The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-08
FAITHS ORACLE.
a Traditional Story Of Nathan
Hale and Benedict Arnold.

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, fine, active young
man, one morning in the early fell OF 1772.
Though not of great stature, he was of
commanding figure. There were agility,
energy, and abounding 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
tarnished by dust, as though he had ridden
some distance.
He stopped in th. 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 a
level field that was bounded a 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.
Il did well to quit this spot, though it is
my birthplace, and is good farm land. 1
did well to abJure farming. Bah! There's
10 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 L not already commander of the Gov
ernor's Guards! and before long thereYl
be better business for me than playing
soldier, too"
He stood there scannino tba bor,a of h;s
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.
There's the old well under the apple
tree, and the sweep is broken. Ha, ha
/ frightened them well / wonder if old
Letfngwel's image of King George is at
the bottom, where 1 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 awav
when a curiously garbed figure stopped
him.
. Let me read your fortune, Mr.. Bene-
dict" said the person. You know me. |
am old Nancy. know you, though you've
been away so long"
''YOu alive yet, Nance? Egad, I 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 be 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 nv bast COM
pllments, and say that it tells no strange
things. l shall be great, and cursed have
been by every person hereabouts who knew
me when a lad. Peddle your mysterious
wares upon the silly maids hereabouts.
Nance"
at is true, MIR. Benedict. Better for Won
70 GROWN yourself to-day in the WELL"
"BeGone," said he.
Then be fastened away, undisturbed hy
tins nonsense. for he knew no fear He had
business TO do in the peaceful old town,
and wished to be about it, that he might
set ont again that evening for New Haven.
AS be passed along the highway, looking
neither to the right nor left, he approached
a 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 buttress, and it projected on the
path considerable space, so that one
waking the path was hidden from any on
tne other side. The young man came
abreast the chimney and then suddenly |
stopped and stepped back a 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: A low rythmical whirr that |
escaped from the partly opened window
was notification that 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 prace-
fnliy over the wheel, from whose distaff |
her fingers were busily engaged in drawing |
the f1axen tow, and in this operation re- |
yealing white and rounded arm and |
elbow, was a young girl Her
face was fair, and the profile of it as chaste |
=and delicate as though cut from marble. |
6sr head was exquisitely poised. and her |
neck, arching with consunmate grace as
she bended 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. Quaintly |
framed. too, was this living picture. The |
Qdrk Teu OF tno WOODWORK around the |
window was brought into contrast with the |
mingled coloring of g creeping vine that |
had clambered up on one side and festooned |
the silis all about with leaves, some still |
deep green. some tipped with scarlet by
the early hints of fall, and some Furnished |
with darker color.
"a handsome maid, egad," !" said the |
young man. "Who is she. This was
Squire Lefingwell's house. Can it be that
that stern old Puritan has suffered such
flower as this TO grow here: I viii find
out. The maid pleases me-"
So saying, be stepped out in full view of |
the girl, and with great grace and con-
sideration saluted her.
The girl turned, little startled at the
presence of this fine man, thus unex-
pectedly appearing. She colored slightly,
hut she courteously returned his saluta- |