Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-06-23

toe the mark, and give more milk than
ever to keep US strong and we'll" b.
Trust me for that" said iFree-'n n
equals eyes.
And she kept her promise. Rich vel
low milk did she give, paiiful after pail
fal. Cynthia and her mother worked
like men, and fed on the cream.
Those were dangerous days all along
the Santee River; for Lord CORVALLIS
troops were roaming over the land, and
laying waste the country. But Cynthia
was not afraid-no, not even when Lord
CORVALLIS camezwithin three miles OF
the plantation. She said her prayers ev-
cry day, and believed firmly IN the guar
dian angels, and certain rusty gun be-
hind the kitchen door.
"Just let the soldiers touch anything
of ours, and see what they'll getl" said
she, with ponderOus dignity.
Free-h-equal was perfectly sure Gym
thia could manage the whole British
army, if need were, and munched her
cud in blissful serenity.
Oh no, Cynthia had no fear, even when
a red-cOat did sometimes rise above the
horizon like q morning cloud. She re-
garded him no more than she would a
bird which sung above
her head when she went into the forest
hard by to gather sticks.
So no wonder that she was taken
nightly abaek when, one afternoon as
she came home with her bundle of sticks
her mother met her with wide-Open eyes
and pale face.
"Cynthy, they've been here and car
ried off Free-'n-equsl." -
"'Theyr" gasped Cynthia. "Who?'
"The British soldiers. They tied a
rope round her horns She kicked well,
but they jerked her along. Cynthy, Gym
thy, what shall we dO?"
Cynthia uttered a sound between a
groan and war-whoop. and darted out
of the door. Along the dusty road she
ran, on and on. Her yellow sun-bonnet
fell back on her shoulders, and her brown
curls were covered with dust. One mile,
two miles, three miles-on, and on AT
last she reached a small house, which
wass Lord CORVALLIS headquarters.
Never a moment did Cynthia pause. The
sentinels challenged her in vain. She
majestically past them. Into
the heHse--into the parlor- walked She
There sat Lord Cornwallis and some
SIX of his officers, eating and drinking at
q big table. -
Cynthia stopped at the threshold and
dropped a courtesy.
Lord CORVALLIS glancedslp and saw.
her, - rS
Miss Cynthia dropped another courte-
~, opened her lips, and spake.
II am. Cynthia Smith, said she, grave
y, 'tand your men have taken my COW,
Free m -eQua Smith, and Eve come to
fetch her home, if you please"
"Y0ur COW ~ questioned Lord Corn
wallis, pausiRg with wine-glass in his
hand.
They carried her off by a rope,' said
Cynthia. iPtIa ~ :,
s.'Where do you liver" asked the Brit
sh General.
''Thres miles away, along with my
"Have you no father?"
"0ne, and four brothers,"
t'Where is your hther?Y s1f
sIn General Gates army, Mr.. Lord
81
"Oh,.he's.a rebel, is he?" - !
~Yes, SIR said Miss Cynthia. proudly
,rectS - ~%
And where are your brothers?"
Cynthia paused. "John he went to
Heaven along with General Warren from
'he top of Bunker Hill," said she,.with a
.rembiing lip. Sc sf.si essz
One of the younger officers smiled, but
le stopped in hurry as Lord Cornwall
ISIS eyes flashed at him.
Toalr vuonf IN,
ed Cynthia, softly, "out OF. Valley Forge;
where he was helping General Washing
on"
Where are the other two?"
"In the army, Mr.. Lord Corvallis
Cynthias head was erect again.
Rank rebels"
Yes, they are"
"Humi And you're bit of a rebel,
100. I'm thinking, if the truth were told"
Miss Cynthia nodded with emphasis.
"And yet you come here for your cow"
,aid Lord CORVALLIS. "rll be bound
she's rebel beef herself"
Cynthia meditaJed. 81 think she would
f she had two less legs, and not quite so
much horn. That is, shed be rebel, but
maybe they wouldn't call her beef then"
Lord CORVALLIS threw back bis head
md laughed a good-natured hearty
augh that made the room ring. All his |
,fficers laughed, too, including the mis-
,rable red-coat who had smiled over
Johns fate.
Miss Cynthia wondered what the fun
night be; but in no wise abashed, she
he stood firm on her two little feet, and |
waited until, the merriment over, they
night see fit TO return to the COW in |
land, which was. certainly worth any |
wo in camp. 5-fst s tt 1tasf |
AT last her face began to flush little. |
What if these fine gentlemen were
making game of her. after all.
Lord CORVALLIS saw the red blood |
mount to her cheeks, and, just because |
le was real gentleman, he became So |
yer instantly. "Come here, my little |
naid," said he. 81 myself will see to it |
hat your COW"
"Free-n-equal," suggested Cynthia.
That Free-n-equal," repeated Lord |
CORVALLIS, courteously, "is safe in your
'arn tomorrow morning. And, per-
Iaps,' he added, unfastening pair of
liver knee-buckles that lie wore, "you
will accept these as a gift from one who
wishes no harm to these rebels.
md that his Majesty himself knows"
Then he arose and held his wine-glass
bove his head; so did every officer in
he room.
Here's to the health. of as fair little
ebel as We shall meet, and God bless
eri" said he. 49,.
She dropped her final courtesy, clasp
d the shining buckles, and out of the
DOM she vanished, sure III her. mind
hat Free-n.equal was all her own once
lorr.
As for those buckles. children dear,