Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-08-31
AN ANGEL IN RED.


story opens, looked attractive under hel
care, for the birds We're arriving fast from
their winter quarters, the voice of the
cuckoo was frequent lilacs We're budding,
orchards were beginning to bloom, and gar
dens were gay with primroses, violets
hyacinths and lilies of the valley.
But man refused to obey the summons tc
rejoice, 10 be at peace, and to be glad
Every village inn was political club; squire
and yeoman, farmer and tradesman, pillow.
boy and prentice lad had but one topic Of
conversation-the last movement Of the
'Corsican Ogre and the chance of Britain
being dragged into another war. Fair lips
were fluent with words and phrases which
were usually associated with messrooms
and barraek-yards; the parsons lady and
the village granddame found more stirring
food for talk than the linen press and the
Jam cupboard; and the very urchins in the
street played at French and English.
Cuton village, couple Of miles from Elm
ford market town, caught the infection,
mildly, perhaps, from q comparative point
OF view, but badly enough to render
it as unlike the quiet sleepy little hamlet of
ordinary times as could be-
The girls hated it all, and with reason;
for if their sweethearts did not desert them
for the recraiting sergeant, their time was
fully occupied with talking, and arguing,
and drinking toasts. And none hated il all
more than did Mehitable Buttrick, daughter
of the head-keeper at Cuton Hall, and BE-
trothed TO young Abner Harrington.
MehitabIe was not beauty. She was a
strong, sturdy girl of 20, with round, good
humored face, much freckled by wind and
sun; pair of red arms; and a foot beneath
which daisies and buttercups crouched
cever 10 rise again But she was a kind
and tender-hearted lass, and ont of that
great, rudy Tipped mouth came the sof,cst
and sweetest Of voices, which had never
uttered harsh or hasty word.
During this latter part of the month of
April, Abner Harrington had treated her
as other youths treated their lasses. He
rarely saw ner, was always in hurry, and,
worst of all, he was great deal too often
flushed of face and thick of speech.
MehiiaOle TOOK il sadly to heart, and
uopcd and sighed about it in a manner
gerry unusual with one whose very name
was synonymous, in the local mouth, with
ant ring energy and ceaseless activity.
One morning she met Abner-a good
looking, strapping young saddler of g. He
was in the ueighborhoodo OF the Red Liop,n
and although he was far from being abso
tutely drunk, ne had evidently taken mors
than young fellows usually do before IL
o'clock in The morning.
He stopped her
"Hcard the news, 'Eitable,n he sail at
once without any greeting ''The king of
Franc has fed 70 Lille. honey is in Paris,
and in the Royal palace, and the grand folk
tnVienna have pronounced Boney an out
Law aud the duke of Wellington has been
in council at the war Office, and there's 60
Ing to be rare TODD"
''Oh, Abner, Abner, how 1 wished Won
cared nothing about all this said the girl;
I take it wonderful sadly, do. What do it
matter to you whit Boney and all them
others are about: Yon amt soldier, and
you're betTothed 70 ma"
Nonsense. 'Hitaole,'' said the young fell
low, with laugh IF an English
man didn't take an interest in these mat
tiers, which are occupying the attention OF
the senates of the world, he is not worthy
the name of Englishman y
Mehitable stared at the fluent production
of such phrases by one who spoke usually
khe piainest East Angli N Doric; but sac
knew that ciap-trap orators aboundcd at the
bars OF village inns, and that mary young
fellow owed his FIRST step to ruin to the SO.
Guction Of their vapid sophisms.
''And, Abner, it makes you associate with
men you know nothing Of, and it leads you
70 drink
Here poor Mchitable was lacking in
womaniy t4ct-cr rather be it said. in the
knowledge of mcn-or she would have
guessed that the very worst way to gain
her end was to hint TO man who was get
ting drunk that ne was drunk.
"You mean to say I'm drunk!' exclaimed
Abner. "Then I'm not fit to be talking to
you; much less to be your sweetheart.
Mind your own business, and I'll mind
mine"
And he staggered of, leaving the girl
looking after him VITA eyes which betrayed
by their tears the terrible blow dealt at her
heart
A week passed During this time war
mad been declared against France. and the
duke OF Wellington was assembling a
British army to lead into Belgium. The
drst battalion of tie East Anglican re yfnent
had passed through Cutou village and was
now at Elmford, on its way to the coast, re-
cruiting. Cuton was like deserted village:
che shops were shut-fOr TIE apprentices
would not work--thc farm yards were
silent, the fields were abondoned to the
crows. All the young follows were at Elm
ford, gaping at the redcoat5, listening to the
martial music, and, worst Of all. every
evening fewer lads returned to their homes
IL Cuton village
Still Abner Harrington came home, and
was easy in her mind. He was
) high spirited, impulsive and easily led
away young fellow; but he was Eetrothed
% her and Mehitable valued him too highly
o believe that there was anything serious
Ii the cruel words he had spoken to her.
On May 20 the battalion was to march
rom Elmford. Its numbers were BY no I
means complete, and the recruiting officers
yerc employing every means to get Young /
'ellyws to Join the colors.
On the night Of the 10Th Elm I
ord presented an appearance IL |
lad probably never presented be. I
ore during the long centuries OF its une-
'entful existence. Usually by clock the |
treets were empty, dark and silent; but on |
his night Elmford had to borrow the ex-
ression used by old Paddle who drove
asst up coach, twas almost like London 1t.
elfp Soldiers were everywhere rolling