Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-10-28

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MOL cannot"
"Then, Lillian. you must not allow him
to crush out your young life. DO you
remember what you wrote to me Just
after your mother died?'
Eyes, Robert remember"
you said you might have to Zee from
your home. You thought / could not
come to you, but you might come to me.
The world would understand and ap-
prove. Dear Lillian, II shall be easier
than you had thought. Will you place
yourself henceforth under my protection?
Lady Washington. and Lady Stirling,
and the wife OF Gen. Knox are at Val.
ley Forge. They will receive you kindly
and lovingly. and l know that either Of
them will gladly give you a mothers
protecting care until the sole right can
be vested In me. Will you Zee with
meT
"But-Robert, there will be danger to
you?"
mo. darling. I have two passes from
Sir William Howe-regular passes, given
under his own hand to his Tory scouts.
BY means Of one Of them gained admis.
sion within the British lines. You shall
pass. I came In by the first redoubt, on
the Delaware side. We will leave by the
Schuylkill line. What say your
She threw her arms around his neck
and said she would 60 to the ends Of the
earth with him.
"And now-now Is the timew cried the
eager man. starting to his feet, and lift
ing her with him. I'VE have garments
In the house that will answer every Dur.
pose. We can set forth before midnight,
and reach our camp long before daylight
The route upon the opposite shore Of the
Schuylkill IL direct, and I can obtain
horses on the way. Shall 1t be SOP
Before Lillian could answer there was
nm Interruption, as startling as Il was
sudden and unexpected. Patience, who
had been for little time In front room,
came hurrying to the kitchen breathless
and terror stricken.
"There are men In the front court"
she gasped.
"YOur officers have not returnedY'
"No-the court seems full Of sOldiers."
Hush! Lillian-dear girl!-bc not
needlessly alarmed. Sit you here, and
will 20 and look"
He went to one Of the windows over
looking the court and carefully moving
aside the curtain he saw what Patience
had announced-at least a dozen men,
armed with muskets, and completely
guarding the way. He FASTENED hack to
the kitchen, and addressed the house.
keeper:
HAS this thing ever happened be-
foreT
"Never, Robert"
| s"1>hov NAV hnve coma t0-v
His speech was cut short BY heavy
humping upon the front door. With Q
cry Of alarm Lillian sprang forward and
caught her lover by the arm.
Robert, II flight Is possible, I will 6y
with you this moment. Can We not 70
out BY way Of the porchT'
II will 80 and see."
But Patience had been before him.
There were men In the alley ~ there
were In the court! She had seen them
plainly.
Another. and another knocking upon
the front door.
II must 60 aad see what they want"
said Patience. "Hear them! they will
break the door!-Robert, you must hide
up into the attic! will put them OF
II can"
Then she went into the front hall and
demanded Of those outside what they
sought.
open the door at once" was the re.
ply. "or We will break It down. Open In
the Kings namew
up! up!" cried the housekeeper 10 our
hero.
"rhey will not harm me-" added Lii.
llan. "Oh. save yourself! For my sake,
Robertw
lie dared walt no longer. He hurried
up tho stairs; but upon the upper landing
he stopped. These soldiers might only
have come to see II Capt. Stanley had
returned. He would walt and see.
In few moments more Patience open.
ed the front door. and the hall was quick
~ filed with armed men.
"Woman!' demanded an authoritative
voice, "where Is Captain Robert Sea
ton?'
Our hero needed to hear NO more. He
recognised the voice % that Of Col. Sim
coe! He had been suspected, and had
been tracked! What could he do? There
was no place In the house wherc Simcoe's
men could not find him. He became des
perate with the thought Of capture. Cap
ture. under such circumstances, could
mean only an ignominious death! He
made his way to the chamber which had
once been bis. and which Patience had
told him was now set apart for the Eng
lish dragons. The door was not locked
aud he went In. He had pistols with him
and with these he determined to stand al
bay. Capture meant for him the death
Of q spy! He would die the death Of q
soldier, beneath the roof where his faith
er had died, ere he wsuld surrender. Al
he backed against one Of the walls, some
thing clanked behind him. 1t was q
Dragons sword, hanging by one Of the
clothes hooks, and he knew by Its weight
and balance, when he had drawn 1t from
its scabbard, that It was u gO0dly weap
on. He could fight now. Ii his pistols
should miss, he would not be helpless
He had no fear that the men would harm
Lillian. He must live for her sake.
Down in the hall Simcoe had seized
Patience's arm, and demanded seconl
time, where was Robert SeatOn.
And she had declared that she did moi
know.
The female In the kitchen had been dis
covered by those who had broken theil
way In by the porch, and the colonel
hearing the challenge, fastened to tn,
spot. At first he thought OF a man IL
female disguise, but this shrinking fgur,
was too slight for the false scout: and
when he saw her face. he knew her. HI
had met her In her fathers house.
Miss Eastcourt! Why are You here
II came to see my dear friend. SIR
she answered, promptly, though with ,