Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-03-07

self, but somehow the words that must
set him on the right road to the enc
my's path would not come to her lips.
The only thing she could think Of at
that moment was that this stranger
was Tenny Baldwin's enemy.
II cannot direct you. sir" she said.
with pale lips.
THAT is too bad. for l am tired and
hungry" he said. with a winning
smile. II wonder if your larder is quite
empty?"
mo. indeed. sir: you are quite wei.
come to the best we have,' assured
Hope. feeling traitorous indeed to Ell.
terrain the enemy in her uncle's house.
What if Obadiah should return ere the
stranger had departed!
Il must tell you that my uncle is an
ardent Whig." she said as he dis.
mounted.
$50 much the betrer!!" he cried heart.
lily and followed the silent Hope into
the great kitchen.
While she fried more bacon and bak.
ed Il ~johnnycake before the still glow.
ing Goals the stranger, still wrapped in
his cloak despite the heat of the day,
scanned a package of papers with knit.
ted brow.
At last he sat down to the best meal
Hope could prepare at short notice,
and. having made friends with Wolf.
he ate hungrily.
Hope slipped from the room and out
Of the little used front door. She went
down the road with flying feet and
ran straight into the arms Of her cous-
in. Tenny Baldwin. who was strolling
toward her.
We'll. fair COUSIN" he cried teasing
ly, subduing the lovelight in his fine
eyes. have you changed your mind
about dining with us today?
mo. 10. Cousin Tenny! I have eat
en- dinner, but 1 have something to tell
you" Hope was breathing quickly.
and a delicate color came and went in
her cheeks as she withdrew herself
from his grasp and smoothed her ruff.
fed hair.
Come to tell me goodby, Hope?" he
asked gently. II may never come
back to bother you"
NAY, Tenny; you have never both.
cred me-" she assured him, with a
troubled look in her eyes. 'I-I-you
know I am a Tory at heart"
There was a quizzical look in his
eyes. 81 know thou sayest 80, Hope"
he said gravely. II am not afraid of
Tories"
"There is a British officer eating in
our kitchen this very minute. He
asked me the way to the American
lines, but I would not tell him."
"Then you are a traitor to your own
cause. Hope"
Somehow l couldn't tell him that.
Cousin Tenny. And it does not seem
loyal to Uncle Obadiah and you to en-
terrain him there in uncle's house. so
1 came to tell you"
"Thank you, DEAR" said Tenny So
berly. Stay you here, Hope, and tell
my mother I will return shortly" He
fastened up the road toward Obadiah's
house.
Il am going with you, Tenny!!" she
cried, keeping pace with his rapid
stride.
But. Hope. there may be blood
she'd" he protested, touching his
sword.
"Then you will need me the MORE"
she said valiantly. and he made no
further objection.
The strangers horse still cropped the
grass in the dooryard as Hope led the
way through the front door. There
was the tinkle of china from the
kitchen.
"He is still there" whispered Hope.
| opening the door into the room the
merest trife.
Tenny Baldwin stood beside her and
| applied his eye to the same crack. He
uttered a sudden exclamation. opened
the door wider and entered the room
boldly.
The stranger rose quickly. and his
hand flew to his sword. His look of
stern inquiry changed to one of pleas
ant recognition as Tenny Baldwin re-
specially saluted him.
"Ah. Captain Baldwin," cried the
stranger. holding out his hand.
"Your eXcellency!" murmured Tenny
Baldwin. for indeed it was the COM
mander in chief Of the American army.
Hope Marshall leaned against the
wall in th> shadows. half frightened.
half relieved at the situation. AS she
listened to the murmur Of their voices
and realized that the stranger was
none other than the great General
Washington. come down to overlook
his forces on Long Island, a revulsion
Of feeling came to her. These men.
her Cousin Tenny and Washington.
We're fighting for their lives, for the
lives Of their dear ones, for liberty.
for ultimate peace. She chided herself
for an ignorant girl-a graceless n
indeed-to have flung her Tory def
ance in the faces Of her kinspeople.
At that instant Hope Marshall turn
ed traitor to the Tory cause. and her
traitor heart leaped gladly as she
thought that she need offer no oppo-
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