The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-12-22
A REVOLUTIONARY ROMANCE.

Enemies to the Continental army swarm
ed in Philadelphia Lord Howe was in
possession Of the city. British officers in
gay uniforms danced with the royalist
ladies in the halls where the voices of
franklin and Adams had echoed in the
cause of freedom; men clad in tatterS left
bloody tracks with their bare feet as they
moved from one hut TO another among the
snow drifts at Valley Forge.
No man rejoiced more that the winter
was severe and that the godlike heroes at
Valley Forge where shoeleSs and starving
than the rich Troy Merchant. John Me
Farlane He smiled at the sentiment, at
pays to he LOYAL to the king" The night
before Lord Howe had kissed the hand of
his beautiful daughter Dorothy and had
chosen her for his partner in the minuet.
There now stood before him blushing
young English baronet emuets of
general upon his shoulder who had just
asked him for her hand.
at is a great prize YOU would rob me
of Sir Richard, suppose should say no, -
said Mr.. McFarane, ENJOYING the young
mans srpcnsc.
"Then should abide by your decision
and bear it as best could"
"Well Sir Richard yes. And now
does Dorothy know about your intent
ions?"
''She does not thought it best to first
obtain your consent"
every proper, Sir Richard, very proper"
And Mr. McFarlanc called dorothy,
Dorothy Dorothy heard and came at
once.
81 know your secret" her father be
gan.
Dorothy was astounded. 1t could not
be that they had already discovered her
secret. No her father was looking too good
natured for that,
"Father, will YOU please explain?" she
asked
"Then, my daughter, Sir Richard wants
to take you back to England with him
when the rebels are whipped"
81 had heard nothing of this, General
Harlequin, " she said turning to Sir Richard
and bowling gravely.
"No," put in Mr.. McFarane. He
thought to gain my permission first,
Dorothy, which was very proper of him.
"I prefer the American way of asking
the woman concerned first was the girls
half defiant answer
'Then I will ask YOU, =" said the gallant
Sir Richard. "Will You be my wife,"
'Iou honor me sr''-she drew away
from him little-''but refuse. -
''What, whatn' cried Mr. McFarlanc
"What are you talking about Dorothy"
There comesa time when a woman who
has loved man secretly and he has re-
turned her love, wishes to make known to
the whole world. For two years Dorothy
had been in love. For two years she had
kept her secret She had felt that the
time had now come when she wished to
tell them that her heart was not her own.
She wished the proud young English officer
to know it. To her it seemed almost
sacrilege that any one should even ask for
her hand when she was engaged to him.
The color mounted to her face, and threw
back her head she said firmly, ~ am en-
gagged to an officer in the Continental
army
If the earth had opened before him, Mr..
McFarlane could not have been more sur
prised. As for Sir Richard, he bowed
stiffy and said, Miss McFarlane / owe
you an apology"
Then he bowed again, this time to her
father, who began in volcanic speech:
"Sir Richard, am ashamed of her, a.
shamed of her, sir. It's a joke of hers, Sir
Richard All! You leave her with me until
tomorrow. | will arrange matters, Sir
Richard
Sir Richard bowed once more. After he
had gone Mr. McFarlane flew into per-
feet passion
He cursed the Continental army with
all the oaths he could command. Dorothy
made no answer. Finally he went off to
his room yelling out threats of condign