The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-27
BY
HAMBLEN SEARS
A Stirring Story Of Love and Adj
venture IN Revolutionary Days.


eds, ard then be forced to retreat losing
more men n the retreat than the Ameri-
cans had in the fight. This was anything
but encouragirg and the general showed
his chronic pettishness in his every ac-
tion. He showed it now, as he said
sharply
We'll, Cameron. are you there?'
Yes, your Exeellency.a
We'll, well, mani Speak up I Is
doubtless something of Importance tnat
causes you t. call me now!
II think 1t Is your Excellency. Here Is
a messenger from Peston and Newport.
"Ah, l see him row. Well sir, what is
litr'
handed him the dispatches taken from
the dead soldier. AS he glanced over the
rapers, Re rang a bell, and bade the or
derby who appeared to search out and
bring him Lord Howe.
And orderly he added.
Yes, your Exeelieney"
Speak to the general cautiously and
bring him away without attracting at
tention."
YES, your Excelloney."
Nothing further vas said until Lord
Howe appeared.
Howe had been superseded in the com
mand of the American forces Of the
British army by Clinton. and for that
res son clone he bore the present com
mander no very good will But, beside
this, he knew perfectly well that he was
the ADLER offieer. TIc was anxious there
fCre, to be recalled to England to avoid
association as an inferior with Clinton.
In the meantime, anything that made his
rivals position more difficult only gave
him the greater satisfaction.
My lord said Sir Henry MIR. -
Merton" l prompted.
Mr. Merton. here has just arrived with
news that French fleet is lying in New
port Harbour waiting to cooperate with
| the rebelsi"
Lord Howe had just come from dance,
| and was very warm. He wiped his fore
head and then replied calmly:
"'T Is the same as our news of several
days ago, Sir Henry What strength
have they?'
l stepped forward to prevent questions
coming to me, and said:
II have further news"
What, still moreg' cried Sir Henry.
This Stems enough for one nightl'
Major Andre has been taken to Tap
pan and he Is to be tried there as spy
Immediately
What is the sentiment as to the re-
sult?" asked Howe
That he will be hung" l answered
Then will hang every solitary Ameri-
can in New York, whether loyal or reb-
ell' cried Sir Henry, stamping his foot
while tears of vexation came into his
eyes. do you at once take measures"
Pardon me, Sir Henry" interrupted
Lord Howe, coldly; will you permit me
to take some steps in this matter?'
by all means. l wash my hands OF
it,!
Mr.. Merton" said Howe, turning to
me-
Yes, sir"
Remain in the house for an hour. If
you receive no instructions within that
time, call here at eight o'clock each
morning until you DO. Is that correct
Sir Henry?" he asked.
Clinton was evidently terribly affected
by the news of Andres sentence, and
could not turn his mind to anything else
He said with an effort.
Mr.. Merton you have not eaten, pro-
badly. Go In and join the ball and eat
to your satisfaction. My lord, l am too
stricken with grief to join my guests.
Will you take these gentlemen in and
make my excuses?'
Lord Howe turned, and, at my at
tempting to apologize because of our cos
tunes, he babe Cameron have us brush
ed up and insisted upon my putting upon
coat and waistcoat of Sir Henry's, the
one faced with red. the other of white
satin. Acton was a sight when he was
ready He was always a handsome,
great fellow; but dressed In these colours
he would be noticed anywhere. and with
the combined expression of absolute ig
norance of the situation and his careless
fearless ness he would have brought me
to laughter If had not had q great fear
of what he might do.
SO we left the study through the door
by which Clinton had entered, and found
ourselves the next moment in the most
bl illiant scene that had yet met my Pur-
itan eyes. l have no doubt the court at
Windsor, or Whitehall. was finer but l
had hearo for more than year that
Clinton held a magnificent court of his
own, which We'd, so our reports told. even
with the kings. In the great ballroom
the lights of hundreds of candles, hang
ing from the ceilings in groups, and all
about the walls, lit up and reflected in
the polished floor hundred or more gay
red uniforms with here and there blue
or black German officers dress, and the
white and pink and blue silks of women
whose fair shoulders and necks held as
high heads and as beautiful faces as 1
could imagine.
Some danced gracefully a mlnuet or the
waltz Others sat about In beautiful ma
hogany furniture and still others stood
in groups talking and laughing as If no
war nor misery, nor any suffering troops
were on the surface of the earth, to say
nothing of all this at their very door /
could not understand It, After all, I was
beseiged town. and the frightful small
pox was raging about them, and still l
could see one beauty after another fiirt-
Ing with her fan and her bright eyes with
some tall Britisher, and gossiping of the
scandal of the hour as the fddlers drew
out the slow measure of waltz.
Up to such a group we now came, and
Lord Howe, with no very good grace. ac-
costed an old woman, with wrinkled
cheeks and a scrawny neck, yet bedeck-
ed in silks and satins, and with tower
ing headdress that made her bob about
like a decrepit peacock.
Madam De Lancy," said he bowling
low permit me to present Mr.. Merton
who has just arrived"
The old lady looked at me through her
lorgnettes with vicious squirt:
Mr.. Merton" said she. What Mer-
ton? Anything to do with the Mertons of
Salem?"
THE same family, madam" said 1
what business 1t might perchance be of
hers.
"A bad lot" she continued, taking down
her new-fangled eye-glass; traitors to
their king, most of them, except Edward
and he has fleu, they say
l have never. God knows. had the con-
troll of my too vigorous temper, and 1t
will even to this day get the better of me
at precisely the wrong moment, even as
now whep must needs answer somewhat
briskly:
Such division of sentiment is not con-
fined to one family, ma am. in these
days.
The result of this, bad taste as 1t was
was like to have upset me; for the old
dame turned purple in the face and grip
ped her fan as she cried:
What business is that of yours sir"
/ was on the point of answering some