i
i
I'RETTY Mercy Stand-
well drew -out the end
of the huge iron crane
almost as high as her
self and peered Into
the pot which it had
nought from the lire, shielding
her face from the blaze with a
pretty, plump hand. Someone
had to stay at home to look
after things, and this morning
Mercy had insisted on the oth
ers going to meeting and leav
ing her to this task, and she had been
utilizing the three hours of the long
aermon in adding to the stock of
food. There were a goodly number
tf home folks and guests, and no
Dne know how many her father and
mother would bring from the service.
"So ho, mistress," came a deep,
mocking voice; "ye have been pre
paring for our coming, it seems.
Beshrew me, but the odors are good.
AVhat say ye, boys," turnlngvto a line
f piratical, sailor-looking men who
were following him into the room.
"'Shall wo sit for a while and let this
fair wench minister to our appetites?
'Twill be a difference from our black
amoor's cooking, I am thinking."
A hoarse growl of assent came
from the line from all but one, who
looked doubtful.
"Will it be safe, captain?" this one
asked.
"Safe!" the deep voice echoed
srimly. "What have we with a land
word like that? Besides, it sounds
weak in thy big mouth, Turbell. It
is their Thanksgiving time here, and
they word long sermons. Let us be
thankful, too, and partake of their
good cheer. We shall then be fitted,
when they return from service, to
pick out good men and true for our
vessel. And for thy word safe, the
soldiery are at their gorging a mile
away from here. We can eat' and be
merry, cull our need from the praise
singers when they come back, and be
dipping across the water before Lews
of the exploit can get over the leaded
tables to their ears. Now, Turbell,"
his keen, scornful eyes flashing about
and seeming to see and comprehend
everything; "get all the men inside.
You fill up the table here, and I will
take charge of the one in the next
room. It will be time enough to bag
chickens and pigs and other live
stock when we are through; and per
haps there will be a few scraps left
from our feast that we can carry back
to the vessel. It will be a change
from the blackamoor."
All this time Mercy had hem
standing by the fireplace; and her
eyes, which at "first had dilated with
terror, gradually calmed and grew
watchful and speculative. She had
thought they might be king's men, on
a raid to impress seamen. Now she
beTicved they were buccaneers, or
pirates; but it amounted to the same.
The one impressed in the king's
name, the other in their own. In
either case, the possibility of escape
or release were equally small; only,
with the pirates, in the event of cap
ture, explanations might be difficult,
and then punishment would be quick
and certain.
As she hurried from table to table,
trying to meet the demands for hot
coffee which were hurled at her from
all sides, the lips of the young girl
were pressed firm, her brain busy.
Something must be done, and she wa3
the one who must do it. In another
hour her father and brothers and
uncles and cousins, and all the men
of the neighborhood would be com
ing from service, and, unwarned,
would fall into the hands of these
evil-eyed freebooters, who would pick
out the strongest among them and
bear them away to slavery that would
be worse than death.
Mercy knew what it meant. The
coast was an exposed one, and press
gangs had visited it before. Men had
been carried away, and not one of
them had ever returned. Occasional
ly stories had come back of hardships
and cruelty and even of death, until
the word press-gang had become a
word to whiten the cheeks of women
and clinch the fists of men. Only the
year before the son of their nearest
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neighbor, the most promising young
man around, and the playmate and
schoolmate and dear friend of Mercy,
had gone, out in a boat for a day's
Ashing. But he had rowed too far.
A schooner had slipped from behind
an island, a boat been dropped from
her davits filled with dark-faced men.
Mercy had been on the shore with
others and had witnessed it all. And
from that day to this no tidings had
come back of Robert Wade.
Mercy was thinking of her play
mate as she tried to keep the cups
of the men filled, and of the similar
fate that was pending over her dear
ones. And doubtless there Would be
bloodshed, for the dear ones would
resist to the last.
For the most part the men ate
noisily, with loud guffaws of enjoy
ment and much rude badinage. The
viands were before them, and they
helped themselves liberally, with
long reachings. It was only the cups
that needed replenishing; but the
men seemed to throw the -contents
down their throats at a single gulp,
and then cried lustily for more.
Four times the big pot was refilled
and emptied, fresh coffee being added
with each refilling. But the men's
impatience would not allow for boil
ing, and when hot water was poured
in for the fifth time Mercy had an
uneasy apprehension that the coffee
w-as very weak.
Suddenly a cup flew across the
room, crashing against a looking
glass and breaking them both.
"To blazes with dishwater," a ma.i
yelled. "Here, girl, what ye got
that's good to drink strong?"
"Nothing, sir," answered Mercy,
keeping her voice steady with an
effort.
"No wine or cider?" threateningly.
"No. The only barrel of cider that
we had is is too strong to drink. It is
vinegar now. Father made it for
that."
"Father made it for us to drink,"
mockingly. "And vinegar Is just
right. Bring in a pitcherful, quick."
"It is out in the barn."
"Quick! Didn't I tell ye!" yelled
the man. "We don't want any pala
vernia." Mercy caught up a large pitcher
and hurried out, an eager light com
ing into her eyes. If she was to do
anything, she must do it now. But
what?
As w?as often the case In rural com
munities, the Standwell young people
had some little interest in the farm.
Mercy owned a calf and a few of the
chickens and a field which she some
times gave to crops and sometimes
left in gras3 for the hay. The last
season it had been in gras3, and her
seven or eight tons of hay now rose
in a large stack on the slops below
the barn, where it awaited a pur
chaser. With its proceeds she ex
pected to buy two or three more
calves from her father, some English
dress goods from the store, and some
presents for the various members of
tho family.
When she left the house her mind
was on the stack, and her face cleared
of eome of its anxiety when she no
ticed the wind blew away from the
barn.
"Ye was a long time drawln',"
grumbled the man who wanted his
vinegar, surlily, a3 she came to him
with the pitcher.
"Vinegar runa slow when tho bung
is small," ehe answered, "and, be
sides, the pitcher is heavy."
"Lazy steps lag," he retorted.
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Ten minute3 later the captain
leaned back, wiping his mouth on the
back of his hand.
"Now, what do ye give us for the
finish?" he called to Mercy. "Have
ye cake and other sweet stuff?"
"Yes, sir, many, kinds; and pies
and things fit for a thanksgiving."
"Well, bring them all on. But
what's that smoke?" suddenly, and
springing to hi3 feet, he rushed out
side, drawing his sword. When he
came hack, a few minutes later, his
eyes were red and angry.
"Didn't I tell you men to be care
ful until we had eaten?" he crjed.
"Some of ye have dropped fire in
lighting a pipe, and the dry grass is
burning below the barn. If it
spreads, the barn itself may catch,
and then some of the torpid soldiers
may bo wakeful , enough to see.
Hurry, now, and get through. The
psalm singers will be here soon, and
we must bo ready to invite them on
board. Your carelessness will lose
us part of the feast. Come now,
girl; bring on the sweet things,
quick! quick!"
Mercy ran into the storeroom, re
turning a few minutes later with her
arms straining under a pyramid of
pies. These she hurried along the
table, dropping one before each man.
Then she ran back after more. Oh,
if she could only keep the men feast
ing until the soldiers arrived and
even more than that, If only the men
in the meeting house would be slow,
slow in discovering the smoke, so the
soldiers could arrive as soon as they.
All of them would believe it was a
raid, with buildings being set on fire,
and would come hurring to the spot.
Fortunately the freebooting captain
himself did not suspect. He had gone
just far enough to see It was not the
barn, and then the feasting had
tempted him back. He supposed the
fire to be grass burntug in some field
beyond.
He did not seat himself again in I
his chair, but stood by the table, tak-
From The Ram's Horn.
lug huge mouthfuls of cake and pie, 1
and swallowing glass after glass of I with two shades of yellow bunting--the
fresh buttermilk that Mercy the deep orange-yellow of the pump
brought in. Presently he swung and the lighter yellow of the
around. j Hubbard squash. Where the bnnt-
"Turbell," he called to the next iug was festooned It was caught np
room, "take all your men and gather ! With bunches or corn. The husks
up what food ye can find in the house, j wt.re torn open or turned back, show
Go into the storeroom where the ' ing the yellow grain on the cob. The
wench keeps her pies and cakes, j waitresses were all dressed in yellow.
Take everything, and all we are leav- j ith a conventionalized squash flower
Ing on the tables. We will have a ' made of tissue paper in their hair
few days' rest from the blackamoor. 1 instead of a cap. At Intervals were
Hurry, now, and get them to the ' great "Jack-o'-lanterns" made of the
boats, in case anything might hap- j pumpkins with electric lights Inside
pen; then come back. We will stay j instead of the traditional candle. The
here and watch. The praise-makers tables were ornamented with purap
will be here soon." j kins hollowed out so as to form great
Ten minutes and the house had , bowls. These were filled with autumn
been stripped of its food; five more, ' leaves and flowers. The water for
and there was the sound of voices. I these decorations was put In a bowl
"Stand by tl e doors," ordered the j which was placed inside the pumpkin,
captain. "When they get close, spring J The menu included (beside the regu
out on them. Better club every one , lar harvest sapper fare) such dellca-
lnto insensibility; they will be easier 'cles as baked pumpkin, pumpkin pud
carried." I ding, pumpkin bread and pumpkin
"The sojdiepy," he warned in a ice! The last named was a very ye!
hoarse whisper. "They're almost I low orange lee frozen In Individual
here. What " j pumpkin moulds. At the table where
But the captain was by him with n were sold the fancy articles and
bound. The men tumbled after. One souvenirs of tho occasion, there were
look was sufficient. The soldiers ' pretty little pincushions made to Iru-
were approaching at a run.
"To the boats!" yelled the captain.
"They're too many for us, and ye
know our fate if captured. Where is
Wade? Not here? Then Turbell
must have taken him. Run! now!
run!"
Wrheu the soldiers came up pant
ing, the last of the buccaneers were
tumbling into their boats on the
beach. The soldiers fired a volley to
accelerate their movements. As tho
cchos diod away a gaunt, disheveled
figure crept from under the Standwell
porch. Its eyes were big and hollow,
and there wero scars of ill-usage and
cruelty upon the face, and one arm
was In a sling. The people coming
from the meeting house stared in
credulously, then united in a ringing,
welcoming, Joyous shout of Robert
Wade! Robert Wade!" Frank II.
Sweet, la The. Advance.
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Potntoe v Squash
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iWhii5pel Cream Lady Pitvs.
THANKSGIVING SUGGESTIONS.
Appropriate Festoons of Corn and Pep
pers For Walls.
A unique and effective idea for
brightening and garnishing the room
where a Thanksgiving feast was to
be given was worked out by the stu
dents of a kindergarten college in the
Wes.. The room wca large indeed,
two rooms thrown into one with
much wall space between the win
dows, and admitted a broad treat
ment. Long garlands were made by
tying ripened ears of corn In the
husk at intervals of their own lecigth
along a stout cord. These were made
in sections,. as being more convenient
to put up.
Between stretches of the ears of
corn, which, of course, hung with
every possible twist and angle, groups
of large bell peppers were fastened
in all stages of ripeness, from the
deep, shining green tipper; with red, to
the rounded bell of scarlet. The husk
was pulled back from the corn, bo
as to show the golden grain Inside,
and the contrast between this and
the bright colors of the peppers was
most artistic. The whole effect of
the graceful festooning across the
dark woodwork of tne doorways, the
filmy lace of the curtains and the
I background of green in the wall-
paper was full of the spirit of the
day; a suggestion of the fields, of the
harvest and the garnering.
And then the table decorations
kept the colors of autumn in the shin
ing green of leaves and the flame of
fresh gathered salvias and clusters of
the red berries of the mountain ash.
At each plate was a guest card, a
souvenir of the redoubtable monarch
of the barnyard who had laid down
his life for his countrymen. There
he was, as the eye glanced from one
card to another, pictured in every
phase of hl3 all too short life, from
the proud spread of the defiant strut
to the folded wing of the sacrificial
offering.
When all was finished, from oys
ters to ice cream, with the nuts and
coffee came on the tall wax candles,
fa their shining brass holders, it was
with a heartiness which held a note
of reverence that the circle rose and,
with an unbroken chain of friendly
grasp, sang "Should Auld Acquaint
ance Be Forgot."
The evening of a Thanksgiving
gathering may, in music and games,
mark further the blending of gentle
memories and present J03-. The old
English ballad, "Drink to Me Only
With Thine Eyes," carries a strain
of the oldtime love, the love that
Bought not a golden crown. "Believe
Me, If All Those Endearing Young
Charms," is the song for the older
life, when the fact may have lost its
freshness but the heart has proved
stronger to cherish and the soul to he
true.
The Feast of Pniupkir.s.
A pretty variation on the regular
"harvest home" festival was made
last year by the young people of a
church in one of our smaller cities.
They called it "The Feast of Pump
kins," and that useful and cheerful
vegetable formed the basis of the
hole affair. The hall was decorated
itate pumpkins, and bonbonnieres.
which were china "Jack-o'-lanterns
filled with yellow candies. Harper's
Bazar.
VM'WW 'V' i ' ""Sauce
M-lV lDothjr.-(5 Deer?.
a'v vxSs, Cucumber Pickles.
j Trie RtHMAm W H&TfA&t'f
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Mr it icK3'
New York City. Unquestionably
cutaway styles are having extended
vogue, and very welcome the fact Is,
tor the are jaunty, smart in effect,
and altogether satisfactory. This
coat is one of the simplest and best
and is made with the most becoming
lines possible. It is adapted alike
to the suit and separate coat, and Is
eminently to be desired for both. In
this instance it is made of mahogany
colored broadcloth with binding of
black silk braid, but, while this bind
ing is new and chic, stitched edges
are quite correct. The pointed back
is novel and desirable whenever it 1
becoming, but the coat can be made
round at that point, and each wearer
should choose the style that suits her
the better. Sleeve length, too, is to
be determined by each wearer, both
full and three-quarter being correct.
All seasonable suitings and cloak
ings are appropriate.
The coat is made with fronts, side
fronts, backs, side-backs and under
arm gores, and is finished with regu
lation collar and lapels. The sleeves
are made in two pieces each, with
roll-over cuffs.
Now Felt Hats.
Tne simpio neiu uiussums auu
grasses look exquisite in conjunction
with new felt hats of rich butter color.
Klastic Helta Popular.
The elastic belts studded with
beads, jewels or cut steel are so sat
isfactory that undoubtedly they will
remain, as they are now, in the front
rank of popularity.
. . l J ... ,-. n . A
Hatpin Novelty.
A charming novelty in hatpins Is
the pin ending off In a large baroque
pearl. In every hollow is placed
small imitations or diamonds and
other precious stones.
seas
For Mourning Wear.
The smooth faced, dull finished ma
terials are best for mourning wear.
i
Over Blouse or Jumper.
Each new variation of the over
blouse eeems a bit more attractive
than the last, and each one is certain
to find a place in the wardrobe. This
one is novel in many of its features
and is graceful and becoming, yet
by no means extreme. The modified,
kimono sleeves give breadth, while
they are shapely and becoming, and
the tucks are so arranged as to give
the best possible lines to the figure.
As illustrated, the material is pongee
in a very beautiful shade of am&
thyst, while the trimming is velvet
and embroidery worked onto the ma
terial. The over blouse, however, Is
appropriate for both the separate
waist and for the gown, and for
almost every material used for gar
ments of the sort. Everything fash
ionable is thin and soft and conse
quently all can be tucked with sue-,
cess. Trimming always can be
varied to suit Individual taste, and
the necessities of the special occa
sion. Velvet is being extensively
used and always is handsome, but
appliques are offered by the score,
and eoutache applique is one of the
newest and best liked of all trim
mings. In place of the embroidery
medallions of separate motifs could
be utilized, or the material could be
left plain.
The over blouse Is made with
fronts and backs that are tueked
ovm- the shoulders and gathered at
the waist line. It can be closed at
either the front or back.
The quantity of material rer
for the medium size is two an
half yards twenty-one, two ar
quarter yarda twenty-seven
and one-quarter yards U
Inches wide with four and
ter yards of banding and oj
yard of velvet for the belt
illustrated.
Fancy Bcngaline
A fancy bag of beng
mented with forget (
leaves in ribbon embrc