Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-10
A REAL DAUGHTER I
OF THE, REVOLUTION
Copyright 1904, ty J. d. LirpincOW Company.
BY CAROLINE CEBHARDr.

The officer raised his eyebrows ut
This and stiffcned perceptibly. IT
did not agree with his ideas of loyal
ty that American sympathizers
should be fed by ndherents of the
king; but Jane was Il contrary Jade.
and while she was never so devoted
n royalst as when she was talking
to revolutionist ncighbors and rela-
tivcs, she never came so near being
American in her sympathics as when
sho was thrown with British or
tories. It might be because her
father was dubbed timcscrver, even
by those who once had loved him
best and respected him most. that the
girl had developed this CONTRADICTORY
ness. Certainly. il was the occasion
for many passage at arms between
herself and her tory stepmother.
The officer heard her give orders
for the preparation of q good meal,
and then went back to his colonel.
As Bcssemcr entered wave Of
astonishmcnt swept over his forid
face. and he hurried forward to
greet his hostess. Miss E1lcry-
you?" he cried. "Ah. how fortune
has blessed me with her smile this
morning in directing me hither and
permitting me to renew an acquaint-
ance so dclightful." lie raised her
hand to his lips as he spoke with a
galnntry of which few were greater
masters.
Jane swept him deep courtesy.
while an ironcal smile played about
her lips. 81 feel honored that Col.
Bessemer should remember me-" she
remarked.
"Rcmcmbcr you? AS though I
could forget you," he exclaimed in
low tone. Your image is engraved
too deep upon my heart for that. 1t
is true, | had forgot-nay, could
never have known, for it would he
impossible TO forget aught which
concerned you--that your home was
in this vicinity. and to come thus
unexpectedly upon you is the hap
piest moment of my life"
The cynical smile did not leave
James lips. She had listened to Col.
Bessemcr's fowerv speeches before;
vet she was woman. and she could
not help battered thrill even while
she was saying to herself. 81 wonder
how many women he has spoken to
thus since ] met him last in Phila-
delphia?"
"But permit me. dear lady, to have
the honor of presenting my officers
to you" He turned towards those
who had accompanied him as he
spoke. They had remained in lit
lie knot around the door while he
was greeting Jane, and about their
mouths a reflection of the smile her
lips had worn. They also had seen
their commander kiss the hands of
beautiful women before. and while
they could not hear the speeches he
poured into her ears, they could i'm
agine somewhat the purport of them
The breakfast was a good one. for
the plantation was large and wei!
looked after, and there was always
enough in its storehouscs to feed a
regiment. There were great plat
tiers of broilcd bacon and chicken
fried in that delicious style which has
descended as heritage to the south
from those colonial days; there were
venison steaks and sugar-cured ham:
there were plates piled high with
goldcnbrown biscuits and hoecakes;
there were the syrup of suear-cane.
and berries fresh from the garden
beds; there was an abundance of
milk and cream and butter: there
the brightest of silver and china that
had been brought from over the seas
and was wcl-nigh priceless, so prec-
ious that none but the hands of the
mistresses of the house were allowed
to wash it.
\ bountifnl, attractive repast. and
one the British officers were in a
mood to enjoy to the full: nor were
they minded to be interrupted at it,
yet such was destined to be the case,
for, as they sat at table. a volley of
shots was heard and a great commo-
! ton cnsued.
Bessemcr and his compa mons
sprang to their feet and rushed to
the door with such impetuosity that
it was well the table was the stout
piece it was. else it must have been
overturned in the excited jostling.
Outside, the soldiers. who had been
lolling at ease upon the ground eat
ing the rations they carried, had
started up and stood at attention.
Ressemcr, red with excitement and
( full of energy, as was his wont, or
dered his horse and, Jumping into
the saddle, Glove the air with quick
commands. Into this confusion
there dashed single horseman clad
in the blue-and. yellow continental
uniform. Jan-, standing within the
broad side-porch, watching the scene
with interest and not little curios'
ity to know the cause of the tumult
turned pale when her eyes fell up
on him.
Surrounded by redcoats, who were
bringing their muskets to their
SO oudcrs to fire, the horseman swept
tie lines with his eyes, saw thir
place in their forma ton. spurrcd his
horse towards it, and lifting the ami
nal until it seemed TO literally spring
over the heads of the astonishet
soldiers, dashed forward. not forget
ring, as ne passed .he porch where
Jane stood, 20 lift his hat and wave
his hand.
The girl, with white face, strained
Ia