The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-09-20
9aau mehhtnp Dap.
A Romance of Concord
and Lexington.
By L. G. Woodberry.

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Well, as 1 was saying, this is the
way it came about: was young
thing then, Just turned Is. Your grand
father had been my playmate, hero
and protector from the time that I was
old enough to go to school. had new
er thought Of marrying any one but
him, and so when he asked me to be
his wife, why, of course, said Yes"
Well, 1t was In the spring Of 1875
that we were to be married. Mother
and l spent the winter getting my
things made up, and had as fine an
outfit as a girl could possibly have in
those days. The day set for the wed
ding was the 10th of April-yes, the
very day on which the battle Of Lex
ington occurred, as have good reason
to remember.
Those were anxious days for us. !
remember how serious my father and
brothers used to look as they discussed
the events which were then taking
place. Their only conversation was
about rights, stamps and taxes.
When the towns began to raise min.
utemen," why, Of course, we raised a
company in our town, and your grand.
father and my brothers were members
Of it. We girls could not stand guard,
Of course, so in order to show our pa.
triotism we all signed a paper in which
we agreed not to have anything to do
with the men of the town who refused
to join the company.
The 10th Of April was q beautiful
day, though a warm one for the sea-
son. We were all up early that morn
ing, for there was a great deal to be
done. 1t was about 8 o'clock in the
forenoon when my mother, who had
been looking over some linen, suddenly
raised her head, exclaiming as she did
SO, why, Mary, was that the meeting
house bellT'
what can it meanw I cried, and
running to the window, l caught sight
Of our neighbours sons. Joe and John
Eaton, running down the road with
their guns. Across the way Harry
Wright was blowing the field. The
boys called out to him as they passed
and. without stopping to unhitch the
horse, he seized his gun and was OF
across the fields.
at Is an alarm, mother" cried.
'"The boys are down by the brook,
she said. 1.-THE sound will not reach
them. Run and tell thcmw
Without delay hurried to the kitch
en-, and, SELLING the horn, ran out OF
the house and started for the brook
which was some distance from the
house. l blew blast on the horn as
ran, and as the boys caught sight Of
me 1 pointed toward the road, where
several men could be seen running
with their guns. The boys understood
and, waving their hands to me, they
were off across the field to the road.
"What do you suppose the matter
isY' asked mother when l returned tt
the house.
81 do not know" was my reply, ''bu
l am going to find out" And ran ou
Of the house and took short cut acros.
the fields to the meeting house, which
was to be the gathering place If thu
alarm should ever be sounded. l, To-
one, had never expected to hear an!
alarm, for at home we hoped for 1
peaceful settlement of the difficulties
But when l reached the church ant
saw the whole town gathered on thu
green the mems stern air and the wo
mems pale faces frightened me, and
began to fear that something seriou.
was the matter.
"V hat Is it? Where are they go
ing?" 1 asked. And as spoke the mel
came hurrying out Of the meeting
house, where they had heard a few
words from Parson Smith, and, mount
| ing their horses, rode off as fast al
they could go. looked for your grand
father, but he was not there. Catch
ing sight Of my father, 1 ran to him
'Have you seen HenryT Chats you
grandfather I>asked.
Henry was at the tavern when tn,
messenger rode through here" repliet
my father, land. as he had his hors
with him, he rode away without wait
ing for the company to assemble"
You may imagine my feelings as
turned to go home. This was my wed
ding day, and the man who was 4
marry me had ridden off without
word, knowing, too, that he might new
er return, IL all they were saying abou
| fights and resistance was true.
My father had reached home befor
me, and as l opened the door l heart
mother ask, "Do you think 1t is any
thing serious, father?"
II am afraid it may be, wife," b,
said. 1.-THE messenger said that Gov
ernor Gage has sent some Of the king
troops to destroy the supplies which
have been stored at Concord. II the
report is true, there will be resistance
and If 1t comes to that 1t will be very
serious business for u.s."
My mother kept her fears to herself
and did her best to make me feel that
1t would come out all right, but those
hours were the most anxious l evel
spent. So through the day we watch
ed and waited for news.
The first news that came to us from
the fight at Lexington and the othel
doings Of that day arrived about
| o'clock in the afternoon, when some
minutemen from another town stopped
at the tavern on their way home. They
told the story Of the day to the little
crowd of anxious women who eagerly
questioned them for news of some deal
one.
My father would not let me 60 dowr
to the tavern, but went down himself
and brought us the news. I can set
him now hurrying along the road.
Something unusual has happened
Maryw exclaimed my mother. II new
er saw your father look so excited"
FASTENED down the path to NEE
him.