The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1889-02-01

"
cumc. fafher"
They had no sooner sat down when a
knock was heard at the door Tho two
women hooked AZ each other. and the o'd
mans lips wene just framed io say. ''Cume
Ia. waon his wife sad. "No. yuu don't. a.
thcr. III meet 'cm." but the Younger won.
an was even quicker, and The dalao sai
down GA her chair.
Bot Tor an her bravery. Patty felt a sort
I q faint ac.r, etncss creeping over her. che
I threw uprn The door, aud thOro. 90 confirm
her worst fears, stood two soldiers la the
unborn 81 the hatcd rcdcuats. "Good
morning good mistress, said the older
man. stepping forward, Il pray you o. give
rs OH q arCaxiast, for we have had long
fast. and mv c1mrade here h all but com
] plotcly exhausted"
] Conqucring her rcpnrnance with A
mighty effort she managed d say. sYou
and your c1mrado may enter and partake OF
our breakfast"
With Creicful look. both men crossed
the threshold. Mistress Dorothy sat rigid
| y in her chair she had tightly closed her
! eyes when The knock was heard aud Lad
kept thcm closed, until the strangers lad
I cutcrod the raom. aud now she garcd icro
I ciously at them through her glasses Her
/ daaghtcr-in-law, noticing these glauccs.
| stepped behind her aud whispered. "Noi so
fierce, mother, not - fierce, or they wil
surely suspect something"
/ Don't fret, Ierhaps you would like me
I 20 60 upt0 them, and shake hands wish 'cm.
and Say why didn't they comc before, and
I hope they'll stay. oh the wrcichos,' aud the
/ old lady shook herself with a grm vche-
mencc.
/ The two invaders were not 80 fierce and
/ terr3lo-luok.ng, indeed, for soldiers who
/ had just won a victory; they looked strengc.
/ ~ worn, weary and dishcartoucd Mistress
/ Patty felt stir Of sympathy ia her heart,
/ FOR the younger mau reminded her go vivid
/ IS Of her husband who was 50 braveiy Eght-
/ ing in the true cause; In fact, little Dorothy
\ went up 10 him. laid her dImpiod hnnd on
his knee. looking trustfully up in the hand.
some face bent over her, and said Papa
"Aud whore is papa my dcar,' ho asacd,
/ gently lifting the child ON his knee.
"Way, way on, fghtn' thc-n
"Dorothy,n her rrandmother's voice
sounded like gravel crunched vciously 90.
gCl'Cr, "your mother is gning 70 feed the
O. 'SCns and you'd better holp her," with
she began 10 busily clear or the table
- don't suppose you want any thing morc"
she sldlcnly said, when the taole was al
most cleared
"No,we have had suniciout, tnnnlss 10
your kindness" courteousy replied the
older man.
'Tuin't no thanks 10 me at ALL she re.
turned, tartly, 'you're soldiers SO had to
do itn
What an exceedingly curious cream
cup exclaimed the younger man, taking
the curious piece Of workmanship up and
examining il, with the air Of counos-
srur That was the last drop In Mistress
D1roihy's cup OF bitterness which was al
ready overlooking. She had let tham enter
her house, given them their breakfast, and
now, after allowing them all these liberties,
always under protest, that thcy would row
begin 10 c0uilscate her property was too
much, she sndtcacd the cream cup out Of
the astouishcd nuns hands, and began eX-
citedly: YOU'D better go now, you'd better
80, you've had your breakfast 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, % assure you meant no harm,
and really my friend and need a rest so
badly that we are afraid we must tres
pass on your hospitality" here faint
smile crossed the young mans face, "a
little longer; give us but bed to rest our
weary limbs little while and then VIC will
depart"
Dame Dorothy looked ut the young man
sterny. "ln my days, young man, when
folks told MS we want wanted we got oUt.n
but, madam the older man ntcrp0scd,
circumstances alter cases, remember that
these are strange days, and strange things
happen in them; but by the way, madam,
are you Tory or a rebclw
"'Taint none of your business" was the
uncompromising reply.
"Well, will you allow us a bedin he
asked
81 think it's time you was startin',"
was the laconic answer
"Then since IL becomes n necessity de-
mGnd Il in the name of--n Hero something
seemed to choke him, for he seemed unable
to 60 on.
"Wcll, II must suppose | must but II
ever wished feather bed was flied with
Pine needles, ! wish that thar one wasn
and with that she opened door disclosing
q comfortable bedroom. They silently en-
tered the room, and she, with bang Of the
door, He'd TO the kitchen. "lherc, I've gone
and done it, she said, IN high wrath 1--we
harbored two British soldiers under my
roof, and If any body ought to be taken be-
fore General Washington and convicted as
u spy feel like that one. joel Ashley"
she said, suddenly, turning to the boy who
was the sole occupant Of the room and who
was gazing at her In bewildcrmcnt, 81 We
got an errand for YOU "Yos'm,n hc said,
meckly enough Joel was uWuvs meek
when the madam was in such wrath
You know where the Continenlals are
stationed about ten miles from here, eh,"
joel nodded. "Woll you just stir yourself
and 20 over there and tell their commander