Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-05-10


an autumnal sun, perched upon one leg, ac-
cordiug to a habit which he seemed to have
inherited, by sort Of instinct from the cranes
of the country of his fathers, aud which he
was generally observed to adopt when in a
more than usually drowsy disposition His
other leg was twisted round its brother, in
somewhat incomprehensible fashion. But in
spite of this supposed indication of drowsi-
ness, Gideon's light eyes stared out from un-
der his preposterously high steeple hat with
unusual wakefulneSS and rotundity and gave
to his not very expressive physiognomy the ap-
pearance of that of an owl
Gerald thanked the good fortune that had
sent him, at such a moment a comrade of so
drowsy and phlegmatc a nature But it was
in vain that he watched for some further indi-
cations of the usual results of Go-to-bed God
lambs pious meditations The eyes tgouM still
preserve q most provoking rotundty nay,
more, they appeared determined, out of the
most obstinate spirit Of opposition, to assume
at that moment liveliness they never had
been known te assume before since they had
opened on the light of day.
The old cavalier still paced the court, but
nearer to the bushes than before Impatient,
also, at the loss of the precious moments as
they hurried by, Gerald approached his com,
rade.
You seem weary, friend" he said.
Yea, verify" answered Godamb Gideon
! through his nose. " Ny soul is weary with
long watching but if the flesh be weak, the
spirit is still strong"
Give way comrade, give way" insinuated
Gerald 4" will keep watch for both, and none
shall be the wiser"
Nay, but the laborer is worthy of his
hire" suorted Gidean with much unction Il
| Odds pittikinS, man." he bIurted out imu,ed-
! lately afterwards, in another and more natural
tone, would you have me in arrest again for
| sleeping on my post That is to say, contin.
ued the Puritan soldier, casting up his eyes,
and agaia resuming his canting whine, " verify
and of truth the hand of the scourger has been
heavy upon me ; the unjust have prevailed
against me bat | will watch, that fall not
again into their tolls"
Gerald turned away with impatient vexa-
tiOn. At that moment the cid cavalier, who
! had taken advantage Of the few words passing
| between the two sentiuels to approach the
bushes unobServed, was bending down to pos
sesS himself OF the packet. As Gerald turned
he again drew back his purpose unfulfIled.
| Standing with his back to the other sentinel
| Gerald now made a sign to the old man. with
his finger placed upon his lips, to say not a
word, but to repoSe bis confidence in him. The
prisoner started with surprise, and looked at
the young soldier with mixture of hope and
doubt Before making any further demonstra-
ton, Gerald again turned in his walk, to ae-
sure himself that Gideon observed nothing of
this interchange of looks with the prisoner,
and then again turning his back to him placed
his hand upon his heart with look of fervor
and truth, which would have been alone suiii-
cient to inspire confidence in the old cavalier
and passing as near him as he could with pru-
dence, murmured in low tone, "Trust to mel"
The old man again started but there was
more Of pleasurable surprise, and less of doubt
in his expression Gerald's heart beat wildly,
as his fathers eye beamed upon him for the
| time with kindly and grateful feeling
The young soldier again looked at his com
rade. Gdeon's eyes were now beginning to
close, in the excess of his fervor over the pious
page. Walking quietly to the protecting
bushes, Gerald bent over the parapet as if to
look into the stream, and plunging his arm at
the same time into the leaves, felt for the
packet. After a moments fear and doubt he
touched it-he drew it forth BY a move
ing him increasing agitation ; but giving him
another look to reasSure him Gerald rose from
his posture and was about to conceal the
packet'in his ban1oleerj when it slipped from
his fingers and fell to the gfoudd. At the noise
of the fall, Gdeon's eyes again opened, and
were lifted upon with owl-like sagacity of ex-
preston. Gerald's foot was already upon the
packet. Neither he nor the old cavalier dared
to interchange look. Gideon's eyes said, as
plainly as eyes could speak, that they were not
asleep, and had not been asleep, and never in
tended to go to sleep-in fact were wonderful
ly wakeful. Aware that he could not remain
mOtionlesS upon the spot where he stood under
the full stare of Gideon's eyes, Gerald let fall
his musket as if 10y accident, and then kneel-
ing with his back to his feow-sentine, contriv-
ed adrotly to raise the packet at the same
time with his musket and to conceal it upon
his person. The prisoner was following his
movements with anxious eagerneSs.>
Possessed Of the precious document, Gerald
now felt the impossibility of giving it into his
fathers hands, as long as the eyes of the God
lamb Gideon were upon them, There appear
ed to him to be but one practicable manner of
conveying the desired intelligence contained
within it to the prisoner-namely by examin-
ing himself the contents. il such a manner as
not to excite the suspicion of his comrade, and
| then communicating them in low and broken
sentences to his father.
! Placed in such position as not to be OBJ
served by Gideon, he took the packet from his
BOSOM and making the movement of breaking
the fastening looked imploringly at the old
cavalier. The old man comprehended the
glance, hesitated for moment with look of
doubt and then clearing his brow with an ex-
preston of resolution, as if there were no other
means, nodded his head Stealthily to the young
soldier, and waving to one of the stone bench
| es fixed AGAINST the walls of the cnnrt the