Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-27
The COMING OF The WHITE owl.
BY MARY SPRAGUE.

The soft whir of spinning wheel
came through an open window, min
Cling pleasantly with the singing OF
birds and the hum of bees. Within
the room slim, round figure stepped
gracefully to and fro. Without, watch
ing the pretty scene with smile of
admiration, not unmixed with mischief,
on his handsome, ruddy face, stood a
tall young continental soldier, cock ed
hat in hand.
His horse was close beside him, nib
bling, unrebuked, the clover which
grew in abundance near the weather.
of his strong white teeth on the
luscious mouthfuls caught the maiden s
ear Like fash she turned and saw
the silent onlooker.
"Well done, William Foskitt!" she
cried, tartly. 'Tis the act of. a
brave man, no doubt, 80 spy upon his
neighbors Is it from the redcoats
you have learned such ways? Me-
thinks they have apt pupils!'
A vivid flush mounted to the young
mans forehead. After an instant's
hesitation he vaulted over the window
sill and approached the fair spinner,
whose look of pretended indignation
changed to one of great occurrences
and whose cheeks grew rosy red.
"We've scarcely seen the redcoats
enough yet to learn anything from
them, sweetheart, but the chance is
near at hand. General Washington is
determined to lie idle behind his
trenches no longer. Within a few
days"
"Oh, William!"
Her voice was trembling now and
as loving as he could wish. Her win
some blue eyes were full of tears. The
thread, no longer truly held, broke
with snap.
NAY, now, sweetheart" he said,
.aressing the sunny hair which lay
against his shoulder, "calm these
foolish fears. Likely enough we shall
stay these next three months as the
last. Let us not borrow trouble. See!
am come with message to you from
Anna Stedman. Here it is. Come
out under the trees and read it. I
know already something of its con-
tents, 1 doubt not"
He drew scrap of paper from his
big tapped pocket and led the way to
a bench under an old elm in the door
yard.
"Dear Polly-My brother and some
other young men who are at home
from camp on two or three days leave
are going to give ball here, at my
fathers tavern, next Thursday night.
Twill be quite a grand affair.
81 wish you to come over Wednes-
lay and spend the night. Bring your
finest gown. l shall wear my pink
gauze and the gold beads Aunt Mercy
gave me.
"Milly Brewster and Priscilla Nick
srson will be here. Milly left Boston
just before the siege began, and she
knows the latest styles of dressing
hair. She learned it from on English
lady her aunt knows. Nothing like it
has ever been seen in this neighbor-
hood. Twill be most becoming to
your pretty head.
'William Foskitt stopped hero on
IN errand, and I make use of him to
bring this to you. / have no fear that
his coming will anger you.
"Your true friend,
GAMMA STEDMAN."
The blue eyes and the gray ones
met in smile of perfect understand
ing as the last words were reached.
The next Wednesday afternoon
Polly set forth on horseback for Sted-
mans tavern, accompanied by her
younger brother, lad of Is. Tied
to their saddles were several large
bundles containing her ball costume.
They met few travellers on the three
miles OF their ride until within short
distance of their destination, when
half dozen horsemen were seen APP
preaching at rapid pace.
''Be not afraid, Polly" said Daniel,
with an air of protection. ''We will
rein our horses to one side till they
pass.
'tBut who can they be, DAMP" whis-
pered Polly.
every likely one of the expresses
General Washington sends all through
the colonies to carry and bring tidings.
have heard my father say they ride
swiftly and in small companies"
There was time for no further ex-
change of words. The galloping riders
were close by. The lad took off his
cap, and Polly, blushing, ,involuntarily
bowed in response as every man of the
company raised his cock ed hat, and one
of them, the youngest and handsomest,
spoke word of respectful greeting.
Daniel turned in his saddle to look
after them. His hazel eyes were
glowing.
81 irish I was a mani' he cried.
'I'll be soldier the minute father
thinks I'm big enough!"
"'Tis brave life indeed" answered
his sister.
The silence seemed deeper than ever
after the sound of quick hoof-beat
died away, but soon they began to as
oenA the long hill leading to Sted-