FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135  
136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   >>   >|  
, and faced with white. Ah, Elsin, these same men have limped barefoot, half-naked, through snow and sun because his Excellency led them." "It is strange," she said, "how you turn grave and how a hush comes, a little pause of reverence, whenever you name--his Excellency. Do all so stand in awe of him?" "None names him lightly, Elsin." "Have you ever seen him?" "Never, child." "And yet you approach even his name in hushed respect." "Yes, even his name. I should like to see him," I continued wistfully, "to hear him speak once, to meet his calm eye. But I never shall. My service is of such a nature that it is inexpedient for him to receive me openly. So I never shall see him--save, perhaps, when the long war ends--God knows----" She dropped her hand on mine and leaned lightly back against my shoulder. "You must not fret," she murmured. "Remember that staff-officer said he praised you." "I do, I do remember!" I repeated gratefully. "It was a reward I never dared expect--never dreamed of. His Excellency has been kind to me, indeed." It was now past four o'clock in the afternoon, and Elsin, who had noted the wares in the shop-windows, desired to price the few simple goods offered for sale; so we went out into the dusty village street to see what was to be seen, but the few shops we entered were full of soldiers and not overclean, and the wares offered for sale were not attractive. I remember she bought points and some stuff for stocks, and needles and a reel of thread, and when she offered a gold piece everybody looked at us, and the shopkeeper called her "My lady" and me "My lord," and gave us in change for the gold piece a great handful of paper money. We emerged from the shop amazed, and doubtful of the paper stuff, and walked up the street and out into the country, pausing under a great maple-tree to sort this new Continental currency, of which we had enough to stuff a pillow. Scrip by scrip I examined the legal tender of my country, Elsin, her chin on my shoulder, scrutinizing the printed slips of yellow, brown, and red in growing wonder. One slip bore three arrows on it, under which was printed: Fifty Dollars. Printed by H. A. L. L. and S. E. L. 1778. Upon the other side was a pyramid in a double circle, surmounted by the legend: PERENNIS. And it was further decorated with the following: "No. 16780 Fifty Dollars. This Bill entitles t
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135  
136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
offered
 

Excellency

 

remember

 
lightly
 

shoulder

 

printed

 

country

 

Dollars

 

street

 

change


handful

 
emerged
 

needles

 
entered
 
soldiers
 

overclean

 

attractive

 

village

 

bought

 

points


looked

 

shopkeeper

 

called

 

thread

 

stocks

 
Continental
 

pyramid

 

arrows

 

Printed

 

double


circle

 

entitles

 
legend
 

surmounted

 

PERENNIS

 

decorated

 

currency

 

walked

 

doubtful

 

pausing


pillow
 
yellow
 

growing

 

scrutinizing

 

examined

 
tender
 

amazed

 
approach
 
hushed
 

respect