The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-17

bic traitors to the Continental Army. It
vas signed by Allan Browstor, late Captain
in thr Couuccticnt Contingent.
As col Hamilton exhibited The sig
nature, Thankful Blossom had no diff
Guilty in recognizing the familiar bad
hand, AMI equally familiar mis-.pclliug of
her lover.
She rose to her feet. with eyes that
showed her present ouhlc and porplcXity
us frankly Us they had u moment hofnrc
blZed with her indignation, she met. one
Ivy one, the ginnccs OF the group who now
seemed 10 be closing round her. YET with
a womin's Instinct She fclf, | am CON
strained to sav, more unfricudlincss in the
silent presence Of the two women than in
the possible out-poScn criticism of our
much abused Sex.
"Of course. sad voice, which Thank
ful at once, Nv wofnau's unerring in
stiuct, recognized as the elder OF the two
ladies, aud the legitimate irpcr OF the
conscience Of some one Of the men who
were present. "of course Mistress Thank
ful VIII he able to elect which of her low
crs among her countryis enemies she will
he able 10 cling TO for support in her pres
cnt emergency. She does not seem to have
been SO special in her favors rs TO have
positively excluded any one"
AT least dear Lady Washington, she
will not give II to the man who has proven
traitor TO her." said the younger woman,
impusively. That is beg your lady
ships pardon'-shc hesitated. observing in
the dead silence that cnsued that the two
superior male beings present looked nt
each other III lofty a-tonishmcnt.
{" lie that Is trait'rous TO his country"
sud Lady Washington, coldly, els apt to
be trait ous elsewhere"
"'rwerc as honest to say that he that
was irait'rous TO his King, was trait rous To
his country said Mistress Thankful. with
sudden audacity. bending her knit brows
on Lady Washington But that lady turn
ed diguinedly away, aud Mistress Thankful
again faced IN" General.
" | ask your pardon" she said proudly,
for troubling you with my wrongs. But
il seems to ~ that even III another and
greater wrong were done me by my sweet
heart, through jealousy. it would not JUS
tify thus accusation against me- even
though" she added. darting wicked
glance Mt the placid. brocaded back of
Lady Washin gton, "even though that ac-
cusaton came from one who knows that
jealousy may belong TO the wife Of "A pa
trot rs well rs "a traitor" She was herself
again. after tins speech, although her face
was white with the blow she had taken aud
returned.
Co. Hamilton passed his hand across his
mouth and coughed slightly. gen. wash
ington standing bv the fire with an impas-
sive face turned to Thankful crlvclv
You are forgetting. Mistress Thankful.
that You have not told me how can serve
you. II clnuot I've thnt You are still con-
crrncd IN capt. Brewster. who has given
evidence against your other - fricnds.
aud tacitly against yoM Nor can it he on
their account, for regret to say they are
still free and unknown. If you come with
any Information exculpating them. and
showing they are not spies or hostile 10 the
cause, your fathers release shall be certain
AMI speedy. Let me ask YOU "A single aues-
ton. Why do you believe them honest?"
Because, D." said Mistress Thankful, they
were-were-gc gentlemen"
MANY spies have been OF excellent
family, good address and fair talents"
said Washington, gravely; but you have,
mayhap, some other reason
because they talked only to NE, said
Mistress Thankful, blushing nightly !:
because they preferred my company TO
| father's-becauso she hesitated
moment" because they spoke not of
politics, but-of-that which lads mainly
talk of-and-and-." here She broke down
little, land the Baron | only saw once,
but no" here she broke down utterly
~ know they weren't spies there
now"
3" must ask Won something more said
Washington, with grave kindness; "whe-
Their you give me the information or not.
Tcom will consider that il what you be-
lieve is true, !: TN. ~ a0y way injure
the gentlemen you speak of, while, on the
other hand, it may relieve your father Of
suspicion. Will you give 10 Col. Hamil-
ton, nv secretary, full description of
themy That fuller description which
Capt. Brewster, for reasons hes, known to
yourself. was unable 10 give"
Mistress Thankful hestated for mo-
ment, and then, with one OF her truthful
glances A. the Commander-n-Chief began
a detailed account Of .ne outward sem
blance Of the Count. Why she began with
him | am unable to say, but, possibly, it
was because it was easier, for when she
came 10 describe the Baron, she was. | re-
gret TO say, somewhat vague aud figur-
alive. Not 40 vague. however. but that
Col Hamilton suddenly started up with a
look AT his chief, vino instantly checked it
with gesture of his rutlle1 hand.
~ thank you, Mistress Thankful" he
said quite impassively, but did this
other gentleman, this Blron--"
"Pomposo." said Thankf ul, proudly. 4
litter oritginatod in the group OF ladies by
the window, and became visible on In.
fresh face of Col. Hamilton, but the digni-
fled color Of Washmgton's countenance
was unmoyed.
May / ask If the Baron made an honor
able tender Of his affections to you" he
continued, with respectful gravity" If hi,
attentions were known TO your father, and
were such rs honest Mistress Blossom
could receiver
" Father introduced him to me, and
wanted me to be kind to him. He-ho
] Iii "A