Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-04
A SWEETHEART OF'76

Enemies to the Continental army
swarmed in Philadelphia. Lord Howe
was in possession Of the city. British
officers in gay uniforms danced with the
loyalist ladies in the halls where the
voices of Franklin and Adams had ech-
oed 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 snowdrifts at Val
ley Forge.
No man rejoiced more that the Win
ter was severe and that the godlike he
roes at Valley Forge were shoeless and
starving than the rich Tory merchant,
John McFarlane. He smiled the senti-
ment, 'It pays to be loyal to the king"
The night before Lord Howe had kissed
the hand of his beautiful daughter Dor
othy and had chosen her for his partner
in the minuet. There now stood before
him blushing young English baronet,
the epaulets of a general upon his shoul-
ders, who had Just asked him for her
hand.
''It is a great prize you would rob
me of, Sir Richard Suppose I should
say no, )" said Mr.. McFarlane, enjoying
the young mans suspense.
"Then 1 should abide by your deci-
sion and bear it as best [ could"
"Well, Sir Richard, it is yes. And
now does Dorothy know about your in
tentions?"
"She does not. I thought it best to
first obtain your consent. -
Every proper, Sir Richard, very prop
er" And Mr.. McFarlane called 'Doro-
thy, Dorothyp' Dorothy heard and came
at once.
ST know your secret, her father be-
gan.
Dorothy was astounded. 1t could not
be that they had really 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, Gen
eral Harlequin, she said, turning to
Sir Richard and bowling gravely.
"No," put in Mr.. McFarlane. "He
thought to gain my permission first,
Dorothy, which was very proper of
him. -
81 prefer the American way Of ask
ing the woman concerned first,'' was
the girls half defiant answer.
''Then I will ask you" said the gal
liant Sir Richard. ''Will you be my
wife?'
''You honor me, sir"-she drew away
from him little-"butI I must refuse
''What, what!'' cried Mr.. McFarlane
"What are you talking about, Doro-
thy?''
There comes a time when woman
who has loved man secretly, and he
has returned her love, wishes to make
it known to the whole world. For two
years Dorothy had been in love- For
two years she had kept her secret. She
felt that the time had now come when
she wished to tell them all that her
heart was not her own. She wished her
father to know it. 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 throwing back
her head she said firmly, ''I am engaged
to an officer of the Continental army"
If the earth had opened before him,
Mr.. McFarlane could not have been
more surprised AS for Sir Richard, he
bowed stiffly and said, Miss McFar-
lane, l owe you an apology"
Then he bowed again, this time to her
father, who began in volcanic speech:
Sir Richard, I am ashamed of her,
ashamed of her, sir. It's joke of hers,
Sir Richard. All! You leave her with
me until tomorrow. 1 will arrange
matters, Sir Richard
Sir Richard bowed once more After
he had gone Mr.. McFarlane flew into
perfect passion.
He damned the Continental army
will all the oaths he could command.
Dorothy made no answer. Finally he
went off to his room yelling out threats
Of condign punishment on the way, and
| Dorothy went to hers, where she threw
| herself upon her bed and cried as if her
heart would break. 1t was after mid
night when she slipped the brass bolt
on the door. Mr.. McFarlane's passion
bad meantime worn off until he slept
Peacefully. Dorothy found her way in
| the darkness to the kitchen, where she
| lighted candle and sat down to wait
| A soft rap at the door made her start
| and then brought smile of expectation
| to her face. A moment later stalwart
| young man held her in his arms He
| looked little like the officer he was if
one were to take the poor clothes he
wore as a criterion of Judgment, but the
pale, earnest, firm face bespoke the SOL
dier in no doubtful terms.
''Did you think me long time COM
ing, my dear?'
81 only feared they might capture
you. All was right?''
''Yes.''
He had braved the danger Of being
captured and hanged as spy to spend
an hour with the woman he loved. Six
years before he had been one of the
wealthiest of the young men of Phila-
delphia Now his fortune was all gone
for the cause of liberty. In silence he
pressed his sweetheart close to him. and