The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-10-10
FAITHS ORACLE.
A Traditional Story of Nathan
Hale and Benedict Arnold.

There came down the post road that led
from Chelsea landing, at the head of the
Thames, in Connecticut, to the important
villages to the north, a fine, active Young
man, one morning in the early fall of 1772.
Though not of great stature, he was of
commanding figure. There were agility,
energy, and Astounding health betokened
by his gait His step was quick and vigOr-
Gus, though his legs were incased in heavy
riding boots, with brightly polished spurs
at the heels. He seemed to have recently
dismounted and to have left his horse
behind. His greatcoat was somewhat
furnished by dust, as though he had ridden
some distance.
He stopped in the highway, and looked
with interest at a plain, substantial gam
brel-roof house that was set back some
distance from the road, in the middle of
level field that was bounded thousand
yards or so in the rear by thickly wooded
bluff. As the young man looked about, a
half smile came over his stern, hard fea-
lures, and he permitted himself to utter
aloud his thoughts.
81 did well to quit this spot, though it is
my birthplace, and is good farm land. l
did well to abjure farming. Bah There's
no energy in that, and there's stuff in me
for better things, better even than mixing
pills in the drug shop | have set up in New
Haven. But my opportunity is to come.
Am not already commander of the Gov
ernor's Guards? and before long thereIl
be better business for me than playing
soldier, too.n
He stood there scanning the home of his
boyhood, and his lips curled, though the
quiet place awakened none but contemptu-
GUS thoughts. Then he smiled again, this
time with some measure of merriment.
ilI,,r d I
tree, and the sweep is broken. Ha, ha
frightened them well. | wonder if old
Letfingwelps image of King George is at
the bottom, where | threw it in revenge
for his trouncing of me-"
Here the young man made his way to the
well, and bending over the decaying curb
looked intently down. The water was
clear, though deep, and there at the bot
tom he saw family outlined the human
figure, whose face the ripping water con-
torted into strange grimaces.
1t is there, and they say it tells for
tunes. Well, what fools these pious people
are"
The young man was about to turn away
when curiously CARRIED figure stopped
him.
Let me read your fortune, Mr.. Bene-
dict" said the person. You know me. l
am old Nancy. know you, though you've
been away so long"
"You alive yet, Nance? Egad, should
have thought you would have been gath.
cred with your familiars ere this. Go on.
What is my fortune?"
The old creature peered over the well,
and then, turning upon him with look
that was meant to he awful, but which dis
composed him not the least, she said:
You will be great, but you will be
cursed"
"Does it say that? Give it my best COM
pliments, and say that it tells no strange
things. | shall be great, and cursed have
been by every person hereabouts who knew
me when lad. Peddle your mysterious
wares upon the silly maids hereabouts,
Nance"
at is true, Mr.. Benedict Better for you
TO drown yourself to-day in the we'll"
"Begone," said he.
Then he fastened away, undisturhed by
this uupronse, for he knew no fear. He had
husiuess to DO in the peaceful old town,
and wished TO be about it, that he might
set out again that evening for New Haven.
As he passed along the highway, looking
neither to the right nor left, he approached
low red farm house, whose foundations
were set flush with the narrow path beside
the highway, and built with its side
parallel to the road instead of the front. A
great stone chimney was built on the out
side like a but5ress, and it projected on the
path a considerable space, so that one
walking the path was hidden from any on
the other side. The young man came
abreast the chimney and then suddenly
stopped and stepped back bit, He had
seen something at the window Of the apart
ment beyond the chimney, at the rear, for
which he lOnged for another undisturbed
survey. low rythmcal whirr that
escaped from the partly opened window
was notification thai the spinning wheel
within was busily employed. Removing
his hat for greater convenience. the young
man cautiously peered around the corner
of the chimney, and thus for a moment or
two Toasted his eyes on what he saw 1t
was indeed fair vision. Bending grace
fully over the wheel, from whose distaff
her fingers were busily engaged in drawing
the fiaxen tow, and in this operation re-
vealing white and rounded arm and
dimpled elbow, was a young girl. Her
face was fair, and the profile of it as chaste
and delicate as though cut from marble.
Her head was exquisitely poised, and her
neck, arching with consummate grace as
she Bonded over her work, was half en-
twined by long braid of dark brown hair
that she had tossed one side, so that it de-
pended below Her shoulder. Quantity
framed too, was this living picture. The
dark red of the woodwork around the
window was brought into contrast with the
mingled coloring of a creeping vine that
had clambered up on one side and festooned