The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-03-31
loneliness. utterly helpless,

terrifying loneliness. utterly helpless,
| SO far as any attempt to rescue her
father was concerned, and very scanti-
ly Informed as to his situation.
! Any prisoner was in peril So much
she knew. And this knowledge was
presently made doubly sure by the
atrocious murder Of Captain Joshua
Huddy, an American officer who was
taken from the military prison In New
York by party Of soldiers under the
Infamous Lippincott and hanged as an
act Of vengeance for the death of one
White, Il plundering guerrilla.
| Lippincott placarded the body with
the line, Up Goes Huddy For Philip
| White" words which were soon on
every lip and We're excellently calcu
lated to haunt the minds of those
whose loved ones lay III danger.
| Marjory knew of only one man who
could advise or help her in this emer-
gency, and that was Captain Asyill,
but what had become Of him! No
word had come to Marjory from him.
Those whom she could ask. with any
/
left the city, whittier and upon what
errlnd they could not say.
The girls position was utterly
wretched. That hand clasp in the
moonlight had awakened her heart.
but to what end? Would he have de-
clared his love for her? Would he
have pledged his fat ? Tender
thoughts of him would surge up with
in her, and then--his disappearance.
his silence, what could they mean?
Her fathers prophecy rang in her
ears.
1t had been speedily fulfilled. and
the mere suggestion which her soul
repclled that Asgill had had any hand
in that calamity was madness in the
silence of sleepless nights.
Upon day in May there came to
her a British soldier in tattered gar
ments bearing Il letter from Captain
Asgill.
Supposing his situation to be already
known to her, he had made no effort
to prepare her mind The poor girl
read the words of tenderness with
which the letter began. and her heart
sank. Then in an instant the fatal
news flashed through her like bullet.
Captain Asgill was under sentence Of
death. The words of love he sent to
her were the first and the last.
II crowd all my facts into these
opening lines," he wrote. because
know not how long time have be-
ferc the secret messenger who will
bear this comes to me. When he
comes he cannot wait 1t will be a
tap at the window, and must cease.
II came to you that evening to say
goodby, being ordered upon a mission
OF some danger. which in fact led to
my capture
II had loved you from the first. but
did not mean to speak so soon. My
heart overmastered me. Would y, l
have listened? l know not and never
can know in this world
II beg of you to think of me as a
man of honor, who would have laid at
your feet my name. my hopes, all that
was mine to give. My whole life was
yours then, when Icounted 1t in years.
as now, when only days remain.
"You will have heard Of the mis-
chance which has sbefallen me. You
may even have better information than
mine. but am told this-that General
Washington demanded Captain Lip.
pincOtt to be tried as murderer for
the death of Captain Huddy; that Sir
Henry Clinton refused the demand;
that General Washington thereupou
summoned council Of officers, by
whom it was decided that Il British
prisoner Of suitable rank should be
chosen by lot to expiate the crime oi
I.ippincott, if crime it was.
''Thc lot fell to me, and rest, there
fore, under sentence Of death. the time
and place unknown to me rs yet.
'My name may be much blown
about the country for little while
and 1t is better for your fathers sake
that yours should not be joined with
1t.
II have therefore refrained from
communicating with you through oper
means allowed to me. not knowing
under whose eyes my words NIGH
; fall. but heavens kindness has SEN
me this secret means. which seiz'
upon with gratitude"
The concluding portion OF the lettel
dealt with certain perils which HI
foresaw for herself and her father ant
pointed out the proper course for tl,s
to pursue.
Il have small influence with ST
Henry Clinton he continued, 'bu
much with Sir Guy Carleton. who vii
succeed him. In fact. have actet
for some time under private instruc
tions from Sir Guy, an old time frien'
Of my father. Sir Charles Asgill.
at need, show him these lines.
would send some words to him upo1
my own account If the time sufficed
but it dees not"
!, The letter closed with many word
,, Of love, und Marjory clasped it to lie
breast and sat for |; long time motion
less
Then she arose and w"ut about a
odd task. putting sinall supply o
food into Il little satclrl. and. wit
that in her hand. she left The house
Upon the second day thereafter sh
had come to that quaint old hOus
with the broad roof and the low cave
at ~Verplanck's point. upon the Hue
son, the headquarters of Washington.
Now, at hat time the affair Of Cal
tain .Asgill was much upon the min
Of Washington. and when he was II
formed that Il young woman sOugf