The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-11-24
SOLDIER AND MAIDEN I
lIIELLO. the houge-beIloln
: : : ~ :

Il Il 4444A4OY G4lC uOuSG-uCAlO4
Two men in the dress Of
farmers, each one carrying a hint-lock
musket son his shoulder, had stopped
in front of the Paulding farmhouse,
near Tarytown, on the H4dson. In
response to the. call a man of 30 ap-
peared at the door. His face was
scarlet from having kneIt before the
fire for the last half-hour, and in one
hand he held pair of bullet molds
and in the other dozen. newly-cast
bullets
'Ready in q minutel" he shouted,
as he retreated into the house, and
the men at the gate lighted their
pipes and sat down on the grass.
Three ordinary -Paulding, Van
Vert and Williams uneducated, hard
working, and unknown beyond the
neighborhood, but on that Septem-
Der day of 1880 they were going to
save the life Of q nation and make
history for the world to read.
'syho IS ibq'' asked the wife Of
Pending, who had been busy clearing
away the breakfast things as he
nodded his bullets.
evan Vert and Williams"
"And what are you going to do?"
''Ha9e pop at some Of the Brit
ish foragers, if the chance comes,
Van Vert heard last night that they
took about everything Jip Hender-
son had yesterday afternoon. We're
goin'to do a leetle scoutin' on our own
hook, and I'm hopin' some Of these
bullets will find a mark"
"But be careful, James-be care
full" cautioned the wife.
'Tll be careful 'nuff. Say, now, lis,
ten to me. You know that big tree
and the thicket over on the cross,
roads? It's only mile from here
cross-lots. If you see any suspicious
persons hangin' about, or if the for
ayers come this way, send Minnie tc
tell US. We shall hang out there all
day, unless driven off, and may moi
be back before supper 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, {
girl of 16, who had passed the pre-
vious night at the house ofa girl friend
to return home She had hardly passed
the Smith homestead when a stranger
who had come out of the house, has
tened his steps and overlook her.
"a fair good morning to fair little
maid" he said, as she turned at sounC
Of his footsteps.
In the four years of war she had en-
countered hundreds of strangers pass
ing to and fro over the highways, bu
she instantly OWNED that the man be
fore her was different from any o
them. While his clothing was rougl
and coarse, she detected the figure o
a gentleman beneath the garb. Hi
step and bearing told her that he wa
a soldier, and his speech was not tha
of countTyman. His voice was sof
and gentle, and he made her obeisanc
as he saluted.
sand good morning to you" she re
piled in return, as she resumed he
walk.
s'And may suppose that you liv
not far Uway?" queried the stranger
as he kept step with her and struc
at the wayside bushes with tn
switch in his hand
''Two miles below, sir"
"And thy father-is he a king
msn2"
Indeed, no, elsg Washington woul
not have dined with us a month agt
This is no road for the kings men t
travel"
Il fear me, little maid" he sait
after light laugh, 'that I shoul
find thee little rebel, If knew the
better"
II am one, sir, as is everyone abou
here, except the Smiths. 'Tis sham
that tories should be allowed to iy
on among us"
Shut these are the kings possei
sions, and those who remain loyal I
their king should not be objects {
contempt and maAcey though were
kings man I might forgive thee o