Gilpin observer., 1903-07-23


the house. Bran and Hyde returned
together.
'Well?" he asked
"Oh. indeed, all fortune fitted us.
We went en- masse down Broadway
into Wall street, and so to the City
Hall. where we made an entrance"
and you got the arms?"
Faith, we got all we went for!
The arms were divided among the peo-
ple."
Where were the English soldiers?"
Indeed, they were shut up In bar
racks. Some of their officers were in
church. others waiting for orders from
the governor or mayor"
And where went you with the
arms?"
ITO room in John street. There
they were stacked, the names of the
men enrolled, and guard placed over
them. And now mother. we will have
some dinner; the soldier loves his
mess.'"
But events cannot be driven by
wishes; many things had to be set
tied before movement forward could
be made. Joris had his store to let.
and the stock and goodwill to dispose
OF. Hyde's time was spent as a re-
cruiting officer. In company with
Wfllet, Sears and McDougall, Hyde
might be seen enlisting men, or or.
ganizing the Liberty Regiment" then
raising. Every days events famed
the temper of the city. although it
was soon evident that the first fight
ing would be done in the vicinity of
Boston.
For, three weeks after that memoir
able April Sunday, Congress, in ses-
sion at Philadelphia, had recognized
the men in camp there as a Continen-
tai army, the nucleus OF the troops
that were to be raised for the defense
OF the country, and had commissioned
Col. Washington as commander-in-
chief to direct their operations. Then
every heart was in a state of the
greatest expectation and excitement.
In June the Van Heem skirk troops
were ready to leave for Boston-near-
ly six hundred young men, full of
pure purpose and brave thoughts, and
with all their Illusions. and enthusi-
asms undimmed
The day before their departure. they
escorted Van Heemskirk to his house.
1t would have been hard to find
nobler looking leader than Joris, And
the bright young lads who followed
him looked like his sons, for most of
them strongly resembled him in per-
son. and any one might have been
sure. even il the roll had not shown
it. that they were Van Brunts and Van
Ripers and Van Rensselaers. Roose-
velts. Westervelts and Terhunes.
Katherine and Lysbet had made the
flag OF the new regiment-an orange
flag. with a cluster of twelve blue
stars above the word liberty. 1t was
Lysbet's hands that gave it to them.
But few words were said. Lysbet and
Katherine could but stand and gaze
as heads were barred, and the orange
folds flung to the wind, and the in
spring word liberty saluted with
bright, 7pturned faces and a ringing
shout of welcome.
II was to be the last evening at
home for Joris and Bran and Hyde.
and everything was done to make it
happy memory.
Joanna and Batavius, but at the last
moment an excuse was sent. The
child is sick. writes Batavius; but
think. then, 1t is Batavius that is
afraid, and not the child who is sick"
said Joris."
After supper Bran went to bid
friend good-by. and, as Joris and Lys-
bet sat in the quiet parlor. Elder
Semple and his wife walked in. The
elder was sad and still. He took the
hands of Joris in his own and looked
him steadily In the face. Man Joris,"
he said. whats sending you on sic
daft-like errand?'
Joris smiled. and grasped tighter
his friends hand. so glad am ! to
see you at last. elder. AS in you came,
| was thinking about you. Let us
part good friends and brothers. II I
come not back"
Tut. tut! You're sure and certain
to come back; and sac I'll save the
quarrel hae wi you until then.
came to speak anent things. in case
o. the warst, to tell you that IL any
one wants to touch your wife or your
BARNS, a brick in your house. or a
flower in your garden plat, I'll stand
by all that's yours, to the last shilling
hae. and name shall harm them"
II have a friend, then. have you,
Alexander. Never this hour shall
regret
The old men bent to each other;
there were tears In their eyes. With
out speaking, they were aware OF
kindness and faithfulness and graft
tude beyond the power of words.
Hyde and Katherine were walking
in the garden. lingering in the sweet
June twilight by the lilac hedge and
the river bank. All Hydes business