News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-08-20

| Iul musings. DuU ne was never SO
wide awake as when he appeared alb
stracted A foxy glance or two at
the hostlery showed a state of hustle
therein; presently, upon the blind of
the tap-room, he saw the shadow of
the major and innkeeper in earnest
conversation. Soon the shadows dis
appeared, and Shelton sauntered out
| for his evening walk. AS soon as the
wood screened him from view, the
captain raped sharply with his mug
which brought Mrs. Van Buren to
the table.
''The old man has gone to the Eng
lish lines" said Mariner.
Lords mercy, captain, and what
makes you think so?'
"The horse has hoofs, and we are
to lew'rd | don't know his business;
what desire to ask you is-are you
a daughter of Liberty?"
"Why, really, captain, the master
hasn't decided''-
"But you have" interrupted the
captain" and you wish the English
were at the bottom of the sea! You
saw that brig try to shoot away my
topm'st?"
at were dirty trick, sir, if it's the
blow you mean"
The captain tore q leaf from his
pOcketboOk, and wrote a few lines
upon it.
Mrs. Van Buren," he said, "can
you ride horse?"
"Indeed, few better, cir; my own
Black Ned, in the stable there
General Putnam is in Brooklyn;
this slip of paper must be put Ill his
hands to night"
Lords mercy!' cried the hostess.
"And are we going to have another
battle?"
81 will read it:
sMy Dear General: Can you have me ex-
changed, and at once. Mariner.
The captain bestowed a significant
.slanct, upon the lady, who took the
bit of paper and thrust it in her
bosom. Then, running into the
house, she returned with a pint of
the captains particular porter, which
he swallowed gratefully. bade her
goodnight and set out for the cot
tage at which he was lodged. On his
return, instead of retiring, as he
should have done under the circum-
stances, Major Shelton repaired to
the bar, reclined on one of the settees
and, to the infinite annoyance of his
hostess, commenced to discuss what
he was pleased to term "the pltful
folly of these provinces in harkenlng
to such sordid wretches as Henry,
Jefferson, Washington and Paine.
The rumbling of distant thunder
now added to the worthy lady's dis
gust. This delay would oblige herto
take the shorter bridal-path through
. the woods, and she had apardonable
dislike to the proximity of tall pine
trees in a thunder storm. So com
municative was the major that the
!, anxious woman feared lest he should
conclude to sit up for her husbands
return; but a tremendous thunder
crash right over the inn seemed to
bring him to a sense of the prOprie-
ties, for he leaped to his feet, looked
at the brass timepiece on the mantel
!, (which was on the stroke of mid
night ard hurried upstairs.
Without the loss of a moment the
! woman assumed her good mans cor
duroy coat and, taking lantern to
the stable, aroused and saddled Black
! Ned. The rain was falling in torrents
| as she rose to the saddle and eau.
= tiouslv directed the horse across the
e turf to the opening in the woods
} Then, tying the reins to the saddle
= she "shone" the lantern over the
-; animals head and urged him to 6
1 gentle canter in the direction o
? Brooklyn.
e The sun was up when Van Bure1
(who had prudently passed the nigh
{ in the British camp returned to th'
5 Cross Keys, accompanied by an aide
e de-camp of the British general. Oh
/ leading the horses to the stable h
, was intensely surprised to find Blacl
u Ned stretched upon the straw, his ap
+ pearance indicating that he had beel
ridden in the storm. Upon asking
;; his wife (who was already bustlins
about her work. for an explanation
o of this phenomenon, the good lad.
e folded her arms and replied:
O "Mr. Van Buren,, that's a stat
le secret!' -
z The officer was discussing broile'
7, steak when Shelton entered the baI
is On the table lay an official note, tn
y contents of which gave the major
IS little surprise. 1t ran as follows:
4 owe have acceded to the term of a pre-
III posed exchange of prisoners just Mt hanC
y and YOU will at once release from custod
c. Jeremiah Mariner. Clinton, Commanding.
D. Ere the captain quilted the pre-
he cincts of Flatbush he contrived t
deliver his thanks to his fair messer
d! ger. -, 3,
"but had companion back. An
now tell me, captain, why you are s
anxious to leave us.
"Ah, madam" whispered the priv'
teer, "your porter is excellent, br
so is nv song of'The Yankee Sword
- and Eve sworn to make the maiC
or sing it J" -,
os One dark night, shortly after I'll
If events described, as the buXOm Ian
~ lady of the Cross Keys was industi
oh ously biting the edge of a suspicion
sixpence preparatory to placing
- with the rest of her honest day
>" "takings," she was startled by age
tie rap at the door.
in "Who's there?" she asked.
-he "The crew of the pirate ship Fl
the con, hailing from New Brunswick
replied q gutteral voice.
at 'FWhy, lift amt Captain Martinez
i've exclaimed the hostess, tiinging op
the the door.
lch "Hush, my lassl" grunted t