Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-10-11

NO.. 245.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE SECRET OF PRUDENCE STRONG,
A TRADITION OF THE OLD WAR OFFICE AT
LEBANON, CoSN.
CONTINUED from yesterday.)

courtesy to the Count. she turned her back
upon him, and going to the Governor,
said "Mr. TrumbIll, you knew me when
| was a child, before this war. Did you
not see me lead the other maids to the
schoolhouse when the messenger from
Lexington to Norwich stopped to tell us
that blood had been shed, and did not
suggest to the maids that we even take
our petticoats to make the implements OF
war with? DO you remember my ride to
Hartford, alone through the forests, that
| might carry to you the special dispatches
that were waiting you here from Gen.
Washington? ?''
"In truth remember all this. and to
your credit
Then have l not the right to ask
slight iavor?''
"But, Mistress Prudence, cannot do
what you would seek My authority ex-
tends not to the battalion Of the Count de
Rochambeau.'
but you can plead with him?"
81 see, Mistress Prudence, you little
comprehend these matters, and in truth
wot my pleadings would not avail the
half yours would"
The Count listened gravely to all this.
suddenly he said, but with infinite respect,
Tell me, do you love this manP
"What has that to do with it?'' she
answered, Strengthening up, and her gray
eyes flashing indignation. "lf he deserves
punishment might love him and still SUI
fer him to be punished. But he does
not. beg you to release him for he has
done nothing wrong
The Count de Rochambeau said nothing.
"Will you not release him?" she plead
ed tenderly, placing her hand on the Count
de Rochambeau's arm. He turned his
face away, but shook his head.
"Will you not beg for meP" This to
the Governor, who stood with one hand on
his oaken desk and looking very stern. as
much as to say, Il like this not at all.'O
IL cannot Mistress Prudence"
Il know not what his punishment may
be. 1t is disgrace sufficient to have been
arrested But have here"-and she sud-
denly drew from the folds of her dress
thin packet of papers-''that which he
gave me tonight, saying that were he
punished might keep them forever were
he not might deliver them to the Count
de Rochambeau. They are of great im-
portance, sir, for they not only tell who
Francois Duplan is, but certain other hints
of value"
Count, starting forward.
"Not till you promise and will tell
you furthermore, that on your written or
might my father
..Verilv." said the Count, "those are
but other words, the meaning of which is
the affirmative answer to the question |
put to you. Then you do love the sol.
dierp"
That is impudcnce, sir. l have not
said so. Mayhap in yonr country, women
| can do nothing unless the motive of love
be imputed 1t is not SO here. as Mr..
| Trumbull well knows"
You are brave maid." said the Count
de Rochambeau. "and you shall have
YOUR wish Now let me have the papers"
With this Mistress Prudence rushed
from the room, the Governor and Count
staring at each other in amazement. Pres
emily she returned. looking demure. sly.
and wondrous pretty.
Il have put the papers where they are
safe, sir. Tomorrow when l see MIR. Dup
| Ian and he tells me that he is relieved
from duress and disgrace. l will place
them in your hands,"
The Count flushed. He bit his lips, and
at length said: Then MISTRESS Prudence
dare not trust to my honor?"
"Yes, ves,n she said. going to him
prettily. ''but methinks will punish You
for your impertinence, sir. You seek the
papers greatly, and you must restrain
your curiosity over night as punishment
for the question you put to me. Never
theless, / will partially requite you. and
with that she put her face up to his, so
that when he bent over she kissed him on
his forhead. Then the Count sat at the
Governors desk and wrote an order par
doning Francois Duplan, or rather dis
missing the charge of desertion as un-
founded, thereby quieting his conscience.
regarding the peremptory order of death
to deserters and gratifying his wishes.
..Give this" he said. ''to your escort, and
charge him to deliver it to the sergeant Oh
his return to camp.
When she went away neither the Gov
ernor nor the Count proposed to make any
search tor the papers. The dispatch bear
ers. in response to the Governor 'sinquiry.
said the maiden went up among the raft
ers.
Comrade jacques showed Mistress Pru-
dence to her fathers door by the light OF
his lantern, and, nothing 10th, went in.
The mistress herself mixed him q punch
of tremendous strength, which he drank
ia her honor. Then Squire Strong insist
ed on another, and the minister suggested
that they drink to the cause so that by the
time Comrade Jaques was ready to go
back to the camp he must have had more
than pint of Medtord rum to warm him.
The cold night air from without and the
heated rum from within sent his brain at
once into whirl. and an hour after the
sentinel took him to his tent in state OF
the widest intoxication. in which he con-
stantly sang the praises of Mistress Pru-
dence. They found on him at noon the
next day the Count de Rochambeau's re-
mission of the sentence of death.
Atsunrise the sergeant and six weeping
comrades .drawnby lot. led Duplan through
the snow. across the highway. nearly op
posite the old mill. He knelt in the snow
4 l -