Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-22
The Siege
of the
Seven SuitOrS
BY
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright 1910. BY Meredith Nicholson

bending over her with our lights. The
ink had blurred, and in spots rust had
obliterated the writing:
l. Roger Hartley Virgins. some time
known az Adoniram Caldwell
Hartley Virgins" we gasped. And
I felt Cecilia's hand clasp my arm.
Miss Octavia continued reading and
a. she was obliged 10 pause often and
refer illegible lines TO the rest Of US
have copied the following from the let
ter itself. with only slight changes Of
punctuation and spelling:
/. Roger Hartley Virgins, some time
known as Adoniram Caldwell. having now
resumed my proper name and being about
20 marry and having begun the construc-
ton Of a habitation for myself wherein
TO end my days, truthfully set forth these
matters.
Ny father. Hiram Virgins OF Rhode Is
land. having supported the royalist cause
in ONT late war Tor independence and an
gered 10y my friendlness 10 the patriots,
and he with -" brothers and sister hav-
ing returned 10 England after the evac-
ustiOu OF Boston, I Joined the Continental
troops under General Putnam on Long
Island IN July. lTG serving in various
commands thereafter 70 the best Of my
ability 20 the end Nv father has
now returned 10 Rhode Island and has /
learn, been making inquiries touching my
Khereabouts and condition. so that have
every hope that We may become recon-
Ciled. Yet as my services TO the country
were against his wishes and caused so
much harshness and heartache. and being
nov come into a part OF the country
where ] am unknown, I am decided TO re
sumo my rightfuI name that my wife and
children may bear 1t and in the hope that
i ma a..fF aAI
or $50
Nor shall my wife or any children that
may be born 20 me know from mo -
tbadly blurredl. Yet not caring to de-
stroy my sword. which / bore with some
credit nor these testimonials OF respect
and confidence I received as Adoniram
Caldwell a various times and from vari-
GUS personages OF renown. both civilians
and tn the military service. 1 place them
under my house now building. where /
hope in Gods care 20 end my days in
peace. ] would in like case make like
choice again.
Ten lines following this were wholly
illegible. but just before the date June
u. 1889 and the signature. which was
written large, was this:
God preserve these American states that
they endure in unity and concord forever!
ing Of this long lost letter, and Miss
Ortayia's voice had fai;ered several
times.
Mr.. Virgins once told me that his
J great grandfather had lived somewhere
I in WestcheSter county. but fancy he
had no idea that HopeGold was the
identical spot" remarked Miss Octa-
win. 1T seems incredible. and Yet
dare say the hand ~ fate is I'm it,"
"Oh, it's SO wonderful; so beyond be
lief'' cried Cecilia. reverently folding
the letter, which. observed. she re
tanned i'm her own hands
Its wonderful" added Miss Octa-
/ via promptly. taking the sword which
PeDpcrton had with difficulty dra wn
from its battered scabbard. that even
. q discerning woman like me could have
/ been so mistaken. / recall with humil-
ity that last Fourth If July. at Berlin.
l reprimaudcd Mr.. Virgins severely
because his family had not been repre-
scented I'm the war for American indie
pcudcucC. BY the irony of circum-
stances It becomes nay duty Tn present
70 him the very sword that his admi-
ruh." great grandfather bore I'm that
momentouS struggle"
Seyera, copies ~ New York uewspa-
pers, half q dozen French gold coins.
the miniature Of woman's face
which We assumed to be that 81 Roger
Virgins mother or sister. were briefly
examined: thea hy Miss Octavias or
'orS We carefully returned everything
90 The chest. Several packets Of let
tiers we did not omen
Arnold" she said when we had
!o~od the chest. "will You and Mr.
Pcuperton kindly carry that box 10 my
room? No servants hand shall touch
H. and ! shall myself give il to Mr.
Virgins az the earliest opportunity"
We had lost track Of time in those
hidden rooms, preserved ny the whim
Of one man that the secret Of another
might be discovered. and found with
surprise. after the chest had been car
ried to Miss Octavia's apartments that
IL was after Z O'Clock We had been in
lhe hidden rooms for more than three
hours.
We shall have much to talk about
NN'--r aANf INV 4 AA%AA' ft are al n kO0u
deal shaken. It's not often we receive
letter from a dead man. so we shall
admit no callers tonight unless. in
deed. Mr. Virgins should chance 10
come announced Miss Octavia. The
next time Hartley Virgins visits this
house he shall come as conduering
hero"
Il hope So" replied Cecilia brokenly.
We were stiff at dinner when the
cards Of Dick and the other suitors I
had last seen az the Prescott Arms
were brought in; but Virgins made NO
sign. and wondered.
The man who looked after nv needs
handed me a note the next morning
which added fresh hazards to Cecilia
already perilouS plight.
Left with the gardener before 8
o'clock by a boy from the village
Said II was most confidential. sir"
I waited till he had left the room be
fore opening IT, II read
Gooseberry Bungalow
Before Breakfast