The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-07-05
l REVOLUTIONARY LASS,
4 Fourth OF July Story.
Df MAJ0RlE RICHARDSON.


Father, your breakfast is ready now"
It is the morning of the 10Th OF April,
lT5, and though Dorothy Harris's voice
is as calm as usual, the glow brought in.
to her cheeks two hours before by Paul
Revere's startling news has not yet died
away.
No answer comes to her summons, 80
she hurries down the path to the barn,
but the very thought Of breakfast van.
iahes as she hears neigltbor Hosmer's
voice in excited conversation with her
father. and you're to take these
papers to Isaac Davis, in Acton, and tell
him the regulars are on the road here
from Lexington" ..
$50 they're really coming" says Har.
ris, comprising his lips sternly. 81
must be oil at once" ... '-os.
"Willtherc be fighting, father ?" Dolly
asks, as he bends from his saddle to give
her a farewell kiss.
God only knows" he answers. III
the reports from Lexington be true we
have terrible day before us. You
had best not stay here alone" he adds.
Row down to the Manse and stop with
your Uncle William until the red.coats
leave the town." and he rides swiftly
away.
Dolly gezes after him wistfully till he
is out Of sight, and then turns to Reu-
ben.
"Won't you come in to breakfast,
Neighbor llosmer?" she says, "or can't
You spare the timer"
"No," he answers. "As your father
says, the powder may be wanted at any
moment. only wish there was more
of it," glancing regretfully over his
shoulder at the few kegs. "'This is so
little compared with what those rascally
red.ccats will have.
Goodbye, Dolly, you'd better leave
the house US soon as you can. It's alter
five now"
For the next two hours Dolly is busy
with her household cares. Her only
companion, a large gray cat, rubs atfec.
tioun!ely against her homespun gown
and purrs loudly, as il to make amends
lUT llcl luuuiIity W tath uldttcT3 over
with this troubled little maiden.
"0i, Tabitha!" says Dolly, sorrow.
fully, burying her face in the soft fur
"I'm afraid things are going very, very
wrong. Those terrible Britishers
How can We keep them out Of the towl
with so few men and so little to DE-
with? Well, we must not set here mop
ing. must go to the Manse, and,you shall
come, too; but, oh, how l wish we coult
help in some way. Why, stop, what i,
this2" 49,
She puts tho reluctant cat from he,
knee and drags aside heavy box, dis
closing stout wooden key, whose con
tents are well known to her.
"Oh. Tabitha, Tabiths, It's gunpowder
Father must have forgotten it in hi
hurry, and every little is needed, h,
says. What can we do?" r9'E y
II could get it to the Butterick's, no
through the village, for I might NEE
some Of the red coats, besides it is to,
heavy, butt could easily carry it dow
to the river, and then ! wouldn't be NOR
than fifteen minutes in rowing To til
village. ,&' 55 - 4.5;t-.
II could put the key in the chest
they might think it was clothes or some
thing; and can tie it up with stou
cord, and'- g4.a ~ " VI u 2.-t17
No time for further words. It is hal
past seven now and Dolly fears to della
longer; so, with great care, she place
the key in the chest and packs stra,
about it to keep it steady. N12a42 s'a
1t is fortunate that the river is nel
tho house, for two stone is no ligt
weight for fourteen.year.oid girl
carry. Dolly's sturdy arms ache, an
the short curls on her forehead are moi
with her exertions by the time she gel
the big box safely in the bottom Of II
boat. ,s4i |35'g3 = f Ne
She pushes out into the stream an
rows steadily for several minutes. Thel
as she turns tho bend in the river, 81
suddenly rests on her oars, her hea
beating wildly, for there on the vel
bridge under which she must pass 81
sees the glitsering bayonets and sparl
coats OF group OF English soldiers.
: Dolly hesltates only moment, the
she continues the course and is near
under the bridge when q pesempto
!, voice arrests her. ~ Z y.
! "Stop, my lass, we must have yol
: boat for time to take this gentlem,
i down the river to Mr.. Rice's.n ;;sIt !.
"I'll not lend my boat for any su,
|. nurpose,"she answers back stoutly, co
. tinuing to row. :.
"Nlr. Rice is q Tory" she adds, as Il
boat glides swiftly under the bridge.
But as 1t energies from the other al
its progress Is checked. A red.coat len
ing over the low railing has thrust ]