The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-01-08

eyes, in New York before the war"
Suddenly she said: DO you know you may
be killed tomorrow
Perhaps"
1T mean that great battle is expected"
The young man made a most vigorous stroke
but without looking up said quietly: You
are better informed than / shall reach my
command tonight"
Il have been doing my par" Che said y
myself rode to Danbury this morning, bearing
that the British troops were gathering at the
White Plains, and that he and his command
must march at once and concentrate at Bed
ford before daylight tell you" she added,
bocaHse; by tahlng the short cut you might
fall in the sooner With the army"
vb Here ae yonpf aaa
suggestion 1t must be ten miles to Danbury?
"You must have pushed your horse?"
"Indeed did"
When next he looked up the portrait was
and Tie ntanner of indifference, but she saw
that his face was as White as the paper itself.
For some moments Size studied the picture.
Then she said: cit is marvel II must be
my very truth full portrait thank yoa, SIR y
and she extended her hand
AS he took it she said: II wish had some
thing that might give you in return for this
I fear now that was far too presumptuous to
ssk votI to do this.
HYoiua hllnBred me, and have repsid me-"
We may meet again. sir, when ! can better
repay you" s,;
He said, owe may; who knows" Then %
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
ssSee" he said, "these nuts are exactly alike.
You said we might meet again: will giveyou
this one and will keep the other If we meet
a.. 60 Ia o,1 10 how
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
90, but if you wish it will, !" and she thrust the
beecbimt under her glove. When she looked
he still stood thers With bead uncovered as
when she quilted him. H>ts she looked later
she would have seen the young soldisr rush
ing with mighty strides in direction opP0slse
to Chat Ing had all day been taking, and If she
had read big tfteaghts she would have known
that he was thanking oed he had met her.
One evening in midwinter, more that year
later, there were gathered about the open hre-
place in the living room of the Phillips mansion
tie young woman Martha, her little sister
Ruth and All elderly woman, who was plainly
the mother A tap at tie door did not fail to
cause all three to start little. PrsHblous
times again had come on this part OF the courS
try. Rumors of an advance prevailed. Father
and brother had again set out with the contln-
CERT troops to repel . threatened invasion.
However, Mistrers Martha did not hest
tate to open the door: So far. at
least. their home had been resbested 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
ereat courtesy, that he was belated traveller,
toi6pellsd to ask for shelter and food, if 80 be
the inmates felt cafe IN extending such hospi-
talities.
IBID the gentleman in, Martha" sais 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 Efr+seH
"These are, indeed, sad times, ST. ssid 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" 90,
SIS there, then, disttrhsi.ee In these parts!
asked the stranger. :.
ssHave you not heard and seen, sir, anu you
a traveller"
ST had supposed the operations were to the
west, else might not have ventured on my
journey"
a person as this. who did not know what was
going ON about him. but neither by hint OF
#ord OF. action did she betray any surprise. =,
The stranger vas young and neatly dressed
in heavy, close fitting suttott which reached
to his top ,boots His hair, Which was long,
fell in curly locks almost to his shoulders, and
it was of q yellow tinge, almost approaching
whiteness The old lady at once perceived
that whoever her guest was he was gentle
man, and as he addressed himself entirely to
her she found herself interested in him
Though she frequently referred to the topic
", hnr lind ha0
care littln about the war. The old lady decided
that he must be a merchant from below who
ventured thus far toward the British outposts
which then included the Phillips homestead
for purposes of business. Meanwhile Mar
tina had herself prepared a repast, of which
she at length invited the stranger to partake
Then for the first time he took note of the girl
s'We have simple fare now," she said
ssThe simplest fare has always been my
choice and habit" he said, and then added:
This must be a lonely life for you, although
perhaps an exciting one"
s'Not lonely when father and brother are
here and when there IS no war"
tsYour father and brother are in the field?"
Eyes, sir"
cit is pitiable lot for you indeed!"
'sNo. 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 offense
Then he said: 'That is indeed true patriotism -"
She was silent for 80 long time that he
stopped for a moment as he ate and said: us
there then to be fighting near by"
Gather did say to us as he went away:
seThere will be no general battle, but we are
going with the contingent and regulars to cut
off the approach of the British. They do 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,
"a r1xyt1l ho 80 r
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 fxedly at him, he looked up and
encountered the steady eye of little Ruth he
smiled pleasantly and said: Glow, then, little
maid. do you, too, miss your father?"
.sYou do make me think of my picture man,
the child said.
ssHave YOU picture MANI"
sThe man who drew my picture. Shall
show it to your,
eyes, indeed"
The child brought not only her own but the
crayon of her sister. ann,
sThey are well done; well done little maid.
Int YOU have grown older since this was
made"
eyes, more than year"
IA year, indeed" said he half medltauve-
"My sister Patty looks every day at hers,
and sometimes do hear her say, 4 wonder if
I shall ever see him again."
'sHush, Ruth, the gentleman cares for moth
ing of that Sort" said Martha.
E'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
ssWhat 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 snowfakes. The light grew
brighter and brighter
cit is the army" said Martha.
ssWhich one!" asked the mother.
s"1he 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 u.s. See
there, over the hill; they are coming There
they have set fire to the hay rick Mother, be
calm They shall not hurt you will not le
them" and the girl turned with flashing eyes
and fushe cheeks and seemed to be going tt
seek for weapon. But she was stayed The
stranger, whom they had forgotten, had gent
" restrained her. She looked at him inquir-
5 - - co:l. scThov Uiu do Won mr.