The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12

with the work of Sir Walter Scott. But
Cooper took the chance and the Pilot is,
by many people, admired above all his
other works The seamanship is no doubt
excellent, but the story is filed with all
the defects as well as all the excellencies,
of Cooper in an exaggerated form. 1t is,
however, most interesting story to read
and by It the author might have stood for
his reputation.
~ OLoNEL HOWARD, bluff old
veteran who had fought with
- Wolfe in the light of victory and
struggled with Braddock in the gloom of
defeat and disaster, was seated in the
dining hall of his ancestral house of St.
Ruth's Abbey drinking South Side Ma
deria with Captain Borroughcliffe, that
captain being present In the Coloners
house in the dual capacity of guest and
defender. For the American war was
then raging and certain audacious Yam
KEGS of the seafaring persuasion were
capturing merchant ships in full sight of
the shores of Britain and even engaging
with some of His Majesty's ships of war
taking them when not of too great
size or sailing away from them after
shot or two IL the Britisher carried too
many guns.
Not only that, but just at this time John
Paul Jones was making landings upon
the very soil OF Britain at odd times and
had spread such terror along the coast
that mothers scared their children into
good behavior by the mention of his
- IL.
Howard. who dwelt near the shore, was
not averse to having a sufficient guard
of soldiers quartered on them to increase
the security in which their families might
sleep at night
In short, the American cruisers had got
on the nerves of the English, and every
loyal Englishman was shrieking Pirate"
at Commodore Jones. Though Colonel
Howard dwelt in the home of his fathers,
he was there merely as a tenant; though
he resided in the land of his ancestors.
the land of his birth was thousands of
miles away across the sea foam-a land,
as the doughty Colonel said, now in re-
bellion against its lawful prince and no
fit abiding place, or, indeed. safe one, for
arms of the illustrious George, wisest
and best of monarchs, should restore the
land to its allegiance. and with the pun
ishment OF the traitors and the rewarding
of those who had stood by the throne,
make America once more the happy
place it had been before these unhappy
disturbances.
The Colonel had left his estates In
South Caroline when the war began, and,
taking with him his two wards, Cecilia
Howard. his brother Harry's daughter.
and Katherine Powder, his sisters child
young ladies whom he desired to pro-
vide with a secure retreat in the mother
country until more peaceful times-had
repaired to England to settle his fair
wards and to offer his esrvices to his
fevered monarch. But somehow His
give the Colonel active duty, and so he
had hired St. Ruth's Abbey and settled
there to drink his Madeira in peace and
denounce the American rebels In comfort,
Besides his nieces. his household con-
sisted Of Mr.. Christopher Dillon, a kins-
man bred to the law and enamored of
Cecilia Howard and her property. and a
Miss Alice Dunseombe. who acted as a
sort Of chaperon and companion to the
young ladise This Miss Dunscombe was
not much over 30, but dressed like one
who desired to be considered older, and
was, indeed, in manner and habit of
thought beyond her years-as IL some
deep regret or hopeless love long past had
set its seal upon her and made her old
before her time. AS for Kit Dillon, that
enterprising person had considered that
safety as well as interest lay in following
Colonel Howard to the shores of Albion,
as the shores of America afforded Ill ac-
commodations just then for a man who
did not desire to be annoyed continually
by being asked to fight upon one side or
another of q quarrel and who could see
no material benefit to himself In getting
his head shot off by either British or
Colonial Once safe at St. Ruth's, how
ever, Kit became a violent loyalist,
pushed himself forward in all exhibitions
of devotion to the reigning family and
had visions of returning to America In
the wake of the victorious British army
as Lord Chief Justice of the Carolinas,
with the title of Baron Pedee. having a
small estate upon the shores Of the sonor-
ously named river.
The good old Colonel took Kits aspira-
tons seriously, but Captain Burrough-
cliffe and other officers, who from time to
time visited the Abbey. despised Kit, saw
fhrou0h him and s'srnoked" him as the
saying was In those days, the captain
calling him Lord Pedee. or the Cacique of
Pedee to his face, and making him the
butt of such sarcastic remarks as would
In the case of a man of less peaceful, not
to say timorous. nature than Kits have
occasioned tho captain the trouble of
standing up before duelling pistol.
HE was a discreet and well-behaved
young man, this Warrington the Col
onel was saying, IT never have denied
that washington was very much Of gen.
tleman. My poor, misguided countrymen
are rebels, sir. rebels, and as such must
sufrer the fate of traitors. Loyalty,
Captain Burreughcline. loyalty to ones
tiehtful prince, is the natural state Of
man. Treason must be put down. Sir,
- It will be speedily by the victorious
arms of his august Majesty. Sir, glass
,w4th you to each of the members OF the
royal family"
sSp,aith. sir, tits toast like" replied
she captain, land loses nothing of its
rirtue by reason of the fact that the fam
5lv q . pretty large one. As to the