The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19

poral returned, the stranger. declining
an invitation to dismount and warm
himself, rode on toward the village.
He's from the quartermaster's de-
partment,' said Tuthill to the corporal
with grin, and he will probably
politely ask your father to send some
of his hefers, sheep and pigs to
Brooklyn to feed her majesty's troops
and pay him with an l o L." This
sally did not please Samuel Hewlett
very much, for the impressment of the
cattle that had been fattened on the
fertile plains of Hampstead was even
then beginning to gall the royalists,
who so far had seen none of the, kings
gold for those that had already been
taken. Any further discussion of the
latter question was, however, cut short
just then by the arrival of the relief
and with the usual formalities the tired
pickets marched away to their quarters.
Richard Hewlett's house was the best
one in the village. 1t was spacious and
comfortable surrounded by well-kept
hagyards and barns, and on account of
his professed loyalty and the good he
had done the royal cause in Queens
county, both by his contributions and
his influence, none of the queens rang
ers had so far been billeted upon him.
As the morrow would be Christmas day
he decided to invite Colonel Simcoe and
his staff to dinner and during the aft
ernoon an orderly had brought him a
reply stating that Colonel Simcoe and
four officers of the Queens rangers
would do themselves the honor to eat a
Christmas dinner with him. His wife
had died only year ago, and since then
his ward, Abigail Kissam, the daughter
of royalist, had been installed as his
housekeeper. His eldest son Samuel
had emphasized his fathers loyalty by
enlisting in the Queens rangers and
the only regret the old tory had was
that his youngest and his favorite son
Jacob had proved a traitor to his king
He had had no word of the boy since
the battle of Brooklyn and in the trou-
bled state of the country, with the pa
triots practically driven from Long ISL
and, he knew not when he would have
tiding from the young rebel. His name
was never mentioned. Tonight, how
ever, the old man startled his ward
as he took up his candle to got upstairs
to his room. He hesitated at the door
leading from the sitting room, and,
turning to the girl, who was busy at
some of the preparations for the NOR
row, he said:
1T will be Christmas tomorrow, Alb
bic. and the first Christmas that my
two boys will be absent from their
fathers board. Samuel was ever ODE
dent to me and loyal to his king. but
Jacob has broken my heart by going
over to the rebels and leaving his old
him out of your head, Abbie. for he's
no longer a son of mine. Good night,
child; good night"
The old man closed the door and Abb
bic went back into the kitchen. She
had finished her task and was closing
a shutter that had become unlocked. a.
the time wondering to herself how il
had become unfastened. when she saw
the face of Jacob Hewlett outside the
window; and her heart stood still.
Don't speak" he whispered, but
open the door"
Mechanically she obeyed him. and in
another instant she was in his arms.
.tOh, jacob she said as he raised her
head from his shoulder tears of joy
glistening in her bright eyes, this is
taking your life in your hand. You
know that every one in the village
knows you. and every one also knows
that you have Joined the patriots. II
you are captured it is certain death
You could have let me know. dearest
that you We're alive and well. without
putting yourself in such danger"
Jacob had a great deal of difficulty
in reassuring the girl and allayiug her
fears lie knew that she was as loyal
10 the patriot cause a. he was himself