Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-01-26


panied by figure closely wrapped in
cloak. was admitted to General Washing
toms headquarters. For moment thes'
two men. their position SO widely differ
ent, gazed at each other in silence. The,
were embarrassed with the recollections o
bygone days. Washington was the frs
to recover bis self-possession. and he 10
quired. What, sir. is your busihessY
Robinson said. with tremulous voice
To plead for Andre. 81
Washington sternly replied: 'Yor
have already been advised Of my final de-
termination
"'Will nothing ayailr asked Robinson
in .smothered accents.
Nothing! Were be my own son. hs
should pay the penalty due his offence
I know all you will say: You will speak
of his virtues, his sisters. bis rank, and o
extenuating circumstances; perhaps en-.
deavor to convince me of his innocence.
Robinson struggled with his emotions
q few seconds; but unable to suppress his
feelings, he said: I have but one more
argument; if that fails me am done. =
Behold my friend
"'Your friendr' said Washington
who is he7 what is his name?'
lone single word was spoken as the
heavy cloak in which the mysterious friend
was clothed fell to the floor. and exposed
the mature figure of Robinson's sister in.
law. Mrs. Morris. and that word uttered iu
astonishment by Washington was. Mary
The suspense was painful but brief.
Sir said Washington, instantly re.
covering. I regret that you must go back
to Sir Henry Clinton with the intelligence
that your last intercession has failed. See
that these persons are conducted beyond
the lines in safety continued he, throw
ing open the door Of the apartment, and
addressing one of his aids
mortified and disappointed, Mr.. Rob.
inson and his sister-in-law took their leave.
The womon had gained ! CONQUEST once.
but her second assault was aimed at o
heart invulnerable.
Mr.. Morris and his wife, With many
others, 6ed to England, and their proper.
ty was confscated.
Twenty years after Mary Phillipse was
married to Col. Morris. Washington, the
Commander-in- Chief of the American
forces. held his headquarters in her beau
tiful mansion, from whence she had fed
to return no more.
After while it was discovered that
though Mrs. Morris property was confs-
Gated, it did not affect the rights of her
children. In 1909 her son, Henry Gage
Morris. of the royal navy, on behalf ol
himself and his two sisters, sold the re-
versionary interest to John Jacob Astor
for twenty thousand pounds sterling. In
1928, Mr.. Astor sold it to the State Of
New York for FIVE hundred thousand dol
lars.
Mr.. Morris died in England in 1894,
aged sixty-seven years. Mary. his widow,
survived him many years, and died in
1925, at the advanced age of ninety-six.
Monuments were erected to their memory
by their son.
Suppose Washington had married Mary
Phillipse! We know the tremendous
power a wife has over her husband. He
will go with her ''to the farthest verge oil
the green earth" Washington, having
united with that rich and aristocratic
family. would have gone with Mary to
England and identified himself with the
mother country. He would never have
become the Father of his Country y
First in war, first in peace, first in the
hearts Of his countrymen." He would
never have obtained name immortal, and
in his death have been embalmed with
tears eternal Of the wise and good. On
what small things depend the fate of In
dividuals. of nations, of empires! 81