The Red Cloud chief., 1888-09-21

daughter-in-law, noticing these glances,
stepped behind her and whispered: "Not 8 o
fierce, mother, not &c fierce, or they will
surely suspect something"
dDon't fret; perhaps you would like me
togo upto them, and shake hands with 'em,
mud say why didn't they come before, and
hope they'll stay, oh! the wretches,' - and tho
old lady shook herself with . grim vehe-
menco
Tho two invaders were not 50 fierce and
terrible looking, indeed, for soldiers who
had just won a victory; they looked strange.
ly worn. weary and dishcartened. Mistress
Patty felt q stir of sympathy in her heart,
for the younger man reminded her 80 vivid
ly of her husband, who was so bravely fight
ing in the true cause; in fact, little Dorothy
went up to him, laid her dlmpled hand on
his knee, looking trustfully up in the hand
some face bent over bcr, and said: "Papa."
"And where is papa, my dcarr' ha asked,
gently lifting the child on his knee.
"'Way, way of, fightin' the"
"Dorothy," her grandmother's voice
sounded like gravel crunched viciously to-
gether, "your mother is going to feed the
chickens and you'd better help her," with
that she began to busily clear of the table.
'Idon't suppose you want any thing more!"
| she suddenly said, when the table was al
| most cleared.
aNo, we have had sufficient, thanks to
your Kindness" courteously replied the
! older man.
"'Tain't no thanks to me at ALL" she re-
turned, tartly, "you're soldiers, so I had to
do It."
"What an exceedingly curious cream
cup" exclaimed the younger man, taking
the curious piece of workmanship up and
examining il, with the air Of q connois-
seur. That was the last drop in Mistress
Dorothy's cup OF bitterness which was al
ready overfowing. She had let them enter
her house, given them their breakfast, and
now, after allowing them all these liberties,
always under protest, that they would now
begin to confiscate her property was too
much; sho snatched the cream cup out Of
the ~sstonished mans hands, and began ex-
citedly: s'You'd better go now, you'd better
60, you've had your breakfast and q little
rest, and at this time o. day visitors amt
wanted round tho farm"
"But, my dear madam" the young III
broke in, II assure you l meant no harm,
and really my friend and need . rest 30
badly that VIC are afraid we must tres
pass on your hospitality here . faint
smile crossed the young mans face, 80
SSSs4O AO16$A = 6ASS 10 " ~ y 4CSO VoH
weary limbs q little while and then VIC will
depart"
Dame Dorothy looked ut the young man
sternly. I'm my days, young man, when
folks told US we want wanted we got out"
~But. madam" the older nan intcrposed,
circumstances alter cases, remember that
these are strange days, and strange things
happen in them; but by the way, madam,
are you q Tory or q rebel."
"'Taint none Of your business" was the
Incorporating reply.
"Well, will you allow US q bed" he
asked.
IT think it's time you was q stsrtin'."
was the laconic answer.
"Then since it becomes . necessity I de-
maud It in the nameof-" Here something
seemed to choke him, for he seemed unable
d 60 on.
"Well. II I mustI suppose I must, but II
ever / wished . feather bed was filed with
pine needles, I wish that thar one WAS"
and with that she opened . door disclosing
Geomfortable bedroom. They silently en-
t1rcd the room, and she, with Q bang Of the
door, fed to tho kitchen. "There, rve gone
snd done it." she said. in high wrath, 1.-Two
harbored two British soldiers under my
ROOF, and il any body ought to Do taken b.
forc General Washington and convicted -
q spy / feel like that q 1. Joel Ashley
she said, suddenly, turning to the boy who
Was the sole occupant Of the room and who
MAS gazing at her in bewilderment eve
got IN GRAND for you" "Yes'm," he said, |
meekly enough. Joel was always meek
when the madam Wa In such Q wrath.
"You know where the Continentals arc
stationed about ten miles from here, chr
Joel nodded. well, you Just stir yourself
snd 60 over therc and tell thsir commander
there are two redcoats In this house and II
they want them to como for them right
sway, right away. mind you; now hurry"
And joel did hurry.
Madam sat rocking herself violently .
and fro. "There, you've gone and done IN.
other mean thing" she said 70 herself, an
grily, "Doin' . mean thing ID jist like tell
in . LIE, you do one and you'll surely do an
other; Iguess I'll just peck in the room
and see II they've Get e afre yet" She
tiptoed across the hall and looked through .
crack in the door; then her conscience
smote her worse than ever; ~carelessly ~ |
ing on tho bed, his fair, handsome face
looking 50 worn and thin even in sleep,h 70
minded her also of her soldier boy. The |
older man was wcarily writing ct . table,
resting every once in the while, but soon re-
8umlng his task.
tim . mean old woman" she solilo-
quized. "But- they're Britishers." That
settled the question, and shc returned to
her work.
Morning entered into afternoon, and aft
ernoon slowly melted into carly evening.
the shadows were gently creeping over 20
land, tho birds were twittering o eoo01iGAk,
and still the soldiers slept. Soetly, can
tiously, q band of fifteen men were ~end-
ing their way towards the Whitcombe farm
house; nearer and nearer they got, until
You could see that they wore tho Cont
mental uniform. They reached tho house
end were met by its mistress; she pointed
to the room where tho soldiers were, then
sat herself rigldly down in her rocking
chair to have a argument with her con
science.
Suddenly-what is that she hearst A
1890 e~.-A - AAh~>l AA.ns~>A>~A AAA