Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-06-17


Of that flag Of truce.
Joy rested over all the wide camps,
but there was none in her heart. She
was conscious only Of a dreadful,
numbing ache and a desperate neces-
sity to see him once more-to tell him.
She had no further plan. The note she
carried from Henry brought her with
out delay to the officer Of the day, and
the personal request it contained was
not to be denied.
The sun was low when she passed
the inner works and entered Yorktown
between battered walls and gouged
earth mounds which testified to the
ferceness of the fire rained upon the
British by Ferguson's and Machin's
batteries. All about her were honey
combed streets cluttered with rich fur
niture, empty knapsacks, books, frag-
ments Of shells, iron caltrops, carcasses
of men and horses, and horrors beyond
description.
But she scarcely saw them. He was
to die this night-this highland the
time was so pitifully short. The years
he had fought must count for naught-
all vanished before the weight Of that
one long-passed Philadelphia afternoon.
What should have been his hour Of tri-
umph had become his hour Of shame.
And it was by her act!
The thought made her shudder as IL
with an ague. 1t seemed to her that
God must have been blotted from the
heavens-that there was no hope, no
good, nothing but colossal fate wheel
which was rolling to crush Armand
and her.
Where were the prisoners kept? She
asked some one, who directed her to a
barrack at the northern end of the
town. Thither she pushed her way
over foul refuse heaps and fetid bitches,
through crowds of soldiers shouting
loathsome doggerel, who jeered and
caught at her, and past gold braided
officers who cursed them savagely and
made place. She noted none Of these.
At the barracks entrance she met her
first rebuff when sentry barred her
way.
"You have prisoner" she explained,
her breath f1uttering. His name 1s
Armand. I would see him."
He answered only with an uncom-
pretending stare. AS he turned she
tried to pass through, but he thrust his
musket across the door, with an angry
Hessian grunt. A knot of soldiers toss
ed some German phrases to him from
behind her, and he smiled at them stol-
idly over her head.
Then she became aware OF a more
kindly military face in the opening be-
hind him. A hand touched the Hes
SLAMS shoulder; he faced about, saluted
and moved off, and the knot of strag-
glers melted away.
st am Colonel Dundas," stated the Of
ficer in the doorway. "Have you per-
mission to see the prisoner?"
"No," she replied pathetically.
'This is special order. None save
the commander in chief can give such
leave"
She sat down on the stone step, her
eyes half closed, shaken by dry sob
Not even to see him! 1t was CHASTITY!
| Colonel Dundas was struck with bel
pallor. He was gentleman and hu
| name. '.rhe prisoner who dies tonigh
| Is not under recent condemnation
Mistress" he said not unkindly. "Ant
tits said he now holds the rank Of colo
mel in the American army. Mayhal
the Continentals will yet make pro
| test"
She looked up with wide, miserable
eyes. How could she explain it all Il
him? There is no time-no time," sh'
said with heavy lips.
He had turned away, but her voic'
recalled him. where is CORVALLIS
headquarters? Tell me, quick"
'.In the Nelson mansion" he answer
ed. "Hope not on that, though. Sur
render is deliberated, and the earl 4
under great strain"
"But he will at least see me-"
He shook his head doubtfully. "Yo,
have still an hour"
Still an hour! How horrible to meas
ure life by minutes Colonel Dunda
watched her go with frown of pity
War seemed more than stern to him a
that moment.
| Then he entered the door and sen
for chaplain to hold himself in read
ness.
A sickness had climbed into Anne
throat before she reached the house
For time she got no farther than tn
outer door. At length an officer, doubt
less by reason Of her evident distress
gave her chair in what had been tn
drawing room. Scores Of times she ha
sat in that selfsame room as gay a
any guest. That she should be Their
now on such an errand seemed som
| hideous mockery of truth.
The British commander had befor
him General Washington's ultimatur
as to terms of surrender-could see n
one. So they told her, but she woul
not be satisfied. Her errand was
matter Of life and death-concerned q
execution within an hour. Twice til
officer who had given her the chat
went into the inner room. The secon
time he returned with flush Of mort
fcation on his face.
II dare not ask again." he told her.
| She came out into the street ut las
| when. the sun was gathering crimso
to Its fall, her whole mind numbet
her body wrenching with nervous af
ony and with bruised shadows beneat
her burning eyes. Instinctively sh
started in the direction Of the barracl
and as she walked with uncertain foo
steps her fingers went twisting sill
of paper they found in the pocket c
| her gown. Some soldiers were boilin
pot over street fire of split boards
and as she passed them with the loo