The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-05-29

GzzS&s years. For the
p.-- ~ years her only work had
been to knit such articles as "Ma'am
Wallet" had directed. Granny's
house was built of legs. At one end
a rough stone chimney rose two or
three feet above the moss-covered
roof; at the other a wooden door
swung on great hinges and a small
window, covered with CREASED paper,
admitted few rays of light into
the single room. A stone threshold,
scrubbed to a pearly whiteness,
leaned to one side, threatening to
lose its place, and near by a single
moss rose bush nodded and waved.
Inside old granny sat in a great
armchair, her needles gathering
busily. Her gray, wavy hair was
parted in the middle and drawn back
over her large forehead. Her eyes
were little and deeply set, but they
sparkled and blinked as they super
yfsed the work of her large, hardened
bands. Unconsoiously her large red
hips moved about as she worked, dis
playing white row of teeth, which
occasionally parted, showing a thick
tongue. She was clothed in red
checkered Bingham wrapper, of which
she was evidently very proud, for
now and then her knitting would cease
while she carefully smoothed some
wrinkled place In her dress. On
fohIn n Inv fntxy IS a1,s
ware were arranged with precision on
small blue and red mat In one cor
ner of the room was an old-fashioned
bed, whose coverlets were spotlessly
white The earthen floor had been
swept, but was uncovered.
It was dusk when granny carefully
put away her work and settled back
IN her chair for nap. She was
nearly asleep when she heard a noise.
Thud! thud. it went, then was still
for an instant, when it was repeated.
Visions of ghosts, hobgoblins and
other unearthIy things came into her
mind. She walked to the door. No
body was outside. She looked around
the room, but saw nothing unusual.
"Wat yo'se 'fraid of, nohow? Ar'n't
nauthin' roun' hyah," she mumbled
to herself as she sat down again.
Some time passed The old woman
was doing again, when suddenly the
floor near her began to crack. She
stared in terror. A dirk, grasped
by human hand, appeared. The
hole grew in size, as the knife hack
ed at the ground, until white mans
face and shoulders appeared in the
gap.
"Oh, Cod hab mahcy!" granny
cried, gathering up her skirts and
preparing to run.
BE quiet, my good woman" came
from the stranger. Il am nothing
but q wounded soldier. Be quiet
now, I'll reward you. Close your door,"
Keeping her eyes upon the uRwel-
come visitor, she reluctantly did as
she was bid The soldier stretched
out his hand, saying, Now, help me
out, aunty." Granny took his hand
in hers and pulled him to his feet.
His face was thin and pale and be-
smeared with mud. His eyes were
surrounded by dark circles and blood
came from a cut in his forehead.
One arm dangled uselessly at his
side and his clothes were torn and
bloody.
How'd yer get hyah, chile?" asked
granny cycling the poor man from
head to foot. I'll tell you all after.
while he feebly answered; "the rebs
VIII be after me again No place to
hide here, is there?" lie looked de.
spairingly around the room. Granny
brought ont pot of tea that she had
had hidden somewhere and offered
cup to the man, who gripped the
chair as he drank. whats that
noise?' he asked, setting the cup on
the table.