The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-11-24
ADLAI E.. STEVENSON.

young officer sought even the more ca:
nestly to entertain these maidens, and the;
intuition taught them that their char.
had found favor in his sight, for he looi.,
upon them with admiring glances, q
though with the greatest courtesy Hi!'
Difference He told them stories of En-
land which they were pleased to hear, Il!
of life among the nobility there and T..
the ways of those titled people ditie:.
from the simple customs Of their lliIt.r,
in the American colonies, and he asked t.
maidens many things about their mann'
of life, and it was plain to see that Mistre
Thankful had already won his high reg&T,
'Tell me-" said he, chow is it that Tic
call you Thankful? IT'S a pretty nan.
and we'll given to you, l should say, BIZ
never heard it before l heard them
you by it."
But it is not my name" she said
have heard my mother say that on
Thanksgiving day they sent to my fat
who was in the church and hde
hurry home, and when he came he TO-
me there, though was not there whel
went away, and so he said as he held J
up: 1T is Thanksgiving day. The 10
has been good to me these many years, /
he has been best to me today. So her mar
shall be Thanksgiving. since she is be-.
upon that day. and that, sir, is my nan,
although they call me, for the sake
shortness, Thankful"
She said this with such modesty an,
with such delicious suggestion of grace
and her cheeks were so gently flushed AZ:
her eyes so bright, that the young offic,
could not conceal the admiration for he
which had seized him, and when she pt'
= L..
quetry. Thus this Thanksgiving aft
noon, which had promised to be so dre;
time for him, was one OF joy, and who
the shades Of evening came and the canH
were lighted the maidens and til" "
officer were like those who had been loii
| acquainted.
In the evening the girls brought apples
and nuts and cider, and they were having
a merry time when of sudden A bbie aros'
and went to the door. Her quick ears h
detected a strange sound. \ moment lat, /,
lad came painting into the room.
'Look out Thankful they are comm"
to attack you," he said, scarcely able
speak for lack of breath.
"Theys Who? Who can attack us?'
otis Ben Williams and his gang. 'Twa-
yesterday that the cowboys captured Ia
"a cousin of Ben Williams-and for som
reason they hanged him, and now Ben /
bound to have revenge, and he has hear
that there is a British officer here, and Il
swears he'll have him hanged to a tree foI
revenge"
A moment later a young man with y
musket in his hands entered the door a.
he said: Mistress Thankful, your faith,
left me here on guard unbeknown toy
There's trouble brewing, l fear. They
coming to take the officer away and to
him harm. Let him go with me and
will hide him."
Thankful brought the officers cloak al
hat and babe him CO. but to her anna
ment he refused. Il cannot CO. he Sd.
II gave your father my word of honor I'll.
I would not leave the house till he II
| turned
| But you must. Ben Williams is :
! brute He will take you out and kill you
| sir. Go under the escort of the guard, an.
he will take you where you can be COZ
! cealed."
| But the officer would not stir. He woul,
| only say that he had given his pledge an,
| he would not break it. In an instau
! Thankful seemed changed, and the officer
| even in the suspense and terror of the me-
/ ment, perceived that she had assumed til,
! manner of one who has authority and ca!
| exercise it. She stood erect, her heas
i thrown back, her eyes very bright, he
| cheeks now somewhat pale, and she said