The Ordway new era., 1913-10-03

burned at the ear: and when he was
done. and had Withdrawn. leaving
them to do what they would. they did
nothing OF which he could be ashamed.
They spoke manfu1ly. as was right,
of what they deemed 1t just and i'm
perative the congress should do for
them. but they Resolved, unanimous
~. that at the commencement OF the
present war the officers of the Amer.
lean army engaged in the service Of
their country from the purest love
and attachment to the rights and lib
critics Of human nature. which motives
still exist in the highest degree; and
that no circumstances of distress or
danger shall induce = conduct tha:
may tend to sully the reputation and
glory which they have acquired at the
price of their blood and eight years'
faithful services"
Urges Congress to Act.
Washington knew, nevertheless.
how black q danger lurked among
these distressed men: did not fail to
speak plainly of 1t to the congress:
and breathed freely again only when
the soldiers Just demands had at last
In some measure been met. by at any
rate the proper legislation
He grew weary with longing for
peace, when the work seemed done
and his thoughts and leisure to turn
towards his home again.
But once In all the heightened days
of fighting had he seen Mount Yer
non. He had turned aside to spend
a night or two there on his way to
Yorktown. and he had seen the loved
place again for a little after the VIC
tory was won.
Now. amidst proitless days at New
burgh. or in counsel with the commit
tees of the congress upon business
that was never finished. while affairs
stood as It were in sort of paralysis.
waiting upon the interminable con.
ferences Of the three powers who hag-
gled over dennitive terms Of peace at
Paris. home seemed to him, in his
weariness. more to be desired than
ever before. ~
Sorrow at Mount Vernon.
Private griefs had stricken him at
the very moment Of his triumph.
Scarcely had the victory at yorktown
been celebrated when he was called
tNovember. 17s1) to the death bed of
Jack Gusts. his wayward but dearly.
loved stepson, and had there TO en-
dure the sight Of his wife's grief and
the young Widows hopeless sorrow
added TO his own.
The two youngest children he
claimed for himself. with that wistful
fatherly longing that had always mark
ed him; and Mount Vernon seemed to
him more like q haven than ever,
where to seek rest and solace.
The two years he had yet to wait
may well have seemed to him the
longest of his life. and may have add
ed a touch of their own to what
strangers deemed his sternness.
Washington had seldom seemed 80
stern as in one incident of those try
ing months.
An onicer Of the American army
had been taken in skirmish. and the
English had permitted . brutal COM
pany Of loyaiists. under one Captain
Lippincott. to take him from his pris-
on in New York and wantonly hang
him In broad daylight on the heights
near Middletown.
Washington at once notified the
British commander that unless the
murderers were delivered up to be
punished, British officer would be
chosen by lot from among his pris-
oners to suffer In their stead: and.
when reparation was withheld. pro-
ceeded without hesitation to carry his
threat into execution.
The lot fell upon Captain Charles
Asgill. an engaging youth Of only
nineteen. the heir Of . great English
family.
Lady Asgill. the lads mother. did
not stop short OF moving the very
French court itself to intervene to
save her son, and at last the congress
counseled his release, the English
commander having disavowed the act
of the murderers In whose place he
was to suffer and Warrington him
self having asked to be directed what
he should do.
Captain Asgill has been released"
Washington wrote to vergennes, in
answer to the great minister's inter
NVocAohs A@No Ac Ai6AS " 0obaa4o
any particular merit from the lenient
manner in which this disagreeable af-
fair has terminated. But l beg you
to believe. sir, that most sincerely
rejoice, not only because your hu-
name intentions are gratiied, but be-
cause the event accords with the
wishes OF his most Christian ma
jesty."
A Great Weight Lifted.
1t lifted great weight from his
heart to have the innocent boy to
go unhurt from his hands. and he
wrote almost tenderiy to him In ac-
quainting him with his release; but
1t was Of his simple nature to have
sent the lad to the gallows. neverthe-
less, had things continued to stand as
they were at first.
Il He was inexorable to check perfidy