The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-12-21


Gallants ana danes issuing into the
street in their ball finery, the ladies'
rougcd checks faded In the early light,
saw horscnan who rode by bawling:
"The powder! The powdcrl" he shout
cd. 'Dunmorc's men have robbed the
magazines" And with the shout the
great bell Of the palace began tolling
the summons calling all soldiers of the
king TO assemble.
"The governor has come to his senses
at last" Mrs. Byrd said with satis-
faction rs she came out to her chair.
eve shall presently sec these precious
rebels scampcrlng to their holes. You
! must so, suppose, Fruncis?"
"Aye, mother" lie answered, his eyes
| bright with Annc's pain, and gave her
his cheek TO kiss.
| But lie did not so to the palace. The
resignation of his commission went to
the earl instead, and lie himself hasten
cd to the narrow house in Duke of
Gloucester street which bore the name
Alberu and the sign of the violin. 1t
was long before he saw his mother
again.
The volcano had burst. There Is to
be small doubt from this time where
any Virginan stands. BY noon the
bank of the James river at Burwclrs
ferry, where lies the man.o'war Mag
dalcn, whittier Dunmore's crafty agent
Conolly has marched his marines with
the powder raped from the Williams
burg magazine, is black with threaten
ing men.
Steadily numbers swell the crowd
that chokes Duke of Gloucester street
city councillors, some in furtive delight
at this loyal ruSc, others stamping an
| griiy, with powdered wigs askew and
hands seeking the hilts Of their dress
swords; sober men mounting and dis
mounting horses; ladies, brilliant as
ever, in red heeed shoes and clocked
stockings eager, excited, volublc Here
is all the aristocracy, the blue bloods
of the valley planters; here arc the
duller garbcd burgcsscs of the inner
counties.
The mob surgcs up and down past n
square, prim house Of glazed brick
brought as ballast in the tobacco ships.
1t is frontcd by Il little garden, through
| which leads a path between exact
flower beds OF Willie lupins, lovc-in-a-
| mist and Canterbury bells md here in
his chair sits old Baron Fairfax, lean
ing OH his cane, listing TO the tumult,
knowing it means anger against the
royal authority, but not bending his
stubborn loyalty enough 10 pass be-
yOnd the gate. He is all a-Quivcr with
| rage at the seizure of the marquis.
| "Foolsw he storms, grinding his
teeth. Idiots! l will TO tile governor
so soon as this cursed uproar ceases.
The king shall hear of it,
In his stronghold Oil Palace street
the royal governor sits glowcring, lis
tening to the hum. He has the powder.
Let tho rebels rave. III the night he
has converted his palace into n fort,
Cannon look from the windows. Rows
Of muskets are lying on the floor to arm
the household.
The council, hurriedy summoned, is
met in the lbrary-a few smiling,
Colonel Byrd wavering, some indig-
nant. At the indignant ones the gov
ernor RACES like wild beast, vowing
that if violence be offered him by the
people he will proclaim freedom TO the
slaves and lay Williamsburg in ashes.
The streets are in boil. Betsy, who
has wcpt an hour for Annc's sake,
looks on from the Byrd porch, while
her mother, having heard of the dcfcc-
ton of Francis, watches red eyed be-
hind her bedroom curtains.
The crowd has conferred opposite in
the wide square at the foot of Palace
street. There are cries: '"rhe palace!'
"To the palacew The mass moves rest
lessly as If medtating an attack.
Slower counsel prevails. There is a
hubbub of talk.
Then n delegation is sent to the palace
to demand the powder. Betsy secs
them, four grave men, start from the
crowd, 80 up the street, pass the
guards, enter the door. There is a
wait
They return with their news. The
willy earl has smoothed his rage, has
heard them with courtesy. He has re-
ccivcd the report that the slaves are
about 10 rise in an adjoining county.
If the powder be needed at Williams
burg lie pledges his honor 1t shall be
returned sin half an hour" The dele-
CATION has seen the muskcts. The
crowd smoidcrs-is nOnplused.
The carl looks through an upper Win
dow and rubs his hands. These Nir-
gnians are no match for him.
All, the end is not yet He has still
to reckon with sallow man who sits
in the upper room at Alberti's.
This man is to ride like n whirlwind
to New Castle, make fiery appeal TO
the Hanover volunteers and TO march
back to Williamsburg at the head of
5000 men with arms in their hands.
Before they reach the town n spark
flies along the angry streets that turns
them to q flame. 1t is the news of the
battle of Lexington!
And when Patrick Henry marches
into Duke of Gloucester street, John
Murray, earl of Dunmore, you pay for
that powder!
CHAPTER XIII.
H~%6HE shadow of Anne's grief hung
heavy over GLADDEN. Hall few
days later, where Henry and