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Show ) ROEBUCK. I ,vill ren1ain here. Let hin1 bnrn the house and me too." Belle descended again and informed the captain thnt her mistress could not be ren1ovecl withouL risk of her life, ancl 'voulcl not consent to leave the hou "'c. She in1plorecl hiln not to burn the house with her n1istrcss in it. lie repeated his forn1er threat, ,vith nu~!lY oaths. When the servant returned to t hp -chatnber she found that 1\Irs. J.1'itzhugh had con1po:-:;"d herself in bed 'vith rigid resolution, and was evidently preparing her n1ind for the death 'vhich he expected. She said to her servant-" ~tay here unt.il they fire the house; then save yourself. I hope tlus sacrifice " ·ill arouse the indignation of n1en and the justice of !leaven to arrest the atrocious systen1 of 'varfare that is desolating n1y conn try. Tell 1ny dear Ilugh that I die bles::.;ing hin1. God save Virginia. Now £1.rewell, my good girl. I 1nust prepare for death." Belle uttered loud lan1entations, and, on 'her kuccs, entreated her 1nistress to leave the house. She even attempted to carry her away forcibly, but the authority and resistance of the energetic old lady prevented her. vVhcn the fire began to rise she ran to and fro wildly, and then, after a tin:tl eflort to ren1ove lHrs. Fitz~ugh with affectionate violence, she fled fi·om the flames. 1Vhen Captnin Dakin saw her rnn out, leaving her lUis tress in the burnin (.r bnildin o· he bco·an t0 think b .:::> ' b that the olJ lady really could not be ren1ovecl by her servant, a.ud that she 'vould be consun1ed by the fire. Shocked at that probable event, he ordered some of his 1nen to enter the house and carry her out. They ru. ·heel into her cha1nbcr, caught her up, without regarding her rcn1onstranccs, and bore her into the yard only a 1uoment before it ,vonld have been too ROEBUCK. 245 btc to descend the stairs. They laid her on the gr[ls~, and there she 'vitncssecl the final destruction of her house. vVhen the flames had sunk into Sn1onlderjng ashes she inquired for the officer in command. Captain Dakin presented himself to her. "Captain," she said, looking at hi1n sternly, '~ you 1Hn·c destroyed my home, thrusting me from it 'dwn I am too feeble to rise; but my misfortunes arc as nothing in the general cnlamity. I bear them patiently, as sacrifices for my country. It is not of thorn I wish to spe:1k to yon. But I have heard of the ontrnges yon have perpetrated upon others-upon rich and poor-upon men, 'vo1nen and children. N O\V, while you look on the lnst e1nbcrs yon have 1nade, yonr lntcst victitn, a feeble old 'vom::m, ·warns you to desist from your ferocious 'varfitre on the innocent and defenceless. ·As snre as there is a Gocl who pities the 'viJo,v and the fathcrle s, you and yonr people 'vill rue these crimes. Divine justice will not al wnys sleep "-- "Divine justice!" intcrrnptcd the reverend c:tptain, with an oath and a Ratiric:t1 l:tugb, "that's playeJ out long since at the North. No n1ore of that sort of talk, old 'vo1nan." "Iln.ve you dethroned God ~" "Take this ,votnan away," he saiu to sotne of her servants ,vho had nsscn1ble<.l around her. They carried her n:way ten<.1cr1y. S01ne of th01n had lately bceu corrupteJ by evil association, but ~he si~ht of their old IniBtrcss in di.~tress rnovec1 thmr passionate hearts to e:1g('l' dcn1onstr:1tions of nffcction.. Sho thanked thern, nnd ,\'lwn she ·was rcfreshcJ 'Ylth re t she called son1c of her 'von1en around her and thus addressed then1 : • |