The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-12
I'm TROUBLOUs TIMES.

warm friend among the English, who |
believed her and her husband neutral,
or that they at least took no active |
part in the issues at stake. During |
her husbands absence one day Mrs. |
Stewart received note which billetted !
upon her five dragons with their |
corporal. These soldiers proved or
derby and peaceablo, but Mrs. Stewards |
mind was sadly disturbed by the
knowledge that her husband was
hiding in tho neighborhood, Rnd did
not dare to come to their house even
for food, though he might be starving.
One day she, having certain tidings of
his whereabouts, prepared basket of
the most delicate viands she could
collect on the spur of the moment,
and drawing her plaid about her, she
got about two hundred yards from the
house when she felt a heavy hand laid
on her shoulder, and a voice said firm
ly bat not uncivilly; a.
at is contrary to orders, madam, to
allow any one to leave the house after
SHUTDOWN"
81 did not know your orders were so
strict, corporal" said Mrs. Stewart, in
a. steady voice. 81 was but going
down the brae to visit friend, who is
suffering from these sad times with
trouble of mind and body. But | will
just wait till morning if ye think it
best, corporal"
"Ye'll pardon me, my lady, but we
are obliged to obey orders. l have
word from headquarters that some OF
the rebels are in hiding in these parts
Charles Stuart himself, for aught |
know-and what prize he'd be for a
poor fellow to lay hold of"
"But surely, Mr.. Cotton, you would
never take the price of blood2" said
Mrs. Stewart, with horror.
"That's as it might be, said the cor
poral, coolly "he'd not have been par
ticular about shedding mine, and they
that take the sword must perish by the
sword. It's just the fortune of war.
You go in, there's good lady, 1t is
to Dame Elpeth you're. sending these
goodiesP You seem to think she has
fine appetite for an invalid. There,
don't trouble yourself, she shall have
them all, and she shall know that you
were coming with them yourself,
which, no doubt, would have made
them all the sweeter. Go in, there's a
dear lady, and don't be surprised if you
see more Of US than you have done; it
won't mean anything, but we must
mind our p's and q's. Our command
ing officer may be down on us any
time. f1s stt
With these and many more words to
that effect, he hurried Mrs. Stewart
back to the house, taking her basket
from her and examining its contents,
which were certainly miscellaneous
for the supper of an invalid. Mrs.
Stewart submitted with the best grace
she could, improvising g message to
Elspeth, and glad to think that the
troopers thoughts should have turned
to old Elspeth.
All night long Mrs. Stewart thought
and prayed, and by the morning her
resolution was taken. Ii was clear
that she was watched, and any per-
sistence on her part would certainly
awaken suspicion. The women of the
house, too, would be watched almost
as closely as herself There was nc
one that could help them in this strait
but her daughter; she went and came
unquestioned among these strange
men. Would it be fair to put her to
such testP Could a child of such
tender years carry out so desperate a
designH fsE VT
"Janet," said Mrs. Stewart, taking
Janet into her bed-chamber on the
following morning, and holding hel
fondly in her arms, "Janet, you are q
wise woman, lassie, and keep counsel
father used to call you his little coun.
sellor, do you mind thatW
Janet nodded her grave little head
and her eyes asked what service she
could do.
Janet" resumed Mrs. Stewart
very softly, "father is quite close to us
he is in InvernahyleP
Janet uttered sound which was
half JOY, half surprise. "When did he
+. come" she whispered in the same
tone.
"He was here yestereen; Dugald
saw him as he came up from the lock
but he must on no account come
within sight of the troopers-they viii
bind him hand and foot, and carr,
him away where we should never set
him more" Es69 81
"He will lie still" said Janet, "til
Major Whiteford comes and makes The
troopers go away"
Aye, lassie but the poor man mus
eat--hell die of hunger if he canno
get food. | tried to take him some
last night, but Corporal Cotton stopped
me, and would not let me 60 They
think that there are some of our pool
folk about, and are ten times as strict
as ever. But, .ianet, you are a little
lassie-they Lei YOU come and go al
your pleasure ii you could manage te
take something and hide it in Donald
Ord's cradle, you would do more thar
a little maid of eightyears old ever die
before-you would save your father
life" .ts w
"Where is the basket? asked prac
teal Janet, looking round.
"Ye shall not carry basket. M,
lass the troopers would be taking i
from you. See these pouches which
have made. Well tie them on unde
your frock-there no one will see tina
you are carrying anything; We ma,
take your ball, oryour book, but ON n,
account must you let any one see tina
you are carrying anything-bette
bring it home again. Remember it i
matter of life and DEATH"
do net be afraid, mother" sal,
Janet 81 shall do it. When am l q
goY"
You'd best let ME tie the pouche
on. darling YOU IindNour oppnrtunity