LOVE IN A BARREL

Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 330, 21 June 1890, Page 6

LOVE IN A BARREL

* ■• .', - . ■■•■•- i 'By< Howard ■p-n.ai'' | '-■ '^'ioitig^bw of :^oraie dozieii or ;sß ' great stone, .mffl-~3--M& ; ]-tio%^a^ a4 d- * ' AMBJ^ W^ { WitK- J< »Ufli~ whiftn^dHntti.flpuif, • ;«ftpmife ! %lf oSii-Bheas indv-h'al^aopts^Hipbn'a: they 1 W-'^^-s*2finsr'ifooW, 'DrMM^arji^mWM^T - th'^Wver w&u6 loafflng'"(Wth' barrels of 'flqUr or, o6k*ilA'eal,"the r sfid<itiiJf "the 1 'Btfev^fe's" akd. 1 the - creWk^df'-bloc-fiß 'ahd^MUles' ebtypiß fryvoi, stony wall, to stony w.a1}.,., •O^thaaebKs, lounge : :sail6Wi4^a^CT'bre6on©B,6rpe}^ dub cues d'bVti th^ir b&eU^' ana .cockelhata'.or,] Mpnterey,capi' iitkftf.-theh? lieo^ C , Ipgol pgo j I t'tne " rdao?M%out'of ! ih'4 i^U'';dbßrB l(stand;,'clustered-iS^-MuSer'.^ia '^nicies' ,bf M\%',:; farmers' . ' diikg^'by iekin^ibf^eiglit, s ten <?t , iiwelye mule's, : ..'. aiid ;whicb,}fta | /ej,B6i^ehine^p^eiijc( f jir as jPitts-^ ■-' bWg^;-. U ( '..f,Y, ( ".^,,jj' Qi'Y j;.. ( j _,;,{ jrj ;j ; : .;-,f', tj "i:'-,; .•f^PgOT^eiu-fkisiOT^de.pf-^the ■rpad: ( fro.m itlie:. . a^;^ w ,^! I^-^,:'i|bri^ipgjT.wi{liv'tliiß.l iwewg ; w%^r3.i^tjhi»,fche.nighw m e fill thel . i^.ence:iwith"'^^he.braw^ug! of. thei(|. hurrying rusnvVHere atid there; streams shootr under the ~ bnag?sy^d^t!flopd.gates,;;and.set the huge, 1 grqaning u whe^ls, iiia-tu.rnipgj and the.rude miich'uiery and great'mill-stoues to jarring a'nd . . turning in answer. ' '•Such, one hu^dyeAajcewsi' ago, wore the famous old BrandvwinftnflpV 11 nnlls li which ground more meal during the 'devolution and S&tHebld West India ttade v thah w&s ground ■ a^^o^e^^iili^mtry.. L i;r.(iM;.l ,r.-\;i.l\?i fir, fj.-.'i." •;■ . '. - ■■/ " It.*a».;tKe:!evening of the ;12th of September ': itt:th'e'yearil77i7-.o Tho fellow sunlight streamed : imihtoiighsthe "A'indovKs',' and iafi- the'rooiii was i ujlr of ?ithe . smell supper.' The^ blue : ohinacubs tand' saucers and plates and dishes; theripewterr--pd l onß, and' ~ the iron knives and twofproiiged. forks, polished till tKey shone liko silver^ caught i the light,- 'and -^winked and . sparkled and twinkled back again at- the broad ; yelloVipatchds b^liglit W tho» tlopr. '•' ' '. . Friend Sparks audhio family 'sat at Supper,■but though •; the- siiiell of it was so good; the knives and ;> forks and spoons' clattered' in' a" listless fashion, and the J family ate and 'drank' without omuch'-heai t iuHHo'|ma'tter. " " I ! don'tkn6w," saiid.FrWiii 1 Joseph., layiugi, down his knife un'd f drk aud'lpb king around at : his ; daughters^ and more' .especially at r hiip niece, MattieDikon," I don't Knbw^svhat it is that sets you £irls so agog Over* ,'& laced hiit and epaulets and a blue -^dat and. brass butloivs. Here was General' Washington arid his- army not: more- 'than* u' month' iri toway^ancl now because he'has goneahd take3 , 'dvrky' with hira . his snipe-jack aidejf-de-cainp'fiu-i ciptaina and majors," all 'the.' woinen in Wiluiiugtb'n 1 aad] Brandywin'e are in the vapour's." " ' ,'• Now, meh are • not fluick at seeing tljirigs, : . but the Avomeii knew Very ' well ' why Mrittie Dixpn's'eyes were red. ;lji t clcM, a gloom ho/l I fallen Upon them allpye>- Since .-,il 'youtijj fta-iiie:' j had ridden down from Cha'dd's Ford that ; morning bringing the hewa'oEa grpdf- Jjkitle j that had bo<n .I'o'tight up' the Brandy v.-fji,:.-. . Later in the day two farmers'^ wiiggoufe 'I'ft'l passed through the .village, bringing each a toad of wounded ,men lying'ih the straw. . . But ''.friend 'Joseph -.Apatite did. not notice. Mattib'sredeyeß. ,' - „'.'"' ..,.'- --*' I J do not/" said he pvesehtly', separating the ddn?t in! his emph>abi3,' '/ Ido not see what it is about a shedefer of blopcl that turns a, woman'sliead. 'I^' for ohe/ should beaorry to flee a 'daughter or a niece 01 mine tied to sucli an , unregenerate,. soulless son of Anak as one of' those yoiing men who inalcfe' bloodshed a trade', and think' that a, '.blu^coat ; .and bras'"' ■ buttons, exctise .murder, ,Now, ,there was a battle fought yesterday,',', he, continued, leaningback in hischaii: and folding ,his hands, 1 " and ho doubt . mniiy likely , y bung men killed or mauned for j'Ufd, ( • There was that Philip Vau Oleiff whVcame 'here •so often when—''" '.Tho { worthy' frierid was suddenly interrupted in his • ! monologue by ; Mattie Bixoii rising so precipitately as to Iqipck her chair; over backwards with a loud clatter upon 'the floor, and then • hurryipg f rom the,room;without .a word, feeling .in her pocket for her handkerchief' as' she wont. Friend Sparks stared afterh'er.withop eney ea. A momentary j^ause foilov/ed as tne door , banged behind tli % e.gii'l. , . • " How, could ;thou; talk • gp, Joseph ? " said the irftoil mother v pret»eutly.; ' : Didn'-t thou aeo that it was ns much' as sue could do to contain her spirits V " Theix she, iou, iJttshed back her chair and followed her nice?. ; ■ " i3othoration ! " said .Friend Sparks, and then he also putibed buck his.ohair with a loud scrape upon the floor, aud taking his pipe from the mantel-shelf, filled it with tobacco and lit it with a, coal he chose very carefully from the embers' on the hearth. ; . • . His three daughters, Itebeoca, Mary Jane, and Susan, aaid nothing, but as ho wout out of the door in a swirling cloud of tobacco smoke they exchanged very meaning glances, '■ . - ■ BViend Jbseph Sparks was one right wollltnown in tha mining-circles of his day; a wealthy man as times went, a^keeii bargainer, but a3 honest as the palm of your hand. He .wns the owner of three.of tho largest of the Brandy-wine mills, and sat in tho gajiory, as it was ca Lied, in IVioAds', meeting; for, like all of the Brandy ■ wine milleWyho. was a Quaker. • ' •■• He >vas. a, i&an perhaps too '^«.".sn and^'cau'stic- , in his speech, but with a , gocd sound heari~ buried m the prickly husk. ' H» alone of all those Quiikor. millera da'rod' to grind: flour duripg ihe darK days of Valley Forgo. Now he . leaned over^the front' . of ■ the ,: garden feeling very uncotni!fri;;ib;/V ?it the- : thought -of having made Mattie cry, looked .absently up the road and puffing cumug wreaths of smoke into- the breathless air. Theaunhad sefc.iuul the glimmering 'grey of twilight had fallen. A. cart -came slowly moving down tho wiiLteßtrctehofroaO, afnnii cart from up -in the country. A hoard W.-h laid across it and on tho board snt-tivo inen; one a farmer, the ofchor aii oilicer in the Continental atmy. ..■ ; ■ .' jFriend Spai'ka watched tlieni with a sort oil dull curiosity, -fiovawmy oi" the- broken armyhad passed by ones and twos iliroiij;h thov'-Ilape that day that the sharp edge of intefesfc was worn off. • .; ' . • > :. . ■ But as tho cai'fc came up- to him it fitopped. "Do you kiiow any oue .living ,liore by name JoßephSparks?" said tho oflicer. " I am Joseph Sparka," answered tho miller. opening his gale and coroing ont. " Wh^ 'hn.s tfiee there in the cart, friend •■" looking- into the Btraj-r. ' Y Aftiend of yours/' Raid tlso ofiicer, " who" was hurt yesterday in the ba tile." As he apokothfl figm-o raised itself from tli'ik straw whero it lay; niul turtiO'l toward, thcr miller a face white as death, tho head and jawa bound ai'odnd with ;i bloody clolh, and a pair Of eyes dull and languid. The good Quaker hardly rocoj-niaod in the pale, woe-begono figure the gay young Ma jor Van Clielf, who had viaifed at his houso bo frequently during tli« lust rnontli. He stood staring, ficrup.). hclil : ng his pipe idly in his hand. "Is tlite .'imch liutt :•"' said ho, at ■ laat. "I don't know," said {-lir; 'youns; snan ' faintly. ■ '* Cun't you lodgo ln'tn aoiriev/iinrc till he some doctoring ?" uskedfho ofiicor. ' Friend Sparks stood a moment sunk in troubled thought. "2f.ay," said hf. 1 at last, "I can't bring him into the hyiwe. If th:British sHo'uld come, oe it's llk"ly they will, il i would bring trouble that 1 h:tvo mo rij;l-t !'•> ' shoulder. I can lodge hitn ah Mi': mill, iu-.'J \r : !t j make him as comfortably a» I i;.vii." Aud &.i it was arranged. Friend Joseph followed tho c.-ivt down tl~» short hill to tho mill door,. 'iiid there k;i\v Iho. . .wounded man carried into thiloft. whoro :>■ bod j ofjempty bags was mnrle lipon apilo oi whont. ,' Then leaving ihe mill foreman to v/atchtlie '

Imet^Wp.at the dpor^^^ : hMt!^4iAr4«k; entry erijjpea Km'W the wrist with bbjft hands.! -,**. -incie,.tpll he die?' vJU'lm'* i-i-j/H ;(>■>:.;. ■-'•'> • : " I ttph't "kiiow, eaid Brien4 Sjpa^iWt/.to a,ns ~ycrii;ig ivrpfsjoff^ ', -V,- JiQ, .- I r ■ think . flpt» ■ • 1J8.9 coul'd fjusl see, ;nor. ; pajte, face in, itb.o gatherii(g darkness*"".'.'' u '.-f-v ■••■''l" ! Jv'- f.-t-'is^^'"-'*'"" 1 ' H " <r oh. imcle !'* she said, in the sftijjjjtigasping whisper. „.V^fl[e,qdtjedm§lxyj najfry^hint?b efore Kewen'l! aw^y v .lfhediesi my ;hp«:tiWilli breaks" i ,. Friend. M<*&* *inp&lW\\ffltiW t i<*r» f^T l^: Tffa'tn going for Doctor, SftalJqrosf-^^Baid heat laat, audttheu :Mattie j letrkov;Wft:!*ia«*r.a i hai,.h« left her," shutting the Mtt"Jgr^oiKi,^Oor;.Tery Bbf tly^hind hjm/ -<•;-,^ A '.-■-: „vi<if i^i g" ■■ :!\<«jLfterail,itis npjsu<jh«gi;eft.t:.ma«»r ) '!.Baid J ; a8>o >: :»nd) j^te^-ftpAxto^n-t-id across tne.road-ftpmiWtemillso the'hdtiße;trithß Bta^F», ( darknesß ? ,if l <{lt.is ( ft ßWo»d .stroke .Upofc the' side of „the( ~ head, .b'ufc.!the.braitaiiijß..not iiij ured^ . He is oujyj faint? froiri loss of . Wobdi* I sewed up the>ut, and, I'll ;come> again to see him .tQ-morrbwiii morning. I: wonder^' he 1 added, '' that they should 'have' Bent him here to- Wilmington instead of taking him to jPhiladelphia along with them." o l >■> ■; • '^••'i; ." «» Never mind; 1 ! said JPriendi Sparks. - - 4< He w here now, and I'lllnake him' as oomfortable aa I'PantV -:."'•• .'!■••■:■•• "•'""•■ .<•■ ' ;'j; ! ; c ; Mattie Dixon awakened at early dawning tile 'neit inonlintf with- the dripping of the^ua > falling upon, the ifoof , pat ! 'pat I and an ! mj : usual sound of jmen's; rvoices out in the ' *oad ' before the housej loud' -talkifrg , and laughter. She jumped; out of bed a'Ad rah to the nindd.tty land saw upon theotßerside of the road^a pighb 'that.made her heart stand s£ill. : ;'.'* ' (! ": >i ; / ' ' V, ""' ,;hArow;6f '^taoked'^m-isketa^ etob'd rutiaer < Jh* ! tteee 'among the yejlow leaves. lAdcoutrOTjents, \ haVelaabks aiid cattridgerbbx^s ! huiiig • f rom M* iorossed i'baybnetfe,' an'd sqiiattitfg^ToUing^and isitting;bbqttHhe-!gtOuad%6re feoin^ tfrpscbM 6f sbldiersiirilaUig^enadiei: Mtsy>ith%tit^^g- C 'gings^up6h legtf,< and; tne r blazef' of red ! ooate shining ifrom • under ' the ' cloaks hung '.10-psety across their shoulders: ■- -Three or ! four jofneerssat upb'n a' bench! between two of the maple tfees ' and tne white snibk'e ( from ; a fire 'rose Sluggishly !up through ' the h^lf -4aked jbrafrcfceW^ 1 ' ' • " . -'" ",, '". ' ."" ,"„ '„;,,.' v !. vThe-BJUisti had coiiae.' -: r t '-, .-,./' waiting an' iristant,- Mattie surtpeq on a petticoat ov.er her uightg? wn » «*« .V\»er baVe fe^t ran down stairs'and' burat into her nridle'stooih; "« f UnoleS"^^?^^, "/the 1 British have cbme!"- ■■""•■; - Va( , lp; ■;_!''-,. rli .;''..'/ <,:. ; «iT6's6ph : Sharks' sat up in b>d as, though moved W a spring. "' . '"'\ . ',•■■*. : - •<«Ohj|/< f '-'-oried' t thelgbrl.^rulgiag- her hands, "Jthe solditers wiltflrid him' and kill 'hini I ; !. offend MmtortKe-milks.?! "■• """• ; '^ ::i -' '•' ' -';,'« ".'' i •;?' Bbthenitibni!*'- eaid'Friend Spiirksj . " thou •think' df bbthing bSit' the young man. Gk> and getdrfesspdi' -Thou'sa' speotaole."' : " ! - -• '•'■'■'. '< >filluh&>vra»-aalf 'a Tbarrel of ■flouy,'-' said JFriend* Joseph} as ! the rfkmily sat at a mebnpholy breakfast that morning, "Pft-getj'fcin awayaseasyasgoose.grease." And then again they all sat silent in thought. ; ' ■ . ' ■' ." Uncle/'^said Mattie, suddenly, "doesthee remember' ! thoffe double ' barrels that thee ■ had made to Send corhnib'al to' Jamaica in the Nsiiicy schooner befdff the ~war? : Could &' mih' get iuto'-orieof-thom?"'.-'' 1 - ■ : .- ;; :- ,: „' r .'"Perhaps '^0," ■ said the .'miller, ."•<• if "-frhe afopped'Buddeuly and' pushed back his ; chair. "Why. thou's hit jit, girl," ,he cried. _,"\Ve might Dai'rel him up find' send him 'OjE r eh, mother? Why. 1 ' one 'of those/ West Indian double barrels, would be the very thing. ' ' V, , . „ \.ti \v^»' 'might Btittd ' him to , sißtei? Jane, in CHe3i^ri.".saidKeliecca i Sparkß, looking, atliey hiiflbdndJ : ; ' ' ; '.-'•■ ''' ';'; ' ''.'.'«'.' A'.."'- --' "No; no ; 'that 'would never do," "said ( the milter. '" No man couW lie cramped in' a barrel iive' of six hours. Remember, too, that he's Wdunded. I tell thee t what -wecau do. Wo can send hini'toObijisin Juno Penny ; that's only foUv milea! We might say that we were sending ' a^'arrel to Chestcivand they would never know that it stopped on the way— tschk!"- said ho, suddenly. "Here we are in a nit; who's to take the barrel?" - 1 t . ■/,. . It was' a' point that they had hot thought of. "Oari't 'John Bihuey/ take him?" said Rebecca. '-Johnßinney was/the 'mill foreman. (i I;don't 'see how he 'ooilld," paid.' Friend .Sparks;', "they would know, that ,Tphn ItinuejWould never go t6 Chester with a barrel ,ot flour. If the bdys/'-Were'piily home (by. 'the boy b lie meant the'.twp Eeuben and John), thev iiiight do it." '/ ' > . ; In tho pause that followed, Mattio suddenly. •:. -mw ai'id went to her .uncle and ku.tjaled bo«ide i his chair. " Uncle," siiid she in a low voice. . '"-What is it, Mattie,'-".'' ' . ' .',/;, - ■' ! u Ovn day when aunt and thee wore away 'from home! put on the-.clothes that Eeuben ■'■.yore when he wis a boy." She bowed her ; head, and a' long pause of silence followed. "The old clock in the .corner said .sharplv, '''tick) tick/' At last Friend Sparks broke the silence, and he spoke iu a voice 1 more'- gentle tllau, his usual- acrid tone.. tJ Thou. 'may pUt them on -again, Mattie," said he.'^ .. . .' Colonel Gorae had made the counting-room of the great north mill his head-quarters. He was lightijnffvhispipe at a candle .when the glass jdoor op-jued-i ana- Friend Joseph Sparks camo in n his.beaver;upou.his head, a corporal osborting liiin, holding the sleeve of tho -Friend's co-iife between his thumb and finger. ■ ■.-.-■' He had 'come, tlie .Friend said; to ask for a permit.to, pass a .baixel of flour through the lines.. • ■ „-,. - ... •• ■ . '„ .*• '•-'■ " Take off your hat,y. r said Colonel Gorse. <f N/iy,'*, said tho, i'rieud, "It is aKaindtmy .■cons'cisnee to tako off my hat to any man." M Curse ybui 1 con|~cieuce!" said the colonel. "Take off your hat." , , 1 ' 'f tSTay, 1 ' aaid tho Friend, " I cannot take off ray'h'at." " .-."■.'.■. The oinierl^ who stood near the colohel leaned.over and said otiiqothing to him. : " ; I d'ou'.fcqaie-a curse who he is," said the colonel in reply to the 'whispered word. "He shan't wear hia hat before me. Take oft" hisliat, corporal." _ • - • -..- The Friend made no objections os the corj>6rdl liftedofthißhatandtoßsl3d.it apon the bench beside tho door. " JS'ow, thßn|" said the colonel, "tell me your bu:-;ine£¥3 f" , , ' , • . ■ The opening did not seem very propitious, but Friend Sparks began his story again. He had a Bister iu Ohoster to whom he had promised a -oarrel of flour. It should have gone yesterday, but he had put off sending. Hie sisler" would b'u looking for it, and he wa« sorry that sho should not got it. Would the colonel lot him soiul it through the liues by his hired bojf-th?.t miming ?• -■ •• Can't; your sister buy Hour, instead of send ing tb 3Jvui>(lywiiio for it r" > ",\Vh\\ t!J;it swj; i'rieiitl," satrl tho miller, " molif.'y hiis been vdry scs-rco with ua'of Lite. My; sister's liusbiuul is on a voyage to the' West Indies,' And- she k>oko tv> mo to. help her in these maitsvt'j -so, fit' thou 'll- let me, I'll send that barrel .ofiiiour-thi.s.'inoniing. '.'<•■• ; - -.- Oucai niui-e .the orderly 'Whiupcred in- the coloiiKrg ear. ■ Purhajis ho told ; th'e ch'ief officer that Joseph Sparks was one oFthe richest meti in that part oli the country.' Tho two held a muttered talk for a few minutes, and than the colonel turned nl>rui»tly to the. Friend with wore respect in. lti:> v ui iic than he . had shown bo.for3. • "What time did you want to send (hat fJourV" sfiidlio. * . . u About iiiiu.' o'ebok," sai'l Friond Josspli. ■ "Wei},'* ea'd tho colonel. " huv" it ready by nine o'clouk, aad I will lot it yo through »l:c linos;"' ' ' ■■■ „ So <tt nine o'clook a cart half-f»U of straw r-lood ill' fi'ont of tho door at tho south mill, ■with a preity, pule-faced boy Rtiiiidhiy at the horse's head. -The nitiler his foreman lowered a great double-barrel bv a block aiid I;nr;kle from tho loft above, Two or throe soldiers were standing in the rain' with their cloaks 'over their ahoulderßi idly watching the o,perntibn. The}' did not fioc three au;;er-holes in the top of the barrel. As it touched the ground Friend Sparks carelessly threw a biig ovev'tl-e top of it; ". "Tliat'ero is the 'biggrsfc'barrbl of flour that ever' l see,'* said- one of tho men taking hi» pips out of hi's inouth. ' " It's' a coiible-b-irfcl, friend," snid thu milbr, brushing his liunds tr-gulher. " It U tlit; kind that we used to sou:! 10 the Wc»t Indies." " Whoro be '.hat -j'.inj^ 'r* 1 paid tin- " To Chester,'' said iho miller brii'Jly. " !\'ow then, John, c.-i-y." They tunict ,tli':.liunel ou it.isule and rolled it slowly up tin 1 yUiik to tho cart. , '• You roll it up a a if if. were i'lil) of glnss," said ouo oi thy soldiors'. " Lot , 1110 help you." " 'N"ev!?r miiul, liii.-iiit." wiid tlu miUn'. " '\Ve can hnnrlli' if. boMiM 1 witiioi'it thy help. So— -now fTohu~>-'.li:it < a it." mid tho baVrel vv.'ifi rolli'd ii..ro tin- curt and fastened in its - r \n(;<-: vil'.i risj'es. J !id soliiiers did not notice tiiiif it !ly (■[ ou its side, tlm end neo rest the hcr/il 0? ilia Cfivli ruidO'.l a littlu higher than tho c!si. v, .is •hr i 7 wct)*- by Colonel Gorse*:i hond-'junrfers \y-X' ov.lev'.y who'liavl bolrwiulfd b'rieml Joseph •;•,.-><.{ :\t 7,hi- door, A young boyi:»li-io<»'<ii!g ii-.)ut-'n;it'.t wva^r-fiil i:i <i clon.k ant; upon a horso npnr Invalid tw'> i.roo]- i »;rs « it'i a corporal stoo.il or-sido*.hii'-, fl.'c muzzle.-- of thoir guns poiulod dowji\v-:i'tl, ihn flini locks sheltered from the drizzly mm imtl«r llieir overcoats. "Is this thn barrel o.t Hour 'r" said tlio orderly, peering into tho c.irt.

\ ,f ■ «« I<& V plagu? il^6us*l(tftage*H£ -<f &' [■ . k.s It;fe.eiMier to $enfcit r in suotfbfll&jj?; sftjd w - r iV>^t«»« i n»«n'a''e goliigta Obeit^V'^^la'tfo ( -&roefcly,^p&intto£''W *theiyt»iihg bffi% m$ W three troopers, "They will, ai&;yps:fmx th»nderbolb'"Hiß miid teuiefl d|^W|Mttips ' i flight. j either: deaih^tb thii .woundeKimWy Wlw 'Wp^ict .hfit e-itof-ttfy five httofrs i9,tt©.ba^lfi|;jfceiidiftili I deatfof ox^pe&a)&tyrttired ; iaJbttjdtowJwro©B»i or-else* ■flh&Uld'the* secret of iwi. .omt&lsse tfflprißdnmenfc, fo> WniMt 4M jiei?---j ' « Forward! l ' saiji.the young ojpc^, I . anicl ; off ij men mßrclung'be(<i36':fli'e'cdrt;; ; '■,'; I 'r':^ r .j' ;,,>{■•' ..j . i Ivl?ji«'.^mill« f ßtoodil(jokiiig: after them ;'u»t|l I 1 they had pßSsed.the crest of -the hill. „'/.f' ', >•""'• i\ <H r *» Mo yofi^wcki Stov. Sparks?" the ordorly ; asked, looking.into hia face., ,« ., , ; ..,, ... .. ! ■ »Ndyi"lffdthe^ad;wii;ha#rt,3hut,l . feellchffly iTMifi Ml jfb $6ns!r "w ■,' "■ il'i i . Mattie r had' he^rd^the.^b^- as .^ell asjher i imole, and'aa She rode dlbng.nuhWtUii'g tKtfjroin andine tough* shaking of the dart.'he&tlwiMfhttS teemed like,a hiye of bees, plaimiiig ajafljplani ning 1 aJJ'M:',how' J flhe BKpaldj'i^e.he^Rre^euß i burden $t J Cousin /.T^ne '#esny T £', ( %u.Be'.. -'Sho made up fyel" found aiont^ that s^iild'tljey; pass i it by, she 'would 'confess to the y'qung JipjitOr , nant. , For imprisonment - , in the Ixu^lts/, was / better than the chance of dea^han.tlie l<juS:Ticl.e . to Cheater* . ' ■' „ < - j ' -I <..',< nnlwi ) ' - ' ; tjvq' miles from 'the tojrn r |her^ jsja 1 little jjbrawling' stream/^ then .'known, by, <]fcb,e f StfrbdpUname of JSkillpdh, pr, ( Stq}^ l ß^oo i jfi;. ! .At fh' e r .edge of tti e vs^ogde, close 'to ;,wo3 ! a n cdmp£ny,V>f.to^^ . | io'lw^roli thehighroM .for > sti^ijggl^r^ j #9^ t^o ■■ i^V^oatfarmyr/^eyvhadibuilt.a rudej^eltet : j oJ^gnce'railß;aii!i ( bir^hvifo6^ t»eai^e the (road, r ! ' j l; 'ab the^ odmjpjuiy^oamp by, \ one ox.the)B.enti-f 3 jnels .on guaifr stopped . them,, and .the young '.lieutenant showed the passes for. the cart and ■ .its' burden. •' ,'- ! " ;. ':':,,•. '.-. ,:'.,'./■ ' i " ; li6ok'ee, Jaok," said the soldier, calling ' >'to' ( 'the others. " Here is a chap witti'the biggest {barrel of flour that ever I see. ,Tell them to fetclfthe pan, and we'll fill it." '.",.'• 'For 'a moment Mattie's head spun dizzily; '■ [then she 1 cried . out, , in a,shiill ,yoipe :■•*' You * Bhau^'tou^h the flour ! .The barrel is not 1 yours; yoJi shan't to'uch ; it. '/ . j :•* Ziburidß"!" said the man., " Why shan't we ■I xouohit? Can't. you. spare a little pinch' of Iflcfur out of such a big, barrel as that F" j ",Ni>!,". cned Mattie, paasionately. "You f ishan't 1 have, it.". ,''... , ' „ ; j " Let the.man have a little," urged the liuu- . r' r - „ .*-.■; ; •.•-:. ; . 4 .'',5&0', he. shan't have it ! , " she .cried, . more ■' andincire vehemently. ; . . 'Fwo or three of the others had come for- . ward now, and one stood by with a hatchet in r ' u . By. the Lord Harry! ''said the man who : )iatl just spoken, ,M we shall have some, I jteli'ee ! Here, : Dick," to the. pther sentry , Now give me tho axe till I "' knock in tl^e head." . ; - .-. " : ! " Let.me go," . Btjreamed Mattie, struggling with: the fellow who had caught her by the i farms' 'and held thein behind her back. : " What is tho matter there. ? " said a. hnrali yoice, and Mattie, turning her hoad. saw an 1 J elderly bflicer wrapped in » cloak, standing by i ' t^e fence beside the road. i VjThey want . to rob me," cried she iu a gasping voice, "and they shan't do it! They , shan't do it!." . -• •• j ." What's the niattei', my men ? " tho officer • , askedi coming f qrvvard. One of the soldiers «x- --'/ plained, and thp officer turnud to Mattio with soVnei surprise. ! 4< : And you will not give tho . poor, man a little of your flour V " said ho. r . "No,V said Mattie, "I cannot." ' ; " Butwhy. ? V said the officer. . '■ Mattie hesitated a moment , and then a sudden determination came 'j upon her. "-'l^will tell you," said ahe,.^' but I cannot tell thein." . i '' Vory well,: said the officer, .*'teU-me, then." And he led heya little\apnrt tb the -side of tlie road. The pool 1 girl hesitated for a moment or two, .looked to the right and the loft like a hare in'the toils,. theni catohing him by the arm and raising heraelf uponttp-toe she breathed into his ear: :,•£ Because I am:a.;poor gh%' and am {jrying 'to save my; 'deav . friend, who is a yrpund^disoldierof the American army and is , iii yonder barrel.".- '' '. i. '-..■ i The ofncer.glared~at.her'- silently -for a- little while ';, beyond that he neither chftugefcl countenance nor made a starts ; 1 breathleasly, to hoar what ho would say/, Suddoniyihe turned to the others. '.' Who gavo the order to pass this bo v through - tlo Chester? ?» .. : • . .. * ( " Colonel Qowe," answered the young lieutenant. . :: Once more th,e officer hesitated for a ra'omcnt. 1 " Tory well," said he at last, " fchen let him go." , • • ' Mattie gave him one eloquent look of grdti- , tude, and then, without waiting a iiioment. ran to her cart, and clapping tho reins, roilo oft" as . fa.3t as the sober olcl horse could draw its' load. ! . - : ' ■ iv. 4 . •; , '. jAs they climbed the steej) hill beyond the brawling atream the yoiing officer reined back ; Ms 'horse beside the cart; "Whnt was. the reason you. wouldn't give the hieri some Hour ?" said he. '• . , .... I "Because I would get whipped,'? said Mattie, looking up at him with her dark eyes. , *' Mister Sparks ib quite a man," she added,.',' but," with a grimace, '• when "lie whips he whips Imrtl." • ; ■ . . . i Tho young officer laughed aloud . • '" And that was your wonderful secret, \yasit?" suid lie.., ] "Yes," said Mattie, "I did' not want the soldiers to know it. for fear they'd laugh at nio." Then suddenly, "There is a farmhouse a mile up the road yonder, and Mr. %ivka 'told m.e to stop there fora letter if you'd wait till Mrs, Penny wrote it." v ! i "No," said tho young officer. "We, make no stops till we get to Chester.-" . : " Very well," siiid Mattie, with a show of indifference, "just as you please. It wouldn't tako over fifteen minutes, and -she cau mull a crock of the best hard cider to be had in the ■Stat-jof Bolaw-ore." .-'•', young soldier rode on for awhile in silence. Helmd ,beun marching- in., tho rnin- with the tlttee men suiee.daylight that morning. He Iwd h^d nothing 'to 1 0.-vt but a piece of bread and meat, and. nothing to drink but a cup of lukewarm tea, which he' had swallowed in Wiltnington. Tho thought of the --nulled cider and the warm rest for a few minutes was alluring. '" Where is the house ?" said lie, suddenly. . >"oh, half a mile or so along the road," said Mjittie. • ' It don't mntter if. ', you won' t stop. It; was only a letter that I was to t:tku if I had gone to Chester yesterday." Tlie young officer reined back his' horso to where, iho troopers were plodding behind, and a fe\v words passed between them.' ".'Very well," said he,, riding forward to tlio cart again,- ♦• we'll Btqp.for fifteen minutes, if it wpu't-. take you anV longer." . ■ ' ■ hdart began to beat 'as though to ' - Bm'other her ; she felt her eyoa grow aiistv wi>h teal's. "Very well," she s.ud, tiftor nwhiUj, when she could trust ht-rscU' to siwak,' ; .ju4t as you choose." How Mattie ever got the soldiers into (-he kitchen of tho farmhouse and her cousin into tho back entry without the #ood old -.lame's betraying her she never could tell. Perhaps it was becausu . Friend Penny was near-sighted'; perhaps it, was because sJift \i*as so bewildered by the coining of tho soldiers th:it she did not recognise Mattio at firat. ' Audiiow at l:ist Mattie haJ he in the entry back of iho diiiiiigroom. . •-Coußin Mary," »ho - snitl, " dou;t say anything— don't make a noiso— l am Mn'ttte— hush!" " Mattio ! ! ! ! " cvieu the old l:uly. The sjirl clapped her hand over her mouth', "Hush!" she said U£;iiii. '• IJou r t make a noise— l ojtn't stay— l imißt so Lack to the kitchen— there's 11 man in tho barrel in the cart— send some hurd cider to the kitchen right uwiiy and thf'u >;et him out— l've tuld tliem thfit I was to stop for a Icttor — make bolieveto write 0m 1 ." All this sho suid pantingly and brokenly, and then sho was {»oiie. *■' WJiere's the mullod cider p" saidth-.: j-oun'f licit tcn-int. '• it's coining," Raid Mattio. " I told th-r ol.i lady to fftti'h it rifjht :i wuy. M The! cnrpovrtl luu! lit his. pipe ant] was .'tand--ing looking out of the window, sU-eakcd and blUn-od with rain. " Hullo !" he cried suddenly. "Hi there ! Stop ! Y/ hut's that mn.n doin^ witii tlie horse nnd carl' ;" Afattie looked oui; of tliQ wiii!lo-.v an.l saw John Grimi.'ft, the hired Tn-in, lo'-idin^ {-!u> hw.-,v and cart toward tho shed bijhind tfio hf»U3s. "Oh! he's only goinijt.. ruJ-;-} tin-horsoc.it or Ihq rain,-" eho said'"Kt him uloji«. Hoio coipes tho ciiler." ! . Friend Penny brought it in with trembluig hands anil sot it. down ujiou the t.i b!i>. >l 3,'ov\', ma'am," said MaUii 1 . " yon «n iVtch mo tho iton. I'll f-ixzlo flic ci'.li'-r up. Oh, lam a ma^er-hnnil at nuikinf; cUU-r !" bhu rattled on ; " I'll show ytju linw lo ovo.v: a mull of <.•;.■ far that'll make your wi% atiiud on end. Mfiny :md rn.-uiy a j(i"f^ I havvi browed j'oi- old ,loey Spark-j, and it hud to be juat so or ho'd leather me.'" She hardly know what t>hu wns saving, but she chatted wildly on us slio hoat«il th<iron in Iha tiro, dipping it into tho oMcr until it steamed again, t;\veeteuiug the fragrant bvowu

she said, handing it to the '^609^ ' $ffl<wr'.irfta i JfuyUriNlt i'"'tj"* Ki 3 *'.' , I *; * . •■, i *?'i) - She heard & sound of 4Wi'ffliff?f*Jß |^w?t«piit, & I 'i(6 t; tiSSn^ (ttffh<w&A 01 thatbiicxfoc &st upou t|u *kM iffHtkVfr' .<&&.& tuMirftiA h -.U^ut6nant , : bttetiugjiite 'iaiid a» ' fe « raiwd 1 the- cup^ tp hu ' J^iiiiv^^- - B^ :I Tiiw.'V. lw -^^k: '£b*«& : ''Bi?y<Hi . knoitf :'tha« thiflf house wu ' : \ u ;i!t&M''&iiuj» I &ty% How should.] •knwrW*', : *?>'!.■>* '<■ ' -° :/ • . ; :' ; ' ' • ' ; ;■ ■. ", j . "vHqlloo P -'•aiid -'iffl' cwtea.l .when, they] •4We';p*'m^^'^».!' M '- tfief W.^tood tha 'f'Mati M -tf^'h^ 1 bat "ib,vra.a , hot .the flame , iiat^TOat|i£Hsti;'f<i 1i^ 'brought witli her fromth^fi^ndyw^'iailts, $he eavr that at a:'.uußh,| Alia tifi^^iS»nißeWd : Sthat her uucle had.^enfc a'dßu^ie-b\'rM"o.ne ( firae to Friend Pe«»ny; ,to| ''bi#^Bmplcw)hantt foil, the winter. ; . ' .Vt.., 1 S '/i^naClo^'^Sßadful ride to Chester alwayßj ! reuiaineH I ' 'iri^ner ''memory like some hprndi ! nightmare, ' She. had & dim recpllectiph. of] ] lftarih^?tralfrp bifore ker, of what geemed to Kot 'the^uneaSng' tpaA, the fine rain dashing; I iii heVi^iWd & biltter tightness, in .h^r, thirbat. Hut at ; lalsfrft #a$ biided, aud ( ,ahe lay upon the 1 ! t^diufhßr^jlMjS' spare, room Bobbing;, aud ii cr?if(MM(tho'u£)i' T l^er,neai > t would breal?; „.;' I I " IPei^aM'no 'fyoman.bef ore. pr since, that time „ ha6 6itWi«S h*r iri W flour baxre'l, and : then e£(^a ; nais ( hun for suxp'ked Tiams. . 'ifa|pir V^ ! Cleiiff.'n»de, every effort to find tlie nairio^ftudihP address af |he old captain of ! troopers ih^t'suffere.d 'nMatti^ lo pasa along the road that aay, ''"but it waa hot uiitil he had been married a twelvemonth that he - was aucceesf ul. Tten sent, hlinpn behalf of his wife a ; gold Bnuff box 'set' with.. diamonds. It was in the sliajw.of .ijalf a miniature flour-barrel.— North ifieitern'Mjtikt:^ ..,.., '.,..- •