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

VI Vic UI1UuSu walnut WuSto ~
southern revolutionists. and he had
no desire to have his troops caught
in an ambuscadc. II did not seem to
him that even one Of these daredevil
southerncrs would risk his life In so
reckless a manner without some def
mite object in view; and what object
could he have unless it were to tempt
the British to pursue him and thus
lead them into the arms OF supe-
rior American force? BESIDES his
own troops, he had many prisoners
taken in yesterdays battle to be
guarded.
Calling his officers about him. he
consulted with them hastily. Almost
to a man they were against pursuit.
Perhaps the half-hnishcd breakfast
awaiting them had something to do
with the unanimity of opinion, for
your llrtishcr loved his food then
MS he does to-day.
So back to breakfast they went,
and Jane was so relieved at their
decision that she ordered Aunt De-
borah, an expert hand, To bake them
some of her famous. crisp-edged,
golden ccntered batter cakes to help
repair any injury the breakfast might
have suffered from the interruption.
Reckless, reckless Godfrey" she
was saying to herself. as she bade
Gabriel pass the syrup to her guests
and herself filled their coffee cups.
will he never learn discretion? Why
should he so risk his life out of mere
bravado?"
But. indeed. she wronged the
horscnlan. Though he was quite ca
able, as she well knew, of having
ridden into the British lines out OF
foolhardy defiance and because he
loved TO take his life in his hand
for the thrill such adventure gave
him, yet in this instance he was guilt
less of SO mad piece of folly.
On the contrary. he had been as
much surprised to find himself in the
midst of so large body of rcdcoats
us the British had been to sec him
One of the few Americans who had
escaped from the fight of yesterday
he was flying through the country
as fast as his horse could carry him.
striving 10 get together band of
American sylnpathizers to revenge
Bessemer's refusal Of quarter to the
Americans AZ that battle.
This mission bringing him close tC
his own home, he stopped there tc
see his parents for a few moments
and was bcsough, by his sister to
carry note to her dear gossip, Jane
since his route lay past the Ellcry
place. He was at the mouth OF the
lane which led to the Ellcry planta
| ton when be came upon coupl,
of scouts whom BcSscmer had sent
out to reconnoiicr. Thinking then
| but s;ragglcrs from the British
army, and having no idea the mair
| body was so close, he set upon thu
soldiers and pursued them as they
retrcated towards the mansion, firing
| as he went. II was these shots which
| startled the British from their ease
and before the young man coult
realize his predicament he was facing
the stern. straight lincs of Besse
| IIlcI UIuGoIuS Win iHVii lCNViNN
| weapons staring at him.
As the horse went pcll-mell through
| the woods, taking the undcrbrusl
and stunps that came in his way
until he could find the bride path
| his rider looked back over his shout
der. on the watch for pursuers
When he became convinced that non,
followed, he dropped back nonchal
| antly into his saddle and shruggce
his shoulders contemptuously
Upon my soul, what towards thcs,
| British be AT heart. for all thei1
| splitter and their murdcrous ways,
he muttered. out of the insolcnc'
born of his temporary triumph.
lie rode on through the woods
humming the snatch of patriotic
song, but when the moments cxhil
aration had passed his brow wa.
overcast. for his crrand had not beer
accomplished, and il i'll suited hi:
pride to leave his commission upper
formed. Furthermore, on the roat
he had learned that james fathcl
and mother were from home, ant
| that she was alone save for the blacl
servants and the white oversecr ant
| his family, whose house was fully
quarter Of a mile from the mansion
nder other circumstances this
would have caused him no uneasi
ness. for he well knew the devotion
of the slaves to Jane. but the pres
cncc OF Besscmer and his soldiers
pcrturbcd him much. His distrust o
the British colonel was great, an,
vastly did he dislike the thought o
Jane being alone in her father
house with only servants to protec
her against possible British inso
lence.
If he could only have a word will
Aunt Rachel or James black nam
my. two faithful souls, and war;
them to keep careful watch owe
their mstrcss's welfare until h
could bring a force to GUST tn
interlopers, his mind would be easier
1T would wen suit his mood to rid
back to the Ellery mansion, dasl
through the opposing redcoats again
snatch "a word with Jane or some o
her devoted dependents, and gallo
away.
"By the Gods, it could be done too,
he told himself, his blood quicken
ing at the notion.
Back at the Ellery place the officer
had eaten their fiji. rested their mel
and horses, snd had really no excus
for lingering. vet not one of them