arm-chair on the yeranda looking so pale and handsome. I used to sit by him snd work, and he seemed 80 gen- tle and so patient—not at all like by appeared to me when I first saw him riding back to the barn to "press the horses-~that I began to feel sorry he wasn't one of our own men instead of being nothing but a detestable Yankee. One day while I was sitting on the vernada beside him, sewing, he said: my horse as a hostage . Yes. Oars haven't come back yet. Don’t you think you could let me take him when I get well, if I should promise to go and find your horses and have them returned ? I'll see about that when you get well, He'd been talking already about going to join the army, but I didn’t mean to let him go. He couldu't very well go withont his horse, so I wouldn't let him have it. What hostage do you require in token of my appreciation of your kindness since I've been sick? he asked. You haven't soything to leave Besides, I've done very little, I'm sure. He thought a moment. said, somewhat sadly: Yes; there's one thing I can leave-- only one. I'll leave that with you. I couldn't think of anything he had except his revolver, and I was sure he Then he | make me hurry. | up and down the veranda and through { the hall, almost more respectable to call 1t "pressing 7” | I |as if he were the I he said, looking at the | | go | behind. The captain was trying to | He was stampiog | crazy at my delay | ' he said, as sharp | general himself. Captain —I said hesitating. What is it? he asked impatiently. The hostage. What hostage? That you left when you went away; I couldn't find it. Must we leave it? He looked at me a moment as if he thought I had lost my sense; then he burst into a laugh. I never could stand to be laughed at, and just then it was particularly obnoxious. I made up my mind | that he should tell me what I had { hunted for, and tell me then and there. Never mind that, he said, seeing {that | was irritated. Save yoursell and it will be in no special danger I'll not leave said resolutely. | Come, come! this will | fileld in a few moments I won't stir a step til | what | want to know Nonsense hes; Ih 4 : more res | stock -st For Heaven | coming really frightenes | ners are standing re dy to fire | Let them fire. 1 i | Arms. + Come, be quick it, whatever it i i ec A ¥ be a battle ud more seve oll £1 lute I be till. 31% 4 i i. wouldn't leave that. Jt was not ap- propriate. me, but he said pothieg about it then. | At last he was well enough to go At least he thought so; 1 dido’t. He how anxious he was, and J didn’t op pose him any longer. So ove pleasant morning, when the air was soft aod the roads were dry, I told one of the colored boys to bring the captain's horse round from the barn. The, captain stood on th : ready to mount and ride away. His blanket and rubber poncho were strapped behind the saddle just as he had left them, and bis horse was %0 anxious to be off that the boy could hardly bold him. The captain took my hand in his to say good bye, and looked straight into my eyes. I low ered them to his spurs. You're a good girl, he said, I'll not forget your Kindness. Oh, J would far any one. Auy one? Any one [hen J] asked myself: I want ‘0 say that for. e veranda said, bat it is a very poor return be fo kindness a mere m ich oie 11d hove bitten my tongue off | Fl: was going make 8 return--<o vay Cor what J kad done for him, Y u'll find it he added, if you have s to guess where it 1s the shir win . Here? L | A volley sounded a short distance i west, my wrist Do « ome, he plea fed, Tell me what was the said stubbornly. What are you going todo? [ asked him, I was sitting on the fence, with my feet dangling It wasn't a very grace ful position, but I was only a country girl then, and didn’t know any better. I don’s know, he said wearily, I suppose I must ride back to N—, There’s a hospital there, If he hadn't been a Yankee and a robber, or a 'presser, which is the same thing, I'd have asked him to come into the house at once, he looked so sick. “Aren't you ashamed of yourself, I said, to take horses that don’t belong to you? e looked mshamed. It isn’t a pleasant business, he said, “You'd better get that poy of yours out of the way; there'll be more troops along here by-and-by. When he said this his voice sounded 80 pleasant, and he looked so sick, that I made up my mind to ask him in. Bat I couldn’t bring myself to speak kindly to him. I couldn't fore get that he was a Yankee soldier. Come into the house, Isaid sharply. He looked at me out of his x A choly, feverish eyes. No, I thank you. I'll ride beok to Nee: and be turned bis horse's head to ride away. I called to him to stop. He obeyod we, and I went out into the road and wok hold of the bridle, What do you mean by that? he ask, surprised. 'm going to "press your horse, What for? | f the i » ’ . fe : ; Lhe captain rica wo 1 nustage, ] To keep “or the = re'urs ~# the sou ve taken, “1 ! Here? J y this is not a fit place to tell wa that. For the | come away!“ | vowed to conquer him | or die on the field. . “You shall either tell me or I shall | stay here till the battle is over. fle looked at the frowning forts anxiously’ then back at me. Yes must? know, “Yes " Now ”. “Now.” well, then; Molly dear I left you my heart.” Istood as onewhosees an ene- my coming straight down on him whose limbs are paralyzed from the suddenness of the discovery. Merciful Heavens! what had I done ? What stu- pidity | The blood rushed in a torrent to my cheeks; I covered my face with my hands, “ And now, sweetheart” taking One of my hands from my burning cheek and leading me away--"if you are satisfied with the hostage, we won't ny here any longer.” » he spoke there was an explosion in the forts, and it seemed as if a dozen shrieking cats were whirling over our heads. I almost wished one of them would strike me dead. The captain led me like a child towards the forts through smoke aud noise and con fusion, I didn't think of the battle that was opening; I thonght only how immodest he must thiok me, and that he never would believe 1 could be so stupid as not to know what he ment by leaving his hostage. I have had to suffer all my life for that one mistake, I never can bave my own way about anything for when my husband finds all other expedients for governing to be failures, he invar- iably taunts me with having forced hig secret at the cannon’s mouth F. A. Mivcuge, 1 Miss Mollie, are you still holding | I waited for him to tell | was as weak as a kitten, but J saw | have done the same What did | I leave you the hostage I spoke of, | love of Heaven do | The Population of Bellefonte, Is about 7,000, and we would say a Inst one hall are troubled with some affection of the Throat ond Lungs, as those complaints are, according to sta- tistics, more numerous than others We would advise all not to neglect the opportunity to call on their druggist and get a bottle of Kemp's Balsam for the Throat and Lungs. Price H0c and $1 00. Trial size free. Bold by ail drug- gists, i —>—-_—] — Itohing Piles, Sysrroms. — Moisture; intense itching and stinging; most at night; worse by scratching, If allowed to continue tumors form, which often bleed and uleerate, becoming very sore, Swavxe's OinrMent stops the itching and bleed- ing, keals the ulceration, and in many cases removes the tumors. It ix equally efficacious in curing all skin Diseases, Dr. Swayne & Son, Proprietors, Phila delphia. Swayoe's Ointment can be obtained of druggists. Sent by mail for 50 cents, 10-19-tf, ——— — English Spsavin Linimant removes all Hard, Soft, or Calloused Lumps and Blemishes from horses, Blood Spavin Carbs, Splints, Sweeney, Stifles Sprains | Sore and Swollen Throat, Coughs, Ete. { Save $50 by use of one bottle, Warrant- ed. Sold by F. Potts Green, Druggist, jellefonte Pa. B-44-1y. Cy, — The Handsomenst Lady in Bellefonte Remarked to a friend the other day that she knew Kemp's Balsam for the Throat and Lungs dy, as it stopped her cough instantly when others had no eflect whatever, 80 to prove this and convince you of its merit, any druggist will give you a Sam- ple Bottle Free. Large size 50¢ and gl. ny — : Buckrex's Anxica Savve, ~The Best Salve inthe world for Cuts, Bruises, | Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped hands, Chilblaint Corns, and all skin eruptions, and posi tively cures Piles, or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give pérfect satisfac. tion, or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For saleby J. Zrrren & Sox, AW AI—— —= RUPTURE CURE GUARNTEED BY DR. J. p. Maver ~831 Arch St. Phil'a Pa. Ease st once, no opggstion or delay from business, attested by thousands of cures after others fail. Advice free. Send | for circular, 11-1yr. — A, — For the Hook | er Nurseries, established 1835. Steady | employment, on salery or commission, {Outfits free. Full iopstructions given | inexperienced men. Send for terms iat once. H. E Hooker & Co., Roches jter N, Y, 2mo. | —Sirpsmex Waste — A——— An Unparalied Offer , 1.=Crxrae Dexocnar £1.00 , 2. ~The American Agriewltural- iat, post paid, ( English or Ger- man) for 1888, “Ohrist before Pilate,” oy by 28 inches in size, photo- etching, Vo. 4. -“Christ on Calvary,” 22 by 28 inches in size, Mexzo- graveure, No. 5. "Our Homes; How to beau- tify Them,” 150 illustrations, cloth December and gold, 20h, RR7, | bound in published i in Total $5.00 above § We will furnish sll the post pa d, for A) Send postal to York for specimen copy of the Amarican Agri pages | Homes; How to them,” of “Christ of “Oar fu a wlturist, sample beautify i the J and “Christ on Calvary,” descriptions clures, before Pilate” end portrait of Munkacsy, the painter of these great works — hy —— —Druxkexxuss ox vag Ligror Hamir Posirivery CURgp ADMIN] ] serine Dn Haixe's Gorous Srecivic, It | ny : can be given in a cup of coffee or tea without | the knowledge of the person taking it; lis absolutely harmless and will effect | permanent and speedy cure, whether | the patient is a moderates drinker or an | alooholic wreck. Thousands of drunk- ards have been made temperate men who have taken Golden Specific in their coffee without their knowledge, and to- day believe they quit drinking of their own free will. IT NEVER Specific it becomes an utter im possibili- ty for the liquor appetite to exist. For particu ars, ete, address GOLDEN SPECIFIC CO, 185 Race st, Cincin- nati O, —— A A Stab in the Dark, Sometimes fails of its murderous in- tent. The insidious an i dastardly at. tacks made upon the reputation of Hostetter's Stomach Bitters by persons who seek to palm off cheap and fiery tonics as identical wiih it, or “the same thing under another name’! or ‘equally as good,” in most instances react dissstrously upon the unprinei. pled traders upon popular eredulit who attempt them, converting their speculations into ruinous failures, The Bitters is a pure, wholesome and thorough medicine, adapted to the to- tal cure and prevention of fever and sgue, billious remittent, dyspepsia,‘con- stipation, billiousness, debility, ner- viousness and kidney troubles. Its every ingredient, unlike those in the imitations of it, is of an ascertained standard bfexcelienes, and while they, by reason of their fiery properties, react injuriously upon the brain and ner- vous system, of both those or it is a sodative and invigorant, fuse all these harmful imitations, 23-1 m. wd ————. Is the proprietor of this botel as profane as over ! inquired a pious parson of the clerk. Oh, no; he's sworn off forever. Indeed ! Has he joined the church 7 No; be wag bericd venlerday. i WAS A superior reme~ | THE CENTRE DEMOCRAT! The Largest, Cheapest and Best Paper in the County. 751 Broadway New | The Democrat is bound to be abreat of the times and will constantly and con- sistently advoeate what it believes to be in the inter= ests of the people. | FAILS, | The system once impregnated with the | OF | QAR eprint = No man can afford to be with- out a county paper and at ONE DOLLOR The Democrat is plac- ed in reach of all. SUBSCRIBE AT ONCE!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers