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

moment she was held in two strong
arms and a handsome young officer
was kissing the tears away from her
lovely face.
A second later she broke from his
embrace and cried, her voice culver
ering with fright. "Oh, Larry, why
did you Gomez They will catch you.
The brutes are everywhere" The SEN
fences were broken by a flood of tears,
but the young fellow laughed lightly
and taking her face between his hands
he kissed her again and said: Never
you fear, my pet; I know the country
too well to be trapped by the beef-eat-
ing Britishers. It's as safe as a sane
tuary here and I can get back through
the lines tonight. But come, come,
dry up your eyes and let's have some
thing to eat. lam as hungry as a bear
and as wet as a water-rat.
Thus treasured, the trembling girl
FASTENED to set food and wine before
her half famished lover, who all the
time was chatting as gayly as a school
boy. He had removed his cloak and
the tight-fitting uniform showed off
his graceful figure to perfection. He
was strikingly handsome and as good
and honest as he was pleasing to the
eye. Polly was a girl Of considerable
experience for her hears, and had re-
fused more than one, but she loved her
young cousin devotedly and stoutly
affirmed that he was a better lover
than cousin, which was saying a good
deal. After he had finished eating he
stretched out before the fire and
smoked his pipe uncCncernedly as if
there had not been an enemy in the
country. He told her of her father and
Of the Frightening fortunes of the army.
Then their tongues grew low aid
earnest and they told of their love and
talked of the great happiness in store
for them when Washington should
have driven the British to the wall.
The girl was nervous, however, and
fearful Of her lovers safety. At every
sound she would start in terror, and as
the time came for his departure she
chung to him and begged him to wait
until the morrow and make his way
through the lines in disguise. He
laughed at her fears, however, and was
kissing her good bye when their ears
caught the tramp Of horses in the yard.
The Lieutenant jumped to the win
dow. A glance through the thin cur-
tain was enough.
Three English officers had ridden up
to the very steps and dismounted, He
realized the danger. To be taken meant
to be hung as a spy, but he said as
calmly as possible so as not to brighten
Polly: "There are soldiers in the yard;
I must hide" Suddenly a memory
came to the girl of the days when as
children they used to play hide and
seek together. "Get in the clock"
she whispered, for the soldiers were
already knocking at the door. cit is
big enough. Oh, Larry, be quick" 1t
was the only chance. In a moment
the ycungman with difficulty crowded
his body in the tall barrel of the time
piece and Polly locked the door and
put the key in her pocket. Then throw
ing his coat and hat under the sofa, she
hurried to admit the unwelcome guests.
They were swearing at the delay,
but the beauty and dignity of the girl
had it's effect, and one of the officers
said politely enough: Pardon us, but
can't you give us shelter for an hour Or
two, and some food, in the Kings
name" The request was practically
an order and without more ado they
marched into the house, their hateful
scarlet coats dripping with water and
their boots heavy with mud.
Though trembling with fear the girl
managed to conceal her agitation and
was inwardly rejoicing that their stay
would be a short nj She ordered a
servant to bring food and drink for
them and settled herself with a book in
the corner When they had finished
eating n of them brought brandy
from his saddle bags and they all began
to drink freely.
The oldest of the intruders was deaf,
and, in speaking to him his comrades
raised their voices to an unpleasant
pitch. Before an hour had past they
we're all drunk and used such vulgar
language that Polly swept from the
room, her face flushed with anger and
disgust. Even in her room the noise
of their carousing reached her. 1t was
already dark and to her relief she heard
the officers getting ready to depart.
One by one they filed out the front
door, but just as they were mounting