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

here in truth like trapped beast
and make no effort for the preserva
ton of my fathers property? Me-
thinks ] should i'll deserve the name
OF Ellcry were I TO remain inactive
at such time"
She unlocked the door with en-
phatic hand. and. as il opened at her
touch she saw the cause of the groans
and sobs that had been waited
through her keyhole. There, hud-
died in dsconsolate group. some upon
their knees. others weeping upon
neighboring shoulders. were the wo-
men house-servnnts in all conceivable
styles of disarray.
ooh missy. snbc us! sabe us! Dc
day Of Jedg'ment hab come! Sabe
us! snbc u.s."
She made her way towards tho
stairs, the women following at her
heels. A door at her left opened
and a relocated figure rushed out,
buckling IL belt with nervous haste.
we gods. madam. let me pass" he
cried. and brushing past her with
scant ceremony descended the steps
at bound.
Other marital figures. more coatless
than coated. were running through
The lower hall. Evidently it was the
first of the strife which had awakened
her, and the British were only just
getting into line to repel the in
vasion.
She had expected to find the rear
OF the house in flames, for It was
from the rear hat the red glow came,
but the dwelling itself was as yet I'M
touched, though some outbuildings
were burning furiously, the sparks
flying rather too thickly for comfort.
Uncle Peter and Gabriel and even her
stepmothcr's pet. Sampson, with the
other men-servants belonging to the
house, were standing in a group in
the middle of the dinng-room peer
ing towards the end window, watch
ing the flames rise towards the star
filed heavens. for the night had
cleared and there was sitter wind
than was agreeable to Jane. Not long
was the group allowed to remain in
active. With quick command. she set
them to packing the silver and arti-
Giles of value that could be easily
moved, while she herself placed the
precious china in a strong box that
was kept ever ready for such emer.
gency.
She threw open one of the dining
room windows and stepped ont onto
the broad side-pOrch to reconnoitcr.
The scene before her was a wild one,
being "A lively skirmish conducted with
agility on one side and vigor on the
other. The invaders had the tactical
advantage. though but about one
fifth the number Of the repelling
force. They darted hither and
thither on their why steeds. deal
ing lightning blows at their adver-
saries and now and then snatching
prisoner and dashng away towards
the woods.
To stay and fight was not their
calculation. \ dash. blow, a flying
retreat was the programme. and they
carried it out we'll The Britishers
jumped hither and thither on their
sturdy legs. fighting furiously, but
the horsemen laughed in their faces,
peppered them with shot, and were
gone-gone so Suddenly that Jane,
watching, felt her head whirl. One
moment she saw them there fighting,
and the next instant they had disap-
lpeared as by magic all save one.
He. either too busily engaged to
notice his comrades retreat or I'M
willing TO vet abandon the field,
pranced back and forth upon his big
bay horse. engaging in combaA some
redconts who strove in vain to un-
horse him.
GRO BE CONTINrED)