The advocate., 1895-04-24

nOES6 anu S8lQs
Il think you had better not come any further. Mr.
Stone. You have been very kind to put yourself 10
the trouble of so long a ride for me, and am
obliged to you"
81 assure you that so far from having put myself
to trouble, the ride has afforded me unWonted pleas
ure' and, save for your sake, would we had twice
the distance yet to go. But fear you may be i'll as
result OF your exposure to the rain"
II am not so readily made ILL / assure you,
shall be very well. wish could know that ill will
not befsll you from to.morrow's enterprise"
1--WE shall take what may come; but l anticipate
nothing serious tomorrow. The real conflict will
not begin for some days yet. But am OBTAINING
you in the chill night air."
"Tske this' removing the great coat and handing
it to him. 81 might have some difficulty explaining
how came by it. Well, good hopes for tomorrow.
Goodnight"
Sydney took her hand and pressed it to his lips,
IL trust we may meet again, Miss Stilwell?"
'Mr Stone, q ReVOlutionist should put far from
him all thoughts about women, you know. Remem.
Der that if it were not for women men might hold
converse with the gods Goodnight"
And she was gone.
II have made several kinds of fool of myself to.
night" was Sydneys consolatory reflection. zone
glance at her eyes in the freight did the business
for my austere patriotic resolve, and Sampson was
wooden man in comparison. After all, my own ex-
perience tonight only proves the truth of what I
said about the duty of Revolutionist to avoid sen.
timental fetters. wonder if that desertGrs young
bride was anything like-Job was right. 1t ,0as nat
ursl shall say no more about him."
And the austere Revolutionist turned his steed
into the country highway again and, hugging to his
sustere bosom the old coat which had become aud.
denly sacred, retraced the dark muddy road to his
home. Mrs Stone was up watching for his coming:
for although she knew nothing of the dangerous en-
terprise in which he was engaged, she felt the sp-
proach OF some evil which threatened her son.
Women seem to possess prophetic faculty of this
kind when those they love are in danger. She
greeted him as if he had been over the ocean and
had just returned and he very truthfully explained
that he had been to Worcester.
Sydney, going to his room, threw himself upon the
bed without undressing, and was soon in a profound
slumber, recuperating through
"Tired natures restorer"
his energies for the morrow's work; work which
might end in victory or might end at the gallows.
Late as 1t was, MrV, Stilwel delayed her daughter
long enough to take every precaution fond moth.
ers loving skill could suggest against serious results
from the drenching Gertrude had received, and her
ride home through the chilly night air:
for, not knowing all the facts Mrs Stilwel made no
allowance for the hygenc efficacy of the happy frame
OF mind her daughter had enjoyed all the way home.
Once alone in her room, however, Gertrude's eleya
tion Of spirits gave way to gloomy forebodngs and
great uneasiness. She realized suddenly that war,
rebellion, was the meaning of what she had without
design happened to hear and to see: and that war
meant DEATH What if tomorrow night, he, now so
vigorous and full of life should be lying dead
pierced by bullet or cruel bayonet thrustl She
knew too we'll the mercileSs venom of her fathers
cass-what If they should seize the young ReYolu-
ZIONIST and send him to the gallowS
Gertrude slept i'll that night.
To h