The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-20
JUST IN TIME.

II was during the war of the Revolution,
when the British lines extended above
New York, on both sides of the Hudson,
and the vallame mansion was two miles
within them. From the very beginning
of the war Mrs. Vallame had sided with
the English, for she was of English birth,
George Vallame, a widower with one
child, a daughter, had married Alice de
We're, q widow with one child, son, In the
year l774. With no fortune save remark.
hble beauty of person, she had fascinated
George vallame. At that time her son,
Rudolph de We're, was In his twentieth
year, and Cora, the daughter Of Vallame,
In her sixteenth.
At the bloody battle Of Long Island Cap.
tain Vallame had fallen, and even bis
grave could not be pointed out among the
hundreds that studded the battlefield.
The widow, yet in matronly prime, wal
seated before the cracking fire when the
clock struck 10.
As the dial ceased to vibrate with the
last stroke, the door opening from the hall
was tapped thrice from without, and as
the widow raised her head and said sharp
ly, "Come," q young man Of "a or 25 en-
tered cautiously, who wore the garb Of c
British officer
"You have brought your troop"
"More than enough to capture 10 reb
els" said Captain Rudolph, for whom hi
mothers influence had procured British
commission. ''You are sure Horace Sin
clair Is In tho summer housei"
"Would to heaven were as sure tina
the arch rebel of all, Mr.. Washington, wer,
there" said the widow sternly. Civic
have heard his signal to Cora. The let
ter wrote him he has deemed his Cora Is
imploring him to hazard even life itself h
meet her this night in the lonely summe
house. Have you the chaplain with your
"He is below in the dining hall. II
knows why he is hereto make me a mar
ried man. But. mother, can you fore
Cora to become my wife'"
"You shall see," was the cold and firm
response.
| Enough Go, capture Horace Sinclair,
she snid, with slight shudder. "Brinl
him hither, bound. When you return, lie
the chaplain be with you. Cora shall NEE
you and ere you part shall be your wife.
Her reckless son left her, and she ran
a small bell as he departed.
"Tell Miss Vallamc, :" said she to tn
prompt servant who answered to her call
that desire her here Immediately"
| The servant hurried to obey. She 500
returned bearing lamp and followed b
the lovely orphan. Cora Nallame silent
bowed her head as she entered.
"Wait!' was all that the widow sale
and as she spoke loud shouts, pistol shot
and the clash Of steel reached her tar.
Cora glanced uneasily toward the doc
and then to her stepmother's face. FL
long Rudolph threw open the door an
was followed by two British dragons
who escorted n young man clad in the un
form Of continental major of cavalry.
short i'll looking man in black brougl
up the rear.
"IIoracel and prisoner" exclaimo
Cora
"Thc same" said Rudolph, fierce wit
II bloody cash that scanned his cheek. "Tl
rascal has slain two of my best men. Bl
he shall die the death Of spy"
"My uniform proves that am no spy,
said Horace Sinclair. ~ have fallen int
a snare and am prisoner of war-no SIP!
Cora, did you write me summons hitl
err"
"Never, Horace, said Cor, in astonisl
mGut "'I'is some trick Of this"---
"Of mine"' said Nine, Nallame sharpl,
"Comc, we have no time to lose. Cor;
you see that gentleman in blackY He
the Rev. Charles Fairwcather. He Is bei
to make You the wife of my son!'
"1he wife of your sons meanest troop,
shall / be sooner than his' exclaime
Cora.
Consent" said Nine, Vallame, "or S,
Horace Sinclair hanged upon the tree whei
| ba ,T,,
"They dare not hang me, Cora |" sal
the calm voice of the bound officer. 81 NJ
taken in my uniform aud no spy. DO ne
be imposed upon"
"Do not sing so boldly" said Nine Va
lame, The hanging of n rebel, uniformt
or not, is pleasure to our loyal EDglis
general. "
Cora Vallamc, You see that dial-it
now 20 minutes after 10 If, when IL
minute hand shades the cipher 6, your lii
have not made you my son $ wife, Horat
Sinclair swings"
ooh, Horace What shall dos" erie
Cora us the silence grew terrible.
let me die n thousand times rath
than behold you the wife Of that rcnegad
who slew his mothers husband, " said Sit
clair.
sob, Horace" and weeping bitterly 81
flung herself upon her brave lovers DO
ON, and ere the furious son and fiendie
mother could tear them asuuder Cora
quick hand, armed with dagger, had se
cred tho cords that bound the American
arms
Sinclair snatched saber from the han
of the nearest trooper and sprang upon Il
other, who went down, cloyen to the CHI
Wheeling fiercely, the saber FLASHED wit
that of Rudolph, and sweeping back fro
the shock came down with n mighty slas
that sheered the rutlian's right arm fro
the shoulder.
Shouts and the sharp tumult of sudde
strife without smotc Rudolph's ear as
fell, and at the next moment the room wi
filled with American Dragons led by OF
whom he deemed long dead-George Va
lame.
"Iust in time, my boy" said Vallam
who had escaped from the slaughter
Long Island, and for purposes of his ow
bore another name in the American arm
al mistrustpd this when found the d
coy letter written by that tigrcss Rctur
ing to camp, found the letter in yol
tent and collecting n score Of your DIR
goons FASTENED to savc you
An hour after, rs British soldiers fill
the house, so timely vacated by the Ame
. leans, they found Nine. Nallnme lyiI
upon the body of her son and as dead
he, The sudden shock had slain her.
When the war WINS over. years aftC
Colonel Horace Sinclair and his bride, Cor
with Major NGllamc, returned to the seen
But 1t was to see the mansion "a heap
charred ruins-Boston Globe.