The herald., 1893-10-31

Across the way the door of the old
meeting house stood invitingly ajar, the
aged sexton having forgotten to close it
after the days garnishing. Intoit Fatty
ran, but not quickly enough to es,rpe
observation by the soldiers
One Of them caught glimpse of her
flying skirts as she entered the door. and
gave the alarm. In a morlent the entire
command, forgetful for the time of all
discipline, rushed headlong after her.
Just as they had all reached the meet
ing house SLANT sounded the solid
| door in their faces, and as they gath
cred angrily around, baffed. they could
hear the sound of the heavy iron bar as
it dropped into place on the inside.
"Crashr' went the bullet through the
pane, sent by some dastardly soldiers
pistol.
"Stop that! shouted one of the junior
officers of the company. 1.-The next man
who shoots at that girl will be placed un-
der arrest"
On the inside Patty crouched in front
of the center pillar of the building
breathless and good deal frightened.
The bullet whirred over her head and
buried itself in the wood about foot
above her.
In a moment one or two of the men
outside, assisted by their comrades, had
climbed to the window sill and had sue
ceeded in raising the window about six
inches. By degrees they widened the
distance sufficiently to allow soldiers
] - 10, .1s,,,1
bered over the sill and dropped down on
the inside.
"Ah, my pretty one" said the soldier
to Patty, who was now thoroughly
frightened, 80 we've got you at last,
have we?'
Major Derrond looked grimly down
from his high seat upon his horse as Pat
tv was led, trembling and timorous, be-
fore him.
''Take this girl to my quarters and
keep guard over her."
The colonels quarters, which had been
made in stanch stone mansion in an
other part of the village, were reached
soon, and Patty was forthwith taken to
a room on the second floor and locked
in, while soldier stood guard without
the door and another in the street just
under the one window.
Two hours dragged their slow length
away before Patty heard anything more
from the soldiers. Then she saw them
coming toward the house in groups of
twos and threes.
Shortly, too, the major rode up, and
throwing his horses reins 10 :ervant
dismounted and entered tie i.Jl.. Patty
saw one of her three friends-l-4e lieu
tenant-accompanyin him.
After perhaps 10 more minutes had
PASSED the same soldier who had locked
the Girl in came and unlocked the door,
beekoning for Patty to come with him.
The soldier took her along the passage
way and down to the lower floor before
Major Derrond again. That officer
seemed trife less stern, she thought,
than when she was at first taken before
him.
81 have decided" said the major, ''to
release you on condition that you do not
repeat the offense to his majesty that
was the cause of your being here. Are
you willing to give that assurance?'
Patty hesitated a moment, and finally
deciding that by promising she need in
nowise be untrue to her fathers and
lovers cause, gave the required promise.
Upon night soon after heavy rain
had begun to fall about dusk and had
continued drearily the night long. Short
" after 8 o'clock the little village was
locked in slumber.
Patty had retired soon after 8 and
had fallen Immediately asleep. Nothing
disturbed her dreams until just after
midnight, when shower of gravel rat
tied sharply against her chamber win
dow.
The girl was awakened almost instant
". and Jumped from her bed to investi-
gate the cause of the strange proceeding.
Its me, Patty" came low voice
from below, which she Immediately rec
ognized as that of John, Jr., her lover,
who was supposed to be far away to the
wars.
Hastily she threw on her Clothes and
in a moment had unfastened the heavy
kitchen door and had admitted the sol
dier youth, drenched and bedraggled, to
the welcome warmth of the open fire,
which, although the season was summer.
gave out a generous heat to the chilled
and dripping youth.
"Now," said Patty as John removed
his coat and stood before the fire, ''tell
me how you came to come home?"
John made no answer for several min
/ utes. Then he said:
Il suppose that | might as well tell
/ you, Patty, that I've deserted"
The girl failed to comprehend for a
moment and sat with wide, wondering
eyes.
You don't mean, john" she finally
said slowly, THAT you've run away from
the army, do you?'
"Iou said yourself that yon wouldn't
blame any man for being afraid, y he said
feebly.
"Yes," answered Patty. but I've
changed since then. I'm not coward
any longer. The tables seem to be turned
now" she added significantly, and John
flushed uneasily. And then the girl re-
counted the story of her adventure with
the British soldiers.
At this the weeping soldier lad dried
his eyes and sat up little straighter.
you must have walked good way"
/ Patty said after time, little more
L., Al