Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-01-20
\ MORNING, JANUARY go, 1912.


h'sNsurPuse. That Ild,an's manner Be-
ioksps me Of no good. ba, my Trusts II
God y De has never, yet deserted me apt
resumfpg The path. be shortly reached III,
mansion of Rufus R0gsdAle.
bis appearance was. The signal Of 10,
among lbsPsrty assembled. each 81 hon
wed With Nhe other toedo him honor
Although grave 10 council. aud bold ID
war. ye. IN Me bosom OF domestic bliss.
no one knew better how 10 render him.
self agreeable. \ The old were cheered
| by bis consolaioAy words. The young
| BY bis mirtaful manner; nor even in gal.
lantTy was bic wanllpc, wbensii added to
the yirtuous spiri, Of ths hourS The pro-
,esiaiions of friendship and welcome were
warmly tendered 10 him BY lbe host
Fast and thickly the g6esfS were asserp-
bHng; the laugh and The -4ufssline music
rose joyousIy around Ths twilight vas
last emerging into night; bot thousand
sparkling lamps Of beauty gave. brillian-
! cy 81 day 10 the scene; all wasAAappfoess;
bright eyes and blooming faces were
eyeTy where beamincE b1t alas! a se+pe Ill
was lurking among lbe flowers. al
| la the midst or the1hiisrily, lie sound
or cannon oufstlsud hedIy upon the earl
Startling the guests. and sbspendlns the
dance. Washington and The officers
locked at each Other 'wih surprise, but
their fears mere quickly .dispeEled by
RQssdaIe, assuring Them IL was only 4
discharge Of ordnance 10 honor Of bis dis
'inguisbed Iisitefsy The Joy Of The mo-
ment'was again RESUMED. but ihe gloom
Of suspicion had faliea1 upon the spirit or
Washingtop who satin moody silence
apart from The happyIthrqngy7
A silent tap upon the shoulder aroused
him from by abstraction, ana boxing up
be perceived The personIof the Iadiaa
girl ,$tandIag in the bosom Of s~myrlle |
bush close 10 bis side lr @
Ha.! again here T. he exclaimed With
fastonlshultnt !. but she mofioned him 10
be silenii end kneeliog al bis feet, pre-:
Sented him with a boqaet ot flowers
Washington reeeivedf ii, and was about 10
place, il in bis breast, when she gfasped
him firmly by the arm, and pointing 10
i, said in whisper, ,SaqksI Saakesi' |
and the next moment mingled with the
company, who appeared 10 recognize and
Wslcome her as one we'll known and es
teemed. lf M
Washington regarded It'd bpqnef With
wonder; fher words and Singular appear
auce had, however, sunk deeply into bis
healtr snd looking closer upon tie nose
gay, 70 his surprise he saw b small piece
Of paper 10 The snidst Of lie flowers 81
Hastily he drew il forth, and, COMPOUNDED
10 qniV abruptly might fUuiiy -
cofsunmaiion Of treachery The speedierI
upon bis bead He resolved therefore TO
disguise his feelings. and trust TO that
power which had never torsaken him
The festivities were again reRewed, but
almost momentarily interrupted by aese-
cond sound Of the cannon. The guests
new began 10 regard each olher with dis
trust, while many aud moody were the
glances cast upon Rugsdale, vi hose coun-
tenance began to show symptoms Of IN
easiaess while ever and anon he looked
I3rom the window out upon The broad
green lawn which ded to the rivers
edge. as if in expectation of some ones
tarival. n
'What!cap deiain them r he muitered1
To himself Can they bsve deceived
me I Why answer they not tie signal!1
Al thaimomen: q bright flame arose from
the liver, illuminating, for moment, The
surrounding scenery. aod showing astnall
boat3filed wiib persons making rapidly
tosards The shoie. Ais web, be Con
tinned in three minutes shall De the
possessor oi coronet, aid the cause Of
the Republic be no more. Then gaily
turning TO Washington be said. Come,
General, pledge me p The success Of our
arms, The eye Of Rugsdsle at that mo
ment encountered The scrutinizing look Of
Washington. and sunk to The ground; his
hand tren bled violently; even to so great
Ea degree as to partly spill the contents o:
Eihe goblet. With difficulty he conveyed
H. 10 bis lps-then retiring to the win
dow, he waved his hand, which action
was Immediately responded 10 by a. third
sound Of The cannon, at the same moment
the English anthem Of God sare the
Kipg, burst ia lulIfvolume upon ,he<ear,
aud j. band Of men, aitiredlin British uni
form, With their faces hidden by masks.
Eeniereh the apartment jThe American
officers drew their swordS lbu; Washing
ton, cool and collected, stood With Ills
arms folded upon the breast, and quietly
remarked TO them. iBe calm, genllemen,
this is an hour We did not ANTICIPATED ---4
| Then turning TO Rugslale, said, Speak,
sir what does this mean I \,
IL means, replied The ;raNor placing
Fhis band upon the shoulder Of Washing
ton y THAT You are my prisoner. In the
name Of King George arrest YOU
tNever,' exclaimed The General. we
may 30 cut 10 pieces. but surrender vie
wIWno: Therefore give way. and he
waved bis sword to the guard, whe stood
with their muskets levelled as il ready 10
FIRE, should they attempt q escape. 10
Fan Instant were their WEAPONS re yersed,
Eand dropping their muskets 10 the horror
Of Russdsle, and the agreeable surprise
4 Of Washington, biz own brave party,
whom be had left in charge Of the barge,
tstood revealed before him. 2 III
i Seize that traitor r exclaimed the COM
nander. In ten minutes from this mo.
liment lei him be spectacle between The
heavens ana the earth The wife and
! daughter ciung to bis Knees 10 suppIica
Zoo, but an irrey0eable oath had passed
lhislips thai never should treason again
receive bis forgiveness after that Of. the
fmiseresni Arnold. For my own life.
. be said, while tears rolled doEn his no
i ~saa