Evening journal., 1909-08-05
THE REBELS RUSE.
BY EUNIcE wINsoR.

clatlOn.
During the American Revolution a
regiment Of Continentals were placed
IN Westchester county to "observe" the
British then occupying New York.
Denton Woodwork. a bitter Tory. liv-
ing near the patriot force. discovered
that his daughter Evelyn and one Of
the captains. Elderkin. had fallen in
love with each other. Woodwork was
so horritied at his daughter marry
ing a rebel that he decided to leave
his place in Westchester county and
take his family 70 New York city. The
evening before their departure Evelyn
and Elderkin met clandestinely in a
wood near the house. then and there
plighted their troth and before part
ing arranged r method Of correspond
ence. The next day the Woodworth
family crossed the Harlem river. were
occupied their town house near what
was then and is now Bowling Green.
1t was not long after their settlement
in their new quarters that Evelyn re-
ceived a letter from an intimate friend
of hers, living near her home in West
chester county. 1t had been sent in
with a number of others under a flag
of truce. Her father. thinking that the
missive might contain some word from
Elderkin. opened and read 1t before
giving it to his daughter. 1t was writ
ten I'm womans hand and contained
no mention whatever OF the rebel cap
tain.
Amelia Woodwork. a sister Of the
head Of the family. was as bitter a
Tory rs her brother and as deeply in
terested in breaking up the love affair
between her niece and the young rebel
captain. The evening of the reception
Of the letter from beyond the lines
when Evelyn was in bed. Aunt Amelia
concluded to do little detective work.
Going into Evelyn's room. she askeF
her il she would let her read the let
ter Evelyn's heart stood still; but, out
wardly retaining her equanimity. she
told her aunt where to find it. and
the old lady sat down by a candle to
read it. After trying for a long while
to discover some code in it she fell
asleep. When she awoke the candle
had burned down TO the socket. the
letter lay near the flame scorched. and
across its face was the fragment of
a sentence that had evidently been
written in green ink-"That old cat.
your Aunt AM"
Indignation struggled with Joy at the
discovery for a time: then the old lady
extinguished the candle and stole away
with the letter. Evelyn was awake
and saw what she did. but did not dare
oppose her Mr.. Woodwork had gone
out TO Fraunce's tavern for a tipple
and to learn If there was any news
Of the military situation. His sister
waited patiently till he returned. then
showed him the letter. To her sur
prise the green letters had disappeared.
Now. the old man loved his daugh-
ter. but did not get on with his sis
ter. He looked the letter over care
fully, then told Miss Woodworth that
she might be in better business thar
In spying-that she had in her mind
a belief that she would make a dis
covery and, suddenly awakening. haC
seen the writing only through her dis
| iorted Imagination. Then he ordered
her to take the letter back TO Evelynl
room.
Evelyn knew that something haC
happened, but what she was not sure
since her aunt kept her own counsel
Evelyn dare not destroy the letter TO
fear Of making matters worse. Sh
left It in her writing desk. and a few
days later. when the rain was pouring
down and the air laden with moisture
the old woman. rummaging In tn
desk. came upon another surprise
There was the letter and this time
was covered with pink letters. In
deed. she read a love letter writte
across the other from Captain Elder
kin to her niece. in which he warne
Evelyn to beware OF that old cal
your Aunt Amelia"
Taking the letter into her own room
she sat down before a warm fire o
the hearth, laying it on table besid
her. She was rejoicing at the prospeC
of convincing her brother that she ha
been right after ALL Then it occurre
to her to copy the pink words lest the
fade like the green ones. Turning
the letter. what was her surprise
find that they had already disappeared
Defeated again, she replaced the le
ter where she had found It. Thinkin
to discover some means for bringin
hack the secret missive. she went theI
next day for it. but Evelyn had meal
while concluded 10 burn it.
A month later another batch of le
ters was sent into the British line
and among them one for Evelyn fro
the same friend who had written h'
before. Unfortunately for the lover
, Il fell into Miss Woodworth's hand
! Meanwhile she had confided her seer
/ TO a friend. a professor in King's-tl
r name was at that time changed to c
e lumbia-college. The second letter 81
Y took to him. He heated It and moi
tened it with no effect. Then he tris
the application OF chemicals, and
solution OF iodide Of starch brougl
out another love letter, this time
blue.
= Soon after this the British evacuat'
T the city. and Captain Elderkin march'
: in with the patriots. Evelyn final
, overcame her fathers opposition al
] af. a.