Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-05-19
THURMONT Frederick County. Maryland Thursday May IS 898
JEAnHGTTE HoWzAGW70E
copYR,oAr, 1887 eY TINE AUTHOR.

0NtONI 1857 oV INC MI
When unstinted physical labor has
filled the day, sleep makes imperative
demands on man, let him be never so
nervously excited otherwise, and Seth
had to keep in constant motion to ward
off drowsiness He would never forgive
himself if those predicted torch bearers
should accomplish their wicked ends
while he slept.
"D-n 'em, they may shoot me fur
1t, but I'll get in one or two licks fust. "
His football was noiseless, nothing
between him and the damp gallery flocr
but the stout woolen socks knitted by
his mothers dexterous fingers.
The wooden sabots he had laborious-
ly achieved for outdoor wear were too
painfully audible for such Il delicate
mission as that night was devoted to.
This sentinel duty had not been dis
cussed with tho women. They had all
retired early after that nerve trying
day, and he hoped they were all sleep,
ing off the recollection CT its trials.
Seth was afTcc.ionatoly Minded to spare
them every unnecessary rang, and II
they knew Eo was footing it, out
there in tho chill darkness somc OF
them would "fret over it.
There was no suggestion of tie hero
in Seth Martin personality at the best.
Heroes do not slouch through tho OBJ
soure byways Of tho world OH sharbling
feet and with down dropped head.
Pride of record lifts their heads above
the earthworm's trail. But Seth had
no record to be proud Of.
Destiny had assigned him this posi-
tion as keeper Of the home 1t had not
been his choice. He should never be
able to quite forget what he suffered
when all of the "mcn folks" had turn.
ed their faces from Sans Souci, leaving
him and old Dolbear "to keep things
together. :"
How much easier to have gone into
the fight! With all his might he had
been "keeping things together. Dol
bear was his only counselor. 1t would
never do to fret tho women with such
wearisome details For them always
the ready ingenuity, the patient smile,
the encouraging note, struck from his
own despairing soul with such deter
mined elasticity as to carry comfort in
spite Of its false ring.
Nothing heroic in all that. Nothing
even remotely suggestive CT heroism IN
the tall, stopping fern, tho pccriug,
anxious blue eyes, tho work worn RS
- ,l,,) Il n,,1 ~x-atr.b.
cd through the rain drenched twilight
Of the night that darkened into the black
ness Of midnight fraught with un-
friendly possibilities. Waited and
watched pacing cautiously to and fro,
backward and forward, with mufl!ed
tread until-no-yes-
Enthusiastically the clicking sound Of
an iron latch lifted and dropped. I'm
mistakably measured heavy FOOTBALLS
not stealthy, like his own, simply de-
liberato, and Seth, standing still ho-
hind the green curtains Of tho madeira
vines, saw three men advancing up the
jasmine bordered walk.
A formidable array it looked to tho
Ill clad, shoe!ess, unarmcd watcher on
the veranda, their belted jackets
weighted with formidable holsters,
their visored caps cleaning duly from
out the gloom.
The squad balted abruptly at the foot
of the steps to reconnoiter the barred
and darkcned front Of the governors S
mansion.
"They must 60 to roost with the
chickens in these diggin S, y said tho
loader of tho little band "What o'clock
was it when we left town, corp?"
"Nigh on to leven," the corporal
answered with yawn, land we've
been good hour on tho road. "
"Right you are. Such cussel bad
roads l never seen. Ny orders was to
fetch the feller without botherin the
ladies, but how III the devil arc we to
manage it,
"Old Blackie said he was in the tur-
nip patch this morning"
"It's likely We'll find him there now.
Hoein turnips is such fascinatin work
n chap never let's up on it once ho gets
ut it."
The feeblencss Of the suggestion and
the infinite scorn Of its rejection pro-
duced ripple Of subdued laughter.
With display of flnesse scarcely to be
expected Of him Seth advanced boldly
under cover of this amicable diversion.
Heroically resolved that If it rested
with him the women inside should not
be "pestered, he descended the short
fight Of stairs in his unshod noiseless-
ness, looming darkly before the gaze Of
the squad with unheralded abruptness
"Maybe I'm the feller you are look
in for, gents" he said in his slow,
gentle drawl.
MAYBE you are if your name hap
pens to be Seth d. Martin"
"That's my name
"Then maybe you wouldn' mind rid
in out to Sessumsport with US tonight. B"
"Tonight?"
"Just 30 "
care you actin under orders to fetch
me?'
"That's just bout the size Of it. p"
"What can anybody want of me? l
amt never even heard bullet whistle,
I'm sorry to say. I'm too pitifully in
significant to be wuth arrestin. y
"Our major thinks different, it
seems.
"Major who?"
"Major Of the Fifth. He's in COM
mand out yonder at the river, and it's
him as sent for you. Come, now,
where's your nag? Never mind about