The Red Cloud chief., 1888-09-21
DOROTHY WHITCOMBE.
Why She Called Herself Q Mean
Old Woman."

The sun wss slowly rising in the East.
Brighter and brighter grew the great
4ound ball, until with Q sudden movement
ttsesmed to burst, and . golden. dazzling
food covered the sky; tho birds wore allow
awakening, first o faint Peep was heard
add rs family answered. then Q sudden
twittcr. and thu air was full Of b~ird-voices.
The towers were lazily. droWsily opening
their Gain.y petals, and all natRre, r..
4teshcd by a still nights slumber, awoke %
0~probab!e day of j~oyousnes&
It was Just nftcr the battle Of Long ISL
md, where tho Americans, pressed in On
every side. had suffered q serious defeat,
and the Tories were everywhere; In tho
bushes, mp the trees, taking possession OF
comfortable farm houses, anywhere whore
rest was to be found there also was found Q
T6y.
G3od Farmer Whitcombe. among all this
mss OF British. was q true patriot IN the
cahsc OF but, residing - he did In
q Tory nciGhborhood, outside from very
near ncighbOrs he vas thought TO DO q 10y
elSt.
Great consteruation roigned in the kitchen
Ofthc farmhouse on that beautiful morn
1ng, for news of the American defeat had
tust reached there. joel Ashley, the boy
who had brought the news, jusR nov addsd
90 his tale: "And do. you know that they
ere going to the different farm>houses.
demanding shelter end food. I shouldn't
wonder . bit but what they would soon b
here, 10 added. comfortingly.
aThe nasty V2rmints, not q rest Or q NOR
gel Of food will they get here, and II they
demand 4. why, they will lind out with
whom th6y haveta DEAL and. certainly Mis-
tyess Dor0thy looked fierce enough to make
tie brayest heart quail a she stood with
one hand appraised, IS. if to strike the foe
with a large iron spoon which she held, and
the other hand placed defiantly on her hip.
"Shi shE" murmured the old man, sif
thine enemy hunger"
snow, father, you JustkeepQuiet; there's
no use in Quotin' Scriptur' to me, when I
know them Britishers arc conin' you know
if'twaut for your blindness and my beih' q
woman, there would be two Of the best SOL
dfers in tho Continental army as they
would want"
Just then was. heard the patter Of tiny
4eet, and tho door was burstohcn, admitting
ahttlc girl, followed by q young woman.
'fhc Tories have beaten"' exclaimed
Miss Dorothy.
mol" the young woman answered, in
surprise.
"Brt 1 say that. they have, and, what's
for lodgin' end food. I'll. give iC b 'em-
tcod for Thought" And Mistress Dorothy
6ustlcd around setting breakfast on the
tahlc.
"Vcll, we'll" was all Patty Whitcombe
could find to say, but she finally exclaimedS
ssfIothcr, il Jon refuse them admission they
may seizc the property and r t6e house"
"TEat's q" the old. woman said, musinR-
lE Il suppose if it c~onestothe worst we'll
III to let Them in: Breakfast is ready:
come, father"
TheY had no sat down when q
ifnck was heard ct. the door. Thetwo
w3nen looked ct. each other, and tho Old
mans lips Wero jl4t framed. to SAY: sComa
n. when hia Vif1hsaid. mo, you don't q.
tner: III NEST 'cal::' but the younger WON,
al Vas oven. Cuickers and tho dame sat
davn on her chair
hit forGal hor bravery. Patty felt . sort
ofTa;ntrheartedncss creeping over her ;Sh0
t6pew opcn thsdoor, and there, to conAfm.
- worst fears. stood tva soldiers In tina
,mform of tho: Eated. redcoats. "GQ6d
m.rn;ue. coed. MISTRESS said the older
800. s:OnrinR forward, II pray You to Riye
rs. hit = 6reakflsN for We have had q long
81. end my comrade: hero IS all but COM
vekely exhausted"
Cbnaucring ucr- repugnance with Q
mSrhiv cfSort. sho managed 70 say: "You
your somrade may enter and partake Of
&hreakfaseN" .
Nth gratcfri Nook, both men eEossed
- Crue,ho1d. Mistress Dor0thys ax MD
= M er chairx sEu lad. tightly esscdS g
vsauieu Gid r1bck wa! heard. andh11
2creneua Cdach. unrl tho zanRe Ind