The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-11-02


General Washington was resting his
head upon his hand and gazing at the
! fire and Mistress Washington was
sewing button on the generals great
coat when Colonel Jeffries was al,
nounced.
so you are going to spend the night
with the enemy, colonel"
Il am, SIR" said the young man
who stood before him, hat in hand,
land tomorrow night shall return
with something substantial"
Il understand it is woman who is
helping you"
Yes, SIR"
Il must remind you that women are
bad"
At this Mistress Washington looked
up in surprise. 'Generaln' she said
warningly.
Some women, | mean, my dear, "
he continued as he reached across the
table and took her hand in his own.
Women are the worst spies we have
to deal with | cannot let you go Oh
this mission until am sure that there
is no danger"
There is none, SIR" was the conf
dent answer.
You may CO. said Washington af-
ter moments pause. May you be
successful"
After the young man had passed out
the general turned to his wife.
''If it were not for the courage of
such men as Colonel ,Jeffries, should
almost cease to hope
Jeffries had no intention of being
captured alive. He had raised his sa-
Der to strike at the officer, and the
muZzles of the guns were pointed at
his face. =. The officer now spoke in a
conciliatory tone.
I'VE will take you before the gen
eral. If nothing discriminating is
found upon you, we can at the most
only hold you as prisoner"
Il am no spy, but l prefer death to
imprisonment"
Dorothy threw her arms around his
neck.
LET them take you she begged
Il pray you do. | know General
Howe, and will plead with him for
release. So, for my sake, for my sake"
| He hesitated a moment, and then
answered, with an effort and in a
| tone almost inaudible: For your
sake l will. Here, gentlemen, is
my sword''
Lord Howe had been drinking until
| long after midnight with some of his
generals, and he felt that Il half mile
walk in the frosty air might ease
the pain in his head which made sleep
| impossible. When he saw a group of
men, accompanied by woman, pass
out of gate in front of Merchant Nc
Farlane's house, curiosity quickened
his step.
Haiti Lord Howe commanded
when he was almost upon the men in
| the rear. The officer turned about
quickly with a who dares''-which
was changed to an obeisant bow as he
recognized his general-inc chief.
! Miss McFarlane, this is strange CON-
| pany and d strange time of night for
you to be out" said the general, rails
ing his hat And who are you, sir"
he continued, turning to the prisoner.
Il have the honor to be an officer in
the Continental army, SIR" was the
defiant response of Colonel Jetfries.
LET me speak for him." Dorothy
entreated, stepping before Lord
| Howe.
You will take this young man to
my headquarters. Proceed" he COM
manded as he offered his arm to Miss
| McFarlane, and they fell in behind
| the soldiers. The walk to the head
quarters was short one, and in that
| time Dorothy told him all, pleaded for
| her lover because of her own love and
because she was to blame for his being
caught in a trap and captured in a
manner unworthy so brave u soldier.
General Howe had given no intilna
ton of what his decision would be
when he sat down at his table and ar
raigned the odd company before him.
He spoke sternly as he addressed Col
onel Jeffries.
"You are charged with being spy.
| What have you to say?"
Search me, and you will find moth
save the valuables given me by Miss
McFarlane and an empty scabbard."
"There is no need of man of your
intelligence carrying his messages in
writing. | fancy you have good
memory. You know the penalty"
Death, of course"
death by hanging"
Even then you cannot take from
HE the privilege of dying for my coun-
try
The general could not repress q
smile of admiration for the elfpossess
ed young man who could see some
thing cheerful even in "A towards
death
What do you do up at Valley Forge
the cold days p
I'VE are learning to fight while you
Englishman are learning to dance"
But what pastime do the soldiers
haveY'
while shooting at a mark our
bullets have cut down whole forest.
Each tree was named General Howe"
Your diet of potatoes and mush
must deyelope your wit"
Not so much as it does our cour
age"
General Howe was too old soldier
not to admire such courage as the men
at Valley Forge had exhibited. The
words of Lord Chatham, that the
Americans could never be conquered,
were ringing in his ears, and he be-
lieved them.
''Some of the officers have their wives
with them at camp" he asked.
They have"
Lord Howe smiled pleasantly as lie
turned to Dorothy.
miss McFarlane, there is only one
way by means of which he can be
liberated You must leave the city,
for you are the real spy"
When General Washington welcom-
ed Colonel Jeffries back the next after
noon, there was another woman add
ed to the little social circle at Valley
Forge.