The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-12-12

Already along the ROADSIDE were 10 oe
seen the debris and ravages OF war;
and when she entered her own desolate |
home, there, too, the British had evil
IDENTIFY sscome," for general upsetting |
of her orderly household was plainly
visible. Il
Where. oh, where were father and
the bows? Should she ever see them
again? As she laid the baby down in
its cradle, and lighted the candle to
look about her more closely, deep
groan startled her. She looked over
toward the spot from whence the sound
had issued, and saw mans figure
PROSTATE upon the floor in the dark
ened corner.
80 Silas, my husband! Are You
killed?' she cried, throwing herself
down beside the figure.
Them turned and raised himself
upon one arm, and she saw, not the
face of her husband, but that of a
stranger, and she recognized now the
hateful red uniform of a British officer.
Madam whispered the man,
hoarsely, II am sick unto death. For
Heavens sake give me a cup of tea.
"How dare you?" she began, her
dark eyes flashing fire, the very sound
of the word Tea" from her enemy's
lips rousing her American indignationi
then at sight of the mans pale, ago.
nized features she stopped, and a
womanly compassion for a sick and
suffering fellow creature swept away
all other feeling in her tender breast.
..You are suffering" she said, in
gentler tone. "Let me see; where are
YOU wounded?" and she knelt once
more beside him, for the man had sunk
back exhausted.
s.f-if-you will give me-something
warm to drink, I will try to leave
your house at once, madam" he
gasped, vainly endeayoring to rise
| again.
mo, no, you shall not 90, answered
Mrs. Sanderson now, with warmth and
| earnestness. ''Your white face is flag
of truce enough to soften my enmity
against you. We women of Lexington
| are as tender-hearted as our husbands
are brave. will not turn a suffering
man from my door, even though he be
our bitter enemy. Lie still; you shall
have your cup of tea," and she put a
pillow beneath his head, and hustled
about, making the fire, while the man
watched her preparations with eager
eyes.
The kindlings now blazed up. and the
kettle sang blithely, when Mrs. Sander
SON drew from the oven the old coffee
pot into which she had poured her tea
! for safety. She looked towards the
stranger, as she carefully measured out
the preciOuS grains
.sCoffee?" he asked, catching her
glance.
mo; some of the tea, for which you
British would fain tax us beyond en-
durance!'' she replied, hotly, her color
rising and eyes flashing again.
In spite of his suffering, the man
smiled grimly. What a spirited little
Yankee woman she was!
Presently she poured out cupful OF
the fragrant Oolong and held it to his
lips. He drank long and copiously,
then with grateful look, he muttered
few words half-intelligibly. She bent
lower to catch them.
i ssWhosoever giveth a cup of water in
my name, he shall not lose his re.
ward" So much she heard as he
closed his eyes and sank into a deep
sleep.
4 Baby now demanded her care, and i,
was with sorrowful heart that she
, seated herself to nurse him. Agar
and again the agonized thoughts o.
where was her husband? were hel
brothers still alive? were she and baby
: widowed and fatherlessp came witt
overwhelming force. Suddenlya shou
outside started her reveries, and reused
her sleeping guest. She FASTENED Il
|, open the door, and Slas Sandersol
burst in, begrimed and black with tn,
J dust of the fray.
I'll .Hurrahr' he cried, triumphaptly
, 1--WE have routed the red-coats; the,
3 are going back to Boston to-nigh
: quicker than they came yesterday
5 Three cheers for the brave Minute Mel
of Lexington town.
FL 30, Silas, you are alive! you are no
hurtw cried his wife, throwing hersel
: into his arms.
mo, no; | am equal to q hundret
more battles''-
r ..And the boys? o, Silas, tell M
: quicklyr'
Reuben was wounded trifle, bu
Ebenezer is safe; they are both pur
suing the enemy, and will follow then
up to Charlestown tonight. But you
/ Malviny, where did you stay, ant
babyi"
s I'm the woods all night" sobbe,
Mrs. Sanderson, breaking down for th
9 first time.
1 my poor girl! There, there, we ar
E all safe now Come, make me cup Q
tea. All, you've got it all ready TO
+ mep WHATr' as she caught sight q
e the TAN figure in the red uniform tina
now staggered towards him from il
g corner.
{ "WHAT!" he shouted, catching up hi
musket and preparing to fire.
g mo, no, Silas! not that-not mul
e der! he is sick and wounded, he Isl
ri s.He's q red-coat!'' cried Silas, takin
! aim.
: Mrs. Sanderson quickly placed hel
], self before the man, shielding him wit
q her own badly.
FL "Silas!" she cried, putting up he
4 hand; lyon shall not have this man
I h1coH x,ov,~p II Sc