Telegram-herald., 1891-06-26

who WAS nuft yesterday III the battle.
AS be spoke the figure raised itself
from the straw where it lay. and turned
toward the miller face white as death,
the head and jaws bound around with a
bloody cloth. and u pair of eyes dull and
languid-
The good Quaker hardly recognized in
the pale. woebegone figure tue gay young
Major Van Chef. who had visited at tho
house 50 frequently during tho last
month
He stood staring. agape. holding his
pipe idly in his hand. us thee much
hurt" said no ut last.
Il don't know" said tho young man
family.
Cant You lodge him somewhere till
he gets some doctoringY asked tho Of
ficer.
Friend Sparks stood for n moment
sunk in troubled thought. May" said
he at last. II can't bring him into the
house. II tho British should come, as
it's likely they viii, it would bring trou-
bic that I have no right to shoulder.
can lodge him at tho mill, and will make
him a. comfortable as can" And SO
it was arranged.
Friend Joseph followed the cart down
the short hill to tho mill door. and there
saw the wounded man carried into the
loft. where q 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
rs he stood in the dark entry, gripped
him by the wrist with both hands.
"Uncle," she said in q bresthless whis-
per. "uncle. will he die"
81 don't know" said Friend Sparks In
an answering whisper; mo. think not ="
He could Just SEQ her pale face in the
gathering darkness.
"Oh, unclei' she said, In the same
gasping whisper. HE asked mo to
marry him before he went away. II he
dies my heart will break" And she be-
gan to cry convulsively.
Friend Sparks stood quite still for
awhile. II am going for Doctor Shall
cross" said be at last, and then Matte
let go his wrist and he left her, shutting
the sitting room door softly behind him.
After all. 1t Is no such great matter, ="
said the doctor. ~ he and Friend Sparks
walked across the road from the mill to
the house in the starry darkness. ut is
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. l 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.
HE is hero 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 tho roof-pat!
pat! 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-
coutrements. haversacks and cartridge
boxes hung from tho crossed bayonets,
and squatting. lollins aud sitting upon
the ground were some two score OF SOL
diers in tall grenadier hats. with white
legyins upon their legs, and the blaze Of
red coats shining from under the cloaks
hung loosely across their shoulder o.
Three or four officers sat upon bench be-
tween two Of the maple trees, and the
white smoke from fro rose sluggishly
up through the half naked branches.
The British had come.
Without waiting an instant Matte
slipped on q petticoat over her night
gown, and in her bare feet ran down
stairs and burst into her uncle's room.
"UncIe.' she cried. "the British have
comet"
Joseph Sparks sat up in bed as though
moved by spring.
"Ohr cried the girl. wringing her
hands. "the soldiers viii find him and
kill him or send hing to the hulks"
"Botherstion" said Friend Sparks,
"thou thinks Of nothing but the young
man. Go and get dressed Thous .
spectacle
IF no was only barrel OF four said
friend Joscph. ss the family sat 1T mel
sncholy breakfast that morning. I'D get
aim away ~ easy ss goose Trease.' And
hen again they sIl SAT- silent in thought.
-Uncle,' said Matte suddenly. docs
nee remember those double barrels that
:hee had made 10 send cornmeal 10 ia
nsica in the Nancy schooner before ths
var Could = man get into one Of
hem
Perhaps So said the miller, IF
he stopped Suddenly and pushed hack
ns chair why. thou's hit IL, girl. he
ri~d We might barrel him NJ and
md btn off--eh. mother Why. one ~
.hos4 West Indian doabis barrels would
ss the very thing
We might s-nd him 10 sister Jane, IN
-h~esev sssd Reh~oes SPARKS. loeking
AZ h~r husband
No, 40. that veali never do said
ne miller mo nsaa could - cfamp~d
. q barrel I've or sir h,1ars Resnemhes,
lo.s. that he's wounded. tell thee what
ws can 40 We car ssnd him 10 Cossia
Isas Penny, that's only four miles We
might ~y that ve were sesfins = bssrei