The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-11-30

British officer here, and he swears
he'll have him hanged to tree for re-
venge."
A moment later young man with
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.
I Let him go with me and / will hide
him"
Thankful brought the officers cloak
and hat and bade him go, but to her
amazement he refused. 81 cannot
CO." 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 q
brute. He will take you out and 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 it. In
an 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 go, sir. I COM
mand it. Go with him. Hark. Don't
you hear that mob shouting? You
have not q moment to lose" And
then as he did not stir she went up to
him pleadingly and with gentle man
ner, not knowing seemingly what it
was she said or did; she put her hand
upon his arm with gentle touch, and
she said "Go, go; for my sake, go. !"
"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 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; [ cannot permit
this. You must not be injured. Let
me pass" At that moment 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 gangi" 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 youP'
''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 lifteG
her tenderly and carried her to her
room under the gable roof and when
they saw that she opened her eyes and
that her lips moved they were re-
joiced. and there was prayer OF
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,