Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-01
A REVOLUTIONARY EPISODE.
An Interesting story OF Colonial Day

An Intercstin2 Story Oh Soionihi Days
Col. Ralph wss hardly more than DO,
when he niarried-in fact only 10. Look
iig at the portrait of him painted at tina
time 1777)-it still hangs in the Cuttanc,
mansion, on the eastern shore-it seems
funny to call HIM colonel. A mere strip
ling, with light hair colored almost like
young shoots of certain spring leaves be-
fore they have become green land the col
onel, as we know, was green enough il
those days , youth with fine old fash.
Toned sanguine complexion, and some
thing unsophisticated about his well
formed lips full Of sensitive affection.
This is all there is of it q boy, yet one
of those revolutionary boys who somehow
accomplished things iar greater than many
of our full grown men now succeed in do
ing.
He was simply Capt. Cuttance then,
but promotion is rapid i'll the field, and
ly cut TO piece !, he found himself at the
head of it. All the higher officers had
been killed.
Then came Monmouth, and transfer
to another command, followed by brief
furlough.
81 understand, colonel, Lafayette said
to him as they parted, 'that you are going
home to welcome new n recruit"
Col. Ralph smiled, yet with with an
anxious mien II hope so, general" lie
replied 81 hope it will be a boy"
And it was boy. How furiously had
the colonel posted all the way from camp |!
He passed straight from the saddle into
the hushod bedroom OF his wife in the
old mansion, with the spring mud splash
ed all over his boots yet his steps were
light as woman's. He did not disturb
the baby that had Just arrived, nor the
proud and placid mother-his girl wife
Margaret.
"Ah, how happy ann exclaimed the
colonel to his sister Sally, as they walked
the veranda together n few days later
'If it were not for this CHASTITY war, /
should have nothing to pain me. Doesn't
it seem strange, dear Sally that men
should go butchering each other, when
we see all the trouble it is to bring one
human being into the world, and the joy
that his coming brings?"
Sally clasped her hands. "Ah, yes"
she sighed, ''if it were not for the war !"
She gazed out over the serene land
scape in front of them. 1t was May
time. and the tints of early summer en-
riched the whole scene. The trees around
the house were i'll full, fresh leaf; the
lawns looked fair the sea dim and blue,
was soft and beautiful as the eye of
maiden when the first sweet sorrow of
love imbues it; and far out from the
beach silent white fringed Assateague,
where the colonel and his sister could
discern at times the herds of island ponies
scurrying along the shore. In another di-
rection lay the small family cemetery OF
the Cuttances, the occupants OF which no
roar OF battle nor fear OF marauders could
disturb
Miss Cuttance's brother regarded her
more carefully. Glad in her long high
WASTED white dress, with single gold
ornament on the front, at her bosom, she
was singularly graceful. She was beau
also peculiar sadness 'But the war;"
he said, gently, 'brings no such perils
and anxieties to you as to me"
"You forget the danger on this exposed
coast, Ralph"
"Not l" he replied 81 would 'twere
possible to forget. But suffer trebly-
for Margaret and the baby and you while
at the worst you can suffer only in your
own person"
''You do wrong to my heart, brother.
But, allow you, your ties are deeper and
more than mine"
Col. Ralph laid his hand on her arm
"Do you reall fear the enemy landing ?"
no asked, his half boyish face growing
stern and cloudy.
Miss Cuttance turned her eyes toward
the timid blue of the Atlantic. "The
house you surely know, can be seen for
miles on the water. Some cruiser"
"Wait, Sally he cried. You at least,
must not stay here. Margaret will soon
be about again. Why shouldn't You cross
the bay and go to Cousin Dinsmore's, at
Culpepper?"
"Oh, Ralph Leave them all here?"
'But you could do no good If party
landed. My two little brothers know how
to use their pistols; and Margaret, too,
on an emergency might perhaps-L Listen
to me, Sally l should be easier to have
you out of danger. That's one less. Do
you hear?"
Sally became pitcous, Don't, don't
send me, she begged. "Oh, indeed, I'd
rather not CO." She clasped her hands
to him. Then she turned away suddenly
and looked wistfully ut tho ocean.
A change jeanne over the colonel.
"Sally," said he very grayely, "what does
this mean? You are still thinking of
SeatoE ?" She hung her head and was
silent. "Have you been in correspond
ence with him? ?" continued her brother.
At this she glanced up again, half de-
family, yet with tears. could | help it
If he sent me n le;ter?'
"You could have helped reading it.
You should have sent il to me" declared
Ralph. Suddenly his blue and buff arm
was raised he clasped his forehead. ''My
God !" he exclaimed ''for my own sister