Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-04-12
CHAPTER vi.
A FAIR PROSPECT.

CHAPTER vi.
A FAIR PROSPECT.
Left alone with Belden, that worthy
looked me over slowly, and then holding out
bis hand, said:
"On my soul, Lounsbury, you had best
shrive yourself! To tell the truth, I'm
nightly afraid of that fellow, who is no less
the brute called him because offered to
cry quits. He would be invincible with |
rapier, only he holds the light weapon with
too light hand. He is all points and ticks,
and, unless you disarm him, it looks to 60 |
hard with you. You will never get by his |
guard"
Thanks" said l, laughing, and taking his
hand. 1--WE trick or two, myself. What
does the general want with me now?"
81 have but fraction Of the matter, and
know my place too well to talk of it. Let
us step out; but, man, you'll never appear
at headquarters in such rig! You would
be barred at the door!"
"'Tis but the service of razor and
shift of clothes need, and will soon have.
Will you bear me company to my lodgings?"
He agreed to this, and we set out down
thte Bowery Lane to the Fields, past the
provost prison (now the Hall of Records,
City Hall Park and poorhouse, and SO
elong the Broadway, chatting like two old
friends as we walked.
Twas a strange coincidence, l thought,
when found my companion was attached
to the Sprite, having been on board even at
the time was telling false tale of myself
in her cabin, he having been laid up below
through wound received in duel while
in Philadelphia. A jolly, light-hearted. dis
sipated boy he was, but as rampant a wor-
l..~ S~1 1-kA -
meet.
lie could tell me nothing of Mrs, Badely
and her ward, Gertrude King (the latter to-
save that they had long ago left the schoon-
street. Scammelps passion for the young
lady was no secret to him, and he made
coarse Joke at the expense of both, for
which | could have wrung his neck.
But all were alike in those days, it seemed
to me, and not once did hear woman re-
spectfully spoken of, though the maligners
OF the sex professed a readiness to lie down
and be trodden On when in the presence of
the least of the ladies' of fashion. Such a
fulsome aping of fine manners on the streets
and off; such back-bending and courtesy
ing, froth, and hypocrisy; such affectation in
speech and attitude; such utter prostra-
ton before the god of mode and folly as was
Lracticed by these puppets of the king in
this small copy of the court, never before or
since has It been the fortune of man to see.
Insincerity, heartlessness, and an absurd
sensitiveness regarding so-called points of
honor ruled the day. And these were the
spirits who were expected to subdue the
hardy yeomanry of America!
But this is neither here nor there.
Well shorn, with decent ribbon for my
queue, a suit but a shade or two the worse
for wear, and sword at my thigh for eff
feet, we set off for our destination, Belden
having washed his dirty face and generally
groomed himself.
At this time Clinton's headquarters was
en- the Broadway, at No. ], and opposite the
Bowling Green, being the same dwelling
wherein Washington had established him
self while the patriot troops occupied the
city:
Twas strange to me that the British com
mander should have hit upon this house, not
only because Of its association, but from the
fact that it was, with some few mansions
city by the broad swath Of ruin caused by
the great fire of September, lT6.
This confagration had started (God
knows how'll near the Whitehall, and, under
| the tanning of strong wind, had burned
northwest, crossing the Broadway below
| Trinity church, and from there laying low
everything clear to the Hudson and north.
ward to nigh the city limits. Trinity went
with the rest, but by some mercy st. Paul's
was spared, as well as Kings college [Co
umbia college], the fire stopping Just shor!
l of Robinson street [now Park PlaceI or
which stood the latter.
No attempt had been made to rebuild OF
even clear the ruins, and now twas dan
gerous neighborhood, as the offscourings Of
4 the camp had taken possession of the whole
area, and utilizing old walls, beams, and
sails, had established colony of violence
and filth, which went by the name of Can
vastown.
It might have been pleasant for Sir Henr,
i to look from his south windows over tn,
grand Battery, the bay, and the fleet be
You'd, but take it he little cared for the
i view east, with its black desert of devasta
| ton, or to see in the Bowling Green, right
beneath his knightly nose, the hacked pedes
i tai that had but lately borne the desecratee
statue of his majesty of England.
But notwithstanding its isolation 'twal
fine mansion, this Kennedy house, as il
was called, and well fitted in its interior fol
the uses to which it was put. Broad hall
and large rooms furnished ample space fol
the brilliancy usually gathered there, bu
to-day it was comparatively deserted.
Had 1 been alone i should have had in
finite trouble in getting in at all, but Beldel
soon opened a way past the guards at TIL
door, only to meet disappointment in tn
end, for Sir Henry was at dinner, and, a
i was his wont, would let nothing short of
| ~, IL ifc elnw LOFT ion
Il He sent word that he would see Capt
Lounsbury in private at three o'clock on tn
morrow, and also sent sealed paper bear
ing my assumed name, which was request
ed to read against my return.
Il As I was primed and cooked for action
his characteristic delay chafed me, ant
unknown to him, came nigh to putting
mighty spoke in my wheel.
Il However, there was nothing for me t.
do but wait, though with the possibilities o
duel on my hands and my coming inter
view with Clinton, had cen enough to oc
cupy my mind and save time from dragging
My instructions, too, were to be read, an,
giving good-day to Bclden, set off up th
Broadway, determined to both walk off
growing nervousness and seek quiet spo
|, in which to con my paper.
No house should hold me in such swelter
. ing weather, 80 on past the Fields with it
outlaying barracks went, to where tn
Broadway dwindled to mere cart track
and finally ended in COW pasture closet
by pair of bars.
Twas the edge of Lepner's Meadows, and
with the view Of planning the details of m.
intended battle, made my way to tn
clump of trees near its center, where
throwing myself on the close turf, brok
the seal of the papers.
The contents made me start as even sho
near my ear would fail to have done. TIL
matter was short, and ran thus:
"In the name Of his majesty, George III
of England, etc. You are by me instructe
and ordered. Take five men of your owl
selection and man the schooner Phantom
captured by you while sailing against til
. interests of his majesty. With this vesse
you will repair to Gen. Pigot, at Newport
r. l., with dispatches and instructions t
be given you. Newport now being investe
| bv the Erench and the rehellinus suhiects n