The advocate., 1895-04-24

member we have a solemn duty to do tomorrow
Let every man be at the rendezvous this side Of
Worcester by sunrise, ready for that duty. And
now, comrades all, goodnight"
The meeting broke up, and the men began coming
for their horses. Gertrude in her dark corner was
not observed till, all the rest having gone, Sydney
locked the door upon the arms stored inside, and
lighting a torch, came into the shed. Seeing two
horses and one of them bearing lady's saddle, he
was puzzled and, holding high his torch, gazed
about till his eyes rested upon Gertrude. He had
no notion who she was, but suspected her to be a
spy.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded sternly
81 came here to seek shelter from the storm"
"What storm2 1t has not been raining for an
hour or more. Look at the sky. There is not
cloud, and the stars are out. How long have yOu
been here?"
"Since the rain began falling in the evening"
"And you have been listeningP"
81 have not only listened, but have seen all you
have been doing"
''Who are your he demanded so fercely that he
frightened her.
She was confused and silent.
81 shall recall my men to decide what we shall do
with you," and he was about to put buge to his
lips.
"Oh, pray, don't do that! Surely, you need no
armed men as against one defenseless woman"
"You speak justly. But you seem to be shiVer-
ing with cold. Come to the fire and explain your
presence here. And taking her not urgently by the
arm, he walked with her around the building, en-
pulled aog to the fire and bade her be seated
She sat down. The freight shone upon her face
as she looked up at him where he stood facing her,
and he exclaimed in astonishment:
"Why you are-L have met you beforep Did you
one day last summer stop at farm house down
here to get drink of waterP
"And you drew it for me and drank from your
gourd. But did not suppose you would remember
80 trivial an incident"
81 would not have remembered the incident had I
not remembered you But how came you to remain
80 long in the shedP Were you afraid to start home
through the darknessY
"No, not that. l became SO interested in what
was passing in here that did not notice it had quit
raining till you came and frightened me into OBJ
serVation. But fear not that l shall betray you.
do not clearly comprehend what you mean to do,
but understand it is something to put stop tothe
cruelties practced upon the poor; and l only wish
that were a man or a Mollie Pitcher that l might
join you. l was almost resolved once to come in
among you and ask to be allowed to be one of you.
81 would to heaven you had. We would have
made you our Joan d. Arc, and your presence would
have inspired the men. Oh, why did you not
come imp"
"Because-I dared not, after what had heard.
Everyone seemed to hate Mr.. StilWell so fiercely'
'Whst had their hatred of StilWen to do with
you?"
81 am -Stilwell's daughter"
"YOu are-gOu Isaac StilWell's daughterp Grapes
from thornsl 1 cannot believe it.
81 wish it were not so; but it is true. Now, per.
hsps, you hate sufficiently to let me get out of
your sight. Will you be kind enough to tell me how
far / am from home?"
"Hate youG No. 1t is about eight miles from
Worcester; and after such rain the roads must be
very bad and it would not be overly safe for lady to