The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-11-09


told the story of the day to the little
crowd of anxious women who eagerly
questioned them for news of some dear
one.
My father would not let me 60 down
to the tavern, but went down himself
and brought us the news can see
him now hurrying along the road
Something unusual has happened,
Mary" exclaimed my mother. Il new
er saw your father look so excited"
| FASTENED down the path to meet
him.
Bad news. my child; bad news" he
exclaimed. There has been an en-
counter with the kings troops" And
then, reading the question in my eyes,
he continued, But they brought no
news of our men,
The hour set for the wedding was
o'clock, but it began to look as if there
would be no wedding, for it was now
after o'clock. and none of our men
had returned home.
Mother and sat IN silence in the
Kitchen while father walked back and
forth in the room above.
At last we heard steps outside. and
then my brother Arthur. who was
among the first to reach home, Staggcr-
ed into the room. spran@ up and ran
to him. He sank into the nearest
chair, and his gun fell to the floor with
a thud. Arthur was only n boy of Il,
you must remember, and the day had
been a terrible one
When he had recovered a little, my
father spoke What news do you
bring, my SOM" he asked
Now. | had felt from the first that
he had brought bad news, and by the
way he hesitated and glanced from ia
Their to me and still did not speak
felt sure of it. So put my worst fears
into words
Arthur" said, lis it Hcnry|
Listen" he said. speaking rapidly
THE kings troops were in full retreat
when we reached the road We did
not keep with our companies. but each
one found shelter as he was able be-
hlilb tt'tN. W aus VI l'lI'tN. ! mt Il'll-
ry as was crossing field, and we
took shelter together and awaited the
coming of the troops We had just got
settled when Henry caught sight of a
hanking party coming right down on
us. He called to the men near us to
run for their lives. and Mt the same
time we both jumped the wall and ran
for a house which stood in in the field
just opposite reached the opposite
wall in safety and turned round to look
for Henry, but he was not with me
At that moment the troops came round
a sudden turn in the road and sent
some shots in our direction. At the
risk of being shot at | stood up and
looked across the road He must have
been hit by the thanking party, for he
lay just by the wall"
Are you sure it was hc:" asked IA
Their
Yes; knew him by the green on
his powdcrhorn,' replied my brother.
You staid by and looked after him."
asked father
Il tried to. sir, but the troops came
down on us. and we were obliged to
move on. went back to the place as
soon rs could, but | must have mis-,
taken the spot, for could not find
him"
Meanwhile sat in my chair. feeling
rs if had Just awakened from "A bad
dream did not fully realize what
had happened. for it seemed impoSSi-
Bile
Here are some people. Mary" { ID
mother. You would better go up to
your room and lie down."
! did as ! was told There on the
bed lay my wedding gown. could not
bear to look ut it. and, picking it up.
placed it in the large chest in which
my linen was packed and pulled down
the lid; then threw myself on the bed.
and tears came to my relief. SO lay
there thinking over the events of the
day, my wedding day that was to have
been. How different from what had
anticipated,
Suddenly | heard the sound of
horses feet coming up the road at fu-
rious pace. sat up and listened
Somebody is riding on an important
errand," | said to myself Nearer and
nearer came the sound, and the rider.
whoever ne was, drew rein mt our door.
Then there were Il murmur of voices
and an opening and shutting of doors
and then my mothers voice calling to
me: MARY, Mary; child, come down!
Henry is here. He's come"
Scarcely believing that heard Alright.
got up and ran down stairs and into
the kitchen, and there before me. his
face pale as death, with a blood STAIN
ed bandagc bound about his forehead.
stood your grandfather
MARY" he cried, holding out his
hands to me, Il am in time. The clock
has not struck yet"
Then Parson Elder, who had come
over to hear the news from Arthur,
came forward and said, shall per-
form the ceremony nowT
SO right then and there your grand
father, in his working Clothes all STAIN
ed with dust and blood. and | in my
morning calico, were married. - For
ward.
A Good Snake Story.
The latest authentic snake story is
from North Glenwood Farm, near
Easton, one of the country places in
Talbot county, Md. The other day a
big black snake was seen emerging