The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-02
CLINTON ROSS.

Less thought all this while the mare
bore me over the road toward Bergen,
for I designed to hail the kings patrols
at Panlus Hook.
But with all the delay I had but lit.
tie the start. Soon heard them after
me and tho mare almost spent. The sky
lightened. The mare seemed to be 60.
ing even slower, and I knew as came
to the forks on the hill, which is by the
Three Pigeons inn, above Bergen, that
they probably would catch me before
could make the stone bridge below.
Nay, turning in my saddle, could see
in the darkish dawn Cornet Middleton
heading the pursuers and hear his loud
hello.
AT the forks, within stones throw
Of the Three Pigeons, for moment ]
deliberated. Should I have my reputa-
ton all lost for nothing? They probably
would shoot me as it was, nor could
they ever believe me an honest man.
Only for a moment did hesitate,
you may believe, before turning direct
ly down the slope by Elizabeth Point to
the river, and there, as luck would
have it, was patrol. Isprang from the
mare and waded through the marsh in
to the river, hallooing. Just then the
pursuers perceived my detour, and a
bullet came singing around my ears. I
pushed out beyond my depth, and the
men in the boat, compromising the
situation, pulled mo in, firing and
shouting derisively to my old comrades,
whose curses reached me.
l was taken to Sir Henry Clinton,
who, examining me closely, ended by
belle wing in my sincerity, as in faith
the desartion was plain enough, and
that one from Major Lees corps.
As we had thought would be the
case, he recommended me as an honest
fellow to General Arnold, who, too,
had run to the kings side. I could de-
tect certain detestation in Sir Henry's
tone when he spoke Of Arnold, who had
received his 910, 900 and his brigadier-
ship as the price Of his service, who yet
was sincerely disliked, more because the
affair had cost the. army Major Andre,
l believe, than for any other reason.
reported that morning to the new
British brevet brigadier at Broadway,
in the old bathrooms, over Burns Arms
lido not know what I had expected
of the man, l had heard 80 much to his
discredit. / saw simply an agreeably
hammered gentleman, who questioned
me closely and in the end believed that
I had been persuaded by his example.
Strangely, too, he rented Of a widow,
Mistress Warren, whose daughter, Pris-
ella Warren, once had made furious
love to in Virginia. A plump, fair hair
ed, gray eyed girl, Mistress Priscilla's
greeting, her congratulations to me at
having come over from rebellion to 10y
atty, made me for q moment sicken
again Of the false part
Imust explain this to show how that
which followed came about. Nor did
Benedict Arnold fail to treat me with
further consideration. He promised to
obtain me a commission in legion Of
American loyalists in time to join the
expedition Lord Howe was then prepar-
ing to send to the Virginia capes. In
the meantime, other decent lodging be-
ing hard to. find, he had permitted me
to take room at the Widow Warren's.
In fact, all had gone exactly as the
plan had been laid I had communicate
ed, as l have said, with General Wash
ington, showing him, as had it from
Arnold himself, who appeared to trust
me implicitly, the full extent Of the
treachery and the names Of the few
persons in any way implicated. have
been told that this information first
gave the general in chief heart to be-
lieve there remained those he could
trust and that the major general he
suspected was, after all, not in the af-
fair.
And now the rest was all plain. Ar
mold would stroll in the garden to quiet
his nerves before bed. My desperate fell
low would hide behind the loosed pal
ing, l could be sure, at the appointed
hour. was now equally sure of Mas
ter Roland having the boat in readiness
at the foot Of the lane. Yet as l thought
Of it all, felt dismayed. l looked up
10 the ruined tower of Trinity, almost
to keep my courage warm.
decided to take tankard of beer at the
tavern. The night was dark enough,
and now began a cold drizzle. Long
since the Guards band had stopped on
the green. What could be better than
such night, made for the adventure?
At last the clock licked near the time
when General Arnold would descend
for his stroll in the garden. Even now
I knew my man Hawkins was waiting
in the lane. I paid my reckoning and
turned for a moment into the street.
The mist was clearing. Certainly
General Arnold would take that walk
to get some air before sleep, but if he
kept to his usual custom it lacked q
half hour Of the time. To avoid posi-
BILE suspicion I turned into the tavern
and up the stairs to my room. l intend
ed to follow the general by the back
stair. 1t all would be easy should he
once go into the garden.
But at the head of the stair stood my
Mistress Priscilla War;
rem, of whose mother General Arnold
rented. She held a candle, as if expect
antly, and 1 am bound to say she made
a pretty picture at the stair head. I
recollected how years before in Virginia
once had made furious love to this
very girl
"Jack! Jack Champe!"
"Eh, Priscilla. And why, mistress,
are you not in bed?''
"The truth is" said she, blushing,
''I've been thinking and pondering."
"Of lover?" said I, trying to phrase
some pleasing, nonsensical gallantry.
mot I, sir; of 10 man but of you"
"Of me, Priscilla?"