Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-10
NO. pa.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE SECRET OF PRUDENCE STRONG.
A TRADITION OF THE OLD WAR OFFICE AT
LEBANON, COM.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

CONTINUED from Yesterday
"Did the Count de Rochambeau instruct
you that | must give the reasons for any
wish might desire granted p was Dup
| lan's answer.
The aid smiled significantly, but Dup
Ian did not see that.
'Let it be then as he Wishes" said the
aid to the sergeant.
A soldier was detailed to 60 up into the
village and escort Mistress Prudence to
the camp. 'Peradventure she will not
come,n he said to his comrades as he but
toned his great coat about him; land yet
| think she will. Have you not seen her
at the oven when Duplan and the rest OF
us were baking bread? Did she not visit
us one evening with some Of the ether
maids, and bring us cider and apples''
As the soldier passed the guard-house,
Duplan called him. II pray you." said
the prisoner, mot to reveal to Mistress
Prudence my trouble. 1t is my last re-
quest to you, cOmrade."
Half an hour later the soldier returned.
The flicker of the lantern that he carried
revealed, as they passed the sentry. aslen-
der female form enwrapped from head to
foot with cloak. She preceded her es-
cort few steps. The snow was begin
ming to fall. Some of the flakes fell upon
the tresses of her hair that escaped from
the top Of her hood where it encircled the
face. She was shown the guard-house.
Duplan, standing. received her, waving
his hand slightly. as If to warn her against
any undue emotion. The guard, with q
deiicacy for which Duplan subsequently
thanked him. turned his back to them, and
paced slowly before the door. He heard
voices. He did not hear. nor try to, what
was said. He heard sobs, also. At the
end of half an hour Duplan said distinctly:
Now, go. You will come to see me in
the morning at the oven, will you nOt?"
And then the guard knew that he had not
told her what his sentence was, and that
she did not know that she never would
hear him speak again. AS she quilted the
guard-house he put some papers that he
took from his breast into her hand.
"Will you go with me to the war Office"
she said to her escort, land wait there un-
til have seen Mr.. Trumbull? Then wnen
we get to my fathers house he will make
for you hot punch, I'll warrant. Yes,
know, the punch will be all ready, because
Mr.. Rudd, our minister, is in the kitchen
this evening with father. and they always
take warm one when they are together.
The snow, as they passed to the high
way, began to fall so thick " that even the
light of the lantern was dimmed, but at
this Miss Prudence laughed, and the COM
rade who was acting as her escort thought
her an extremely fearless girl, and wOn-
derfully handsome withal. The walk to
the war-office was short one. Within
ten minutes they were at the door.
Halt" said the sentinel, and he was
SO muflled up that it was the tone rather
than the articulation that checked Mistress
Prudence, who would otherwise have
opened the door and gone in unannounced.
"Oh ho! 1t is you, Is it, mistress and
what do you here on such night as this ?"
the sentinel said, after peering into the
maiden's face.
81 would see Mr.. Trumbull: truly de-
sire overmuch to speak to him. Will you
admit me p''
The sentinel tapped at the door. It
was opened. A rudy glow burst from
within, and by it two dispatch bearers
could be seen sitting on the cOunter-fOr
before war the office was a country shop
driving their spurs into the woodwork as
their legs dangled a foot or more from
the floor. (The marks of the spurs Of
these and other messengers are to be seen
in the woodwork even to this day. Mis-
tress Prudence and her escort passed in to
this room. The dispatch bearers, who
were evidently in the midst Of some roll
licking story, and were plainly feeling the
merrier for the mulled cider they had
taken. eyed the female figure curiously at
first; but when she threw her cloak and
hood off, and they saw the large gray
eyes, now seeming very dark by the fire.
light, and that her features were exceeding
fair and her manner gracious. they thought
for certain that they were in the presence
of one of the Governors daughters, and
became at once greatly courteous. One
took her cloak and shook the snow from it,
and then put it before the fire. The other
opened the door to the room i'll the rear
where he knew the Governor was passing
an hour with the Count de Rochambeau.
Thus unannounced Mistress Prudence
came into the Governors presence, He
sat at his oaken desk, but seemed for the
moment to be more occupied over q GER
tain discussion that he was having with
Rochambeau than with his papers. The
French noblemen stood easily before the
fireplace, the flames from the burning log
Furnishing the gilt of his scabbard. The
Governor arose and the Count bowed.
Both were exceedingly tall, and Mistress
Prudence seemed by contrast wofully
small, but not less fearless than the men
she confronted.
"Why, Mistress Prudence, what has
brought you here? DO you come from
your worthy father, esquire?''
.Ahem!'' This is the slightest and yet
most suggestive of tones from the Count.
Pardon me,' said the Governor. "Let
me. beg, present Mistress Prudence
Strong to the Court de Rochambeau. A
worthy daughter of an exceeding worthy
father, sir"
Truly, that would almost go without
the saving of it, your Excellency." And
the Count with much grace took Mistress
Prudence's brown but shapely hand and
bent over it. Ibid | not have the pleasure
of leading the maid at the reel in the tav-
ern dining-room ?'' he asked.
Indeed you did, sir" replied Mistress
Prudence, curtseying. "But. MIR. Trum-
bull, will you tell me what Mr.. Duplan.
the tall French soldier has done, andwhat
is to be his punishment"
The Governor, who had taken advan-