The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1906-07-20
CHAPTER XIV.
A JOURNEY.

Ayear had passed. aud had brought
% Jane much sadness, for her
thther's death had occurred in the
aqring,
Her stepnoiher, worn out by nurs-
tng Mr.. Ellery through his long ill.,
nrss and by the later cares Of the
estate, had broken down. and was
oaiy just recovering from fever
when word came that Edward had
itren severely wounded In skrmish
'sath Lafaycttes army In Virginia
AID was lying, Il was feared. at the
gVuint ~ death In Portsmouth II WINS
bsAHemer who wrote, and he urged |
mat Jane aud her siepmoiher set out |
81 once for the young soldiers bed |
inde. II was impossible for Mrs. !
kllery 60 90, but Jane prepared i'm.
nrdately for the journey, upon which
Mr. aunt determined 30 accompany
MR..
Soon after they entered Virginia
s1sy learned that the British forces
Md abandoned Portsmouth and pro.
eu~ded 10 Norktown. hence Il was
tu~ards the latter place they directed
tiieir course. but. carried out Of their
ssHrect route, they found themselves
10 the midst Of Gen. l.nfnyette's
nmy. This might have been some-
what embarrassing had not colonel
of one Of the Continental regiments
uruvcd a cousin Of Mrs. Ellery's and
wauched for that ladys loyalty aud
Mas Ellery's discretion II was well
tBaar,ls the afternoon before they
osuld set out again upon their jour.
ury. Dusk had fallen when they
n-ached the town whore they were 10
arep for the night. and with the dusk
Md come heavy rain.
The inn az which they took refuge
wzs a ramshackle affair. Mrs Ellery
ssnt early To bed. and after an hour
lame followed her nunt's example.
though her vigorous youth rcbrlled
Hrainrt the too early bedtime aud she
ny awake. half worrying about her
nrother half wondering what rceep
ten they would meet with IN York
nan. when there was an entrance
OTTO the room back ~ hers, against
vshose partition wall her bed wal
Dsced.
There were three voices audible
0ar she recognized as the Inn
nrvprr's; the other two were unfa
lnillnr and more cultured. She gather
80 that they belonged Go couple o
Hritish officers who had stopped a
far inn for supper They spoke q
ne heavy storm without, and ordcre
fAclr host to have fire built iha
|, f1ey might dry their drenohed gai
urnts Soon she heard him la,in
~ and presently Il began 20 crack
-, Ei1 rear
When the IRE was well started th
hasi went out Finally, supper wa
Wrought IN and there was q mcrr
szlttcr IL dishes. The officers bat
r.r servant who brought u lca'
mem. aud then one 81 them COZ
rrnrc,i 10 fret about the heat FRO
a. frc. Asa result they moved Il
nble up close 90 the partition wa
a. far away ffnm the fireplace
nc, could get H. This brought
a nui on the other side 81 James be
They began 90 talk In low toni
flut the girl after She first plcns'
able interest IN their entrance u
died away, occupied her though
With other matters and soon dokl
Y u was the name Of Besscmcr VIII
,aartlcd her from her light slumb
aud in,omniarily her ears were
NJ alert. Then followed some qui
NV words which gave her an inkll
~ what was In the wind. \ nif
stack upon lafaycttc's army
What was she doing lying tn
Htcninc -spyng2 Had she fallen
INV M that? Was It not her d'
n make some movement wh
should betrny her presence to tn
men; should apprisc them that u
,.rre bcinp overheard Yes, clca'
"A was her duty. she, an Ellery,
R.rn bred TO know that Net
,aa, no movement. They began
hmst 10 each other always in u
1sbdued voices, that the annih'la'
" Lnfayctte's army would mean
~rdNhing OF the American cause.
ans tho weak Go stand such
a. that. The French would
ufriqhted; there would he no III
4 ~ their aid forthcoming. and "
IN, Il where would Mr. Washing
~ On his knees before "
George.
They finished their supper
uose from the table. Jane CO
near them tramping about the 70
uo,inc chairs and huckllng b
Evidently preparing for depar.
she had gathered that they wer'
rNe eastward and join Besse'ne
mort the result of their re
a1issnnce. The attack was u
n rude that night The door OPP
r,d closed They were gone.
She arose. lighted her candle
b. nol,ed at her watch. A quartz
reht slowly she dressed
rllery's SHORES were plainly an,
AVN the next room. She openeu.
ayor and pecred into the hall ~
a,nerted. A torch over the stan
md another at the farther end
b. only lights. She walked 10