Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-07-13

were just framed to say, Come in
when his wife said: NO, you don't.
father; III meet en- but the
younger woman was even quicker
and the dame sat down on her
chair.
But for all her bravery Patsy
felt a sort of faint hertedness creep
ing over her; she threw open the
door, and there to confirm her worst
fears stood two soldiers in the unl-
form of the hated redcoats. Good
morning, good MISTRESS said the
older man stepping forward, Il
pray yOu to give US bit OF break.
fast, for We have had a long fast
and my comrade here is all but
completely exbansted.'
Conquerlng her repugnance with
mighty effort, she managed to
say: You and your comrade may
enter and partake of our break
fast
With a grateful look, both men
crossed the threshold. Mistress
DOrthy sat rlgldly in her chair; she
had tightly closed her eyes when
the knock was heard, aud had kept
them closed until the strangers
entered the room, and now she
glared feroclOusly at them through
her glasses. Her daughter.in.la W,
noticing these glances, stepped
behind her aud whispered, Not so
fierce, mother, not so fierce, or they
will surely suspect something
Don't fret; perhaps you would
like me to go up to then, and
shake hands with 'em, and say
why didn't they come before, and
hope they'll stay; oh, the wretchrs,'
and the old lady shook herself With
grim vehemence.
The two invaders were not so
fierce and terrible looking. indeed,
soldiers who had just won a victory,
they looked strangely worn, weary
AMI disheartened. Mistress Patsy
felt a stir of sympathy in her heart,
for the younger man reminded her
so yividlt of her husband, who was
so bravely fighting in the true
cause; in fact, little Dortby went
to him, laid her dimple hand on his
knee, looked trustfully up IN the
handsome face bent over her, and
said, papa
and where is papa, my dear3
he asked, gently lifting the child
on his knee.
Way, way off, fghtIn' they
the'--
'Dorthy,,' her grandmother's
voice sounded like gravel cruDched
viciOusly together, your mothers
goln' to teed the chickens and you'd
better help her. With that she
began to busiIy clear of the table.
Il don't suppose yol want anything
more 2 she suddenly said, when
the table was almost cleared.
No, we have sufficient, thanks to
your Kindness courteously replied
the older man.
'Tain't no thanks to me at all,
she retured tartly, you're soldiers,
so l had to do it,
what an exceedingly curious
cream cup,' exclaimed the young
man, taking The curious piece OF
workmanship up and exsmin.
ing it, with thealr of connoisseur.
That was the last drop in Mistress
DorotbJ's cup of bitterness which
was already overflowlug. She had
let them en:er her house, giving
them their breakfast, and now,
after allowing them all these liber-
ties, always under protest, that
they would now begin to conf scate
her property was too much; she
sna'ched the cream cup out CT the
astOulshed mans hands and began
excItedly: You'd better go now,
you'd better 60; you've had your
breakfast and little rest, and at
this time o'day visitors amt want
ell round the farm
Blt, my dear madam the young
man broke in, Il assure you |
meant no harm, and really my
friend and / need a rest 80 badly,
that we are afraid we must tres.
pass on your hospitality Here a
faint smile crossed the young mau's
face, "a little longer; give us bat a
bed TO rest our weary limbs little
while, and theu we will depart
Dame Dorothy looked at the
young man sternIy. In my days,
young man, when folks told us we
wasnn't wanted, we got ont
Bnt, madam the older man in-
terposed, circumstances alter cases;
rauplnhar nat these are RtranOa