The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-19

A girl, perhaps, Of nineteen, answered.
| those of YOU who have been strong mall
contents will suffer too much by Con-
gressional action; and because, by
whatever means l can | believe it eXpe-
dent to gain all the Tories | may to
the United States"
God bless Your EXcellency," the
woman began.
God blesses a man who is served
| bv a wife as this man cambridge by
YOU" said the General dryly.
your Excellency," cambridge began,
81 don't understand"
POSSIBLY you don't the General an
swered contemptuously.
'.But this you may believe" the 9th
er went on almost humbly, Your EX-
cellency is greater than King George.
"Hunph,' said Washington, "haye
we not declared and proven a paradox,
all men born free and equal2' Well,
| goodnight. my friends. It's a long
ride to Newburgh.'
Seagrove had remained at the door,
having sent Capt. BrintOn below with
the order to release the prisoners.
Washington bent his head gravely
to the persons i'm the room.
The girl began:
'Hurrah for Gen. Washington"
As he passed down the stairs, those
below, and his own troopers took up
the cry. s'Hurrah for Gen. Washing
toni" and it echoed over the slopes that
April night, stirring with wonder good
folk i'm their beds.
Seagroye rode close to the chief.
90 YOU not see the people are ripe
for it?" he yentured. 'Your action to-
night was exactly right"
The other was silent
'Have you not had Col Nicolas let
ter. sir-from the army-who want a
strong central government want Your
Excellencv to he the head King2"
Washington's voice held tremor.
'SeagrQve. are you a fool, too2 Do
you, too, want TO upset all we have
done"
.'Your Exce1lency, it's the best way
the only"
II am glad. said the Chief, inter
rupting calmly, "that ] have some little
Judgment left to keep my own ambi-
ton from betrayipg me, and my
friends, who are only indiscreet; from
being more than foOls~-traitors.'
, ''You have refused? You mean ?"
Seagrove asked, his voice trembling
now
y have answered Col. Nicola and
his friends-of whom ! take it you are
one, Mai. Seagrove-by letter calling
them To their senses For j, Major
III YOU and your friends may-haye not
forgotten that my only distinction is
that / have fought-for a nation"
His manner demanded silence. and
for I, half-hour they rode without a
word when the Major out of his
gloomy, reverie, was surprised by a low
| laugh.
II was laughing explained the
| Chief after a moment, Ito think how
neat was that fellows trick / half be-
| lieved it myself, and felt bound to in
yestgate it with some strong fellows to
| follow me up"
"You failed, Your Excellency, to ask
| who sent him out" SeagT0ve COM
mented, rather eager to pick flaw.
Because ] knew"
"You knew?"
why, yes, Franklin, Kings Gov
ernor Of New Jersey"
| "Ah, yes"
"And don't you think, Major Sea-
/ grove, Doctor Franklin has done too
| much service to be bothered by more
/ plots of his son?''
An hour later the General was at his
desk looking again over that boundary
| line and some accounts of his Mount
| Vernon estate. For the details of his
property interested him more than
| aught save his one absorbing subject,
| these United States Of America.
This episode which is yariously re-
lated, was recalled to me as | say, by
| seeing in his coach at Windsor, His
| Majesty, King William ", who in
| 1882 was that very Prince William
Henry whom Col. Matthias Ogden
| Manned to abduct.