The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-11-27

U ! !: : J: s !: !: ! ! !: !: !:
Gk1M ON RETTY Mercy Stand
MI m well drew out the end
SWN Syk of the huge iron crane
Nm MK almost as high as her
M HR self-and peered into
&EA the pot which 1t had
Mbrought from the fire, shielding
W her face from the blaze with
pretty, plump hand. Someone
I'M had to stay at home to look
after things, and this morning
y Mercy had insisted on the 9TH
ers going to meeting and leav-
ing her to this task. and she had been
utilizing the three hours OF the long
sermon in adding to the stock OF
food. There were a goodly number
of home folks and guests, and no
one knew how many her father and
mother would bring from the service.
$50 no, Mistress" came a deep,
mocking voice; -ye have been pre-
pairing for our coming, it seems.
Beshrew me, but the odors are good.
What say ye, boys" turning to line
OF piratical, sailor-looking men who
were following him into the room.
Shall wo sit for while and let this
fair wench minister to our appetites?
Twill be difference from our black
amoor's cooking, l am thinking"
A hoarse growl of assent came
from the line-from ell but one, who
looked doubtful.
..Will 1t be safe, captain?" this one
asked.
HSafe!" the deep voice echoed
grimly. "What have we with a land
word like that? Besides, 1t sounds
weak in thy big mouth, Turbell. 1t
Is their Thanksgiving time here, and
they word long sermons. Let us be
thankful, too, and partake Of their
good cheer. We shall then be fitted,
when they return from service, to
pick out good :ne1 and true for our
vessel. And for thy word safe, the
soldiery are at their gorging mile
away from here. We can eat ard be
merry, Gull our need from the praise
singers when they coma back, and be
dipping across the water before ..ews
of the exploit can get over The loaded
tables to their ears. Now, Turbell," !"
his keen, scornful eyes flashing about
and seeming to see and comprehend
everything; "get all the men inside.
You fill up the able here, and will
take charge of the one in the next
room. 1t will be time enough to bag
chickens and pigs and other live
stock when we are through; and per-
haps there will be few scraps left
from our feast that we can carry back
to tho vessel. 1t will be a change
from the blackamoor.
All this time Mercy had be,n
standing by the fireplace; and her
eyes, which at first had dilated with
terror, gradually calmed and grew
watchful and speculative. She had
thought they might be kings men, on
a raid to impress seamen. Now she
believed they were buccaneers, OF
. pirates; but it amounted to the same.
The one impressed in the kings
name, the other in their own. In
either case, the possibility of escape
or release were equally small; only
with the pirates, in the event of cap.
pC
and then punishment would be quick
and certain.
AS she hurried from table 70 table
trying to meet the demands for hot
coffee which were hurled at her from
all sides, the lips Of the young gir
were pressed firm, her brain busy
Something must be done. and she wa.
the one who must do 1t. In another
hour her father and brothers an6
uncles and cousins, and all the mel
of the neighborhood would be com
ing from service, and, unwarned
would fall into the hands Of thes'
evil-eyed freebooters, who would picl
out the strongest among them ant
bear them away to slavery that woult
be worse than death.
Mercy knew what 1t meant. Tn,
coast was an exposed one, and press
gangs had visited 1t before. Men hat
been carried away, and not one o
them had ever returned. Occasional
ly stories had come back of hardship
and cruelty and even of death, unit
the word press-gang lad become
word to whiten the cheeks of womel
and clinch the fists of men. Only tn
year before the son of their neares