The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-24

sake, Mistress blossom, he saiu, quickly.
"or shall plunge YOU into my mshap,
and make you rs ridiculous ~ mvsclf.'
But the quick-wittcd girl had already
leapcd TO an adjacent boulder. Take OF
your SASH she said, quickly. "f,steu 1t to
your belt, and throw 1t 10 me-" lie did
so. She Strengthened herself back in the
rock. " Now, altogether she cried. with
preliminary strain ON the sash, and then
the cords OF her wcll-traned muscles stood
oilt on her rounded arms, and, with n
long pull and n strong pun and pull alto
gether, sho landed the Major upon the
rock. And then she laughed. Aud then.
inconsistent a~ II may appear, she became
grave, and at once proceeded TO scrape
him off. and rub him down with dried
leaves with fern twigs, with her handker-
chief with the border of her mantle n II
he were child. until he blushed with alter
nate shame and secret satisfaction.
They spoke but little on their return to
the farm house. for Mistress Thankful had
again become grave. And yet the sun
shone cheerly above them; the landscape
was filled with the joy of resurrection and
new and awakened life; the breeze whis-
pered gentle promises of hope ana frii-
ton in the summer to come. And these
two Jared on until they reached the porch
with u half-plcased, half-frghtencd con-
seriousness that they were not the same be-
ings who lad left il q half hour before.
Nevertheless nj the porch Mistress
Thankful reganed something of her old
audacitv. A they stood together in the
hall, she handed him back the sash she hal
kept with her A. She did so she could not
help saying, There are some things worth
STOPPING for, Major Van Zandt.n
But she had not calculated upon the
audacity Of the man. and rs she turned
TO fly she was caught 10y his strong
arm and pinionci to his side. She strug-
gled, honestly, think, and perhaps
more frightened at her own feelings
than at his strength, but it is To be
recorded that he kissed her in mo-
ment of comparative yielding. aud then.
frightened himself released her quickly,
whereat she fled to her room ana threw
herself painting and troubled upon her
bed. For an hour or two she lay there,
with flushed checks aud conflicting
thoughts. "ll must never kis. me again."
She said, softly to herself, "unless-" but
NV i'At'i hlAAHE Nilbh-uA Hhtls NiltAl Nit
If he kiss me not again: and | never can
kiss another" Ana then she was reused
by footstep upon the starr. which-tn
that brief time, she had learned to know
aud look for-and knock ~ the door
She opened II - Mayor Van Zmlt. white
and SO colorless a. to bring ont once moro
the faint rcd line made 10y her riding whip
two DAYS before. rs If it had risen again IN
accusation. the blood droppnl out of her
cheeks AT -he gaznl n him in silence.
An escort of dragoon.." sli Major
Van XIult, slowly and with military pre-
csion. "has Just arrive !. bringing with
them one Captain Allan Brewster, of the
Connects ut Contingent. on his way 10
Morr>town 10 be tried for mutinv and
treason. a private note from Colonel
Hamilton nstruc.s me to allow HIM to
have - private audience with you-if yot
SO wish ~
With n woman's sw 1T and too often
hopeless intuition, Thankful know that
this was not the sole contents OF the letter,
aud that her relations with CaptHil
Brewster were known TO the man btfore
her. But she drew herself zap httie
proudly. aud turning her truthful eyes
upon the Major, said, IL do so wish it,
1T shall be done as you desire Mistress
Blossom" returned the OFF ~ with cold
poltene.s, rs he turned upon his heel.
zone moment. MAJOR Van Zludt," said
Thankful. swiftly.
The Major turned quickly. Bur Thank
full eyes were gazing thoughtfully for
ward, and scarcely Clanc a NJ him. " I
would prefer she sand, timidly and hr.i-
tatugly, that this interview should not
take place under the roof wherc-whrre
where my father lives. Hall way down the
meadow there Is "a barn, AMI before il d
broken part ofthe wall fronting on syca-
more tree. Ho VIII know whore IT is. Tel
him W II see him there in half an hour.
A smile. winch the MAJOR had tried to
make careless one, curlel his lin satir-
ically a. he bowed IN reply. at is the first
time he SAID. dryly, that believe have
been houore1 with arranging try-t for
two lovers. but believcmr, Mistress thank
full VIII do my best. In half an hour
will turn my prisoner over to YOU.
In half an hour the puuctual Mistress
Thankful with Il hood hiding her pate ia 'e
passed the officer IN the hall on the way Ia
her rendezvous. An hour later. Cp-lI
came with "A message that Mistress Thank
ful would like to see him. When the N ioI
entered the sitting room he was shocked ia
fud her lying pale aud motionless on IN,
sofa, hut A. tho door closed she rose 10 hen
feet and confronted him.
IL do not know, she said, slowly
whether You are aware that the man
Just now parted from was, for twelve
month pn-t, my sweetheart aud that be
licved | loved him, ana Lncic I was true I
HIM. II You have not heard II | tell Vot
now. for tn time win come when You vii
hear part of u from the lips of others. an,
| would rather You should take the whole
truth from nine THIS mau was false I,
me. lie betrayed two friends Of mine IA
spies. couli have forgiven him had
been only foolish jealousy, but IT was,
have since learned from his own lips. onll
that he might CRAFTY his spite against tn
Commander in-Chief by procuring thci
arrest aud making serious diniculty il
the American camp, by means of which h
hoped to serve h4 own enis. lie told M
TINS, believing that l sympnthiz,d witt
him ia his hatred of the COmmuuier-i n