The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-07-06

townspeople behind him, he had re-
luctantly consented to lead the cause
he knew to be just.
Then came such preparation as Rock
port had never seen before. Each sep
arate parade would certainly be
grander than the single one had ever
been. Silas prepared himself for his
triumph. He argued that he was GER
tainly right, since his appointment
was made by the properly constituted
authorities.
'.Uncle George is goin' dead agin the
law an CUSTOM" said he.
so did the other George afere him, "
reioined Simon Gardiner, then in his
ninetieth year.
/ Meanwhile we boys plotted. We
would have kidnapped Silas as surely
as ever powder burned on the Fourth
of July. He would have spent that
day on Mark island to dead certainty
if my father had not got wind of our
scheme and made US promise to aban-
don it. That was bitter disappoint-
ment, but we had to do il. In the
/ depth of our dependency a new plan
! suggested itself, and this we acted
upon.
Silas had been obliged to order his
costume from Bangor. The tailor in
| Rockport was on the right side and re-
I fused to make one. This did not dis
concert Silas, for he hoped to get some
! thing more magnificent from the city
j than could have been made in Rock
port So he sent his order by mail and
received in due time favorable reply.
The costume would be sent by steamer
on July2.
Ned Allen came down from Bangor
on that steamer The Rockport Pat
riots sent him there and paid his ex-
penscs by contribution. He took a
paint brush and a small bottle of paint
with him. and he spent most of his time
during the trip down the river reclining
upon the freight. When the boat ar
rived at RocSport there was no box
for Silas Green, but there was one for
J. c. Allen, Ncd's father. Ned took
charge of that box. and doubt if his
ia ther ever heard OF it. Silas Green's
costume was inside it.
The usurper nearly went wild with
vexation. There were kilograms to
Bangor and to Bar Harbor, whittier the
steamer had gone. Explanations fol-
lowed, but the box did not appear
Nobody outside the Patriots league
had any idea where it had gone. In
desperation, Silas, with his friends as
sistance, made as good an imitation of
q continental uniform as he could, but
he felt that heavy blow had been
struck by the enemy.
The Fourth came in with the usual
clamor. Cannon were fred under the
windows of unpopular people.
Churches and schools were broken into
and the bells were rung. Bonfires
blazed on the street corners.
The parades were to form at nine.
They were to be drawn up on opposite
sides of the common. At eight o'clock
some of Silas friends called upon him,
and found him chatting in his home
made uniform. Five minutes later a
half-witted fellow named Johnny
Black came to Silas' house bearing
box 81 found it," was all he could be
made to say.
Silas tore it open. Within was
glittering uniform. He was overjoyed
Hastily he stripped off the make-shift
and donned the garments taken from
the box.
It was customary for Washington TO
ride forth unattended to take command
of his soldiers. The change in uniform
had delayed Silas somewhat, and his
kinsman was at the head of the other
column when Silas rode up to his.
A loud shout greeted him. He lifted
his hat and waved his sword. One Of
his aides rode up hastily, mounted on
the white horse which usually drew
the hcarse.
what n thunder have you got on?"
cried the aide, forgetting his military
MY uniform come at last" said
Silas. "Ain't it stunner?"
The aide groaned.
"We're ruined" he cried. "we're an
eternal laughing stock for everybody.
Hear them yells!'
whats the matter?" asked Silas
turning pale.
Matter? Why that amt no uni
form from Bangor. That's the rig Joe
Hackett wore three years ago when
he came out as Benedict Arnold. |
Everybody knows it. Get out of sight,
Silas, as quick as you can. Our parade's
busted"
And the traitor fed, pursued by |
shouts Of derision. The better part of |
his followers came over to the true
cause, and once more the George !
of Rockport led united |
host.
You should have seen the dignity |
with which he marshaled his column: |
you should have heard the applause |
which greeted him. And when all was t
over he had not word of blame for |
any man. That day settled the ques-
ton of his leadership. He had no more
to deal with He lived |
and died in the character of George
and he has had no sue
lessor.
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