The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30

by the Danbury pike, nltney. lney
can't get here inside OF three days. If 1t
wasn't for this inciplent mutIny ia go
out and meet 'em. If could only hold 'em
off for a week I'd pat down this trouble OF
ours and then whip the life out of these
confounded red-cOats."
'If might suggest" said Whitney, def
erentially, 'might it not be good plan to
give them dose of their own medicine!''
"What's that-bullets!"
mo. They seem to be fond of spies and
deserters. Give them one."
SPY thunder, that's worth thinking about.
1t shall be done. I'll give them deserter
who'll send them scurrying off over the
Norwalk pike on false scent, and that'u
give me two or three days more time.
But" added Putnam, thoughtfully, ''Our
man is away now, and don't know another
l can trust"
"Shall try to find one?"
"Yes, but be discreet"
A gentle tap at the door seemingly
needed no voice to reveal to Major Whitney
who it was that thus begged entrance. He
went quickly, and lifted the old brass latch.
There on the threshold he beheld q slender,
graceful figure, which dropped the quaint
recoiling courtesy of the time. But though
her body was thus bended, her head was
erect, so that Whitney saw the fash of
mirth in the brown and mischief loving
the full though sensitive lips, upon which
emotion vibrated with revealing touch.
"Ah!" said Whitney, returning the
courtesy, ''the enslaver comes for the
hungry captives."
Nonsense, Major Whitney. Hunger
and pride are your only captors, and if one
be so easily enslaved as you intimate, why,
he has many captors. Therefore l will
make no such pretension."
so hO W pamn forth from the room in a
gruff though not unkindly voice. SIS it
the maid? Surely she brings, with her
own, the fragrance of the kitchen. Come
here, my girl"
She went with graceful step to Putnam,
and took his great rough hand.
"Do you know, little Missy" said he,
''that I've a notion to put you on my staff.
Tve never had such a commisSary. w hat
have you been getting for me that tempts
me to eat to-day"
"Something you'll not leave untouched" !"
SIS it porridge? Come, nOw."
"Ah, General" said Whitney, "she'll not
brave your wrath and her own reputation
for kindliness by setting that before you.
Have you no nostrils, sir"
"Aye, but I've eyes now, and the maid is
fair. l wish every one of those soldiers
out there had sweetheart like you, missy.
There'd be no mutiny then. Come now,
what more can the old General say?
There's nothing like a sweetheart to spunk
up soldier"
"Then yours must have been a witching
one, sir" said the girl. "But come; you
know what I've got in the kitchen, and if
you daily here they'll soon be like your
own cannon balls"
"'Tis dumplingS, Whitney, as Pm reb-
el. Come here, missy, that may give you
a kiss to pay yOu," the General said.
"That is cheap payment" said he,
archly. "Do you think because you've
beaten the red-coats so often that maid
like me prizes such caresses: Humph,
But here, your hairs awry, and you've
been in passion, for did hear you stamp
ing about and using such vigorous Ian
guage that l put my hands to my ears"
With deft and delicate touch she ar
ranged the warriors tangled tawny locks,
Whitney the while watching with admir-
ing glanCeS, ami wondering whether he
envied more the Generals great fame and
abilities, or the modest attention OF this
girl.
She led them to the table, where the
snowy dumplingS exuded fragrant steam
that, mingled with the aroma of Medford
5he taste as it was exhilarating realization
for the nOstrils.
"Where is your father, misSy?" said the
General, as she laid dumpling upon his
plate.
He's taking supper with General Poor
and his officers tonight"
"Ha ha :" roared Putnam. "Poor's feast
ing him on porridge while you are starry
ng US on dumplings. By-ahem, By the
powers, Whitney, 1 never ate such fine
)neS."
''No porridge at all has General Poor.
For placed dozen or more dumplings in
5he milk pail, and, with a blanket over
hem to keep the steam within, sent them
with my best compliments, and father has
AIKEN a gallon of rum, too," said the girl.
you're a good and brave girl, missy,
out the Lord help Poor and the rest of
hem if your father makes hot flip for them
5o- might. 'TiS well there's no business on
hand. We know what Marvin's flip is, eh,
Whitney,"
The young officer smiled, but as he cast
his eyes upon the fair Mary Marvin it
seemed as though there were for him
greater potency and persuasiveness for in
in her glance than in the stifest
mug of flip he ever drank.
Putnam then paid little heed to his COM
panion, for he ate as he did all else, with
all his energy absorbed in the occupation
at hand. At length, his meal being
finished, he said to Whitney: 81 wish,
Major, that you could make some inquiries
at once for this fellow of whom we spoke
awhile ago."
Major Whitney glanced about with some
abstraction of manner, as though he had
put his wits to work. Then
happening to meet the searching and mis-
chief loving brown eyes that he had
grown to regard as the choicest prize in
the world for a young soldier, it occurred
to him to speak to their owner.
"You know the lads hereabouts," he
said, with sudden inspiration. SIS there
Ir-hp EnOyVS tho Dtr halOTxy i-
brave enough even to be your lover, and
therefore brave enough to penetrate the
enemy's land:"
There's no lad brave enough to be my
lover, though peradventure worthier q
better maid than l."
"Ha. ha. She has you there, Whitney.
Bravery alone will not win you, missy.
That is right. Bravery isn't such a great
thing. It's the lack of it that makes men
conspicuous. But, Mary, there's sense in
Whitney's nonsense. Is there a brave
young lad, with brains to back his bravery
who knows this country well enough to
take a message within the enemy's out
posts? If you will name me such one it
will be well with him, and you, too"
She looked at him curiously for a mo-
ment, that she might determine how much
of sincerity was concealed beneath this
seeming jest.
"Are YOU trifing with me?" she asked.
"No, missy. There is serious business to
be done, and, the Lord knows, do not
know where to look for the man to do it,"
Suppose l find him, will you do what 1
ask"
"Aye, dozen favors if you wish. Put
your wits to it, and I'll warrant you'll find
him. Here the General quilted the room.
"Tell me, sir, does the General mean it,"
she asked Whitney, who was finishing his
meal.
You're too quick-witted not to perceive
that he does.'
'IS it a dangerous mission:"
'Yes."
'It would not be dangerous for Tory"
''It would not, of course. But, surely,
YOU have some one on your mind, or you
would not thus question me-"
Ppm but curious" Then she added,
'"Twould help our army"