Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-12
THE MAN IN THE GRAY
CLOAK.
GEO. B. HARRIsov.

The winter of l779 was approach
ing spring. But if was still dismal
ly cold, aud all dav there had been a
drip, drip of chilly rain around "A
two story farmhouse which clung TO
a New Jersey hillside, short dis
tance from Morristown. where the
American army under General Wash
ingion was encamped
Hope Adams. thoughtful faced
little girl of eleven. dressed in "A
PLAIN. homespuu gown. sat bv the
bedside of her feeble grandfathrr.
AMI strovc earnestly to divert the ia
vHlld's mind from the noises which
came from the Kitchen downstairs
"Ne.er mind, graudfather." she
said. confortingly. "Thcy are Amer
lean soldiers and will not do us harm.
though they be rude. If ONLY Gen
eral Washington knew of their be
havIor, ! know he would send them
away. There, don't mind please
don't" she pleaded, bending Owe. the
nervous sufferer and smoothing the
gray locks away from the aged face.
y hoarse voice sang bit of army
song, hoiSterOus cheers followed: then
came the sound of tinkling mugs
and the troopers seated around the
kite fire resumed their rough ex
change of jokes.
These noises all penetrated To the
little chamber disturbing the peace
of the sick man and awakening fresh
apprrhensionS in Hopes Young heart.
Twice that afternoon she had crept
downstairs, twice had she begged the
men not To be SO boisterous. and
twice had they promised, only to fail
in keeping that promise
1t is due these soldiers, however.
to say that they respected the little
girls request and tried to obey her
But their good resolutions were
drowned deeper and deeper each mo
ment as they freely quaffed mug af
te" mug of the hard cider, II cask of
which they had discovered in the
cellar.
"As if it were not bad enough to
arrest my brave son on suspicion of
his being a traitor" the old man
moaned bitterly; "they must suspect
us of being Tories and guard our
home as though We were in actual
league with the enemy. William u
,raitor,-we Tories The name of
Adams was never before connected
with such vile charges. And suf
fering here at this moment from II
gunshot wound received not two
weeks ago while fighting for NV
country! All, it is terri ble, terrible,
terrible, indeed"
He had partly arisen in his excite
ment, but slowly fell back on the
pillow, as the wound i'll his shoulder
sent shaft of pain through his body.
"Yes, grandfather, it is hard for
us" spoke his grandchi .d, soothing
ly, "but do not worry, if you can
help it. Father is not traitor, ard
he must come clear of the charge"
And there was flash of determine
tion in her dark eyes.
Heaven bless you, Hope" replied
the old man, placing u trembling
hand on her crown of nut brown
curls. eve will pray for the vindi
cation of your fathers good name
and his restoration to Il place of hon
or in the American army. 1t can't
be that he must di. as traitor-my
son, so brave and loyal!'
mo, no, grandfather!' assured the
little girl. "He will not"
Only that day had the unpleasant
news been brought them that brave
William Adams. the old soldiers son
and Hopes father, had been arr, sted
on the serious charge of purposing
TO reveal the plans If the American
army to the British, although, like