Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-23
THE RIVER RED COAT
by Frederick Palmer,

you're surrounded by the British"
These words were enough to make
one older than myself in the service
of Washington spring to his feet in
terror. | gripped my pistol and, step
ping to the door of the bar room.
slightly opened it to see a grim Quaker
standing by the fireplace and the fat
inn keeper covering before a man in
the uniform Of a British captain,
whose face was flushed either by
liquor or by triumph. If triumph. |
was the rat in the trap. | cursed
the luck that had allowed me to pass
four times through the British lines
in the service of my beloved chief,
and now turned against me at a time
when | was upon a mission of love
and not Of war.
After [ had returned to Valley
Forge from a months stay in Phila-
dclphia. where | had gained much in
formation of value to our cause.
had met Eugenia Lyndham, who was
visiting at the country house of Mrs.
Craig, five miles from our camp at
won my heart. But whenever | gave
the conversation Il drift that should
lead to my speaking out what was on
my heart she became nervous. per-
turbed and avoided my gaze. Her per-
VerSity only changed the glow of my
passion into fire. At last | threw my
hopes, my heart, my life at her feet
nd ~ f1 TO Nv
her waiver, | saw anguish in her face.
l almost heard her say no, when sud
denly she fell into my arms and |
covered her closed CyelidS with kisses.
For a moment | held her thus and
knew the heaven that is in Il wOman'S
lips. Then she Sprang away from me.
like one sent mad by a single thought.
Easped out the word Mercy" and
dashed into the other room. l held
out my hands to her and called until
/ saw it was useless.
Despite her strange action | was
happy as | rode away. For | knew
that she loved me-She loved me.
saw it in the one glance of her eyes.
My thoughts being with her whom |
at his own gait, and it was fully an
hour before | gained the hill over
looking the camp and drew in rein
to take Il last look at the house which
incloscd all of my hopes. l saw the
Craig'S carriage waiting ut the curb,
and Eugenia, heavily yelled, coming
down the path. l watched the car
YiOt In hn
highway that leads directly to Phila-
delphia.
Had it not been for the fact that
she was accompanied by Il servant
and the sudden thought of the dis
treSS | should cause her, | would have
put spurs to my horse and followed
her. AS it was | rode with all speed
to the house and demanded to see
Mrs. Craig Immediately. She was a
withered old woman. whose husband
had been made rich by grant of
land, and she pretended, lat least, to
he in sympathy with the American
cause. l did not wait for her to speak
but demanded almost fiercely:
where has Miss iyGdham gomez
calmly. Il know nothing except that
l was as much startled by her sudden
resolution as you are. But if you
will allow me to say a word for your
own good, l would advise you to
forget her. You do not know al;
do not know all. There is something
more. something dangerous, which we
cannot know. pray you, save your
self sorrow"
But l waited to hear no more
NV determine ton was made. l would
follow her until l found chance tC
speak with her alone. or until l was
stopped by a British bayonet. Thanks
to the kindness of Gen. Washington
l had only to speak a word with him
to gain his consent for an absence
which should end at my discretion
l dressed myself in the civilians
clothes (discarding my sword) which
had more than once hidden my colors
and saved my head. 1t was aftel
dark when l set out. but my horse
was fresh. and owing to the cOndi,
ton of the roads. l was able to &c
twice as fast as Il carriage.
My first Ten miles. being relieved
only by the occasional inquiries which
assured me that the carriage was pur
suing the straight road to Philadel.
phia, gave me plenty of time for think
ing what had passed during the after
noon: and the more I thought. the
stranger it all seemed and the more
| loved the woman. 1t had not Oc
CURED to me to learn anything of hel
history. Her eyes, her countenance
her soul were enough. They made me
her slave. and slaves do not ask ques
lions. She knew nothing of me. Was
her position above mine? 1 was only
4 poor tutor who left Princeton tC
fight for freedom, who had won q
cOloneFs commission and a scar OIL
two. But the glance of those eyes
She loved met She must! She must
and every hoof beat brought me nearer
10 heaven or hell. If I had known