Gunnison news-champion., 1912-07-26

aser s~sainS iase the hsn.
Az was . riot of eesor. rich. bsWth
derine. with suailsaG faces. aud laugh
iHe hps everywhepe. In such . sSot.
amid ssch surreundinss. ~sr seemed
. dream. Q far-oG aelsriaa.
MY companion aisappssp<d. ssA-
TO escape the pressure of those surs-
nag baok aud forth through the wids
doorway. ] found passage Close to the
waa. and kah circsed the room. anslly
discovering a hsltine place In the re
eesses of a window. where. partially
concealed myself by Sowing cB-taiRs.
l could sazs out over the brilliant as
semblaee Hall ashamed OF the plain
Rsss Of nay own attire. and feeling =
stranger and an alien. ! Was vet con
sciossiy seeking the one face which
had igred me there.
Enough conversation reached me to
disclose a promised display Of hre-
works on the lawn, and almost imme.
diately a magnificent bouquet Of rock
cts shot up into the black sky, illumi-
mating everything with glare Of hre.
This was followed by the lighting Mp
VI tHt NfluutDidl aftI. anu tht O0f ~
ing Of balloons high overhead Attract
ed By the spectacle, ] was staring out
AT the dazzling scene, when a voice
spoke at my shoulder.
"'Tis a relief to see even one sol
dier present ready for duty"
turned TO look into a pair of steady
blue eyes. with bit of mockins laugh
80. In, hi h. ts.A
clearly In the glare of the rockets.
Necessity only" ] managed to re-
ply. Il can be- as gorgeous as these
others, had | brought a bag with me-"
NO doubt; every British regiment
tries 10 outdo the others in ribbons
and gold lace. Really they become
tiresome with such foppery in war
times. See how they play tonight,
like children. the city practically un-
guarded from attack" she waved an
ungloved hand toward the dark with
out. Il venture there are men out
yonder, sir, who are not dancing and
laughing away these hosrs."
My cheeks burned.
| "YOu mean Washingtono 3 tFO0ps? 2"
AYE! saw them here In Philaael-
phia before Sir william came" her
voice lowered, yet earnest, "and they
are not playing at war; grim, silent,
soberfaced men, dressed in odds and
ends, not pretty to look at; some tat
tered and hungry, but they fight hard.
Mr.. Conway was telling us yesterday
of how they suffered all winter long,
while we danced and feasted here,
Washington himself sleeping with the
snow drifting over him. You do not
know the Americans, for you are not
long across the water, but they are
not the kind to be conquered by such
child's play as this"
You are an American, them"
by birth. yes," unhesitatingly. I'VE
are of those loyal to the king, butt
admire men,"
II was with an effort I restrained
my words, eager to proclaim my serv-
ice, yet comprehending instantly that
! dare not even trust this plain-spoken
girl with the truth. She respected the
men, sympathized with the sacrifices
of Washington's little army, contract
ed all they endured with the profligacy
of the English and Hessian troops, and
yet remained loyal to the kings cause.
Even as ! hesitated she spoke again.
What 10 your regiment?"
"The Forty-second Foot"
You have not yet been in action
in America %
mo. but have just crossed the Jer-
seys with dispatches"
She shook her head, her cheeks
glowing.
My home was there when the war
began" she explained simply. Now
il is hate, pillage and plunder every
where. We led to Philadelphia for
our lives. and have almost forgotten
We ever had a home. We loyalists are
paying a price almost equal to those
men with Washington. 'Tis this men,
ory which makes me so bitter toward
those who play amid the ruins"
"Yet you have seemed TO enter into
the gay spirit of the OCCASION" and
my eyes swept over her costume.
''Oh. ! am girl enough to enjoy the
glitter, even while the woman in me
condemns it ALL You are a soldier
a fighting soldier. ! hope-and still
you are here also seeking pleasure"
True; ] yielded to temptation, but
for which ] should never have come"
What"
"The dare in your eyes this after
noon." ! said boldly. But for what
I read there l should be out yonder
riding through the night"
She laughed. vet not wholly at ease,
the long lashes dropping over her
eyes.
Always the woman: what would
you do without my sex to bear your
mistakes7"
But was this q mistake? Did l read
altogether wrong?
Don't expect q confession from me,
sir" demurely- Il have no memory
of any promise"
NO, the barest suggestion was al.
vr,t1r Inns pave if Haa the pvaa That