The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-17
PRICE THREE CENTS
THANKFUL BLOSSOM
A ROMANCE OF THE JERSEYS.
177o.'
BY DREr nARrl
PART III.

|
less naples, and ratified the dry bones Of
the elms. 1t whistled through the quiet
Presbyterian churchyard, rs II trying to
arouse the slenpcrs it had known in days
| gone by. II shook the blank, lustreless
windows of the Assembly Rooms over tho
Freemasons' Tavern, aud wrought in their
gusty curtains moving shadows OF those
amplv-petticoate danes and tigh Il y -hosed
cavaliers VINO had swung in -" Sir Roger" or
jgged in Money Musk" the night before.
| But, fancy, IL was around the isolated
" Ford Mansion" better known as the
Head Quarters" that the wind wreaked
It's grotesque rage. 1t howled under its
scant caves, II sang under its bleak porch,
II tweaked the peak of its front gable, Is
whistled through every chink and Granny
OF its square, solid, unpioturesque struc-
ture Situated on hillside that descended
rapidly to the Whippany river every sum-
mer zephyr that whispered through the
| porches OF the Morristown farm houses,
charged as a stiff breeze upon the swing
ing half doors and windows of the Ford
Mansion, every wintry wind became gale
that threatened its security. The sentry
who paced before its front porch knew
from experience when TO linger under its
| lee aud Just his tbreadbare outer coat to
the bitter north wind.
Within the house something OF this
checrlessness prevailed. 1t had an asceti1
| gloom which the scant freight of the re-
ception room, and the dying embers on tho
dining-room hearth failed to dissipate. Tha
central hall was broad, and furnished
| plainly with few rushbottomed chairs.
| N m nf Nv hulf 1ozaH a hlaalx hnHu-
servant of the Chief. Two
officers in the dining room, drawn CLOSE
| by the chimney corner, chatted in under
! tones, ms II mindful that the door OF tho
drawing room was open and their voices
| might break in upon its sacred privacy.
| The swinging light in the hall partly illu-
minated it, or rather glanced gloomily
from the black, polished furniture, tho
lustrcless chairs tho quaint cabinet, the
silent spinnet, the skeleton-legged centre
table, and finally upon tho motionless
figure Of n man seated by the fire.
1t W.: . es.rc, :!..c9 &c vel! .s;iy"a q
, ,ne civilized world, since So ceiei67aa Cd in
print and painting rs to need no descrip-
ton here. Its rare combination of gentle
| dignity with profound force-of n set reso.
luteness OF purpose with a philosophical
| patience have been so frequently delivered
to people not particularly remarkable
for these qualities, that | fear it has too
often provoked a spirit Of playful aggres-
sion, in which the deeper underlying
meaning was forgotten. so let me add thas
in manner, physical equipoise, and even In
the mere details of dress. this figure indi-
Gated II certain aristocratic exclusiveness.
II was the presentment OF n King-a King
who by the irony OF circumstances was
just then waging war against all kingship;
a ruler OF men who just then was fighting
for the right Of those men TO govern
themselves, but whom by his own inherent
right he dominated. From the crown Of
his powdered head to the silver buckle of
his shoe he was so royal that it was not
| strange that his brother George of Eng
land and Hanover-ruling by accident
otherwise impiously known as the "Graos
OF God" could hnd no better way of re-
sisting his power than.by calling him Mr..
| Washington"
The SOUND of horses hoofs, the formal
challenge OF the sentry, the grave questions
ing of the officer of the guard, followed by
| footsteps upon the porch, did not appar-
emily disturb his meditation. Nor did tho
| opening of the outer door and "A charge OF
| cold air into the hall that invaded even tho
| privacy Of the reception room and bright
| ened the dying embers on the hearth, stir
| his calm preoccupation. But an instant
| later there was the distinct rustic OF
feminine skirt in the hall, IA hurried
whispering of meas voices, aud then th5
sudden appartion of II SMOOTH: .1esh-faced
young officer over th". shoulder of the un-
conscious h%,.Ire.
J beg your pardon, General said tho
| officer, doubtingly, but
| You are not intruding, Col HamltO on"
| said the General quietly.
There is young lady without who
wishes an audience of your Excelen,y,
'Tis Mistress Thankful Blossom, the daugh.
ter Of AbQer Blossom charged with trea-
sonous practice and favoring the enemy
now In the guard house at Mouistowu."
Thankful Blossom y' repealed the Gen.
eral. interrogatively.
"Your ENccllcncy, doubtless remembers
a little provincial beauty and "a famous
toast oi the country slde-the CreSsida OF
our Mouistown epic, who led our gallant
! Connecticut Captain astIay
/ Nl lNN' tue tilN lll lEt'-s lc-lflfs1 illN
| better memory OF younger man, Colo-
mel, said Washington, with u playful
smile that slightly redeemed the cheek of
his aidr-dr-canp. "N,t | think mare
heard of this phenomenon. By all means
adnnt hur-aud her c,oori.'
"Shr l, alone, GcnclAl,' responded the
subordinate.
"Ihcn the more reason why we should
be polite returned Washington. for the
first time altering his easy posture, ri-lus
60 hs iret, and lightly grasping hi. rum 4
hands before INN. ave must moi hr,pIrt
waiting. Give her access, my dear Colonel
at once. And-eycn a- She c,uun--olplo,"
The ade-dr-clmp bowed and Withdrew.
In another moment tho hllropenrd door
swung wide to Mistress Thankful Blossom.
She wa, So beautiful in her smplo rdlus
dress, 50 quaint ana ougluai in tla' worry
beauty, aud, above all, SO tveming with
certain vital earnestur,s of purpose, jl.t
positive and audacous enough 10 sot %