Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-03
A MEDDLING HUSSY,
Continued from Srd psge.)
eoandsd. For was not a dessrFsr The


major knew their thoughts
Sergeant Major John Champe is this
gentleman, who, like Captain Hale, to
serve his country took ON the disguise
OF spy among the British
Then suddenly through that little de-
tachment Of my old comrades a cheer
went up. and 1 believe that after all 1
had imagined and suffered, this scene
I'm the Carolina swamp was the happiest
IN my life.
but how did you fail. manf'' the
major asked when we rode to his main
division 81 really believed you would
Carry IL Qua We waited at Hobock I'M
Eil too late for any possible hope Of your
appearance
Because Of a meddling hussy," I
@aid. my heart bitter against her.
"a wench, Chsmpe? thought not
chat OF you"
"Eh. but you must {" said i. and 1
cold him tho story.
1T Is strange" said he musingly,
why she didn't betray you can't
understand it unless
"UnleSs?''
''Unless she were In, love with you, {"
said Major Lea
"ImpossibleI' said I, forgetting to
4augh. Why. Of course IL was absurd,
although could not get the notion out
Of my head
At his headquarters, where my old
comrades. who now knew the whole of
my story, made much of my deed, al
though in faith it was failure enough,
she major told me he could not take me
back into my old company.
AND why?'' / asked holly, for ]
Thought that my failure to capture Ar
mold had discredited me with him.
Because, Champe, 1 like you too
well to have you risk capture by the
British, who. before the clock could
sick, would hang you as a spy"
told him cared not whit for the
danger; that wanted TO fight with all
the strength and wit had left after the
false part had played
Poor Champep said he. Chow bad
~ have we treated you'll But after all
you have done will not suffer you to
risk n hair" he repeated
When was insistent, he said finally
shat he had no option, but would refer
che matter to General Washington, by
whom directly was dispatched to Gen.
Gral Greene.
1 confess was anxious when came
xnto the presence of that Virginia gen.
-Glenan who now had become the great
est among Americans
"You did us signal service. Captain
Champe," he said kindly, in letting
me know the extent of Arnold's treach.
cry when l was uncertain of every one
about me, and it must appear ungra.
cious of me to tell you that out of re.
gard for you and your most excellently
good service must retire you-but a.
n captain. with full captains pay. f."
I did not want retirement. / cared
not for the new grade, nor the money,
Enough it was a scarce enough commod
1ty in those days
But the general was insistent. And
an this way ceased to be an active
member of the army of the United
States In my forced retirement wal
advanced in rank, yet captain without
hope of further service, at least against
SShe British, whom / dearly wanted t.
sight in some capacity-a captain with
suit q company.
Now, about this time / had a strange
New York and written by no less a per
sonage than she who had spoiled my
enterprise, Mistress Priscilla Warren.
she begged me never to give the British
the chance Of catching me, for, as sure
1y as her name was Priscilla, They
would hang me up as a spy. wrote hen
a had been told that several times. but
z feared the British no more than l die
shedding Tory maida
The hussy's impudence was strange
But for her meddling certainly haC
had my plan to seize General Arnold
GaTried out. AS it was, because Genera.
Washington was insistent on my retire
1nent, and as had failed most dismall1
I'm this attempt had not its success K
console me for the loss Of the soldier
career 1 loved 1 had stalxed all, like
gambler. on one issue and lost
But could not get the meddling CIR
out Of my mind, and, thinking over tn
matter and considering that perhap
after all she had imagined 1t for m
s1good-as possibly It would have bee
2rom a worldly point OF view-to hav
remained, what seemed then, a Brit
Ash soldier-thinking OF the possibilit
of Major Lees conjecture about the rea
son for her curious conduct resolve
50 see her again
But 1t was not until after the peac
shat had the chance, when, hearin
she remained q spinster, / decided {
leave Kentucky, where had taken d
come land, to see what manner Of won
an she had become
II must acknowledge In . few yeai
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