Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-08

the r0a side were 70 be seen the debris
and ravaues Of war; and when she en-
tered her own desolate home, there too
the British had evidently come. for
general upsetting Of her orderly house
hold was plainly visible.
where, on. where were father and
the boys2 Should she ever see them
againg As she laid the baby down in its
cradle, and lighted the candle to look
about her more closely, q deep groan
startled her she looked over toward
the spot from whence the sound had is
sued. and saw mans figure PROSTATE
upon the floor IN the darkened corner.
.'Oh, Silas. my husband! Are you
killed. throwing herself down beside the
figure
The man turned and raised himaelf
upon one arm, and she saw, not the face
of her husbsDd, bit that of stranger,
and she recognized now the hateful red
uniform of British officer.
Madam. whispered the man. hoarse-
~. II am sick unto death. For heavens
sake, give me cup of tea. y
Mrs. Sanderson jumped to her feet.
How dare your" she began, her
dark eyes flashing fire, the very sound of
rousing her American indignation: then
at sight OF the mans pale, agonized fea-
lures she stopped, and womanly COM
passion for a sick and suffering fellow
creature swept away all other feeling in
her tender breast.
8 You arc suffering" she said, in a
gentle tone. Let me see; where are
you woundedap and she knelt once more
beside him, for the man had sunk back
exhausted.
lift you will give me-some-
thing to drink, / will try to leave
| your house at once, madam, he gasped,
vainly endeavoring to rise again.
" No, no, you shall not go, 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 business Is
brave. will not turn q suffering man
from my door, even though he be our
bitter enemy. Lie still; you shall have
| your cup OF tea, . and she put 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 ovensthe old coffee
pot into which she had poured her tea
for safety. She looked toward the
stranger, as she carefully measured out
the precious grains.
"Co6ee ~ he asked, catching her
glance.
mo; some of the tea, for which you
British would fain tax us beyond en-
durancel" she replied, holly, her color
rising and eyes flashing again.
In spite of his suffering, the man
smiled grimly. What spirited little
Yankee woman she wasl
Presently she poured out a cupful of
the fragrant Oolong and held it to his
lips. He drank long and copiously, then,
with grateful look, he muttered a few
words half inteligibly. She bent lower
to catch them.
whatsoever giveth cup of water in
Ny name, he shall not lose his reward. -
So much she heard as he closed his eyes
ard sank into deep sleep.
Baby now demanded her care, and it
was with sorrowful heart that she
seated herself to nurse him. Again
duO again Tic dZOulLcu tuOuguJS u
where was her husband were her
brothers still alive2 were she and baby
widowed and fatherless? came with over
whelming force. Suddenly shout out
| side startled her reveries. and reused her
sleeping guest. She FASTENED to open
the door, and Silas Sanderson burst in,
begrimmed and black with the dust OF
the fray.
s'FIurrah!'' he cried, triumphantly
1--WE have routed the red-coats: they are
| going back to Boston tonight quicker
than they came yesterday. Three cheers
for the brave Minute Men of Lexington
town.
.sOh, Silas, you are alive! you are not
hurt'' cried his wife, throwing herself
! in his arms.
mo, no; am equal to hundred
more battles"
.'And the boysG Oh, Silas, tell me
| quickly"
Reuben was wounded trife, but
Ebenezer is safe; they are both pursuing
the enemy, and win follow them up to
Charlestown tonight. But you, Nal.
why, where did you stay, and babygr
In the woods all night, sobbed Mrs
Sanderson, breaking down now for tho
first time.
MY poor girl There, there, we are
all safe now. Come, make me q cup oil
tea. All, you've got it all ready for me
WHAT" as he caught sight Of the tai
| figure in red uniform that now staggered
toward him from its corner
Whatps he shouted, catching up hi;
YnueIxek and nrenarino To fire