The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-15

CueerIully, IOr my SplrlIS nau gone up
with a leap, but it's good as it is, and
we haven't any right to complain. Mr..
South Carolina farmer, whoever you are
and wherever you are, we thank you. +"
The girl smiled family and walked
mechanically to the fire, where she sat
down ON rude stool and spread out her
fingers before the Goals as if she were
/ in her home
"Take little of this, Z" l said, for
saw that she was half dazed There was
yet little whisky left i'll my flask, and
I handed it to her. She obeyed me like
| child and drank it.
Then turned my attention to the
single window, which was closed with
IL heavy but i'll fitting shutter, some
wandering moonbeams finding way
through the cracks. Peeping out,
could see the guerrillas dismounted be-
yond pistol shot and holding a confer
ence.
"They are talking, but let EN- talk,
my dear said to the girl. "They
can't get US in this cabin. What a neat,
stout little place it isl''
l really began to have friendly feel
ing toward her. We had been through
so many dangers together, and besides
she was my prisoner. 1t is much easier
! for the conqueror to be generous to the
, conquered than for tho conquered to be
generous to the conqueror.
She did not reply either to my words
or my manner Her cheeks. which had
: been so white before, were family
flushed with pink, but could not tell
whether it was the fire or not. She
seemed to me to be in a state of collapse,
natural to girl, even the strongest and
bravest, after SO much.
"Now set the table for u.s. said.
I'VE must eat little after our long,
hard ride, for we will need our strength.
See if you can't find candle in that
cupboard. And, here, take my bundle
and get out the food. ;"
l handed her the wallet of bread and
meat which l had snatched from Old
Puts back almost with the same mo-
tion with which l had swept off his
bride. She took it. drew the rough pine
table to the center of the room and
spread the food upon it. Then, sure
enough, she found in the cupboard a
piece of old tallow candle, which she
lighted and stuck in the middle of the
table These simple household duties
seemed to revive her. Her eyes bright
ened her color came back, and her first
thought was half to defend, half to
apologize. for her previous collapse,
IL was tired merely she said. 81
did not lose courage Don't think that.
Pm an English girl.
Il never said you lost courage, - re-
piled Il think that you have borne
yourself bravely, almost as we'll as an
American girl would have done in the
same situation. -
''Show me the one who would have
done better," she said, with o snap of
the eye
But that was manifestly impossible
at the time. and l made no such at
tempt.
1.-THE table is ready. and we wait only
for the army to take a seat and enjoy
itself, she said in light tone
Come and take look at our enc.
mics first, 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 we'll and detect us
if we came forth
"Why do they follow us SO 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. ="
"ButFthat was not true"
'They do not know that it was not. F"
81 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" f"
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 a
nail in the wall.
"In order that may have it when !
want to put it on him again, which
won't be long, hope" l replied.
"Why, the horse is goner' she said
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 her
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.
81 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
tainly the swiftest and the strongest.
That horse has not left us / 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 cOuax=-bara around hara avar in