The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-10
CHAPTER xXXv.
AuNT SALLY.


AS neared Philadelphia after my Il
days journey, was sorely tempted to
buy horse and equipment and bear
west out to the home of the Hornes.
'What difference could a day more OF
less maker" asked myself. Surely
my friends have first claim upon me-
But as L reflected that I was practical
ly under orders, and that 1 had been
urged by my friend Beatty to hasten,
I decided to first hunt him up and did
so. He was overjoyed to see me and
was surprised at my quick journey
"You are just in time" he remarked
as he hurried me through the house
"Here Where did you leave your lug
gage? I'll have one of the boys care
for it."
my luggage is in this pack on my
back, Lieutenant"
What! Have you come through
from Schoharie in this style? What
did you live on? Where did you stop?'
ct carried my food or killed it as
went along and L slept, rolled up In
this blanket. An Indian friend OF
mine came part way. He cooked fol-
me and I drove the canoe, so long as
we were on the river. left him at the
Gap and came across country to gain
time. The river is frozen, up toward
the mountains, you know"
well! Well! But 1 wish we had a
few hundred more such men as you
We'd clean out these red coats in short
order"
Morgan has plenty, as good as I OF
better Lieutenant. Where is he?"
mo he hasn't Not one as good as
you are let him tell it. He says you're
the best all round man he ever saw in
the woods, or for general use in Dor
der warfare. OH But 1 wish you
could have heard him, the other night.
He and General Sullivan had been talk
ing of you-don't know how they came
to mention you; when [ came in on
them. You see my Aunt Sally Fisher
was in the ethyl guess I never men,
toned her to you. She lives out in
Virginia on the Shenandoah. She
isn't ready my aunt. but as
as she is cousin of my moth
err and I was taught to call her aunt
when I was a boy, 1 do that now.
WeEi She was in the city and as she
is an old acquaintance of both Morgan
and Sullivan, they were calling on her,
when 1 came in. They had been telling
her of their experiences, and, strange
to say, you were mentioned by one and
remembered by the other. Morgan grew
quite enthusiastic, telling Of your Be-
mus Heights exploit, and wound up
with these words which he was utter
ing just as 1 came in: 1.-THE best de-
scription can give of this fellows per-
sonaI appearance, Mrs, Fisher, is to tell
you that he looks exactly as Major
Fisher cher husband, you know used
to, when he came in from a long sur
veying trip" The Major died when
was a boy, but the Colonel knew him
we'll. AT that she grew interested
What's the matter, Quedar? What are
you hanging back for? Oh! I forgot.
You must be about played out. Can't
you come a little further? Colonel Nor
gan is stopping out here at the end of
the hall Why mani You're white as
a rag. I'm sorry I hurried you So"
'"That isn't it, Lieutenant" man
aged to say. "Where-where is your
Aunt Sally?''
MY Aunt Sally? Why! She's in the
house, too. She won't leave-but what
in blazes do you want of herr"
I'm afraid-that is, I hope she's a
relative of mine. too,' I blurted out,
and here my strength forsook me.
sat down on the stairrail and my pack
seemed so heavy that I could not rise
'Why! My dear fellow Are you
crazy? You never saw my aunt. You're
overwrought-com knocked out
get a good bottle of port. You need
something to brace you up. And say!
I forgot to tell you've got that mat
ter all fixed up that 1 gave you an
inkling of in my letter. Colonel Nor
gan is going to make you captain of a
company of his riflemen-they call
them his, although he isn't in active
duty now, you know. That's the reason
/ want you to see him before he gets
away"
NV strength was coming back now.
My weakness had been but momentary,
and I struggled to my feet. "Lieuten-
ant. you may think I'm crazed or what
YOU please, but I'm your Aunt Sally's
nephew and foster son, Duncan CHS
topher Fisher, and / was stolen from
her by old Hans Diehl and his illegiti-
mate son Benjamin Beacraft, away
back in 175S the year before you were
born. You've heard of that, haven't
you?"
why, yes I've heard my mothers
relatives speak of it, but never Aunt
Sally. They say she can't speak of it
to this day without the great grief
coming back to her. Good God, Que
dart" Here he grew excited as the full
import of my claim dawned on him,
BE careful how you say such things
as that. 1 know her highly strung dis
position so well. If it should prove
untrue, she wouldn't get over it for
months and months. They do say she
came near going crazy when that child
was stolen. It killed her husband, you
know"
We'll Lieutenant. I've not a shadow
of proof with me, but all the Mohawk
Valley knows that old Diehl brought
me there; Beacraft himself told me the
whole story not six weeks ago, when he
was near to death, and I can tell her
where she sat that night they stole me,
If she will go with me to the old house.
was past two years of age, you know,
and while 1 can't remember any one
else except her half-witted girl Bar
bic. who was all the mother knew for
years, can family remember a small
woman, who it seems to me 1 called