Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-03-25

curiosity OF Lyula and she al once con-
celved suspicion that something terrible
wasplotting. These suspicious she com.
municated 10 her husband, who only
laughed at her apprehensions, and babe
| her think no more of them. Notwith-
standing these objections, however, she
determined to keep watch upon their
proceedings.
At :his time, Washington, with his ar.
my, was lying at White Marsh, on the
Wissahikkon creek, about twelve miles
from Philadelphia, to which place he had
advanced after The abandonment, of Forts
Mifllin and Mercer, where several un-
successful attempts were made by Howe
to draw him into an engagement De-
termining, however, that no effort should
be left unlried 20 destroy the army of the
American commander, Howe, on the Sec
ond of December, communicated orders
TO the Adjutant General for all the troops
TO march out Of the city on the evening
of the 4;h, and attack Washington by
surprise. This manGuvre was intended
10 be a bold one, and had its snccess been
complete, the results are painful to con-
'empla,e.
At the hour appointed, the Adjutant
General, accompanied by two other off,
GERS. took possession of their room. Ia
a short time afterwaed, Lydia succeeded
in getting her fa lilly off to bed 4; but her
own curiosity being naturally excited, she
framed some excuse to her husband for
her absence about the house for short
time, and left him Being now alone, she
took off her shoes, and with the utmost
caution, crept softly up the stairs 10 tie
door of the room in which were the Off
GERS, and putting her ear TO the key hole,
heard the Adjutant General read the Or
der from Lord Howe, for the night attack
upon the camp of Washington. She
could scarcely maintain herself, such was
her agitation and her heart beat so loud
ly the meanwhile that she was compelled
for moment to sustain herself by the
casing of the door, lest. in her t7epida.
tion, she should fall, and thereby bring
ruin upon her family, by an untimely
discovery of her position by those within.
AS it was, she but narrow y escaped de.
lection; for in her confusion and alarm
she had touched the latch of the door, the
noise of which had attracted the notice
of one of the Aijutanl's companions, who
called his attention to it.
Then she was obliged to listen to the
following conversation, for to move ar this
junclure would have indeed beea critical
'Hsrk' says the officer referred to
I'VE ale overheard for l am sure there's
some one OF the door,
Il think not, Colonel replied the ad.
jutant. sit is OILY the wind, which you
know sometimes plays merrily with the
door-l catches in this miserable country
Some finger, dilieren from the wind S,
i tipped the latch of the door, said the
), Colonel, i would not for hundred gum
| eas that we had been overheard
Nor for thousand said the adju
tant. The family are trustworthy, ane
can be depended upon. assure you.
'Never theless-' commenced the Col.
Nevertheless resumed the Adjutant
'if you are suspicious, | will open the
door to convince you; but if there be {
listener. woe be unto him.
These words increased the agitation o.
Lydia and she had scarcely strength
left to screen herself behind a large
chest that stood near the door, before i
was opened, and the Adjutant and his
friend the Colonel. stepped forth to re
connoitre. They examined the hall pret
ty thoroughly, looked down the stairway
and in every nook except behind thu
, chest; and, satisfied at length that thei
secret was safe, and that the Colonel
ears must have deceived him, they agair
retired to their room, and closed the door
The situation Of Lydia during these few
moments was most painful, and twice o
. thrice so near had they come to her, tha
: she was about throwing herself upol
! their mercy, and avowing the whole =; bu
the danger passed and she retired noise
lessly to her own room, to await their de
= parture from the house, before she coul
determine upon what step she should TAX
: in reference to the information she pos
q sessed. AS she departed from ,he doc,
she heard the Adjutant laughing at tn
Colonel for his suspicious; and the re
!, marks which followed convinced her ,ha
I those suspicious were allayed:
She had not been by the side of he
d husband, who was asleep, more than a
hour, when she heard the officers descend
4 ing the stairs-one of them pausing g
her door, and knocking. Feigning to b
asleep, she did not answer TO the firs
4 summons, nor to the second, and not ur
, Ill three or four knocks were made, di
o she arise with tardiness, as though jus
!, awakened, This summons was by pre-
: concert, in order that, as they left, sh
might ex,inguish the fire and lights in thei
a room, and secure the house after their re
!. treat Great was her relief, of course
r, when they had departed |; but she was S
y much agitaaed by what she had hear.
: and At the prospect of the destruction {
Y Washington and his camp, that, on b,
Fet'rlns again 10 bed, she could not sleel