Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-04
CHAPTER \
TIE HERo1sa1 OF GER

THE HEROISM OF GERTRUDE KING.
Gen. Clinton stood Is If stricken with
catalepsy, while | sprang 70 Mrs. Badely.
Describing the useless Disguise | threw my
sling from me and, lifting the lady, bore her
u the couch. As her aunt sank to the floor
the girl had given a violent start, and, as
though taking for granted that the escaped
party referred to was her brother, she
raised hev hands and exclaimed fervently:
Thank God. thank God Then the
emotion She had bravely suppressed when
her misfortune seemed at its height over
came her on the relaxation Of the strain, and
she broke into a torrent OF tears.
Giving no further attention to Mrs. Babe
Is, / turned and looked at Clinton. lie had
sunk into bis chair. and was undergoing
serong inward struggle, but the expression
of his face BODIED little good 10 the girl who
sin stood before him. In moment he
straightened himself, and pointing 10 the
weeping maiden, sternly said:
Capt Louns5ary, call my orderly, and
sec that this woman is placed in eonfine-
inent. Report 70 me when it Is done
It appeared that the moment had arrived
lrhen ] must declare myself, for to allow tins
heroic girl t. suffer the indienity Of arrest
while | could prevent it, was not til my
books. was about to turn on HIM with my
answer when she lifted her head, and, direct
ing her wet eyes toward Clinton, said as
firmly a. she had before spoken:
..GreR. Clinton, / care little for what you
mas do to me- The only load had has been
lifted Ny brother is freet Listen to me-
He was never arrested as a spy, never tried
IN any court, never condemned to be
hanged, ! knew he was to be secretly re-
moved from his prison; of that | was in
formed by one of your own officers, and !
came here TO demand his whereabouts. Is
not my so-called beauty as powerful for my
interests as your commands for yours? Look
to yourself, Sir knight! What / know Of
you will find a ready ear, but, Sir Henry
Clinton, you will scarce have the courage to
demand an earldom from the one who hears
it.
The utterly fearless way in which she
spoke, coupled with sarcasm and taunt the
nature Of which | then knew nothing drove
the British general into a fury. Springing
10 his feet and again slamming the table, he
shouted:
Arrest her, sir! Arrest her instantly!
Stop her vile mouth Good Cod am l to
be thus bearded by self-confessed trait
RESI-:
By this l had gotten to pitch of spirits
that ripened me for any deed insurng the
safety VI IhG BdAtdut Atit, anu y e lily ltdQ
was lett clear enough to see the possible
of my act
Nay, Sir Henry | replied, clearly, but
without moving, Il shall never arrest her
nor see her arrested here; rather would
see her canonized. DO your own dirty
work
Hell and furies!' he Numbered, fairly
bounding from the floor "What means this I
treason: You are under arrest yourself |
sir. What, sir! you defy me-"
As he spoke he moved from behind the /
table and took couple of strides toward |
the hall; but seeing his intention was to
call the sentry, and that for me it was now
the whole pace or the scaffold, in an instant |
l was ahead of him, and, quickly locking the I
door, threw the key through the open win
dow.
was none too soon. Through the heavy !
mahogany | heard the approach of hurried T
footsteps, and the knob twisted while yet I
my hand was on it.
With an oath Clinton turned toward the /
table and grasped his sword but again /
anticipated his action and was before him. 1
Laying my left hand on the weapon, II
pressed it down, while with my right / /
pushed him into his chair and held him I
there He paled as though fearing imme /
date assassination, and gasped, then after
a frultless effort at freeing himself, he I
shouted.
What Capt. Lounsbury, would you muir
der your commander
| rapidly shifted my grip, and to prevent
his further clamoring placed my hand over
his mouth, pinning his head fast to the bac,
of the chair.
Call me not Lounsbury," I exclaimed in
my excitement. Il have been damned by
that name weeks enoughl Know me as
Donald Thorndyke, an enemy to the king
Quick, now!" said | turning to the girl
Here is pass ready written. Get away
out of the window! / will cover your GO
ing And with that l snatched the writ
ing from the table and held it toward her.
BY this time there was violent knocking
at the door and some shouting in the hall,
but :. akingr& notice of the shortness of time