Middletown transcript., 1888-12-13
As he was about to resume bis jour,

similar specimen in all his wandering
over the hills. The blossoms were
| deep red as if blood had been, spilled
| upon them. In plucking the flowers
Gustav pulled the plant up by the roots
SO lightly had it taken hold OF the soil
and in the disturbed earth was q but
let that had evidently been there many
years. .l,.f d,
Gustav grasped it eagerly and gazed
at it with delight and reverence
st is certainly a relic Of the Revolu'
tion,' he thought i and he would moi
have parted with it for it's weight in
gold, as although a diligent student Of
nature and history, he had never until
now, found an Indian or a Revolution
airy relic. His joy was unbounded and
he hastened to tell of his good fortune.
AS he reached the farmhouse old
He'll was sitting on the porch, gloomy
and sorrowful as ever. Unremindful Of
his sour temper Gustav bounded up
the steps. ce
. See here grandfather what I have
found" he cried. s.e s
Half unconsciously, the old man
held out his hand and Gustav gave
him the bullet. AS soon as he did 50
the old man gave shriek of terrot
and fell to the floor in conyulsions'
He, was carried to his room where he
lay lowering between earth and eter-
nifty. @
While watching at the bedside that
night the son noticed signs Of returns
ing consciousness, and after a. while
the old man in feeble tones begged
that the door be locked and no one al
lowed to enter the room, Then COM
manding his son to draw nearer he
began: g 1 have but a few hours to
live, and before die I must be reliey-
ed of a secret that has been burdening
my soul for many years." Pausing
moment for breath, he continued
sDuring the struggle between Great
Britain and the colonies I was en-
Hployed as a spy by the British govern
ment. My home was in the smidst. Of
the patriots, by whom ]. was regarded
as Jealous defender of the American
cause. Through my intercourse with
hepsople I obtained much informal
tion that was useful to the British.
and for which was always well paid,
All my money I secreted in a cave on
the mountains, where ! also Sstored
goods that had been given mesfof safe
keeping"
/" By design my house was visited BY
band of Tories who were reported to
have carried away everything Of value.
This apparent misfortune increased
my reputationi amongst the patriots,
none of whom ever reproached me for
the loss Of their goods. g 4
Yet there was one man Of whom ]
was afraid. Some words he had
spoken led me to suppose that he
knew my true character, and l was
determined to silence him by bribe if
possible"
I" He was encamped at the Forge
and made an attempt to see him.
Approaching the camp under plea that
had grain to sell, I saw my man de-
tailed as sentry. Promising the COM
mander to bring the grain the next
day I left the camp. Until nightfall
I hid in the woods. I had my musket
with me to guard against being sur
prised. Every foot ..of ground was
familiar to me and my only danger
was the snow which cracked and
broke at every footstep."
!" At length reached the place
where my man was stationed. I could
see him moving up and down in his
watch. Approach him I dare not, for
fear his challenge would arouse the
other sentinels. Suddenly he laughed
aloud"
"Was it of me he was laughing
Did he really know my secret ? These
thoughts flashed through my mind,
and raising my musket I fred. I saw
him fall to the ground, heard him cry
ssa curse on that bullet" and then !
hurried away"
Painting from excitement the old
man paused a few minutes. Then in a
low voice he continued <" And surely
that bullet was accursed. It was
that which Gustav brought
home this afternoon. 1t has lain on
the hills all these years, and has
been brought to me as summons that
must soon answer to the great Judge
for my crime. Look at its terrible
work. Here the old man opened his
hand, which had been tightly closed
since his attack. On the palm was
a bright mark as if a red hot bullet
was beneath the skin.
After relating his confession old
Heilfell into deep sleep, from which
ba y,ouar awnka
His son caused careful search to
be made for the bullet but no one had
seen it. Gustav did not see it after be
placed it in his grandfather's hand.
AS the old man fell it may have rolled
off the porch into the grass, but the
son believed that when the bullet
reached his grandfather's hand it sud-
denly dissolved and penetrated beneath
the skin, leaving the terrible mark that
he had seen, and which was hidden
from mortal gaze by the old mans
death clutch.
The Holidays
And the cold winter weather are now
rapidly approaching. The joyful sea-
son is eagerly anticipated by young
fo1l,s IN tbousopdo of homos hut in