The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-02

four young men-four ragged and SILVER
Ing and Eauut-faeed young men with
muskets iu their hands The door was
pushed 10 behind them ana the four
looked into The faces 40 the man and wo-
man. Tho Ola clock tucked nifty times
before the woman. making never "a mo-
zion with hand or fool buf with her eyes
fast glued to tho face Of ore Of the four.
whispered.
"Z6dok' u 81 our zadok"
"Ycs mother" replied tho young
"zadok' Il il our zadok" repeated
eyes. father ana here are Tom Patch
en- william Haynes and George swifs.
We are freezing and starving Look at
Our shoes-our rags.'
we are freezing ana starving" re-
pcatcd tho men behind him
Tho mother did not spring 20 her feet
20 clasp iu her arms the boy she had not
seen FOR months The father did not hold
out a hand Of welcome. The four men
locked down az the floor, and for the next
minute the snap OF the IRE was like
sound Of musketry. and the uck-tack OF
the clock was as q bell tolling out its
death noscs by and by the mother
dropped her head to the table and a sniver
passed over her. and in a low, stern voice
che father asked.
What do you hear from Valley
FORGE"
There was no answer with their eyes
on the floor the men moved their feet un-
easily.
81 know shouted Zachariah IN voice
which thrilled aud startled Aye! ] see
o. Ia your faces, sc are deserers from
Washington We are traitors 10 the cause
OF liberty Because 81 the cold and the
hunger and the rags We have skulked
away and come whining back 70 your
homes, God, Cod And ye, Zadok-ye
have done thls-aud Sc. Tom and William
[ and George. sons OF my nelghborsH'
but, father" began Zadok. when the
7 old man rose up as II the pains IN hts
/ knee had suddenly departed and swinging
7 his arm about he cried out:
"Skulkers from sho campl Desericrs
/ from Washington Traitors 10 the cause!
I Before God. I would blast ye where "
stand but that ye may atone for a hum
/ dredth part OF your disgrace by redden-
/ ing the snow with your blood a small
I troop Of rcd-coats left here an hour ago
| % capture COL Tahoe and his brother Of
/ hcers They are ten 20 1--WE but we will
/ flu upon themr
] "Zacharlanr whispered the wife as she
crossed over and laid a hand on his arm.
] Away, Ablgail-away" he Hereby
shouted as he shook OF her hand and
/ reached for his inusket You would
/ speak of food and drink and warmth be-
fore We 60. but 10 shall not De- We're
ZadoK scott thousand tmcs my only
lll he should fast and chill and be un-
forgiven until DE has won back his man
hood. Come on-come every one Of ye"
Mlflcd ln great coat and as erect as .u
thc strength OF youth-with his musket
. 600 bis shoulder and the night blasts fling
Ing bis gray locks about-the Zachariah
who would have given home. wife and his
own lie for the cause % liberty, stalked
OUT into the night and was followed BY
tho desertere.
COD, God' That Zadok should DO this
that he should become deserter"
groancd the old man as he trampled up
the snowy road
Eve did not mean 10 desert" whispered
Z each man 20 himself we were freezing
and starving and could hardly drag about.
and We wanted food and care. We would
have gone back 90 the valley again"
Behind them 10 the farmhouse kitchen
no woman kne1 q WI beside a chair ana
prayed TO Cod. The table was left un-
cleared the sparks snapped across the
floor UNDECIDED. the clock stopped It's tick
Ing because O'Clock had come and gone
ard IL had not been wound. She prayed
and prayed. She prayed for the son-for
/ The father-for herself She prayed with
a sobbing In her threat. but with dry eyes.
with heads bent 90 the wind ard feet
/ stuublinR through the snow. the i've men
pushed their way along for two miles and
/ a half Then the sound q fring came 70
I their ears. and they halted Tor a moment.
and each one girded himself up. as u
were.
sThey are lighting at Talbots-they
have not been captured yetF' exclaimed