Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-09-25

r you've got to do, Malachi Doolittle, is t
s play possum, and not give the British to
e big start" II
: He found the kitchen empty, for Ensigl
e Spencer being considered in the light of al
e especial guest, the supper table was set il
| the parlor. --s
Rot his pictur! he'll be making low
to Mary next" said Malachi, uneasily
"but if he does I'll pay him in his owl
l coin. All, here is his pistols and heav!
| riding coat Well now, Malachi Doolittle
| l don't think it would be unwholesome t.
) yonr constitution to jerk the priming o
/ them barkers, for fear matters might CONF
to rough-and-tumble. So here goes
and suiting the action to the word, the
strangers weapons we're instantly placed
, in harmless condition.
When the apprentice entered the parlOr
he found Dorothy Hutton and her daugh-
ter Mary in high glee and good humOr.-
The supper was over, but the stranger
seemed to be attracted to the smiths parlol
by the bright eyes of Mary, and looking
twice out of the window into the cold
bleak nig ght, he gave shudder as if loath
to depart on his journey.
Tall Malachi devoured his supper in
moody silence; but, notwithstanding his
discomfort at the notice the young officer
took of Mary, he made fearful inroads on
the johnny-cake and sausage. A genuine
Yankee is seldom so deep in love that he
forgets his victuals; and such was certainly
tall Malachi's case.
When there was no excuse for longer
delay, the apprentice was deputed to fetch
Spencer's horse to the door, and thanking
his host and hostess for their kind atten-
tions and beotowing kiss upon the blush
ing cheek of Mary, he bestrode the animal
and set forth at round gallOp, on his dark
and dreary journey.
al guess I'd better 60 and finish fodder
ing the cattle. said Malachi, as the clatter
of the horses hoofs died Away in the dis
tance. "0ld Bull broke his surcingle all
to smash. 1 calkilate that I'd better take
the sorrel horse and 90 down to Brunswick
tomorrow morning and get it fixed, as we
want to sled some wood from the swamp.
Suppose you can let me have old sorrel for
little while, Squire?"
"Well, how on earth can thee 60 down
to Brunswick without him, Malachi? How
foolish thee does talk tonight"
"Well, didn't know but that You night
want to use him." said Malachi, closing
the door behind him and starting fer the
barn. "Consarn his pictar kissed her
lips, did he? Well, if l don't have a
wrestle with him for that trick, my name
amt Malachi Doolittle. Jerusalem, how
cold it is! Iwish 1 had my other shirt on;
but it's no use TO gTumble. Old sorrel,
put in your biggest licks, and you shall be
kept on nothing else but oats and clover
for the balance of your material days
And now for parting salute to the boss, -
he added, as he strobe up to the door of
the house "HallOl Squire Hutton, SUM-
thin's broke loose!"
"Why Malachi, what is the matter %
asked the smith, opening the door; sis the
barn a-fre, or"
mo, nothing Of the kind, boss. But
I've concluded to borrow old sorrel tonight,
instead of tomorrow morning. l know
the whole plot, and am going to take them
papers from Ensign Spencer, and give them
to George Washington" +"
Why, his horse is as feet as the wind,
and he will be in Trenton before thou art
half way said the smith, with laugh.
You forget that 1 shOd his horse, boss
Hutton
We'll, he is arm,d, and will shoot thee
as dead as a nail, if thou dost attempt viO-
lenec.
Cant be did, boss. / shook the prim-
ing from his pistols when he was in sup
per-
Thunder and Beelzebub-Lord forgive
me-but-'
The remainder of the sentence was lost
on Malachi's ear, for with wild .Ya-hip!
ga-long, sorrel!' he was following in the
track of the British spy.
CHAPTER II.
The night was very dark, and fakes of
snow we're falling fast over the already
whitened ground; but the old sorrel was
perfectly acquainted with every inch of the
ground, and as if prompted by an instinct
that he was on business that admitted of
no delay, it needed but little urging on the
part of Malachi to make him stretch his 1
neck by the village of Brunswick like a
greyhound.
Occasionally his rider would rein up
and pause to listen If he could hear the ]
of hoofs in the distance, and
when he could hear no sound but the moan
ing of the wind as it whistled through the
forest trees, he would shout GA long, you
critter. the game is ahead somewhere and /
the horse would resume his old pace
But his perseverance was not long uu-
rewarded; for he had scarcely put the vii
lago of Brunswick five miles behind him
when he deserted the object of his search
short distance ahead, and travelling at such
a gait as convinced him that Ensign Spen-
Ger had little to thank Malachi Doolittle
for his handicraft As the matter stood,
it was no great feat for the sorrel or ap-
prentice to rein up by the side of the Off
Ger in the space of few minutes.
1t was too dark for Spencer to recognize
his new acquaintance of the Smithery.
Fine evening squire, said Malachi,
'sleighing will be first rate tomorrow, if it
continues to come down in this way
There we do not agree, friend, said
Spencer, placing his hand by way of pre-
caution upon one of his pistols, for the
night, to my mind, is cursed dark and
stormy one
We'll. tits something dark. that's fact
was Malachi's response. for a man that's
got considerable distance to ride Got a
line horse? l can't see for sartin. Critter
goes kinder lame, don't hep
Yes, thanks to a bungling fellow who
shod him two hours ago, shall not be a
bic to reach my destination by daylight
Rather guess you won't, squire, at the
rate you're travelling now. Trenton is a