The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-10-05

MOAuAAS, duu Seymour SlOOQ there
with the tears running down his
i cheeks-not ashamed to weep for his
friend. And yet the man was with
Kate, he thought, and happy-he could
almost envy him his quiet sleep. The
course of his thoughts was rudely
broken by the approach Of party Of
horsemen who rode up to where he
stood. Their leader, bold, handsome
young man of distinguished appear
ance, in the brilliant dress of British
general officer, refined in his steed close
by him and addressed him.
.How now, sir! Weeping? Tears do
not become a soldierv'
"Ah, sir" said Seymour, saluting
and pointing down to Talbot's body at
the same time, mot even when one
mourns the death Of friendT'
"Your friend, sir?" replied the gen
eral officer courteously, uncovering and
looking down at the bodies with inter-
est, his practiced eye Immediately TAX
| ing in the details Of the little conflict.
'He did not go to his death Alone"
he said meaningly. "'Fore Cad, sir,
l
name and rank, STRIP
Lieutenant John Seymour of the
American Continental navy, volunteer
aid on his excellency General Wash
ington's staff
'And what do you here2 Are you
Iprisoner?"
"No, sir; I came with Major Lewis
to visit General Mercer and to look for
my friend under cover of a flag Of
truce"
"Ha! How is General Mercer?''
"Frightfully wounded. He cannot live
very long now"
"He was gallant fellow, SO am
told, sir, and fought the father Of his
majesty in the 49,
Eyes, said Seymour simply. "This
is where he fell.''
The general looked curiously about
him. ~
"And who was your dead friend?" he
continued. -..
captain Hilary Talbot Of Virginia,
Of General Washington's staff
"What! Not Talbot of Fairview Hall
on the PotomacT' said one of the Off
GERS.
1.-THE same, sir.''
"Gad, my lord, Madam Talbots a
redhot Tory! She swears by the king.
I've been entertained at the house.
not when the young man was there,
but while he was away-and a fine
place it is. Well, here's a house d.
vided trulyv'
us it indeed SO, Mr.. Seymour?'
The young man nodded afirmatively.
".What were you proposing to do
with the body?"
BURY it near here, sir, in the GENE
terry on the hill by the college. We
have no means Of transporting it
hence.''
"Well, you shall do so, and we will
bury him like soldier. remember
the family now in England very well.
Don't thay call them the loyal Talbots?
Yes, l thought so. He was rebel and
so far false to his creed, but gentle
man nevertheless, and brave one too.
Look at the fight he made here, gen
tlemen. He shall have an escort of the
kings own troops: and Lord Cornwall
lis himself and his staff for his chief
mourners; eh, Erskine?'' said the gal
liant earl, turning to the officer who
rode near him.
"How will that suit you, Mr. Sey-
mour? You can tell that to his poor
old mother, too, when you see her once
again. Some of you bring up COM
pany OF troops and get a gun carriage
there's an abandoned one of Nav
hoods over there-and We'll take him
up properly. Have you a horse, sir?
All, that's well. And bring a prayer
book If you can find one. I doubt if
there be any in my staff. I presume
the man was churchman, and he
shall have prayers too. We have no
coffin for him either. But, stay; here's
my own cloak, a proper shroud for a
soldier. Surely that will do nicely.
And now let us go on, gentlemen
Ina short time the martial cortege
reached the little Presbyterian GENE
terry. The young man, wrapped in the
generals cloak, was soon laid away in
the shallow grave which had hastily
been made ready for him. Seymour,
attended by the two other American
officers, Armstrong and Lewis, after
cutting off a lock of Talbot's dark hair
for his mother, read the burial service
out of the young soldiers own little
prayer book. which he had found in
the pocket Of his coat AS the earth
was put upon him CORVALLIS and his
officers stood about reverently uncov-
cred while the sailor read with falter-
ing lips the old familiar words which
for twenty centuries have whispered
of comfort to the heartbroken children
Of men and illumined the dark future
by an eternal hope-nay, rather, fixed
assurance-of life everlasting.
There was one tender hearted woman
there too. one of the sweet faced
daughters of the kindly Quaker, Miss
Clark. She had taken time to Irvine a
hasty wreath from the fragrant ever
verdant pine; when the little mound
OF earth was finished, softly she laid