Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-07


his eyes. she acquainted him with her
ride TO warn Lafaycttc's army.
Bcsscmer's brow darkcncd; his lips
compressed. Pushing back his chair,
he walked to the window. And so,"'
he said. turning to her at last. You
thought to serve u double purpose
by your treachcry? 70 save the
partsans Of your lover, and to forge
II means of making me repent the,
wish to make you my wife? You have,
miscalc,,latcd in the last. You shall
marry me. Had time. did not other
matters press, We would be welded,
to-night: but as it is, the delay will
not be for long. and / will take care,
that my wife shall be loyal
He strobe from the room. Jane,
sat for moment, trembling under:
the lash of his anger and not less
under the misconstruction he had put
upon the motive of her confcssion;
then she moved towards the window.
II looked out upon an October SUM-
set. To the north and west crimson,
curtain had been dropped. and against
this curtain was clearly the figure of
Col Bcsscmer as he rode towards the
river.
A heavy fog had wrapped the little
town and its environments in Il chill
embrace when. next morning, the
British rode out from their quarters.
IT. was not yet four o'clock. and the
sun had not thought of rising; nor
was there streak of dawn. The
troops rode silently, for their mission
must hc performed quietly or not at
all. II was, in truth, to capture some
new batteries on the French side
which had only been completed the
day before and were supposed 70 be
poorly guarded. If the effort were
successful, it was proposed TO throw
the whole weight of the British army
against the weakened point and cut
through a road of escape.
Bcsscmcr and his legion were in
the lead. for it was his plan and he
was to take the brunt of its cNccu-
ton He and his men went forward
gallantly: they swarmcd upon the
batteries: they captured thcm-but,
ere the rest Of the British force could
come mp. the alarm had been sounded
along the French and American lines:
guards rushed to the relief of the
assailcd point, and the British were
driven back, leaving their dead and
wounded strcwn along the batteries;
/ leaving there too the body of their
leader.
1t was the last attempt Of the
/ British save one to escape from the
/ tolls which held them. and when that
last effort had been made and foilcd,
it was little wonder that Lord Corn.
wallis gave up in despair. nor that
I he should send proposals for sur
render to Mr. Washington.
The day of the surrender dawncd
! fair, bnt Jane refused 70 60 with her
triumphant aunt to sec the spectacle.
She felt that it was small enough
act of loyalty towards both the dead
Bcssemcr and the living Edward to
remain away from scene that would
have been so hdmiliating to both had
they been present to witness it.
But Aunt Susannah was deferred
by no such scruples. and. arraycd in
all the tinery she could muster, with
her head held very high, she set forth
to view the pageant.
The spectacle was well worth COM
ing miles To see, and many had so
come. There was surprising coz
course of Oniookcrs considering the
smallncss of the town. the poor ia
cilitics for travel between the place
IF surrender and the surrounding
country. as we'll aS the haste with
which the whole affair had been
arranged.
Upon the left stretched the long
line Of French troops; upon the right,
the even longer line of Americans
with Washington, the ono splendid
figure, upon his white charger at
their head The appearance of the
triumphant armies was shabby. The
uniforms showed the hard work of
the scigo; the mld-stains Of the
trenches; the powder burns; the mil.
dew patches woven by foggy nights
and hot days. OF the Americans
many were thrcadbarc, and not few
in tattrrs.
Between these faded columns cam,
the British in their bright new
clothes which CORVALLIS had thai
morning, in a final squirt Of lavish
ness, ordered issued; but if their CARL
was bright their faces were in con
traSt. With sullen countenanccs
doWncast eyes, and lcadcn tread the,
marched down the long, wide aisle,
that had been left for them. Their
colurs cascd and their drums bea1ins
sardonically that appropriate tune
"Ihe World is Turned Upside Down
IT was after the ceremonies wcr,
over that Mrs. Ellcry and Godfrey
met, for young Worthington, i
seemed, was captain OF infantr,
in Cen Washington's army, and Iii
had been ono of the very companic.
that engaged in the defeat of Bessc
mcr on the foggy morning so fata
10 that warrior. Nothing would dc
but Aunt Susannah must carry hin
back in triumph with her to i've hous'
where she and Jane and Edward wer,
chartered, and on the way Mrs
Ellcry's tongue was not idle.
As they entered the doorway o
the house Jane was Just descendin.
the stairs, on her way to the dining
room for some food for Edward. 4
sight of Godfrey the color--considcr
ably dimmed by events of the pas
mont N < 0pSprt p6 bpr phppl,G and h,