The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-08-18

ing wistfully across the meadows at
the town, half a mile distant. She was
very lonesome, and no wonder. h
was her fourteenth birthday, and her
father was far south in the wal and
her grandmother had gone only that
morning to help a sick aunt, nine
miles away, while not even a child
lived near to come and visit with
her. A quaint figure she would have
made to-day. for this was at the time
when our great-grandfathers were
fighting for liberty, and Colonel Tarle-
ton, with his hated British troops,
was overrunning Virginia, plundering
and burning the homes of the Colon
lists. And, standing there alone, Bet
ty was thinking of her father who
had gone away so long ago, when
suddenly her eyes fell upon a horse
man coming up the road enveloped
in a cloud of dust. Nearer and near
er he came, and as he passed the house
he waved his arms and shouted:
Come to town! The redcoats are
coming."
The girl started toward the house,
and then stopped abruptly, as gran
nys last words came to her: Don't
go away, Betty. and take good care
Of the house." What would poor
granny do If anything should happen
to her little home. She would surely
never get over 1t, and at ono the
brave girl decided to stay there and
endeavor to persuade the soldiers not
to harm the place. After carefully
boiling the doors and closing the
blinds, she sat down in the dim par
lor to wait, hoping they might go
straight on to town. The sky cloud
ed, and 1t began to rain. Perhaps 1t
was the rains m~onotonous beating
on the pane, or else it was the still
ness of the house. that at last made
Betty fall asleep. The afternoon
wore slowly away, and finally, about
8, she was awakened by the sound of
horses hoofs, and, peering through
the curtain, she saw a group Of SOL
diers, with their brilliant uniforms
splashed with mud and water. dis
mounting at tue gate.
"Confound this rain" said one;
1--WE may as well stop here and get
dry, any way. And say. captain, it
looks as If no one was home. May
be we can find some supper and some
thing to carry away, too" And he
chuckled as he pushed open the gate.
The officer addressed dismounted,
strsde up the path and gave a thun-
dering rap at the door, and, sum-
moning up her courage. BETTY
opened it.
"Hello!" cried the ~astonished in
truder, and then he added pleasantly,
will you give us something to eat
my little lass?"
Granny isn't home" replied Betty
timidly; but If you will. put your
horses in the back shed and step In,
maybe I car get you some supper;
only please wipe your feet on the
door-mat."
The men laughed at this, but not
one of them stepped into the trim
little kitchen with muddy boots. Bet
ty led them to the parlor, and then,
as she closed the door, a bright idea
came to her. 1t was her birthday, so
why not call this her birthday party?
Quickly putting her thought into ac-
ton, she brought out the best da-
mask table linen, choicest china and
silverware. and set on the table a
great bowl of roses. Then out of the
well-stored pantry came all kinds Of
ham. and a great tankard of cider.
When all was done she slipped up
stairs and put or her best blue frock,
and then called the soldiers to sup
per. Great was the surprise and ad-
miration as the men caught sight of
the table. and when Betty had ex-
planned the captain CALAMITY escorted
her to a seat at the head of the
board. BY the time the merry meal
was ended the men had forgotten
that they were going to rob the cot
tage, and finally, when the captain
arose and said. as he held his cider
mug high:
Here's to Mistress Betty Ransom,
the sweetest little maid In Virginia!
God bless her and bring her father
safe home to her. He was greeted
with cheers. And after they had all
drank her health the captain dropped
several coins into his enpty Gun.
crying: Here's to a birthday gift
for her" And then the glass went
gaily around the table. to be at last
set down before a very happy and
grateful little girl.
And when. after firing a salute to
their little hostess, they all rode
away. Betty stood in the doorway.
bathed in a food Of rudy sunset light,
and waved a royal good-by to her
British birthday guests.-Detroit Free
Press.
Rab's Iesaon I'm Pafholop~