Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-11-05
him hastily. The woman staggers
back and represses scream.

back and represses scream.
"Fear not, Prudence! II is l,
Ralph! The Tories are in pursuit!
For the sake Of olden days wilt thou
not conceal me for one hour SO that l
may escape2" All of the time loye,
buried for many years, has sprung to
life and is shining at her from his eyes
and speaking to her in every tone of
his mellow voice.
And she? Some untold emotion
seems tugging at her heart her breast
heaves she turns towards the stair
way.
Gomez
Five minutes later horde of men
gallop up to the house, and force wide
open the massive oaken door, her hus-
band at the head. She never finches.
Transfxing the General with a scorn-
full look she addressed him with cut
ting emphasis:
"Since when has John Vancouver
adopted this manner of bringing guests
and entering his house as though it
were a barrack ?"
Cease Madam you toy with edged
tools Where is the traitor2 he entered
at that door"
Indeed !" the wide eyes blazing,
land since when has General Van
couver suspicioned his wife of enter.
tanning rebel officers during his alb
senceY" She sees her fatal mistake,
as soon as she utters it and goes on
hastily, blindly; "Perchance, too,
the kitchen is full of American sold.
iery being feasted at thy expense you
had best 60 down to see !"
"Nay, Madam! thy tongue betrays
thee! 1t is above and not below stairs
that we shall find the "Rebel officer !"
He turns upon the lower step, and,
calls loudly, his old voice quak ing
with anger. 1.-TWO seize that woman!
She is traitor to her King and abet-
tor of his enemies %
The search proves fruitless. They
come Gathering down the stairs, the
Major at their head. He goes up to
Prudence, his yellow features distorted
with rage.
Tell me, woman! Where have
you hid this man! Tell me, l say !"
She looks at him proudly from be-
tween the imprisoning arms that hold
her.
"You forget sir, in what manner
to address lady, and that lady thy
wife %
Il recognize you no longer as such!
Take her away, men to the edge of
the cliff! I'll wiring the truth from
her or cast her to the waves Z"
They dragged her out into the night
and storm, with yellow hair unbound
and whitely.clinging robes, and she
never wept or spoke, only they thought
she whispered something as they cross
ed the threshold they were not cer-
tain. They forced her to the verge
of the precipice and held her with the
glow from the lighthouse opposite shin
ing down upon her drenched and
shivering form, her haggard face and
wide, despairing eyes And the Ma
jor questioned her, tainted her, but
could draw nothing from her, until at
last grown mad with anger at her
stubborn silence he seizes her arm
and wrenches it ANSWER me !"
She leaned back sick and faint and
moaned with pain, then a terrible
revulsion came at the indignity offer
ed to the daughter of an English
gentleman. She drew herself erect
and her eyes blazed hatred and de-
fance upon her brutal husband. And
then she spoke, oh, and that awful
voice rung in his ears, warrant, on
his death.bed.
"Verily, General Vancouver, you
push your loyalty to the King to an
extreme length Well, then, tell
you this, not because l fear for my
wretched life, but bee ause l know he
is safe and beyond pursuit; I hate
you, sir! l have hated you since l
learned of the treachery and false
hood by which you won me l did
conceal man, a traitor, an officer,
in yonder loyal mansion, but | show
ed him also way that be to liberty.
I have held my peace, sir, but to give
him time to escape! Sir, for twelve
long years l have been faithful if
not loving wife, and my heart has
drowned itself in sea of secret tears,
yet tonight it thrilled, General Van
couver, beneath an olden touch l
saw tonight face that should have
gladdened mine all of these weary
years heard his dear remembered
voice, oh, and at the sound forgot
my King, my country, and my mas
ter, forgot all save that danger was
abroad that threatened him. Are
you pleased to know, sir, that | shelter
ed and aided a traitor to escape, and
traitor thy rival in thy wife's affection