The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-05
II Soldier
and a
maiden.
..Hello. the house-hello"

Hello, the house-hello"
Two men in the dress of farmers,
and each one carrying a f1int-lock
muSket on his shoulder, had stopped
in front of the Paulding farm house
near Tarrvtown on the Hudson. In
response to the call man of 80
appeared at the door. His face was
scarlet from having knelt before the
fire for the last half hour. and in one
hand he held a pair of bullet moulds
and in the other a dozen neWly-cast
bullets.
Ready in a minuteu' he shouted, as
he Tetreated into the house, and the
men at the gate lighted their pipes
and sat down on the grass. Thres
ordinary men-Paulding. Van Vert
and Williams uneducated. hard work
ing. and unknown beyond the neigh
borhood, but on that September day
of 1850 they were going to save the
life of nation and make history for
the world to read.
Who is it?' asked the wife of Paul
ding, who had peen busy clearing away
his bullets.
ivan Vert and Williams"
And what are you going to do?"
Have a DoD at some of the British
foragers, if the chance comes. Van
Vert heard last night that they took
about everything Jim Henderson had
yesterday afternoon. We amt got no
orders from anybody, but we're goin'
TO do a leetle scoutin' on our own
hook, and I'm hopin' some of these bull
lets viii find a mark"
But be careful, James-be careful, ~
cautioned his wife.
cpl hp r-of,11 ,,,,rff Cow noun Jicfop
to me. You know that big tree and the
thicket over on the crossroads? It's
only mile from here CrOsS-lotS. If
you see any suspicious persons hang
in about. or if the fOragerS come this
way, send Minnie to tell us. We shall
hang Aout there all day, unless driven
off, and | may not be back before sup
per time
With that the man passed out and
Joined his companions, and the three
disappeared in the woods. At almost
the same moment Minnie Paulding, a
girl of 10, who had passed the
previous night at the house of a girl
friend two miles away up the river.
started to return home. She had hardly
passed the Smith homestead when a
stranger, who had come out of the
house, FASTENED his steps and overlook
her.
"A fair good morning to a fair little
maid" he said, as she turned at sound
of his footsteps.
At a glance she realized that she
had never seen the man before. In
the four years of war she had encoun-
| tered hundreds of strangers passing to
and fro over the highways, but she in
stantly OWNED that the man before her
| was different from any of them. While
his clothing was rough and coarse, she
detected the figure of a gentleman be-
meath the garb. His step and bearing
told her that he was a soldier. and
his speech was not that of a country
man. His voice was soft and gentle,
and he made her obeisance as he
saluted.
'And good morning to you she re-
piled in return. as she resumed her
walk.
And I may suppose that you live
| not far away?" .Queriad the stranger,
as he kept step with her, and struck
at the wayside bushes with the switch
in his hand
1.-Two miles below. sir"
And thy fafher-is he a kings
man?"
Indeed, no, else Washington would
not have dined with US a month ago.
This is no road for the kings men to
travel"
II fear me. little maid" he said,
after a light laugh, that l should find
thee a little rebel, if 1 knew thee bet
ter
Il am one, sir, as is everyone about
here, except the Smiths. 'TiS a shame
that Tories should be allowed to live on
among u.s.
But these are the Kings possess
sions, and those who remain loyal to
their king should not be objects of
contempt and malice. though were I
a kings man, 1 might forgive thee on
account of thy sex. 1t is not for
wOmen-much less for young maidens
to talk of politics and war"
But I thought you might be a kings
man." she said, as she looked him
squarely in the eyes.
He laughed and flushed. and it was
full minute before he replied:
Leave war for men, little maid.
should guess thine age to be about
seventeen, and"
Sixteen, sir
Il stand corrected, but let me finish.
| Chestnut hair hazel eyes. a Grecian
| nose, perfect teeth, a trim figure, small
| feet and charming frdnkneSs. There
| is a great promise here. and yet, alack,
a few years hence will see thee the
wife of boOr tOiling among these hills
/ for his daily bread"
| He had not spoken with impertin-
| ence, but the cheeks of the maiden red
! dened, and he saw that she was angry
| They walked on for few rods in sill
ence, and then he halted and uncovered
/ his head, and making low bow, he
said:
Il have hurt thee and beg forgive
ness. Let us talk of other things. Is
the road clear of pickets and
natrOls?"
Il believe it is" she answered, molli-
fed by his words. but if you are o.
us you need fear no danger"
'iDidst l not tell thee to leave wal
to menu" he asked, with laugh
/ A few minutes later they came t
where the road branched, and as thu
girl halted, she said:
Il go this way to my home, and yol
go that way to Tarrytown- Sir, biz
you good-day.
But not without a clasp Of tn
hand" he replied, as he extended hi
and DOTTED his hat You have mad
the walk pleasant for me. I thanl
you and wish you happiness. Shout,
we meet again."
He did not finish. A cloud came t
his face, he looked apprehensivel
around, and then forcing a smile, h
made a grand bow and went his wa
down the river road
who can he be?" unused the CIR
as she stood and watched him. H
II, T1v., y