Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-12

monotoncus pace in the moonlight. In
deed, as she stood looking after him, the
whole episode, the odd unhealthy of the
mooniit landscape, the novelty Of her po-
sition, the morbid play of her thoughts,
seemed to make it part Of dream which
the morning light might dIssipate, but
could never fully explain.
With something Of this feeling still upon
her, she kept her way to the river. Its
banks were still friDged with ice, through
which its dark current flowed noiselessly.
She knew it flowed through the camp
where lay her faithless lover, and for an
instant INDUCED the thought of following
it, and facing him. with the proof of his
guilt; but even ut the thought she recoiled
with a new and sudden doubt in herself,
and stood dresmily watching the simmer
of the neon on the icy banks, until an
other, and, it seemed to her, equally un-
real vision suddenly stayed her feet, and
drove the blood from her feverish cheeks.
A figure was slowly approaching from
the direction of the sleeping encampment.
Tall, erect and habited in a gray s~urtout,
with a hood partially concealing its face,
it was the counterfeit presentment of the
ghestly ~visitant she had heard described.
Thankful scarcely breathed. The brave
little heart that had not quailed before the
sentry's leveled musket a moment before
now faltered and stood still, a. the phantom
with q slow and majestic tread moved to-
ward her. She had only time to gain the
shelter of tree before the figure, majes-
tically unconscious of her presence, passed
slowly by. Through all her terror Thank
ful was still true to a certain rustic habit
of practical perception TO observe that the
tread of the phantom vas quite audible
over the crust of snow, and was visible and
palpable as the imprint of military boot.
The blood came back to Thankfuls
cheek and with it her old audacity. In
another instant she was out from the tree
and tracking with a light feline tread the
apparition that now doomed up the hill be-
fore her. Slipping from tree to tree, she
followed it until it passed before the door
of low but or farm shed that stood mid
way up the bill. Here it entered and the
door closed behind it. With every sense
feyerishly alert, Thankful, from the secure
advantage of a large maple, watched the
door of the hut. In q few moments it re-
opened 10 the same figure free of its gray
enwrappings. Forgetful of everything
now but detecting the face OF he impostor,
the fearless girl left the tree and placed
herself directly in the path OF the figure.
At the same moment it turned toward her
inquiriugly, and the moonlight fell upon
the calm, composed featuresof Gen. Wash
ington. -
In her CONSERVATION Thankful could
only drop an embarrassed courtesy and
hang out two lovely signals of distress in
her cheeks. The face Of the pseudo ghost
alone remained unmovod.
"You are wandering late, Mistress
Thankful" he said at last, with a pater-
nal gravity; land ! fear that the formal
restraint of a military household has al
ready given you some embarrassment.
Yonder sentry, for instance, might have
stopped you"
'fOh, he did" said Thankful quickly;
''but it's all right, please your excellency.
He asked ME Who went there, and told
him; and ne was vastly polite, l assur
you
The grave features of the communicate
chief relaxed in a smile. "Fou are more
happy than most OF your sex in turning a
verbal compliment to practical account.
For know then, dear young lady, that in
honor Of your visit TO the headquarters the
pass word tonight through this encamps
ment was none other than your own pretty
patronymic-'Thankful Blossom"
The tears glittered in the girls eyes and
her lip t~rembled; bat, with all her readi-
ness Of speech, she could only say, "Oh,
your excellency!"
Then you did pass the sentry?" con-
tinu,d Washington, locking at her inten-
tly with q certain grave vatchtqlness IN
his gray eyes. "Aud doubtless you wan
dered at the river bank. Although / my
self, tempted by the night, sometimes ex-
tend my walk as far as yonder shed, 1t
were a hazardous act for a young lady to
pass beyond the protection of the line"
"Oh. | met no one. your exceliency,"
said the usually truthful Thankful hastily,
rushing to her first lie with grateful I'M
~petuosity.
AND saw no one2'' asked Washington
quietly.
"N0 one," said Thankful, raising her
brown ey e. 10 the Generals.
They both looked at each other-tbe
naturally most veracious young woman in
The colonies. and the subsequent allegori-
cal inpersonatiOn Of truth IN America
aud knew each other lied, and, | imagine,
respected each other for it.
~ am glad to hear you say so, Mistress
Thankful" said Washington quietly, for
'twould have been natural for you to have
sought an interview with your recreant
lover in yOuder camp. though the attempt
would have been unwiss aud impossible"
~ had no such thought, your excel
lency," said Thankful, who had really
quite forgotten her late intention; yet If
with your permission l could hold a few
moments converse with Cap Brewster, it
would greatly ease my mind"
"'Twould not be well for the present"
said Washington thoughtfully. 'But in
a day or two Capt. Brewster will he tried
by c0urtmartial at MOrristown. 1t shall
be so ordered that when he is conveyed
thither his guard shall halt at the Bios
som Farm. | will see that the officer in
command gives you an opportunity to see
him. And | think | can promise also,
MlStItSs 1uIuhlul, ihhL JOhl loNhSi oD"AA
be also present under bis W roof, a free
man"
They had reached the entrance to the
mansion, and entered the hall. Thankful
turned impulsively, and kissed the extend
ed hand of The commander. "Iou are so
good! | have been so foolish-so very,
very wrong" she said, with a slight tremb'
ling OF her lip. "And your excelleDcy be-
lieves my story; and those gentlemen were
not spies, but even as they gave themselves
to be-"
81 said not that much" replied Wash
iugton With q kindly smile, but no mat
ter. Tell me rather, Mistress Thankful,
how far your acquaintance with these gen
tlemen has gone; or did it end with the
box on the ear that you gave the baron?'
HE had asked me to ride with him to
the B~lskipgridge, and had s~aid-yes,"
faltered Mistress Thankful.
Unless / misjudge you, Mistress Thank
full, YOU can without great sacrifice promise
me that Won will not see him until give
you my PERMISSION" said Washington,
with grave playfulness
TIE swinging light shOne full in Thank.
ful's truthful eyes as she lifted them to his.
Il do" she said quietly.