Year: 1861

ways feel for the soldiers coming back, and
I'll give you some supper if yop won't be
long eating it," and she wiped her eyes
with her white and blue checked apron.
and set with alacriry about providing re.
treshments for the poor man, who had
thrown himself in the nearest chair. and,
with his head leaning on his breast, seem ID
too tired even to remove his hat from his
face.


] am glad to have yor eat, and would
not hurry you for anything" she said, in a
1 frightened way, I" but you ,rW cal quick,
won't you ! for expect every moment he
will be in"


/ The man drew his chair TO the table.
keeping his hat on his head as though he
belonged to the society of Friends, but that
could not he, for the Friends" do not 90
to the wars He are heartily of the bread
and butter and cold meat, and how long he
was about it


Mrs. 'rompkins fdseted. Dear me-"
she said 10 herself" if he only knew he
wouldn't be so cruel as to let Tompkins
come in and catch him here" She went
and looked fiom the window uneasily but
the soldier gave no token Of his meal com
ing to an end. Now he is pouring vine
gar on the cold cabbage and potatoes |
can't ask him to take those away in his
hand. Oh dear, how slow he Is hasn't the
man any teeth" At last she said mildly.
| am very sorry to hurry you, sir, but
couldn't you let me spread some bread and
butter and cut some slices of meat 20 take
away with yon?" My husband will use
abusive language to you if he finds you
here"


Before the soldier could reply, footsteps
were heard on the doorstone at the back
door, and man entered. lie stopped short
and looked at the soldier as a savage dog
might look, Then he broke out in tone
between savage growl and a roar,


Hey-day, Molly, pretty piece of bust
ness What have told you, time and
again, madam? You'll find you had better
mind your master. And you, you lazy
thieving vagabond, let me see you clear out
Of my house and off my land good deal
quicker than you came on the premises


Your house and your land /" ex-
claimed the soldier, starting suddenly up,
erect and tall, and dashing off his hat with
quick, fiery gesture. His eyes flashed
ike lightning, and his lips quivered with
indignation as he confronted the astonished
Tompkins. The latter was afraid of him,
and his wife had given a sudden shrek
when the soldier first started to his feet and
flung off his hat, and had sunk trembling
and half fainting on chair, for she recog-
nized him.


You hain't any business TO interfere be-
tween me and my wife" said Tompkins,
sulkily, cowed by the attitude oF the soldier.


+" Your wife exclaimed the soldier
with the very concentration of contempt
expressed in bis voice, and pointing to him
with an indignant finger.


Who are you2" asked TompkIns, with
an air of efrontery.


d" Il am Harry Jones, since you asked"
replied the soldier, " the owner of this
house and this land, which you will leave
this very hourl As for Molly" softening
his tone as he turned to the woman now
sobbing Historically, +" she shall choose be-
tween u.s."


90 Harry" sobbed she, while Tompkins
stood dumb with astonishment, take me,
save me


With one step he was at her side, hold
ing her in his arms. What do you mean,
treating this poor child SO I? Did you think
because she had no earthly protector, that
there was not God in heaven against your"


No man who is cruel to a woman is ever
truly brave, and Tompkins skunk away like
a beaten spaniel.


The next day had not passed away before
every body in town knew that Harry Jones
had come home alive and well, to rescue his
much-enduring, patient wife from con-
straint worse than that of British prison
bat what they all said, and what Harry
said. and what Molly felt, must leave you
to imagine. for here the legend ends Stu
dent and .SchooiBlate.