The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-01-01

!. LES, IN new YORK before the war. ="
be klfed Tomorrow"
Perhaps."
~ 'nean that great battle is expected"
Inc, young man made most vigorous stroke
ous hMithout looking up said quietly: s'You
command nm tonight"
~ nave been doing my part, she said. IT
mysel1 rode to Danbury this morning, bearing
the commission to the commanding officer
that ina th9 British troops were gathering at the
White Plains, and that he and his command
must march at once aud concentrate at Bed
1ord De1ore t1aylight tell you," she added,
because, by taxing the short cut you might
fall in the sooner with the army"
vha youe man snapped and
So gges" IL moS' ~ ten miles to D'n0ury:"
..You must have pushed your horse?"
When next he looked Up tho portrait was
done. He gave it to her with q graceful bow.
and the manner of indifferencs, but she saw
| that his face was as white as TIL, paper ITSELF
For some moments she studied the picture.
Then she said: '3It is marvel It must be
my very truthful portrait thank YOU, sir"
and she extended her hand.
As he took it she said: II wish he'd some
thing that might give you in return for this
fear now that was far too presumptu5us to
ask you to do this"
lou uOuOrou Iuo, Autl udVo AopUAu A4o.
We may meet again. sir, when 1 can better
repay you"
He said, eve may; who knows?" Then as
his eyes fell on the ground he spied number
of beechnuts that had fallen from the tree over
head He picked up two Of them.
sSee," he said, ''these nuts are exactly alike
You said we might meet again: I will giveyou
this one aud will keep the other. If we meet
again we will put them side by side as they are
now: You can repay me by doing this. 1t is
only whlm of mine"
She looked at him curiously for moment
and then said, "Why, that is playful thing to
do, but if you wish it will" and she thrust the
! beechnut under her glove. When she looked
back after she had gone down the road apiece
he still stood there with head uncovered as
whom she quilted him. Had she looked later
she would have seen the young soldier rush
ing with mighty strides in direction opposite
to what he had all day been taking, and if she
had read his thoughts she would have known
that he was thanking God he had met her.
One evening in midwinter, more that year
later, there were gathered about the open fire
place in the living room of the Phillips mansion
the young woman Martha her little sister
Ruth and an elderly woman, who was plainly
the mother. A tap at the door did not fail to
cause all three to start a little. Troublous
times again had come on this part Of the coun
try Rumors Of an advance prevailed Father
and brother had again set out with the contln-
gent troops to repel threatened invasion
However, Mistress Martha did not hest
tate to open the door. SO far, at
least, their home had been respected by both
armies. There stood on the steps tall man,
whose great coat was slightly sprinkled with
the snow that was beginning to fall He did
not offer to enter until hidden; but he said, with
great courtesy, that he was belated traveller,
Compelled to ask for shelter and food, if 80 be
the inmates felt safe in extending such hospl
talities.
'sBid the gentleman in, Martha" said the
mother, and when he had, with exquisite grace,
! bowed and thanked her, he asserted that moth
| ing but the direst necessity would have COM
| PEELED him to intrude himself.
ssThese are, indeed, sad times, sir, said the
mother. 'sTwice before my husband and son
| have been called away to defend the country
know not where they may be tonight, but the
| good Lord will protect them and us."
! els there, then, disturbance In these parts!'
asked the stranger.
'sHave you not heard and seen, sir, and you
traveler?"
IT had supposed the operations were to the
west, else might not have ventured on my
Journey"
The old lady glanced quickly at him for
moment, as though Wishing to scan so strange
person as this. who did not know what was
going on about him. but neither by hint of
word or action did she betray any surprise :,
in heavy, close fitting surtout which reached
! to his top boots. His hair, which was long,
! fell in curly locks almost to his shoulders. and
it was of a yellow tinge, almost approaching
whitenes The old lady at once perceived
man. sHa ass he addressed himself entirely to
Fer she found herself interested in him
Though she frequently referred to the topic
that was uppermost in her mind, be seemed to
care little about the war. The old lady decided
ventured thus far toward the British outposts
! which then included the Phillips homestead
/ for purposes of business Meanwhile Mar
tina had herself prepared repast, OF which
she at length invited the stranger to partake.
Then for the first time he took note of the girl
"We have simple fare now" she said
'sThe simplest fare has always been my
choice and habit he bald, and then added:
This must be a lonely life for you, although
perhaps an exciting one"
ssNot lonely when father and brother are
| here and when there IS no war"
"Your father and brother are in the 6eld?"
eyes, sir"
cit is pitiable lot for you indeed"
s'No. sir; no indeed! We are glad we have
father and brother to fight for our country"
The stranger looked at her for moment
with such admiration as could give no ofense.
Then he said: s'That is indeed true patriotism. ="
She was silent for 30 long time that no
stopped for moment as he ate and said sis
there then to be fighting near by"
''Father did say to us US he went away
''There will be no general battle, but we are
going with the contingent and regulars to cut
off the approach of the British They 90 e1-
pect by night or tomorrow to have thrown up
such forts or defenses as will head off the
British. and as it is but twelve miles away
where they do 80 at the Carmel Cross Roads,
maybe father and brother will be home Satur-
day."
Here the stranger seemed much occupied
with his meal, nor did he pause IN the eating
of it until, seemingly conscious that some one
was gazing 6xedly at him, he looked up and
encountered the steady eye of little Ruth. He
smiled pleasantly and said: Chow, then, little
maid, do you, too, miss your father"
you do make me think of my picture man, !"
"Have you picture MANI"
'"The man who drew my picture. Shall I
show it to your
eyes, indeed"
The child brought not only her own but the
crayon Of her sister.
siTbey are well done; well done little maid.
but you have grown older since this was
made
eyes, more than year."
IA year, indeed" said he half meditative-
"My sister Patty looks every day at hers,
and sometimes do hear her say, Z wonder if
I shall ever see him again "
t'Hush, Ruth, the gentleman cares for moth
ing of that sort" said Martha.
| "But am interested"
As they sat by the fire later chatting, and
while Martha was meditating upon which Of
the two spare rooms to put the stranger into
for the night, there was heard without a
sound that rose above the moaning OF the
wind
"What is that?" asked Martha.
The stranger fastened to the window, and
even as he did so the sound grew louder and
more significant 1t was the yell of maddened
men, and now as the curtains were tossed aside,
they saw yellow light through and between
the thick falling snowhakes The light grew
brighter and brighter.
s'It is the army" said Martha.
(which one?" asked the mother.
ss1,he British, ] think. Look, they are burn
ing Neighbor Keeler's house. They will come
here. They have threatened before They will
burn the house and they may kill us. See
there over the hill; they are coming There
they have set fire to the hay rick Mother, be
/ oalr, Thnu shall not hr1rt Won I will not let