The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-12-22

give me nerve to use these foolish pistols
incruel earnest"
"Devilish spunky! Boys, we must look
for mother room tonight. Bet your
sweetlife on it. thar's where they've slowed
away guns or rebel soldiers"
These hooking words came to US through
the thick pyracantha hedging. Involun-
tarily we turned our frightened eyes in that
direction. It seemed to us as if q dozen
pair of wicked, cruel eyes leered back at us
through the interstices of the bushes.
"Gentlemen. our mother is an invalid"
I ventured to say huskily.
"An right" harsh voice laughed back
at us; I'VE are on our way now to get some
turkeys we've been told are out this way;
we'll call on mother when we've had our
supper"
We heard one voice raised in depreciation
as We sped onward with but one thought
between US, that thought to guard against
the threatened invasion of our dear ones
room; but that one voice was drowned In
shouts of scofing laughter.
Night, it seemed to us, had 'never fallen
before with such unwished for suddenness.
We dreaded the coming of darkness. But
1t did not find US unprepared. Every door
and window had been 50 muf1ed that none
to the ears of our invalid. Aunt July Ann
was stationed in the room, while one of us
took stand on each OF the two gallaries
that flanked the cottage. Concealed by the
vines that clameered all over them, we
watched and waited. We had but one de-
fined object in view-that was to prevent an
entrance into that room. How We were to
do it we never clearly specified even to our
solves.
With the clouded sunset had come one of
those sudden changes in the weather COM
mon to our climate and to that season. So
We we're not surprised to hear, presently,
the soft, slow patter of rain drops upon the
heaps Of the fallen leaves in the thick
shrubbery that surrounded the cottage.
But it made US nervous. It lessened our
chances of detecting approaching footsteps.
So We watched and waited while the gloom
thickened without, and the rain drops pat
tered dismally on the dead leaves, and q
faint cough from the sick room would make
US grow almost sick with terror of what that
night might bring forth. Presently we
heard footsteps. No; yes anmistakasle
We heard the familiar click Of our
dropped by careful, steady hand. Then
the footsteps again; nearer and still nearer
until above the close cropped shrubbery q
mans head appeared. We crouched in the
dark shadows of the vines and waited. He
seemed to stop and examine the premises;
glanced at the windows through which the
feeble rays of the nlght-lamp struggled,
emerged into full view; then began slowly
and steadily making the rounds of our little
cottage. He is looking for the best en-
trance, thought in terror, but I gave no
sound Of my whereabouts. Once more he
paced slowly by my hiding place, and
could see, as he neared me, the bayonet
cleaning in the musket which he
carried at support" When the
circuit of the house had been
made at least dozen times, began to
wonder at the nom aggressive character Of
this invasion. He is only waiting for the
others, I thought. but perhaps can turn
him from his evil designs. He may have a
heart. Acting on this possibility, ven.
tured to part the thick, clustering vines, as
he neared my ambushs agair, and to ask,
with a voice all choked with fright, "Who
is that?"
"Only Yankee sergeant, Miss; but one
who means we'll by you. was with the
fright about your mothers room. I do
hear say she's not long for this world, and
I've took it upon myself to do guard duty
here till day breaks. I've give the boys
fair warning not to fool around here while
Sergeant Cross is on duty, so you can just
turn IN and sleep like top"
DO you mean," asked, leaning over
the bannisters towards the dusky form in
the shrubbery, "that you have voluntarily
put yourself on guard duty tonight. and in
the rain, to protect our mothers room from
invasion?" My voice was huskier than
ever, but not now from fright.
i've got q mother myself, young lady,
was the manly, simple answer, and God
do by her in the hour of her need as I
mean to do by yours to. night; so, now, you
turn in for the night"
did turn in but it was only to tell
that other trembling girl in the back gal
lery what a wonderful thing had come to
pass; after which we stole out 10 the din
ing room, and preparing the best our con-
federate larder could afford Of luncheon,
we went out and begged our friendly ene-
my to refresh himself. He came, but am
afraid he lost prestige in my sisters ro-
mantle eyes by reason of his plainness.
| It was plain-looking, rather under
sized young man, who stepped into the
light at our invitation, but when he took of
his wet cap to us with military courtesy
there beamed upon us pair of gentle
kindly grey eyes that inspired us with the
fullest confidence in sour Sergeant"
And all that long night there mingled
with the gentle patte1 of the rain upon the
dead leaves the slow, steady tramp Of
only Yankee sergeant.