Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-10-19
small feet and charnsng frankness.

There is great pro-ise 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 imperti-
hence, but the cheeks of the maiden
redeemed, and he saw that she was
angry. They walked on for few
rods in silence, and then he halted
and uncovered his head anu making a
low bow, he said:
81 have hurt thee, and I beg for
giveness. Let us talk of other things.
Is the road clear of pickets and pa
triots?"
81 believe it is" she answered, mol
lifted by his words, ''but if you are
of us you need fear no danger"
"Didst I not tell thee to leave wal
to men?" he asked, with laugh.
A few minutes later they came to
where the road branched, and as the
girl halted. she said:
81 go this way to my home. and you
go that way to Tarrytown. Sir, bid
you good day"
"But not without a clasp of the
hand" he replied, as he extended his
and dotted his hat. "You have made
the walk pleasant for me. I thanb
you and wish you happiness. Should
we meet again"
He did not finish. A cloud came &c
his face; he looked apprehensively
around, and then forcing smile, he
made a grand bow and went his way
down the river road.
"Who can he be?' unused the girl.
as she stood and watched him. "He
&c ri
but he is not one of us. Are British
! ly manners?"
When she reached home she had
much to say to her mother of the
| stranger who had walked with her on
the highway, but she had spoken very
| few words when the mother inter
rupted:
| eff the man is a patriot, what was
he doing at the house of a tory? Girl,
run and tell your father and Van
Vert and Williams. They will have
time to intercept him on the river
road
Half an hour later the girl appeared
at the big tree on the crossroads and
told her story.
"It isn't likely that British spy
would be walking the highways in
broad daylight responded the father.
''but if he be a stranger to these parts
let us overhaul him. If he be an hon
est man it will do no harm. Come,
girl, you may go with us and return
by the road"
The stranger had dallied by the
wayside after the girl had parted
from him. 1t was a glorious morning,
and the squirrels were gathering their
breakfast from the hazel bushes, and
the wild grapes tempted the wayfarer
to stop here and there. He thus sacri-
feed a quarter of an hour, and they
:. were the minutes that saved a nation
The three patriots and the maiden
had scarcely reached the river road
when the stranger came along. He
was humming lively air and switch
ing at the dusty bushes. At the cry
of Halt" he stopped in his tracks.
He saw only the three men at first
A troubled look came into his eyes
but it passed swiftly away, and he
smiled as he said:
81 had expected to meet you further
up the road. but it is well. Have yor
encountered any rebels this morn
ing?"
"Then-then you are kings man.
asked Paulding.
'Of course, and you are sent tt
meet me-"
The three men looked at him in ST
lence and with very serious faces. HI
was still smiling when the girl stepped
> out into the road. Then his face wen
white in an instant. He had wonder
f,,1 IL II,
!, disappeared and was replaced by
smile, and, bowling in a courtly way
he said:
81 am charmed that we meet again
!. Men, here is gold to divide between
you. and bid you good day."
mot so fast" said Williams, as h
blocked the way. 1--WE must know al
= about you before you can pass on
'Surely he is a soldier and an Eng
: lishman," said the girl to herself, blu
aloud.
+ ''Fie, friends, you are over-particu
q lar this morning" lightly answered
the stranger, as he again displayed hi
| gold Take this and let us part il
r peace"
When they sternly demanded infor
q nation his hesitation and confusion
aroused suspicion. They insisted on
j, search of his person, and under tn
q soles of his feet were found the docu
ments which told the world that Ben
edict Arnold was traitor.
g He said no word when they wer
discovered, but he looked at the maid
4 en- and bowed and smiled. In his in
}. herent gallantry he had praised an
n complimented, and in return she ha
sent him to the gallows as a spy. TIL