The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-01-21
ass. He heard a shout and horses

grass. He heard a shout and horses
feet thudding over the turf. Hot and
breathless, weighed down by the weight
of the gold he carried, he ran, Stun
bling in his haste, in and out among
the farm buildings and the stacks,
until he found himself under the walls
Of the house.
There was no sign of life on the side
on which he stood, but there was a
great wisteria growing all over the
wall, and framed in the thick foliage
he saw a window.
He swung himself up with cat-lilzc
agility and clambered over the sill.
Something stirred within and at that
instant vivid flash q lightning IL
Illuminated the whole room. Then there
was darkness. Kit had seen a small
bed chamber, all dark, shining oak and
stiff, white hangings, little white bed,
with the curtains partly drawn, a
young girls face peering anxiously
forth.
What the girl saw was young
man kneeling in the middle of the
room, white. scared face, surrounded
by long, tangled, dark hair.
Kit bent down until the hand that
held his sword rested on the floor.
"For Gods sake, betray me not!"
he said in whisper, shrill in its in
tense entreaty. Hide me. Let me
Ixy
soldiers. I bear dispatches and money
for the king, and must mott dare
not fall into the hands of those men!"
Poor Kits agonized appeal and his
imploring attitude would have touched
a heart less sympathetic than that of
this Puritan maiden.
'Stay there awhile" she ordered,
and discreetly drew the curtains.
There was a short interval. Kit lSnelt
motionless, listening to the tramping
to and fro of the soldiers in the gar
den, to movements in the house down.
stairs, and to "a rustling behind the
curtains of the bed.
After q moment or two the maiden
reappeared, partly dressed and covered
in long gray cloak.
She lighted a candle and drew the
curtains over the window. 'There is
only one hiding place can think of"
she said, softly-'.this closet where my
dresses hang. See, it runs queerly
back in that corner, sir. l trust they
will not search this room, but you
must be still, for I fear it is my
brothers. troop that is seeking you.
hear his voice below stairs. Hush!
Some one comes!"
She shut the cupboard door upon
him and moved away on tiptoe.
I Kit had barely recovered his scat
tered possession when footsteps
were heard in the passage outside the
chamber door.
A mans voice called out: care you
stirring in there, Charity?"
Then the door was opened, and, as
we'll as Kit could Judge, two men en-
tered.
What are you about, girl?" said one,
whom by his voice Kit put down as an
old man. 'Why are you clad thus,
and why is your candle alight? Me-
thinks darkness is best for the head
ache"
81 could not sleep because of the
storm, father" said the girl. II have
only just lighted the candle. II was
about-to read awhile to drown my
foolish fears ~
Daughter Charity" said the old
Puritan, with awful severity, Eve are
searching for malignant who hath
concealed himself hereabouts. Hast
thou seen or heard anything of this
man."
II heard the soldiers in the garden,
father
"She must have been asleep, SIR
said mans voice. 'sUnless the men
mistook the room. But old Duncombe,
who knoweth the house as we'll as you
do, swears he saw the fellow climbing
over the sill of my sisters window"
cay, ay, he was a beautiful faced
young geprobate, and SO my lady must
needs take compassion on him. That
is the story, fancy" said the old man,
and he gave bitter chuckle that sent
shiver of disgust through the listen
ing Kit:
"But If he is hidden here we will
soon have him out. Search the room,
Godfrey!"
"While you are wasting your time
here the man is escaping, brother!"
cried the girl in despair. IBID him go.
father, and will tell you ALI"
q. .''Nay, he shall stay!" declared the
old man. "Speak. girl; he is. thy
brother and hath a right to know Of
this business"
'.Then it was whom they saw en-
tering at the window"
An awful silence followed this ter
rible statement.
"And whom did you go to meet,
MADAME" Numbered forth the old man.
There was no reply.
Let me get away from here before
do her an injury! Would to God she
had never been born!" Kit heard a
husky, unsteady voice exclaim, and
footsteps moved towards the door.
In that moment Kit realized that
there are things more to be feared