Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-07-11

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POINTED DOWN ROAD WHICH LED AWAY
FROM THE MARsHY LAND.
marsh, and, besides, II the Hessians staid
about there her mamma would have no
| chance to see her papa. Then this little
| 10-ycar-old girl, spurred on by her love
and loyalty, set about to fool this fat old
German in way that would have done
credit to an old grayhead.
II can take you to my father. but 1t Is
a long, long way" she said. looking up
at the officer with her big, innocent eyes,
''and IN lead you to him il you will play
the drums for me. l love to march to
drums"
Zach" cried the officer. rubbing his fat
hands. you are goot leetle girl. You
shall command, und re drums shall play
a leetle bit. Not much. for your papa
might hear zem. ind we want to gif him
II pleasant leete surprise" Here the
man gave a queer, gurgling laugh.
Then he took Dorothy by the hand and
! led her to the head of the column.
Now" he said. (which is re wayT'
! Dorothy pointed down a road that led
/ away from the marshy land. But we
1 must hurry" she cried. "or we shall be
/ too late to catch him." The officer issued
( n command in foreign tongue, and the
! long column of soldiers was again in
motion, with the fat German and Doro-
/ thy leading the way.
/ 1.-The drums said Dorothy reproach-
fully. why don't they beat the drnms?'
/ The officer laughed and gave another
order. and Immediately the rata tat-tat.
! rat-a-tat-tut" was echoing through the
woods.
"Dere my leetle girl. how you like
/ dat. chg
It's beautiful" said the little guide
/ And all the time she was wondering il
| her father had heard the warning sound.
On and on through the growing twi-
! light they marched. The drums had been
stopped, and officers were holding their
swords as they lay in their scabbards
across their arms, SO that there might be
no clanking rs they walked. for rs they
/ approached the spot where it was sup
posed Captain Stirling lay in hiding with
his men they wished to creep upon him
rs quietly rs possible.
Poor Dorothy grew very tired. Her lit
tie feet ached so she could hardly walk,
and She was far from home with a lot Of
rough. strange men, who would do harm
To- her dear father if they could catch
! him. Still she kept brayely on mile after
mill. All the time she strained her ears
| for the sound of the three musket shots
that would tell Of her fathers escape.
Are we most derer asked the officer
for the third time.
YES" said little Dorothy, almost
there The tavern where they will stop
for the night is but a mile beyond"
"Ach. Goot," said the commander.
Then he called halt and sent out u
skirmish line to creep forward in the
darkness and surround the tavern, the
outlines of which were family visible
against the afterGlow in the western
sky
Poor Dorothy, She had never told such
stories in all her life before. but her wits
were sharpcncd by the thought that per
hapS her fathers safety depended OF
what she said and did.
Crack, crack, crack Three musket
shots in slow succession rang out faint.y
on the still night air.
"Ach" muttcred the German com
mander, cooking his head like frighten-
ed sparrow. Il wonder what dat is. 1t
sounds a goot way Off
"Th-that's papa whimpered the little
maid. And he's safe now, and you
can't catch him." And. with that, Doro-
thy flung herself upon the ground and
burst into hyStcrical sobs. You can kill
me-" she cried. but he's safe. and you
can't touch HIM"
The German grew purple in the face
when it dawned on him what a fool this
mite of a girl had made of him, and he
swore mighty oath-in fact, many of
them Then what do you suppose he did
He went over To poor Dorothy, who, was
weeping her heart out on the damp
ground, and picked her up in his arms.
"pere. derc," he muttered. Don't cry.
No one will hurt you. lou are a brave
lcetle girl-ze bravest effer knew. You
khail 20 home. | will take you"
Poor Mrs. Stirling wild with grief and
alarm at the absence Of her daughter,
went to the front door for the fiftieth
time that evening and saw a strange
sight. Up the dusty road came the Hes
sian officer and in his arms was little
Dorothy fast asleep.
madam" said that gentleman as he
deposited his burden in the arms of the
thankful mother. madam, | bring back
your daughter. She led me a fools err
rand to save her fader. Und vat do
say? | say wish had such a daughter,
und l should be so broud." And then
the funny little fat officer made stately
bow and went away to join his comrades.
Captain Stirling lived to be a great and
honored man, and as for little Dorothy,
she lived to have grandchildren of her
own, and none was more eager to cele-
brate the Fourth of July than she.-Bos-
ton Herald.