Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-16

nelQ her Srrrup W1tn QeTefence, ana she cantered down through the gates and took the west road with a joyfulfy beating heart and the written order in the pocket of her gown.
 But she did not finish the journey. She had fared scarce half the way when h q far popping came from the distance. The next hill showed puffs of smoke hanging above the trees, and she knew that the sound was the rattle of en- gazing musketry. Gould her eye have pierced beneath that foliage she would have seen the first skirmish of La fayette's campaign, the brilliant charge of McPherson's dragons upon Sim coe's rangers.
 She had pulled up, startled at the sound, when low but familiar voice called her from the thicket.
 "John the BaptistW she cried.
 ''Yas'm Mis- Anne cts me-, he re- sponded, with moist grin, parting the bushes. T warn gwinter curry no Britisher hosses long! 'Twarn' no use'n 'em wallopin' me-meh hides tougher'n n whit leather"
 ''They let you go?'
 
 ing hound and laughed loosely. Norm! Dem squinch eyed scoun'ls nuyver let nuttin' go. kep' meh eyes skunt en tux ter de bresh dis ve'y mawnin' slicker'n CT weasel. Creased lightnin' couldn't ketch me! Whut yo' doin' heah, Mis- Anne? Whar yo' been?'
 At Burwelis."
 s'Yo' jes' ride lickety cut down dar ergain. Oats de bes' place 'Speck Mars John be down dar 'treckly."
 *
 For fortnight Burwells heard the grind and rush of the armies so near. At length this lulled. Cornwallis had withdrawn sullenly into Yorktown.
 Then in early September a momen- tous message flew from lip to lip. Washington was coming! The wary commander in chief, pretending plans against New York, had led Sir Henry Clinton to recall part of his force from the Chesapeake and then, turning front, had marched with speed for Virginia, where Cornwallis lay with all his army i'll the elbow of the bay, leisurely forti- flying.
 Back of this swift march of 400 miles lay vital tidings. A new French fleet was on its way to the Chesapeake. Lafayette drew his troops between the British and retreat into the Carolinas The patriot army was hastening down upon them from the north. Would Clinton scent danger and send ships to snatch Carnwallis from the closing jaws, or would the French fleet come in time to block the sea way out?
 But Virginia knew nothing of this at first She only knew that Washington was coming.
 One night Anne was awakened to an unusual sight. Out on the jasper col ored river came a succession of huge barges, and from them, above the plash of oars and creak of cordage, rose the hum of a multitude. She leaned far from the window to listen. How like phantom shadows the bristiing floats swept past! What can it bep' she cried
 "'Tis the. French, come in the feet of De Grasse," said MT. Burwell. tIt must now be at anchor in Hampton Roads. Thank God! Thank Godv'
 There was a thrill of rejoicing in his tone, but .Anne's heart beat painfully Hope and help were come to her land, to Virginia the beautiful, the tragic, the tender. The first promise of this help had come to it when strong arm called to counsel and counsel to strong arm and both feared to answer. And he who bore that message? Denied by her lips that called to him, dishonored by her hand that ached for touch of him, what thought now had his heart for (To be Continued1