The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-10-08
FAITHS ORACLE.

FAITHS ORACLE.
A Traditional Story }. 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-
ous, though his legs were incased in heavy
riding boots, with brightly polished spurs
at the heels. He seemed to have recently
dismounted and to AVE 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 a
level field that was bounded O thousand
yards or SO in the rear by a thickly wooded
oiuus AS buo young man iOOk6Q ABOUT, q
half smile came over his stern, hard fea-
lures, and he permitted himself to utter
aloud his thoughts.
az 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
no energy in that, and there's stuff in me
for better things, better even than mixing
pills in the drug shop I lave set up in New
Haven. But my opportunity is to come.
Am l not already commander of the Gov
erDor's Guards? and before long there'l
be better business for me than playing
soldier, too"
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.
There's the old well under the apple
tree, and the sweep is broken. Ha, ha /!
] frightened them well. 1 wonder if old
J.eifingwelps image of King George is at
the bottom, where / threw it in revenge
Tor 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.
ut is there, n they say it tells for
tunes. Well, what fools these pious people
are"
The young man was about to turn away
when a curiously CARRIED figure stopped
him.
"Let me read your fortune, Mr.. Bene-
Dict" said the person. You know me. I
an old Nancy. I 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 a 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
ccrsed."
"Does it say that? Give it my best com
pliments, n say that it tells no strange
things. ! shall be great, and cursed have
been by every person hereaboutsw who knew
me when a lad. Pebble your mysterious
wares upon the silly maids ~hereabouts,
ut is true, Mr.. Benedict. Better for you
to drowny yourself to-day in the WE'LL"
"Begone," said he.
Then he fastened away, undisturbed by
this nonsense, for he knew no fear. He had
business to do in the peaceful old town
and wished to be about it, that he nigh
set out again that evening for New Haven
A. he passed along the highway, looking
neither to the right nor left, he approached
a lew red farm house, whose foundation
WIZ Set uubu WIFI bue uarTOW paUQ DeSlQt
the highway, and built with its sid
parallel to the o instead of the front. 4
grsst stone chimney was built on the out
sSds like q buttress, n it projected on tn,
path a considerable space, SO that on
Walking the path was bidder from any Oh
the other side. The young man cam
abreast the chimney and then suddenl,
stopped and stepped back a bit. He ha,
seen something at the window of the apart
NEST beyond the chimney. at the rear, TO
which he longed for another undisturbe
survey. A low rythmical whirr tina
escaped from the partly opened windo,
was notification that the spinning whee
within was busily employed. Removin,
his hat for greater convenience, the youn
man cautiously peered around the corne
of the chimney, and thus for a homer Q
two Toasted his eyes on what he saw. ]
WAS indeed a fair vision. Bending grace
fully over the wheel, from whose dista
beg fingers were busily engaged in DRAWN
the flaxen tow, and in this operation re
vsoling a white and rounded arm an
diupled elbow, was a young girl. HI
fsce was fair, and the profile of it as chast
aud delicate as though cut from marbl
Her head was exquisitely poised, and he
mack, arching with consummate grace 6
she Bonded over her work, was half Ell
tv:ued by a long braid of dark brown ha
thst she had tossed one side, so that it d.
padded below her shoulder. Quaint
frnned, too, was this living picture. tt
dArk red Of the woodwork around I'll
widow was brought into contrast with ii
mingled ccloring of a creeping vine tn
Eed clambered up or one side and festoone
the stills all about with leaves, some ST
deep green, some tipped with scarlet /
the early hints of fall, and some burnisht
with a darker color.
"a handsome maid, egad," said ii
Young man. "Who is. she? This WI
Situire Leffingwell's house. Can it be tn
that stern old Puritan has suffered such
flower as this to grow here? I will fiji
out. The maid pleases me-"
SO saying, he stepped out in full view
tire girl, and with great grace n CO.
sideration saluted her.
The girl turned, a little startled at Il
presence of his fine man, thus une:
pectedly appearing. She colored slight
but she sourteously returned his salut
ton, Inc placed her hand upon the whit
gently to check its revolutions.
Il ask your pardon, mistress, so rude
to lave disturbed you, but you were inte
wish your spinning, and saw ME not till
spose."
'sTbe chimney conceRIs all who a
preach from that way, and few a K t
Jsth on this side," she said.
AS she spoke she looked furtively, b
modestly, upon this stranger, as thou
wondering who this courteous name
man could be. He, too, fixed his pierci
dark eyes searchingly upon her for
moment, and then, with q smile and
manner so well bred that she was not d
turbed, he approached nearer and hi
out ais hand. Size did not take it,
looked wondering upon him..
"So my memory Is better than your.
he said, bic hand stll extended and rssti