Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-10-25
OBADIAIT'S MISTAKE.


On a certain April day, over a hundred
years ago, the British being in possession
Of Staten Island. the banner of st. George
waved above the Richmond inn in all its
crimsoned glory, anc tapped and Haunted
in the wind as gayly as though il expeCed
to remain in t,at position for a long time
to come. From the window of a house
near by, Lieut.. Wilde Of the Queens
rangers looked out upon the village street.
and apparently gave great attention to a
hock Of geese that waddled Indian file
down to the salt creek just back of the
old church. The peaceful array was
broken by IN obstreperous yellow dog
who jumped at them and then occupied
tho ground Of observation and lay down
in the dust and the sun and enjoyed a
nap But the gazeo the lieutenant never
wandered end It was evident that he had
paid no attention to this rural panorama.
There was a Tapt expression in his face,
such asa man has who fosters some great
scheme, and he raped his foot once or
twice ON the nOor in order to emphasize
approval Of lis ideas. lie nodded his
head, and then going to a table where
lay papers and quilts, he was again lost
In thought.
It was fully twenty minutes before he
put O quill to a sheet of note paper, and
then he wrote carefully. From the care
with which he folded and sealed it, it
was evidently some great and important
paper that he had written. The red wax
received the impression OF a shield
crossed and quartered, and the lieutenant
again vent TO the window. A small boy
of about twelve years was shutting along
the dusty road, throwing up clouds of
dust which covered his bare feet and legs.
obadiah" called the officer, II have
an errand for you"
The small boy came up to the window.
"You know where Capt. Towards
quarters are. l believe"
The boy respectfully nodded and mum.
bled assent.
"Well," continued the officer, speak
ing slowly, Il want you to deliver this
note into his hands-mind you, to him
alone, and bring me back an answer.
Tell him to write it. and if you are back
by 8 o'clock there will be n gold piece of
the kings for you. Mind-be very care
full"
The boy took the letter and nodded as
sent. The lieutenant watched him as he
started on a run, saw him disappear be
hind the trees Of the hill by the side of
tho church, and then turned with a sigh.
1t was evident that some important bust
49,. -. lu-I - Al. E--tst
hoped that the boy was sufficiently i'm
pressed with the weight of his mission.
Obadiah Green climbed the hill. at the
top of which, and out of the lieutenant's
sight, he sat down and gazed earnestly
ut the paper in his hands. The seal and
the officers words made it very precious,
and he looked at the euperscription and
tried to imagine what it was. for Obadiah
was not learned. His eye caught sight
of the red flag above the inn, and caused
his heart to beat quickly.
Obadiah was a patriot, or. as some
called him. "a rebel" He lived with his
parents. who had no particular leaning
to either side. but the boy was possessed
of sufficient patriotism for the family
lie had often wished in secret that the
war might last long enough for him to
reach the proper age to enter the army
and Highland wouldn't he fight He
had seen a party of Americans come over
from Jersey and rout a larger party of
British soldiers. and retreat only when a
reinforcement came running up the
Richmond road So Obadiah wondered
whether he VAS conveying news to the
British captain that would be hurtful TO
the Americans. Then he would be a
traitor-at least to himself-and-and-
might not the news contained in that
precious letter be Of service to the Amer
leans; He jumped upquickly and looked
about. He expected to see the red coat
Of a soldier behind each tree, or to hear
q volley of musketry about his head
But the wood was quiet and the red flag
was the only thing that told Of King
George and his army.
The sight Of the flag gave him courage
as he started oil in the other direction
than that which he should have taken to
deliver the note into the hands of the
proper party. He thought himself a
hero as he sped on-he pictured himself
in a blue coat and cooked hat leading an
assault on the headquarters Of the Brit.
ish conimander-but he would spare his
W home and win his father to the
American side. That was one OF his
ambitions. The waters Of tho Achter
Kill came in sight, and on the other side
was Jerseyl Jersey-where the Ameri.
cans werel He stopped a at the
marsh and made a detour to It's most
narrow part, through which he waded
until he came to an old bateau tied to a
stake. The British had carelessly left
their boats along the river edge, fearing
TO destroy them. and watching them
only whom they expected a raid Of the
Americans from Jersey.
Obadiah clambered into the fat bot
toned, leaky boat and pushed out into
the current. where, with a small board,
he directed the course Of the boat as
best be might. The tide was running In
and the Tat boat was carried up the
stream toward the opposite shore. Il
sseinod hours 10 the boy a. he crouched
low. and slowly. slowly left the shores
81 Staten Island, but Jersey cane nearer.
and a lasr the bottom of the boat grated