The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-10-05
ROMANCE Of Old ST: DAv|DS

Prudence Jones was the falrest of all
the maids in Radnor.
Indeed twas said her beauty was
greater than that of many fine lady in
Philadelphia. Thither she had just been,
having gone chiefly to buy material for
a gown to wear when Gerald Harper
would presently lead her to the altar Of
St. David's.
The buxom country lass, with a COM
plexion not made before the mirror, un-
Willingly captured a heart that had been
proof against Cupid's arrows. Rowland
have been glad to wed, had asked her to
be his wife. When she hesitated, the
petted child of fortune was annoyed.
When, with becoming candOr. she con-
fessed she was to marry another, he
vowed his sword would settle the right
to her hand
Not a little fearful, Prudence broke
her engagement with Gerald.
I'VE will never see me again. I'm so
ing to drown myself" the young farmer
declared. But on reflection he did moth
ing OF the sort. He dug his cornhelu
with redoubled vigor and resolved to
marry the first comely girl who would
have him
Gossips whisper unkind things about
Prudence, but it was pialn envy was ut
the bottom OF their talk. She paid no
heed to them.
Young Burgess gave her little time to
change her mind again. He began at
once to build a house near st. Davius,
and scarce six months had gone by ere
all the country folk were hidden to the
wedding.
Twas a day long to be remembered.
None who could go stayed away. Zen
Gerald was there.
It's an ill wind that blows no good"
observed the honest farmer. To him cti.
Quette was an unknown art.
Prudence. upon the arm of her lord and
scarce have been expected to regret her
choice
Ere many months Of the honeymoon
had sped there came into the quiet vii
lage news that the war cloud had at last
burst. Far though it seemed from the
busy world, the young men soon began
to talk of cnlisting. The first to pro-
against the mother country was Gerald
Harper.
mo maid wants me; l may as we'll go
to the war; was his decision.
Prudence gave him godspeed as he set
off for Philadelphia to join Proctor's ar
tillery.
Her husband looked on smiliugly.
''There will be enough single men to sat
isfy British bullets,' he declared.
And as the. days went by he kept say
ing 50, though it became more and more
evident it the colonies were to win there
could not be too many men in the field.
But it is hard for man to leave an
apparently never-ending honeymoon to
face the common enemy-death.
Twas now more than year since in
dependence had been proclaimed, and the
word was yet mockery, sounding hope
lessly as it did amid the din of battle
St. David's had been closed as place
of worship. William Curre, the rector,
having deemed it his duty to read the
English liturgy, had been driven out as
Tory. The church was a barracks for
a company Of Continental soldiers. A
communion set given by Queen Anne and
the lead Of the windows had been nodded
into bullets. Such was the loyalty Of
these sturdy Welsh settlers to their
adopted country.
And still Rowland Burgess remained
Dy his wife's side.
One day Prudence received letter.
"'Tis from Uncle Davy," she said. He
is with Gen. Wayne near Chadd's Ford,
and he's coming here to preach"
Next Sunday morning Mad An
thongs" chaplain arrived. He was COW
cred with dust. his left arm was band
aged, but be sprang from his jaded horsc
with the agility of lad.
He well deserved the title Of "Fightink