The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-04-30

and l think, Sergeant, that you were not
sergeant many days longer" At which
recollection of his promotion the other
smiled, we'll pleased. But the converse
ton drifted at once into matters of more
immediate Importance.
Your name is Titcomb p said General
Putnam, "Titcomb, and you are. from
Newbury ?" Cephas replied that it was
precisely so.
"Who is it, who is it hat is here"that
wants to see you ?" said General Putnam.
There was a man asking for you here
Yesterday no, not yesterday, but not long
ago. Are there any Newbury people
here whom you know? The Boyntons
and their set have moved up the river to
Belpre.'
Cephas Titcomb enumerated the various
Newbury families who would know him,
the general again racked his memory,
all hlled as it was with a thousand such
details, to recollect who had been asking
for some Titcombs.
But meanwhile his women-folk had
skedi in the other ~women-folk, who had
entreated them Hospitality, and made
them lay aside their wraps; and stools
and boxes and barrels had been provided
for them to sit upon. The men of Put
MANS household had moved away, some
white bits of bread and pork in their
hands and some pretending that their
supper was done; clean plates had been
brought and put upon the table, and in
spite OF all protestations that they were
not hungry, good Mrs. Titcomb, Sarah
Paris, Mary and the rest, found them
selves seated at the amply provided table.
No token here of the restitution or star
walton of new colonists! The different
Inequalities were pressed by Mrs. Put
nam who presided at the table and mat
tiers were going on, with rapid question
and answer, as to the success of the voy-
age, when Sarah's cheeks flushed and she
was unable to answer the question as to
what she saw at Fort Pitt, because she
heard General Putnam a
81 know who it was. It was that
young fellow from the fort, you will re-
member him, Titcomb, you will remember
him. 1t was Harry Curwen. BE is a
lieutenant in your Salem Company he
ago at the muster at Ipswich; I don't
know whether your company was there,
but [ saw him. We had dinner together
in my tent that day; a nice looking,
manly fellow he is, though he is of the
old Tory stock. 1t was he that was here,
and he was asking after you"
asking after me ?" said Cephas Tit
comb, "Why should any of the Curwens
ask after me? My brother John he see
old 'Lisha Curwen in London once, when
the wal was over, and he said the old
Tory sung pretty small, and wished he
was back to Essex again. I guess they
all do, General. I guess they'd rather be
in your cabin here than feasting with the
king in his palace. But I never see any
of the Curwens; they went their way and
I went mine. Why should any of the
Curwens ask after Cephas Titcomb p
Sarah Paris listened with all her ears,
but the conversation refused to turn on
the Curwens any more, and she found
that the men were talking of trees and
lumber and saw-mills and boat building,
while the women were talking of Jersey
tea and drying berries and weaving and
spinning, and she was left to wonder her.
self to sleep that night with the question,
how could it be that Harry Curwen
should be talking to General Putnam, and
in wondering what had become of him.