“_Whereas_, Rhett Bannister, a resident of Mount Hermon township, and an avowed enemy of Abraham Lincoln and the government at Washington, has publicly affronted the patriotism and decency of this community this day; “_Therefore_, be it resolved that we, the citizens of Mount Hermon, hereby express our indignation and horror at his conduct, and declare that he has forfeited all right to his citizenship among us, and to any consideration on our part, and that henceforth he shall be and is hereby utterly ostracized, repudiated, and detested by the citizens of Mount Hermon, and that we use all legal measures to drive him in disgrace from our community. “Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of that resolution.” “Ladies and gentlemen,” said the chairman, “you have heard Judge Morgan’s resolution, and the motion for its adoption. Is the motion seconded?” A hundred persons vied with one another for the honor of being first to second it, and a great, tumultuous chorus of “Aye!” indicated its passage by an overwhelming and unanimous vote. “And now,” inquired the chairman, “what shall be done with the prisoner?” “Drive him home with his hands tied, and let the band play him out of town to the Rogues’ March!” cried one. Whereupon the crowd shouted its enthusiastic approval of the suggestion. And in another moment, helpless as he was, Bannister was pulled from his chair and from the platform, and a dozen willing hands turned his face toward home. Then, suddenly, a woman stood beside him, and the resolute voice of Sarah Jane Stark was heard:-- “Gentlemen, don’t you think you’re going a little bit too far?” CHAPTER III A LOVER OF LINCOLN There was an awkward pause. The band, already on its way toward the prisoner, halted. The man who had been pushing Bannister along, loosened his hold. No one seemed quite ready to answer Miss Stark’s question. At last, the chairman of the meeting, feeling that the duty of acting as spokesman devolved properly upon him, replied:-- “The man is a traitor, Miss Stark. He is not fit to remain with us. It is for our own protection that we are sending him away.” Sarah Jane Stark tossed her head scornfully. “Well,” she said, “I don’t see that any of you are in very great or immediate personal danger. And as for bravery, it don’t take much courage for fifty men to set on one man and tie his hands behind his back and buffet and abuse him. I’ve watched the whole thing, and I don’t like it. The man made a fool of himself, that’s true, and Judge Morgan told him so. Now you’re making fools of yourselves, and it’s time some one told you so. I thought I’d be the one, that’s all.” “But, Miss Stark,” persisted the chairman, “he’s a copperhead, he’s a defamer of the President and the country, he deserves no consideration, either from us or from you.” “Yes,” added one in the crowd, “and he’s a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle, and they plot treason and murder.”