Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-09-03

he asked.
"It is Elizabeth" came back
the rejoinder.
"O-o-oh! I am very sorry that ]
can't ask you in."
"Why didn't you go away?" the
girl anxiously inquired.
"I tried to after l had done what
was sent to do, but your soldiers
objected
"You are held as a spy?"
eyes"
"And you will be shot?"
ooh, not for a week, at least. Cap.
tain Rylance had the kindness to in.
form me that he would await orders
from his superior officer at Kings
ton."
ooh, this is dreadful"
"Do you wish to help me?"
"No, nc; I could not do that; it
would be treason. But how could ]
help you?'
"By getting me some pewter"
"What do you want of pewter?"
81 want to make a key for the prison
door,"
"Could you?"
"I think so. am something of 9
locksmith, and the key is a simple one.
The jailer showed it to me to-day. He
seems to be proud of it. I believe ]
could get an impression of it in some
softened bread"
"Then how would you make it?"
"Why, by melting some pewter in
my water cup and moulding it in the
ashes of the fireplace. Do you think
you could smuggle something of the
kind in to me?"
"No, no! Don't ask me to do such
a thing. Why don't you use the
spoons?"
"He is careful to take them away
with him."
"He is good man. Would silver
do as well?"
"Yes, of course. Why!"
II was going to suggest that he
search you for coins"
"It's useless; haven't any"
"That is fortunate. I only came to
tell you that you ought to apologize
for what you did just before you left
this morning.
"Thumbly ask your pardon--for not
taking two."
"You are very rude, sir. Good
night"
"Oh, Elizabeth! Eliz--"
1t was no use to call, she was gone
The fact that Captain Rylance, since
his company had been quartered in the
little border town, had looked with ad-
miration into Elizabeth's gray eyes
has some bearing on this narrative.
Another fact of equal interest is that
up to this time Elizabeth had given
the captain but little opportunity of
looking into them. Captain Rylance
felt that she was avoiding him, and it
cut him, for he was accustomed to easy
conquests in love if not in war.
But this village beauty showed no
appreciation of his fine figure, bril-
liant uniform and clever talk. There
fore he was somewhat surprised and
pleased to receive visit from Eliza
beth on the morning after the capture.
She came accompanied by her father,
with whom Captain Rylance was on
terms of quite friendly intimacy. Mr..
Brewers explained that Elizabeth was
anxious to see how the soldiers lived.
With much gallantry Captain Ry-
lance showed her about the fortress.
Elizabeth was especially gracious, and
when she had seen all there was to be
seen she said: "You may walk home
with me, Captain"
Opposite the prison Elizabeth
stopped. One of the windows facing
the street was open, and Matthew AL
den was standing there looking out.
"Oh, Captain" said Elizabeth, SIS
that the Yankee spy who was captured
yesterday"
"That is the very fellow" said the
Captain. care you loyalist enough
to wish to see him shot?"
"Not quite. I should not wish to see
any man shot. Still, if he is Yam
kee spy he ought to be punished. l
wish l could ld-well-snowball him. -
She said this with light laugh which
the Captain thought was especially
charming.
"And so you SHALL" he replied, en-
tering into the spirit of her odd whim.
Elizabeth took her hands from her
muff and made round ball of sun
softened snow, the Captain standing
by and laughing heartily at her
prankish mood. The man in the win
dow watched them somewhat wonder
ingly and not altogether cheerfully.
"Oh, but I couldn't hit him." said
Elizabeth. "You throw it for me,
Captain"
"All right; now watch. I used to
be thought good bowler at cricket
perhaps have not yet lost the knack. "
Straight up toward the astonished
prisoner the SNOWFALL sailed and Alden
was compelled to dodge as it went
through the bars and was shattered
against the opposite wall of the room.
"Good! Good!" shouted Elizabeth
in glee. "Here, let me make you an
other one"
Alden viewed the preparations for
the second throw with perplexed ex-
preston on his face, but after the third
snow ball had whizzed past his head
he seemed to enjoy the fun as much
as either the Captain or Elizabeth.
"He's a good-natured fellow, at
least, even if he is spy" said Eliza
beth. "Come, let US leave him, and
ON they went.