Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-15


sity to see him once more-to tell him.
She had no further plan. The note she
carried from Henry brought her with
out delay to the officer of the day, and
the personal request it contained was
not to be denied.
The sun was low when she passed
the inner works and entered Yorktown
between battered walls and gouged
earth mounds which testified to the
ferceness Of the fire rained upon the
British by Ferguson's and Machin's
batteries. All about her were honey
combcd streets cluttered with rich fur
niture, empty knapsacks, books. frag-
ments Of shells, iron caluops, carcasses
of men and horses, and horrors beyond
description.
But she scarcely saw them. He was
to die this night-this highland the
time was SO pitifully short. The years
he had fought must count for naught-
all vanished before the weight of that
one long-passed Philadelphia afternoon.
What should have been his hour of tri-
umph had become his hour of shame.
And it was by her act!
The thought made her shudder as if
with an aguc. 1t seemed to her that
God must have been blotted from the
| hcaEens-that there was no hope, no
good, nothing but colossal fate wheel
| which was rolling 10 crush Armand
and her.
Where were the prisoners kept? She
| asked some one, who directed her to u
barrack ut the northern end of the
town. Thither she pushed her way
over foul refuse heaps and fetid bitches,
| through crowds of soldiers shouting
loathsome dogscrel, who jeered and
caught ut her, and past gold braided
officers who cursed them savagely and
made place. She noted none of these.
At the barracks entrance she met her
first rebuff when sentry barred her
way.
"You have prj
her breath flutu His name Is
Armand 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
Hessian grunt. A knot of soldiers toss
ed some German phrases to him from
behind her, and lie smiled at them stol-
idly over her head.
Then she became aware of more
kindly military face in the opening be-
| hind him. A 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
fcer in the doorway. "Have you per-
mission to see the prisoner?"
NO" she replied pathetically.
"This is 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 gentleman and hui
name. "rhe prisoner V 10 dies tonight
is not under n recent condemnation,
Mistress" lie said not unkindly. "And
tits said he now holds the rank Of colo
mel in the American army. Mayhap
the Continentals 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"
4 SIN the Nelson mansion" lie answer.
ed. 'Hope not on that, though. Sur
render is deliberated, and the earl is
under great strain"
"But lie will ut least see me-"
He shook his head doubtfully. "You
have still an hour"
Still IN hour! How horrible to meas
ure life by minutes! Colonel Dundas
watched her so with frown of pity
War seemed more than stern to him al
that moment.
Then he entered the door and. sent
for q chaplain to hold himself in readi
ness.
A sickness had climbed into Anne's
throat before she reached the house
For time she got no farther than the
outer door. At length an officer, doubt
less by reason of her evident distress
gave her n chair in what had been tho
drawing room. Scores Of times she ha(
sat in that selfsame room as gay al
any guest. That she should be Their,
now on such an errand seemed somt
hideous mockery of truth.
The British commander had befor,
him General Washington's ultimatun
as to terms of surrender-coul see NJ
one. So they told her. but she would
not be satisfied. Her GRAND was :
matter Of life and deatl-concerned NJ
execution within an hour. Twice tn,
officer who had given her the chat
went into the inner room. The secont
time he returned with flush Of morti
fication on his face.
II dare not ask again." he told her.
She came out into the street at las
when the sun was gathering crimson
to its fall, her whole mind numbed
her body wrenching with nervous ag
ony and with bruised shadows beneatl
Il hVA buAhAh6 CS Go. SH
started in the direction of the barracl;
and as she walked with uncertain foot
steps her fingers went twisting a slil
Of paper they found in the pocket o
her gown. Some soldiers were boilin,
a pot over a street fire of split boards
and Us she passed them with the lool
of sleepwalker she drew the pape
out and looked at it.
Instantly great thrill went through
her to the tips of her fingers, and he
checks rushed into flame. 1t was til
hasty scrawl given her at Gladdel
Hall by Lord CORVALLIS the day sh
had gone to him for John the Baptist.
This is what she read:
My Dear Dundas-I suppose we must lie
the lady have her prisoner Just Civ
them passes out CORVALLIS.
She stood still moment, afraid o
the beating Of her heart, chcrisling
thought that was like white coal Ii
her brain. If she could! The soldier
| were Looking nt her c,rio,,cly 20, nv,