The Red Cloud chief., 1900-06-15
I,ctty's Party.

Betty Ransom stood leaning against
the front gate. idly drumming on the
gate post with her fingers. and gaz-
ing wistfully across the meadows at
the town. half a mile distant. She was
very lonesome. and no wonder. THIS
was her fourteenth birthday. and her
father was far south In the war and
her grandmother had gone only that
morning to help a sick aunt. nine
miles away, while not even n child
lived near To come and visit with
her. A quaint figure she would have
made to-day. for this was Mt the time
when our great grandfathers were
fighting for liberty, and Colonel Tarle-
ton, with his hated British troops,
was ~overrunning Virginia, plundering
and burning the homes Of the Colon
lists. And, standing there alone. Bet
ty was thinking Of her father who
had gone away SO long ago, when
suddenly her eyes fell upon a horse
man coming up the road enveloped
I'm a cloud of dust. Nearer and near
er he came, and as he passed the house
he waved his arms and shouted:
Come to town! The redcoats are
coming!"
The girl started toward the house,
and then stopped abruptly, as gran
nys last words came to her: Don't
go away, Betty, and take good care
OF the house" What would poor
granny do n anything should happen
to her little home. She would surely
never get over II, and at once the
brave girl decided to stay there and
endeavor to persuade the soldiers not
to harm the place. After carefully
boiling the doors and closing the
blinds, she sat down in the dim par
lor to wait, hoping they might 20
straight on to town. The sky cloud
ed, end 1t began to rain. Perhaps II
was the rains monotOnous beating
on the pane, or else II was the still
ness OF the house. that at last made
Betty fall asleep. The afternoon
wore slowly away. and finally. about
5, she was awakened by the sound of
horses hoofs, and. peering through
the curtain, she saw n group OF sol
diers, with their brilliant uniforms
splashed with mud and water. dis
mounting at the gate.
"Confound this rain" said one:
I'VE may as well stop here and get
dry. any way. And say. captain, II
looks as II no n was home. May
be we can find some supper and some
thing to carry away, too" And he
chuckled as he pushed open the gate
The officer addressed dismounted
strobe up the path and rave a thun'
dering rap at the door, and, sum
moning up her courage. BETTY
opened II.
"Hello!" cried the astonished IN
truder. and then he added pleasantly
! Twill O give us something to ca.
my little lass?"
Granny isn't home" replied Bett!
timidly; but II o will put you,
horses in the back shed and step In
maybe | can get you some supper
only please wipe your feet on tn
door-mat."
The men laughed at this. but no
, one of them stepped into the trim
little kitchen with muddy boots. Bet
ty led them TO the parlor, and then
4 as she closed the door, a bright idei
came to her. II was her birthday, 81
why not call this her birthday party
Quickly putting her thought into ac
ton. she brought out the best da
mask table linen. choicest china an,
. silverware. and set OF the table
great bowl OF roses. Then out Of tn
|, well-stored pantry came all kinds O
: ham, and a great tankard OF cider
: When all vas done she slipped up
: stairs and put I, n her best blue frock
and then called the soldiers to sup
per. Great was the surprise and ad
miration as the men caught sight @
the table. and when Betty had ex
. planned the captain CALAMITY escorte
her to a seat at the head OF tn
board. BY the time the merry mes
. was ended the men had forgotte
: that they were going to rob the cot
tage. and finally, when the capital
: arose and said. as he held his eide
= mug high:
Here's to Mistress Betty Ransom
the sweetest little maid in Virginia
y God bless her and bring hsr fathe
safe home to her. He was greete
with cheers. And after they had a
drank her health the captain droppe
u several coins into his empty cu]
. crying: Here's to a birthday I'll
" for her" And then the glass wer