Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-03
family, yet with tears "Could ! help

iob COulu tiNEN heIDSu lelulnb III.
Youshould have sent it to me-" declared
Ralph. Suddenly his blue and buff
arm was raised; he clasped his fore
head. "My God' he exclaimed; "for
my own sister to do this-a Cuttance in
correspondence with an enemy OF our
country! Oh, why was not I killed at
the Brandywine rather than live for
this"
Ralph, don't-don't. There is no
harm. And Seoton was your friend;
you know he was. But for you"
"But for mo you would never have
met this man who is now trying with
the rest to destroy our libertits. Well,
what did he write? You are aware"
Ralph went on, sarcastically, "that he is
lieutenant of his majesty's marines?
Possibly his information may prove use
full. What did he write, I say"
''Only that Sir Georges fleet would
soon sail this way-Sir George Collier
and and that he might come ashore,
and"
'Oh, it was this You were afraid Of,
then? This was the deadly peril.
What loving sister I have You were
afraid, forsooth, that your lover would
not come to burn and rob, and to mrr-
der the rest Of the family, while taking
You in his arms"
Tho girls eyes glowed. She drew
herself up and faced the young Con.
tinenta! with indignation. 'Do you
daro TO say that Lieut. Seaton would
permit such atrocities, or take part in
tLon? He will come here to see me,
3 add womln's peril
and he will let no harm befall those who
are near me. Yes, ] was afiaid, Ralph
Shall | tell you of what? l was afraid
| might never see him again.
For an instant brother and sister
faced each other, trembling with
passion, and through that instant Ralph
could not help admiring tho girl, even
though she disgraced his family. His
next words, however, were decisive.
Every WE'LL lie said; "your fear shall
be justified. you must leave the place
this afternoon. Black Frank shall take
you across the bay, and ride with you
to Cuipepper; so get ready at once. Do
you hear ne? Don't delay. And mind,
not one word of this to Margaret"
Miss Cuttance knew that she would
have to obey. But at this moment of
defeat the tender side of her woman's
nature suddenly got the better of her.
81 will do it" she said meekly. "But
if you send me away, why not go with
me"
Impossible. Margaret car moi mov,.'
och, true, true" The girl seemed
genuinely auguished. "But what will
become of you all p she cried, touching
ner brothers shoulders with both
hands. He shook her off off the
enemy sholM come, and | not here"
she went on. 'Ralph! Ralph! Think
what you arc doing You, an officer.
They would tako you; they would have
no mercy. Why should you not fly
and leave us? They could not harm
women. Or, if you wish, go ride some-
whore and get help, and return
II might ride to the end OF AccOmac,
and ii would do no good. Besides l..
to fly? You remind me that anu ar
officer That is quite needless, for I
neyor forget 1t moment, though you
may. More than that, an man,
hope. Gle was i,st twenty, this tall,
young colonel.) No, madam, I stay
here. And ii you ever behold Seaton
again it won't be my fault, for il he
comes to this place will run my sword
through him.
And the little child, whose presence
had made the father think war so hide.
ous few minutes before, slept calmly
in the room within wlile this threat
was uttered,
Sally started before an hour had
passed, Black Frank accompanying her.
But as her horse paced in among the
woods tnat concealed the road to the
Ches peake, the poor girl turned on
her saddle, searched the vacant sea with
her eyes, and threw Que intangible kiss
from her lips to the hopeless expanse
OF waves.
From his position on the veranda
Ralph could see what she on the road
had been unable to discover Several
sail had come into sight, making their
way southwark and inshore. He
watched them Ions and anxiousy, until
them became so distinct that with his
glass he could ...:..''a out the British
ensign, and distinguish the flagship
from the rest. They lay to for while;
then the flagship and most OF the fleet
proceeded on their way, leaving one
sloop of war at the ofling, which beat
up and down, and appeared to he eying
the house as intently as the colonel
was eying the vessel herself. There
was c0mmotion Oh the plantation; the
slaves ian here and there like flock of
disturbed chickens. Bat Col. Ralph
quietly summoned 10 the library Ills
little brothers, Frank and Reginald,
youngsters respectively of twelve and
fourteen, and there instructed them as
to their military duti in case of an
attack. He had too much old Virginia
pride, and too little ammunition, to
avail himself Of any warlike aid from
his negroes.
Meantime, on board his maiesty's
sloop the captain OF marines was receiv.
lug his orders.
"You will land with my detachment
OF sailors in two hours from this time.
BY then the tide will have made that
creek practicable for the boats. Guard
against surprise, search the house,
carry off the slaves, and set the build.
ipgs all ahrt."
Gail, sir|
"Ail. The mansion along with the
rest"
The captain Of marines retired.
II would give my commission if l
were out of this service" Liept. Soaton
to him. 81 presume, sir, that
if you find only helpless women, you
will use your discretion about burning
down their she(tel?'
81 have noue to use," said his supe.
rior, curtly. "And, for my part, I think
the more of these rebel nests we destroy,
the sooner the insurgents will come to
their senses. Our object is to. ravase
the whole shore"
Seaton turned sharply and walked
away to Suppress the revolt that was in
him. He stood by the taffrail, staring
steadily at the distant house, which he
knew so well, where he had met the
woman he loved, and where his "gallant