Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-11

ASSN s-s--sas----.s.s-s-.
or. 1t the trpt6 must be told, be had be.
,ome sudd1hly enaunored of the beautiful.
American, and waa determined to win her
love II possible !; but failing this. to car
~ her Of BY force or strategy, and noiens
volens, make her his wife. I4793
Ut late he was constant visitor at the !
house Of her father; but she. OWNING his |
constant admiration, saw him but as sell
dom as possible, and the more so, as he
was q rough, burly. ill-favored fellow of
inordinate vanity, and with coarse, bus
tering voice and manner the most pre-
sumptuous and disagreeable.
Edward had heard of this foreign hire
ling, and Of the fact that he had aspired
to the hand of Flora. and then. besides.
he was in the habit of Boosting that should
he ever come within swords point of
Daredevil he would bring him either liv-
ing or dead within the English lines. 1t
was this latter tina. irritated Marion, for he
well knew the antipaihv secretly borne by
Miss Nildmay against this huge and pow
erful blusterer, and not against the enemy
generally.
Of Vorblek's movements, as well as OF
much that was aloat in the city, he learn
ed from time to time of an old trapper
that he encountered al certain point ON
the SchuylkiIl, whenever he secretly crept
down the river in disguise, and under the
assumed name of Waters, to take from
their hiding place some mysterious des-
patches in cipher, that were almost sure to
be found at a given hour in the narrow
cleft of solitary rock, accurately describ-
ed to him and almost within the enemy's
lines. The mission was known to Wash
ington only, and whoever yentured 10
communicate with him thus.
And now. as Marion, a day or two before
the fete, was again approaching the spot
cautiously in the clear moonlight, he en-
countered the trapper once more, whom,
with all his information and seeming
friendliness, lie had already set down as
an enemy on the gus rire for some infor-
nation dangerous 10 the interests of the
patriot cause. This conclusion having
been arrived at. Marion, who knew every
inch Of the river and the surrounding
country from his childhood, soon invented
such story as 10 his family and harmless
occupation as appeared to throw the old
trapper off the scent, if he happened to be
unfriendly. Now, however, as they met
again there was the usual cordially on
both Sides. but this Zine the traprer had
nothing to speak about but the approach
ing festival and the determination of Cap
tain Vorblek 10 win the hand of the beau
tifal young Tory, Miss Flory Mildmay, in
the lists Of the tournament. The blood
shot to the brow of Marion rs he heard the
name of the Hessian braggart mentioned.
and that of his beloved associated with
h,,N h., stNaI u I'd 1pv
anger. and rs he neared the lonely rock,
which he never approached directly, but
always crept upon circuitous route, he
bid the trapper good night, and struck in
to the woods as though he would gain the
city by some short and well-known path.
Marion had not seen Flora since Sep
TENDER, now some months, but then he
managed to hear from her frequently, and
tosreply occasionally, through sure and
certain channel. to her loving and noble
words Of comfort. She had never men,
toned his name to her father, being
doubtful as to how it might have been re-
ceived, SO obnoxious was it to the Tories;
but her heart had gone forth to him for
ever. and she had plighted her troth to
him for veal or for woe. They had first
met but couple Of years previously, and
during the absence OF her father in Eng
land. Having early lost her mother. and
being an only child, she had until the return
Of her parent, who loved her to idolatry,
been entrusted to the care ofsome wealthy
relatives, among whom Marion CHANGED to
meet her, and, where, in a single evening
he had become her absolute slave. She
was then in her twentieth year, and love-
ly beyond expression. Nor had she her.
self been less struck with the handsome
features and noble and symmetrical figure
of the brave young officer; for she also
felt that the hour of her heart had come,
and that the fates had ordained them for
each other. Marion had devoted nearly
all of his available means TO the relief Of
the patriots. but still he was wealthy in
lands and other property. These, in the
event of the success of the men now war
ring in the cause OF human freedom, were
sure to result in the most ample indepen-
dence to him; and there were those who.
even under the most trying circumstances
were not slow to observe that the struggles
of the Americans. if slowly, were surely
advancing toward triumphant close.
Through some channel, Washington
had become aware of Marion's affection
for Miss Mildmay, and of the rumors re-
garding the intention of Vorblek to wear
her colors at the tournament. Knowing
the daring and fiery character of Edward,
however, he avoided mentioning this lat
ter subject to him, lest it should betray
him into some desperate act that might
jeopardize his life or liberty. Flora he
had known for some time, and now, not
outstanding the rumored detection of
her father from the national party, and
his alleged alliance with its enemy, he
still spoke in the most glowing terms of
''sweet Flora Mildmay," and her truth
anil loneliness, and never uttered harsh
syllable against his old friend her father.
For Marion he had an affection the most
unbounded; and thus it was that he never
mentioned his name to any soul living,
friend or foe, in connection with the Sc
cret periodical missions that he performed
to the lonely point on the Schuylkill river.
In this way matters stood on the night
before the opening of the grand fete, when
Washington became aware that dispatch
es had arrived from England, ordering
the British to evacuate the city and the
fleet to leave the Delaware. The news
was glorious. and the spirit of the army
invnncly OF Tho baarf M Ed