The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-03-01


his commanders instructions, he called
for the letter
The man hesitated. GAS a man." he
said, 81 protest against being forced
to show letter committed to my care
by lady. Perchance you who make
this demand may not belong among
those chivalrous people who are above
examining lady's correspondence"
Had it not been for the influence
Washington exerted even when not
present the taunt would have prevent.
ed the young man, who was chivalrous
to fault, from OBTAINING the letter Of
lady, and that lady the woman he
loved.
'Come back with me-" he said to the
man, land after referring the matter
to the general in chief you may go on
with it for all me- / am not person
ally interested In the correspondence
of women"
The man looked about him, as II
Weighing the chances Of a refusal
Then he said, with evident reluctance
indeed, there was a melancholy in
his reply that did not appear in his
words:
81 suppose shall have to accom-.
pany you, sir, though it will delay me
in my journey, and l hoped to be in
the city before dark"
Captain Stewart marched the man
before him. keeping watch upon him
the while. On passing through a
thicket that lined the road on either
side the prisoner-for he was nothing
else-being for a moment screened
from Stewart. threw the letter into
some bushes. The captain caught
sight Of it just before it fell and, rid
ing to it, dismounted, found it and
put it in his pocket
All doubt that something vas wrong
had now vanished. Coming to some
vedettes, Stewart called TO them to
take charge of the prisoner and bring
him to Washington's headquarters,
while he rode on. In a short while he
was in the generals private Office.
''There general" he said, throwing
down the letter. II fear it contains
something of moment destined for our
enemies"
Washington looked at the tiny mis-
sive, read the address-"To Mistress
Sarah Scudder, on the Bowling Green,
City of New York"-written in a wo-
mans hand, and all the instincts Of a
gentleman rose up within him against
opening it. But after an account of
what had occurred after Stewart over.
took its bearer he broke the seal with
out further ado The letter contained
summary Of the disposition being
made for the coming Yorktown cam.
paign and information that such cam
paign was soon to be inaugurated
Composed as was the commanders
nature, slight tinge Of pallor came
over his face. 1t was some time be-
fore he spoke
Captain" he said presently, 'bring
Janice Arbuckle to me-"
Stewart went out and Janice return
ed with him just as the bearer of the
letter was marched into the generals
Office.
Mistress Arbuckle," said the gen
eral, from whom did you get the in
formation contained in this letter."
Il decline to tell your excellency"
who is this man." pointing to the
prisoner.
II decline to tell your excellency."
II will tell who | am" said the man.
1T shall not be said that | screened
myself behind a woman's skirts. / am
Lieutenant Birkenhead, of his majes-
tvs -th foot, and am alone responsible
for this attempt"
HE is not responsible for it." said
Janice calmly. HE did not know
what the letter contained. l wrote the
general commanding to send some
trusted person here since desired to
return letter to New York and there
was no conveyance"
Enough said the general in chief
'Tbe lady's word saves you. sir, from
the halter"
The case of Major Andre was doubt
less fresh in Washington's mind, and
he was not disposed to enter upon an
other such case
Mistress Arbuckle," continued the
general, Il must ask your father to
give his word that you will keep your
room till | give you permission to
leave it. You. sir" to the prisoner.
twill be confined under careful watch
in military prison until the indie
pendence of the colonies is acknowl-
edged by your sovereign. Captain
Stewart. will you see that what have
ordered is carried out?''
Captain Stewart took the two to his
Office, where he handed Janice Ar
buckle chair and babe her wait his
return. Then he dispatched the pris
oner to the guardhouse, from which he
was next day removed to more perma
nent quarters Returning to Janice, he
stood for moment looking at her fix
eddy.
Janice" he said presently, tell me
one thing-how did you become ac-
quainted with this information you
endeavored to impart to-
1.-THE officers of our lawful king
she interrupted. 81 will tell you. |
was in this house not long ago sitting
in room separated from another by
a thin door. / overheard the general
debating a dispatch covering the
whole natter
Stewart was silent for a moment.
He was very much moved and was
breathing heavily.
II am surprised" he said at last.
that you should have told me az
Il told you nothing, except that the
bearer Of my letter did not know its
contents. He did not"
''If you should give your word not to
attempt further TO communicate this
matter to our enemies, would you con-
slider it your duty to break it for your
king?'
Yes, would"
"Then | shall take the responsible.
of combining you under guard" be
said, ''and without the generals order
He has enough to attend to without
attempting to muzzle a woman"
The next day Washington set out
for Virginia. Stewart went with him
but before departing he directed that
Janice Arbuckle be confined in her
room at her fathers house, with a
guard at the door and under the win
dow. The situation for her remained
unchanged till the surrender of Corn.
wallis, when Captain Stewart return
ed to Dobbs Ferry and himself set her
free.
AS she stepped out of her prison
chamber the captain asked her to be
his wife.