The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-15

try on horseback, accompanied by a.
man servant, to look after his prop
erty, taking as it were an inventory
of the land.
Mr.. Van Rensselaer, was kind and
courteous old gentleman, and after
knowing Elizabeth's sad story he felt
very sorry for her. lie would always
stop to see her when he passed
through Petersburg, and one day in
visit her. The girls were about the
same age, and they took to each other
at once. Both had passed their child
hood in England and they had much
in common, although Miss Van Rens-
selaer's life had been gay and happy,
while Elizabeth had known great sor-
row. They became very dear friends,
and the following, year Mr.. Van Rens-
selaer found another tenant for the
| farm and Elizabeth went to live with
them in Albany.
The man who took the farm of Mr..
Van Rensselaer, was a Dutchman,
who knew nothing of Elizabeth or
the Brimmers, so six years after
John Brimmer's capture the tragedy
was quite forgotten in Petersburg
and the place was occupied by stran-
gers.
| In the manor house of the Van.
Rensselaers Elizabeth was surrounded
by wealth and luxury, but she was,
| /, CT; s.,
John Brimmer, and would often sigh
when she would think of her loss and
of the great happiness that might
have been hers but for the Indians
Miss Van Rensselaer, was very fond
of society and liked to entertain her
friends and although Elizabeth loved
her dearly and was anxious to please
her she seldom participated in the
social events of the house. One even.
ing in early spring as she was watch
ing the sunset, dreaming as she often
did of another sunset years before,
when John had asked her to be his
wife, Miss Van Rensselaer, rushed in
to the room, saying: Dress quickly,
| Elizabeth, and come down to dinner.
Papa has invited an officer from the
American army and you cannot be so
unpatriotic as to refuse this time.
Just think how the soldiers have van
quished the Indians!"
This had the desired effect, and
Elizabeth promised to go down and
meet the soldier, although she had
little heart for gayety.
When John Brimmer had been cap-
tured by the British and put into pris-
on he was almost home, but having
once secured his freedom from slavery
he did not lose hope, and ut last PLAN
ned and effected his escape. He
reached Petersburg after an absence
of a little more than seven years,
that his parents were dead and no
one knew the whereabouts of Eliza
beth. After searching the entire
town and learning nothing of her
he gave up in despair. The farm
was in the hands of strange people,
who could not speak English and knew
nothing of the Brimmers.
Heart sick and wretched, the I'M
happy man sought the American army
and volunteered as soldier who was
ready to meet death unfinchingly.
His daring on the battlefield, his cour-
age and manly beauty soon made him
a hero, and promotion in rank fol-
lowed. During the winter of 1868
the soldiers were in camp near AL
bany. The officers of the army
were much sought after and royalty
entertained by the good old Dutch
families in that section. AS it hap
pened Mr.. Van Rensselaer, met Lieu
tenat Brimmer and was much pleased
with the officers manner and invited
him to dinner. This was the officer
Elizabeth had promised to meet.
When she came downstairs and saw
him standing in the drawingroom and
heard his voice she recognized him at
once and cried: "My Cousin John,
alive and well, thank God!"
Lieutenant Brimmer was so sur
prised, yet so very happy to find Eliza
beth, that he forgot his dignity as
the drawing-room of fashionable
house with Mr.. Van Rensselaer, and
his daughter, for he rushed to Eliza
beth and clasped her to his heart.
The weeks that followed were gay
and happy ones. The following year
John left the army and returned to
Petersburgh, where he succeeded in
obtaining the old farm and home
stead and became a thrifty and sue
cessful farmer. For many years the
, good people in the vicinity OF Peters
burgh were made happy by the kind
: deeds and genial hospitality of John
, and Elizabeth Brimmer.-Troy IN.
/. " Times.
cnulIn,t Sto,I S.t;ra