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


boat in readiness at the foot of the
lane. Yet, as | thought of it all, I
felt dismayed. l looked UP to the ru-
ined tower of Trinity, almost praying
to keep my courage warm. [ decided
to take a tankard of beer at the tav-
ern. The night was dark enough, and
now began a cold drizZle Long since
the guards bank had stopped on the
Green. What could be better than
such a night made for the adventure &?
At last the clock licked near the
time when General Arnold would de-
scend for his stroll in the garden.
Even now [ knew my man Hawkins
was waiting in the lane. I paid my
reckoning and turned for a moment
into the street.
The mist was clearing Certainly
General Arnold would take that walk
to get some air before sleep. But if
he kept to his usual custom it lacked
half hour of the time. To avoid pos
sible suspicion [ turned into the tav-
ern and up the stairs to my room. 1
intended to follow the general by the
back stair. 1t all would be easy
should he once go into the garden.
But at the head of the stair stood
my acquaintance, Mistress Priscilla
Warren, of whose mother General Ar
mold rented. She held a candle, as if
eXpectantly, and I am bounG to say
she made a pretty picture at the stair
head. [ recollected how years before
in Virginia 1 once had made furious
love to this very girl.
Jack, jack Champe"
ETH, Priscilla And why, mistress.
are you not in bed?'
The truth is" said she blushing,
Tive been thinking and pondering'
"Of a lover?" said l. trying to
phrase some pleasing nonsensical gal
lantry
Not I, sir, of no man, but of you"
'Of me, Priscilla?"
''Ah, of you, who have made the
whole town believe in you; but me
not a whit"
And why?" said I, growing impa-
tient, for I heard General Arnold
step. L must speak to the general,
begging your pardon
"Why?" she asked, putting the can
die close to my face. Liar, you are
not what you seemr' Her voice had
changed SO suddenly that 1 lost my
wit
'Priscilla?"
''You never deserted General Wash
ington."
Mistress Priscilla?"
You are here a spy-to betray Cen
eral Arnold"
''Ah, mistress, but he is worse" said
L, with q sudden earnestness.
He has treated you kindly, John
Champe."
You have the fancy of silly
maidr' cried I. Let me go. I must
follow General Arnold into the gar
dem"
Again she raised the candle a bit.
From below was the fiddler's merry
jig
''Why?''
L trembled under those gray, ques-
tioning eyes, and she read my plot as
as easily as [ had told her. 1t all had
gone well up to this moment. My man
was behind the paling. The boat wait
ed. Colonel Lee across the river ex-
pected us. And here this slip of
girl had in some way found the inten-
ton.
II will explain later Now
She put the candle on the table
81 will go with you into the gar
den.''
and why, unasked?' said I, try
ing to treat the matter lightly.
At this she pulled from her bosom a
letter in Major Harry's own hand,
with the damning evidence. She had
could wish. I had dropped it some
where in the house. Cursing my care
lessness, l remember | snatched at it,
when she thrust it behind her.
Spy" she said, as if [ were less
than the boards under her feet.
And he?" said 1. doggedly.
But does it lessen your blackness
coward? You who return to your old
friends pretending you are converted
to the old opinions, only to spy"
GIVE me up, them said 1 at last,
defiant1y. Give me up
Il will not tell a soul" said the girl
at this.
How could it profit you?" asked I,
trying to pacify her.
'Nor shall I let you hurt hair of
General Arnold's head-neither one
nor the other"
She stood there, her hands thrust
behind her. Suddenly the fiddler be-
low paused in his air and left US in 81
lence.
/ must not let the pretty little fool
thwart me when 1 had risked so
much. No, she should not. The gen
eraI was walking in the garden; my
man Hawkins was breathing hard be-
hind the paling, waiting the signal.
Every moment was dear.
''He may be a traitor, but he has
been kind to my mother and to me-
she went on. You shall not hurt
him, declare. If he be traitor was
he not before one-to the king? Con-
slider that"
I did not answer, revolving the
problem how TO get out of the way,
cursing my bad luck indeed in having
dropped the luckless letter I should
have burned.
And why" she went on, taking a
step nearer, should you, Jack Champe,
take further risk? You are back, with
out odium, in the Kings service. You
have but to forget your purpose,
which was traitolous to the King.
You have before you a finer career
than the rebels can offer"
And while we disputed by the can
Jem Hawkins, behind the
paling, was wondering at the lack of
the signal.