Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-20

the dragc=as TO return to their ouartera
ct the barn. -
Meanwhile Sir John had been forced
TO take seat, and sat staring in silence
at the tall, handsome young Continental.
whose prisoner he was. Molly Pitcher
returned in a few moments with the
Tory captain and said:
/ 1t would be as well for you and / to
tie these men to their chairs, and bid
them goodbye
Amelia, who saw at once the plan Of
molly, fell in with it, and brought cords
TO Tie them. When the task was accom-
pllshed, Maurice was 10th to leave his
sweetheart to the wrath of her uncle
Never mind me, Maurice" she whis<
pered. go! He will not harm me,
though he would be delighted to kill you."
| Being thus importuned, Maurice and
Molly Pitcher quilted the house, secured
horses and rode off in the darkness.
| The fair patriot took good care not to
release the three men until her lover and
Molly Pitcher were far beyond their ven
geance. The rage of Sir John knew no
| bounds, and but for the interposition of
| the Tories he might, in the transport Of
his rage, have done his niece bodily in
| jury. Captain Tapley, who had more APP
probation for the young lady's feelings,
attributing her conduct wholly to love,
| insisted that Sir John should cease to
upbraid her.
There was little sleeping done at Har-
court Hall that night. Sir John, despite
his usual imperturbableness, had receiy-
| ed a shock that banished sleep.
The knowledge that his niece had a
| lover was perhaps the greatest shock Of
| all He had supposed he had her so COM
| pletely under his power that she dared
not take so important a step without his
consent Sir John had never before Civ
en- his niece's marriage moments
thought. In fact, he had repealed the
thought as much as possible. He had
never told her anything of her parents or
early home life, and had kept her in ig-
norance of her past history.
When the Tory and dragons took
their departure next morning the captain
pleaded long and earnestly with Sir John
to take his niece to Philadelphia, where
he would be safe from the depredations
of the Wings, but the baronet gravely
shook his head and declared his intention
to remain at the Hall, for awhile at least.
When the Tories had taken their de-
parture, Sir John called Dobbins to his
private room, and in his awful voice,
| asked:
care you, too, in this -accursed con-
spiracy against my lifew
Old Dobbins' face was picture Of as
constituent, stupidity and fear, and he
began to tremble from head to foot. In
/ broken, feeble accents, he stammered:
Il know not what you mean. Dobbins
is an old man, and has given his life to
your service. Why should you have cause
to charge me Of i'll toward YOU"
do you know that rascal of rebel
who was here-Fitzgerald?
The old man shook his head and said
he would not have been aware of his
presence had he not been notified of it.
Sir John proceeded to interrogate the SER
want, who grew more and more stupid,
until he became so confused he was COM
PEELED to give up in despair, and the bar
onet cried:
"Get out! Begonev' and the old man
arose and hobbled away. In the upper
hall he met Amelia, whose dark eyes
showed evidence of weeping.
She raised her sad, sweet face to his
and he motioned her to follow him. AT
the farther end of the hall he said in
low, cautious tone:
''Trust old Dobbins, missus; don't go to
fearin' Dobbins. He carried ye in his
arms when We were little thing an al
ways loved ye since yer poor mother and
father died so suddenly"
'Dobbins, what will uncle do?'. she
asked.
81 dunno, missus."
"Wiil he take me to Philadelphia!
"He do seem afraid O. Philadelphia,
and the British army Almost as much as
Washington's Continentalss''
..Why, Dobbins! Why should he be
afraid Of the British?'
Shaking his head the old man answer
ed:
'aThat be one O. the mysteries which
old Dobbns is too thick-headed to solve.
But trust me, missus, trust me and
will aid you.
"My life has been mystery to me"
the girl sighed "Sir John seems more
tyrannical captor than a relative
| She went to her apartment and throw
ing herself on a bed, sobbed herself to
| sleep.
(To be continuedo
|