The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-01-08
ONLY Two BEECHNtI'S.
4 Revolutionary Love Story.

4 Revolutionary Love Story.
An old brown farm house has stood for
years Oh the highway between Ridgefeld and
Seuth salem, in Connecticut It was SO near
the New York and Connecticut boundary line
that stone could be thrown twenty yards or
more from the door steps into either State l
has sheltered generation after generation of
the same family for more than a hundred
years. A few days ago it became necessary to
tear down this old bilding, and in removing
the discarded furniture, that had grown shaky
with years of solitude In the musty garnet,
su1ail chest Was found Nothing was in it but
a. package no larger than spool On opening
The tattered, faded paper covering, two beech
nuts were disclosed, exactly alike perfectly
preserved and whose shells were IS hard as
glass An examination of the crumbling III
closure revealed some writing that was scarce
" legible The almost vanished sentence was
deciphered as follows
These are the beechnuts that Phillip and
Martha exchanged Oct 49, ITS.
The little nuts that had lain for hundred
years untouched are now to be carefully pre-
served, especially as associated with them is
family tradition The history which the dis
coverv of these beechnuts has revived is as
follows A huge boulder frowns upon the
old Salem turnpike, perhaps mile from the
feeF York State limo it eonceals the highway
toward the west by reason 81 the sharp turn
that it makes around it. Leaning against This
boulder one mild afternoon in October, ITS,
was a young man. His eyes were resting on
the vista of buff, brown and scarlet foliage
that stretched far away, and through which
patches eff blue water of the lake beyond
ccotid be se6n. -.
Beautiful" he said. "Ah, if 1 only-a
had not this busincs. il hand; and their out
posts are just beyond"
Even as he spoke he started, listened, and
an instant So changed his manner that he
seemed a tired and Iistless soldier, eth No
care for the landscape that had charmed him.
As the footsteps that had caused the change
of manner approached, and seemed about to
round the boulder, he still kept his eyes half
closed with the expression of WEAKNESS, nor
did he lift them until the steps stopped in
front of him. Then looking up he saw a child,
girl of ten or twelve years may be. The lit
| tie one spoke.
ssWhere is your musket?" she asked.
"Are you then go used to seeing soldiers
with gums, my maid, that you wonder I haven't
mot always, but now. Why, my father and
my brother John have gone away with their
muskets, and Sd has everyone"
s.!MaEnap they have gone shooting the ganle9"
''Uh no; f6r they put On Their three corner
ed hats, like yours, and did hear my brother
saw surely theered be battle tomorrow"
The young soldier no longer assumed the
look Of wearied Indifference His manner,
however, did not suggest to the child that he
burned within
''My little maid" he said, 81 have some
thing better than fint-lock I will show it to
you"
From the inner folds of his homespun coat
ha drew forth small portfolio, and then, sit
ting Oh a shelf of the rock, opened the case,
placed it upon his knee and then sharpened
crayon: ,..,o =. 49, n,o;, - 80. .s.rr.
ingly by the bright leaves on the bank, back of
you, that if you will let me will sketch it, and
you may have the portrait
The childs eyes sparkled, but she said:
'sYou were tired and almost asleep as 1 came"
slight, quick smile, though tempered with
sadness, fitted over the young mans face, and
he said: eyes, but you have awakened me.
Now stand as still as you can"
With qiiick, vigorous strokes the young man
piled his crayon now and then Slahcins up at
the child's face Both were silent some mo-
ments. At length he said s'And SO your
brother does predict battle morrow"
eyes He did say so, and did ask sister
Martha to make cartridges for him.
''And now he has gone-thefe, there, my
maid" for he saw her chin culver. HE will
come back. Mayhap therell be no battle. :"
They were silent few moments longer; then
he said: (Which way did your father and broth
er CO. my child?"
'sBy the turnpike to the White Plains"
ooh, no! oh, yes of course, to the White
Plains. There" holding UP the portrait,
"there, 1 have foreshortened the nose little
too much. When l have fixed that it will
be done" Then with few rapid strokes
he finished the sketch, and gave it to the
child.
cts my face! it's my facet" cried the
child
'Now, what is your name, that may write it
beneath the portraits"
She told him and he wrote:
Ruth Philips, by Philip.
s'There," he said, "my first name fs the
same as your last one. That is NICE isn't
it,"
As she stood gazing at the portrait the young
soldier quickly took small map from his port
folio and traced with his finger highway until
it stopped at a point marked White Plains
Then he studied it moment and was about
to turn away when the clatter of
horses hoofs startled him. The rider, by
the sound, was pressing his steed to his best
mette. Almost abruptly the young soldier
seized the child and led her to the seat on the
rock Then with such Auency as caused her
the picture, and was thus engaged, as he in
tended to be, when the hOrseman dashed by.
The horse was checked as suddenly as though
snot dead, and the young man thOreupon lifted
his tall figure that had been bending over the
child turned slowly, and when he looked up
the weary careworn expression was again on his
face. 1t was changed, however, to look of
surprise that was not counterfeited as his eyes
fell on q Young woman. Though the soldier
steadfastiy received the look that the girl gave
him from eyes rounded with astOnishment as
they were luminous and searching, yet he did
not fail to note the exquisite picture that she
made. The high and jauntily poised riding hat
that the burning leaves of maple almost
touched as with fiery plume; the thick coil OF
hair, the complexion that was brighter than
that of leaf that almost rested on the cheek;
the figure, seated as though horse and rider
were moulded together; the coal-black animal
gently paving on the EARTH all backed by the
brilliancy of the forest-ths picture gladdened
his artistic eye. Yes his active mind was busy
with queries as to her identity. But the little
girl solved the question She siad ooh, Pat
ty, see the picture of me the man did draw"
The older sister put out her unoccupied
hand and received the portrait, not yet taking
| her eyes from the soldier At last she glanced
at the portrait then scrutinized it more closely,
| till it seemed to the young man that many
minutes had passed At length she turned to
him, and said, s'You did this!"
| The soldier bowed, and the young woman
made mental note of the grace with which this
! common souldier made courtesy
"What for?" she asked, though her tones
were not SO abrupt as the words.
'The little maid pleased me"
cit is almost perfect"
II am as well aware as you that it is not so. J"
"Who are your"
He smiled slightly, for he could not help it,
at the imperious manner of the GIRL but he
said, quietly, GA Continental soldier"
| 'You were i'll, mayhap, and fell behind?"
| The soldier bowed.
sDont you know you are on dangerous
| ground? You are within the British lines.
| 81 hope soon to he safe"
The young woman gathered up her reins,
saying as she did SO: truth, You should not
stray 80 far away from home. Come with me. .
| Then she seemed to hesitate, and at length
said to the young soldier, who had not stirred:
elbow long time needed you to draw this?"
"But few minutes"
''They are precious. 'tDare you draw
| mine!"
'sIt would be pleasure"
| "Will your"
'sRemain, then, as you are" Again drawing
forth his portfolio, and fixing one long. search
ing glance at the girl, he began his work A