The record-union., 1898-01-21
SAVED BY A WOMAH'S WIT.

Ii was hot-hot-hot everywhere on
the 18th of June, ITS. Even Colonel
Wlnthrop's leaf-embowered house in
tne beautiful valley of the Shrewsbury
was at least 20 degrees warmer than
the comfort of its occupants demanded.
Mistress Betty Winthrop, followed by
a negro lad, walked slowly up through
the shrubbery. She had been out on
the river in search of a stray breeze
Mistress Betty was the one thing on the
Winthrop place whose appearance the
elevated temperature did not affect un-
pleasantly. Indeed, if anything, It
served to highten her charms, Deepen
ing the rose on her softly rounded
cheeks, intensifying the blue OF ner
eyes, and caused the tendrils of gold
brown hair to curl in yet closer rings.
She was a pretty picture as she sat
in the shade. her white hands clasped
about her knees. And so thought the
shabbily dressed young man who rode
up the long avenue leading from the
high road. He dismounted at the foot
of the piazza steps, and, throwing the
birdie 10 a negro boy, stood and looked
irresolutely at her for a moment, then
and disappeared into the house. Betty
glanced carelessly at him, and resumed
her reyerie, of which so uninvitng
looking a person could form no possible
part.
suddenly the voice of Don Carlos, her
fathers valet, broke up her dream.
missy. de Cunnel done want yo'."
"Who was it that went into the house
Csat. he
slowly.
II dunno, missy. But I hear him say
somethin or mother bout big battle
DAT was fo't yest'dy up at de Mon
mouth Co'thouse-"
What Where?"
Miss Betty's cheeks were white
enough now.
The Colonel awaited his daughter on
the piazza. He was tall, spare man,
and walked with a limp.
Father, is it true what Carlos tells
me? Are you sure there has been bat
tie at Monmouth -and-and
that many of our men and officers are
killed? O. father!'
Come here, Betty. Why do you rs
ten to the tales those lying negroes
tell? Fly. child; don't be foolish. A sol
dfers sweetheart and frightened, be-
cause, perchance, he has had TO 90
little fighting. Lucky dog to have
strong right hand with which to strike
q blow for his country, and the Coionel
looked ruefully at his own right Wrist
from which the hand had been severed.
80. father. those horrible battles
but at a glance from her father she
stopped compressed her lips, ana
straightened her shoulders. do you
believe. sir" she continued in a calm
voice. yet with a look of intense anx-
iety in her beautiful eyes, that many
of our men have been killed-do you
think"
The Colonel patted her cheek reas-
suringly. Don't fret my love we
have lost some brave men, L fear,
though for the brave man in whose
welfare you are particularly interested,
] fancy he is safe enough. But a gem
tlenan arrived here twenty minutes
ago who saw the whole encounter You
shall hear from his own lips what ne
has already told me"
The Colonel led the way into the
house Father and daughter paused
at the drawing-room door. The man
whom Betty had seen from the lawn
stood in one of the deep windows. His
back Wastoward them. He still wore
his hat, and from beneath its brlm
a shock of black hair struggled down
upon his shoulders. One arm was rals'
ed and rested against the window
frame, Betty noticed with surprise that
the loose sleeve of his coarse gray
Jacket, which had fallen back at the
wrist. revealed a bit of what looked
like a military coat sleeve underneath
Sir" began the Colonel, Il have told
my daughter"
At the sound of his voice, the man
at the window turned hastily.
My father" said Betty. and paused
looking curiously at the slouch hat
which he did not remove, though his
hand sought it involuntarily. Some
thing in the strangers eyes was IA
miliar, and she proceeded in puzzled
tone. "My father tells me that you
bear tiding of the great battle fought
at Monmouth Courthouse. I am most
anxious TO hear them; but methinks
could listen with more comfort, sir
If you would remove your hat"
Madam, WILL he responded, and
finging it off, along with a mass OF
black hair, revealed the face of Frank
Balfour, a Lieutenant in Washington s
army and the affianced lover Of Mis-
tress Betty Winthrop.
Frank"
Betty"
Colonel Winthrop chuckled: You see
my love, there is still a remnant of ouI
army left
Thank God," murmured Betty,
whose face was hidden against Bal
four's breast.
Amen" echoed her lover. and ths
Colonel In breath.
Then the Colonel said: II was right
in thinking that you would prefer tc
hear what this gentleman had to tel
from his own lips. was I not?" and
without waiting for a reply to this evi.
IDENTIFY needless question, he continued
II mean to send Carlos out to watch
lest some stragglers from the King!
troops get wind of your presence hers
alone. and take 1t into their heads Il
pay US an unexpected visit. We arr
not far out of their line of march, 4
they are en- route for Sandy Hook
With kindly nod to the young people
the Colonel left the room.
ITO think that I should not hav'
known you from the first, Frank"
And to think what a struggle / haC
TO keep from running to you at once
when l saw you on the lawn. instead
OF revealing myself to your father
first"