The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30

| ocnSI al VI Her purpose, the DUH OLD man,
10 w hltney's surprise, seemed encouraged.
"'Tis the maids way" said Putnam.
''She has some fellow, no doubt, that she
fancies with maids foolishness, and she
trusts TO win favor and promotion for him.
She's brave girl and a wise one, Whit
ney, and she has Putnam blood in her
| veins"
30 the General briefly sketched his plan
and instructions. The young fellow was to
leave as soon as possible, make his way
! within the enemy's lines as a deserter, and
when in their hands declare that Putnam
was making preparations to quit Reading
and retire to the Sound as speedily as he
was able.
LET her send her sweetheart on this
chance, and, to make sure, find some one
| else to send on a similar errand."
| BY dawn of the next day Whitney had
procured another trustworthy fellow and
sent him on his mission, and had also Civ
en- to the maid the instructions of the Gen.
| eral. She demurely received her cOmmis-
sion and promised faithfully to execute it.
| When the darkness of that evening set
| tied down upon them, Mistress Mary, hav-
ing muftied her slender figure, sped by the
| sentinel. who knew her well, and made her
way in the direction of the house of her
pastor, Mr.. Bloss, where, she said, she had
| made promise to spend an hour that even
I ing. But when she came to the old pasture
lot she darted quickly by the little path
| through the narrow ravine that led to the
| cleared space beyond, and in a moment
went beneath a rough shed that had been
erected as rude shelter for cattle. As she
stepped within a tall figure appeared from
| somewhere in the darkness by her side.
Mary" it whispered.
Robert" and the tall figure, bending
| over her, took her mufied head in both his
palms, uplifted it, and kissed her.
Robert, have you waited long, and are
you all safeH" She put out her hand to
touch his cloak, seemingly to assure her
self.
"But few moments. I feared the in
clement weather or some chance might
keep me, Robert, when you have
Travelled all these miles, full ten at least,
to meet mew
"Ah, ten miles; twice ten would L come
daily if l could but hear you say, My
Robert" and receive your sweet kiss of
hope and trust"
For few moments they chatted with
the nervous haste of a hurried meeting,
and then she said: "Robert, do you hear
my good news: After this we need not
meet in secret, for l have way to rid us
of all such annoyance hereafter. The
General will permit you to come. l shall
win his consent"
"Ah, little one, you will be more vic
torious than others have been if you get
him to permit that" he replied.
''But l SHALL Robert, is there not a
Colonel Bliss of the British army en-
camped not far from your home:"
"There is"
"Then take this message that I have
written and see that it is delivered to him.
You pass in and out of their lines easily,
do you not:"
"Yes. But what is this?" he said, doubt
fully.
''Trust me, Robert. 1 can not tell you
now. Do it for my sake, and come again,
say Friday next. After that you will be
free to come and CO." she said.
Il trust you, Mary, though this is a
mysterious thing"
And, Robert, on no account reveal that
you have seen me or received it from me-"
''Is it so important as that?"
''FOr me, yes"
"Then I'll keep it secret with my life."
"Yes, do" she said, with a solemnity
that impressed him greatly, though had
he been able to see her eyes and smile he
would have surmised there was no such
great concern about it. Then she bade
him go.
"You will wait for me Friday night?"
he asked, and she replied yes.
A few moments later Mary was de- |
murely chatting befOpe the parsons fire, |
and an hour after she sent a message to |
her father that she should spend the night |
at the parsonage with Betsy Bloss, her |
only mate.
General Putnam and his young secretary |
were preparing to retire for the night, |
when a commotion without checked such |
preparations. There was a heavy knock, |
the trampling of feet, the sound of excited |
voices, and in a moment an officer with |
two soldiers and tall, handsome civilian |
stood before the General.
The old warrior realized at once what |
such proceeding meant, but he calmly |
said:
"Who is this:"
"He was captured by the SENTRY" said |
the officer, "as he was leaving the pasture |
lot below, where he had been in consulta- |
tion with another whose form the men |
dimly saw, but who escaped them. When.
captured, he, by quick, unsuspected |
motion, thrust bit of paper in his mouth |
and, though the men choked him, he |
swallowed it,"
Putnam's face was like thunder cloud, !
but he checked any other manifestation of |
his passion.
"Who are you?'' he asked.
"Robert Lockwood, of Ridgefeld town
ship"
"Have you any permit to be within my |
lines?'
He shook his head, and Whitney, who |
was watching him closely, was deeply i'm |
pressed by the grace of his manner and the |
saddened expression that tempered his !
manly face.
"What were YOU doing here:"
"That | can not say, except that it was !
purely private matter that brought me, /
with which neither you nor your army had |
anything to do:"
"Then why sneak here secretly at night" !
"Because you made that method the only |
possible way OF getting here"
Il suppose you know what that means |
for you? Tell me, are you patriot"
NO" he said sadly. 81 do not sympa- !
thize with YOU in rebellion against our |
King. am Royalist-a Tory, you call !
us-but l have been man of peace ever |
since this war begun"
Then up rose General Putnam, setting |
free the mighty tempest of his wrath. His |
passion was terrible, and it seemed as |
though even in his fury he might strike |
down this man there With oaths and i'm !
precautions he cursed him and all like him, |
until at length the prisoner SAIL:
''Sir, you are to do with me as YOU will. |
but you are too brave man to insult me-"
Il will do nothing more but hang you. |
Hanged you shall be at sunrise to-mor-
row." !
Hanged, For what?'
Gas British spy found in my camp, and
unable to explain his presence there"
Here Whitney said few words in low
tone to the General.
''Yes, yes. That is so. See here. There
was some one with you. Some OF my men
giving you information. That's the traitor
l want. He gave you some message. Tell
m. who it was and I'H spare your life, and
hang him before the whole army"
The prisoners head dropped till his chin
fell upon his bosom. But he said nothing.
"Come, be quick about it," roared Put
nam.
Il have done no wrong. I am not guilty.
But can not tell you what you ask"
"Take him away. Whitney, see that NV
orders are carried out. Hang hini at sun
rise"
Sir" pleaded the prisoner, "you are
making n terrible mistake. Suspend your