The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-19
TRE TORIES

During the American Revolution Cap
tain George E-aIlame fell in the battle
Of Long Island, but his grave could not
be found He left a daughter and a
stepson, the child of widow whom he
had married. The widow was seated
in her home in the Hudson river when
the clock struck ten. A young man in
the uniform of a British officer eau
tiously entered.
You have brought your troop
More than enough to capture ten
rebels, said Captain Rudolph, TOR
whom his mothers influence had pro-
cured a British commission You are
house ?"
Twice have heard his signal to
Cora The letter I wrote him he has
deemed his Cora's, impIOring him to
hazard even life itself to meet her this
night in the lonely summer house
Have you the chaplain with you2"
He is below in the dining hall. But,
mother, can you force Cora to become
nay wife2"
firm response Co, capture Horace
Sinclair Bring him hitler bound
When you return, let the chaplain be
with you Cora shall meet you and ere
you part shall be your wife.
Her reckless son left her. and she
rang a small bell as he departed.
Tell Miss Vallame." said she to the
prompt servant who answered to her
can, that desire her here immediate
ly."
The servant hurried to obey. She
soon returned. bearing a lamp and fol-
lowed by the lovely orphan. Cora Val
lame silently bowed her head as she
entered
and as she spoke loud shouts, pistol
shots and the clash of steel reached
her ear.
Cora glanced uneasily toward the
door and then to her stepmother's face.
Ere long Rudolph threw open the door
and was followed by two British dra-
goons, who escorted a young man clad
in the uniform of a Continental major
of cavalry
A short. i'll looking man in black
brought I'D the rear.
Horace, and a prisoner exclaimed
''The same" said Rudolph. fierce with
a. bloody cash that scanned his cheek
1.-THE rascal has slain two of my best
men. But he shall die the death of a
spy"
MY uniform proves that I am no
spy" said Horace Sinclair. II have
fallen into a snare and am a prisoner
Of war-no spy. Cora, did you write
me summons hither? %
Never, Horace" said Cora in aston
ishment. IT'S some trick of this
"Of mine!' said Nine. Vallame sharp
~. Come, we have no time to lose
Cora, you see that gentleman in black?
He is the Rev. Charles Fairweather.
son!''
THE wife of your sons meanest troo-
per shall I be sooner than hist" ex-
claimed Cora
Consent" said Nine. vallame, cor
see Horace Sinclair hanged upon the
tree where he and you have SO often
meti"
''They dare not hang me. Cora" said
the calm voice of the bound officer. 4
am taken in my uniform and no spy
DO not he iInpOsed uUOn %
do not sing so boldly" said Mime.
Vallame. 1.-The hanging Of a rebel, uni
formed or not, is a pleasure to our 10y
al English general
Cora Va1lame, you see that dial. It
is now 20 minutes after TO- If when
the minute hand shades the figure G
your lips have not made you my sons
wife Harace Sinclair swings"
"Oh, Horace, what shall I do2" cried
Cora as the silence grew terrible.
LET me die a thousand times rather
than behold you the wife of that rene
gade, who slew his mothers husband
said Cinclair.
ooh, Horaeei" And weeping bitter
", she flung herself upon her brave
lovers bosom, and ere the furious son
and fendish mother could tear them
asunder Cora's quick hand, armed with
a dagger, had severed the cords that
bound the Americans arms.
Sinclair snatched a sal Der from the
hand of the nearest trooper and sprang
upon the other. who went down, cloveai
to the chin
Wheeling dercely, the saber clashed
with that of Rudolph and. sweeping
back from the shock, came down with
a mighty slash that sheered the RUIZ
fans right arm from the shoulder.
Shouts and the sharp tumult of sud
den strife without smote Rudolph's ear
as he fell and the next moment, the
room was filed with American dra-
goons, led by one whom he deemed long
Y rrl7I a.
Just in time, my boy" said Val
lame who had escaped from the
slaughter of Long Island and for pur-
poses of his own bore another name
in the American army
t mistrusted this when found the
decoy letter written by that tigress-
Returning to camp. found the letter
in your tent and collecting a score of
your dra gOOns. FASTENED TO save you"
An hour after, as British soldiers
filed the house so timely vacated by
the Americans. they found Nine. Val
lame lying upon the body of her son
and as dead as he. The sudden shock
had slain her.
When the war was over. years after,
Colonel Horace Sinclair and his bride
Cora, with Major Vallame. returned to
the scene. But it was to see the man
sion a heap of eharred ruins
TOCAT MENTTAN