The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-01-16
CHAPTER XXI.

A few hours were passed by the prison
er, after bis sentence was received, in
the bosom of his family. Mr.. Wharton
wept In hopeless despondency over the
untimely fate Of his son and Frances, af
ter recovering from her insensibility, ex-
perienced an anguish of feeling to which
the bitterness of death itself would have
been comparatively light. Miss Peyton
alone retained a yestige of hope, founded
In Kind of instructive dependence ON the
character of Washington. He was a
native Of the same colony with herself.
He was known in Virginia as consist
mt, but just and lenient, master; and
she felt kindaof pride in associating in
her mind her countrymen with the man
who led the armies, and in great meas
ure controlled the destinies Of America.
But even her confiding hopes were doom
ed to meet with a. speedy termination.
Toward noon, regiment of militia, that
was quartered on the banks of the river,
moved up to the ground in front Of the
house that held our heroine and her fam
Fly, and deliberately pitched their tents,
with the avowed intention Of remaining
until the following morning, to give sol
0kuuity anu cAASSI W tHc SASSutioh VI u
British spy.
1 Dunwoodie had performed all that was
required of him by his orders, and was
ht liberty to retrace his steps to his ex-
pecting squadron, which was impatiently
waiting his return, to be led against de-
kachment Of the enemy, that was known
10 be slowly moving up the banks Of the
river, In order to cover party of forag-
ers In Its rear. He was accompanied by
q small party Of Lawton's troop, under
the expectation that their testimony might
be required to convict the prisoner. But
the confession Of Captain Wharton had
removed the necessity Of examining any
witnesses. The major, from an unwill-
ingness to encounter the distress Of Hem
ry's friends, and dread Of trusting him
self within its influence, had spent the
time In walking by himself, in keen
anxiety, at short distance from the
dwelling. While laboring under constant
" recurring doubts, enlivened by. tran.
sient rays of hope, Mason approached
accoutered completely for the saddle.
Thinking that you might have forgot
ten the news brought this morning from
below, sir, have taken the liberty to or
der the detachment under arms" said the
lieutenant. John Bull Is ont in West
chester, with train of wagons which,
II he fills, viii compel us to retire through
these hills in search Of provender."
where did the express leave them?"
"On the heights above Sing Sing" re-
turned the lieutenant.
"Oh! that the courier was returned
from headquarters !" exclaimed Dunwoo-
die. This suspense Is insupportable."
"Yon have your wish," cried Mason !;
shere be Is at the moment, and riding
AXE the bearer of good news
Dunwoodie leaped the fence and stood
before the messenger.
~what newsY' cried the major, the
moment that the soldier stopped his horse.
4 Good" exclaimed the man; and feel
ing no hesitation to intrust an officer so
well known as Major Dunwoodie, he plac-
ed a paper in his hands.
Dunwoodie paused NOT to read. but
dew, with the elastic spring Of Joy, TO
~ chsmber Of the prisoner, The scnti-