Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-27
CHAPTER XII.

TlHE tension in Virginia was
grown thin. Again and again
the burly Earl of Dunmore pro
~ rogued the assembly on the
pretext of popular excitement. The
burgesses submitted with bow, and
the flddles played in their town houses.
Dunmore thought himself diplomat
and went on winning his Tory favor
ties at the palace. But under the music
was nm ominous muttering.
News came of the kings speech on
the opening of parliament. The colo
MES protests were ''unwarranted at
tempts to obstruct the commerce Of this
kingdom by unlawful combination"
and showed 30 most daring spirit Of re-
sistance and disobedience to the law"
This pronouncement was received in
Williamsburg with an intense astonish.
ment.
And what, meantime, had. Henry been
doing?
Restless, eager, he had ridden hither
and thither like sallow shadow-at
courthouses calling the minutemen
overseeing the election of the commit.
tees recommended by the congress, al
Alberti's porting over lists with Jeffer.
son, uniting north and south in a net
work Of nerves, laboring, tireless and
convincing.
1t is n thing to note, since rebellion
commonly springs from the people
rather than from the quality, that il
was contrary in Virginia. There the
aristocracy was not Tory. There were
few enough, like my Lord Fairfax
who, born noble, held nobly to theil
loyalty. Those who held with the king
besides the toad eaters, were for the
most part the lower classes, of1icehold.
ers, tradesmen who looked for sales
lawyers just over from London. The
stanchest rebels were the great landed
planters. Sedition was in the club room
and the parlor. One must to the tav.
ern bar for toasts to the king.
And SO came about this strange
thing: That Williamsburg, the NINA
ture copy of the court of st. James
aping the manners of the royal palace
its old church graveyard and college
chapel standing for Westminster abbey
and st. Paul's-that this spot should
prove "the heart Of the rebellion" II
this fact alone remained it might wei
make the world wonder Mt the enduring
blindness of the kings ministers and
whether God had not indeed covered
their eyes because he would have it SO
1t was little George cared for the nc
tons Of the first congress, halting, in
effectual, or for the petitions Of British
merchants. He had set his jaw. Ii
vain the Earl Of Chatham moved II
the house Of lords to withdraw the
troops from Boston. Instead the col
onies received bill offering pardon tc
repentant rebels, and the patriots OF
Virginia heard with shocked surprise
that this excepted Patrick Henry!
On the day this news was printed III
the Williamsburg Gazette Henry and
Jefferson met at Alberti's and set out
on horseback for Richmond. There, ii
St Johns church, the new Virginia
convention, mindful of the bloody
threats of the sinister governor, had
elected to meet and thither had gone
a half Of Williamsburg, leaving Dun
more with his troops at his palace t.
bite his nails in impotent anger.
The 23d Of March duwned over Rich
mond's unwonted hustle in quiverinl
wizard haze Of intense blue, where CLOUD
puffs swan like lazily pluming swans
Anne had arrived the night before a
Goochland and drove in that morning
In the Payne chariot. Spring was up
the earth quick with 1t. All along thu
way wild crab apple boughs dronet
with clinging bees, and by the snake
fence rows Of peach trees had pitched
their tents Of bloom.
She met Henry in front Of the Indiar
Queen inn and walked with him up to
ward the churchyard, now filling witt
q vast throng.
"Tell me-" she questioned eagerly
"Will it come today?"
He looked down at her with that rare
smile which seemed to be the higher
part of him, gliding and TRANSPORTING
his other self. "What faith you have II
me!' he said.
81 know" she answered. II have
seen it in your face. No one in Vir.
ginia can do 1t save you-none of them
1t Ihust be the voice before the arm"