The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-04-11

tempt
THE table is ready, and we wait only
for the army to take seat and enjoy
itself, . she said in light tone.
Come and take look at our enc
mics first, " l said, noticing how her
strength and courage had come back and
how well they became her.
She put her eyes to one of the cracks
and looked out. Crowder and his men,
unconsciously initiating us, had begun
to make themselves comfortable, first by
building great bonfire and then by sit
ting around it and keeping themselves
warm They had tethered their horses
near, and from their position they could
watch the house very well and detect us
if we came forth,
why do they follow us 50 persistent
ly?'' the girl asked.
For variety of reasons, | replied
Il might mention for one that they are
anxious to take me. You know you told
them that was the bearer Of very i'm
portant news which would tell under
proper pressure to Tarleton.
But that was not true"
They do not know that it was not. !"
II wish they were real British SOL
diers, she said. II do not believe that
any of them ever saw England. be-
lieve they are American Tories, maybe
American rebels in British uniforms. "
did not care to argue with her, such
is the strength OF prejudice founded on
teaching and training, especially Brit
ish prejudice and most especially the
prejudice of British women
why did you take off his bridle?"
she asked as she turned away from the
window
had hung up Old Puts bride on
Eail in the wall
In ORDER that l may have it when
want to put it on him again, which
won't be long, hope, - l replied.
why, tho horse is gone" she said.
I laughed, laughed in her face, which
turned red, and then, seeing that it was
red, deliberately laughed again. Here
was woman who prided herself on Der
intelligence and quickness of mind, and
with good cause, too, so had begun to
believe, and yet after passing day and
part of night in Old Puts presence
she knew so little about him!
"Why do you laugh?" she asked red
ly and angrily
Il laugh at your ignorance, said,
"the fact that.you know SO little of our
comrade, in many respects the shrewd-
est and ablest of US three, as he is GER
talnly the swiftest and the strongest
That horse has not left us. l merely
took his bride off in order that he
might not be troubled with it, that he
might eat better, for no doubt he will
find somewhere around here, even in
winter, bit Of grazing on some shelter
ed and sunny southern slope He will
take care Of himself and come back to
us when we need him.
but suppose the guerrillas take
him?''
II wish was as sure that they
would not take u.s. said
Then I led the way to the table.
drew up the stool for the lady and an
old pine box that l found in corner
for myself. A little water was left in
the canteen. She drank part of it and
said:
Here's to the health of King
Georgep'
Eyes" | said as l drank the re-
mainder of the water, "this is to tho
health OF King George-George Wash
ingtonl I'm glad to see that your con-
version has begun
She frowned at me, but we had an
amicable dinner over the scraps never
theless | stopped at intervals to watch
the progress of the partisans outside
They had not yet made any movement
against us, and all sat or lay around
the fire. | counted them-six-and I
knew that all were there, as choice a
lot OF scoundrels as one could find on
the soil of the ID colonies.
turned my eyes away from the crew
ice to look at the girl. The rest and the
bite OF food had made wonderful i'm
provement. She was a true English
rose, could see that-a rose of Devon
or warwick or Kent, or whatever is fair
est among their roses, a girl with yell
low hair that shone like fresh gold in
the sun, tinted with red in the freight.
and brow Of white and cheeks of the
warm pink that is the heart of the pink
rose. Oh, we'll, as said twice before
everybody knows that the most beauti
ful women are the most dangerous, and
wondered if these Saxon maidens of
old England were ever an exception.
For moment 1 felt feeling of warmth
and kinship to old England, but then
this England, which is so kind to herself
and SO appreciative of her own merits,
has never been anything but an enemy
to US.
What are you thinking of, Mr..
Marcelg'' she said suddenly as she looked
up. why are you SO serious?''
II am astonished that you should adj
dress me as Mr.. Marcel and not as a
rebel, with rope around his neck"
She patted the floor meditatively
with her foot and looked away from me
and at the fire.
1t was a mistake due to forgetful-
ness, b" she said, with an air of resent
ment. II will not do it again. -
II would not forget epithets when
you speak of us, !" said. "You will get |
Of