Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-16

l went playing chase the fox. He hung on Cornwallis' Hanks, covering the American stores, anticipated his moves, l harassed him, worried him with a thou sand pin bricks. In return Tarleton
 and simcoe played their wanton mis- chief. slaughtered the cattle, cut the throats of the young horses, destroyed
 the growing corn and tobacco and
 burned the barns. The path of the British front remained trail of ruin and desolation. Anne's sight of Armand at the river
 camp had scared her heart with wish to be less far from him. She dreamed
 of battlefields on which he lay dying and she still misunderstood, still un- forgiven. fe Letters meantime came from Betsy Byrd Her father had been failing in health, was taking no part in the strug- gle, and so far Westover had been in
 no way moIested. Francis was a cap
 tain in Weedon's regiment. < "Only think, dear" wrote Betsy, 'tis the same old man who kept the tavern at Fredericksburg. To think of Frank
 serving under himr' An unconscious indication of the maternal leanings. If other were needed it was easily to
 be found. General Arnold had stopped for dinner on his raid upon Richmond,
 and Cornwallis had crossed the river at Westover and had been entertained. Pages were devoted to a description of Tarleton, over whom Betsy went into gaptures. Spurred by her craving for nearer
 news of the armies than reached Char lottesyille, Anne answered in person the invitation the letters held, rode to | Richmond with Henry when he re-
 turned from the assembly at Staunton. and from Richmond came in two hours sail to, Westover.
 The war had touched Mrs. Byrd light ly. She was as handsome and as pep pery as ever and exhibited a certainty of British plans which Anne had oc- casion to remember later when there l were no gentle whispers of investigat- ing the self satisfied lady's conduct. 1 She treated the visitor, however, on l this occasion with considerat ton and refrained from using the word "reber' l oftener than she deemed necessary. l Nor did she gibe at Francis commis- l sion in the Continental army. A week spent at WestoVer, the Byrd 1 pinnace5 took Anne down the river to l Burwells, a proceeding at which Mrs. Byrd feebly protested, as the place was l within half dozen miles of Williams | burg, now the center of activity of both l armies. But Anne reminded her that 1 Colonel Tillotson was with Governor l Nelson's militia in the neighborhood l and would not be dissuaded.
 1 The first hours of her arrival at Bur
 wells were gilded by two bits of news l ---one that her uncle was daily expect l ed there, the other that Gladden. Hall l was as yet undisturbed.
 But this latter gleam was soon to be l clouded. Nanny Evaline appeared the l morning after Annes arrival, half crazed with grief and fear that was l not appeased by the unexpected sight l of her mistress. ;. She threw herself in a quivering heap 1 and clasped Anne's feet.
 l Tor press yo', honeyv' she sobbed.
 s.Dee come at las! Co'nwallis done ran- 1 sack Gladden. Hall las night, en he ! sojers kyar'd meh po' boy erway wid
 'em Whuts we ter do, honey? Dee's
 dar now. Yo' reck'n dee done kilt him l yit?'
 An hour later Anne took the York
 town highroad, mounted on the least
 tempting of the horses the Burwells l kept hidden in the woods. Opposite
 Williamsy1urs she climbed knoll, but 1 could see little sign or lire m US Qe, serted streets. Small wonder, for Corn l wallis was only handful of miles ] away. Here she turned to her left into l an unused bridle path leading by 8 ] short cut to Gladden. Hall.
 l She went bodily enough, with many
 self assurances, and so, bare half | mile from the gates, rode full tilt upon
 a group of British soldiery resting in l the shade.
 | They sprang to their feet as her horse I went back upon his launches, and two l of them seized his bridle, but dropped it at word from an officer. The latter 1 came forward.
 l "Your pardon, mistress" he said cour- 1 teeusly, but firmly. You cannot pass l farther in this direction"
 1 'Why not?" she asked calmly. Tis 1 the first time I was ever denied en- | trance to my own home"
 l He bowed now, with hat in his hand. General Cornwallis occupies the house l at present as his ownaquarters." l "I know it. I have personal business 1 with his lordship."
 l "In that case" he responded, "you
 may pass. shall take pleasure in es- l corting you. I am one of the generals 1 aids.'' l He mounted, and they rode in silence 1 to the gates. Here and there picket 1 stepped from the roadside, but saluted 1 as he saw her guide.
 The aid stood aside as she entered the
 hall. Through the half open door of the
 drawing room she saw braided uni
 forms grouped about table from which l fioated out the sound of laughter and
 the clink and tinkle of glasses, filled l from the cellars. 1 And they tell me- rolled full voice, l with 8 bantering chord in 1t, ''that you