Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-01


 I'm tired e. it,' he continued des- perately. 'I'd fight the whole British army if they would only let me get a chance at them"
 Were all with you there. man, and I guess this time we get chance" re piled one of the speakers amid cho- rus of approval which showed the spir- 1t of the men.
 While the men were talking among themselves thus the four riders on the tired horses had ridden up to the farm house. A soldier dressed no better than the rest stood before the door.
 "Halt! Who are your he cried, presenting his musket.
 Friends. Officers from Philadel- phia with nssssages for his excellency," replied the foremost. Don't you rec ognize me, my man2'
 ''Why, it's Lieutenant Talbotl Pass in. sir, and these other gentlemen with you," answered the soldiers saluting. ''Its glad the general will be to see you.'
 Without further preliminartes the young man opened the door and en- eS1SOp LOlIOWCu Oy ulS thICC COlnRdh- ions. A cheerful fire of logs was blaz- ing and cracking in the wide fire place in the long, low room. On the table before 1t stood great bowl of steaming punch, and several officers were sitting or standing about the room in various positions. The uni forms of all save that of one of them were scarcely less worn and faded, if not quite so tattered than were those of the escort. The same grim enemies had left the same grim marks upon them as upon the soldiers.
 The only well dressed person in the mere boy, just nineteen, wearing the brilliant uniform of an officer of the French army. He was tall and thin, red haired, with long nose and re- treating forehead. His bright eyes and animated manner expressed the inter- est he felt In conversation carried on in the French language with his near est neighbor, another young man scarcely a year his senior. The con- trast between the new and gay French uniform of the one and the faded Con- tinental dress of the other was not less startling than that suggested by the difference in their size. The American officer was small very small, man, but in spite of his insignificant stature the whole impression of the man was striking and even imposing. In con trast to the other his face was very handsome, the head finely shaped, the features clear cut and regular. He had a decisive mouth, bespeaking resolu- tion and firmness, and two piercing eyes out of which looked a will as hard and imperious as ever dwelt in mortal man.
 Tn front of the fire were two older men, each in the uniform of general officer, one of thirty-five or thirty six years of age, the other perhaps ten years older. The younger of the two, full faced, intelligent, active, commanding sort of man, whose appearance indicat- ed confidence in himself and the light of whose alert blue eyes told of dash ing brilliancy in action and prompt decision in perilous moments, which made him one of those who succeed would have been more noticed had not his personality been so overshadowed by that of the officer who was speak ing to him. The latter was possessed of a figure so tall that 1t dwarfed every other in the room. He was massively nodded but well propor. toned, with enormous hands and feet and long, powerful limbs, which indi, cated great physical force, and having withal an erect and noble carriage easy and graceful in appearance I which would have immediately attract ed attention anywhere, even if his face i had not been more striking than his 1 figure
 And this was the man upon whom | was laid the burden of the war of the Revolution, and to whom, under God were due the mighty results of tha; epoch making contest. Seldom if evel | do we see, men of such rare qualities | that when they leave their appointed l places no other can be found to fill them, but if such one ever did live 1his was be
 ITO Be Continued)