Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-31
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"Oh, helpl Lor, help! DsSS': "omin right
uD de carriage part NOW


Heavens! Quick, Archie, what shall we
doe If they find you here you are lost. Oh,
Archie, don't look SO; l know it is dreadful
for you, but you must hide. It is possibly
only passing regiment and-Kate, rush up
and tell aunt; she will receive them.
She throws her arms around her lover and
drags him to little room adjoining this;
then firmly locks the two doors that open re-
spectively into drawing room and hall.
''Therel Now we are as safe as mice in a
hole. These doors form panels on the outer
walls, and your presence here can never be
suspected. Promise you will be quiet, dear,
and will come to you often and help you
bear it," With that she hurries out, bidding
him lock the door again, and then runs up
the wide oak stairway to Mrs. Thornton's
room.
Here she finds that lady pacing the floor,
every sign of agitation visible in her tall,
stately figure. Behind her walks the excited
black woman, uttering dismal groans, and
sympathetically gesticulating in unison with
her mistress.
ssMargareta, cannot, will not! Vowed
when those men were here the last time, that
never again would offer hospitality to the
enemies of my country. I will not, can
noti Let them do their worst, let them rob
and plunder-burn us down if they will-but
I will defy them TO the last. There is no use
your trying to dissuade me. am in earnest.
They shall go on"
"Aunt Evelyn, you are excited" the girl
says coolly. "There is no need for all this.
These men will stay, take what they will,
and you yourself will offer them the rest.
Remember Archie. Oh yes, he's safe enough
now. I've seen to that; but you forget
building So come, Aunt Evelyn, you have
tact enough to get us through securely, and
you must do your best. Thank heaven am
not an American and have no party spirit.
Thank heaven for Archie's sake"
Mrs. Thornton was a woman of spirit. She
seldom lost chance to oppose a proposition.
But today all her characteristic propensities
seemed to have deserted her. Greta won
without even sigh of opposition, and the
two women descended to the drawing room.
Five men had assembled here and were max
ing themselves rather unceremonlously at
home, when the ladies entered. One was
writing at table, while another half sat,
half knelt upon a chair beside him, looking
on. The other three had grouped about the
picture on the easel, and what Margareta
heard as she entered made her blush a little
and then resent the speech.
Mrs Thornton advanced to the table and,
bidding the writer good morrow, made a low
and graceful courtesy. "Gentlemen, " she said
in her strong, proud voice, 81 earnestly de-
sire that you make use of this house as though
it were your own. place my trust in your
honor to keep your men from too much mo-
testing my servants or from harming my
grounds"
What was this? Anger and resentment
were doing their work and making Mrs.
Thornton thoroughly inconsistent. 1t was
dreadful-offering hospitality in one breath,
and in the next putting them on their honor
not to abuse it. Greta felt the keen look the
officer fixed upon her aunt, and when it
turned to her was ready to meet it with her
sweetest smile.
IT, too, place my entire service at your
disposal, trusting that you will make good
use of it"
This was certainly the very best thing to
say, and said in the very best way, besides.
There was such ring of trustfulness in her
tone as she nodded her head at him confid-
ingly, that the man seemed perfectly as
sured, and rising made them low, respectful
bow.
81 cannot tell you, ladies, how much l APP
preciate your kindness. 1t is very seldom we
meet with such confidence and hospitality in
the enemy's very country. Your sympa-
thies then are'-
81 am the daughter Of citizen of Berlin. :"
Oh, the pride in that tone, in the naughty curve
of neck and pose of head! While on the floor
Greta's little foot touches Mrs. Thornton's
with decided pressure that the lady thinks
it best to understand.
And they certainly did 'smake good use of
it,n and on the next day when the regiment
moved on, the three men whom Greta had
found grouped about her picture left her with
groups of tender thoughts within their hearts,
to Greta's infinite disgust, for, as she told her
lover afterwards, she had been obliged to lis
ten to it all and play the ''dame fattee" be-
sides, while seething within and longing to
be man so she could thrash them.
But there was one thing she had learned
that made her hasten to her lover with the
news. 1t was that his regiment would come
by the next morning, and she hardly knew
whether to be glad or sorry most-nor did he,
for that matter-and very sweet, indeed, was
the half hour that they spent together, whis-
pering lest the yankee ogres" in the next
room should catch sound.
'Ah, now I breathe again." cried Greta
when the last blue coat had vanished down
the winding road. "Open, open, sesamew
EGiIlu1clluS5 Ni5Oi Ouoiy OAi ohO PsAhSA uOOA'
''Thank heaven, you are safe," as her lover
rewards himself for his long imprisonment.
They are very happy round the fire that
night, and Mrs Thornton is silent on the
subject nearest her heart of the ''first class
FOOL" who is perfectly content to be called
names, so long as he gets his wish.
Greta has been singing gay little song and
is coming over to the fire where Merriman
and Mrs. Thornton sit, when suddenly the
light seems frozen in her eyes and the smile
dies on her lips as she stops and stares at the
open doorway. Here stand two men dressed
in the military insignia of the republic, and
wearing on their faces an aggravating ex-
preston of complete satisfaction at having
bagged their game SO successfully.
'sDo not be startled, madam. I admit the
situation to be rather embarrassing and my
duty is certainly a disagreeable one. l am
commanded to arrest Maj. Archibald Merri-
man on the charge of being spy. have
also orders to assure you, ladies. that the
next time you are caught harho" spies in
your house it will go rather ..,.ter with
yo4."
sSir," cries Greta, stepping forward, her
voice ringing out boldly and clearly, while
her ewes flash defiance. "Sir, this gentleman
Is NOT spy. He is wounded soldier, and
an officer at that, and your warrant does not
call for the arrest of a sick man. This is
treachery. Who made out that warrants"
He hands it to her with peculiar smile,
and to her surprise it is signed by the officer
whom they had entertained the night and
day before. She hands it back without a
word, and her head drops on her breast.
"As to his not being spy, madam, would
you DO kind enough to inform me if you keel
sick people in room adjoining drawing
room with only this thin partition between
| 1t is rather curious"
"Who told you thata" exclaimed Mrs
| Thornton, going close to him, her nostrll'
| trembling and her hands locked nervouslJ
together. "Who told you he was in thai
room?"
"Ah, madam, you forget that there exist
such things as servants who will babble The
next time, l advise you to tell no one, carry
in meals yourself, and even then contrly'
some good means to make your servant
blind and deaf and dumb"
That is not true" cries poor Mrs. Thorn
ton, with tears in her eyes "My servants
are true as STEEL fidelity itself. They nevel