Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-07-25

Inc TWO invaders were not so uerce |
and terrible looking, indeed, for soldiers |
who had just won victory; they looked !
worn, wearied and dishearten-
ed. Mistress Patty felt stir of sympa- |
thy in her heart, for the younger man
her so vividly of her husband,
who was so bravely fighting in the true
cause; in fact, little Dorothy went up to
him, laid her dimpled hand on his knee,
looked trusfully up in the handsome
face bent over her, and said, papa"
"And where is papa, my dear!' he
asked, gently lifting the child on his
knee.
Way, way off, fightin' the''--
Dorothy" her grandmother'S voice
sounded like gravel crunched viciOusly
together, "your mothers goin' to feed
the chickens and you'd better help her.
With that she began to busily clear off
the table. IL don't suppose you want
mOre?" she suddenly said,
when the table was almost cleared.
mo, we have had sufficient, thanks to
your kindness" eourteOusly replied the
older man.
returned tartly, you're soldiers, so l
had to do it."
"What an exceedingly curious cream
cup" exclaimed the young man, taking
the curious piece of workmanship up
and examining it, with the air of a con-
nOisseur That was the last drop in
Mistress Dorothy's cup of bitterness
which was already overlooking. She
had let them enter her house, giving
them their breakfast, and now, after al
lowing them all these liberties, always
under protest, that they would now be-
gin to cOntiscate her property was too
much; she snatched the cream cup out
of the astOniShed mans hands, and be-
gan excitedly: You'd better go, now,
you'd better go; you've had your break
fast and a little rest, and at this
time O. day visitors amt wanted round
the farm"
"But, my dear madam, the young man
broke in, Il assure you meant no harm,
and really my friend and l need rest
so badly, that We are afraid we must
trespass on your hospitality,
faint smile crossed the young mans
face-"a little longer; give us but bed
to rest our weary limbs a little while,
and then we will depart
Dame Dorothy looked at the young
man sternly. "In my days, young man,
when folks told us we wasn't wanted,
we got out"
"But, madam" the older man inter
posed, circumstances alter cases; re-
member that these are strange days, and
strange things happen in them; but, by
the way, madam, are you Tory or a
rebel?"
"'Tain't none of your business" was
the uncOmpromising reply.
"Well, will you allow us a bed?" he
asked.
81 think it's time you was a-startin',"
was the laconic answer.
Then, since it becomes a necessity, 1
demand it in the name off, Here |
seemed to choke him, for he
seemed unable to go on,
swell, if must L suppose must, but
if ever l wished feather bed was filled |
with pine needles, wish that thar one
was" and with that she opened door
comfortable bedroom. They
silently entered the room, and she, with
a bang of the door, fled to the kitchen.
There, I've gone and done it," she said
in high wrath. "I've harbored two
British soldiers under my roof, and if
anybody ought to be taken before Gen.
Washington and convicted as spy, l
feel like that one. Joel Ashley" she said
turning tO,the boy who was
,he sole occupant of the room, and who
was gazing at her in bewilderment, "I've
got an errand for YOU" "Yes'm," he
said meekly enough. Joel was always
meek when the madam was in such
wrath.
"You know where the Continentals
ire stationed about ten miles from here,
,h?" Joel nodded. "Well, you just
tir yourself and go over there and tell
heir commander there are two red coats
n this house, and if they want them to
,ome for them right away; right away,
mind you; now hurry" And Joel did
hurry.
Madam sat rocking herself violently
o and fro. "There, you've gone done
mother mean thing" she said to her
elf angrily. "Doin' a mean thing is
ist like tellin' a lie, you'll do one and
7ouU surely do another, l guess I'll just ;
'eek in the room and see if they've set
afire yet" She tiptoed across the hall
md looked through crack in the door,
hen her conscience smote her worse
han ever; carelessly lying on the bed,
is fair, handsome face looking so worn
nd thin even asleep, he reminded her l
lso of her soldier boy. The older man {
vas wearily writing at table, resting
very once in the while, but soon resum-
ng his task.
''I'm mean old woman" she solilo-
uized. "Bnt- they're Britishers." That
ettled the question, and she returned to !.
er work.
Morning entered into afternoon, and
fternoOn slowly melted into early eve
ing, the shadows were gently creeping
yer the land, the birds were twittering
good night and still the soldiers slept !:
lowly, cautiously, band of fifteen men
7ere vending their way toward the
Vhitcombe farm house; nearer and
carer they got, until you could see
nat they wore the Continental uniform. :
hey reached the house and were met =
y its mistress; she pointed to the room :
there the soldiers were, then sat
erself rigidly down in her rocking chair
} have an argument with her con-