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

YOU ARE NO SPY, SHE SAID.
'1 am grateful for your confidence,
sir, and shall not destroy it. While
these maidens guard me shall prot tect
them until you return"
'Will you promise to obey us?"
asked Thankful in a merry mood.
'In all things" he replied, bowling
with grace, and yet with the mock
dignity of gentle sport.
81 exact only one promise, sir"
said the Captain, "snd that is that you
will not quit this house until my re-
turn"
81 give that promise willingly"
After Captain Folsom had gone
away the young officer sought even
the more earnestly to entertain these
maidens, and their intuition taught
them that their charms had found
favor in his sight, for he looked upon
them with admiring glances, although
with the greatest courtesy and defer
ence. He told them stories of Eng
land which they were pleased to hear,
and of life among the nobility there
and how the ways of those titled peo-
pie differed from the simple customs
of their kindred in the American colo
MES, and he asked the maidens many
things about their manner of life, and
it was plain to see that Mistress Thank
full had already won his high regard
"Tell me, said he, chow is it that
they call you Thankful? 'Tis pretty
name, and well given to you, I should
say, but never heard it before heard
them call you by it.
"But it is not my name" she said.
81 have heard my mother say that on
one Thanksgiving Day they sent to my
father, who was in the church, and
bade him hurry home, and when he
came home he found me there, though
i l was not there went he went away,
and SO he said, as he held me up: 1T
, is Thanksgiving Day. The Lord has
l been good to me these many years, but
e he has been best to me to-day. So her
| name shall be Thanksgiving since she
( is born upon that day and that, sir,
l is my name, although they call me, for
| the sake of sbortness, Thankful"
She said this with such modesty anu
) with such delicious suggestion of grace,
and her cheeks were SO gently flushed
) and her eyes so bright, that the young
, officer could not conceal the admira-
; ton for her which had seized him, and
} when she perceived it she turned away
with gentle coquetry. Thus this
Thanksgiving afternoon, which had
: promised to be so dreary time for
) him, was one of joy, and when the
shades of evening came and the candles
were lighted the maidens and the young
, officer we're like those who had been
long acquainted.
In the evening the girls brought ap-
pies and nuts and cider, and they were
having a merry time, when of sudden
Abbie arose and went to the door. Her
quick ears had detected strange
sound. A moment later lad came
, painting into the room.
"Look out, Thankful; they are com
ing to attack you," he said, scarcely
| able to speak for lack of breath.
r "They? Who? Who can attack us?"
} 'Tis Ben Williams and his gang
Twas yesterday that the cowboys cap
, tured lad-a cousin of Ben Williams
and for some reason they hanged
; him, and now Ben is bound to have
revenge, and he has heard that there is
British officer here, and he swears
he'll have him hanged to tree for re-
venge.
A moment later a young man with a
musket in his hand entered the door
, and he said: 'Mistress Thankful, your
father left me here on guard unbe-
known to you. There's trouble brew
ing, fear. They are coming to take
the officer away and to do him harm.
Let him go with me and L will hide
him.
Thankful brought the officers cloak
and hat and bade him go, but to her
| amazement he refused. Il cannot
go, i" he said. 81 gave your father my
word of honor that would not leave
| the house till he returned
''But you must. Ben Williams Is Il
e brute. He will take you out and Kali
= you, sir. Go under the escort of the
Il guard and he will take you where you
1 can be concealed"
s But the officer would not stir. he
S would only say that he had given his
pledge and he would not break it. In
c an instant Thankful seem changed,
J, and the officer, even in the suspense
l. and terror of the moment, perceived
= that she had assumed the manner ot
e one who had authority and can exer-
" clse 1t. She stood erect, her heat
e thrown back, her eyes very bright,
= her cheeks now somewhat pale, and
v she said "You must go, sir. com
d mAnu 1t. Go with him Hnrk. Don