Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-17
CHAPTER III.-(Continued. J

At the same moment perceived my
own name painted on the leather side
and the next instant ! had stripped the
lid back. Buff and gold and scarle
swan the colors Of the clothing before
my amazed eyes. I put out a trem
bling hand and drew an officers YES,
from the valise.
Here are the boots, Mr. Cardigan
said the lieutenant, lifting a pair OF
dress boots from behind a curtain
''Here is the hat, and sword, too, and
q holster with pistols"
"Minew gasped.
"By this commission Of our gov.
ernor," said Mr.. Duncan solemnly,
drawing from his breast q parchment
with seal and tape. "Mr. Cardigan, let
me be the first to welcome you as a
brother officer
had gone SO blind with happy tears
that scarce could decipher the COM
mission as cornet of horse in the Royal
Border regiment of irregulars.
But did not tarry long to cape and
devour my uniform with my eyes. One
after anothe my hunting shirt, vest,
Ieggings, shoon, flew from me. I pull
ed on the buff breeches and laced them
tight, drew on the boots, set the vest
close and buttoned it, then put on coat
and hat, and lastly tied my silver gor-
get.
What could see of myself in Mr..
Duncan's glass left me daZed with adj
miration. set my sword belt, hung
the sword with one glove in the hilt
and so, walking on air. I passed the
guardroom with all the soldiers at stiff
attention and came to Sir William.
He looked up sharply, without the
familiar smile. But my wits were at
work, and I stopped short at three
PAGES, heels together, and gave the
officers salute.
Sir Williams lips twitched as he rem
dered the salute; then, casting his
ivory cane on the grass, he stepped
forward with arms outstretched, and
] fell into them like q numbering
schoolboy.
Very soberly we returned to the Hall,
where small company were assem-
bled for breakfast Mistress Molly,
Major Wilkes of the battalion which
arrived the night before, Captains
Priestly, Borrow and Mcneil Of the
same regiment, my friend Lieutenant
Duncan Of the militia, and Silver
Heels.
When Sir William and entered the
Hall the officers came to pay their re-
spects to the baronet, and 1, red as
Dutch pippin, crossed the room to
where Mistress Molly stood with Sill
yer Heels.
Bending to salute her hand, cooked
hat crushed under one arm, I dis
charged my duties with what compo-
sure could command, but Mistress
Molly put both arms around me and
kissed me on both cheeks.
Slowly l turned to look at Silver
Heels, all my vanity, conceit and con-
descension vanished.
She had turned quite pale. Her eyes
seemed set and fascinated. and she
wished me happiness in low voice, as
though uncertain of her own words.
Chilled by her lifeless greeting, I re-
turned to Sir William, who presented
me to the guests with unconcealed pride:
My kinsman, Mr. Cardigan, gentle
men, Captain Cardigan's only son."
The officers, all in full dress, brilliant
with the red, green and gold of the
Royal Americans, greeted me most
kindly, some claiming acquaintance
with my honored father and all speak
Ing Of his noble death before Quebec.
So we sat down to breakfast, break
fast I, being excited, scarcely tasted,
but listened with all my ears to the
discourse touching the late troubles in
New York and Massachusetts, concern
Ing the Importation of tea by the East
India company, The discussion soon
became monologue, for the subject
was one which Sir William understood
from A to Zed, and his eloquence upon
It had amazed and irritated pecpp;e CT
more Importance than our Governor
Tryon himself.
Look you,' said Sir William in his
clear voice, like q bell; 'look you, gen.
sASAht SASAo W nv luuA III
and love to my king, but this | know
and dare maintain here or at st. James
that his majesty whom l serve and
honor is misled by his ministers, and
neither he nor they suspect the truth
concerning these colonies!
This is the true history of that trou-
bic gentlemen. Judge for yourselves
where lies the blame" And, leaning
back in his chair, one hand lifted, lie
began:
The East India company, founder
Ing about with the nonimportation pill
IN its gullet, found itself owing the
government f1,40O,000. with 100000
pounds Of unsold tea on its hands.
Nobody likes bankruptcy, so off go
the East India gentlemen with their
petition to parliament for permission
to export their tea to America free of
duty, and SO put 1t in the power of the
company to sell tea here cheaper than
In England. And now / ask you, gem
tlemen, whether in all these broad col
onles there are not some few men
whocn ynnfiuoe, q rn otl,or 4l,o, cor,J;Jo