A Daughter of Maryland — page 175: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

152 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. ‘*Good-evening, miss,’’ greeted the. Confederate. ‘‘We are looking for what we are sadly in need of—rations for man and beast. Wetrust the best you have yon are willing to place at our disposal. If not it will be all the same to us.’”’ The speaker’s tone boded them harm, while his action carried alarm to her heart, for he advanced to enter the house unbidden. With what calmness she could command, Aurian said: ! ‘‘T trust you intend no deed of violence to those who are loyal to the cause which you are upholding. We are only unprotected women here, and——’’ Sharp words from the officer checked her speech, as he continued to approach, while confused cries and sounds came from the direction of the stable. With a realization of her helpless situation, Aurian retreated a few steps, and ° seeing the trembling ‘S’posen Jones standing near by, she told him to hasten to the stable to look after affairs there. Then she said to the officer: ‘‘If you and your men will come into the manor, I promise you the best the place affords is at your benefit, only I trust you will allow no wanton destruction of property. ’’ | ‘‘Seems to me you are mighty pert, miss, for one in your situation. You seem to forget if we chose we could raze this old building to the ground. ’’ ‘‘T do not forget that it belongs to you as a gentleman to see that it is not done, sir.’’ ‘‘Dare defy us, do you, miss, and stand in our way! We have no time to bandy words with any of Old Abe’s fol- lowers,’’ and seizing her by the shoulders he was about to hurl her aside, when Esten Berners, who could not remain in the background a witness to any further indignity, leaped forward crying: ‘‘Hold! I will not see this young lady insulted at any cost to myself. She has a father. at the head of a regiment in Lee’s army, and she is as loyal to the South——”’ comicboo cS rele) mn tes