The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-30

not for the new grade, nor the money
though it was a scarce enough COM
modify in those days.
But the general was insiStent. And
in this way I ceased to be an active
member of the army Of the United
States. in my forced retirement [
was advanced in rank, yet, a. captain
without hope of further service, at
least against the British, whom L
dearly wanted to fight in some capa-
city-a captain without a company
Now about this time I had a strange
letter brought through the lines from
New York, and written by no less a.
person than she who had spoiled my
enterprise, Mistress Priscilla Warren.
She begged me never to give the
British the chance of catching me,
for. as surely as her name was Pris-
ella, they would hang me up as
spy. ] wrote her ] had been told thai
several times; but l feared the British
no more than L did meddhng Tory
maids.
The hussy's impudence was strange.
But for her meddling 1 certainly had
mad my plan to seize General Arnold
carried out. AS it was because Cen
eral Washington was insistent on my
retirement, and as [ had failed most
dismally in this attempt. I had not its
success to console me for the loss of
the soldiers career 1 loved. 1 had
staked all. like a gambler, on one is
sue and lost.
But I could not get the meddling
girl out of mind and, thinking over
the matter and considering that per-
haps after all she had imagined it for
my good-aS possibly it would have
been from a worldly point of view-to
have remained, what L seemed then,
British SOldier-thinking of the
possibility of Major Lees conjecture
fc,.
duct, resolved to see her again.
But it was not until after the peace
that / had the chance. when, hearing
she remained a SpinSter, l decided to
leave Kentucky, where L had taken
UP some land, to see what manner of
woman she had become.
L must acknowledge in the few years
She had faded. and yet I found her
strangely attractive. She appeared
embarrassed at seeing me.
You must deteSt me above all the
rest of the world" said she.
II did" said I, frankly.
you did?" asked she.
II don't now, Mistress Priscilla, for
believe you honestly imagined by
meddling you could keep me kings
man. In the event it might have been
better. I might have been richer
Yes" said she. 81 think even
was right. Jack Champe."
Il ann not accustomed, Mistress Pris-
ella, to women who will take the
trouble you did to set a man right.
although it was, from the point of
honor, a wrong course, which I could
not adopt. | believe you thought it
for my good"
There be many women who would
have done so much,' said She
But / was firmly persuaded there
was and is but one, and holding this
persuasion and believing that now she
might have me, although before, when
boy, L had made violent love to her
in Virginia she had Tilted me-believ-
ing that being a SpinSter now rather
well along she might not refuse me.
although, in faith, L had little enough
money, [ was persuaded to ask her to
marry me.
ME. Captain Champe! Are you not
crazy?" said she. demurely, at this
modest request of mine.
mot I, Mistress Priscilla. have a
neat enough wit left to know the ma
terial for a good wife.
"Oh, but captain, I'm so old and
ugly. Why did you not ask me when
I was young?"
Il did when we were both young,
years since, in Virginia
"Oh. 1 forgot" said she
II tried then. but you Tilted me:
have you forgot? 1 supposed woman
never forgot whom she jiIts'
ooh, do you, captain? Or who"
"Or who, mistress?''
''Or who she loves?"
"Oh, then" said I, 'T might as well
return to Kentucky, for I see the jig
is up"
rs it?" said she. CT believe I even
will go with you, captain"
care you jesting again, as you did