The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-10-25
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SOLDIER And MAIDEN !
ELLO, the house-hello!"
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Two men in the dress of
farmers, each one carrying hint-lock
musket on his shoulder, had stopped
in front of the Paulding farmhouse,
near Tarytown, on the Hudson. In
response to the call man of 80 APP
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 a pair of bullet molds
and in the other a dozen newly-cast
bullets.
Ready in a minute!" 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 men-Paulding, Van
Vert and Williams-uneducat hard
working, and unknown beyond the
neighborhood, but on that Septem-
Der day of 1880 they were going to
save the life of nation and make
history for the world to read.
''Who is it?" asked the wife of
Paulding, who had been busy clearing
away the breakfast things as he
nodded his bullets.
ivan Vert and Williams"
"And what are you going to do?"
Have a pop at some of the Brit
ish foragers, if the chance comes.
Van Vert heard last night that they
took about everything Jim Hender-
son had yesterday afternoon. We're
goin' to do leetle scoutln' 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.
''I'll be careful huff. Say. now, lis
ten to me. You know that big tree
and the thicket over on the cross
roads? It's only a mile from here
cross-lots. If you see any suspicious
persons hangin' about, or if the for
iagers come this way, send Minnie to
tell US. We shall hang out there all
day, unless driven off, and 1 may not
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, a
girl of 10, who had passed the pre-
vious night at the house of 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, has
tened his steps and overlook her.
"a fair good morning to a fair little
maid" he said, as she turned at sound
of his footsteps.
In the four years of war she had en-
countered hundreds of strangers pass
ing to and fro over the highways, but
she instantly OWNED that the man be-
fore her was different from any of
them. While his clothing was rough
and coarse, she detected the figure of
gentleman beneath the garb. His
step and bearing told her that he was
a soldier, and his speech was not that
OF a countryman. 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 l may suppose that you live
not far away?" queried the stranger,
as he kept step with her, and struck
at the wayside bushes with the
switch in his hand.
''rwo miles below SIR
"And thy father-is he a kings
man?"
Indeed, no, else Washington would
not have dined with us month ago.
This is no road for the kings men to
travel"
81 fear me, little maid" he said,
after a light laugh, that | should
find thee little rebel, if | knew thee
better
81 am one, sir, as is everyone about
here, except the Smiths. 'Tis shame
that tories should be allowed to live
on among u.s."
But these are the kings posses
.sions, and those who remain loyal to
their king should not be objects of
contempt and malice, though were |
a kings man | might forgive thee on
account of thy sex. 1t is not for wom-
en-much less for young maidens-
to talk politics and war;
"But l thought you might be
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 I
should guess thine age to be about
III. and"
sixteen, SIR"
81 stand corrected, but let me fin-
ish. Chestnut hair, hazel eyes, a Gre
clan nose, perfect teeth, trim figure,