Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-07
Copyright, 1904, by J. d. Lippineott Company
CHAPTER XIV.
a JOURNEY

spring.
Her stepmothcr. worn out by nurs-
ing Mr.. Ellcry through his long i'll
ness and Ivy the later cares of the
estate. had broken down. and was
only just recovering from "a fever
when word came that Edward had
been severely wounded in a sl<irmish
with Iafayettc's army in Virginia
and WAS lying, it was feared, at the
point of death in Portsmouth. 1t was
Bcsscmer who wrote, and he urged
that Jane and her stcpmother set ont
at once for the young soldiers bed
side. II was impossible for Mrs.
Ellerv 10 90. but Jane prepared i'm
mediatcly for the journey, upon which
her aunt determined to accompany
her.
soon after they entered Virginia
they learned that the British forces
had abandoned Portsmouth and pro-
ceeded TO Yorktown; hence it. was
towards the latter place they directed
their course; but. carried ont of their
correct route, they found themselves
in the midst of Gen. Lafayettc's
army. This might have been some
what embarrassing had not a colonel
of one Of the Continental regiments
proved cousin of Mrs. Fllerys and
vouched for that lady's loyalty and
Miss Ellerv's discretion 1t was we'll
towards the afternoon before they
could set out again upon their jour
ney. Dusk had fallen when they
~ ,,.I,o . hn,
stop for the night. and with the dusl.
had come heavy rain.
The inn at which they took refuge
was a ramshacklc fair. Mrs. Fllcrv
went early to bed. and after an hour
Jane followed her aunt's example
though her vigorous youth rebellcd
against the too early bedtime and she
lay awake, half worrying about her
brother. half wondering what recep-
ton they wonld meet with in York
town. when there was an entrance
into the room hacl; Of hers. against
whose partition wall her bed was
placed.
There were three voices audible.
Ono she recognized as the inn
keepers: the other two were nnfa-
ruiliar and more cultured She gather
ed that they belonged to a couple of
British officers who had stopped at
tno IN for supper. They spoke of
the heavy storm without, and ordered
their host to have fire built that
they might dry their drcnchcd gar
ments. Soon she heard him laying
it, and presently it began to cracklc
and roar.
When the fire was well started the
host went out. Finally. supper was
brought ir and there was merry
clatter of dishes. The officers bade
the servant who brought it leave
them. and then ono of them com
mcuccd to fret about the heat from
The fire. As result, they moved the
table mp close TO the partition wall,
rs fay away from the fireplace as
they could gel il. This brought il
just on the other side of James bed.
They began TO talk in low tones.
but the glri. after the first plcasur.
able interest in their entrance had
died away, occupied her thoughts
with other matters and soon dozed.
IT was tie name of Besscmer which
startled her from her light slumber,
ana involuntari,Y her ears were on
the alert. Then followed some quick.
low words which gave her an inkling
of what was in the wind A night
attack upon Lafayette's army,
What was she doing-lying there
listening spying? Had she fallen so
low as that? Was it not her duty
TO make some movement which
should hetray her presence to those
men, should apprise them that they
were being overheard? Yes, clearly,
it WIS her duty. She an Emery, had
been bred to know that. Yet she
made no movement. They began to
boast To each other, always in their
suodued voices, that the humiliation
of Iatayette's army would mean the
crushing of thr Amer can cause. 1t
was $40 weak to sand such a blow
os mat. The French would be
az; Gated; there would he no more
OF tfcir aid forth coming and with
orr it where would Mr.. Washington
be? On his knees before King
George.
Ihey finished their supper and
arose from tho table. Jane could
hear them i-;mping about the room.
moving chairs and bucklng belts,
evidently preparing for departure,
She had gathered that they were TO
ride eastward and join Bessemcr to
report the result of their recon
nOissanCe The attack was to be
made that night, The door opened
and closed. They we're gone.
She arose, lighted her candle, and
looked al her watch. A quarter of
eight. Slowly She dressed, Mrs
Ellery's snores were plainly audible
from the next room. She opened her
door and pcercd into the hall. 1t was
deserted. A torch over the stairway
and another Mt the farther end were
its only lights. She walked to tho
head of the stairs and began the
descent. They ended in n corridor
below. She passed along this to the
rear Of the horse. The way was dark
but she had been over ii before, fol
the carriage had driven through the
inn-yard TO the stable and she and hel
aunt had alightcd there, entering by
the back way.
She gathered Der skirts about he,
and went down the corridor steps
The stable was only short distance