The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-25

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ana the soldiers loved him then a. bis
men do now But think you rot. Mercy,
that I, 1. strange ~ sidings have come
from Nathan these THREE months. IL IS
more than that "a 1. notT
~Say. nos more Uncle Isaac: but not
since ne left The army to be spy IN
Tryon.s army" whispered ths girl, and
then Eaid aigud: There are sozle tssiags,
y1g know that we cannot say aloud. for
10 one knows when there IS tory
around"
"Ay. . tory. spy" growled tire old
man bitterly, ''bfss I fear not but that
Nathan viii conduct himself seeusiy
wherever be be. Nay, start nos. lass-if
/ he were dead we should have heard OF
t."
Il fear rot that he Ia dead. Uncle Isaac,
bug Tor some reason l am strangely dis
elitssed today. I Hike no, the rumors Of
Tryon's being along the coast. for II Was
only last February that he was at Horse
Neck and since then he has been in the
sound. can never look al the blue
" aters OF the harbor without fearing to
sre his mufderous satL'
''Hs Is bold and wicked man. and
shud6er much AT the thought Of what was
done in Dau6ury; but trust that If he
does venture into our quiet narbor that
he VIII meet with great -epulse. Our
men are courageous tst few: and old as
I am, yet / would not hesitate but would
take my fiintiock and march with the
militia against him. But, lass. II Tryon
was coming here Nathan would have
warned us OF HIS approach"
Aercy's heart beat high al the thoughts
Of her absent lover. and she ionsad IA
talk more about him; but the old man
grew reminiscent OF the early days OF
the colony He loved 10 relate that his
ancestor was a firm friend OF Theopolis
Eaton, and that he had selected the site
Of their home under the giant elm. which,
much 10 the old mans grief had been
struck by lightning q few weeks before,
and now stood. a wreck of It's former
glory. broken OF about fifteen feet from
the ground. AS he spoke OF the early
days, his eyes kiRdied and rising he ex-
tended his arm toward the harbor where
tn blue water spsraied in the July sun
= 4ine. and bringing II around In semi
circular curve. he said proudly: LAS long
as this arm retains it's strength il shall
fight for this harbor. and these broad
lands my ancestors purchased; and shall
defend the graves yonder where lay the
men who took the Bible for the corner
stone of their colony, como Tryon when
be may!''
The maiden stole away leaving him to
their quiet home: for many were the
stockings knitted and the blankets woven
for the soldiers In Dame Weatherbee's
household. as we'll as in other patriot
homes. AS the day wore on her heart
grew heavy. Unlike her usual quiet self
she was uneasy and anxious Often she
stood at the door. shading her eyes with
her hand, while her gaze wandered over
the quiet waters for q sight OF Tryon's
IL taa+ Il
only the sails Of fishing boat broke its
monotony.
Late in the afternoon, when the
shadows were lengthening. she went to
the pasture for the cows. She was re-
turning slowly along. her thoughts full
OF some impending evil. when her atfen-
ton was arrested by low whistle from
the top OF an elm tree. She paused-the
whistle was repeated. and the next mo-
ment she heard her name spoken In a
low tone: Mercy. Mercy. art thou there.
lass?"
Yes. II is l." she answered. -. bu, VIII,
! speaks for In sooth can see no one"
1T IA thy lover. Nathan: but look
around. lass. art sure the coast Is cieary
No one 6. sight or hearing? No tories
! around9''
The girl glanced around carefully. mo.
there il no one In sight, cousin Nathan.
/ but why art thou in the freeg Surely
near thy fathers home thou shou!dst
| como in boldly"
Il dare not. lass: but come thou near
and ! viii tell you all, but speak not
much. for thy voice IS as clear as e silver
/ bell. and can be heard q long ways. Try
: on Is coming,''
i Mercy gave n start of alarm Her lover
continued: "As thou knowest I Left WASH
ingtons army to he spy on Tryon's
movements, a:d remained undiscovered
| on board hts ship until even last night.
/ We touched az Fairfield harbor and on
I board came John White. tory. our
former ncighhor. as you know He
/ recognized me at once and spoke To Glen
/ Trycn. lie. the general came forwart.
/ at once and said; a traitor. a spy, and
+ thou shalt die the death. Seize on him.
! men. and we will hang him in his own
/ aooryard or the morrow But ere tho
! men could seize me / sprang overheard
and as II was dark I escaped their shots
+ l made for the shore and started for
( mere and have been since noon In this
/ tee waiting for sight Of you less"
! huf. Nathan, thou skouidst not havs
+ come here whore thy life Is I'm danger
I Why eldst not hide with friends TIL thou
couias: make for the nntrfot arfnvr''
"Ay laes. bHt ] must fire. warn rhes
sra Know how my parents are. Bur eanst
thou not hide ne somewhere Tor .ha
nsght' FOR Tryoa VIII leave no stone IN
turned 70 fnd me-
The old elm. Nathan. that thy father
+ prizes - highly. was struck By lightning
and broken or about afteen feet from,
the graoad not long ago. T7ncle Isaac
examined It and found II hollow Me-
thinks you could hide IN that With Sc
curly; TO o1s knows OF Il. and our Mate
has been hdaen there tor weeks. Pu,
art sure thoa canEt get into it,
sure. of course. lass. Have I not
climbed the masts OF many sh5o. sna
As soon IS u IS dark I viii hide there
be tell 10 one ~ Euy whereabouts. for
those are troublesome times. ard thou
must warn the patriots 81 Tryou's an
proach''
Il wjl, Nathan 81 once. hn; inns,
leave thee. The good dame, thv mother
WI wa03er at my long absence. THY
father vas saying today that were Trvo-
E 80 core Re would fight with the Pest.
bat take good care % thyself Nathan
ana I VIII pray that the God who he'r..,
Israel viii fight wsth US on ire morrow
y Tfy7u comes for fear me greatly ,ha-
. his track VII BE- marked WITH blood ara
ashes. at D8nAury. ere the nsorYoots sur
seys"
4 fear 50, too lass. bat VIII r,aea
fer tha patriot army soon. So trervAE= ,,ot
I 20 ne. bar ee3sv ret in warning .ha
{ patriots wul not enter my fathers
F house for fssr - bsing seen. hrs. WI
make for The tree. Farewell. and God
: bless yet"
( Farewell. Nathan. and nav God rra-
+ S@et yo0, NAV aet See xou arat-7 ,sns41
+ after the dreaded moTroN.' she answered
Z xs7r~t. N fesrH,s