Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-08-01

your mother were 50 good and kind,
where did he gof''
Meg's eyes fell.
"You see I can't,".was her reluctant
answer. "We promised faithfully" her
eyes were raised to Roderick's like those
of loyal angel. "We promised, mother
and /, that we'd never tell. I took him
the path through the woods late at night
and we promised"
Well enough Roderick knew that he
might Brighten her into betraying some
thing which would form a clew to his
friends whereabouts It occurred to the
young man with some sef-pity that when
little Meg discovered he was there to
perhaps take her father back to prison
she would hate himl
"Was ever fellow between two such
fresa" thought the young Captain.
He paced up and down the room,
while Popcorn, with his usual aversion
to being unnoticed, had found pair of
scissors and was calmly cutting the fringe
from, the window curtains. Meg made
dash at him to check the progress of this
work, and Popcorn, in rebeling, dashed
out of the window, on to the porch, and
was away speedily through the garden.
Meg's anxiety increased. To keep
Popcorn at her side was part of her
trust, but, on the other hand, she ought
not to leave the officer.
81 must go after Popcorn" she ex-
claimed, ''but I will surely be back, so
-I-won't-say good-by."
Roderick had a lump in his throat as
he watched the child, and knew that at
at any moment he might be compelled to
bring sorry and desolation to the house
hold that had sheltered his dearest friend.
Suddenly there was the sound of horses
on the roadway-the sergeant and others
were returning.
"Well, Berks," exclaimed the Captain,
impatiently.
Captain, the papers were found.
Meggara found them in ditch below.
But the Colonel says he has suspicion
that Major Fortley is escaping down the
river. He wants you to search the
grounds thoroughly"
Popcorn's face peered around the open
window.
"Where'd she goa" he inquired. "I
guess she thinks I am in the wood.
Come, let us find her."
Meanwhile Meg,in her rush after Pop
corn, -surmised he had gone to the wood,
and. striking the path through it, down
which she had led Captain Dale toa boat
on the river-that wintry night-she
searched vainly for the little runaway,
but presently in the thicket came the
sound of voices, and, pushing back some
bushes, Meg, to her surprise, came upon
her mother and old Joel, who were bend
ing anxiously over a thin, weary form
resting on bed of leaves, over which an
army blanket had been flung. Only once
since his secret return home had Meg
seen her darling father, and now it was
for her to resist cry of de.
light and affection as she darted for
ward, forgetting everything but her joy
over seeing him once again.
"My little Meg" Major Fortley ex-
claimed, tenderly. est was not safe to
come down here-but-have have the
officers gone"
"Meg-dearest- urged her mother,
Ego back at once, darling; the boat will
be up in moment; Joel is going to take
papa in carefully. But why did you
leave?"
Meg, who had flung herself down upon
the ground to kiss her fathers wasted
cheek, started up quickly and, after one
more clinging kiss, retraced her steps.
A few yards distant she stood still in
dismay.
Captain Roderick and his men, with
Popcorn, IN unusually good spirits, were
coming down the woodland path.
The Captain took one moment for re-
Election. In Meg's face he read her fear
and anguish-knew what it meant.
''Take the boy" he whispered briefly
to the sergeant. eco up that side path
and look about, carefully. will question
the little girl"
A moment more and Roderick and the
child were alone; Meg white to the lips,
her eyes raised in dumb agony and plead
ing to the face above her.
just by a turn of his head Captain
Roderick could see three figures slowly
going toward the river, one supported
tenderly between the others. The papers
had been found-if this weary, worn
man was the Confederate officer he was
in search of. Was it not down thisvery
pathway lane Meg four months ago had
led his more than brother, his dearest
friend, to be safe from an imprisonment
which would mean death2
The chi1d's eyes were still upon him.
''Meg, little girl" he said quickly,
and with something like moisture in his