The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-07-11
low DUKE SAVED MOLLY.

locked eagerly doyn the road.
Oh, dear !" she sighed, glancing
atfhe long, slanting shadows, tits
aiNlost supper time, and they hav.
etRt come, ami Sister Molly is never
iaielp
4Den she turned and passed through
the narrow entry into the kitchen,
Wnpre her mother was bending over
q big iron pot which hung from the
crane in the wide fireplace.
well, daughter, any signs of 'em
yel?n
mo, mother" answered Ruth, al
!. ;ssfys ready to cry, "perhaps Gray
'3sssssSa has run away, or sotneef them
dreadful Tories stopped them and
ifanything should happen to Ge0r-
die or the twins, don't know what
| should do!
The kitchen door opened, and a
tall, gray haired man entered.
"I've put the milk in the pantry,
mother. Where are Molly and the
children Haven't they come home
yet ?"
Mrs. Holly shook her head.
Ruth is worrying, father. for fear
that they've been caught by Tories.
or that Gray Duke has run away
with them.
The farmer threw back his head
and laughed.
"NO fear Of that, little girl. Mol
ly PldgID is born horseWoman aud
Duke may be fiery and unmanage-
able enough with strangers, but he'a
like lamb with Molly. And as for
being caught by the Tories, why I'd
just like to see 'em do it, that's all {!
There isn't a horse in these parts
that can Keep within sight Of Dukes
heels. knew his value we'll when
l gave him TO Molly for a wedding
Gift. And dthey are well matched for
spirit"
II wish Molly hod less spirit, faith
er, for then when Edward went
away, she would haye come up here
to stay with u.s." returned Mrs. HoI-
lev. "Middlesex is no place for her !;
it's perfect nest of Tories But we
had hard work to get her to spend
even this week with u.s."
We'll, l suppose she thought
sTne of the Tories would run Off the
cattle or ransack the house while she
was away. We are passing through
dark days-dark days. mother! It's
bad enough to have to fight an open
foe, hut when it comes to having
neighbors who are on the watch for
every chance to plunder you and to
give you over to the red coats, it's
almost more than flesh and blood
can stand !"
1t was the summer of 1881, the
darkest and most trying period of
the Revolution. The campaign of
1873 bad proved failure. The Brit
ish were everywhere successful. and
the American army had done almost
nothing toward bringing the war to
close. And 1880 was a still more
dscouraging year. The winter was
one of the coolest ever known, and
the sutferings Of the Continental
troops in their winter quarters at
MOrristOWn were terrible.
Early in 1881 several hundred of
the soldiers revolted and were only
kept by the point ofthe bayonet from
going home. so that this year, too
opened most disastrously. The dwell
lers on the Connecticut coast lived in
constant fear of the British who oc-
cupied New York City and Long
Island, and frequently crossed the
Sound at night in boats, to plunder
the inhabitants and carry them away
captives. NorWalk, Middlesex (now
Darien) and Stamford were particu-
larly hated by the English on &C
count of the patriotism of their three
ministers, and the red coats had been
planning for a long time some way
of Furnishing the Rev. Mr.. Mather.
whose earnest teachings served to
keep uD the almost fainting courage
of the people of MiddIeseX.
Mrs Holley swung the crane fur
ther over the fire and then helped
Ruth to set the table with the dark
blue china and the large pewter plat.
ters, which had been secured until
they shone like silver.
"Hark What is that ." said the
farmer. going to the door. But Mrs
Holley and Ruth were there before
him. just in time to see a powerful
gray horse dash up to the door and
stop obediently at the decided
"whoa" of his mistress, a rosy cheek
ed, bright eyed young woman. Be-
hind her. on the pilli0n, and securely
tied to her waist, was 4 year old
Geordie, while in front. encircled by
her arms, sat the two twins, Ben anC