The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-02-22

cant glances passed between the gen.
tleman and his wife. Some FIVE min
utes were in perfect silence, which was
only interrupted by the exit of Mrs. r.
from the apartment. She speedily re-
turned, accompanied by beautiful
young lady, whom Washington, with
a countenance beaming joyfuily, arose
to greet with becoming respect. ln;l.
The young lady was Mary Phillipse,
sister of Mrs. Robinson, and daughter
of the owner of the Phillipse estate.
1t was perhaps singular; but the
time of her appearance and the period
of the return of Washingtou's cordi-
ality, was identical. Strange, as it was,
too, midnight found this young lady
and the Virginia colonel alone, and in
deep conversation. The coniugal
twain who had kept them company in
the early part of the evening had re-
tired to their bedchamber. More re-
rnarkable than AL, daylight found the
couple still together. The candles
were burned down to the sockets of the
sticks, and the fireplace, instead of ex-
hibiting cheerful blaze, harbored only
a gigantic heap of ashes and few dy-
ing embers. What could have pro-
longed that interview. Not mutual
love, for the parties preserve a ceremo-
nious distance, and the young lady
evinced ahautuer that could be watched
only by her companion in after years.
And yet the truth must be told. There
was love on one side; the colonel, smit-
ten by the graces and rare accomplish
ments of the lady as beautiful as ma
ture's rarest works, was endeavoring
to win her heart, in exchange for his
own. He made his confession Just as
the cold grey of the dawn of morning
broke up the dark clouds in the east.
He confessed, in cautious and meas
ured terms, it is true, the extent of his
passion and avowed what it was his
earnest hope would be the result: that
was the gain of her hand. The lady
hesitated. Was it the modesty of the
lady who dares not to trust her lips with
the confession of affection it is her
hearts desire? No! She respected, al
though she did not love herinterlocuter,
and she felt dificent in making known
to him the true state of her feelings
At least candor triumpbed over delica-
cy, and she informed Washington, in
set terms, that she loved another! She
refused him The greatest of modern
men was vanquished, and by woman |!
He was speechless and powerless.
Trembling, with compressed lips and
countenance ashy pale, he crept from
the place just as the old negress of the
household entered to make prepara-
tions for the breakfast. He sought
his room thew himself upon his
couch, dressed as he was, and lasped
into troubled sleep. The only victo-
ry ever won at his expense penetrated
him to the soul. He was unhappy
supremely wretched The future con-
querer of thousands of brave men suf
tered because he had been rejected by
female. The first, but not his last
wooing. ~"- i" ',-'- ''
Years rolled on upon the mighty tide
George Washington was the com
mander-in chief of the American forces
opposed to the royal government The
friend of his early manhood, Beverly
Robinson, was the Colonel of the Loy-
al American regiment raised in his
State, and his son WAS the Lieutenant
Colonel The house we have spoken
of was in possession of the I" rebels" !"
and was occupied by Arnold; the trail
tor. 1t was afterwards the temporary
residence of Washington.t q At the
same time the husband of Miss Mary
Phillipse, Roger Morris was q promi-
nent tory, and a member of the .coun-
Gil Of the colony.t Few Of the parties
were occupied by any reflections of an
amorous nature.e Time i'm its own pro-
gress had worked mutations which had
severed the closest ties, both of friend
ship and consanguity. Those who
were most intimate previous to the
commencement of the war, were now
studied strangers, with drawn swords
at each others breasts. Even sons and
fathers were estranged and arrayed in
opposite ranks-even the child Of that
illustrious statesman, DR.. Franklin, was
a9bitter and no compromising tory. 1t
must, not be supposed that the loyalist
friends of the Colonel, George Wash
ington, shared any better fate, 20 far as
the acquaintanceship Of the Father of
his country was concerned, than 9th.
ersss His old Hudson River friends he
had not seen for years. The husband
of Mary Phillipse was personally lun-
known to- him 4'Bevcrly Robinson,
grown greyand careworn would scarce
ly have beenarecognized.J sT3dj mon
Andre was taken and condemned to
death, and under General Woodhull's
charge was visited by Mr.. Robinson in
the capacity of a specie of commits
sioner which. protected his person.
What was the surprise of Washington,
a few days before the time of the exc
-cution to receive a letter from his old
friend and entertainer, referring to past
events, and claiming, on the score of
"Reminiscences, a secret or private inter-
view. The claim was acknowledged,
and, late at uight, Mr. Robinson,I &C
eompanied by a figure closely mufHed
in cloak, was admitted to the. Gener-
aPs apartment. For moment these
two men-their positions so widely diff
ferent-gazed at each other in silence.
Recollection of days gone by-of hap
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