The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-03-06

4 y y
AVIS Ofmy liogo the King
%AW was lost too. After
AK\A the battle / had been
e RVO chased hither and
thither by flying squadrons OF cavalry.
but always managing to elude their
grasp, and I found myself whom night
came down at little distance from
the scene OF the conflict.
Presently / espied, with no small
satisfaction, a bright ray OF light
issuing from the trees in front of me.
AS / approached 1 saw that il pro-
ceeded from the window Of a low
matched cottage, which. to a man de-
iected and weary in body and mind,
was a pleasing and most comfortable
sight
l had occasion to rap twice before
the door was opened by a wizsnod old
woman with a kindly face. Tntrem-
bling voice she inquired my name and
business.
'My name, good dame, Il answered,
sis of little consequence. I am a
Captain IN His Maiesty's Sixth Regi-
ment of horse, and crave food and
rest"
may, / pray you, sir, to go away"
replied the old crone, whose fear had
become the more manifest as I,spoke.
'''phe rebels are encamped not q
league away. 1 dare not let ye in.
have all the heart, kind sir, but l dare
not"
''Nay, let him enter, good mother, a."
said a sweet voice behind her. IF he
is for the King he is a friend"
The old woman, as entered, was
bending over a large iron pot which
was seething on the fire, and from
which proceeding the savory smell 1
had before noticed Beside her, on q
low wooden stool, was seated a maiden
of such exquisite beauty that, looking
at her, I remembered no longer my
hunger but only the disorder of my
attire.
She was dressed in PEASANTS cos
tune, but the softness of her skin, the
whiteness Of her hands, the grace of
her bearing, all told me it was no
peasant I gazed upon.
So took out pocket comb and
small hand mirror carried with me,
and going toward the candle endeav-
Ored to remedy to some extent the
defects in my appearance.
81 perceive, sir" she said, "that
Won belong to the court.
cit is true, madam, that have the
5 honor and privilege to attend upon
His Majesty. May I, IN turn, be par
doned for saying that I discern you
are not such as it would seem you de-
sire to APPEAR"
''NaY, sirrah, 1 am peasant, as you
perceive. +"
This l did not believe, nor could ]
be wholly sure that she wished to be
believed.
The old woman placed the savory
mess upon the table, accompanying
the action with many apologies for
the homeliness Of the fare, which, in
truth, we're unneeded, for l set TO with
win and never found a kings ban
duet more to my taste,
Taking the rush light which the old
woman profered, started YEARLY tC
mount ladder, and soon was SOUND
asleep in a room above.
was awakened after what seemed {
/, few minutes by the sound of men,
voices in the room below, and, filled
with apprehension, crept quietly tt
the trap door and partly raised thu
lid. A burly. red-faced Sergeant and
two troopers, all dressed in the rebe
uniform, had entered the house an(
were engaged in q lively conversation
with the old woman who had<showI
me kindliness.
'Gtell We, she was saying, "there'
none that ye seek in here. "
"This gives you the lie, old wo
man. said the Sergeant, and with 6
sheer he dug his sword into cloal
which /, with q sad lack of fore
thought, had left to lie upon the bench
and held it up on the point. "This il
no raiment of servant of the Lord
The Sergeant took step in the di
rection of the ladder, but the young
maiden, who until that moment hal
remained seated, rose maiestically an,
barred his'way
''stay I" she cried. "You have n,
right to enter to search this dwelling
poor though it be, except this oil
dame bid you. Wherefore, then, d.
We conner You have conquered in til
somhaE Won have killed and capture