Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-27
IN TIME TO SAVE.

1t was during the war of the Revolu.
ton, when the British lines extended
above New York, on both sides of the
Hudson, and the Vallame mansion was
two miles within them. From the very
beginning Of the war Mrs Vallame had
sided with the English, for she was Of
English birth.
George Vallame, a widower with one
child, a daughter, had married Alice dc
We're, widow with one child, a son, in
the year 1774. With no fortune save re-
markable beauty of person, she had fasci-
mated George Vallame At that time her
son, Rudolph de We're, was in his twentieth
year. and Cora, the daughter of Vallame,
in her sixteenth.
At the bloody battle of Long Island Cap.
tain Vallame had fallen, and even his
grave could not be pointed out among the
hundreds that studded the battlefield.
The widow, yet in matronly prime, was
seated before the cracking fire when the
clock struck 10.
AS the dial ceased to vibrate with the
last stroke, the door opening from the hall
was tapped thrice from without, and as
the widow raised her head and said sharp
ly, Come" young man of "a or 25 en-
tered cautiously, who wore the garb of a
British officer.
'You have brought your troop"
"More than enough to capture ten reb-
Ils," said Captain Rudolph, for whom his
mothers influence had procured British
commission. "You are sure Horace Sim
clair is in the summer house9''
"Would to heaven were as sure that
the arch rebel of all, Mr.. Washington, were
there" said the widow sternly. "Twice
have heard his signal to Cora. The let
ter wrote him he has deemed his Cora 8,
imploring him to hazard even life itself to
meet her this night in the lonely summer
"He is below in the dining hail. He
knows why he is hereto make me a
married man. But, mother, can you force
Cora to become my wife?'
"You shall see," was the cold and firm
response.
Enough! Go, capture Horace Sin
clair" she said, with a slight shudder.
Bring him hither, bound. When you re-
turn, let the chaplain be with you. Cora
shall meet you and ere you part shall be
your wife"
Her reckless son left her, and she rang a
small bell as he departed.
"Tell Miss Vallame," said she to the
prompt servant who answered to her call,
"that desire her here Immediately.
The servant hurried to obey. She soon
returned, bearing lamp and followed by
the lovely orphan. Cora Vallame silently
hOuo1 hor hoad che aptora1
"Wait" was all that the widow said,
and as she spoke loud shouts, pistol shots
and the clash of steel reached her ear
Cora glanced uneasily toward the door
and then to her stepmother's face. Ere
long Rudolph threw open the door and
was followed by two British dragons, who
escorted young man clad in the uniform
of continental major of cavalry.
A short, Ill looking man in black brought
up the rear.
Horace, and prisoner!' exclaimed
Cora
"The same" said Rudolph, fierce with a
bloody cash that scanned his cheek. "The
rascal has slain two of my best men. But
he shall die the death of spy
MY uniform proves that am no spy"
said Horace Sinclair II have fallen into
snare and am o prisoner of war-no spy.
Cora, did you write me summons hith-
er2'
"Never, Horace said Cora in astonish-
ment. "'Tis some trick of this"--
"Of mineP' said Mime. Vallame sharply.
"Come, we have no time to lose. Cora,
you see that gentleman in blackP He is
the Rev. Charles Fairweather. He Is here
to make you the wife of my son!'
"The wife Of your sons meanest trooper
shall be sooner than his!' exclaimed
Cora.
Consent" said Nine. Vallame, Tor see
Horace Sinclair hanged upon the tree where
he and you have 80 often metP'
"They dare not hang me, Cora" said the
calm voice Of the bound officer IT am
taken in my uniform and no spy. Do not
be imposed upon"
"Do not sing SO boldly" said Nine.
Vallame "The hanging of rebel, uni
formed or not, is pleasure to our loyal
English general.
"Cora Vallame, you see that dial 1t is
now 20 minutes after TO- If, when the
minute hand shades the cipher 6, your lips
have not made you my sons wife, Horace
Sinclair swings"
ooh, Horace! What shall I doP',' cried
Cora as the silence grew terrible
"Let me die thousand times rather
than behold you the wife of that renegade,
who slew his mothers husband" said
Sinclair.
."Oh, Horacep' and weeping bitterly she
flung herself upon her brave lovers bosom,
and ere the furious son and fendish moth
er could tear them asunder Cora's quick
hand, armed with a dagger, had severed
the cords that bound the Americans arms
Sinclair snatched saber from the hand
Of the nearest trooper and sprang upon the
other, who went down, cloven to the chin.
Wheeling flercely, the saber FLASHED with
that of Rudolph, and sweeping back from
the shock came down with mighty slash
that sheered the ruffian's right arm from
the shoulder.
Shouts and the sharp tumult Of sudden
strife without smote Rudolphs eur as he
fell, and at the next moment the room was
filed with American dragons, led by one
whom he deemed long dead George Val
lame!
"Just in time, my boy" said vallame,
who had escaped from the slaughter Of
Long Island, and for purposes Of his own
bore another name In the American army.
II mistrusted this when I found the de-
coy letter written by that tigress Return
ing to camp, found the letter in your
tent, and collecting score Of your dra.
goons hastened to save you"
An hour after, as British soldiers filed
the house, so timely vacated by the Amer
loans they found Nine Vallane living