American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-08-01

she glanced back over her shoulder.
n then disappeared in the crowd
Of jewellers.
l had not intended to remain In
Philadelphia through the night. All.
ready l had secured the information
sought, and now must consider the
safest and quickest method Of a
1t seemed to me this night, given up
to revelry, afforded the best possible
opportunity for my safely passing the
British guard lines. Tomorrow disci.
oline would be resumed. the soldiers
would return to their posts and the
citizens Of the city would again ap
pear on the streets. This would great
II intensity my danger, for. at n
moment, / might encounter some one
who knew me, who might denouncs
me to the authorities.
That this was the exact truth Of the
situation could not be denied, yet
now. every reckless impulse Of my
disposition urged me to remain; the
invitation Of those laughing blue eyes,
the challenge l read in the lady's fair
face, the unsolved mystery of her iden,
tity, all combined in a temptation !
found it impossible to resist. For q
dance with her, a possible understand
ing, was willing to venture life itself.
1t must have been nearly nine
o'clock when, in company with a
young %cornet, 1 rode up to the house
given up to festivities, and, turning
over our horses to the care of cavalry
grooms, climbed the wide steps to the
door leading into the hall.
All was a riot of color, rich, Devil.
dering, with smiling faces, and laugh
ing lips everywhere. In such a spot,
amid such surroundings, war seemed
a dream, a far-off delirium.
Ny companion disappeared, and,
to escape the pressure Of those surg
ing back and forth through the wide
doorway, found passage close to the
wall, and half circled the room, finally
discovering a hating place in the re-
cesses of a window, where, partially
concealed myself by flowing curtains,
l could gaze out owe the brilliant as
semblage. Half ashamed of the plain
ness of my WI attire, and feeling a
stranger and an alien, l was yet con-
sciously seeking the one face which
had lured me there.
Enough conversation reached me to
disclose a promised display Of fire.
works on the lawn, and almost imme-
diately a magnificent bouquet of rock
cts shot up into the black sky, illumi-
mating everything with a glare Of fire.
This was followed by the lighting up
of the triumphal arch, and the burst
ing Of balloons high overhead. Attract
ed by the spectacle, l was staring out
at the dazzling scene, when a voice
spoke at my shoulder.
""Tis a relief to see eve one SOL
der present ready for duty"
turned to look into a pair Of steady
blue eyes, with a bit of hooking laugh
ter in their depths, the face revealed
clearly in the glare Of the rockets.
Necessity only" l managed to re-
ply. Il can be as gorgeous as these
\ mo doubt; every British regiment
tries to Guido 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 I'M
guarded from attack" she waved an
ungloved hand toward the dark with
out. 81 venture there are men out
yonder, sir, who are not dancing and
laughing way these hours"
\ My cheeks burned.
You mean Washington's ~troops?"
aye! l saw them here in Philadel-
phia before Sir William came" her
voice lowered, yet earnest, and they
are not playing at war; grim, silent,
sober-faced 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 Toasted 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
the kind to be conquered by such
child's play as this"
You are an American. them"
by birth, yes" unhesitatingly. w
are of those loyal to the king. butt
men"
1t was with an effort I restrained
my words, eager to proclaim my serv.
Ice, yet comprehending instantly that
dare not v trust this plain-spoken
girl with the truth. She respected the
men, sympathized with the sacrifices ]
If Washington's little army. contract. +
ed all they endured with the profigacy
the English and Hessian troops, and !
ret remained loyal to the kings cause.
Even as l hesitated she spoke agsin. t
what is your regiment?"
1.-THE Forty-second Foot" 8
"You have not yet been in action t
America"
mo, but l have Just crossed the Jer "
with djsnatches" I