Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-02

Early in July word had been 5rough'
of the presence of a detachment D.
British at TarrytoWn, or the OPT osite
shore of the river, and the news caused
great anxiety. Reports Of the rayase
Of the enemy had come to the peaceful
homes by the river side, but as yet the
real significance of the horrors Of wal
had not been brought home to them
Now, however, they felt themselves to
be in real danger, for the enemy were
we'll provided with boats and il would
be an easy thing for them to cross the
river, while the people in the immedi-
ate vicinity of the Won Warten home
stead were almost unprotected, only a
few men too old for active service, some
boys and the blacks being available in
case of need. So all quickly busted
themselves, preparing as best they
could for a probable contingency.
One intensely warm afternoon in
August Nine Won Warten was nodding
over her knitting by the open window
only broken by the soft, even tapping
of the water on the shore, being very
conducive to repose, when she was
rudely awakened by the hurried en-
trance of little slave boy whom fright
and running had combined to deprive
of the power of speech for a moment.
Speak, Tom! What has happened?'
exclaimed the good lady, all her
smoldering fears alive in a moment.
"Oh,'' gasped the boy, three Brit
ishers stop me in de road and, ask for a
drink from de we'll, and I tot EN- walt
and run to your
"Only three?" asked Nine Won War
ten anXiously.
Oats all, nissus."
Then let them obtain their drink
elsewhere, not at my we'll" Listening,
she heard Tom deliver the defiant
message in trembling tones. A laugh
followed, and the men were apparently
departing. Fastening to an upper
window, she looked after the retreat
ing forms and saw three American Of
ficers, evidently of high rank, one es-
pecially who sat his horse so well and
had such an air of command, inducing
her admiration, until suddenly the
enormity of what she had done burst
upon her, and in an agony Of renorse
and of anger against both Tom and
herself she ran down to old Toms
cabin with tears in her eyes. The cul-
prit came to meet her, wondering al
the agitated manner Of his usually
stately mistress. tom, oh, Tom those
were Americans, not Britishersi How
could you make such a mistaken She
exclaimed looking the picture OF dis
tress. The frightened boy tried 70 eX,
plain that being in daily expectation OF
a raid from the enemy, he supposed, OF
course, the three men represented the
foe, being too badly frightened TO no
tice the uniform.
Soon, her daughter, accompanied by
two blacks, returned from a visit to
the next farm with such flushed cheeks
and so excited an air that her mother
knew something unusual must have oc-
Cured. ooh, MOTHER she cried a.
she reached the window whore the good
dame sat. 81 have seen General Wash
ington."
what" cried her mother. ''Where?'
cat Nine. Van TasseI's," Annette an
swered. Eve were on the porch and
three soldiers rode up and asked for
water. We gave them some milk
which they seemed to enjoy, and the
tallest one gave me back the glass with
a bow and said, With General Wash
ington's best thanks, my dear
"Oh," interrupted her mother, then
it was to him l refused a drink"
And she told her story, to the girls
establishment. Annette managed tC
comfort her mother, who, after a time
regained her usual spirits.
On the afternoon Of Oct. 2 Jacob, An
netje's lover, rode up to the Won War
ten mansion, but despite the pleasure
of meeting Annette his face still wore
a look of sadness as he told her of the
scene he had witnessed that day-how
the young Andre, brought from larry
town to Washington's headquarters
had been tried by court martial and
sentenced to be hung as spy; how
throughout the trial his manly bearing
and frank confession of the whole plan
had touched everyone. He was only
acting under orders, but he was a spy
and the unavoidable penalty was
death. He knew it and went bravely
to his end, while the soldiers looked or
with moist eyes, and Annette, wher
she heard the story, shed few tears a:
she looked UP at her noble soldier boy
and prayed he might be spared to her
And he was, for after the war was Over
there was a happy wedding and they
settled down in the old stone house
where their descendants live to thi:
day.