Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-09-07

EszssysEyJ me like a silver trumpet and
49, cried out. with wave of her
white arm to them all: ION to Laurel
Creek. pray you. Oh, pray you,
good people, on to Laurel Greek. and cut
down my tobacco for the sake Of yir-
| ginia and the honor of the colony
1t needed but puff of any wind of
human will to send that fiery mob leap
| ing in a new direction. Straightway
they shouted with one accord: ITO
Laurel Creek, to Laurel Creek. Down
ernor, down with the king! TO Laurel
Creek.' and forged ahead. turning to
the left instead of the right as had
been ordered, and Mary was swept
along with them, and Catherine would
/ have been crushed had not a horse
man, whom did not recognize. caught
her up on the saddle with him with a
and then galloped after. And as for
myself and Captain Jaynes and Sir
Humphrey and others of the burgesses
whom had best not call by name, we
went, too. since we might as well have
tried to hold the current of the james
river as that headlong company.
But as soon as might be shouted
out to Sir Humphrey above the. din
| that our first duty must be to save
Mary and Catherine And he answered
back in a hoarse shout, "Oh, for Gods
sake, ride fast, Harry, for should the
militia come what would happen to
them?"
But | needed no urging. know not
whom / rode down. trust not any,
but | know not got before them all
in some wise, Sir Humphrey following
close behind, and Ralph Drake also.
swearing that he knew not what pos
sessed the jades to NEEDLE in such
matters and shouting to the rabble to
stop, but he might as wen have shout
ed to the wind. And by that time
there were more than a hundred of US,
though whence they had come know
not.
We gentlemen kept together in some
wise and gradually gained on Mary,
who had had the start, and there were
some seven of us-one Of the Barrys,
Sir Humphrey Hyde, Ralph Drake,
Parson Downs, in such guise for d par
son that no one would have known
him, booted and spurred and riding
harder than any by virtue of his best
horse in the colony, myself and two of
the burgesses. We seven gaining on
the rabble in spite of the fact that
many of them were mounted upon
Major Robert Beyerly's best horses,
through their having less knowledge of
horsemanship. closed around Mary
Cayendish on Merry Roger clearing
the ground with long galloping bounds,
and Catherine, with the strange horse
man, was somewhat behind
AS we came up with Mary she looked
at us over her shoulder with a bright
ness of triumph and withal something
of merriment like a child successful
in mischief, and laughed and waved
her hand in which. as / live, she held
a sword which had long graced the hall
at Drake Hill, and believe she medi-
| tated cutting the tobacco herself.
Then a great cheer went up for her,
in which we, insspite of our misgiyings,
joined Something so wonderful and
innocent there was in the fresh en-
thusiasm of the maid. Then again her
sweet voice rang out:
''Down with the tobacco, gentlemen
of Virginia. and down with all tyranny.
Remember Nathaniel Bacon, remember
Nathaniel Bacon!'
Then we all caught up that last cry
of hers. and the air rang with sRemem
Der Nathaniel Bacon!'
But as soon as might be rode close
enough to speak with Mary Cayendish,
and Sir Humphrey was on the other
side, each with our Jealousy lost sight
of in our concern for her.
Child, thou must turn and go home"
/ said, and fear my voice lost its firm
ness. for was half mad with admira-
ton and love and apprehension for her.
Then Sir Humphrey echoed me.
"The militia will be upon us present
ly," he shouted in her ear above the
din. Ride home as fast as you may"
She looked from one to the other of
head. and her golden curls few to the
| wind, and she touched Merry Roger
with her whip and he bounded ahead,
and we had all we could do to keep
pace, he being fresh. Then Parson
Downs pelted to her side and besought
her to turn, and so did Captain Jaynes.
though he was half laughing with de-
light at her spirit. and his bright eyes
viewed her in such wise that | could
scarce keep my fingers from his throat.
But Mary Cavendish would hear to
none, and no way there was Of turn
ing her, lest we dragged her from her
saddle.
Again / rode close and spoke so that
no one beside her could hear.
go home | pray you. If you love
me- | said
Rit she looked at me with q proud