Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22

My dear father!" Cried the Handsome You
one of the hearthstones, she discovered an iron
pot, glittering with a metal that seldom fails
to soften the hardest heart Katy succeeded in
replacing the stone without discovery, and
never dared to trust herself with another visit
In a few minutes after receiving the com
mands Of his young mistress, Caesar reap
peared ushering into the apartment the sub
ject of the foregoing depression. In person.
the peddler was man above the middle height
spare, but full of bone and muscle At first
sight, his strength seemed unequal to manage
the unwieldly burden Of his pack; yet he threw
it on and off with great dexterty and with as
much apparent ease as IL it had been filed with
feathers. His eyes were gray, sunSen, restless
and, for the fitting moments that they dwelt
on the coqntenance Of those with whom he con
versed, they seemed to read the very soul. On
entering the room, the peddler relieved himself
from his burden, which, as it stood on the floor,
reached nearly to his shoulders, and saluted
the family with modest civility. To Harper he
made a silent bow without lifting his eyes from
the carpet; but the curtain prevented any no
tce Of the presence of Captain Wharton
Sarah gave but little time for the usual salu.
the contents of the pack; and for several min
utes the two were engaged in bringing to light
the various articles it contained The tables,
chairs and floors were soon covered with silks
crepes, gloves, muslins and all the stock of an
itinerant trader. At length, Sarah, having Sc
lected several articles, and satisfactorily ar
ranged the prices, observed in a cheerful voice.
But, Harvey you have told us news.
Has Lord CORVALLIS beaten the rebels again?"
NhE efgy fFyV4 -
parently examining the state Of the clouds
while the peddler, finding a reply was expected,
answered slowly:
There is some talk below about Tarleton
having defeated General Sumpter, on the Tiger
River"
Captain Wharton now Involuntary thrust
his head between the opening of the curtains
into the room; and Frances, turning her ear in
GREATNESS silence, noticed the quiet eyes of
Harper looking at the pedder, over the book
he was affecting to read, with an expression
that denoted him to be listener of no ordi-
nary interest.
Indeed" cried the exulting Sarah; Stump
ter-Sumpter-who is he? I'll not buy even a
pin until you tell me all the news" she con
tnued, laughing and throwing down a muslin
she had been examining.
For a moment the peddler hesitated; his
eyes glanced toward Harper, who was yet gaz-
ing at him with settled meaning, and the whole
manner of Birch was altered
Il repeat but what hear said Birch, offer
ing a piece of cloth to the inspection of Sarah
who rejected it in silence, evidently determined
to hear more before she made another pur-
chase
They say, however, at the Plains" the ped
dleT continued first throwing his eyes again
around the room and letting them rest for an
instant on Harper, that Sumpter and one or
two more were all that were hurt, and that the
riglars were all cut to pieces, for the militia
were fixed snugly in log barn"
Not very probable said Sarah. contemptu-
ously, though | make no doubt the rebels got
behind the logs"
u think said the pedder coolly again Of
fering the silk, its quite ingenious to get a
log between one and gun, instead of getting
between gun and a log"
The eyes of Harper dropped quietly on the
pages of the volume in hand while Frances,
rising, came forward with a smile in her face.
as she inquired. in a tone Of affabty that the
peddler had never witnessed from the younger
sister:
Have you more of the lace Mr. Brch?"
The desired article was Immediately pro
duced, and Frances became a purchaser also.
Have you any more news friend?" asked
Captain Wharton, yenturing to thrust his face
without the curtains again
Have you heard that Major Andre has been
hanged?"
Captain Wharton started, and for a moment
glances of great significance were exchanged
between him and the trader, when he observed
with affected Indifference. That must have
been some weeks ago
Does his execution make much noise?"
asked the father striving to make the broken
china unite
People will talk, you know. squire"
rs there any probability of movements be-
low, my friend, that will make travelling dan
gerous?" asked Harper looking steadily at the
other, in expectation of his reply.
Some lunches of ribbons fell from the hands
of Birch his couutenance changed instantly
losing its keen expression in intent meaning
as he answered slowly, 1T Is some time since