Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-12

saw that she was half dazed. There was yet little whisky left in my flask, and handed it to her. She obeyed me like child and drank it.
 Then l turned my attention to the single window, which was closed with heavy but i'll fitting shutter, some wandering moonbeams finding way through the cracks. Peeping out, I could see the guerrillas dismounted be- yond pistol shot and holding confer ence.
 ''They are talking, but let 'em talk, my dear, '" said to the girl. "They can't get us in this cabin. What neat, stout little place it isv'
 really began to have friendly feel ing toward her. We had been through so many dangers together, and besides she was my prisoner. It is much easier for the conqueror to be generous to the conquered than for the 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 faintly flushed with pink, but could not tell
 whether it was the fire or not She
 seemed to me to be in state of collapse, natural to girl, even the strongest and
 bravest, after so much. "Now set the table for us, '' said
 "We must eat little after our long, hard ride, for we will need orr strength See if you can't find a candle in that cupboard. And, here, take my bundle and get out the food.' handed her the wallet of bread and meat which I had snatched from Old Puts back almost with the same mo-
 tion with which I had swept off his l bridle. She took it, drew the rough pine
 table to the center of the room and
 spread the food upon it. Then, sure l enough, she found in the cupboard Q piece of old tallow candle, which she lighted and stuck in tho middle of the table. These simple household duties l 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. 'I was tired merely" she said. ''1 did not lose courage. Don't think that.
 Pm an English girl.
 1T never said you lost courage, ; I re-
 piled. II think that you have borne yourself bravely, almost as well as an
 American girl would have done in the same situation.
 "Show me the one who would have
 done better" she said, with a snap of the eye.
 But that was manifestly impossible at the time, and I made no such at- tempt.
 "The table is ready, and we wait only
 for the army to take a seat and enjoy itself,'' she said in a light tone 'Come and take look at our ene-
 mics first" said, noticing how her strength and courage had come back and how we'll they became her. She put her eyes to one of the cracks 1 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.
 1T might mention for one that they are
 anxious to take me. You know you told them that was the bearer of very inn
 portant news which would tell under
 proper pressure to Tarleton. '' "But that was not true.'' "They do not know that it was not" "I wish they were real British sol diers, she said. II do not believe that any of them ever saw England. I 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 bridle on
 nail in the wall
 In order that I may have it when I
 want to put it on him again, which
 won't be long, hope, '' replied. "Why, the horse is gone!'' she said l 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 l '~NA SSOA OesNSO, eOO, oO l AAS1A uA u
 believe, and yet after passing day and
 part of a night in Old Puts presence she knew so little about him! "Why do you laugh?' she asked red
 ly and angrily. "I 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 cer-
 tainly the swiftest and the strongest. That horse has not left us. I merely took his bridle 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 1 take care of himself and come back to
 Us when we need him." But suppose the guerrillas take him?''
 II wish l was as sure that they would not take us ' I said