Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-11-05

recollected how years before in Virginia
/ once had made furious love to this
very girl.
Jack! Jack Champer'
"Eh, Priscilla. And why, mistress
are you not in bed?''
THE truth is" said she, blushing
1--WE been thinking and pondering
"Of lover?" said 1, trying TO phrase
some pleasing, nonsensical gallantry.
Not 1, sir; of no man but of you.
"Of me, Priscilla:"
"Ah, of you. who have made the
whole town believe in you But me
not whit
And why said l, growing impa.
tient, for l heard General Arnold : step,
Il must speak to the general, begging
your pardon. -
Why" she asked, putting the can
die close to my face Liar, you are
not what you secm!" Her voice had
changed so suddenly that lost my wit.
Priscilla'
You never deserted General Wash
ington "
Mistress Priscillav"
"You are here a spy-to betray Gen
eral Arnold.
"Ah, mistress, but he is worse, " said
with sudden earnestness.
He has treated you kindly, John
Champe"
"You have the fancy of silly maid, ''
cried l. Let me 60! l must follow
General Arnold into the garden
Again she raised the candle IA bit
From below was the fiddler's merry
jig.
"Why?"
l trembled under those gray, ques-
tioning eyes, and she read my plot as
easily as had told her 1t all had gone
well up to this moment. Ny man was
behind the paling. The boat waited
Colonel Lee across the river expected
us And here this slip Of girl had in
some way found the intention.
81 will explain later. Now
She put the candle ON the table
Twill go with you into the garden. -
And why, unasked?' said l, trying
to treat the matter lightly.
At this she pulled from her bosom a
letter in Major Harry's own hand, with
the damning evidence. She had me in
her power as neatly as she could wish.
had dropped it somewhere in the house.
Cursing my carelessness, 1 remembered
l snatched at it, when she thrust it be-
hind her
"Spy" she said, as if were less
than the boards under her feet.
And he?" said doggedly.
but does it lessen your blackness,
coward? You who return to your old
friends pretending you are converted to
the old opinions, only to spy"
'Give me up, then, said at last
defiantly. "Give me up"
81 will not tell a soul, said the
girl at this.
"How could it profit you?" asked 1,
trying to pacify her.
"Nor shall let you hurt hair OF
General Arnold head-neither one MOI
the other
She stood there, her hands thrust be.
hind her. Suddenly the fiddler below
paused in his air and left us in silence.
must not let the pretty little fool
thwart me when had risked so much.
No. she should not. The general was
walking in the garden, my man Hawk.
ms was breathing hard behind the pal
ing, waiting the signal. Every moment
was dear.
HE may be traitor, but he has been
kind to my mother and to me-" she
went on. you shall not hurt him,
declare. If he be traitor, was he not be-
fore one-to the king? Consider that. -
did not answer, revolving the prob
lem how to get her out of the way,
cursing my bad luck, indeed, in having
dropped the luokless letter 1 should
have burned.
"And why" she went on, taking a
step nearer should you, Jack Champe,
take further risk? You are back, with
out odium, in the kings service. You
have but to forget your purpose, which
was traitorous to the king You have
before you a finer career than the rebels
can offer. "
! And while we disputed by the candle