The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-12
AN ANGEL IN RED.
CHAPTER !.

very few attributes OF the ideal Arcadian
season in the April Of 1851. Nature had
worked Loyalty upto the old tradition, and
even the ugly part OF East Anglia, where
our story opens, looked attractive under
her care, for the birds were arriving fast
from their winter quarters. the voice of
the cuckoo was frequent, lilacs were bud
ding, orchards were beginning to bloom,
and gardens were gay with primroses, vio-
lets, hyacinths and lilies of the valley.
But man refused to obey the summons
TO rejoice, TO be at peace and to be glad.
Every village inn was a political club;
squire and yeoman, farmer and trades
man, plow-boy and prentice lad had but
one topic of conversation-the last move
Inent OF the ''Corsican Ogre" and the
chance Of Britain being dragged into an
other war Fair lips were fluent with
words and phrases which were usually
associated with mess rooms and barrack-
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, a couple of miles from
Elmiord market town, caught the infec-
ton. mildly, perhaps, from a comparative
point OF view, but badly enough to render
10 as unlike the quiet, sleepy little hamlet
OF ordinary times as could be.
The girls hated il all. and with reason,
for If their sweethearts did not desert
them for the recruiting sergeant, their
time was fully occupied with talking, and
arguing and drinking toasts. And none
hated It all more than did Mehitable But
trick, daughter of the head-keeper at
Cuton hall and betrOthed to young Abner
Harrington.
Mehitable was not beauty. She was a
strong, sturdy girl OF twenty, with round,
good-humored face, much freckled by
wind and sun; a pair oil red arms, and a
foot beneath which daisies and buttercups
crouched never to rise again. But she was
a kind and tender-hearted lass, and out OF
that great, ruddv-lipped mouth came the
softest and sweetest of voices, which had
never uttered a harsh or hasty word
During this latter part of the month II
April Abner Harrington had treated her
as other youths treated their lasses. He
rarely saw her, was always IN hurry,
and, worst OF all, he was a great deal too
often flushed OF face and thick of speech.
Mehitable took 1t sadly TO heart, and
mOped and sighed about in a manner very
unusual with one whose very name was
synonymous in the local mouth with un-
firing energy and ceaseless activity.
One morning she met Abner-a good
looking, strapping Young saddler of TWEEN
ty-three. He was In the neighborhood OF
the Ped Lion, and although he was far
from being absolutely drunk, he had evil
IDENTIFY taken more than young fellows
usually do before II 0 clock in the morn
ing.
He stopped her.
Heard the news, 'Hitable?" he said at
once, without any greeting. The king
OF France has fed to Lille. Bonev is in
Paris, and in the royal palace, and the
grand iolk in Vienna have pronounced
Boney an outlaw: and the duke Of Vel
hngton has been in council at the war
Office, and there's going to be a rare to-
do
"Oh, Abner, Abner. how 1 wish you
cared nothing about all this. said the
girl. II take it wonderfully sadly, do
What do it matter TO you what Boney and
al them others are about? You amt
soldier, and you amt a boy. You're
saddleT, and you're betrothed to me"
Nonsense, 'Hitable," said the young
fellow, with laugh. IF an Englishman
doesn't take an interest IN these matters,
which are occupying the attention OF the
senates OF the world, he is not worthy the
name of an Englishman."
Mehitable stared at the fluent produc-
ton Of such phrases by one who spoke
usually the plainest East Anglican Doric:
but she knew that clap-trap orators
abounded at the bars of the village inns,
and that many young fellow owed his
ff~eN u4.r to 20 Of -,
vapid sOphisms.
and, Abner, it makes you associate with
men you know nothing OF, and it leads
You 20 drink"
Here poor Mehitable was lacking in
womanly tact-or rather be il said. in the
knowledge of men-Or she would have
guessed that the very worst way to gain
her end was to hint TO a man whowas get
ting drunk that he was drunk.
You mean to say I'm drunk" ex-
claimed Abner. 'Tben m not fit 10 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 with eyes which be-
trayed by their tears the terrible blow
dealt at her heart.
A week passed. During this time war
had been declared against France. and
the duke OF Wellington was assembling
a British army TO lead into Belgium The
first battalion of the East Anglican regi-
ment had passed through Cuton village
and was now az Elmford on its way TO the
coast recruiting Cuton was like a de-
serted village the shops were shut-for
the apprentices would not work-the farm
yards were silent, the fields were aban-
doned to the crows All the Young fell
lows were at Elmford gaping at the red
coats, listening 70 the martial music and,
worst OF all, every evening fewer lads re-
turned TO their homes in Cuton village
still, Abner Harrington came home,
and Mehitable was easy in her mind He
was a high-spirited, impulsive and easily
led away young fellow, but he was be-
trothed to her, and Mehitable valued him
too highly to believe that there was any,
thing serious IN the cruel words he had
spoken TO her.
On May 20 the battalion was to march
from ElmfOrd. It's numbers were by no
means complete, and the recruiting officers
were employing every means to get Young
fellows to join the colors.
On the night of the 10Th Elmford pre-
scented an appearance it had probably
never presented before during the long
centuries OF its uneventful existence.
Usually by o'clock the streets were
empty, dark and silent, but on this night
FlmfOrd 10 morrow the eNureseiOn 11spd