The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-04-11

both Mrs. Mayo and old Amy, who
was placing some delicious hot mullins
on the table made Of the best ''boughten"
flour especially for "Marse Allan"
Miss Fletcher, mother, " said Molly,
and Mrs. Mayo bowed politely, and
then said with an anxious look at her
daughter:
q did not know that you expected
company"
81 think you have een Miss Fletcher
before. Do you not remember her,
Aunt Amy9"
The old colored woman set her tur
ban straight, bobbedEa courtesy, and
after a long close scrutiny of the young
lady's features, said:
mo, missy, I neber see her afore in
my bawn days, but I low she do favor
yuself a small lilli bit"
Its all right. Oh thank God they
did not know your exclaimed Molly.
Mother, Aunt Amy, it's Allan Fletcher
Mayo, our own boy"
q never would have suspected it,"
said Mrs. Mayo, with a puzzled air.
"De Lawd's sakel' was all the com
ment old Amy made, as she disap-
peared to the kitchen, shaking with
apprehension.
81 think" said Allan, as he sat down
to the table, THAT these feminine frills
and FUCKERS are worse to contend with
than the enemy. How is my voice,
mother3 A pretty good falsetto, isn't
it, Molly, girl, I misdoubt me much
whether you are not getting me out of
one scrape into another. Hero will
betray me if nothing else"
81 have thought of that. Allan, you
remember the Coreys, whom father
helped when they were in sore distress?
I have a mind to send Hero to their
place and ask them to keep him for us
a few hours. What think you3"
"The very thing. That is a wise old
head IN your young shoulders, sister
mine. But how am I to get to the
Coreys after him? 1t is a four-mile
ride from here"
"You must take old Gray. He can
do four miles fairly we'll. But it would
not do for the Britishers to find your
horse here, and they may come at any
moment, you say"
Then they ate supper with heavy
hearts, yet, for the mothers sake, try
ingto appear cheerful, and even merry.
Allan often forgot his assumed charac-
ter, and whistled, or strobe to the win
dow, making his pretty and affection,
ate sister laugh at his amusing contor
tions in spite Of herself.
"Now we must practice our Easter
hymns" she said, and by the aid of the
harmonium they sung counter and air
then the air alone; then Allen prac-
ticed a sharp treble, and pleased Molly
nightly for some reason. Allan was
in her hands, and trusted his sister as
he had always done there " us only a
difference of a few years in their ages.
But he did object when she attempted
to do his hair in curl papers. A few
words in his ear, and he unwillingly
consented, and soon his blonde head
was covered with round knots of tightly
twisted paper.
There was little sleep in the Mayo
farmhouse that night. Already i'm
poverished by the circumstances OF
war they had parted with their retain
ers, The only man servant they hid
left was sent to their neighbors with
Hero, and told to wait there, 80 that
the four inmates of the house were
alone at this time. An old Queen Anne
musket was their only means OF de-
Tense. Allan's sword and firearms
we're hidden at that moment with a
certain suit of r~egimentals in an old
well, that they might not betray their
owners presence.
1t was near daylight when Allan,
who had laid down for some temper
ary rest, started to his feet, and called
to Molly:
"The British are coming, l hear the
galloping Of their horses feet! I shall
be caught like a rat in a trap. Curse
these women's trappings! might at
least die like a soldier, not a skulking
coward"
Remember the dispatches. You
are to guard them with your life. Gen.
Howe expects you. All means are fair
in love and war;" cried the enthusiast
tic girl, who, nov that danger was at
hand. showed the heroic blood that
was in her.
Old Amy was on her knees chatter
ing a prayer. Mrs. Mayo, pale and
helpless, lay on her couch where she
was to play a more severe role OF