Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-07-29

made place She noted none of these.
At the barracks entrance she met her
first rebuff when sentry barred her
way.
you have a prisoner" she explained,
her breath futtering. His name Is
Armand l would see him"
He answered only with an uncom-
pretending stare. AS he turned she
tried to pass through, but he thrust his
musket across the door, with an angry
Uessian grunt A knot of soldiers toss
ed some German phrases to him from /
behind her, and he smiled at them stol- ,
idly over her head
Then she became aware Of more /
kindly military face in the opening be
hind him. hand touched the Hes ,
slams shoulder; he faced about, saluted
and moved off, and the knot of strag-
glers melted away.
81 am Colonel Dundas," stated the Of
ficer in the doorway. Have you per-
mission to see the prisoners"
NO" she replied pathetically.
This is a special order None save
the commander in chief can give such
leave"
She sat down on the stone step, her
eyes half closed, shaken by dry sob.
Not even to see him! 1t was CHASTITY!
Colonel Dundas was struck with her
pallor. He was a gentleman and hui
name THE prisoner who dies tonight
is not under recent condemnation,
Mistress" he said not unkindly. and
it's said he now holds the rank Of colo
mel in the American army. Mayhap
the Conunentals will yet make pro
test"
She looked up with wide, miserable
eyes. How could she explain it all to
him? There is no time-no time" she
said with heavy lips.
He had turned away, but her voice
recalled him. "Where is CORVALLIS
headquarters? Tell me, quick"
I'm the Nelson mansion" he answer
ed. Hope not on that though. Sur
render is delberated, and the earl is
under great strain"
But he will at least see me-"
He shook his head doubtfully. you
have still an hour"
Still an hour. How horrible to meas
ure life by minutes. Colonel Dundas
watched her 20 with frown of pity
War seemed more than stern to him at
that moment.
Then he entered the door and sent
for chaplain to hold himself in readi-
ness.
A sickness had climbed into Anne's
throat before she reached the house.
For a time she got no farther than the
outer door, At length an officer, doubt
less by reason of her evident distress,
} gave her a chair in what had been the
drawing room. Scores of times she had
sat in that selfsame room as gay as
any guest That she should be there
now on such an errand seemed some
hideous mockery of truth.
The British commander had before
/ him General Washington's ultimatum
as to terms of surrender-cOuld see no
one. SO they told her, but she would
T. not be satisfied. Her errand was a
matter of life and death-concerned an
execution within an hour Twice the
; officer who had given her the chair
3 went into the inner room. The second
2 time he returned with Il flush of mori
: fication on his face.
= II dare not ask again." he told her.
She came out into the street at last
: when the sun was gathering crimson
to its fall, her whole mind numbed
: her body wrenching with nervous ag
I ony and with bruised shadows beneath
= her burning eyes. Instlnctively sht
! started in the direction of the barrac ok
' and as she walked with uncertain foot
] steps her fingers went twisting a sliI
of paper they found in the pocket OF
her gown. Some soldiers We're boiling
r pot over a street fire of split boards
e and as she passed them with the lOol
t of a sleepwalker she drew the paper
q out and looked at 1t.
: Instantly a great thrill went through
+ her TO the tips of her fingers, and hel
cheeks rushed into flame. 1t was the
hasty scrawl given her at BLADDER
Hall by Lord CORVALLIS the day SHE
4 had gone to him for John the Baptist.
z This is what she read:
= My Dear Dundas-I suppose we must le
q the lady have her prisoner Just Civ
= them passes out CORVALLIS.
, She stood still a moment, afraid o.
. the beating of her heart cherishing
thought that was like white coal II
!, her brain. If she couldl The soldier
!, were looking at her curiously. for wo
70 men were rare in the town. II shi
could!
a ITO be continued.)