Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-21

he thought, and with a sympathetic feeling turned his horse off the road and entered the gate, which stood conveniently open.
 The house was not the imposing mansion the Ellery homestead was, but there was a warm southern well come awaiting the intruders and piece of news nightly to Bessemer's liking as we'll. A courieE riding hard to overtake the British commander had likewise stopped there for rest, and scarce had the English colonel dismounted ere he handed him a dis patch from Cornwallis conveying the news of Gates defeat.
 There were three daughters of the house, all of them vivacious young women, as Bessemer soon discovered. ooh, how delightful" they exclaimed, when the contents of the dispatch be- came known; two great victories in one day; think of it!'
 Not in one day, ladies'" Bessemer reminded them. 'Gen. Cornwallis won his on the sixteenth"
 Ut does not matter; we hear of them the same uay," the youngest; persisted. We assuredly should do, something to- celebrate so great a piece of fortune. If we could only have dance," she added, with a sug gestive look in the direction of her mother. "Man T, why can't we in. duce Col. Bessemer and his officers to remain here for the night, and let Us move the furniture from the big
 
 Meanwhile, we could SCOUT the neigh I borhood for girls. Edward, do you not think Jane would come?"
 "Nay, I have a better plan," the lieutenant answered.: My mother made Col Bessemer and myself prom ise ere we left that, if we routed Sumter in time, we should return home and spend the night there. They will be expecting us, and my father will be most grievously disappointed If we do not come; but why not have dance on our lawn, as we did the summer before I went to England? Remember you, Peggy, what fun we | had?'
 | "Fun? Oh, it was delicious" she answered, clasping her hands in ec- stesy. .,.e ~. | The plan pleased Bessemer better than the first proposed, and so it was arranged. He encamped his little ar my and most of his prisoners in one of the Ellery fields that evening. One 1 of the prisoners he considered too valuable a capture to risk thus, and he besought Mrs. Ellery for special room for him. As a prisoner, he was second only to Sumter himself.
 Now, dear madam he said to his hostess, when these arrangements had been completed, "you must let me take the burden of our frolic' to- night off your hands. I want this to be my festivity, given in honor of your neighboring Tory friends. 'Tis sufficient that you grant us the priyi- lege of using your beautiful grounds, and I shall see to it that their love liness is not marred."
 Mrs. Ellery made feint of re- luctant concession to this, but in truth she was not sorry to wash her hands of all but the indoor prepara- tions. She and Jane immediately set about seeing to the making of cakes salads, and various confections tc serve as refreshments.
 Dressed in the freshest of the evening gowns left from her last visit to Charleston, Miss Ellery made 6 stately and handsome figure that evening as her nanny tucked high iewelled comb into her complicated coiffure and gave the last pats ant touches to her costume.
 | Carriages began to roll up the ave nus, and Jane descended the stair: that she might assist her stepmothe1 and Col. Bessemer ill receiving their guests.
 None of Bessemer's enemies, ant he had not few, could deny to him thu qualities of taste and energy. Tn,
 combination of these with tha fine executive ability which enabled him always to get full service OF
 of those under him had insured tn success of his dance. The scene wa l beautirnl Among the trees strolle
 many pairs Of lovers. Upon the ru
 tlc benches sat the chaperons an