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


upon his arm with gentle touch, and
she said "Go, go; for my sake, go. 4"
For your sake?" he murmured, and
he seemed to hesitate, and then she
turned to the guard and bade him lead
the officer forth. But at that moment
the cry of the mob was so distinct that
it revealed that escape was impossible.
Thankful bade the guard step in and
bolt the door, and commanded him to
use his musket if anyone should try to
force an entrance. And even as she
spoke the door was forced and an ugly
face was protruded, and some one
shouted: "Come out, you redcoat !"
and would have said more had he not
been felled by the butt of the guards
musket.
The door was closed and bolted, and
the guard stood with the manner of
defiance. In an instant Thankful had
made disposition of the officer. Be-
fore he was aware what she was doing
she had led him to the settle in the
chimney corner, and she bade him to
be seated there None too soon, for
the window was forced open and some
one shouted "Come out, you cur, or
we will shoot you where you are
ooh, you coward-you coward, Ben
| Williams! He has done you no harm,
and he is unprotected, and Thankful,
speaking thus, placed herself SO that
she stood directly before the officer.
There was a crash, a confusion of
sounds, for they were trying to force
the door. The officer, then realizing
that this fair maiden was protecting
him with her body, pushed her aside,
saying: "No, no; 1 cannot permit
this. You must not be injured. Let
me pass" At that moment a musket
was discharged, and the officer, per-
ceiving that Thankful was reeling,
supported her in his arms. She had
received the shot instead of him.
A moment later there was mighty
shout, great rushing noise, the door
was burst open and Captain Folsom
and some of his company entered.
"What is this? What is this?" he said.
"Ah, uncle. Ben Williams and his
gang are trying to capture the officer,
and they have shot Thankful as she
tried to prevent it," said Abbie, cry
ing bitterly.
civilians, take him away; bind
him; put him in the guardhouse with
his gangl" the Captain shouted, and
then kneeling down over the body of
his daughter he moaned, saying: ''My
Thankful, my Thankful; oh, my
daughter. they have killed you"
"They have killed her, sir, while
she was trying to save my life" said
the officer, and he wept like child.
But she was not dead They lifted
her tenderly and carried her to her
room under the gable roof and when
they saw that che opened her eyes and
that her lips moved they were re-
joiced, and there was prayer of
thanksgiving to God that He had
spared her life that night.
A few days later the order came
from the General instructing Captain
Folsom to deliver the prisoner under
his charge to the outposts of the Brit
ish army at the Bronx in exchange, for
it was demonstrated that he had told
the truth when he said that he had
strayed within the patriot lines by ac-
cident
As he was about to go away he said
to Captain Folsom 81 have one favor
to ask May see Mistress Thankful
for an instant alone?" 1t was permit
ted. He went and stood by her bed
side and took her hand, Thankful"
said he, 81 am going away. 1t is not
right that / should speak to you except
in thanks, for / am an officer in an
army opposed to yours, but may say
this: heard your unconscious con.
fession when you bsde me go for your
sake, and your sweet words then ut.
tered will be in my memory until
come back again when these battles are
/ over" and then he kneeled tenderly
over her and touched his lips to her
forehead.
glance of exquisite joy which she could
not conceal, and he perceived that
gentle tears were coursing down her
cheeks, which she did not care to wipe
away, and he knew they were tears OF
joy.
/ Six years later, on the afternoon of
Thanksgiving Day, a traveller dis.
mounted from his horse in front OF
Captain Folsom's forge-for the Cap
tain was blacksmith in time of peace
The traveller looked curiously about,
as though not sure that this was the
place he sought, when his eyes rested
upon a maiden who was standing in
the doorway. 1t seemed to him as
though the picture which he had seen
in that identical spot six years before
on the day of his departure was there
again. He went up to her and said:
Thankful, my Thanksgiving. / have
come"
81 knew you would, she said, and
with such gentle sweetness of manner
that he took her to his arms.
1t was grievous sorrow to Captain
Folsom that his daughter Thankful
was compelled to leave him when she
married this man whose life she had
saved, but it was aioy for him to know