Year: 1876

ures to be brought before II, and many
a race had been run to gain the
| first telling of some important mess age
that had come to the quiet people along
the way. As IL be uld bear the silence
no longer, be called his daughter from her
place at the gate where she could watch
lar along the road. and asked her to read
to him The scattered papers he had been
overlooking, and YET, ere nalf was done, he
grew too impatient TO listen, and bidding
| her lock them In the old oak chest that
stood against the wall, he said: "Marths,


what say our neighbors who have returned
from Philsdelphia-bring they no,woro?
1 regret much 1 did not try myself to have


been taken there; anything were better
than this waiting" "None have returned
| as yet, father and though / have watched
eagerly for some one TO ask, mono have
passed by that could tell me sught." ''It
Is strange neither of those who sped away
so fast yesterday does not return. Surely
the delay bodies evil TO our cause. Per
chance English gold or slsvish fear has
turned from their purpose our leaders, but
II so, others will rise and crush them
down and we will yet be free. No, no,
their hearts are true as steel, and
'tis but some weighty matter of right and
justice they would settle before
they finish their work. / like not that
young Tory, Reginald Clinton, who Is
ever at your side, Martha, and would fain
have not let him have had the same
cnance with Robert and John, and yet,
for the friendship that his mother has for
you, 1 could not bid him nay when he
asked my permission with them. For
which one have you watched so snxiously
to-day, Martha, or are your smiles and
favoIs alike for all? 1t will be noble re-
ward one will receive, and worthy will he
be of it, and vet not to every one would
hor NJ ead hrrr hay hrox va la6c
and have we'll earned their right to little
rest at home ere they are ordered to
march again. But If Reignsld so loves his
king, why does he not fight tor him? /
could honor better a soldier, though foe,
than a Sinking coward, though friend.
But why wait they so?" While her father
was speaking, Martha had listened. as was
ner wont, quietly and respectfully, but
the color had swept from the fair, slender
neck to the broad, white brow, and
her eyes shone with suspense and
anxiety as her fingers smooted the
silky ears of the greyhound who rested
his head ON her kuee. "Why, father, you
do not intend your words to be taken Sc
riously, do you? You do not mean that
yOu"-"Yes, yes; / do mean that the first
of those three who shall bring me the It'd
ings OF independence declared by Congress
shall have your hand, with my full con-
sent, and when my word is given it stands.
And you can scarcely object, for you have
never refused the attentions OF either OF
them. So be ready TO transfer your
thoughts from your canvass and worsted
to the one who first shall claim his pr "a,
and much does the farm need younger
head and younger hands than mine to
manage it, and then if L am takeu away
suddenly you will not be alone, for 1 have
dreaded that many times for you, Martha,
and wished that you might have husband
aud protector when l leave you. Come,
kiss me, dear, and then 1 will try and
sleep awhile. 1 am tired with waiting
and watching for some word"


Calling her pet greyhound after her, she
slowly walked down the winding road
that led from the house to a
quiet place under the elms where
she could see the road and yet
be hidden from observation, and,
throwing herself on the long grass at the
foot of the tree, she was soon deep in rev.
cries.


81 love not at all Reginald Clinton. He
is too proud and dOmlneeTing, as If he
would like and even enjoyed the power to
crush with a word or look those VINO dared
oppose him in any way; and but yester-
day, when he came to bid me farewell, as
ne bent to kiss my hand, he said in a tone
OF assurance, Il shall claim this as mine
before many hours and foolish girl was,
l could not keep my fingers from tremb-
ling and my eyes from dropping low as
he spoke, ior his voice is very soft and
sweet when he speaks to me, aud he is so
gentle with all his pride. / would hate TO
wound his feelings, Tor his mother has
been so kind to ME for all these long years
Why did my mother die and leave me so
alone? On! she could tell me what was
right for me to do. L know Reginald hates
our cause, though he listens quietly when
father talks against the Tories. / wish the
war had never begun, and then we could all
have been friends would like so to 90 To
England, but father will never take me;
but Reginald says il will go with him /
shall see the splendid castles and meet the
lords and ladies there, and even 60 to the
very spot where my mother lived. But i
like not for him to laugh at John and Rob
ert Sherman, for though they are not so
polished as he they are brave and honor
able. When they bade me adieu they were
not so graceful or confident as he, but |
remem Der when Robert touched my fa-
gers his own were icy cold, and Yet L
know his heart was warm, for mine
throbbed fast, and could see him bite his
lip as II TO be quiet. John was hastier In
his last words than his cousin, and yet
have not forgotten his face. Which Will it
be?" and, beginning again her watching,
the young girl went TO the low stone fence
and leaning over 1t looked snxiously far
up the road.


The afternoon wore away into the twi--
light, and then the shadows deepened un-
Ill the long hours of the night were past,
stIll there came no word, and the morning
ot the 4th dawned clear and fresh, with the
dew sparkling and glittering on the long
b. de or the young corn that rustled In the
wind, and in the heart OF the roses that
swung their ce sers to every passing breeze.
Higher aud higher rolled the sun up the
sky, nnul everything lay quivering in
the heat, and yet no tidiDgs from the
city, towards which so many eyes were
turned. Then, wbel the people were sing
log. like a wave about tue hail, when Con-
gress was in Sc ssio8, tie word passed from
lip to lip like lightning flash that it had
been signed, that independence was