Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-05-31

EA AVOhE tudu one along the SOUTH
NW road that sultry morning of
July 4 turned to gaze after q
~ fair haired girl who passed up.
on Il lead-white horse, with negro boy
behind her astride sorrel Yellow
dust splotched Anne's olive cloak as she
rode into the town, and yellow dust
chung to John the Baptist's wool.
How many leagues? She would have
been worn but for the purpose that
buoyed her up. She rode some way,
paying as little heed to the sparse
groups along the streets or to the few
painted Indians lounging with their
peltry in the squares as to the beetle
proved roofs or the wooden statuary in
the pretentious yards.
Her thoughts were busy with the
past. They flew back to that night at
GLADDEN. Hall, her last view Of Armand,
when Jarrat's troopers had dragged him
away; to the fight Of Dunmore and
his family, his wanton burning Of Nor
folk with his rabble Of runaway slaves,
and the last fight at Gwyn's island,
whence the impotent earl, with his bru-
tai aid, Captain Foy, sailed away to
the north, never again to set foot upon
Yirginian soil; to her anguished wonder
as to Armand's fate meanwhile. Even
Henry's return from the Second con-
gress, the news that Colonel Washing-
ton had been elected commander in
chief of colonial forces and the glori-
GUS outcome Of his long siege of Boston
had not been able to cheer her.
She thought of the long hours she
had watched by the bedside of the
bondwoman with grave faced DIR.
Craik watching her slow return to life;
of the still longer days when she had
eat by the listless figure who only
stared leaden eyed and with brain pite-
ously dulled to hear asked over and
over again with desperate earnestness
that same question, "Where is it
can't you remember?"-a question met
always with the same result; of the
long, fruitless search, the unreasoning
faith in him that would not yield to re-
cital OF argument, and finally the lucky
accident which had given her the clew
TO the packets hiding place.
She had started the selfsame day,
taking John the Baptist with her, leav-
ing q hurried message for her uncle
and aunt, who were then away in Rich
mond. And this, the twelfth day there
after, found her at her journeys end
riding into the wide, clean thorough
fares Of Philadelphia.
"Mis' Annie"-John the Baptist's SOL
emn drawl broke her reverie-''dat yal-
Ter boy at de place whar we stayed las
night say dee gwinter mex ev'ybody
ekal. Do dat mean we niggers gwme
ter be white lax you, or is y'all gwine
ter be black lax me?"
But Anne had no answer.
Going toward High street, her course
lay by the open green on which the new
statehouse fronted. She noticed that
the pavements were almost deserted
and found herself thinking wondering
ly that the streets Of Richmond were
noisier.
1t was with start of surprise that
on turning corner by the green she
pulled up without warning on the skirts
Of great hushed crowd, well ordered,
moving restlessly under tree that
Bhrilled with locusts.
Most Of those nearer the front were
gentry. They walked back and forth
slowly, trampling the blue thistles and
whortleberry bushes Next them was
a stratum of the trading and working
classes. No wonder the Weather mer.
chants jeered them, for they wore rou'
sers of coarse drill, even leather jer
kins, and some carried tools. Here was
q group Of weavers from Germantown
and not far away knot Of Swedes
from Wicacoa. The older men among
these wore leggings and skin coats.
On the outskirts of all, here and there
holding themselves aloof, walked state
lier, heavier figures in small clothes o,
rich yelyets and satins and wearing
powdered wigs.
They carried irritable looks, these
Pennsylvania lords" as the bitter Ad
ans called them. 1t was bad weather
for Tories. From the yard Of Clarke!
inn, across the street, they looked
askance at the workmen, passing sneer
Ing illusions to the Representatives, from
Massachusetts,, angered at the assump
ton Of legislative powers by men clear
| ly Of more humble blood than them
selves.
They saw the cannon in position by
the statehluse and the Continental flag
fluttering from the shipping in the har
Dor. They knew that in the, .nearb.
woods five battalions Of Associators
drilled and armed, were awaiting an.
outcome. They knew that the peopl
were ready, If only their leaders shoult
choose.
| Anne upon her tired horse looked
with wonder at this earnest, quie
crowd and thrilled with new sense o
the dignity Of the assemblage within
those brick walls. The heat was sim
mering, and she had thrown open tn
thin cloak she Wore, showing flash o
crimson waist with a sheen Of meta
buttons.
Merdecai Floyd, looking on near by
gazed on her with pursed lips.
"Small WONDER" he said grimly, 'tha
unrighteousness doth overwhelm tn
children of the world and move then
to wrath. when we see all about us tn
testimony Of undenial. Lust Of the eye
Friend Joseph; lust Of the eyer
! Joseph Galloway, standing by him
looked at the girl, so straight and youn
and bright hued; then his crafty loo
returned. Consider the lilies of til
field" he quoted with JUNCTION as b
took snuff.
II doubt not" pursued the Quaker
wa poinsr his now U,tyvos desjpned 4