Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-07-03

and yellow patchwork quilt
Buried deep in the chlntz-covered
pillow was a head incased in a red
flannel night cap, with the face turned
to the wall. The knees were drawn al
most to the chin and the hands were
hidden beneath the covers.
On peg, ut the head of the bed,
hung a homespun dress, and beneath
1t, on the floor, stood a pair of stiff,
solid-looking slippers.
Nowhere In the room was there a
piece of furniture large enough to con-
ceal man. A hasty scanning OF the
walls and ceiling showed no signs of
an opening, save the customary hole
leading to the loft. With quiet
movement, one Of the men lifted
chair beneath this and mounted upon
It, only to dismount, convinced by the
network Of spiders webs, that the
board covering had not been lifted for
months.
Better look II there is an entrance
to 1t from the outside" suggested one,
and the soldier softly tiptoed out and
around the house, but came back, shak-
ing his head.
Apparently satisfied, they turned and
filed out, and Granny slept on. AS
they came down the path, the girl
clumsily advanced to meet them and
conducted them along the path to the
lef," to spring that trlckled out of
the mountain side and formed a pool
In a natural basin that had fashioned
itself among the rocks, half hidden
by the grass. STOPPING at one side, she
CROPPED about bit In the shallow wa
ter, and brought forth q goOd-slzed
jug, securely fastened to the handle
Of which was a gourd dipper. Placing
the jug on the grass, she united the
dipper, rendered It to the nearest man
and said: Hep yerself."
After each had held communion with
the dlpper a couple of NIl1es, she said
to one Of them: "Jes' hold the gourd
while l pour out some fer that ar
crltter, what's holdln' them bosses.
Wouldn't do to slight EN-, cause Dad
would do 1t eff he wuz here"
She filled the gourd to the brim,
then shufiied back to the gap In the
road.
"Hyer," was all she said as she pre-
sented the drink, "hyer's some Of
Dads hospertality."
The soldiers, trooplng along behind
her, snickered at her crude manner,
and the courteous bow with which the
gourd was received made her shy, and
she fell to her way of smashing the
little mud heaps with her foot, and
watching the soft clay as 1t eozed up
between her stubby toes. The empty
dlpper thrust into her hands made no
impression on, her, so intent did she
seem in her pleasing occupation, but
a loud "Good-by" brought her to a
recognition that they were going.
"Good-by," she called; "if you-alls
should meet Dad or Dan, tell 'em me
and Granny's so and so, and tell Dad
'stended Their hospertallty."
She stood gazing after them, and
something drlfted back to her. like a
wonder If Dad wouldn't be rlled when
he heard she had 'stended the hOsper-
tally to lot of bluecoats.
For a long time she gazed down
the road, till the last sound of a hoof-
beat died away. Then she FASTENED
to the house, and with a glad Dan,
they're gone" broke into a low gurg-
ling laugh.
Talk about your bake ovens" came
from the four-poster, and Granny piled
out Of that bed In hurry.
But what grandmother Six feet
in her stockings And when the
wooden nlght-cap was snatched off, II
revealed three days growth Of beard.
Next Off came the nlghtgown, and its
wearer put II TO an unwonted use In
hopping away the perspiratlon.
From drawer In the cupboard the
girl produced a mans coat, hat and
shoes, and with Hurry, Dan I"
passed them to him.
"There, bless you, girl" He was
already At the door.
you say they went up the Clayton
road2 That's good, just as we planned
Now, I'll cut through by the mall
meet Granny with the horse, and to-
morrow morning Will see me safe back
to the lines. It's early yet, and IL
hurry, Granny will be able to get back
to you before dark"
She followed him down to the gap In
the road, and, as his form disappeared
through the bushes opposite, took her
former seat on the ledge Of the rock.
Every now and then her eyes swept |
the road In the direction whence the
soldiers had vanished. Still she sat |
on, and when the last streak OF sun |
light had disappeared and the shadows |
deepened so that vision could no
longer penetrate the distance, she
her ears to catch the slight
est sound.
Finally, amid the bird calls, the
Of the wind, and other famil-
lar sounds Of nature, she detected the
snap Of twigs like some one coming
through the grass
Presently the bushes again parted,
1T the spot where the man had dis
a few hours before, and she
sprang forward to meet tired little
Old woman who emerged therefrOm.
well, he's or" was her first greet
ing, and you're sure they didn't come
back this wayY added the grand.
mother.
positive answered the girl. "anc
ef them Yankees never see a COnfed
crate TIL they ketch Dan, they'll never
gee one"