The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-02-24

SO far as any attempt to rescue her
father was concerned, and very scanti-
ly Informed as to his situation.
Any prisoner was III peril. So much
she knew. And this knowledge was
presently made doubly sure by the
atrOcious murder of Captain Joshua
Ruddy, an American officer who was
taken from the military prison in New
York by a party of soldiers under the
infamous Lippincott and hanged as an
act of vengeance for the death of one
" hite, a plundering guerrilla.
Lippincott placarded the body with
the line, up Goes Hubby For Philip
White" words which were soon on
every lip and were excellently calcu-
lated to haunt the minds of those
whose loved ones lay in danger.
Marjory knew of only one man who
could advise or help her in this emer
gency, and that was Captain Asgill.
but what had become of him? No
word had come to Marjory from him.
Those whom she could ask, with any
hope of news, had heard that he had
left the city. whittier and upon what
errand 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 faith? 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
repealed that Asgill had had any hand
in that calamity was madness in the
silence of slcepless nights.
Upon a day in May there came to
her British soldier in tattered gar
ments bearing letter from Captain
ASgil
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 Il bullet.
Captain Asgill was under sentence of
death. The words Of love he sent to
her were the first and the last.
Il crowd all my facts into these
opening lines" he wrote. because
know not how long a time | have be
fore the secret messenger who will
bear this comes to me. When he
comes he cannot wait 1t will he
tap at the window, and | must cease.
Il came to you that evening to say
goodby, being ordered upon a mission
OF some danger. which In fact led to
my capture.
Il had loved you from the first, but
did not mean TO speak so soon Ny
heart ovcrmaStered me. Would you
have listened: | know not and never
can know in this world.
Il beg of you 10 think of me as
man Of honor. who would have laid AZ
your feet my name, my hopes. all that
was mine to give. My whole life was
yours then. when l counted it in years,
as now, when only days remain.
You viii have heard of the mis-
chance which has bcfaIlcn me. You
may even have better Information than
mine. but | am told this-t that General
Washington demanded Captain Lip
pincott to be tried as a murderer for
the death of Captain Huddy: that Sir
Henry Clinton refused the demand:
that General Washington thereupon
summoned cohncil of officers, by
whom It was decided that a British
prisoner of SCitable rank should be
chosen by lot to eypiate the crime of
Lippimcott if crime it was
The lot fell to me. and | rest. there
fore, under sentence of death. the time
and place unknown to me as yet.
My name may be much blown
about the country for little while
and it is better for your fathers sake
that yours should not be joined with
it.
Il have therefore refrained from
communicating with you through open
means allowed to me. not knowing
under whose eyes my words might
fall, but heavens kindness has sent
me this secret means, which | seize
upon with gratitude
The concluding portion of the letter
dealt with certain perils which he
foresaw for herself and her father and
pointed out the proper course for the
to pursue.
81 have small influence with Sir
Henry Clinton" he continued, but
much with Sir Guy Carleton, who will
succeed him. In fact, | have acted
for some time under private instruc-
tons from Sir Guy. an Old time friend
of my father, Sir Charles Asgill
''At need show him these lines.
would send some words to him upon
my own account if the time sufficed,
but it does not"
The letter closed with many words
of love. and Marjory clasped it to her
breast and sat for long time motion
less
Then she arose and went about an
odd task, putting a small supply of
food into little satchel and, with
that in her hand, she left the house.
Upon the second day thereafter she
had come to that quaint old house
with the broad roof and the low caves
at Verplanck's point. upon the Hud