The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-04-16
BEDTIME STORY
CONTINUED from Page -Four ],

respectfully. 81 am deserving from
the British army. 1t is death if am
caught"
If you will hide in those bushes
there" said Gretchen, Il will bring
You some clothing and food.'
Very WELL" returned the man. Il
wi wait for you here" And he
slipped up into the bushes on the side
of the road. Gretchen sped home and
in a few minutes returned with some
bread and meat. These she gave to
the soldier.
The girl said nothing about this
event when she returned home. fear
ing someone might harm the man. But
at night she lay awake wondering
about him. Presently she heard a step
In the sitting room, and without a.
moments hesitation she crept silently
down the stairs in her bare feet and
peeped over. In the moonlight she
could see into the sitting room plainly,
and there stood the man she had
helped in the morning, putting into a
bag the silver candlesticks and the
tiny silver urn that always stood on
the high mantel.
Now both had been in the family a
long time-for five generations-and
the girl knew they were priced above
all price. The man did not look like
a wicked one, she thought, and
seemed ashamed Of what he was doing
for he would frequently stop and
shake his head. But when he turned
and reached for a silver cup which
had been her own, Gretchen could
, stand 1t no longer.
/ Down the stairs she bounched light
ly and flew into the room.
The man started at the sight of the
little white figure with it's streaming
golden hair.
"Oh! how could your" gasped the
girl II helped you this morning and
kept our secret, and now you come to
rob me-"
At the word rob" the man burst
into tears. 81 am not a thief" he
sobbed. But my little girl was Ill in
! England the officers would not let me
go home. | stole away. and it was
death if they caught me. had no
money to pay my way home and the
boat sails tomorrow. | meant to re-
turn your full value for these things
when l got to England"
Gretchen felt sure he was speaking
the truth. Opening a tiny drawer in
a desk she drew out an envelope.
This Is all the money have saved in
my life," she exclaimed. But l think
you are telling the truth. Take 1t and
60 to your little girl
The man took the money and in a
few moments was running down the
road toward the wharf, while Crotch.
en- went back to bed calmly as Dutch
girls as wont to do. For six months
she heard nothing from the man; then
one day when the war was over, there
came down the road handsome coach
drawn by prancing black steeds. AT
the cottage door an elegantly dressed
gentleman alighted. Gretchen looked
up In amusement-it was her soldier
81 did not tell you my name when
} you helped me so kindly few months
} ago." said the man. "But will now
} am the son of General Vinson and
} was, i'll for weeks after getting home
} So they gave me no punishment. Ny
little girl is well and sends you this,
and out of his pocket the handsome
soldier took small velvet box. Touch
ing spring it opened and showed {
beautiful ring.
Eyes, my little girl sent this to you,
he repeated. "And as for the none!
you lent me, here is double thu
amount, for feel must pay you In
terest."
So down the road the coach wen
again and vanished in clouds Of dust
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