The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-07

ne Spy cooper was IN
cSnced by wish to set himself right
ttn MS critics. 1t was the second
ESovei ne published. His first book had
0een criticised severely because he
rev his scenes and characters from
broad and wrote in what was thought
70 pc an unpatriotic vein.
Ine author, who had been a mid
nhipman in the Navy, felt this keenIy
And determined to write a second book
&wnach should deal entirely with Amer
1can anairs and breathe the very spirit
q patriotism. The result was 'The
epy, which achieved an Immediate
.uccess- Yet Cooper himself was
|AouotIui or the success of the work.
and the first volume was in tyne before
|pnd.
The Spy" was the fret American
novel to achieve a wide circulation.
and taking into consideration the small
population of the country at the time
% Its publication, few have surpassed
Il since.
The story is told by Cooper in that
rather stflted and formal style which
was so characteristic of the American
literature of the day, and 1t depends
Tor Its charm upon the rapid success
sion OF romantic events which are pre-
scented to the reader. 1t has the dis
| tinotion of being the first really sue
oessful American novel.
When the war between King George
Ill and his American Colonies broke
tout, no man was more concerned ond
|perplexed than Mr.. Wharton, a veal
THY Citizen of New York His one de-
|nlre was to conserve his own interests
and to affiliate himself with the win
ming side. Being quite unable to guess
which side would hold that enviable
position. he decided finally to write to
The Locusts, his country home In West
chester to await events. Accordingly
ne removed there with his two mother
less daughters and their spinster aunt,
Miss Peyton.
Westchester County. now becoming
The crowded uptown" of the noisy
lefty of New York, was then a wild and
beautiful country. distant nearly a
days journey from the city. BY re-
Treating to its loneliness. Mr.. Whar-
ton gained freedom from embarrassing
complications; but he gained no peace.
From without, the peace of The Lo-
Gusts was Threatened by both sides y:
Tor Westchester. lying between the
american and the British lines, was
|lermed the neutral ground" and was
|overrun by the Cow Boys, plundering
I'm the name of the King, and the Skin
|ners, robbing in the name of Con-
|Eress.
Within. The Eocuscs was a house d.
|vided against itself. Sarah. the elder
|pf the two girls. was n stanch Tory
|and had given her heart to Colonel
|Wellmere of His MaHesty's Household
Troops. Frances was devoted heart
|Rnd soul to the cause of the Colonies
land had bestowed her love on Miss
|Peyton's nephew, Major Peyton DUN
|woodie of the Virginia Horse under
|fion, their brother, Henry Wharton.
was an officer in the royal army.
One evening as a great storm was
gathering, a solitary horseman rode up
Ito The Locusts, and asked shelter. He
was q man of striking and brave an
|pearance. tall and large of frame,
PLAINLY military in bearing, and with
la noble countenance that compelled in
|stinctive difference, SO serene and com.
|manding was 1t.
He gave his name as Harper. and
spoke as little as courtesy would per-
Unit. but listened with keen interest
Ito the fervent discussion between the
Two beautiful girls, which conferred. as
usual, around the war, and in which
|each young lady spoke enthusiasticaI-
Nv in favor of her side.
The discussion was INTERRUPTED sud-
denly by the arrival of two other trav
|elers. one of whom threw Mr.. Whar-
ton and his family into such treptda-
|tfon that it could not be concealed, des-
|perately as all tried to appear at ease.
This stranger had the appearance Of
Ian old man, but his impetuous action
land speech belied his looks.
The second of the arrivals was Har-
|vey Birch, a peddler, in ostensible
|calling but notorious as royalist
|spy, who had been captured several
Hines by the Americans, yet escaped
|mysterfously each time, so that price
Twas set on his head.
At the sight Of Mr.. Harper the ped
dler started sharply in evident aston
|fshment, but he recovered himself in
|stantly. and quick look of intelli-
gence PASSED between the two-a look
which ON the peddler's part was full
OF respect that was almost awe. After
making a few hurried sales to the
young ladies he departed hastily.
Hardly had he gone when Mr. Har-
per said to the other guests: