Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-08-01
"A Fair
Blockade Breaker
BY T. c. DELEoN.

l shall kiss mamma and my poor little
Fairfaxr'
"Good-by, darling Caro-. May He
watch over and take you safely to them.
Willie says you can trust the woman
implicitly"
81 do, dear; tell him sol Good-byi
God bless you and himl God bless
you allr'
Another straining of the girl to her
heart, long, sisterly kiss, and CAROLYN
Clay was on the seat by her strange
guide, and Mr.. Gray tuclking in the
heavy robes, needful tn at freezing night.
Then out quietly into the still street,
slowly over echoing stones, through
moonless, bitter cold, the hunting-trap
ratified lightly, the pace mending as
they neared the outskirts and the i'm
patient horse, given his head, broke into
his swinging trot-
Carolyn Clay, wrapped in close-cling-
Ing thought and once more joyous in her
sense of freedom gained, was as silent
for awhile as was the careful driver; but,
as they left houses far behind and
bowled along the country road, she
turned to her mute companion:
"You seem to be a good driver"
''Shure; I've druv him afore. TIL
beastie knows the hand O. me-" was the
quiet reply.
us there any chance of meeting pa
trolls on this road?" the girl again
queried, after pause.
'Divvl a guard" was the response.
9Th addijjittint-gineril towld me-by
tn same token, Misther McKay-thot
tn road was clear"
"Haltl Who goes there2" rang out a
challenge from the darkness directly in
front; and the drivers great fur gloves
rested against the ample bust, as the
horse was pulled up short. "Who goes
there?" the challenger repeated, grufdy.
"An' who wad We shupposeP" was the
answer, to Miss Clay's great dread.
can, by tn same token, it's not goin'
am, but comm"
"Have you the countersign, womanP"
"Have tn SohGdt? But I'm not to be
shtopped by my wanI Gin'ril Bond,
beyant in tn town, sid I'd take me
dochther home free an ondisthurbed,
sor"
"Have you the countersign?" again
came gruffly from the darkness.
"Shure I've some av it," was the re-
ply, and the driver nudged Miss Clay,
as the fur glove went deep into the am
Pile pocket and drew forth a roodly
flask. To the girls wonderment, It
went straight to the owners mouth, a
gurgling swallow, n resounding smack
and strong odor of brandy filing the
cold air on its withdrawal.
''Corp'ral-ga-adi Post number onei"
called the Impatient sentry, as his mus
ket ratified to Charge"
There was sound Of feet approaching
ut run; then the thick voice growled:
"Vot fur vos you yelling, ShonesP
Haf you found Something's, ain'd id9"
challenged, and no countersignI"
the sentry replied.
"Dismound, vrend, und geefe der
gounderzine," the corporal ordered,
throwing his lantern above his head
and dimly showing the two women ON
the trap.
"Wudn't we come an git it, Misther
KrautP" was the unmilitary rejoinder.
9TH likes o. ye, be thratin' ladies wild
shman considdyrayshin, shure! What
wad the gin'ril beyant, as gin us tn
pass, be sayin av' SIGH thratementP"
Coon dot Wagon down und geef der
gounderzineT" the German recruit
growled back. Coon down like der
deffel so fasN"
"Dismount, If you have the word"
Carolyn Clay whispered low
"Divvil tut!' was the return whisper,
with the addition aloud: Here it be,
Mishter Dutchy, writ by the gin'ril all
over tn paper!'
Hesitant between newly-learned dis
cipline and the glamour of oft-repeated
title, the green non-commish. advanced
cautiously towards the wagon, peerinR
keenly under his upitted lantern.
Grasping the extended paper, he read it
laboriously with one eye, while trying
to fix the other on the two women.
dot vos all ride" he said at length,
handing back the paper. "You may
broceed.'
The sentry stepped aside, facing and
coming to carry" but the cart did
not move; and Miss Clay trembled, lest
the gulp from the flask had done its
work,
"Vell, What for you vos vaiding?" the
corporal asked, impatiently, Shaping
his arms for warmth.
by me sowl, ye're a darlin'r was the
retort. Didn't We ask fur it-fur
some av tn country signP" And the
driver extended the flask, in full light
of the lantern. adding: eye naden't re-
fuse. 1t do be the rale craythur."
With puckering lips and quick glance
towards his inferior, the new levy low
cred his light, seized the flask and took
one huge gulp, wiping his mouth on his
overcoat cape as he handed it back.
"Ye're not afther bein' name emo to
leave out yer parthner?" the owner of
the liquid asked. 1T do be cowld emo,
I'm thinkin', to make IN made a dhrop."
Again, in the struggle between disci-
pline and natural good-nature, disei-
pline went down, and the German
stepped of into darkness. A Quick
grounding Of arms. a pause; then he re-
appeared, again wiping his own mouth,
as he returned the flask.
'Dos vos foine, foine" he said, In
friendly confidence. "Now you vos vree
to bass on"
'Shure an will, darlinr It's none
too warrum here" was the answer.
"An'. be tn same token. I'll shpare Q
dhrop av tn country sign till tn next
Il.