Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-04-06

Aunt Rachel must be worse she said
to Dave. ''Ill go and see.'
| But before she went to her Aunt Ra-
| chefs room she ran noiselessly up to her
own tiny chamber under the caves and
tore the wrapping from the parcel, which
had not left her tight grasp. Within the
soft layers of millinet and gauze was
square paper, folded many times, secure
ly sealed and addressed to herself in
dashing hand She kissed it thrice pas
sionately before hiding it in her bosom.
Then, catching up a light shawl, she
threw it over her head and hurried down
to the lower part of the house unobserved.
"Is Aunt Rachel worse, mother! she
asked, stopping at the door of small
bedroom opening off the kitchen.
''She has had bad turn, but is better
now"
Delight stepped to the bedside and laid
her cool hand on the hot cheek Of the
feeble-looking woman who lay there.
'Desirer she murmured, ''I'm glad-oh,
it is you Delight" Her tone changed as
she opened her dark eyes and recognized
the face bending over her. why don't
she come home?' The question came
ENORMOUSLY. "No goodll come of her
staying so long in the camp of the Philis-
tines!"
Delights face darkened. She turned
away and left the room.
Don't stay out long, child" called her
mother, noticing the shawl.
"No, ma am" she replied.
"Let us go outside again, Dave" she
said to him on rejoining him in the kitch-
en-. ut is so much pleasanter in the
moonlight And you shall tell me the
great news Roger brought
EYES," answered Dave, well pleased. Il
forgot it when you grew so cold. There
is wonderful news. I came over on pur-
pose to tell you
By this time they were once more seat
ed on the bench under the hemlocks.
"You must keep it secret, sweetheart,
until I give you leave to speak. In these
sad days we scarcely know whom we can
| trust, and since the British have been
sending out their spies through the coun-
| try it seems as if the very walls have ears.
Roger learned surely that another expe-
dition is soon to be sent out to capture
stores, and it is certain that they will at
tempt to get those at Concord his time"
'At Concordr' exclaimed Delight, sit
ting upright. '"Then they'll pass here!'
David smiled significantly.
'"They doubtless expect to, but there
are a good many brave hearts and stout
guns between Boston and Lexington"
He saw her again turn pale and shiver,
and he reproached himself anew for his
lack of consideration.
Does it brighten your tender heart to
think of the conflict that may-nay, that
must come before these meddlesome fell
lows can learn to let us alone?" he in
quired, anxiously, trying to encircle her
with his protecting arm. ''Well-it is"
She turned from him, interrupting him
in tone OF decided reproach.
81 think it is wicked for you to speak so,
Dave. They are our own relations almost
and-and-! You know very we'll that we
all came over from England not so very
long ago, and-and-we-we-ou
beat least-We ought not to begin the
fighting
She looked up at him as she brought her
hating sentence to a close, but she could
not long meet his gaze of surprise and re-
proof.
'Do yoN mean to say, Delight" he ask
ed, with much more sternness than he had
ever spoken to her, that you think it is
right for us to submit to oppression and
tyranny just because our ancestors came
over here from England?'
"Of course she doesn't, Dave! She's as
true a patriot as every other Leland is.
She's only afraid that her British Mr..
McSomebody will get his pretty red coat
mussed up if he tries to march out to
Concord
This unexpected answer, uttered in a
clear, laughing voice, startled them both.
A tall young girl was before them, evil
IDENTITY greatly delighted with the sensa-
ton she had produced.
81 guess you didn't hear me coming"
she went on, coolly, knowing very we'll
that she had stolen to them by round
about way as silently as her stockinged
feet would allow. Delight happened at
this moment to catch sight of them, and
her annoyance found vent in sharp re-
buke.
Sylvia Leland" she commanded, Wig
orously. put on your shoes this very min
ute! You'll get your death O. cold in this
damp grass! I should think you'd be
ashamed to do such things-a great girl
like you!'
Its just because am great girl and
most old enough to have beau of my
own that want to find out what you and
Dave talk about when you sit out here
alone in the moonlight" she replied, with
unabashed composure, sitting down on a
stone and slipping on the shoes she had
been carrying in her hand. I'm not q bit
ashamed of that" she continued, ''but l
should be ashamed to say such things as
you did, I'd make Dave drawer sweet
heart than that, myself"
David Townsend was very fond of this
little sister," whom he considered almost
as his own. He laughed heartily now at
her childish prank, and admired the spirit
with which she reproved Delight. The
day came when he recalled her words, and
then he remembered also how true and
noble her bright, young face had appear
ed that April night.
| .Are the regulars really coming out
here. Dave?' she asked him, lowering her