The Glenwood post., 1912-08-03

~
Caught Her-the Animal Dashna For
ward Beneath the Double Burden
Into the Open Field.
then, nor forbid. But there is Captain
Grant seeking me. If l do not speak
of gratitude, it is nevertheless in my
heart, sir" she swept me curtsey, to
which l bowed hat in hand, "and now
au revoir."
l stood as she left me, staring while
she crossed the lawn and Joined a
dark-faced officer of Rangers. Once
she glanced back over her shoulder,
and then disappeared in the crowd
Of revelers.
l had not intended to remain in
Philadelphia through the night. AL
ready I had secured the information
sought, and now must consider the
safest and quickest method of escape.
1t seemed to me this night, given up
to reyelry, afforded the best possible
opportunity for my safely passing the
British guard lines. Tomorrow disci-
pine 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.
ly intensity my danger, for, at any
moment, l might encounter some one
who knew me, who might denounce
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 temptation
found it impossible to resist. For a
dance with her, possible understand
ing, | was willing to venture life itself.
1t must have been nearly nine
O'Clock when, in company with a
young cornet, I rode up to the house
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, bewil.
dering, with smiling faces, and laugh
ing lips everywhere. In such spot,
amid such surroundings, war seemed
a dream, a far-off delirium.
My 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 halting place in the re-
cesses of a window, where, partially
concealed myself by flowing curtains,
l could gaze out over the brilliant as
semblage. Half ashamed of the plain
ness Of my own attire, and feeling a
stranger and an alien, was yet con-
sciously seeking the one face which
had lured me there.
Enough conversation reached me to
disclose 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-
hating everything with 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, 1 was staring out
spoke at my shoulder.
"'Tis relief to see even one SOL
dier present ready for duty"
turned to look into pair of steady
blue eyes, with bit of mocking laugh
ter in their depths, the face revealed
clearly in the glare Of the rockets.
Necessity only" l managed to re-
ply. II can be as gorgeous as these
others, had l brought bag with me-"
mo doubt; every British regiment
tries to 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 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 tight hare.