Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-02-01
CHAPTER L.

battles Of Brand yWine and Germantown
and taken possession of Philadelphia.
Some little hope was entertained in New
Jersey and PENNSYLVANIA that the Conti-
mental army in the north would prove
victorious, Is iSgrgoyne was reported 10
be closely pressed. But carrier fly ing
through tie country brought the appall-
ing news that Putnam had been defeated
on the Highlands and Forts Mont gomcry
and Clinton had ;allen into the hands of
the enemy.
Mingled with the account of the cap
ture Of the latter place was a story of
brave woman. VINO, when the gunners
had abandoned the cannon. seized the
match which had been dropped and fired
II gun into the face of the enemy.
Sir John iIaycouri, an English baronet,
who lived il! 4 great, gloomy old building
near Monmouth Court House, in New
Jersey, was an Englishman by birth and
Tory in politics. lie hated the Amcri-
can rebels with an asperity equal 10
George I'LL and his followers. When lie
learned of the defeat of the Americans
his heart was made to rejoice The bar
onet was very austere, gloomy man, be-
tween forty aud fifty years. He came
to America about sixteen years before
the breaking out of the Revolutionary
War, bringing with him few trusty
servants and n child two years old. No
one asked him in regard TO his family
affairs, and ii was not until little Amelia
wav old enough to enter the parochial
school that the world came to know she
WIS not his child, but his niece.
AT boarding school the first sunlight of
the worlds happiness seemed 10 dawn on
her soul. She met girls of her own age,
and when she grew older met youths,
who smiled and enjoyed this life. 1t was
only when the war of the Revolution
closed the school that she returned, an
accomplished and well-educated Young
lady, to Harcourt Hall. Her nurse was
dead and the servants had all been chang
ed save the faithful old Dobbins. whom
her uncle had brought with him from
England.
The whole country was rent with con
tending factions, and Amelia never knew
positively how her uncle stood on the
question of liberty until she reached
home. She had dreaded to ask him, for
she feared that with his naughty pride
he must be Tory. She had imbibed so
much of the sweet air of liberty since she
had been from under his roof that she
was an ardent little Whig. The young
people of both sexes with whom she had
mingled We're patriots, and she was easily
led to their way of thinking.
At the close of gloomy day in Oc-
tober mist spreading all over the coul-
try seemed to enwrap the old Harcourt
Hall like pail. The deep forest in the
background, as the night set in, seemed a
vast army OF giants tossing their arms
against the niurky sky. Along the road
came solitary person or a jaded horse.
1t was not a man, as one might sup
pose at sight, from the military coat and
three-cornered hat in which was stuck a
feather, bpt u young and beautiful wom-
an. She WAS not TO exceed twenty-one
years of age, and had II bold, blue eye,
in which daring and honesty were the
predominating characteristics. Her voice
was clear and had Il ring of silver in it,
= with just slight Irish brogue. She
was one who could be cheerful under the
most trying circumstances and turn the
gravest subject into jest.
A blanket drawn about her shoulders
partially protected her from the falling
rain. Her horse iadcd by his long jour
ney, logged along slowly, his breath issu-
ing in clouds OF vapor on the air.
Through the increasing gloom the great
loomed up before her.
POUNDS, Roam. there is some kind of
shelter, shall we try our luck? Bad luck,
indeed, will it prove if the proprietor
should turn out to be one Of thin bastely
Tories" This remarkable woman was
an armed warrior, for about her waist
she wore n belt in which We're thrust q
brace o: small but reliable pistols, and a
two-edged dagger. Reaching the Hall,
she called aloud at the great gate and
finally old Dobbns came out to open it
and admit her to the court. To her an
peal for shelter the old man said she
must gain the consent of Sir John first.
However, he invited her into the house.
In the somber silence of the great gloomy
old hall the fair young traveller sat
awaiting his return.
''The master says that you may stay
for the night said Dobbins, reappear-
ing, Though he do think it uncommon
for young woman to travel alone, at
this hour ana time"
The fair traveller seemed not to give
the covert criticism a moments thought.
She was led up great gloomy stairway
Into another hall above, and conducted to
an apartment in which were a bed, Il
sofa. few chairs and fireplace-dark
and uncomfortable The servant placed
lighted candle OH the mantel. brought
wood and soon had a comfortable fire
blazing on the hearth.
Left alone, the fair traveller was sit
ting before the fire, her mind lost in
thought, when the door to her apartment
was suddenly thrown open and an excla-
kStion of surprise caused her to look UP.
Il beg pardon, did not know any one
was in," said the intruder, young girl
Of eighteen, with large, dark, lustrous
eyes, and hair of raven blackness. Her
voice, like ripping music, seemed to
charm the hearer.
mo, no, come income in-I want to
talk with you," said the traveller.
"When did you Gomez" asked Amelia.
"S;nce nightfall."
"And pray why are you travelling alone
at such an unsettled time?'
The fair traveller turned her great blue
eyes upon the speaker and in voice, the
solemnity and power Of which made
Qaakinap fv,opracc;nn tho ,,,.;dor ros5.