Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-05-10

which they must have been Indian or
Chinese to understand. Then more
soldiers passed the house from the
south, tired, dusty, grimed, some of
them running, some wounded and
lettering along slowly. All passed in
a steady stream behind the forts.
Suddenly horseman dashed up to
the house-he was all dust and dirt,
and his horse was covered with foam.
He threw himself from the saddle and
came up on to the veranda.
Good gracious the captain.
Come away from here at once" he
said; our men are retreating; we are
going to make a stand behind the
works. You are directly in range. Be
quick the fire is liable to open at any
moment"
Then there was scramble to snatch
a few things. One took a lamp, an
other pitcher, another photograph
album. 1t seemed as if everybody
took the most useless thing to be
found. All except me were hurrying
down the walk to the gate; | stayed
behind. The captain was trying to
make me hurry He was stamping up
the hall, almost crazy at my delay.
Come, be quick" he said, as sharp
as if he were the general himself.
Captain said hesitating.
"What is it3" he asked, impatiently.
"The hostage"
what hostage2"
THAT you left when you went away !;
l couldn't find it. Must we leave it2"
He looked at me a moment as if he
thought l had lost my senses; then he
burst into laugh.
never could stand to be laughed
at, and just then it was particularly
obnoxious. l made up my mind that
he should tell me what had hunted
for, and tell me then and there.
Never mind that" he said, seeing
that | was irritated. Save yourself
and it will be in no especial danger"
I'll not leave it, whatever it is" /
said, resolutely.
Come, come! this will be battle
field in a few minutes"
II won't stir step till you tell me
what | want to know"
Nonsense! he said severely.
The more severe his tone, the more
resolute became. stood stock still.
For Heavens sakel" he urged be-
coming really frightened; the gun
ners are standing with the lanyards in
their hands ready to fire"
Let them fire. l folded my arms.
A volley sounded a short distance
down the line of forts to the west.
The captain tried to seize my wrist.
DO come" he pleaded.
Tell me what was the hostage"
said stubbornly.
"Herel"
Here"
mo, no; this is not fit place to
tell you that. For the love of heaven
do come away"
l vowed | would conquer him or die
on the field.
"You shall either tell me or will
stay here till the battle is over"
He looked at the frowning forts anx-
iously, then back at me.
You must know"
Yes"
"Nowl'
Nov"
well, then, Molly dear, I left you
my heart
stood as one who sees an engine
coming straight down on him, ant
whose limbs are paralyzed from the
suddenness of the discovery. Merci
full heaven! what had l done3 What
stupidity! The blood rushed in tor
rent to my cheeks; l covered my face
with my hands.
and now, sweetheart" taking one
of my hands from my burning cheek
and leading me away-''if you're sat
isfed about the hostage, we won't stay
here any longer.
As he spoke there was an explosion
in the forts, and it seemed as if dozer
shrieking cats were whirling over oul
heads. | almost wished one of them
would strike me dead. The captain
led me like child toward the forts
through smoke and noise and confu
sion. | didn't think of the battle thai
was opening; l only thought how i'm
modest he must think me, and that
he never would believe l could be sc
stupid as not to know what he meant
by leaving hostage
/ have had to suffer all my life fol
that one mistake. / never can have
my way about anything, for wher
my husband finds all other expedient.
for governing to be failures, he inva
riably taunts me with having forced
his secret at the lannon's mouth. IF
A. Mitchell i'll Harper's Weekly.