The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-06-14

The Story Of a Pretty Girl Who Dressed in
Boys Clothes for Good Purpose.
RY HOWARD PYLE
coDgrfgAt 1s9i---Ail Ri9ats Reservcd.

well known in the milling circles of his
day; wealthy man as times went, a
keen bargainer, but as honest as the palm
of your hand. He was the owner of
three Of the largest of the Brandywine
mills, and sat in the gallery, as it was
called, in Friends meeting: for, like all
Of the Brandywine millers, he was a
Quaker.
He was man perhaps too keen and
4 caustic in his speech, but with good
sound heart buried in the priclrly husk.
He alone of all those Quaker millers
dared to grind flour during the dark days
of Valley Forge. Now he leaned over
the front gate Of the garden feeling very
uncomfortable at the thought of having
made Matte cry, looking absently up
the road and putting curling wreaths Of
smoke into the breathless air.
The sun had set and the glimmering
gray of twilight had fallen. A cart
came slowly moving down the white
stretch Of ROAD farm cart from up in
the country. A board was laid across
it, and on the board sat two men-one
farmer, the other an officer in the Cont
mental army.
Friend Sparks watched them with
sort of dull curiosity So many of the
broken army had passed by ones and
twos through the village that day that
the sharp edge OF interest was worn off.
But as the cart came up to him it
stopped. .Do you know any one living
here by naine Joseph Sparks?r said the
officer.
81 am Joseph Sparks" answered the
miller, opening his gate and coming out.
'.Who has thee there in the cart. friend2''
looking into the straw
"a friend Of yours said the officer,
swho was hurt yesterday in the battle. y
AS he spoke the figure raised itself
from the straw where it lay, and turned
toward the miller a face white as death,
the head and jaws bound around with
bloody cloth, and pair of eyes dull and
languid.
The good Quaker hardly recognized in
the pale, woebegone figure the gay young
Major Van Cleft, who had visited at the
house so frequently during the last
month
He stood staring, agape, holding his
pipe idly in his hand. rs thee much
hnrt?' said he at last.
Il don't know said the young man
family.
Cant you lodge him somewhere till
he gets some doctoringy asked the Of
ficer.
Friend Sparks stood for a moment
sunk in troubled thought. may, said
he at last, Il can't bring him into the
house. If the British should come, as
it's likely they will, it would bring trou-
BILE that l have no right to shoulder. l
can lodge him at the mil, and win make
him as comfortable as can" And so
it was arranged.
Friend Joseph followed the cart down
the short hill to the mill door, and there
saw the wounded man carried into the
loft, where a bed of empty bags was
made upon pile Of wheat. Then leav-
ing the mill foreman to watch the pa
tent, he went back to the house for his
coat and hat
The news of the coming of the wound
ed man had already flown through the
house. Matte met him at the door, and
as he stood in the dark entry, gripped
him by the wrist with beth hands.
"Uncle," she said in breathless whis-
per. 'suncle, will he dies"
81 don't know" said Friend Sparks in
an answering whisper; mo, think not
He could just see her pale face in the
gathering darkness.
ssOh, unclel' she said, in the same
gasping whisper. '.He asked me to
marry him before he went away. If he
dies my heart viii break" And she be-
gan to cry convulsively.
Friend Sparks stood quite still for
awhile. Il am going for Doctor Shall
cross" said he at last, and then Matte
let go his wrist and he left her, shutting
the sitting room door softly behind him.
after all, it is no such great NATTER
said the doctor, as he and Friend Sparks
walked across the road from the mill to
the house in the starry darkness. at is
a sword stroke upon the side of the
head, but the brain is not injured. He
is only faint from loss of blood. / sewed
up the cut, and II come again to see him
tomorrow morning. | wonder" he
added, THAT they should have sent him
here to Wilmington instead of taking
him to Philadelphia along with them.
Never mind" said Friend Sparks.
ssHe is here now, and I'll make him as
comfortable as can"
Matte Dixon awakened at early dawn
ing the next morning with the dripping
of the rain falling upon the roof-patl
patl and an unusual sound of mems
voices out in the road before the house
loud talking and laughter. She jumped
out of bed and ran to the window, and
saw upon the other side of the road a
sight that made her heart stand still.
A row Of stacked muskets stood under
the trees among the yellow leaves. Ac-
coutrelnents, haversacks and cartridge
boxes hung from the crossed bayonets,
and squatting, lolling and sitting upon
the ground were some two score of sol
diers IN tall grenadier hats, with white
leggins upon their legs, and the blaze of
red coats shining from under the cloaEs
hung loosely across their shoulders.
Three four officers sat upon a bench be-
tween two of the maple trees, and the
white smoke from Q fire rose sluggishly
mp through the half naked branches.
The British had come.
Without waiting an instant Matte
slipped on a petticoat over her night