Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-10-14

bitter cup pass from me! Have compass /!
sion on my great love! Save me--O!
save me from despair!"
Then he bowed his head, and stood for
long time in silent meditationI and
when the paroxysm had passed and he
could control his emotions, he paced to
and fro while he considered.
That old dread Of the English earl had
not been an empty phantasy. II he
could not convey to Lillian intelligence
Of the fact that he was alive, she might
be forced into the marriage upon which
her father had set his heart, and be lost
to him forever! That was the only
observation-disclosures to Lillian. He could
not lose her. She was the one bright star
Of his life--thc one object In which oil
his hopes of future earthly Joy were CEN
tered. He would not finch from the
Patriots duty. He could die. II need be.
He had no fears Of honorable death. But
the losing Of his dear love seemed worse
than death--a life forever shattered, joy
less, and dcsolate! He could not bear 1t
he would not. II 1t lay In his power to
cast the burden of. First. his Country
next, Lillian. For eighteen long months
he had held his life In his hand-had
fought and worked and suffered for his
country. MlRnV ne uOt uOW uouOruUIy
give one poor week to Lillian?
When he returned to his quarters he
trod the frozen earth like man Of iron.
Each step was an emphasis upon his de.
termination, and there was no shadow Of
faltering upon his face. He cat his sup.
pcr, and had arisen for his hat. when
OF the gallant virginian was flushed, and
his bright eyes glanced.
'Where now. Seaton?'
IL am going up to see Mr.. Potts. I
must, II possible, send Letter to Phila-
dclphia."
"You must put It off for short bit,
my dear fellow. I have a better thing
than letter writing. I am just from head.
quarters with orders. The adjutant gen.
eral sent down here half an hour ago.
but you were absent. Hark ": Our
Delaware scouts have come In. and bring
information, reliable and circumsta initial,
that an immense provision train ID on It's
way from the Iehigh Valley to Philadel.
phia, bearing all sorts Of good things for
the larders Of the British. There are
forty heavy wagons, guarded BY q com.
psny Of English dragons and q strong
detachment Of Hessians. Washington
wants those wagons, with their precious
contents, and he bids you and me 90 and
capture them. We are to set forth at
once. The scouts will guide Us. and we
can intercept the train as early In the
morning a. we please. We shall have q
right gallant opportunity"
Had Q man told him, half an hour be.
fore, that he was to be ordered upon
such q mission ut the present time, Sea.
tons heart would have sank within him,
but now, under the magic Of Harry Lees
inspiring voice, and with the work clearly
before him, he grasped the opportunity
He might have q favor, by and by, to ash
OF the commander-in.chief. Success OF
this mission would not lessen the pros
poets Of q favorable answer.
"Dear Harry, could have wished that
this call had come at smother time, hut
am with you. Let your bugic sound the
summons as soon as you plcase--my men
shall be In their saddles!'
Good! We will be ready In an hour
Well ind food for our horses on the
way"
Robert Seaton had been called In q
great many emergencies--h been called
unexpectedly-and had always gon,
forth, as his comrades knew. cheerfully
and dauntlessly. though he went Int
deadly peril every time; but never befOr,
had no entered the battle path with Just
such feelings as now possessed him. TIL,
man Of iron. who had walked to the hu
ut close Of day, was still present. II h,
was not no cheerful as was his wont, b,
was sufficiently eager and fiery to inspire
his men as he had never inspired them
Deep down In the soul Of the youthful
, chief was stern resolve that he woul,
| l. ~ Il kaI hxxP,
battle with the same resolve. but neve
with the triple.tempered steel Of despera
ton shutting out all care for life and only
inviting mortal danger. rs was now tn
case.
In truth. our hero was In an abnorma
state. He had set his life upon the haz
ard OF die before the call Of this OK
! petition had come. He had resolved upOl
venture as much more fraught witt
danger than the present, as the presen
was more dangerous than the quiet slee
;; OF well'guarded camp Aye-apd 4
that fearful venture. should his life
I, sacrificed, It would not be upon the alta
Of his country! He had been made 4
feel, within the last hour. that there wer
. conditions Of life far worse than death.
At an early hour In the evening tn
two companies Of cavalry were drawn u
y In column for marching, with two faith
J full guides In advance. These guide
. were Delaware Indians, tried and true
= and had been furnished by the chief 81
chem Of that tribe, Koquethagaeehlor
better known In history as Capital
. White-Eyes. He was steadfast frien
:. to the Patriots, and an active aud a
= dent supporter Of their cause.
. At nine o'clock the squadron crosse
:. the Schuyikill, and struck course bu
! little north Of east. At midnight tn
moon arose. and In IN hour later 1t wa
almost as light as day. They were no'
y approaching the road by which the pr
4 vision train was expected to come, an
. one Of the scouts had ridden on In az
4 vance to recOnnOitre. At farm hous
which came conveniently In their wa,
n they halted to rest and feed their horse
!! Lee offered to pay for the provender, b,
4 tho sturdy husbandman, with two SOL
a In the Patriot army. when he knew Il
!. object Of the expedition, refused the pro
Il fered money. II his humble contributio
n could help the cause Of his country.
" was content.
u The order had Just been given {
i mount, when the outriding Delawal
"a came dsshing up with information tbs
n the train was coming down the midd
II road.
q "Ho!" cried Seaton. springing into b
y saddle, "they hope to reach their lines b.
I. fore morning. They serve US WE'LL"
I'll Having gained what Information ii
scout had to give, Lieut.. Douglas. VIII
d knew the country well. very quickly d
Ia