Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-11-27

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their step, and surely that is Ephra-
inns fife"
Abbie returned to the kitchen and
made preparations for the great table
to receive the bounty with which the
day was to be celebrated. while the
other maid stood awaiting the coming
of her father. She saw the company
as it marched around the bend in the
road with her father at the head, and
she was going forth to meet them,
when of sudden she halted The
look of Joy upon her face was changed
to one of wonderment, and she stood,
her head bent slightly forward, that
she might the better see, perplexing
and hesitating.
The company had come as near to
the farmhouse as the meadow that ad-
joined it on the west, and there they
halted, and the maiden saw that one
was with them who was not of the com
pany when they marched away the
night before He stood alone, erect,
constrained, and she perceived that his
hands were tied with thongs behind
his back. She saw her father talking
earnestly and seemingly directing two
or three men of the company to take
this man in charge, and scarcely know
ing what she did she approached her
father and was SO near that she could
have put her hand upon his shoulder
before he saw her.
"Sir," she heard her father say,
"you were captured within our lines
without pass and having no authority
to be there. I am going to send you
with guard to the commander of our
army, who is in the camp dozen
miles or SO beyond. He will discover
whether you are no British spy, but
have strayed, as you have said, within
our lines by accident.
"What has he done, father?" the
girl asked, for she was filled with pity
for this man, who seemed SO proud and
yet so pleading in his manner.
"What Thankful, is it you? Why
are you here, my daughter?" said the
Captain.
81 came to welcome you, father"
''But this is no place for You. We
have a prisoner.
"a prisoner Surely he can do no
harm. He is not like an army man
and he seems well favored"
Nevertheless we found him wan
dering within our lines and there are
spies about and he may be one of
those.
"a spy? Surely, l think not"
And the girl went to the prisoner
and stood before him in the innocence
of maidenly confidence and looked full
, into his eyes, lifting her head to do so,
; for he was tall and seemed to tower
far above her in his splendid presence.
"You are no spy" she said at last
"No, my child, not spy. l am an
officer of the Kings army who has
strayed within your lines. Thank you
for your sympathy. You have beauty
in your face, my child, but you have
, what is better-you have sympathy.
The girl went back to her father and
she said:
N "Father, suppose my brother John,
II who is somewhere in the Jerseys with
NJ Washington, should by accident be
II captured by the redcoats 1t would
n break your heart and mine if they took
him for spy. Surely there is truth
10 in this mans words. Come, bring him
" with you. Don't you remember that
= it is Thanksgiving Day, and that we
n are to have a roasted goose and chicken
pie, and Abbie has baked glorious
pumpkin pie? Let him come and be
our guest, and I'll warrant he II promise
me that he will make no effort to
escape until you hear from the General
what shall be done with him"
The Captain seemed to hesitate for
moment, and then turning to his
prisoner he said: Sir, | am myself
impressed with your dignity of man
ner. 1t may be that you speak the
truth. My daughters intuitions are
that it is SO. [ have changed my mind.
/ shall send messenger to the General
with dispatch telling of your capture,
and then whatever he commands-tha
will | do. Meanwhile, sir, it is our
feast day We are accustomed every
year after the harvest to give thanks
to the Lord and to eat great feast
and to make merry in our families.
will ask you to share this with us. You
will be prisoner, but will take your
parole that you will make no effort to
escape"
"You do me honor, sir. I give my
= parole to you, and, if I may be per
t mitted, to this fair maiden who has
h interceded for me. ="
They unloosed his thongs, and when
e his hands were free he stepped up to
5 Mistress Thankful and he took her hand
IL and bended over it with the courtesy
/, and grace of one who had been accus-
NJ toned to places where high breeding
'r and gentle manners prevailed.
IS They had fine feast at Captain Fol
81 SONS table, and the British officer
lie being no longer under great restraint
became most companionable and ven
e. tured gentle iests with Thankful and
her cousin, Mistress Abbie, who served
d the meats and bounties with gentle dig
j nifty and unconscious grace. And
lie when she turned to converse more Sc
d riously with Captain Folsom upon the