Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-02-17

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riDpleS.
"Why does not Sambo Gomez" she
exclaimed f"vcriShly.
Mildred TrrntS face was somewhat
pale. but her eyes flashed with dark
luminOuSneSs and her slender form was
erect with proud determination. She
made no effort to disguise her intense
craving for news. The rattle of the
sie"e guns. the noisy turbulence of the
hot contest. was Stilled. But had Lord
CORVALLIS Silrnccd the colonistS. or
had this desperate" attack Of the Fed
eralistS wreSted from him the town he
had fortified against them?
The possibility of til" latter brought
Page Yorkr to her fancy again. and
she heaved once more. as she had done
thousand times before during this
fearful siege. Il sigh of complex emo
ton. Oh. why did not Sambo come
and relieve this wearing tension? At
the beginning of this armed revolt
against the home government Page
Iorke'S father had shouldered his gun
and gone forth under the command Of
ton. of Mount Vernon. Two years
later he had let it fall. as he sank
himself. killed by a bullet. Then this
hot youth of 10 had taken his fathers
place. and for five years she had not
seen him. She and Miss Aylward. her
aunt. had led a forlOrn life here in the
little village of Yorktown. which had
but now been the center Of so fierce q
contest. And she did not yet know
whether the battle was to king N
colonist: whether her playmate and
boy lover was somewhere near, flushed
with victory, Or But she would not
think of that
If CORVALLIS had won. it might
mean tie end. If the colonstS had
made their fight and lost. Page Yorke
might with good grace fall into his
place once more-a Virginia gentle
man, subject to the king-and life
move again on the old time, easy
wing.
With parting glance in every d.
rection. She turned and slowly re-en.
tered the cave. 1t was an Opering in
iIslI ! bluIl pu tIt Iuuh vi lllt DiOuu
river, some II feet wide by IS or 20
in depth. The more retired part was
dry. and level ledge had offered the
women resting place at night. They
had come there with Dinah when the
massively built house of Governor Mel
sor, instead of proving the safe refuge
they had imagined was hit so often
hy no fno ri, f,,I oh a ob.Il
that it seemed to be special target
for the colonial gunners. AS matter
of fact. the p'triotic governor, COM
manding the Virginia militia IN the re-
serve. or second line of the left wing
Of the besieging colonists. fearing his
solid two story brick house might af-
ford shelter to the British. had offered
reward of > guineas to every gunner
who hit 1t with his fire
Miss Trent had not long rcjoined her
aunt. who, wrapped in thick shawl
against the chill temperature of the
cave, Shivered more from nervous ap-
prehenSion than the autumnal air when
q negro with grzzled wool shamblcd
into view at the mouth of their retreat,
his eyes rolling and his breathing show
Ing evidence of great excitement.
"'Fore de Lawd, Miss Aylward an
Miss Mildred" he painted. dat Brit
ish general hab got to march forth an
lay his whole army at de triumphant
feet oh General Massa George Wah'n'-
ton. Bress de Lawd, we am all saved"
"Savcd" exclaimed Miss Aylward,
clasping her hands and flashing look
OF Indignation on the jubllant negro.
eve are left as prey to this rebel Nir
glnian, who has been the backbone of
a needless uprising against his king.
My child" she added bitterly. turning
toward her niece and using the very
phrase with which Lord North later
heard the news of CORVALLIS surren-
der, "all is lost"
''Be just. at least. aunt" retorted her
niece. with spirit. "From all ! have
heard General Washington Is more
likely to be conquered by ladies than to
be their harsh Oppressor. He hangs