The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-02


ged, broad.shouldered. and 1.-THE rs q
panther Of his own native woods: alto
gether a splendid type Of the Colonial
who had dared to bid defiance to an
empire.
II had been three years since Captain
Roger Goodfellow had trod that walk
last time. three years Of battle. and
marching and privation. Of bitter cold
and intolerable heat and snawipg hun.
ger. The drums had beat the funeral
march over many lusty comrade. the
while q great nation was being buiided
In toll and suffering.
Perhaps Roger Goodfellow thought
Of these things as he knocked ut the
stout door. or perhaps he thought only
OF the fair.haired. blue-eyed girl who
had stood there three years before and
waved a misty farewell to him. half
proud and half fearful. He had been
lighting his country's battles. and lie
wondered whether the Scotch Lieuten-
ant Forbes had been winning the girl
he left behind him. Stories had come
to him Of what assiduous court the
young sprlg Of fashion had paid to
Polly Ward. how he had singled her
out as the mark Of all his attentions.
and by bis persistent devotion bad
made her the fashion among his set.
1t was with something cold clutchlng
at his heart that the Captain waited
for the answer to his knock.
He heard a hurried whispering Of
voicen from within, the scurry Of feet
along the floor. again the low-toned
murmur. and after time the sound OF
the light step he knew 30 well crossing
to the door.
It was q startled face he looked or
when the door opened. one not devoid
Of lurking fear and apprehension.
When she recognized him her hands
came out impulsively. The glad ligb.
dashed into her eyes-and then died
on. 1t was as II the shadow Of some
unseen terror had gripped her.
"what! Roger-you?" she cried.
"Why have you waited all these
mcnths? I did not know you even to
be alive. Not one single little message
to your old.time friends. Yet the city
has been In the hands Of General
Washington for three months"
She was speaking with hurried ner-
vousness. and the catch In her voice
vas a little tremulous. The Captain,
looking eagerly for the signals her eyes
might tloat, thought her something
less than candid. 1t was not that she
was insincere-he read q welcome in
the girls manner not to be denied
but rather something divided and dis
trait. something a little embarrassed II
her greeting. much as II his appear
snce were rlalapropos.
The young man brushed aside his
sancies.
"Yes-I. Pol! Faith, 'tis not my fault
I was not here six months ago. I.have
bcen On the Southern service with Cen
eral Greene. Twas only this month
q sen night ago. that I got my ex-
change. and I promise you. Roger
Goodfellow posted nortn Win aiA
speed. There be weary cattle on the
way. methinks: but you, Pol? How
wear the years? do not need to ask.
Z faith, for your face tells story
Of time standing still Dear lass. art
glad to see me?'
Bold he was and blunt: more conf
dent of manner than Of mind. What
he wanted to know he asked roundly.
with something Of the placid. unruf1ed
imperturbability Of the mother-country
seif-containment. Goodfellow was
neither to hold nor to bind until he had
found an answer to the question which
troubled him.
Twas always you. Pol-never any
but you with me-" he told her quietly.