Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-10

10 DISMISS tne lnciUcnb HUH yVu'
mind"
As she spoke she Was with deft and
stealthy fingers slipping the note
which had fallen into her lap under
her girdlc. The gentlemen resumed
their meal with apparent sangfroid,
but upon Bcssemer's brow there lin
gered the slightest cloud Of perplex-
ity.
Jane sat with palpitating heart.
the necessity for keeping calm
front making her hands cold and put
ting her brain on fire. Her ears were
strained to catch every sound with
out, expectant OF shots or melee Of
some sort.
as he worth it?" she asked herself
angrily. as he worth that I should
trouble thus? Nay. il would be but
meet that the British should catch
him and deal with him as his hare
it behoove me to care aught what
becomes of such an addle-pate. and
especially when I recall how he dared
talk to me when last we spoke to-
gether." Her eyes sparklcd with an
ger at the recollection, and the tru-
ant color mounted again her creamy
cheek. until Bcssemer, sitting oppo-
site her. thought never had he seen
such changeful and ever-increasing
loveliness.
Jane had no idea what the note
contained, and she grew nervous with
Impotence as her guests continued
to toy with their dessert. If they
would only finish and retire to the
drawng-room or. better still, the IL
hrary.
When she had established them
there. she slipped out to the kitchen.
where the servants were having their
dinner in n long. low shed off the
kitchen proper. She bcckoncd to Aunt
Rachel. and the ncgress got up and
joined her mistress.
Where did Master Godfrey go?
Did he get away safely?" Jane asked.
Law hress you. yes, honey. He ics'
whirlyiigged 'roun' de yawd in de
wet. his face all BACKED wild some
OBJ dat berry stuff what Hmm you'n
Marse Edwahd ustah put on when you
wanted to play you was niggahs over
at yonah Aunt Susannah's. n his hair
all kinky like it gifts when it rains.
an dem fool soliahs tot him wah a
real niggah. suah. Dcv was les split
tin dey all's sides a-laughin' at dc
funny antics he wnh a-cuttin'. and
de fnst ting We know he whallsed off
towahds dc woods. and dey nevah sus-
pest nothin'. Oh. he's mighty smah,.
Marsc Godfrey is; he suah am smaht.
Miss Janey. honey"
She looked at the girl anxously,
for she had as much of the match
aking instinct as any of her white
sisters. and it had long been the wish
of her heart that Jane and Godfrey
should marry: not that the idea had
originated with her. for james Aunt
Susannah, who was godmother to
them both, had frankly expressed the
same desire.
Jane threw back her head defiant
lv. He is a very foolish and reck-
less person" she said severely. land
l wish he would not come to my
fathers house at all unless he can SO
time his coming that it will rot be Sc
upSettinC to our nerves and 50
hazardous to all concerned" with
which she turned toward the dwell.
ing.
The scouts Bessener sent out came
back with dolrful tales of the impass
able condition OF the roads. swollen
streams. and treachrrOus marshes
g.:
from Jane the stretching OF her hos
pitality TO cover a nights lodging TO,
him and his men.
"rhe hospitality of Ellery planta
ton. dear colonel" she answered
"has never yet been strained until il
broke. and / should be shamed in
deed were il not sufficiently cxpan
sive to shelter YOU and yours. NJ!
only regret is that my father ano
mother should not have the pleasure
of welcoming you in person"
, When she went to her room thai
> night she threw wide the window.
=. and looked out. The tents showed
little white specks in the dark She
. could hear the measured tread of the
| sSh'i"S as my pdNf' 'h'Ii HSat
along the gravel at either side OF
the house, and at it's front and real
= as well. Another sentry paced thu
length Of the long. gloomy avenue
This was war. brought home to hel
more closely than il had been during
, all the six years of the conflict.
She drew down her blinds with ;
sigh. She could not but remember
that her brother was ON his way tc
join in il on the British side. and tha
others, almost as dear to her. were
: already engaged upon the American
She crept into bed with an ache a
her heart such as had seldom beer
= there in the 10 sheltered years o.
: her life. She tossed restlessly from
side TO side. Now hot Goals were be
, ing heaped upon her eyes. Goo'
heavens. what was it? She awakened
with q cry of terror. A fierce high
= was filing her room. There wer'
, shricks and shots and wild colnmO
I ton. The door between her bed
I, chamber and her drcssingroom burs
, open. and her black nanny ran il
I screaming. with outstrctched arms.
? "Oh, my honey lamb, by dressed
, baby chile. Oh Lawd, presahv di
innocent one from youah might.
. wrath
| what is ito What is ito" Jane de