The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-06
HIS TREACHERY.

Mistress Lydia harrington was ID when
the lighting of that lamp In the belfry Of
the Old North church In Boston set ablaze
the fire with which our country burned Its
ancient letters.
Her home was one of those stately COLO
NAL houses whose pillared portiooes front
the Delaware river between Philadelphia
and Wilmington. Her father from the
outbreak of the Revolution. was among
Its stanchest supporters. He had been
soldier In his youth and had struggled
through Braddock's disastrous campaign
beside Washington. But in his middle age
and when his country needed him so SORE
ly an incurable malady held him prison.
err, and he sent his only son to represent
him on the staff of his old comrade.
When the British captured Philadelphia,
they ravaged his estate and laid every re-
source under constant contribution. Yet
they respected that grim warder, death,
who watched the patriots door, and they
permitted his departure from house and
lands to BIO postponed until that summons
which none can disobey.
Barrington's wife rarely left him, and
the ordering Of their household fell into
the capable pair Of hands Of their daughter
Lydia She brewed, and she baked, and
she spun. She managed the dairy and SUI
pervised the poultry yard, as became tho
mistress of large and isolated establish
ment in those days. But the while her
thoughts and her prayers were for her
country's strife with the same ardor which
kept her father alive until he should be-
hold that country's freedom.
harrington Manor was set in the midst
of the lovely district across which, back
ward and forward, the tide of war swept
continually Now the beloved bluecoats
were warmed at Its 1resides and welcomed
to every comfort it could supply. Then
the abhorred redcoats clamored for the
hospitality which would have been taken
by force had 1t been refused.
Thus it happened that no surprise,
though much reluctance, stirred the heart
of Mistress Lydia when on an autumn aft
ernoon she was summoned as her mothers
deputy to receive British officer SO des-
perately wounded in a near skirmish that
his troopers dared not carry him farther.
A dozen scarlet clad horsemen waited
under the leafless trees of the avenue, and
Captain Pelham lay, supported by COM
rades arms upon the topmost step of the
portico.
He had been shot near the lungs and
was speechless But he was conscious,
and his letters bear passionate record that
from the moment she appeared within the
high colonial doorway he became Mistress
Lydia prisoner forever as well as her pa
tient for time-a time which proved to BIO
for him and for her that brief stay in para
disc which tender old proycrb promises
once In life to each child of Eve
Through the ensuing winter, which was
the winter Of Valley Forge, Captain Pei
ham dwelt in the guest chamber at Bar
rington Manor. He was visited OCCASION
ally, when the movements Of the Ameri-
can troops permitted by his brother, who
was n member Of Lord Howes staff, and
by an eminent surgeon from Philadelphia.
For the most part, however, according to
the custom Of hundred years ago, he re-
manned the charge of his young hostess.
Outside were cold and hunger, the deadly
strife of those dear to both, the hope of
struggling people sinking almost to de-
spair, but within was love that made
happy the present and assured the fu-
ture with the fervor Of their youth and the
conviction Of their mutual faith.
When he was able to walk SO far, Cap
tain Pelham made his way to that other
sickroom where Lydia's father lay dying
and told his story. 1t was kindly heard
Endowed with the clear tolerance which
the neighborhood Of death bestows on
some just souls, Darlington promised his
daughter to her British lover when the
war between their factions should be end
cd, whichever cause victory might adorn.
Spring, though long delayed that year,
arrived all too swiftly for those two.
Pelham was conyalescent. His brother
came no more. The surgeons visits had
ceased. Lord Howe desired him to resume
command Of his troop. Yet a few days
and he must depart, unknowing when he
could return to claim his bride.
1t was at this time that Lydia one mid
night, wakefully confronting the clouds
which overhung the future, was hurriedly
called by her mother to her fathers bed
side
He lay propped up among pillows. and
he spoke with difficulty as he babe his
daughter draw near. But she perceived
that anxiety rather than pain oppressed
him while be explained his need of her.
Owing to the situation of the manor, on
the territory disputed by both armies they
were not unused to tidngs by secret mes
songcrs from the younger Darlington in
tho American camp. The messenger, who
had been received half an hour SINCE was,
however, the herald of a visitor whose
safety during his stay would be of vital
importance to the infant nation, for whose
existence his life was the guarantee.
Washington himself desired to see his
former oomrade in the ensuing night, to
take counsel with him concerning certain
measures whereon he and his immediate
advisers were at variance.
1.-The danger is great" Darlington said
wistfully regarding his daughter, "yet
less great than at first it seems Your
mother and you can oontrive that none
other shall guess his presence here Even
should our servants discover what guest is
with us we can rely upon them not to be-
tray him. There remains Captain Pei
ham, who"-
"For him answer" Mistress Lydia in
terrupted haughtily. His honor is mine
own"
May, my child, there might be in his
mind some uncertainty as to which way
his honor directs"
"Shame, father" she CRIED "you who
know so well that the instinct of gen.
tiemans honor is as certain as is that
wondrous needle to whose guidance sailors
trust"
And Darlington, infected by tho enthu-
siasm of her bright eyes, acquiesced.
The following day would DO that on
which market was held weekly at vii
lage within the British lines, where Phil.
adelphia tradesmen brought such goods as
the farmers could not supply from their
own resources. 1t had been Mistress Lyd- |
las custom, when the roads were safc, to |
visit this market attended by Augustus,
An old negro servant, and 1t was agreed