The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-10
81 STEpHEH dRNHE

fury. 1t was plainly mis- intention to as
sault them.
And so il occurred that a young girl
became engaged in protecting stalwart
captain, fully armed, and with eight grim
troopers at his back, from the attack OF
an old man with a wslking-stick!
A blush passed over the temples and
brow OF the captain and he looked partic-
ularly savage and weary. Despite the
girls efforts he suddenly faced the old
man.
"Look here" he said, distinctly. "We
came In because we had been lighting In
the woods yonder, and we concluded that
some OF the enemy were In this house,
especially when We saw grey sleeve AT
the window. But this young man is
wounded, and have nothing 10 say to
him. i will even take IL for granted that
there are no others like him upstairs.
We will go away leaving your damned old
house just as we found 1t. And we are
no more thieves and rascals than you
are. Il"
The old man simply roared: "I have
not got COW nor a pig nor q chicken on
the place. Your soldiers have stolen
everything they could carry away. They
have torn down half my fences for fire.
wood. This afternoon some of your .ao-
cursed bullets even broke my window.
panes."
The girl had been fslterine: "Grsnd-
pa! Oh, grandpslp
The captain looked at the girl. She
returned his glance from the shadow of
the old mans shoulder. After studying
her face a moment, he said: "Well, we
will 90 now" He strode toward the door
and his men clanked dooileiy after him.
At this time there was the sound Of
harsh cries and rushing footsteps from
without. The door flew open and q whirl-
wind Of blue-coated troopers came in
...ts A. .y..I 49, -
tenant. "Oh, here you are, he cried,
catching his breath. ''We thoughtful!
look at the girl!'
The captain said intensely, "shut up,
you fool!'
The men settled to a halt with q clash
and bang. There could be heard the
dulled sound OF many hoofs outside OF
the house.
"Did you order up the horses?' in
quired the captain.
'Yes, we thought"
"Well, then, let's get out Of here" in
terrupted the captain, morosely.
The men began to inter out into the
open sir. The yoath in grey had been
hanging dismally TO the railing OF the
stairway. He now was climbing slowly
up to the second floor. The old man
was addressing himself directly to the
serene corporal.
"Not chicken on the place" he cried.
Woii, uion = take youk chiCheHs,
did / %
"No; maybe you didn't, but"
The an ain crossed the hall and stood
before the girl in rather q culprit's fash
ion. = ou are not angry at me, are
your" he asked timidly.
"No," she said. She hesitated a mo-
ment and then suddenly held out her
hand. "You were good to me-and I'm
much Obliged"
The captain took her hand and then he
blushed, for he found himself unable TO
formulate q sentence that applied in any
way to the situation.
She did not seem to need that hand for
time.
He loosened his grasp presently, for he
was ashamed to hold 1t so long without
saying anything clever. At last with an
air of charging an intrenched brigade he
coptriveo TO say; 81 would rather do
any thing than frighten you or trouble
His brow was warmly perspiring. He
hac sense OF being hideous in his dusty
uniform and with his grimy face.
She said: "Oh I'm SO glad il was you
instead Of somebody who might have
might have hurt brother Harry and
grandpa!'
He told her: "I Wouldn't have hurt
'em for anything"
There was little silence.
swell, good-by," he said, at LAST.
"Good-byv"
He walked toward the door past the
old man who was scolding at the vanish
ing figure OF the corporal. The captain
looked back. She had remained there
watching him.
At the bugle's order, the troopers stand
ing beside their horses swung briskly in
TO the saddle. The lieutenant said to
the first sergeant
civilians, did they ever meet beforei"
Changed IL know. >"
"Well, say"
The captain saw a curtain move at one
OF the windows. He csntered from his