The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-10

vet, aiack! q lew years nence VIII
see thee the wife of boor, toiling
among these hills for his daily bread y
He had not spoken with imperti-
nence, but the cheeks of the maiden
redeemed, and he saw that she was
angry. They walked on for a few
and uncovered his head anu making a
low bow, he said:
II have hurt thee, and | beg for
giyeness. Let us talk of other things.
Is the road clear of piekets and pa
triots?'
81 believe it is" she answered. mol
lified by his words, but if you are
of us you need fear no danger"
"Didst l not tell thee to leave war
to men?" he asked, with laugh.
A few minutes later they came TO
where the road branched, and as the
girl halted. she said:
II go this way to my home, and you
go that way TO Tarrytown. Sir, l bid
you good day"
but not without clasp of the
hand" he replied, as he extended his
and doffed his hat. you have made
the walk pleasant for me. l thank
You and wish you happiness. Should
we meet again"
He did not finish. A cloud came TO
his face; he looked apprehensively
around, and then forcing a 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
is surely a soldier and a gentleman,
but he is not one of us. Are British
spies men of gentle speech and court
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:
IF the man is a patriot, what was
he doing at the house of 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.
1T isn't likely that British spy
would be walking ths highways in
broad daylight" responded the father.
'.but if he be stranger to these pa,N
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 tho
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 nation.
The three patriots and the maiden
had scarcely reached the river road
when the stranger came along. He
was humming a 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 you
encountered any rebels this morn
ing?'
"Then-then you are kings MANI"
asked Paulding.
"Of course, and you are sent to
meet me-"
The three men looked at him in 81
lence and with very serious faces. He
was still smiling when the girl stepped
out into the road. Then his face went
white in an instant. He had wonder
full self-control, however. The pallor
disappeared and was replaced by a
smile, and, bowling in a courtly way,
he said:
II 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 he
blocked the way. I'VE must know all
about you before you can pass on"
Surely he is a soldier aud an Eng
lishman," said the girl to herself, but
aloud.
"Fie, friends. you are oveI.particu-
lar this morning." lightly answered
the stranger, as he again displayed his
gold. Take this and let us part in
peace
When they sternly demanded infor-
nation his hesitation and confusion
aroused suspicion. They insisted on
search of his person, and under the
soles of bis feet were found the docu-
ments which told the world that Ben
edict Arnold was traitor.
lie said no word when they were
discovered, but he looked at the maid
en- and bowed and smiled. in his in
herent gallantry he had praised and
complimented, and in return she had
sent him TO the gallows as a spy. The
girl did not understand this at first.
The men had. the written proofs be-
fore them that trusted general had
bartered his honor for gold, and that
the stranger in their grasp was a spy.
But they were slow-witted and loath
TO believe. 1t was hours before they
realized the full measure of the crime,
and then they had less nerve than the
one accused.
As they led him away from Pauld-
ing's house he knew every step he
took was toward the galIows. but.