Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-09
,,ion. Tbevvere Captain villars and

I As he Dad W1Bneu, tuo youHB hisu nv
taohed himself immediately to the latter,
leaving Captain viIlsrs at entire liberty
TO turn his whole attention TO Gene
veive-an opportunity which he was not
slow TO improve to the utmost Speak.
ing rapidly and in n low tone he urged
his suit, with all the persuasive eloquence
of look and word. Genevieve IN vain
entreated him to desist, declaring she
could never consent to hear such words
from the enemy Of her country; yet
all the while she listened without great
show OF anger.
Her lover was possessed OF much cou-
rage, moral as well az physical. lie
never once lost heart, but persisted so
earnestly, and was so ably seconded by
her own heart, that he at length sue
ceeded in winning from her hesitating
promise to meet him at some sale tryst-
ing-place. -,
The rain over the ladies resumed their
homeward ride and the British officers
returned to their post. That night there
was a knock ut Caesars door. and when
be came ont he was quickly drawn ASIDE,
and felt some coins thrust into his hand.
Now there never was well-disposed ne
gro who might not be induced to enter
heart AMI soul into love affair.
Captain Nillars had the tact to I'M
press upon the faithful servant tho idea
that he would be furthering the bappi-
ness Of his young mistress 10y any ser
vice be could render her lover, and
Caesar immediately promised all the CO.
operation in his power
10 make INSURANCE doubly sure the
Young officer promised him golden
guinea if he could point ont trystlng-
place not too remote, yet safe from dis
coyerv. Caesar declared that he knew
lust such place as the gentleman de-
sired. ID was almost in full view of the
front portico. and yet never would 10
suspected. Ho had accidentally dlscov-
cred it. ond considering It capital
hiding-place in en emergency, had wise
~ kept it to himself. lie now con-
ducted Captain \ilsrs to It. 1t Was an
unusually large oak, containing hollow
larre enough 10 hold several men, but
closing up almost completely at height
Of rather more than SIX feet from the
ground
The closing was deceptive, for in
reality the hollow ran at least fifteen feet
above in tire hugo trunk widening out
again and allowing comfortable stand
ing position just above It's apparent roof.
II addition to this il Was furnished with
a natural and very convenient loop-holo
looking directly toward the mansion.
BY Just slightly bending a man OF me-
dium height could look into Mr.. Du-
bosses front pOrtico.
in great delight at the discovery Cap
tain Yillars ascendcd into this natural
observatory and felt that ensconsed
within IL he WIS master of the situation.
He bestowed upon Cesar his most cor
dial thanks, but enjoined upon him the
strictest secrecy. That night on his re-
turn to the garrison he wrote to bis lady
love. In biz letter he told of the con-
venient hiding place for himself Ae had
obtained AMI assured her there would
not lie the slightest occasion for sus-
picion il she would take a book with her
and sit under tho tree, as # reading,
while he talked 10 her from the hollow,
and requested her 20 DO 30 on the fol-
lowing Thursday afternoon at o'clock.
ON that evening at the appointed hour
Gcneyieye took mp EVeilna, which
had recently made its appearance on
this side of the water, and said a. It was
SO warm indoors that she Was going ont
under the hollow oak 81 read. she III
yited her sisters e. 20 too but they de-
Ginning sine, considerably relieved at the
refusal went alone.
TO any one beholdiug her from q short
distance she appeared to he deeply APP
ureciatiye Of and intent upon the
volume IN her hand, but she wis really
intent upon tho conversation OF her
lover, who was wooing her through the
loophole. Sine did not dare remain
longer than an hour for fear OF dis
covery, but promised to return on the
next appointed evening.
This was kept up for some weeks, her
father and sisters banterlng her on her
recent romantic turn. One after
noon there came very near be-
irg discovery. Her father, un-
known to her, had gone in the woods
with bis fayorite dog 10 shoot squirrels.
and when returning saw his daughter
sitting reading IN her fayorite seat under
the hollow oak. She did not perceive
him as he came mp and he was not in the
line Of the loophole. Hearing her voice,
he called TO Lcr 10 ask what she WAS
reading.
Genevicve was 30 much alarmed that
she was near betraying herself. An in
slant later Plato, the pointer-dog had
scented q foe and rushed, barking FUR
ouslv to tho hollow of the tree, very
much 10 her alarm. "Down, Plato,
down. commanded his master, but the
dog was not easily silenced. He bounded
into the hollow, reared up, and scratched
frantically against the tree, keeping up
his furious barking.
"Why the devil must he in the tree, y
exclaimed Mr.. Dubo5e, somewhat yexed
at the dogs persistence. 81 think | will
try 10 see what is so disturbing Plato. y
With that he got stick and went inside
the tree himself, thur-ting mp into the
hollow. He brought nothing to light,
however, aud presently came out saying ::
al think II must be either a snake or q
squirrel Then he continued, saying ::
in these troublous times 1 don't
know that 1t is altogether safe for You to
be out here. Como, We will go in but
first, 70 satisfy this yelping dog, ! will
fire ny gun up into the hollow"
His daughter turned sick and pale with
horror when she saw him advance 10 the
tree. She was about TO confess all when
q happy thought struck her. She ran
mp and took hold Of the gun. Hold
on, father she cred "let me fire /
know ( can bring down the creature.
whatever it is. Before ne could reply
She bad taken possession of the gun and
was pointing the muzz,e somewhat too
low for her fathers notion.
Point it straight up, daughter, he
directed She did 50 and raised the trig-
ger: but at the same instant let tho muz-
zle fall to an angle Of 40. Bang went
TIE gun, and the LOAD WAS discharged
into the body OF the tree fully two feet
below where her lover was standing, al
most convulsed with the righteousness Of
the situation and the ready wit of his