The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-03-03


How many times have | told you,
mother, that we'd certainly win in
the end.n
but these victories cost so, father
said Molly, throwing her arm over tn 3
horses neck and hiding her face
against his glossy name. "Oh. Duke,
Duke. When will your master come
back to us?'
Duke had been champing his bit
uueasily but at the sound of his mis-
tress's voice, he became instantly
quiet. He turned his full, bright eve
on her and lowered his head until his
nose urhad agaius t her hand.
Just look at the critter, mother"
! cried Farmer Holley. II think he
actnaIly knows what the girl is say
ing?'
Edward wrote that there was a
| great scarcity of horses in the army,
and asked me, in case Duke was need
ed for our Washington, if would be
willing to give him up"
1T wonld be rather hard to give up
Duke. Eth, Molly, girl: -
Il would even part with him if neces-
sary. | will DO anything and every
thing that can for the sake of our
country" said Molly. And dear old
Duke is tit To carry even so good and
great q man as Washington"
In n few moments the family were
seated at the table, and opening the
biz, leAther-bound Bible, Farmer Ho
lie; read Il short chapter, fol!0we by
the simple evening PRAYER.
Ihe next morning, after breakfast
"ass cleared away, Molly said to her
father:
Il believe I'll ride down to Middle
sex church. | duu't like to miss one
of PdrSon Mather's sermons. They
are :! great comfort to me. And can
see, too, whether the house is all right.
l eau set there in time for the after
noon service, and I'll take Ruth with
me for company"
Shortly before noon, Duke was
brought to the door, and so impatient
was le that he could hardly wait for
Molly and Ruth to mount. Off they
went 1T ii rapid pace, through the gate
and down the Old post-road, and
Canaan Parish was soon left far be-
hind.
Aitr~ a few pats and little coaxing,
Duke s"ttled down 10 n sober trct. A
ri"" q; six miles brought them 10 Mol
ly>s house, and Glance told them
that all was safe. Then they came in
sight of the wooden mceting-house,
with the stiff little belfry. On one
side was Il dense swamp bordering the
road. rs they pass II, Ruth glanced
carelessly back, and her heart gave a
great thump as she thought she saw
a bit of red color and q glitter as of
sunshine on FURNISHED steel. She
locked again. but there was nothing
h, =, L.,
SO thick was the growth of bushes and
tangled vines. Her first impul-e was
to tell Molly. Then she laughed at her
foolish fears. I'm but silly girl"
she Thought; lit was all Imagination
The bell was still ringing, and Molly
went behind the church, where the
horses were fastened, and tied Duke
to u tree. Then he took Ruth by the
hand, crossed the porch. passed
through the little entry and walked
up the ais.e to square, high backed
pew.
The young cir! heard but little of the
service. Size could not get that bit of
red color and the glitter in the swamp
out CT her mind. The windows were
open, and she found herself listening
intenlly for every little sound, but she
heard nothing except the singing of
the birds and the rustling of the leaves,
as the warm south wind gently stirred
tie branches of the trees. But when
Mr.. Mather, from his high pulpit |
perched beneath the great sounding |
board, began to read the hymn, sud |
denly the words died IL way on his Inns. |
Il closed his book and remained mo- |
tioniess, with his eyes riveted on the |
open door.
"Surrender or die" called a loud |
voice. "E cape is impossible, for both |
10 rs are guarded
Three or four Young men climbed |
out of the windows, but the shots fired !
after them warned others of the dan
gers of flight. With clanking arms a
of British soldiers, led By |
some of the Middlesex Tories, rudely |
the church and proceeded to
pluHder the congregation. Silver \
We're taken, silver buckles |
were torn from knee breeches and
shoes, and ear rings were roughly |
snatchcd from women's ears.
Molly started up indignant, as a
trooper pointed to the gold beads on
her neck. I'll thank We for those gew-
gaws, ma'am.n said he.
Softly, softly, Mistress Pidgin," ex-
claimed a neighbor; resistance is of
no use" And Molly gave up the neck
lace.
Then she whispered to Ruth: keep
close by me, little sister. Do just as
| do-keep getting nearer to the door
ii step at II time-without attracting
attention. If can only save Duke ~
The British tied the men, two by two,
and, amid the soldiers jeers and boot
ing, the grayhaired minister was drag
ged from the pulpit.
Let the rebel parson lead the march,
cried one; land bark We sirrah, step
lively, or you'll feel the prick of my
must make haste, or the |
whole town will be after u.s." he added |
in low tone, addressing one of his
In the meantime. Molly and Ruth
had reached the door without being
seen, and Mistress Pidgin peeped out
cautiously. The guard had left his |
post to help lead the horses to the
trout of the church. Most of them
had been taken, but Duke was still |
standing under the tree.
The two sisters darted down the |
steps, climbed up ON stone fence, I'M
tied Duke, and mounted, but had gone |
only Il few yards when they encoun- |
tered two men.
stop" cried one of them, Selling
the bride. Molly bent over Duke, |
and patted him gently on the neck. |
Then she raised her whip and brought |
it down with all her might on his flank. |
He reared wildly, and, with furious |
plunge that would have unSeated a |
less skillful rider than Molly, he freed |
himself from his captor, dashed across |
the green, and, with ears laid fiat |
against his neck and his tail streaming |
out like Il white banner, he darted like |
an arrow up the road.
Ruth was partly thrown from the |
piiion, but, Molly's strong arm was
around her, and her calm voice sound
ed reassuripgly
Pull yourself up to the pillion
Never fear !. l can hold YOU and
even in that mad flight the little girl
was d bic to draw herself up to a secure
position. As they reached the top Of
"a long hill. Molly drew rein and looked
back. \ few mounted men had start
ed in pursuit, but Duke was too fleet
for them, and they had turned back.
"Oh, my brave Duke" said Molly;
may you always carry your rider as
you have carried us today '"
Duke bore them swiftly up the old
road to Canaan Parish, and as soon as
they reached home safely, the alarm
was given by the ringing Of bells and
the firing Of guns; aud several of the
men started at oLce for MiddleseX.
But they were too late The prison
ers had been carried across the Sound,
and from thence they were sent to
prisonships in New York Bay, where
some OF them larguished and died,
and others, among them Parsou
Mather, after Il long delay, were re-
turned to their homes.