Rock Island Argus., 1901-08-01
TheDai|y Short Story
THE TORIES.


be found. He left a daughter and
stepson, the child of widow whom he
had married. The widow was seated
I'm her home on the Hudson river when
the clock struck 10. young man in
the uniform of British officer eau
tiously entered.
You have brought your troopT
More than enough TO capture ten
rebels" said Captain Rudolph. for
whom his mothers influence had pro-
cured n British commission. You are
sure Horace Sinclair is in the summer
houseE'
Twice have ! heard his signal to
Cora. The letter / wrote him he has
deemed his Cora's. implorinG him to
hazard even life itself 10 meet her this
night i'm the lonely summer house.
Have you the chaplain with youT"
He is below in the dining hall. But.
mother can you force Cora TO become
my wife,
You shall see.' was the cold and
firm response. ''Go. capture Horace
Sinclair. Bring him hither, 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 Nallame' said she to the
prompt servant who answered to her
call. that desire ner here Immediate
ly"
The servant hurried to obey. She
soon returned. bearing n lamp and fol-
lowed by the lovely orphan. Cora Val
lame silently bowed her head as she
entered.
Wait" was all that the widow said,
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 n young man clad
TN the uniform of a Continental major
Of cavalry.
\ short. i'll looking man in black
brought up the rear.
Horace, and n prisoner" exclaimed
Cora.
The same" said Rudolph, fierce
with a bloody cash that scanned his
cheek. THE rascal has slain two OF
my best men. But he shall die the
death OF n spy"
MY uniform proves that 1 am no
spy" said Horace Sinclair. Il have
fallen into n snare and am prisoner
OF war-no spy. Cora. did you write
me n summons hitherE'
Never, Horace" said Cora in aston
ishment. "'Tis some trick OF this
"Of mlne," said Nine. Nallame sharp
ly. Come, we have no time to lose.
Cora. you see that gentleman in black?
He is the Rev. Charles Fairwcather.
He is here to make you the wife of my
SON.
1.-The wife OF your sons meanest
trooper shall l be sooner than his"' ex-
claimed Cora.
Consent" said Mime. Nallame. cor
see Horace Sinclair hanged upon the
tree where he and you have so often
met
They dare not hang me. Cora" said
the calm voice of the bound officer. II
am taken in my uniform aud no spy.
Do not be imposed upon
DO not sing so boldly" said Nine.
Yallame. The hanging of rebel. uni
formed or not. is pleasure to our loyal
English general.
is now 20 minutes after 10. If when
the minute hand shades the figure
your lips have not made you my sons (
wife. Horace Sinclair swings"
''Oh. Horace. what shall do?" cried |
Cora as the silence grew terrible.
Let me die n thousand times rather |
than behold you the wife of that rene |
Gade, who slew his mothers husband"
said Sinclair.
"Oh. Horace And. weeping bitter |
ly. she flung herself upon her brave |
lovers bosom, and ere the furious son |
and fiendish mother could tear them |
asunder Cora's quick hand. armed with |
dagger had severed the cords that |
bound the Americans arms.
Sinclair snatched saber from the |
hand OF the nearest trooper and sprang |
upon the other, who went down, cloven |
to the chin.
Wheeling fiercely. the saber clashed |
with that of Rudolph and. sweeping |
back from the shock. came down with |
a mighty slash that sheered the ruff |
fans right arm from the shoulder.
Shouts and the sharp tumult OF sud- |
den strife without smote Rudolph's ear |
as lie fell. and the next moment the |
room was filed with American dra-
goons, led by one whom he deemed long |
dead-George Nallame,
Just in time. my boy" said Val
lame. who had escaped from the slaugh-
ter of Long Island and for purposes of /
his own bore another name in the /
American army.
Il mistrusted this when / found the
decoy letter written by that tigress. |
Returning to camp. l found the letter
In your tent and. collecting score OF
your Dragons. hastened to save you"
An hour after. as British soldiers
filed the house so timely vacated by
the Americans. they found Mime. 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.