Rebecca's Prisoner

8 Louis Mígcz'ne. Tlio day hvA been a dr6ary one for the young matron, Rebecca Parsons. She was entively alone in their hunible forest homo as sbe, the bride of a fow montks, had givon n "God speed" to her Rufus and bsde him go with the bravo band of Massachueetts volunteers to fight for freedom and a freeuian's right. Rebecca wrapped herself in warm shawls, caught up the milk pail and started to tho barn, looking back at tho bright tire that burned in the grotit, wide fireplace. Sho barst into tears, and said: "I can't- I can't spare Rufus rauch longer, it's so ltnely here now. l'd rather be opprossed by Old England and havo Ruíhs homo than to be froo and livo wühont hira. Then- ho may bokUled." Rebecca ruilked Bonny Lass, th sleek, gentío cow, and was puiling down hay for Prince's supper, when sho was startlod bv a faint raoan . An other ouder groan alarmed her. Weak and nervous froni a recent illness. she almost iainted. "Help mo, friend, ií you can," said a weak voico. Rebecca nerved horsolt to search for the sufferer. In the hay loft lay a young man. dressed in tho hatod uniform of a British soldier. "1 am jour prisoner, lady; do not betray mo for tbo aako of my young wiie. " ïhink if it wore you' re own husband;" and swooned, so weak and sick as wos he from the effort it cost hini to mako thw appeal to h's captor. Rebecca's heart was a tender and womanly oue. Ske ran to the house for brandy and wine, and gaye it to the soldier. Sho Iooked at the wound ; a gíiping, cruel ono it wa?, and in tho chcst too, but only a flesh wound. She then caref ully washed and dressed it. Having rovived him, she gave hini hor arm' to the house, whoro tho could bo concealcd in the garret chambor from chance visitors. A high fovcr ca.no upon the patiënt. For days le raved ín delirium, andMrs. Parsons found it hard to control him. Two weeks' careful nursing and he was out of dangor, but very woak and spent. "1 want to show you this, Mrs. Parsons, the picture of my wife," said Reginald Lingard as ho took from his wallet an ivory painting of a sweèt-faced, golden-haired girl, whose yiolet-hued eyes beamid wiih hopo and joy. "This is my poor little Lucie, and she is just as good as she is beautiful. Poor darling! she was almost heartbrokon when I catno to America. I left her uuconscious. It was hard to leave her so, but a soldier must go wherover he is ordered. I shall teil her when I go homo that an enemy saved my life. f was wounded in tho last skirmish, and so weak when I crawled into your barn thal I only wantod to die. Iiow kind you have beento mo?" At upper aa she sat alono, two strong nnus were folded about her, and a oud voiced greoling told her Rufus had como home. "Are you surprised to see nu, little woman?" asked Rufus. "Indeed I am, as I did not know you wero near here. Is there anything wrong, Rufus?" "On, no, but it is rumored that a red-coat is in this neighborhood. Now don't be fearful, Rebecca. 1 am here to-night, and good news, dear, after this week 1 aai coming hometo stay all tho time." For onco in her wedded life Rebecca had a secret from her husband. She dreaded to teil him about her prisoner, fearing he would think ït hia duty to give the poor feliow over to the American authoriüos, and pity for the young English wife rnado her heart tender toward her captivo. For once sho was sorry to have Rufus come homo. At daybreak Rufus kissed Rebeccn and rode away, bidding her keep watch for suay redcoats. At 9 o'clock ahe prnpared a lunch for Mr. Lingard, made him as comfortable as she could, and hor prisoner tookhis loave. "God keep you and yours, and reward you for this," saidtho soldier, as ho lef t the humblo forest home. Rufus carao home as ho said ho would, and Rebecca could not rest until she told him all. , "I. am gJad.littlo woman, that you did not teil me sooner, as I skould have thought it right to havo given him up ; but I am glad that you saved the EngIi8h girl's; husband ior her. No doubt she would Lavo dono as much for you." . A year rolled by, and tho war still went on. Rufus aad Rebecca worked with a wiil to aid thoir cause. In thoso early days letters were few and ecarce but one morning thei-e carne a packot from England for Mrs. Rufus Parsons. It was a great event in their monotonous lives, and dolighted indeed was the young housowife at tho dainty, pretty articles of dross and tho toilet table sent ;by Mrs. Reginald Lingard. Rufus and Rebecca's little son was bom to a heritage of freedom upon tho vory day the bells rang thoir joyful chime3 tolling tho glad story of poaco and victory. The suiniucr Richard was 18 a great surprise camo to the Parsons f amily. Sir Reginald Lingard, with his wife nd two young daughters, drove up to 'Hr.zelwood Farm" one rnorning. Robecca Parsons and Lady "Lucio Lingard woro at once tender and truo friends, each forgetting tho difierunce in dresü and station. Victoria, tho eldest daughter, was a genuino uristocrat, and a littlo inclincd to snub and patronize ail Yankees; but Beatrice, tlio piquant, black-dyod gypsy, was in lovo with everytbing she saw. Wüen Sir Reginald was roady to start for homo he discovered his little Boo was not whole. "What are we to do about il Parsons? I think our two young peoplo are in love ' wih each other. 1 think aiy Bee is too young to marry, but if they are of the same niind a few years from now I will givo my consent." "And I mino," said lionost Rufus 'arsons. -'And I think my son good nough to mate with a princoss." "1 think so, too, orí should not be illiDg to givo hirn to my bonny Bee," nswered Sfr Reginakl. The last evening of their stay in America was a novcr-tobc-forgottcn no to Boo añil Richard, wio pligbted íoir troth and planned how they íould spond the yoars that would pass oíoro Richard should mako hor bis wn ohorished wifo