The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-21

and q few weeks after now norrlQ was
General Washington in holding Cap
tain Asgill In retaliation. Captain Asgin
was such u charming young gentle
| man! Well he was enough even to
make a tavern keepers daughters heart
ache and there were men who sighed
j for her, Mistress Meg added with q
mischievous toss Of her black name.
Come to the Independence Tavern. for
mcrly Kings Arms, we good Americans.
but prepared to hear that your great
chief Is a desnnt from Meg's own red
lips. Why should these fine young
gentlemen, even If they were kings cap
| taIns, draw lots for the horrible fate
| of being executed simply because the
British would not punish the officers
who had connived ut the hanging Of
| Hubby. But die. he who drew the lot |
| apparently must. The generai-in chief
| said he regretted II; but he could not
| retreat from the measure adopted. Sir
| Guy Charleton, Sir Henry Clinton's
| successor, only had to do Justice on
Major fIuddy's murderer, and this
kings captain should go free as the
air. Hut Sir Guy did nothing, and
the time drew on for the execution in
retaliation.
One stormy evening in 1882 Meg was
in the bar polishing some Of that ia
nous pewter, when there entered a pos
tilion plainly from private travelling
carriage.
"a room for my mistress"
Meg hustled. calling old Simon and
the stable boy, and looking out In the
black night and curtysing, when there
entered the mistress, her cloak held over
her face, and followed by maid, pun-
~ an English girl.
What was the name? Meg asked of
the position who said, mo matter
Miss" and at the same time made eyes
at her, who gave him scornful glance.
as she had finer men than he oglint;
her.
The lady was from Philadelphia OF
course. Meg guessed.
Was the room satisfactory? she asked
| curtysing. What could she do, mem?
| Nothing.
The lady hesitated; although she was
no longer young, yet she certainly was
the most beautiful lady, Meg declared,
she ever had seen. Just like Il duch-
ess." as If Meg ever had seen a duch-
| ess.
Where are the military prisoners in
| Lancaster kept?"
MOSTLY oil parole, mem, about the
town. eNceptin' Captain Asgill. poor
gentleman-'
Yes, know. 7 want to be directed
| to his quarters"
Meg's eyes looked her surprise.
Perhaps her ladyship was rela-
tion?"
| Don't talk, please said Megs du-
chess, with Il suppressed sob.
"But, heggin your pardon, mem, l
don't believe you can without pass"
said Meg. I'm sorry. mem"
The lady was looking away, tremb-
ling, Meg thought.
Get me Il guide, now hurry,
please"
When the Duchess faced Meg some
thing in her eyes made Meg feel like
sobbing herself.
y boy was found with II lantern, and
the lady n cloak again hiding her face.
started out, leaving Meg curious and
telling 1t over to the loungers who al
ready had gathered in the taproom.
It's queer-ain't it? No tellin' 20
An idea occurred She couldn't be-?''
Was she good looking?"
Yes, and that haughty,"
| From PhiladelDhy?"
we can't make out from them SER
wants. They're that"
tall man had entered, closely muf-
fed, too
My good girl, Il room, quill, and
some paper"
Meg curtsied. Old Simon hustled
Would the gentleman come this way ?
'.Another gentleman followed, very dis
tinEuished looking, also in a military
coat.
We have three horses. Have your
! men to look after them" said this latter
5 TO the bowling and scraping landlord
! And then he turned to follow Meg,
who stood curtysing ut the hall door
, with a candle waiting to show the visit
| ors the room
AS they went out one habtue OF
! me Independence nudged another.
IT'S he! didn't We see It's he by
: the everlastin'; It's he"
The speaker was an old nervous man
ana his excitement increased.
Who did We make it out TO be
f Brown"
The GinraI, s I'm a sinner"
S Why, man. it's Ginr'l Washington
2 Whats he dom here? What does il
1 mean? | s'posed he was in Newburg.
Al That moment Landlord Simon re-
turned, his lips eager with news.
. GenTm'n." he began impressively
Ginr'l Washington is under this roof
fhat was him--that was"
AT That moment the second OF the
| visitors returned
l Ihe gentleman is to be disturbed by
no one, do You understand landlord >
ne said with an air of one in the habit
> OF authority
fis, sir-yis," said Simon. "I'ye
peeh 100 old to fight myself-but In,
pieased that he is under my roof
But this gentleman, plainly an aide
dc camp, was gone hurriedly into the
hfRht. That great man, If 1t were he
was alone IN the room above Meg re.
turned her eyes dancing in her excite
ment.
, Yes, General Washington il was no
other. NO other indeed could be like
him There rnul1 ba "a, ,,,,,., -,