New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
LOVE IN A BARREL.
CHAPTER |.
BY HOWARD PYLE.

nahlrd and with walls wbitened with hour, gap
ing by open sheds and half doors upon s Staa9
stretch O. dusty road, they stand rpOD .lc 500
bluff shore Of river Upon the ROAD they aie
two stories high upon the river IRON. Snei oo a
four, fve or even SIX In sone se",S ;Her wallis
brigs and barQues are dashed TO the river vans Gus
loading with barrels of -four or corhmeat Uile
shouts of the stevedores and the creahInH % %
blocks and tackles eeholhg from nng s'O few idle
sailors in baggy breeches or petlcoa.s, I I.,.
down their backs and cooked mas VI -; front
~ the mill doors stand clustered the queer ola
vehicles of the day. farmers carts; coopeIs ga 20
great Conestoga wagons dragged by teams vi
sometimes even so far as Flttsourg: M
TTnon the further side of the road from the mllls
is the mill-race trimming with the speeu u
,ars that in the night time fill the silence
with the brawling of their hurrylng rush here
and there side streams shoot under Jhe priuHes
and lift food gates and set the huge grooming
wheels Affirming and the rude machinery and
great nillstones TO Earring and turning IN answer.
Such, one hundred years ago, were the famous us
old Brandywine -four mills, which GROUND mort mort
meal during the revolution and for the old West
India trade than was ground at any other place
in the country.
IL
1t was the evening of the 18th of September
in the year l717. The yellow sunlight streamed
in through the windows and all the room was
full of the good smell of supper. The blue emma
cups and saucers and plates and dishes, the pewle
spoons and the iron knives and tw0-prongeu IoIks,
6qht and Winked and spaTkled ana tWlnkleu
back again at the broad yellow patches OF hight
on Friend Sharks and his family sat at supper,
but though the smell Of it was SO good the knives
and forks and spoons clattered III d HsIless
fashion, and the family ate ana urdnA "A'nVu'
much heart in the matter. ,.
II don't know" said Friend Joseph, laying
down his knife and fork and looking around at
his daughters and more especially at his niece,
Matte Dixon / don't know what 1t is that sets
Won Girls SO agOg over a laced hat aud epaulets
and a blue coat and brass buttons here was
General Washington and his army not mort enan
n month in town. and now, because nc has gone
and takes away with him his snIpelack alds-de-
camp and captains and majors, all the women IN
Wilmington and Brandywine are In the NapoIs
Now men are not quick at seeing thngs, Dul
the women knew very well why Matte DlXons
ewes were red Indeed, gloom had iallen upon
them all ever since young 1armer nad fruGen
down from Chadd's Ford that morning, bringing
the news of great battle that had been fought
mn the Brandywine Later in the day, two
farmers wagons had passed through the village
bringing each a load Of wounded men lying IN
But Friend Joseph Sparks did not notice Mattie's
red eyes. =, eon.,,. sonorotino tl,e
don't i'm his emphasis, Il do not see what 1t is
about shedder of blood that turns woman
head. l. for one, should be sorry TO see a
daughter or niece of mine tied to such an un-
recenerate soulless son of Anak as one OF those
young men who make bloodshed trade, ana
think that blue coat and brass buttons IS. t eS
haek in S his chair and folding his hands,
and no doubt many likely young men killed or
manned for life. There was that fhlhp 1 1S
Cleft who came here often WHEN Inc
worthy Friend was suddenly interrupted IN ms
monologue by Matte Dixon rising so pIec l!3i
lately as 10 knock her chair over backward win
a lond clatter upon the floor, and then hufrying
from the room without WORD; leeains III Hei
pocket for her handkerchief as she Went
Friend Sparks stared after her WIN open eNes
A momentary pause followed as the door panged
behind the girl -, ., cold .ho
good mother presently. DIDN'T thou see tlaD
: was as much as she could do TO contain her
spirits ?" Then she. too, pushed back her chair
and followed her niece. Gil. ,a .Lo,
Botheration" said Friend Sparks; and then
no also pushed back his chair with a loud scrape
upon the floor, and taking his pipe from 'ne man man
tel-shelf filled IL with toDaGco anu ~ AZ T f
q coal he chose very carefully from the ehOers
vi His lis three daughters, Rebecca, Mary Jane and
Susan, said nothing, but as ne went ou1 OF tiic
door in a swirling cloud OF tooacco snoho '"'S
exchanged very meaning glances' III ,u
Friend Joseph Sparks was one right well known
in the milling circles of his day a wealthy man
as times went a keen bargalner, Dut as honest
as +be nalm of YOUR hand. He was the owner OF
three of the largest of the BrandXwne mills, aliG
sal in the gallery. as 1t was called, IN 1rienus
meeting; for, like all OF the bl"huS WIN 'NiA'i y
"' He was a man perhaps too keen and caustic
in his speech, but with good sound hearT buried
onaker millers, dared TO grind -four during the
dark days of Valley Forge Now he leaned over
the front gate of the garden 1eeling very IN
comfortable at the thought OF having Hdue
Marie cry looking abSently up the road and
putting curling wreaths Of smoke INTO the breath
less air. -. -,;.uuo.i,. ,,ro,. -
twilight had fallen A cart came slowly moving
down the white stretch of road-a farm cart from
up in the country board was Sn adu farmers
the other an officer in the Continental army
Friend Sparks watched them with sort OF
dull curiosity So many of the broken army had
nsssed nv ones and twos through the village that
dav that the sharp edge of interest was worn OH
Rut as the cart came up 10 him 1t stopped. DO
you know any one Hving mere OS name 'O''p"
Spans am eTosenb Sparks. answered the miller,
opening his gate and coming out. no mas tlee
there in the cart friend?" looking into the straw
A friend Of yours, said the officer, who was
hurt yesterday in the battle.
As he spoke the figure raised itself from the
straw where il lay and turned toward The miller
A face white as death. the head and Jaws bound
around with bloody cloth and a pair OF eyes
dull and languid. -
pale woe-begone figure the gay young Major van
Cleft. who had visited at his house so frequently
during the last month.
in his hand. Is thee much hurt?" said he, at
last. ..,.
Cant you lodge him somewheres till he gets
some doctOring ?" asked the officer.
Friend Sparks stood for moment sunk In
troubled thought. Nay" said be at last. |
can't bring him into the house. If the British
should come. as it's likely they will. it would
bring trouble that have no right 70 shoulder.
can lodge him at the mill. and will make him
a. comfortable as can" And so il was arranged.
Friend Joseph followed the cart down the short
Hill 10 the mill door and there saw the wounded
man carried into the loft where bed Of empty
hays was made upon pile of wheat. Then leav-
ing the mill foreman to watch the patient, he went
back 10 the house for his coat and hat.
The news OF the coming OF The wounded man
had already flown through the house. Matte
met him al the door. and as he stood in the dark
entry gripped him by the wrist with poth hands
will he de9' c-,-. :.
answering WHISPER no, think nor; ne couIo
-. - ,oa1o foce in thp gathering darkness