ith bullets."

"Read on," said old John, in a deeper voice. All forbore to look twice
upon his face.

"Others of the party were falling, when the mighty gate was blown to
fragments, and the waiting regiments of infantry, under Colonel
Campbell, rushed into the breach."

There was a long silence in the post-office, till old John spoke once
more.

"The Lord God be thanked for all his dealings with us! My son,
Sergeant Locke, died well for England, Queen, and Duty."

Nervously fingering the treasure on his breast, the old soldier
wheeled about, and marched proudly straight down the middle of the
village street to his lonely cabin.

The villagers never saw him in life again. Next day he did not appear.
All refrained from intruding on his mourning. But in the evening, when
the Episcopalian minister heard of his parishioner's loss, he walked
to old John's home.

There, stretched upon his straw bed, he lay in his antique
regimentals, stiffer than At Attention, all his medals fastened below
that of Waterloo above his quiet heart. His right hand lay on an open
Bible, and his face wore an expression as of looking for ever and ever
upon Sergeant Locke and the Great Commander who takes back unto Him
the heroes He fashions to sweeten the world.

JOHN BEDELL, U. E. LOYALIST.[A]

"A renegade! A rebel against his king! A black-hearted traitor! You
dare to tell me that you love George Winthrop! Son of canting, lying
Ezra Winthrop! By the Eternal, I'll shoot him on sight if he comes
this side!"

While old John Bedell was speaking, he tore and flung away a letter,
reached for his long rifle on its pins above the chimney-place, dashed
its butt angrily to the floor, and poured powder into his palm.

"For Heaven's sake, father! You would not! You could not! The war is
over. It would be murder!" cried Ruth Bedell, sobbing.

"Wouldn't I?" He poured the powder in. "Yes, by gracious, quicker'n
I'd kill a rattlesnake!" He placed the round bullet on the little
square of greased rag at the muzzle of his rifle. "A rank
traitor--bone and blood of those who drove out loyal men!"--he crowded
the tight lead home, dashed the ramrod into place, looked to the
flint. "Rest there,--wake up for George Winthrop!" and the fierce old
man replaced rifle and powder-horn on their pegs.

Bedell's hatred for the foes who had beaten down King George's cause,
and imposed the alternative of confiscation or the oath of allegiance
on the vanquish