The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-06-13
CHAPTER 7


that solitary traveller was seen pursu-
Ing ais way through one of the numer-
Gus little valleys of Wes:chester. The
easterly wind, with its chilling dampness
and increasing violence, gave unerring no.
tice OF the approach of storm and the
experienced eye of the traveller was turn
ed In quest of some convenient shelter.
The county of Westchester. after the
British had obtained possession of the
island of New York, became common
ground, in which both parties continued
to act for The remainder of the war of
the revolution A large proportion Of
It's inhabitants affected neutrality they
did not feel. TIE lower towns were more
particularly under the dominion of the
crown, while the upper were bold in as
sorting their right to govern themselves.
Great numbers. however, wore masks,
and many an individual has gone down
to the tomb. stigmatized as foe to the
rights OF his ceuntrymen. while. in Sc
cret, he has been tine useful agent of the
leaders of the revolution: and, on the
other hand could the hidden repositories
of divers flaming patriots have been open
ed, royal projections would have been
discovered concealed under piles of Brit
fish gold.
Tired with the exercise of a day of I'M
usual fatigue, and anxious TO obtain q
speedy shelter from the increasing vio-
lencc of the storm, the traveller determin-
ed to make an application for admission
at the next dwelling that offered, and,
riding through pair of neglected bars. he
knocked loudly at the outer door of n
building. of very humble exterior. A
female of middle age answered the sum-
mons His request was listened to with
evident unwillingness. and eagerly in
terrupted by the reply:
Il can't say | like TO give lodgings to
a stranger in these ticklish times There's
nobody but the old gentleman at home;
but half a mile further up the road is
house where you can get entertainment
for nothing. Harvey is away wish
he'd take advice and leave off wandering
But Harvey Birch viii have his own way,
and die vagabond after all.''
as this, then, the dwelling of Harvey
Birch?' inquired the horsenan in an in
voluntary manner.
why, one can hardly say it is his
dwelling" replied the other: ''he is never
In it, or so seldom, that / hardly re-
member his face. Turn in the first gate
on your left" and she closed the door
abruptly.
Sufficient light yet remained to enable
the traveller to distinguish the improve
ments which had been made in the general
appearance of the grounds around the
building to which he was now approach
ing The house was of stone, with
small wing at each extremity. A piazza.
with neasly turned pillars of wood. gave
the place an air altogether superior to
the common farm houses of the country.
After leading his horse behind an angle
of the wall, the traveller threw mis- valise
over his arm, and knocked loudly. An
aged black soon appeared; and acceded
to the request for accommodations The
traveller was shown into an extremely
neat parlor, where fire had been light
ed After giving the valise into the
keeping of his civil attendant, and polite
~ repeating bis request to the old gen
tieman who arose to receive him, and pay
ing his compliments to the three ladies'
who were seated at work with their nee
dies, the stranger commenced laying aside
some Of his outer garments
The host was by several years the
senior of the traveller, and by his manner
showed he had seen much of life, and the
best of society. The ladies were, a maid
en- OF forty, and two much younger. Mr..
Wharton, for SO was the owner of this
retired estate called, resumed his seat by
the FIRE. For a moment he paused, as IL
debating with his politeness, but at length
threw an inquiring glance on the stranger
as he inquired:
ITO whom have I the honor of speak
ing?"
Mr.. Harper"
The young ladies had taken their seats
beside work stand, while their aunt,
Miss Jeanette Peyton, withdrew to super
intend the preparations necessary to en-
terrain their unexpected visitor. A short
silence prevailed. There was an evident
desire on the part of the host to enter into
conversation, but from an apprehension
Of treading on dangerous ground. he sew
eral times hesitated before he could ven
ture to make any remark. AT length be
said:
II wish from the bottom of my heart
this unnatural struggle was over. that we
might again meet our friends and rela-
tives in peace and love-"
at is much to be desired" said Har-
per. emphatically.
II hear OF no movement of conse-
quence since the arrival of our new al
ties," said Mr. Wharton
None have yet reached the public. I
believe"
''They appear active in the South !:
Gates and CORVALLIS seem willing to
bring the war to an issue there"
Tie brow of Harper contracted, and a
deeper shade of melancholy crossed his
features; his eye kindled with a tran
silent beam of fire, that spoke a latent
source of deep feeling. The admiring
gaze of the younger of the sisters had
barely time to read its expression before
1t passed away, leaving in its room ac-
CURED composure- TIE elder sister made
one or two movements in her chair be-
fore she ventured to say, in a tone which
partook in no small measure of triumph !:
General Gates has been less fortunate
with the Earl than with General Bur-
goyEe."
'But General Gates is an Englishman.
Sarah" cried the younger lady. with
quickness; then, coloring to the eyes at
her own boldness.
The traveller had turned his face from
one sister to the other, and an almost
lmperceptible movement of the muscles of
the mouth betrayed new emotion as he
playfully inquired of the younger:
May / venture to ask what inference
-ou would draw from that fact?"
-onIy-sir-my sister and my
self sometimes differ in our opinions of
The prowess of the British. Sarah thinks
they are never beaten, while / do not put
70 much faith in their invincibility"
The traveller listened to her with that
pleased Indulgence with which virtuous
age loves to contemplate the ardor of
youthful innicence; but making no reply,
he turned to the fire. and continued for
some time gazing on its embers a silence.
At the first sounds Of the impatient
summons of some new applicant, Mr..
Wharton had risen from mis- seat in evil
Iro ooa r1ofx. III