Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03


The horse Whinnied in response. and
the girl rubbed his nose and stroked him
lovingly: then she pulled down some hay
from a rack over his head. talking to him
as she gave him his breakfast
No. Ande: if they come they shan't
have thee: thee is the only one left: thee
belongs to father, and have promised to
protect thee
All the day before there had been the
rumble and roar of the guns, and after
the guns had ceased. all through the
night there had been the rush and tramp
of men and horses on the turnpike Inc
army had fallen back. and the hot, sunny
morning dawned on an empty village.
Jamie pondered il all as she made her
way slowly back TO the house. In the
outside summer kitchen she found Cncie
Reno preparing breakfast II was only
to consist of little meal made into
hoe cake and baked in the hot ashes or
the big fireplace, for everything on the
farm had long since been carried on oy
the marching troops of both armies
When she entered the Kitchen oid REM
asked, anxiously:
Where you been. honey? l don't like
you To prowl 'roun'. for these ain safe
times for miss like you
oh I'm armed. Uncle Reno, and thee
knows / can handle this old pistol almost
as we'll as father can, and I'm determined
If they come they shall not find any
thing,
There's Ande. miss.
They won't find Ande-"
But miss they'll see him mighty
quick: they'll take him like they've done
everything else. an l can't do nothin 10
prevent. ,
But | shall prevent, Uncle Reno
And there was a flash of determination
III her eyes.
..Waw, miss, you's only a girl they
ain goin' TO mind YOU. honey; these Is
war times
Jamie did not reply. She passed into
the inner room, where, Involuntary, she
ouieted her gait and subdued her exclteo
face as she approached an invalid chair
that was wheeled in front of an open
window. Instantly the quick mother eyes
greeted her approach with anxiety, "ihie
The mothers voice asked:
Has thee heard anything more this
morning. daughter? Has thee been to
the village?
Yes. I've been to the village. mother
and there's nobody there Dut Juodh.
Everybody has run away.
There was silence. while both listened
intently Ther- Jamie said with convic-
ton: 49,,
Yesterday Judah says. from the massins
of troops i'm these parts. that there Is
going 10 be heavy nshtlng III orlhS
thee thy breakfast and Uncle Keno Shali
STAY with thee while / run to the village
and see if there is any one passing WIN
news There-H likely he some one win
dispatches riding through who IL
No, Jamie. no, tHee HiuSt NO. seii A ''ii
me 7 fear for thee.
Jamie touched the butt or her ola piston
and said gravely:
.'Mother. have no fear. I'm safe: can
use this II need be. Let me go TO the
edge of the farm and have a look up ana
down the turnpike; I'll come back soon
And before the anxious mother could
protest. Jamie. with resolute look on
her face. hurried 20 the kitchen and said
TO Uncle Reno:
.'Jncle Reno. take mother her break
fast: don't leave her until | come back.
and protect her with thy very life il any
one comes. I'm going to-but never
mind me-
And the girl was out of the d or down
the back steps, and over the soft grass
before Uncle Reno could protest or even
understand what she was going TO do
Her 1.-the young figure went rushing to
the sta BILE. accompanied every step of the
way by the deep. steady boom of artil-
lery. She entered the stable hurriedly.
found an empty sack. filling IL with corn
from a peck measure. splitting almost as
much as she put into II. She jerked
down the bride which hung upon an iron
staple, and with trembling fingers ad-
justed il over Andes ears, having to
stand on tiptoe to reach UP TO him. Then,
throwing the sack of corn over his back,
she led him out OF the stable, lightly
aprarg upon his back and, bareheaded,
set out with quick speed down the back
lane.
She smiled grlmly 10 :.erseIf Ande
seemed 10 understand her. He arched
his neck and stepped out rapidly but so
surely, f:deed, that not a grain of corn
VAS dropped from tie carelessly fastened
sack. When tEsy were about TO emerge
from tie shelter OF the woods To the
Turnpike. Jamie cast a quick lock UP and