Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-10

reu GOALS Suu SAW figures, pictures, there. Near the center of the bed the coals had fallen into such shape that could trace distinctly the epaulets of general, and knew that those epaulets were for me. The coals crumbled into new shapes and built the house which 1 was to be mine when the war was vic l toriously over and was ready to retire to it with my honors. She, too, seemed to be engaged in the same business, for she was staring with half closed eyes | into the dreamy coals. "Why are you a rebe1?' she asked. f'1s it from pure perverseness, for they say all you Americans are so?"
 'They say many things about us in England that are not true," I said, l "and this is one of them. The English themselves have often been rebels, and | their present royal family, one of the worst they have ever had, and they have had the Stuarts, was placed on the | throne by just rebellion. '' "You must know '' she replied, "that | in England the character of the sov- ereign is nothing. It is the sovereign principle. The worse the sovereign the better the court likes him.'' | We relapsed into silence and our study of the red coals. Old Put whin- nied gently, raised his head and looked beyond the fire, as if he saw something in the darkness impenetrable to all but horse eyes.
 "I'd better see to that, I said. "Old Put is not going to give warning for nothing. He has character to lose.'' 1 "A wildcat may be- she suggested. l Perhaps, but I'll see.'' 1 I rose, still keeping my blanket wrap ped around me, and ordered her to stay where she was under pain of being bound again. She promised, and be- lieved that she would not stir from her position on the log. The darkness and the desolation were not inviting I walked out into the black bank of 1 the night, but could neither see nor find anything. I made complete circuit around the oasis of light from the fire, and all was peaceful and quiet. re- turned to the log, ready to scold Old Put for giving q false alarm, but re- trained, refecting that he might be nervous and irritable owing to his lack of food.
 "What did you find?" asked the girl, looking at me with bright eyes.
 ''Nothing."
 l ''I thought you wouldn't. It was 8 wildcat or maybe a harmless little squirrel.'' ''
 Aren't you afraid of the wild ami mals?''
 Mot with such ave rebel as you near me''
 I opened my eyes a little wider and looked at her. It was the first time that ] she had complimented me even ill that half handed way, and was surprised. l ''I thought you did not allow me the possession of any desirable quality what soever,'' said.
 "You are improving,'' she replied. Perhaps it is due to my society. may yet make you loyal follower of King George and save you from the hang man,
 had my doubts about the loyalty" which is term devised for the protec- tion of sovereig1.s ill their crimes, but l said nothing just then. She, too, said nothing more. The heap of coals grew and glowed in the depths with deep crimsons and scarlets, throwing out 8 generous heat and wooing me to sleep. Despite my sense of caution and the eff forts of my will, my eyelids dropped Tho castles in the coals became more indistinct and wavered as if they were made of red mist.
 Old Put whinnied again and raised his head high in the air like one who listens. was wide awake in an instant and on my feet a.~ain.
 "Put," said, eff find that you have given false alarm second time you shall have nothing to eat in the morning.
 II wouldn't bother about it, said the girl. ''It's only squirrel CT a rab- bit. Any horse would notice the passing of such an animal. Their senses are keener than ours. ;
 She was growing very considerate of me!
 But I searched the wood again, and finding nothing returned to my old and comfortable place. Old Put was restless and shuffled about; but. angry at his idle alarms, commanded him roughly to keep quiet, and he obeyed. The girl was hum1ning softly to her self as if she were thinking of her far away English home. I supposed she was lonely and homesick, and again some pity for her crept into my heart.
 '.Are you singing of your sweet heart2'' asked. meaning to cheer her up.
 l q have none. :. aEa -eslied-