The advocate., 1895-07-24


ment on the Ohio known as Cincinnati, they had
proceeded up the Miami several days, and selected
in the very midst of the Indians, body of land
which they resolved to purchase. For the Hermit
had become uncomfortable because of the notoriety
given him by his appearance at Sydney's trial and
had fully determined to bury himself in new will
dernesS, and BreadmOngster had not relinquished
his ong-cherished dream of becoming an Indian
They had returned to Worcester toward the first of
May, and the Hermit found Sydney greatly de-
spOndent; for not a line had reached him from Ger
trude, nor could he obtain any news of her what
ever from any source. The Hermit shared Sydney's
distress, and finally bethinking him of Loretta, pro-
posed that, as the Virginia convention would beginn
june they should make that the excuse of visit to
Richmond and perhaps hear from Gertrude through
Loretta. To their surprise Breadmongster an
nounced about the time that he proposed to set
out for Richmond at once in order to attend the
convention and hear Patrick Henrys attack on the
new Constitution. So the three men had travelled
together, and had called at the Lburne plantation
Loretta had gone visit to friends in South Caro-
lima, and it was not known when she would return
but Colonel Lilburne was staunch anti-Federsl
and follower Of Patrick Henry, and his daughter
had given him such an account of the visitors that
and remain throughout the convention. They had
remained over night and had partaken of breakfast
and toddy, when Colonel Llburne had earnestly
urged them again to remain.
~ shall take it as great unkindness, gentlemen,
if you deny me the pleasure of having you for
guests, said the Colonel.
SWELL sir" replied Breadmongster sit is too good
place to stay, sir, for to hurt your feelings by
leo w hall
long as you endure it."
On the wall was sampler which Loretta had
worked. 1t would not in these latter days, be re-
garded as a specimen Of high art, but Breadmongster
returned to stand before and gaze at it again and
again. He took great interest, too, in stand for
fsncy-work materials and implements which Mrs.
Lilburne told him was Loretta's. He turned the
leaves of all the books in Lorettas small library.
He stole away from his friends to wander in Loret-
tas faVorite walks and sit in Loretta seat under
tree in the park. In Short he took great fancy to
Everything and every place which Mrs. Liburne in
formed him Loretta fancied He carried this to
such an extent that Sydney and the Hermit per-
ceiVed it and laughed about it. Possibly Mrs. Lii
burne also perceived it, but she kept her own counsel
and constantly gave the big lawyer more things to
admire because Loretta admired them and Bread
mOngster was as 10th to leave when his visit was
ended as his hosts were to part with him.
The convention assembled on the second of June,
on the fourth had organized and began to debate
upon the Constitution. The place of meeting was
st. Johns Episcopal Church-the only available
place to hold the convention. Richmond, though
the capital of Virginia, was but village; and what
there had been of it was mostly destroyed by Ar
nold's drunken soldiers few years before. 1t was
this same church that thirteen years BEFORE Patrick
Henry called the Colonies to arms by that speech
known to every school-boy to this day, which con-
cuded with, "GiVe me liberty, or give me DEATH"
In the same spot he was now to grapple, almost
snglehanded, with an array Of intellectual giants of
the Revolution his eloquence had begun. Among
his opponents, to thesupport the Constitution
were Randolph, Pendleton, Madison and Monroe
future Presidents-and in short, nearly every dis