Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-08
GRAY'S POWDER BARREL.
IL MARIAN sILspzz DEvEREUx.


comforts for me and my beast So you
can have a long day to gossip and find out
the latest news. | shall depend upon
hearing from you what all the town wor-
thies are talking about"
well, father. only You must not expect
to hear the secrets 1 discover. l am moth
ing ii not discreet.
Or. Gray laughed a happy, contented
laugh, as he stopped to kiss his daughter,
for well he knew there was no corner OF
her heart which She did not show him.
and that any secret worth knowing would
always reach his ears in the evening chat
around the blazing wood fire. however
much she might bargain and haggle to
pique his curiosity and enhance the value
of he communication.
Dr. Gray was a widower and Kitty, his
cides. daughter, had for years been his
housekeeper and coniidaute. Indeed with
out her management he would have found
it difficult to bring up and educate his
large family. Two wives had the worthy
doctor had, and each had bequeathed to
him healthy, romping growing family of
nine children; and though he was strong
OF m.ld and body, and held a good prac-
tee. yet he often found tie demands upon
his pocket came ii faster than his fees
filed .tup.
When he told Kitty that he should ex-
poet 20 hear from her, on his return, the
Town Gossip he well knew that it must all
come 10 her while She was busy in kitchen
ornu-sery, making as good As one pair of
hands and willing heart could the ray
ages IN lardcr and wardrobe caused by the
horde Of younger children.
" Infantry Corps, the doctor would
say. laying his hand atfecuonatcly on her
head, is ruled by this captain lam only
commlssary general.
kJ-y adorcd her father, thinking him
the w.sest, best and handsomest man in the
world, returning his affection and trust in
ample measure.
Many young man attracted BY her
sweet and comely face had tried 10 win her
for . wife. But Kitty had only one stand
ard Of manly perfection and. judged by
that, the aspirantS for her favor all seemed
as Yer 50 far below her ideal that she could
not bring herself even to dream of promis-
ing 10 love, honor, and obey Beside, as
she SAID in her condolences to her father.
" on know, dear, you couldn't get along
without me, and they can: why. poor
father, what would you do if all the chill
uge0 came troOping around you 10 know
when dinner would be ready? You'd have
90 find wife yourself. and that you know
would be impossible, with such an army
OF Yong savages rs We are, to cucumber
YOU.
Yes" her father would answer. Kitty
m warning TO my kind; my love, will
YOU accept me, and my eighteen children.
all OF them wild u young hawks, except
nay daughter Kitty would frighten the
bravest woman under the sun, were | the
Gar u all the.Russias with endless mines
and se-fs to offer her, instead Of poor
country doctor, just able TO meet his yearly
bills. Indeed, you must not desert your
poor id father. | shall never be younger
" stronger again. but the boys will soon,
some ~ them, be able % take care of them
selves and then, when the rea, fairy prince
comes II Il isn't too late and Won 4 preIna-
tIre.y gray and withlred old woman, Will
gladly give my blessing
There had never occurred the slightest
ftriai.'n Of opinion between lie doctor
and rs daughter except on one point Dr.
Gray : birth. by tles Of youth and By loug
habit Of mind, was 50 loyal subject Of
King George that he could never quite de-
eide that the royal stupidity and oppression
should be resented by rebellion, while his
katEe-ne, although constantly breathing
his atmosphere OF loyalty, and entirely sub
iect 10 her father control through her love
and duty to him. had always strongly in
clined 10 the new feeling of independence
that somehow seemed to eXhalc from the
Very soil on which the colonies were
planted. She sometimes thought as she
stood looking down the long aislcs of
sturdy black trunks in the pine woods,
stretching through interninabie vistas
each one pushing its head with such
strong, silent power up into the free sun
light, nat no one could be born among
a.
odor, and submit te be governed in life and
properly by 4 blundering name, three
thousand miles away. She responded like
her father TO the influences of her birth
and was loyal to them.
katherine may have been unconsciously
confirmed in these feelings from the fact
that one of her suitors. who most nearly
approached the general perfection of her
ideal had sometimes talked to her with
such a glow of enthusiasm and. As far as
she could see, with reason and Justice. of
the native and indefeasible rights of man
kind. Still no great event had occurred
to break into the household harmony and
Or Gray rode away on his stout lay cob,
tins June morning, with no suspicion of
the shock which the day would bring him.
For some time hatherine's whole atten-
ton was absorbed in her household duties,
especially in preparing her younger
brothers and sisters for school. So ii was
several hours after her fathers departure
before she became conscious that something
unusual was happening. But now she saw
that the ordinarily quiet street was con-
SANITY echoing the hurry of passing feet,
while q murmur of excited words pene-
trated through the closed windows.
Throwing open the front door, she stood
IA the full brightness of the spring day.
fortune, good or i'll. had ordained that il
should be Just at the moment when John
sherman, flint lock in hand. turned to urge
a oahd OF young men who followed him to
their utmost haste.
But sQhn eager hurry could not blind
nm - the tact that there appeared almost
peSlue Inn VISION rs sweet and comely rs
noI'@I eyes could desire to gaze upon.
There was small need of Katherine's al
most breathless question. What's the
matter The group had halted. and John
came forward to tell the news of the hattie
Tor freedom, raging on the higbts of
Charlestown. Katherine looked into his
glowing face and felt a thrill of svmnafbv
that she thought pure patriotism and M
doubtedly it had its source in the same
great spring of human feeling. As She
listened TO the story of the vascillatin., baf.
tie, the lack of men and ammunition ON
the patriot side, she forgot all but the les
son Of the pine trees, and the needs of her
oountrymen in their struggle with tyranny.
Do you say that the powder is giving
out, John" she interrupted, come with
me, and she led the young men down into
the cellar, and showing them where stood
a barrel of powder which her father had
destined TO the far different purpose of Civ
ing aid and comfort to the enemy, if need
were, she babe them carry away all they
could take. and send all empty TASKS TO
her for replenishing.
Thus. through the morning, she stood
giving out the deadly black stuff until not
one grain remained, and not till then did
one qualm or question come to her
Before the dinner hour for which DR..
Gray thought he would be too late, the
painting bay, in state of great perplexity