The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-01-11
Tor a Chaplain to hold himself in readl-

throat before she reached the house.
| For a time she got no farther than the
outer door. AT length an officer, doubt
less by reason OF her evident distress,
| gave her Il chair In what had been the
drawing room. Scores of times she had
| sat I'm that selfsame room us gay as
any guest That she should be there
now on such an errnnd seemed some
hidcous mockery of truth.
The British commander had before
him General Washington's ultimatum
as to terms of surrender-could see no
one. So they told her, but she would
not be satisfied. Her errand was q
matter of life and death-cOncerned an
execution within an hour. Twice the
officer who had given her the chair
went into the inner room The second
time he returned with q flush OF morti-
fcation on his face.
II dare not ask again." lie told her.
She came out into the street mt last
when the sun was gathering crimson
to Its fall, her whole mind numbed,
her body wrenching with nervous ag-
ony and with bruised shadows beneath
her burning eyes. Instinctivcly she
started In the direction of the barrack,
and as she walked with uncertain foot
steps her fingers went. twisting Il slip
of paper they found In the pocket Of
her gown. Some soldiers were boiling
q pot over n street fire of split boards,
and as she passed them with the look
of n slccpwalker she drew the paper
out and looked at it.
Instantly a great thrill went through
her to the tips of her fingers, and her
checks rushed into flame. 1t was the
hasty scnwl given her at GLADDEN.
Hall by Lord CORVALLIS the day she
Aad gone to him for John the Baptist.
This is what she read:
My Dear Dundas-I suppose we must let
the lady have her prisoner. Just give
chem passes out. CORNwALEIS
She stood still moment, afraid of
the beating Of her heart, cherishing n
thought that was like white coal In
her brain. If she could! The soldiers
were looking at her curiously, for wo.
men were rare In the town. If she
could
Then, clusping the paper to her
breast, she ran with winged feet to.
ward the harrack. As she ncarcd the
river bank the sun was n half disk of
deep orange red.
The Hcssian sentry was still on
guard. But lie had seen his coloncl's
previous greeting, and as she FASTENED
up the steps lie threw the door wide.
and she ran through the corridor
straight into Dundns' presence. He
was sitting at his table, and sub.
nltcrn hdd just entered for instruc-
tions.
81 have 1t! l have it," she cried and
laughcd-laughcd joyfully with her
heart Quaking and fuinting.
You have 1t? 1 am glad" Dundas
reached for the paper and read 1t.
smiling. General CORVALLIS is surely
occupied. lie has c'cn forgot to date It.
However, He struck bell. ''Scr-
gcant, tell Major Nccdham his tile will
not be required tonight, and bring the
prisoner Armand, fully clothed, to me-"
She scarce heard what followed save
to realize In vague way that lie was
marvcling at hcr miracle. Eut every
thing else vanished us Armand entered
the room.
"Prisoncr" Colonel Dundns announc-
ct, ulll Oiu'ittl ~ Stl sou ul llbtIl
You owe so much clcmcncy to this
lady, who has intcrccdcd with Lord
Corvallis"
Armand had been pale when lie ell
tered. Having seen her, his face had
grown quite colorlcss lie stood word
less, his shoulders lifting In long,
deep drawn breath.
"IIerc is n double pass" continued
Dundas. "rhat 1 believe, ends my hos
pitality." lie rose and bowed, while
the sergeant opened the door, and the
two passed out into the noisome, brawl-
ing street.
The sun had set-the sky's golden
ivory still moist for the first stroke Of
nights soft brush to paint In the stars.
A thin new moon tilted over the musty
purple Of the river Reaction was come.
She shivercd again and put out hand
toward him.
"Spcak to me-" she whispered.
Rather" he said, "tell me at what
house can safely leave you"
Leave me|
"Aye. You have made me take my
life at your hand. Spare ME further
humiliation If you can"
She had not thought OF this emer-
gency. Delay would spoil all. And
even IL he reached the American lines
-ah none knew better than she why
he should not go there!
II am in danger" she invented
breathlessly; "in great danger-I can
not explain nowhere in Yorktown.
1 have not friend within the walls,
no spot where l can be safe. ask
you to take me away"
"Let us 60 then, toward the bas-
tions," he said, turning.
"No, no"' She caught at his arm.
II cannot go into the American camp.
Bethink you. tits night. must get to
GLADDEN. Hall. See-here is the river.
TITS but few miles. Could you row
me so far, think you, against the cur
rentW
He did not reply, but led the way to
path which zigzagged down the bluff
to the river. 1t was the spot where
they had first met. Then the Ions
stretch had brlstled with shipping;
now the wharfs had been pulled up
to build rat rotted lean-tos, the bank
was followed with dugout shelters
from the shells, wherein wounded SOL
diers played Mt cards by new lit can
dies, and the waters edge was n jun
bic OF ownerless barges and periaugers
and a tohubohu of shouts and wran-