The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-04-23

started to her feet, intending to repeat
her fathers orders to the servants, that
no stranger should be entertained, but
old Hector, who had taken up his watch
in the hall, had already opened the
door.
AS Ella reached the door which open.
ed from the supper-room into the hall,
the new conner appeared upon the thresh-
hold, and Hector half hcsitating be-
tween his wonted lessons of hospitality
and his masters parting commands, was
bowing and grinning through the narrow
aperture of the partially opened door,
which he zealously guarded with bis
strong arm.
The stranger was well dressed, and
had the air Of gentlemen. Moreover
he was young and slight in figure. and
seemed feeble. The old impulse of hos
pitality dictated welcome and com
passion seconded the impulse. Ella
was about to order Hector to admit the
straugcr, when be fathers commands re-
CURED to her She hesitated, and the
stranger catching sight Of her, bowed
and spoke.
Madam he said, and his tones were
feeble, and his voice shaken by a hollow
cough, d" have lost my way, and fear
have travelled some distance from it. |
learned from a man whom met upon
the road yonder, that it would be impos,
sible for me to reach A. tonight -
But he pointed out the gable and chin.
neys Of this house as they rose against
the darkening sky, and assured me that
General Mortimer's doors were never
closed to tho stranger. am feeble
and fatigued, and the humblest couch
would be welcome to my weary limbs,
and cup ofwater uuspeakably grateful
to my parched lips"
1t was not in heart like Elias to re-
fuse compassion to such an appeal. Her
fathers generous nature was warm with
in her--and she forgot his cautions aud
Commands Needless Of old Hector's
unconc ealod disapproval, and unmindiul
of the raised back aud sullen growls Of
Brave, she ordered the door opened and
invited the stranger to enter, lfa vague
terror, if sudden, sharp regret made
themselves at that moment, they were
at the thought that one SO feeble
and helpless, even if a foe, ought not to
inspire dread.
General Mortimer, de>irous to spare
Ella all unnecessary apxiaties, had
not Informed her that band of Tories
was really prowling in the neighborhood.
In this he might lave erred, for her cars
been so often panied by tales Of the cru
elites perpetratcd by those who in the
name Of loyalty, banded together to
burn and rob the property and destroy
the lives of the Patriots, that an intima-
ton Of their vicinage would have soclr-
ed her caution. But in extending her
hospitality to a sick stranger she dream
ed not of danger.
With genuine politeness she welcom
ed the stranger to her table and fresidc
and having seen his wants provided for,
she left him ia the care of Hector, and
retired to her own apartment. All this
time Brave had eyed him suspiciously,
round his chair and utteriug
low, sullen grows AS usual he accom-
panied his mistress to her chamber, but
returned to resume his
watch over the stranger.
This conduct of her faithful friend and
companion excited the sur
prise of Ella, and finally her uneasy fears
Instead Of retiring t,rest she sat down
to read and think. Presently she beard
Hector conducting the stranger to his
room, which was in wing oil the build
ing jutting out at right angle wih the
main portion Of the structure, which
contained the sleeping apartments of the
family. The p,ttcring Of the dogs feet
WIS also heard distinctly as be followed.
Elias book fell from her hand, aud aDx-
iety role upon her spirit Hers was
indeed a great charge for one scarcely
more than child She was panied to
think that Brave had deserted her, and
yet reioiccd in a sense of safety at tho
thought of his visilaut watch over the
stranger