Thankful Blossom

grace 1779; the localit

els worn by artillery, lay stark and cold in the waning light of an April day. There were icicles on the fences, a rime of silver on the windward bark of maples, and occasional bare spots on the rocky protuberances of the road, as if Nature had worn

page, harness, and cast-off clothing, showed traces of the recent encampment and congregation of men. On some there were still standing the ruins of rudely constructed cabins, or the

y silence that seemed to stiffen and arrest the very wind itself. The crisp leaves no longer rustled; the waving whips of alder and willow snapped no longer; the icicles no longer dropped a cold fruitage from barren branch and spray; and

ation of the road, of his beast, of the country folk, and the country generally. "Steady, you jade!" "Jump, you devil, jump!" "Curse the road, and the beggarly farmers that durst n

his horse to a wayside sapling. This done, he went cautiously forward toward the end of the lane, and a farm-house from whose gable window a light twinkled through the deepening night. Suddenly he stopped, hesitated, and uttered an impatient ejaculation. The light had disappeared. He turned sharply o

ry with frost, and fringed with icicles. Yet in all there was a ludicrous suggestion of some sentiment past and unseasonable: several dislodged stones of the wall were so disposed

es passed in fruitless expectancy. Ten minutes! And then the rising moon slowly lifted herself over the b

the Continental army. Yet there was something in his facial expression that contradicted the manliness of his presence,-an irritation and querulousness that were inconsistent with his size and str

o-o

syllables the deep-chested, half-drowsy low of a cow, but that it was so near him-evidently just besid

o-o

ssy!" he said persuasively. "Moo"-but here the low unexpectedly br

the laugh a trifle uneasily and affectedly

on the wall,-"well, what did you expect? Did you want me to stand here all night, while you skulked moonstruck

kful,

cted raising of a low, pathetic voice that was, however, inaudible beyond the tree. "C

he wall, in possessing himself of the girl's hand; at

d there may be others that would not take it amiss; though there be fine la

arm. "Nonsense! you startled me only. But," he added, suddenly taking her round chin in his hand, and turning her f

sweetheart," said Thankfu

he moon looked upon her at the same time: the face was as sweet, as placid, a

ssian, but an exiled gentle

rooper contemptuously. "Congress has so de

ws are not born equal. Is yon calf that was dropped last night by Brindle the equal of

id Capt. Brewster doggedly.

ft," said Thankful; "and he is

tood before her was the nobleman alluded to. At least, he so accepted it, and embraced her closely, her arms and part of her mantle clinging around his neck. In this attitude they remained qui

self upon her perfect lips, Miss Thankful distinctly heard the farm-gate click, and otherwise noticed that the moon was getting high and obtrusive. She half released herself

s with a certain tender, deprecating droop in the brown-fringed lids, and yet eyes that seemed to say to every man who looked upon them, "I am truthful: be frank with me." Indeed, I

h resumed its old exp

Washington is not the man for the crisis. Instead of marching to Philadelphia, and forcing

his Excellency's in their finest bibs and tuckers, and didn't they find my lady in a pinafore doing chores? Vastly polite treatment, indeed! As if the whole world didn't know that the general

of the winter encampment. I go there myself rarely: I have but little taste for junketing and gavotting, with my country in such need. No, Thankful! What we want is a leader; and the men of Connecticut feel it keenly. If I have b

y, the pretty brow was knit, the sweet eyes overflowed with tenderness. "For

ith gloomy stoicism; "yet," he added, "it

I know my Allan loves, is the same I put up last summer. I thought [very tenderly] you might like a piece of that bacon you liked so once, dear. Ah, sweetheart, shall we ever sit down to our little board? Shall we ever see the end of this awful war? Don't you think, dear [very pleadingly], it would be best to give it

receptacles of his clothing as were convenient-with this notable difference, that with HER the act was graceful and

haps I often spare that counsel which is but little heeded. But I have a duty to my men-to Connecticut. [He here tied the marmalade up in his handkerchief.]

ke in Thankful enthusiastically, "peace

der judgment of mankind; but he will consider that this poor creature, at least, understands him, and in some vague way represents the eternal but unrecognize

ntly buttoned the compliment o

nly changed sex, and grown to man's estate. "You must go now, dear; for it may so chance that father is considering my absence overmuch. You will come again a' Wednesday, swee

embrace, performed by the captain in a half-perfunctory, quiet manner, with a due regard for the friable nature of part of his provisions. Satisfying himself of the integrity of the eggs by fe

rsemen wheeled suddenly from the shad

not deceive me?" queried the fore

dt, I calculate?" return

ret Capt. Brewster, that it is my duty

ose or

ander-in-

r w

nd disrespect of you

ivered for a moment in his strong hand. Then, sharply striking it across the pommel

he said

danger to you of this outspoken emotion, except practically in its effect upon the rations you h

he discased yolks of Mistress Thankful's most precious gift sl

staircase she slipped to her own bower, from whose window half an hour before she had taken the signalling light. This she lit again and placed upon a chest of drawers; and, taking off her hood and a shapeless sleeveless mantle she had worn, went to the mirror, and proceeded to re-adjust a high horn comb that had been somewhat displaced by the captain's arm, and otherwise after the fashion of her se

degrees to within an inch of a short petticoat of gray flannel. But so surely is the complete mould of symmetry indicated in the poise or line of any single member, that looking at the erect carriage of

ht that streamed beneath it. She stood still for a moment hesitatingly, when suddenly a hand grasped her own, and half led, half dragged her, into the sitting-room opposite. It was dark. There was a momentary fumbling for th

been out,

" said T

" growled the o

her brown eyes, ran down into the dimpled curves of her mouth, and fin

an, gradually weakening unde

winging her little feet somewhat ostentatiously toward him, "I

at

at

you seeing

on each side of her, to emphasize the s

m as often as I

ful Bl

r Blo

ry air for one of confidential disclosure, "I see you know not his reputation. H

you refused to sell supplies to the Continental commissary, except at double p

father, motioni

nt says 'Hush!' Allan says 'Hush!' You say 'Hush!' I'm a-weary of this hushing. Ah, if there

olish, indiscreet. That is wh

and, seizing the old man by the lapels of his coat, fixed her eyes upon him, and said suspi

ered for a moment. "Beca

had a sweetheart? Well, I'll go in and tell

tis all one, Thankful: 'twas not for him I stopped you. There is a young spark with him,-ay, came even as you left, lass,-a

other?" In fact, a fear that this young stranger might ha

own, my

if she had been waiting a reply

nd a tucker?" queried the old man. "'Tis a ga

And the old man, looking at her, accepted her judgment, and without another word led her

upon the appearance of Mistress Thankful. Two gentlemen lolling before the fire aros

trongly marked foreign accent, and a still more strongly marked foreign mann

rcular sweep of the right foot forward. But the right foot was so pretty, and the grace of the little figure so perfect, that the baron raised his eyes from the foot to the face in serious admiration. In the one rap

tom of gentlefolk of-of foreign extraction to wander through strange lands, commenting upon the habits and doings of the peoples. He will find in Jersey," continued Mr. Blossom, apparently appealing to Thankful, yet really evading her contemptuous glance, "a hard

rly at variance with the soft, quiet gravity of his eyes, "Beauty, Grace, Accompl

nodded t

countries. Ah, believe me, honest friend Bloss

d to show at least one dimple in reply, albeit her brows were slightly

has been kind enough to offer h

?-she that has a sweetheart in Knyphausen's brigade, ay,-I warrant a Hessian, but of gentle blood, as Mistress Prudence has often told me,-and, look you, all her le

on the girl. "'Tis that she might disclose some

om capture or ambuscade such as befell the Hes

ue clacks like the Whippany mill.-My daughter has small concern-'tis the manner of womenfolk-in politics," he explained to his guests. "These dangersome

Mistress Thankful of her relations with the Continental captain. But to his astonishment, and, I may add, to my own, she show

unprofessional. In another part of the room, it so chanced that Mistress Thankful and the baron were talking about themselves; the assembly balls; who was the prettiest woman in Morristown; and whether Gen. Washington's attentions to Mistress Pyne were only perfunctory gallantry, or what; and if Lady Washington's hair

ne, the sky hidden in a blinding, whirling swarm of stinging flakes. The wind, bitter and strong, had already fas

snowy landscape, it seemed to her that all record of her past experience had been effaced: her very footprints of an hour before were lost; the gray wall on which she leaned

er darkness. But the baron caught her by the waist, and saved her from Heaven knows what imaginable disaster; and the scene ended in a half-hys

at that moment, grave beyond the occasion. An embarrassment utterly new and singular seized upon her; and when, as she half feared yet half expected, he bent down and pressed his lips to hers, she was for a moment powerless. But in the next instant she boxed his ears sharp

rning it opened upon her completely dressed, but withal som

have been but decent to have bidden God-speed to the guests, e

y, "And since when is it necessary that I should dance attendanc

urtesy to you, mistres

eed!" said Mis

ssom suddenly, bringing his cold gr

laming a bright scarlet; "but-nothin

of paper: "'twas left here by a camp-follower. Thankful," he continued, with a meaning

hand. When his retiring footsteps were lost on the stairs she regained her color, and o

l that Man hath but Love and Honour. But the End is Near. When for the Maintenance of Power, the Liberties of the Peoples are subdued by Martial Supremacy and the Dictates of Ambition the State is Lost. I lie in Vile Bondage here

ds and made precious by yr. Love was wrested from me by Servil Hands and the Eggs, Sweetheart, were somewhat Addled. The Bacon i

LA

e felt strangely relieved. By noon the snow ceased, or rather turned into a driving sleet that again in turn gave way to rain. By this time she became absorbed in her household duties,-in which she was usually skilful,-and in her own thoughts that to-day had a novelty in their meaning. In the midst of this, at about dark, her room being in the rear of the house, she was perhaps unmindful of the trampling of horse without, or the sound of voices in the hall below. N

kon, for they's jest makin' theysevs free afo' the house, and they's an offi

darkening eyes. She arose from her work no longer the moody girl, but an indignant g

rvant's criticism, arose instantly with an air of evident embarrassment and surpri

of this household at home-at least, a lady." He hesitated a moment, catching in the raising of her brown-fringed lids a

t instinct the cause of the major's hesitation. But her triumph was checked by a

officer quickly. "You are, then

ll be here betimes. He has gone only to Morristown." In a new fear that

e toward her gravely. "He will not return to-day, Mistres

eyes aggressively on the m

enemy, and for harboring spies," rep

he porch and the baron's stolen kiss flashed across her, and for a moment she looked as guilty as

this house, if they be spies, were MY guests, and, as my father's daughter, I was their hostess; ay, man, and right glad to be the hostess of such gallant gentlemen,-g

he made no other reply than by a profound and graceful bow. Courteous and dep

e soldier, with one hand truculently placed on her flexible hip, and the other slipped beh

mander-in-chief to overlook the political preferences of non-combatants, and to strive to win their allegiance to the good cause by liberal privilege

kly,-"two honest gentlefolk; and if they choose to pay their devoirs

cs, "if you establish that fact,-and, from this slight acquaintance with your charms, I doubt not you will,-your father is safe from further inquiry

r?" broke in Mistress Thankful an

the informer is himself under arrest. It is on the informat

flushed, and then whitened agai

ie,-a cow

w up stairs, and in another moment swept bac

father," she said, without li

tions, far from implicating you in your father's offences, do

had saddled her white mare, and brought it to the door. Mistress Tha

the reins. "One momen

e said, with su

oment,

tting her. Crimson with rage and mortification, she raised her ri

a face calm and colorless, but for a red line exten

be just enough to tell him that Major Van Zandt knew nothing of your wrongs, or even your presence here

d, and re-entered the house. The few lounging troopers who were witnesses of the scene prudently turned their eyes from the white face

nnot befool the major as she has the

tricks on the general,

she thought bitterly of the count and the baron, and burned to face the latter, and in some vague way charge the stolen kiss upon him as the cause of all her shame and mortification. And lastly she thought of her father, and began to hate everybody. But above all and through all, in her vague fears for

I

lms. It whistled through the quiet Presbyterian churchyard, as if trying to arouse the sleepers it had known in days gone by. It shook the blank, lustreless windows of the Assembly Rooms over the Freem

chink and cranny of its square, solid, unpicturesque structure. Situated on a hillside that descended rapidly to the Whippany River, every summer zephyr that whispered through the porches of the Morristown farm-houses charged as a stiff breeze upon the swinging h

rs, on one of which half dozed a black body-servant of the commander-in-chief. Two officers in the dining-room, drawn close by the chimney-corner, chatted in undertones, as if mindful that the door of the drawing-room was open, and their voices might break in upon its sacred privac

t of playful aggression, in which the deeper underlying meaning was forgotten. So let me add that in manner, physical equipoise, and even in the mere details of dress, this figure indicated a certain aristocratic exclusiveness. It was the presentment of a king,-a king who by the irony of circumstances was just then waging war against all kingship; a ruler of men, who just then was fighting for th

of the outer door, and a charge of cold air into the hall that invaded even the privacy of the reception-room, and brightened the dying embers on the hearth, stir his calm pre-occupation. But an instant later the

eneral," said the off

g, Col. Hamilton," sa

s Mistress Thankful Blossom,-the daughter of Abner Blossom, charged with trea

repeated the gener

and a famous toast of the country-side,-the Cressida of our Mo

ashington, with a playful smile that slightly reddened the cheek of his aide-de-camp.

neral," responded

his easy posture, rising to his feet, and lightly clasping his ruffled hands before him. "We mu

n another moment the half-opened door

ness of purpose just positive and audacious enough to set off that beauty, that the grave gentleman before her did not content himself with the usua

looking down upon her with grave politeness, "nature has, methinks, spared you the necessi

est within and without had somehow faded from her cheek; the sauciness begotten from bullying her horse in the last half-hour's rapid ride was so subdued by the actual presence of the man she had come to bully, that I fear sh

ified kindliness that was more reassuring than the formal gallantry of the period; "and it is, I protest, t

she said saucily: "I did not ride here alone to-night, in this weather, to talk of HIM; I warrant HE can speak for himself. I came here to speak of myself, of lies-ay, LIES told of me, a poor girl; ay, of cowardly gossip about me and my sweetheart, C

fateful persistency-a persistency which I humbly suggest might, on occasion, be honorably copied by our more politic sex-she went on to say what was in her, even if she were

affections. It is said, and basely and most falsely too, that my sweetheart, Capt. Allan Brewster, has lodged this information. I have ridden here to deny it. I have ridden here to demand of you that an honest woman's reputation shall not be sacrificed to the interests of

face, rosy with courage, and beautiful in its impertinence, within a few inches of the dignified features and quiet gray eyes of the great

, I beg, and give me, if you can, your attention for a moment. The officer intrusted with the ungracious task of occupying your father's

rary-mayhap-I"-she hesitated, and then came to a full stop, with a heightened color, as a vivid reco

e natural impulses of a daughter," continued Washington, with a look of perfect understand

eared with a file of official papers. He glanced slyly at Thankful Blossom's face with an amused look, as if he had already heard the colloquy between her and

sy feeling of the presence of two ladies who had in some mysterious way entered the room from another door, and who seemed to be intently regarding her from afar with a curiosity as if she were some strange animal; and a wild premonition that her whole future life and happiness depended upon the events of

said the ge

ated briefly, that upon the certain and personal knowledge of the writer, Abner Blossom of the "Blossom Farm" was in the habit of entertaining two gentlemen, namely, the "Count Ferdina

ossom had no difficulty in recognizing the familiar b

ation, she met, one by one, the glances of the group who now seemed to be closing round her. Yet with a woman's instinct she felt, I am cons

conscience of some one of the men who were present,-"of course Mistress Thankful will be able to elect which of her lovers among her country's enemies she w

he younger woman impulsively. "That is-I beg your ladyship's pardon"-she hesitated, observing in the dead

ry," said Lady Washington coldly, "

ntry," said Mistress Thankful with sudden audacity, bending her knit brows on Lady Washing

uld not justify this accusation against me, even though," she added, darting a wicked glance at the placid brocaded back of Lady Washington, "even though that accusation came from one who

oughed slightly. Gen. Washington, standing by the fir

t your other-FRIENDS, and tacitly against YOU. Nor can it be on their account, for I regret to say they are still free and unknown. If you come with any information exculpating

ress Thankful, "they

address, and fair talents," said Washington gr

ecause"-she hesitated a moment-"because they spoke not of politics, but-of-that which lads mainly talk of-and-and,"-here she b

ieve is true, it cannot in any way injure the gentlemen you speak of; while, on the other hand, it may relieve your father of suspicion. Will you give to Co

unt. Why she began with him, I am unable to say; but possibly it was because it was easier, for when she came to describe the baron, she was, I regret to say, somewhat vag

he said quite impassively, "but di

ladies by the window, and became visible on the fresh face of Col. Ham

u," he continued, with respectful gravity,-"if his attentions were known

He-he kissed me, and I slapped his face," said Thankful quickly

. To her astonishment, however, Col. Hamilton laughed outright, and the ladies turned and approa

these gentlemen may be known to us, and that your instincts may be correct. At least rest assured

contemplation of her own late frankness, and retreating toward the

ght, Mistress Thankful Blossom. We still retain our Virginian ideas of hospitality, and are tyrannous enough to make strangers conform to them, even though we have but perchance the po

so far trusted our desire to serve her justly, by accepting our poor hosp

in her ladyship's house, let me, I pray you, add my voice to hers. I am Mistress Schuyler of Albany, at your service, Mistress Thankful, as Col. Hamilton here will bear me witness, did I need any interpreter to your honest heart. Believe me, dear Mistress Thankful, I sympathize wi

. Besides, it must be confessed that for the first time in her life she felt a doubt of the power of her own independence, and a strange fascination fo

?" said Thankful, raising her q

entlemen, Miss Schuyler answered it with femini

tears in her own fine eyes, bent her head suddenly to Thankful's ear, put her arm about the waist of the p

lf-smilingly, half-inquiringly, to his chief. Washington re

that it would be as well if you locked it in your own breast for the present; at least, that you sh

ly; "but may I ask"-he hesitated-"if you believe that

is hand upon the shoulder of the younger man, "it was because I thought the m

he young man, reddening through his fres

her guest; a wayward girl, colonel, but, methinks, an honest one. Treat her of your own quality, colonel, but discreetly, and not too kindly, lest we have Mistress Schuyler, another inj

Washington rustled toward her husband, who sto

e nothing of political intrigue

Washingto

, wanton intrigue with a f

thus stir the country side. 'Twere an insult to your sex to believe it. It is not yet sure that she has not capture

ver! Pardon me, but this is preposterous;" and with a stiff courtesy she swept from the ro

istress Schuyler herself lending a touch and suggestion here and there, after the secret freemasonry of her sex. "You are well rid of this forsworn captain, dear Mistress Thankful; and methinks that with hair as beautif

reshness and elaboration of toilet that not only quite shamed the young officer's affaire negligence, but caused him to open his eyes in astonishment.

r. "Is a young woman to mope and s

a prisoner," said H

n't know that in twenty-four hours her father will be cleared of these charges? Nonsense! Do

irl," said the

ith a wicked look in her dark eyes, "though I had warrant e

kful, who, with her face pressed against the window, was

round was covered with an icing of sleet and snow, that now glittered under a clear sky and a brilliant moon. The northeast wind that shook

hivering under his tattered blankets in the camp beyond. Had ye seen the Connecticut tatterdemalions file by last night, with arms reversed, showing their teeth at his Excellency, and yet not daring to bite; had ye watched these faint-hearts, these doubting Thomases, ripe for rebellion against his Excellen

, is said to be haunted by the apparition of a gray-coated figure, whose face is muffled and hidden in his collar, but who has the password pat to his lips, and whose identity hath baffled the sentries. This figure, it is said, forasmuch as it has been seen just before an assault, an attack, or some tribulation of the army, is believed by many to be the genius or guardian spirit of the cause, and, as such, has

a slight nudge from Mistress Schuyler,

er, and finally at the discovery of his perfidy to her, she had forgotten that he was her lover; she had forgotten her previous tenderness toward him; and, now that her fire and indignation were spent, only a sense of numbness and vacancy remained. All that had gone befo

and his personal graces. For one wild moment Thankful felt like throwing herself on the breast of Mistress Schuyler, and confessing her rudeness to the major; but a conviction that Mistress Schuyler would share that secret with Col. Hamilton, that Major Van Zandt might not like that revelation, and, oddly enough associated with this, a feeling of unconque

of whose manifest goodness and kindness she alternately hated and envied; and at last, unable to stand it longer, slipped noiselessly from her bed, and stood very wretched and disconsolate before the window that looked out upon the slope toward the Whippany River. The moon on the new-fallen, frigid, and untrodden snow shone brightly. Far to the left it glittered on the bayonet of a sentry pacing beside the river-bank, and gave a sense of security to the girl that perhaps strengthened another idea that had grown up in her mind. Since she could not sleep, why should she not ramble about until she could? She had been accustomed to roam about t

ncampment. She had not proceeded a dozen yards before a figure apparently started out of

nd she had ever received in her life: nevertheless she halted unconscio

the sentry, still keeping his

som," she resp

could comprehend the meaning of his abrupt challenge, or his equally abrupt departure, he had resumed his monotonous pace in the moonlight. Indeed, as she stood looking after him, the whole episode, the o

where lay her faithless lover, and for an instant indulged the thought of following it, and facing him with the proof of his guilt; but even at the thought she recoiled with a new and sudden doubt in hers

he brave little heart that had not quailed before the sentry's levelled musket a moment before now faltered and stood still, as the phantom with a slow and majestic tread moved toward her. She had only time to gain the shelter of a tree before the figure, majestically unconsciou

hut or farm-shed that stood midway up the hill. Here it entered, and the door closed behind it. With every sense feverishly alert, Thankful, from the secure advantage of a large maple, watched the door of the hut. In a few moments it re-opened to the same figure free of its gray enwrappings

courtesy, and hang out two lovely signals of distress in he

vity; "and I fear that the formal restraint of a military household has already g

, please your Excellency. He asked me 'Who went there,'

a verbal compliment to practical account. For know then, dear young lady, that in honor of your visit to the headquart

lip trembled; but, with all her readiness of s

is gray eyes. "And doubtless you wandered at the river-bank. Although I myself, tempted by the night, sometimes exte

e usually truthful Thankful hastily, rushing

e?" asked Wash

ul, raising her brown

the colonies, and the subsequent allegorical impersonation of truth in Ame

'twould have been natural for you to have sought an interview with your recrean

te forgotten her late intention; "yet, if with your permission I could hold

. It shall be so ordered that when he is conveyed thither his guard shall halt at the Blossom Farm. I will see that the officer in command gives you

nd of the commander. "You are so good! I have been so foolish-so very, very wrong," she said, with a slight trembling of he

. Tell me rather, Mistress Thankful, how far your acquaintance with these gent

to the Baskingridge, and I-had sai

eat sacrifice promise me that you will not see him until I gi

l in Thankful's truthful eye

she said

d the commander,

t, your Ex

apid ride she had already framed a speech of apology to Major Van Zandt, which, however, utterly fled from her lips as that officer showed himself respectfully on the threshold. Yet she permitted him to usurp the functions of the grinning Cae

d her intently. And thereat she fell unconsciously to imitating him; and so they eyed each other furtively like cats, and rubbed themselves along the walls of rooms and passages when they met, lest they should seem designedly to come near each other, and enacted the gravest and most formal of genuflexi

om when he knocked at her door. She ope

ent-"a letter for you from headquarters. May I hope that it contains good news,-the release of your father.-and that it rel

l intention of delivering to him her little set apology; but, as he

o him; that she had wanted to say ever since she arrived that she had been rude, very rude, and that she knew he never could forgive her; that she had been trying to sa

"if I have made myself distant to you, believe me it was only because I

ugh the dining-room, lest I should ask you to forgive me," sobbed

stress Thankful," said the officer, pointing to t

nkful opened the letter. It was a half-

name of the 'Baron Pomposo' was his Excellency Don Juan Morales, Ambassador and Envoy Extraordinary of the Court of Spain, and that the gentleman known to her as the 'Count Ferdinand' was Senor Godoy, Secretary to the Embassy. The Commander-in-Chief wishes to add that Mistress Tha

to bear testimony to the Truthfulness, Intuiti

of his E

ORGE WAS

MILTON, S

NKFUL BLOSSOM, o

n Zandt. A single glance satisfied her that he knew nothing of the imposture that had been

the distress in her face, "I trust the news is no

ankful, looking

rthest your father would be free

rrect, and that my father is exonerated-unless-unless this is a forgery, and Gen. Washington should turn out to be somebo

to lay up the insult of one that sorrow and excitement had bereft of reason and responsibility! 'Twere bet

e window-curtain; and the major paused as a voice from its dimity

he cruelty of mistaking-of-of"-and here the major, hitherto famous for facile compliments, utterly broke down. But the hand he held was no longer cold, but warm and intelligent; and in defau

the world-which just then consisted of the headquarters and Major Van Zandt-that he had really made love to her, and possibly did honorably love her still, and might yet give her an opportunity to reject him. And now he was dead, and she was held up to the world as the conceited plaything of a fine gentleman's masquerading sport. That her father's cupidity and ambition made him sanction the imposture, in her bitterness she never doubted. No! Love

oment after returned to the house with the air and face of a deeply injured angel, who had been disappointed in some celestial idea of setting this world right, but was still not above forgiveness,-a spectacle that sunk Major Van Zandt into the dark depths of remorse, and eventually sent him to smoke a pipe of V

the Jersey hills. The chilled soil responded but feebly to that kiss; perhaps a few of the willows that yellowed the river-banks took on a deeper color. But the country folk were certain that spring had come at last; and even the correct and self-sustained Major Van Zandt came running in to announce to Mistress Thankful that one of his men had seen a violet in the meadow. In a

es and her new gown, groped with her fingers among the withered grasses. M

g up to him impatiently. "Go down on your knees like an honest

r posies, and rose to her feet. "Stay where you are," she said mischievously, as she stooped down,

o the laughing face above him, said, "Dear Mistress Thankful, dare I remind you of your own words, that 'there be some things worth stoo

at the feet of a country girl,-the play and sport of every fine gentleman? What if Mistress Bolton should see her own cavalier, the modish Maj

n her long brown lashes. Then she said tremulously, "Rise up, major. Let u

and that he was perceptibly sinking out of sight. Whereat Mistress Thankful trilled out a three-syllabled laugh, looked demure and painfully concerned at his condition, a

Blossom," he said quickly, "or I shall plunge you i

ry strain on the sash; and then the cords of her well-trained muscles stood out on her rounded arms, and, with a long pull and a strong pull and a pull all together, she landed the major upon the rock. And then she laughed; and then, inconsistent as it may

led with the joy of resurrection and new and awakened life; the breeze whispered gentle promises of hope, and the fruition of their hopes in the summer to come. And th

stood together in the hall, she handed him back the sash she had kept with her. As she did

quickly, whereat she fled to her room, and threw herself panting and troubled upon her bed. For an hour or two she lay there, with flushed cheeks and conflicting thoughts. "He must never kiss me again," she said softly to herself, "unless"-but the interrupting thought said, "I shall die if he kiss me not again; and I never can kiss another." And then she was roused

em one Capt. Allan Brewster, of the Connecticut Contingent, on his way to Morristown to be tried for mutiny and treaso

s of the letter, and that her relations with Capt. Brewster were known to the man before her. But she d

s Blossom," returned the officer with co

r Van Zandt," sai

d hesitatingly, "that this interview should not take place under the roof where-where-where-my father lives. Half-way down the meadow there is a b

It is the first time," he said dryly, "that I believe I have been honored with arranging a tryst for two love

ndezvous. An hour later Caesar came with a message that Mistress Thankful would like to see him. When the major entered the sitting-ro

pies. I could have forgiven it, had it been only foolish jealousy; but it was, I have since learned from his own lips, only that he might gratify his spite against the commander-in-chief by procuring their arrest, and making a serious difficulty in the American camp, by means of which he hoped to serve his own ends. He told me this, believing that I sympathized with him in his hatred of the commander-in-chief, and in his own wrongs and

s; and he told me that if I were still his true sweetheart I ought to help him. I told him if he would never call me by that name again; if he would give up all claim to me; if he would never speak, write to me, nor see me again; if he woul

ndt. "But in what way could

him," said Th

said Majo

ng in the road, Caesar was saddling my white mare, the fleetest in the country. He led her to the lane below. That mare is now two miles away, with Capt. Brewster on h

silence. "Speak," she cried at last, passionately. "Speak! Open your lips, if only to curse me! O

Zandt coldly, "why you have

d I could not help but love you, I knew I never had loved before, and I would wipe out with one stroke all the past that rose i

emembered that you were doing that which forever kept me from wooing or winning you. If you had really loved me your heart, as a woman's, would have warned you against that which my heart, as a gentleman's, has made a law of honor; when I tell you, as much for the sake of relieving your own conscience

fore him. Yet even then I fear that, womanlike, she did not comprehend his rhetoric of honor, but only caught here and there

sake. I wish to allow a reasonable time between your interview with him, and his escape, that shall save you from any suspicion of complicity. Do not think," he added with a sad smile, as the girl made an

"but a part of his own regimen

?" said the major,

told

orgiveness, he had darted from the room, given an

. I forgive you. But this is no longer a matter of duty, but my personal honor. I shall

she caught him again. "Only say

d

ue

e more than this first utterance of hi

ter horse in the stable than my mare; '

bless

hen Caesar came in a few moments later, to tell the news of Capt. Brewster's escap

d Sergeant Tibbitts: "the j

s are gone from the stable beside

ng the report that Mistress Thankful Blossom, after assisting her lover to escape had fled with him. "The renegade is well off o

major?" asked Wa

sible before Major Merton's quarters. Here he became speedily delirious, fever supervened, a

soldier, who should have died leading a charge, laid by the heels by

Poor Van Zandt! But whither w

ine. Abner Blossom has prudently absented himself from the chances of infection, and the daughter has fled. The sick man is attended only by a black servant and an

the summer had come before the tardy spring was scarce gone, and the elms before the window no longer lisped, but were eloquent in the softest zephyrs. There was the flash of birds in among the bushes, the occasional droning of bees in and out the open window, and a perpetually swingin

voice still tremu

tains, and showed the sweet face of Thankful

arling," repe

sofa whereon lay the con

the chaplain, that you might have the right to nurse me, did you never think that if death spar

hat the pride, and the sense of honor, and self-devotion of some peop

uppose the case had been reversed: suppose you had taken the disease,

l. "Well, what would you have done, dear?" s

died," said T

t h

nd not ask impertinent and frivolous qu

the trees and the birds said to me

, d

ankful Blossom! Thank

your dear head from the ground when you reeled fro

, d

hings in life wor

is Parthian arrow