Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-11
THE ~HUNCHBACK
IN U~NPUBLIsEED INCIDENT N TIE LIFE o
GENERAL ISRAEL PUTNAM.

~ TNpTEIISEED lNllDE NJ IN IRE LAfh VI
GENERAL ISRAEL PUTNAM.
Princeton, New jersey, during the winter OF
IVY, was the headquarters Of General lsrael
Prtnam, who, with a small corps OF militia,
held possession Of the town, while the Bnnsh
was garrisoned at Bruins Sick-distant fifteen
or twenty miles eastward.
The relative position Of the colonies and
England at that period is well known; yet,
there are many little incidents Of an interest
ing nature, connected with these times, which
have never been made public and in which,
not unfrequently, the brave American general
took an active part. We have something Of
this kind in view which we relate:
One dark clustering night, near the close OF
f, January, Of the year above mentioned, a man,
wrapped in a long sable cloak, and closely
mufisd about the face, came forth from q
stately mansion on one of the PTicipal streeos
in Princeton and passed of in an e~asteriy d.
rectIon toward Brunswick.
As be hurried forward, a huBcbbscked iDdE
vidUal erept away from q dark nook under TIE
q wall OF an adjacent building and followed
stealthilV after him.
On went the pursued and pursuer, treading
the most secluded portion Of the town, until
81 the former reached the front Of 2 small white
cottage, situated a few rods from the road,
almost entirely enshrou3ed with The foli2ge of
stately trees, the branches of which intermin-
gisd shove the roof. Il was very dark and the
air was filed with sleet, yet a lamp burning IN
front Of the residence revealed the outlines Of
the buildings and trees.
TIE c!caked man paused a moment, and
.gazed suspiciousiV around him, when be dis
eoVeTeds carriage, with horse attacaeo, stand
Ing net far away. He then opened the gate
entered the lawn, and moved on toward the
house with the evident intention Of calling.
Let US prEcede him BY a few moments.
In a small nicely furnished apartment
wing room of The cottsge-sat a young lady,
some twenty years Of age. She was reading
from a large volume, aided by The light Of a
globe lamp that stood upon q center table, be-
fore which she was seated. The apartment
was filed with a r~efulgent light, yet the win
dows were closely mufled in order to give the
appearance that the inmates had retired.
The young lady to when we allude had sat
in the same position at least two hours, during
which time Der eyes, apparently, were fixed in
a steady gszs on the open book, but she had
not turned over a single leaf. It was evident
that her mind wandered, and there were a
number Of spots on the page, which appeared
TO have been caused By tear drops. Upon a
close examination, it would have been discov-
cred that her eyes were closed, and that her
e7elashes were noistened with tears, while a
few had trickied down her checks and fallen
upon the open page.
While she was thus occupied the clock
struck the hsur Of Observation-Disclosures
she started up, closed the book and laid it
upon the table. That moment a low rap was
heard on the outside Of the door, and the next
instant the mufled individual, whom We saw
approaching the house, entered the apartment
:" Is be ssfe?" she exclaimed, advancing
toward the man F: her voice tTemuloUs, and an
uDutterable expression on Der features. els
Kills safe2 Has be escsPed?D
REdns; there is nothing to hopel" be an
swered coolly. al have made use of every
means in nv power TO effect bis release, but
haze allied. He was taken as a Spy, and has,
probably, ere this, suffered according to the
common uBages Of war.o.
40 Godi2 sobbedthe young lady, falling
on the floor and W~ringipg Der hands in the
most acute agony. "hust, Oh! must be die ?
Is there no possible e~scape?"
aNot The Ieast!D replied the man in the
same frigid tone. al 60 beg Of you to be
more eslm,fC -ou will inJure your own health,
IL Feu allow this matter to trouble you so
severely f" and be attempted to assist her to
rise.
Her grief vas instantly checked, and she
gprsngto her feet. The color had entirely
forssken her features, and she stood as a
statue, with her large l~ustrous eyes fixed in
steady gaze upon the face Of the man be-
fore Der.
TcEenTyt what do You Iaean?0 she STAN
rnersd toe moment that she cosld command
Der voice. "Have / been deceived? Have
Won selfish motives in his matter? Great
God, Henry, this is Rwfull2
These words caused a sudden tTemer to pass
over the mans heart, aud.bi cheek to blancb,
bat tie seBsa ion was Immediately subdued,
and his countensnCs wore its uspal serenity.
Ietus pause here and make the reader bet
ter acquainted with the peculiar position Of
these two persons ere we proceed any further.
Col. Rs1gford, an enthusiast IN the cause Of
tEe COLONIES, and a paTtfcuiar friend CT Gen.
Putnam, was the oWneT Of the cottage to
which we have alluded. His wife had been
cesttwo wears, during which tlms Edna, their
only child, had superintendent her fathers DO
nes.ic affairs at "Wiil0w Cottage" as the
Place was familiarity called
Edna was rieh IN knowledge and goodness
Ct heart, possessed Of great beauty, and her
worldly prospects were such as % have attract
ed the attention cf may suffers; but enter
taiai6E ns respect foIthe arts Of a coquet, she
had stajioEsir avoided giviHg embellishments
where Ter hssIt did not sympathize with the
object.
Ibere was one. however, asmIght have been
expected, to whom the heart Of he high
minded Edna could open WIN full confidence.
That pereoB was Ellis DanfeFth, A private in
the federal ~aruyluBdeF Gen. Putnan.
Ellis, BIZ bis upright department and brave
". had obtained ibe good opinion Cf his gen.
sral, and the confidence Of hfs fellow soldiers
Re was generous, Kind, courteous and cOnde-
eeendiag: vet r~esoiBte and determined, when
IN parsgit Of right: and exhibited a wiil and
fxednegs Of purpose Of more than ordinary
capacity.
Forty eight hours preceding this interview
between Henry ard Edna, Ellis, having been
.Dtrusted with the important duty of spY.ng
oatthe movements of the British garrison at
BrlBsvVick, was detected and csrtured. The
appalling news fell heavily upon Edna's heart,
and wen nigh crushed 1t beneath The over
WhelmiBg grief
The young msn-Henry Ransford-wbo held
the c%olioquy with Edna, was her own cousin.
Five years before this period he was a sutton
for her hand, and had been most determined in
mis- sn3gavers 70 winber heart. She, however,
had meyer encouraged hin, and supposed that
he bad lsng since TeiiHCuished al claims as a
lover, aud she had even taken bin Into Der
confidence to a certain extent.
He was 2 captain in the American army,
and very intimate with General PutDan, who
looked upon tie young officer as a brave, hon
oTable man.
F9na, being anxious 70 secure the aid of The
commander, in rescuing her lover from The
Rritish, had, perhaps, opened Der heart too
fr,slg 70 her cousin I; vet she had never ques-
TONED his faith, nor doubted bis Professions OF
Friendship until that evening, and the fact that
he stiIf entertained such feelings had chilled
her heart 90 the very core, causing her to start
back vita mute sst0nishnent.
CHAPTER IT,.
We now turn back to- the time when Ellis
Dsal6rth took his leave OF Gen. Putnam, ard
aa.r--