Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-31

MAD Anthony" He grasped Rowland
10y the hand. Il was afraid you were
bloody Tory, my boy. If | hadn't been
so blamed hungry, I'd have asked first"
Rowland rode away with the chaplain
that afternoon, his wfe's fearful blessing
upon him.
1T is your duty" she said again.
In week came the news that MAD
Anthony" was advancing westward with
flying brigade of more than 900 men
to harass the rear guard of the British.
One day Rowland, looking more hand
some than ever in a suit of borrowed
regimentas, rode up with his commander
and the chaplain. Behind came the little
army of hardy, i'll clad patriots.
The brave general, who had been a
friend Of Prudence's father, bestowed a
kiss upon her forehead without dismount-
| ing.
"My soldier!" exclaimed Prudence ten
derby as she once more babe Rowland
| farewell. 81 am so proud of you!'
Thus the young husband rode away
with Mad Anthony" and the Fighting
| Parson." If courage could be given to a
coward, 'twould seem they were the ones
| to give it. Love had made Rowland Bur
CESS a coward
The three rode on at the head of the
| brigade-rode on into the very jaws of
death ere they knew it. That night at
| Paoli they were hemmcd in on every side.
1t seemed as if all must die or be cap
| tured.
| Before hundred bullets had sped q
horse dashed down the hill, the rider dig
ging his spurs into him. 1t was he whom
| love had made n coward.
Mad Anthony" wasted but one word on
| nina word that was expressive. The
| Fighting parson" said more, but no word
| quite as strong. As for the men, they
said nOthng-they. simply fought the
harder.
And so the battle went on-the mas
sacre, it is called in history. Three hun
dred were left dead or wounded upon the
| field; half as many more were taken pris-
oners; the rest under Mad Anthony" beat
an honorable retreat.
OF course, there were other cowards
but none so noticeable as the one who
had galloped down the hill.
Not before he was nearly home did
Rowland Burgess realize what he had
done, what he had branded himself He
was a dcserter, a traitor he would be
shot or maybe hanged. To return to the
brave little woman whom he loved who
had unconscously made him a coward,
would be worse than folly.
| He rode on and on and on, wondering
whittier to go, this hunted fugitive.
Reaching Philadelphia, he exchanged his
dishonored uniform for coarse sailor
suit and shipped before the mast upon
vessel bound he knew not where-nor
cared.
The war had been ended three years
when there came down the road leading
to st. David's a man who seemed to
have gained sudden strength from his
surroundings.
AS he reached a stately house upon the
hill and saw it deserted as if left a prey
to the elements, he looked disheartened
but went on.
A service was being held in the little
church in the dale-evidently a wedding
His eyes first fell upon the minister-thC
Fighting Parson," clad in his regimen
tails.
Speak now or forever after hold hi:
peace" the chaplain was saying.
The wandcrer beheld the BRIDE radiant
beautiful, as in the years that were gone
1t was she for whom he had becom,
a coward. Beside here was her rejected
lover, Gerald Harper, in the uniform o
a colonel. Mad Anthony" also in regi
mentals, was there to give the bride
away.
In vain did the fugitive try to speak
The word choked him. He turned ava.
from the window, sick at heart.
Fool, to think that l could come bacl
forgotten to begin life over again" ii
5 walked away, back over the road he hat
come, back to Philadelphia. Once NOR
he became an exile.
Those who knew him in these late
years felt he was a man with history
g whose heart was dead. But was it?
. Another war had been fought with tn
n British when a small package came b
r post to the rector of St. Davids. lnsid
d was the inscription, THE dust of "A ira
t tor who died bravely," and this II
quest, when Prudence Harper lies
l. the churchyard, spread this upon I'll
e grave, and say naught of X. B., VIII
e welded her and then saw her welded"
# 1t was near a score of years ere I'll
is rector could fulfill his trust. Then
became a matter of wonder that the gra'
l. and flowers upon the grave of Prudent
Harper were so much richer, so muC
ct more beautiful than upon that of her hu
t. band.-Philadelphi Press.