The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-03-18

prove ''the heart OF the rebellion II
this fact alone remained 1t might vel
make the world wonder at the enduring
blindness of the kings ministers and
whether God had not indeed covered
their eyes because be would have 1t So
1t was little George cared for the ac-
tions of the first congress, halt1ng. In
efrectual, or for the petitions of British
merchants He had set his jaw. In
vain the Earl OF Chatham moved in
the house of lords to withdraw the
troops from Boston. Instead the COZ
onies received bill offering pardon to
repentant rebels, and the patriots of
Virginia heard with shocked surprise
that this excepted Patrick Henry!
On the day this news was printed In
the Williamsburg Gazette Henry and
Jefferson met at Albertis and set out
on horseback for Richmond. There, In
St Johns church, the new Virginia
convention, mindful of the bloody
threats of the sinister governor, had
elected to meet and thither had gone
half of Williamsburg, leaving Dun
more with his troops at his palace to
bite his nails in impotent anger.
The 23d of March dawned over Rich
mond's unwonted hustle In a qufvering
wizard haze of intense blue, where cloud
pufIs swan like lazily pluming swans.
Anne had arrived the night before at
Goochland and drove in that morning
in the Payne chariot. Spring was up,
the earth quick with it All along the
way wild crab apple boughs droned
with clinging bees, and by the snake
fence rows of peach trees had pitched
their tents of bloom.
She met Henry In front of the Indian
Queen inn and walked with him up to-
ward the churchyard, now filling with
a vast throng.
Tell me-" she questioned eagerly.
will 1t come todayT'
He looked down at her with that rare
smile which seemed to be the higher
part of him, gliding and TRANSPORTING
his other self. "What faith you have in
mer' be said
II know she answered II have
seen It in your face. No one tn vir-
ginia can do 1t save you--none OF them.
1t must be the voice before the arm
'"The spark before the explosion" be
muttered. and the train Is nearly laid"
His hands moved restlessly.
Il have longed-prayed- for some
new overt act of Dunmore's that should
be spark to powder. But be lies low.
And 1t must come from us You Were
right when you said that hast fan at
Winchester. Boston is trodden on. but
she lies quiet The colonies look to us.
1t Is the voice of the south. Of Virginia,
that is wanting"
He stopped. Jefferson was hasting
toward them. He bowed 10 Anne
''Have you beard the buzz from Lon
DOM he asked Henry hurriedly. "'Tis
all among the delegates IT'S declared
that our petitions to the king are gra-
ciously received, that all the acts will
be repealed save the admiralty and de-
claratory and that North and Dart
mouth will be replaced"
AYE" burst Henry fierceiy. "An-
other Tory tale! And they win waver
again. Tom, Tom, it must be now or
nevery'
He stopped abruptly and strobe across
the churchyard over the matted Ivy
on the shrunken mounds and, threading
hts way between the old slate tomb
stones, upright like black licheDed COT
fin lids, entered the edifice
=
From her seat IN the west gallery,
whittier jefferson had taken her, Anne
surveyed the scene below
The first proceedings interested her
little the reading of Jamatca's late
memorial 10 the king-and her gaze
wandered. Through the open windows
she could hear the hum of the great
crowd about the building and catch
glimmer Of the foaming James The
space below her was packed and full
of strange intentness
Here and there she could see faces
which she knew The ladies' OF Rich
mond were scattered through both gal
leries- FreDeau and young St George
Tucker We're leaning over the rail OPP
posfte. Jefferson and Colonel Benja-
min Harrison Of Berkeley sat together
lust below peyton Randolph. the pres
ident.
Colonel Washington sat far back,
hands on knees, quiet and meditating.
and just below her Mr. Thomas Nelson
shifted nervously IN his seat. turning
bis eyes now there. now here.
Well 20 the front sat Richard Henry
Lee OF cheDtilly. ''fhe gentleman OF
the silver hand" The black bandage
he Won over his baud fascinated Der.
She had heard n sald be wore Il 10
hide efwound be got swan shooting Oh
the Potomac.
hes attention came back with a start
a. she beard fhe resolution "a answer
10 tepieioa that ~ Is she most ardent
~isp % tins colony, aud Ne am per.
tneaed ~ tAo whole continent ~ North
America ~ sea- \ speedy rolurp ~ t,ose
AA''}pN days NhNp Ne lived llne ana
hNppf people, AZ nlle looked down M
lisNi} Anne saw hal lle Ws segb
Nunf pn \ fNnlp ~ panos