News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-02-21

He shuff1ed off. By 1 O'Clock he
had not returned. To their other wor-
ries they now had added the wonder
whether anything could have befallen
him. Then at half past 1 the sound
of drums beating a British march was
borne to them family. 1t was too
much for Miss Trents eager ears. Her
high spirit chatting intolerably under
the suspense, she vehemently declar-
ed her inability to endure longer the
cruel suspense and declared that she
must sally out and learn what was
happening. Dinah was with her quer-
ulous aunt, and, despite protests, she
left them and made her way along the
river side. Scaling the slightly ele-
waited ground on which the struggling
village lay, she finally came to a stand
little aloof from the long street
which was the artery of the settle
ment. At the other end of the village
the rank and file Of defeated British
ers were marching out, their colors
cased and their drums beating with
despairing venom the crushed pride
their sullen faces still more revealed.
AS if under a charm, the girl follow
ed at a distance the dropping lines of
scarlet-followed them until she beheld
the wrathful Britons ground their arms
in field half mile from the village.
Some of the soldiers hurled their weap-
ons to the earth with savage violence
which brNIyn fhnp1 oHi I,
his sword in impotent fury at surren-
dering it to victorious colonial rebel
She remarked with some wonder the
absence of Lord CORVALLIS.
Finding how little attention she ex.
| cited, Miss Trent decided to push on
and see what effect, if any, the fierce
storm of shot and shell which the colo.
nists had let loose on the Yorktown
Notifications had had on the home OF
her aunt.
She had begun to move slowly along
when small group of colonials discov
cred her. A tall, commanding figure in
not too smart uniform. who seemed
to dominate the group, sent an officer
to her. She halted, her head erect and
her eyes fixed steadily on him, though
her heart beat violently.
His eXcelleGcy General Washington
has ordered me to inquire if he can be
of any service TO you. MISS" he said
doffing his hat.
"Tell General Washington that he il
proffering his aid to Miss Mildred
Trent, woman who has not forsworI
her allegiance to the ruler of these colo
MES. Mr. Washington of Mount Yer
non has partaken Of the hospitality o.
my fathers house, as he also has o.
that of our good neighbor, Mr.. Guy
Yorke, whose son, for all know, ma,
have been sacrificed, like his father, IL
this revolt. Thank him for a courtes,
which still breathes of Virginia anC
tell him hope may go without mo
lestation to see If his shells have lief
to my aunt and myself enough of on
humble dwelling for us to find shell
ter in"
"If you will remain here, will deliv
er your message" replied the officer,
udlL Oh ~ at llt neIy gran
diloquence of the fair Tory.
1t was not long before he was bacl
with a request from General Washing
ton that Miss Trent would do him tn
honor to come to him.
Her cheeks famed. Was this a cor
queror's pleasantly to n woman foe
She spoke rapidly, without Ne muc
heed of her words as of her pride an
wounded feeling. "You may tell Ger
eral Washington that he can, as a vic
tor, command my presence, but il h
has not forgotten the teachings of Vii
glnia mothers to their sons he will r.
call that a gentleman does not bid
lady whom he would see come to hin
but comes to herv'
The officer hesltated slightly, the
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