The Red Cloud chief., 1888-09-07
DOROTHY WHiTCOMBE.
Why G.o Called Herself q smear
Cd Woman"

Tho sun vas slowly rising in the East
Brighter ard brighter grew tho great
round ball, until with q sudden movement
Il seemed t. burst. and q golden, dazzling
6o0d covered the sky; tho birds were slow.
j wakeniag: Grst = faint peep was heard
end rs family answered, then . sudden
tWittcr. and the air was full of bird-voices.
The flowers were lazily. drowsily opening
their dainty petals. and all nature, re.
freshed b!v 2 still nights slumbcr, awoke ia
eprobcble day Of joyousncsa
It wcs Just after the battle of Long Isl
and, where the Americans, pressed in on
every side. had suffered q serious defeat,
and the Tcr:cs were everywhere; in the
bushes, Up the trees, tsking possession Of
comfortable farm houses, anywhere where
rest was to be found there also was found q
Tory.
Good Farmer Whitcombe. among all this
mass of British, was Q true patriot in the
cause Of freedom, but, residing Is he did in
. Tory neighborhood, outside from very
~ neighbors he was thought to be q 10y
alist-
0re3tconstcrnation rcigped in the kitchen
Of the farmhouse Oh that beautiful morn
ing, for news of the American Gefcat had
Just reached there. Joel Ashley, the bog
who had brought the news, just now added
70 his tale: "And do you know that they
are going to the different farm-houses,
demanding shelter and food. I shouldn't
wonder G bit but what they would soou be
here he added, comfortingly.
"The nasty varmints, not a rest or q NOR
gel Of food will they &c: here, and if they
demand it, why, they will find out with
whom they have to DEAL" and certainly Mis-
tress Dorothy looked fierce enough to make
b bravest heart quai! as she stood with
one hand appraised, as if to strike the foo
with q large iron spoon which she held, and
the other hand placed detiantly on her hip.
"Sh! sh"' murmured the old man, 'if
thine enemy hunger"
NOV, father. you Just keep quiet; there's
no use In quotin' Scriptur' to me, when I
know them Britshers ere comm; you know
II 'twant for your blindness and my bein' Q
woman, there would be two of the best SOL
diers in the Continental army as they
would want"
Just then was heard the patter of tiny
1eet, nj the door was burst open, admitting
little girl, followed by q young woman.
THE Tories have beatenw exclaimed
Miss Dorothy.
"No!" the young woman answered, in
surprise.
'But / say that they have, and, what's
more, they'll probably con here and ask
tor lodgin' and food. I'll give it 20 EN-
food for thought" And Mistress Dorothy
hustled around setting breakfast on tho
table.
swell, WELL" was all Patty Whitcombe
could find to say, but she finally exclaimed:
''4other, 1t you refuse them admission they
may seize the property and fire the house"
That's 60" the old woman said, musing-
y. Il suppose il it comes to the worst wen
hev 70 let them in. Breakfast is ready:
come, father"
They bad no sooner sat down when q
knock wa heard It the door. Tho two
women looked at each other, and the old
mans Ups were Just framed 20 say: "Como
b." when his wife said: mo, you don't, e.
ther; III meet EN-" but the younger WON
an was Y quicker, and the dame sat
down On her chair.
But tor Ill her bravery, Patty felt . sort
Of faint-heertedness creeping over her; sho
threw open the door, and there, to confirm
her worst fears, stood two soldiers in the
uniform Of the hated redcosts. GOOD
morning, good mistress,' said the older
man, stepping forward, II pray you to give
Us 0 o0e . 10r we have had Q long
fast and my comradc here is all but com
pletely exhausted"
Conquering her r~cpugnance with .
mighty effort she managed to say: "You
and your eomrade may enter and partake Of
our breakfast"
With q grateful look, both men creased
thu threshold. Mistress Dorothy sat rigid
II in her chair, she had tightly closed her
1Ses when tho tmock was heard. and had
fept them closed, until the Strangers had
entered the room. and now she glared fero-