The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1872-08-01

went on TO supper, we will 60 in
with the soldier.
"Conld you give poor soldier a
lmouthful TO eat 7" he asked Of the
Ipals and nervous woman who open
led the door.
"My husband does not allow me
to give any thing to travellers" she
said, "but I always feel for the sol
diers coming back, and I'll give you
some supper, il you will not be long
about It, and she wiped her eyes
with her blue check apron, and set
with alacrity about providing re-
freshments for the poor man, who
had thrown himself in the nearest
chair, aud with his head leaning on
his breast, seemed too tired even to
remove his hat from his face.
II am glad TO have you eat, And I
would not hurry you for any thing,
she said, in frighted way "but
you'll eat quick, won't youi for I
expect every moment he will be in.
The man drew his chair to the ia
BILE, keeping his hat on his head, as
though he belonged to the Society OF
Friends; but that could not be, for
the "Friends" do not go to the wars
He ate hearty Of the breud and but
ter and cold meat-and oh, how long
he was about it |!
Mrs. Tomkins fdgeted. "Dear
me" she said to herself, '.if he only,
knew, he wouldn't be 80 cruel as to
let Tomkins come in and catch him
here" She went and looked from
the window uneasily, but the soldier,
lgave no token of his meal coming
to an end.
"Now he is pouring vinegar on tho
cold cabbage and potatoes. can't
ask him to take those away in his
hand. o, dear, how slow he is has
the man no teeth 7" At last she
said, mildly, II am very sorry to
hurry you, sir, but could you not let
me spread some bread and butter,
and cut some slices of meat to take
away with you? My husband will
use abusive language to you if he
finds you here"
Before the soldier could reply, foot
steps were heard on the door stone
at the back door, and man entered
He stopped short, and looked at the
soldier as savage dog might look.
Then he broke out, in tone between
, savage growl and n roar
|, "Hey-dey, Molly, pretty piece o
business What have I told you
time and again, madam 7 You'll
find you had better mind your mas
ter. And you, you lazy, thieving
vagabond, let me see you clear out
, of my house and off my land good
deal quicker than you came on the
r premises.
, "Hour house ! and your land =
exclaimed the soldier, starting sud
denly up, erect and tall, and dashine
off his hat with a quick, fiery ges
}, ture His eyes flashed with indigna
ton as no confronted tho astonished
Tomkins. Tho latter was afraid o.
/, him, and his wife had given a sudder
shrek VIII on the soldier first started
, to his feet and flung off his hat, and
had sunk trembling and halffainting
in chair, for she recognized him,
"You ha'n't any business to inter
fere between me and my wife, sale
Tompkins, cowed by the attitude oi
7 the soldier.
/, "lOur wife" exclaimed the sol
der, with the very concentration OF
contempt expressed in his voice, and
0 pointing TO him with an indignant
finger.
"Who are you Z" asked Tomkins
. with an air Of efrontery.
. ~ am Harry Jones, since you ask, ;
replied the soldier, ''the owner Of
Q this house and this land, which you
will leave this very hourl As for
! Molly" softening his tone as he
! turned TO the woman, now sobbine
: hysterically, "she shall choose be
Q tween US"
20, Harry! sobbed she, while
Tomkins stood dumb with astonish.
ment" take me, save mol"
4 With step he was at her side
holding her in his arms. Wha,
do you mean, treating this poor
!, child so Did you think because
she had no earthly protector that
, there was not o God in Hoaver