The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-11-29

81 am grateful for your confidence,
sir, and shall not destroy it. While
these mnidens guard me shall pro tect
them until you return"
"Will you promise to obey us?"
asked Thankful in n 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, I"
said the Captain, "and that is that you
will not quit this house until my re-
turn"
"I 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 TINT 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
nics, and he asked the maidens many
things about their manner of life, and
it was plain to see that Mistress Thank
ful had already won his high regard
"Tell me-" said he, chow is il that
they call you Thankfulp 'Tis pretty
name, and well given to you, 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
was not there went he went away,
and 80 he said, ~ he held me up: 1T
is Thanksgiving Day. The Lord has
been good to me these many years, but
he has been best to me to-day. So her
name shall he Thanksgiving since she
is born upon that day and that, sir,
is my name, although they call me, for
the sake of sbortness, Thankful"
She said this with such modesty and
with such delicious suggestion of grace,
and her cheeks were 80 gently flushed
and her eyes no 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 a time for
him, was one of Joy, and when the
shades of evening came aud the candles
we're lighted the maidens and the young
officer were like those who had been
long acquainted.
In the evening the girls brought ap-
Piles and nuts and cider, and they were
having merry time, when of sudden
Abbie arose and went to the door. Her
quick ears had detected n 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.
"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
a British officer here, and he swesrs
he'll have him hanged to tree for re-
venge."
A moment later 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 I will hide
him."
Thankful brought the officers cloak
and hat and bade him go, but to her
amazement he refused. 81 cannot
60" 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 u
brute. He will take you out anu kill
you, sir. Go under the escort OF the
guard and he will take you where you
can be concealed"
But the officer would not stir. He
would only say that he had given his
pledge and he would not break il. In
m instant Thankful seem changed,
and the officer, even in the suspense
and terror of the moment, perceived
that she had assumed the manner of
one who had authority and can exer-
else it. She stood erect, her head
thrown back, her eyes very bright,
her cheeks now somewhat pale, and
she said: "You must so, sir. I com
maud IT, Go with him HaYk Don't