The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-07-24
A SPLENDID
OPPORTUNITY
On the Fourth Of July
Bv John Y. LARNED

1t was predicted when the Declare.
uon Of independence was %promulgat.
ed ON July 4. 1776. that the ~anniver.
sary Of the day would be celebrated
with the firing Of cannon and such ex.
plosive demonstrations Of Joy. The
prediction has been fulfilled to the
present day, but during the past quar-.
ter century the old Independence day
passed away forever. The day IL
now most 6ttingly celebrated by re.
calling the struggle which made good
the assertion Of the American people.
Here is q story of the Revolution:
New jersey was the principal battle.
ground of the Revolution. The region
between New York and Phila delphia
was q great deal Of the time deba.
table ground The British occupied
New York city and. for a portion Of
the time, Philadelphia. Washington
stationed himself on the heights Of
Morristown. between the W cities.
but much nearer New York than
Philadelphia. Over the lower ground.
from Trenton to Jersey City. couriers
were galloping. spies were lurking and
a stray soldier wearing the red OF the
blue was moving o. some Grand
Some five miles southwest Of New.
ark. where the city Of Orange now
stands. was the residence Of a Tory
named Wardle. His daughter. Viz.
ginia. had twO suitOrs. the one q Brit.
ish. the other an American officer.
Edgar P%limpton. the redcoat, was with
General Howe at New York. and
since the army Of occupation had lit.
tie to do the young Englishman made
frequent excursions to visit the lady
he loved. while Alan Trowbridge. who
was at MOrristown. rode In the oppo
site direction and about the same dis
lance on a similar errand.
Either one of these officers was lia-
bic to fall into the hands of some re-
connoitering or foraging party Of the
side against which he fought. Then.
too. 1t was quite possible that they
might meet at the Wardle mansion.
One night lit was the Fourth of July.
BY the way Lieutenant Trowbridge.
descending the Orange mountain. gal
loped through the valley between him
and the Wardles and drew up before
the gate. Without waiting to be ad.
mitted he stalked into the house. to
find Miss Virginia in the drawing room.
She was evidently much perturbed.
Trowbridge asked her If he had come
inopportunely. II he had not better
leave. but to all such questions she
gave unsatisfactory replies. Neverthe-
less. throughout the whole Of bis visit
she appeared Ill at ease. and be found
himself obliged to do nearly all the
talking. the young lady combining her
self to monosyllables.
TrOwbridge, knew of the attentions
of Captain Piimpton and had come to
her to ask her to decide between him.
self and the B%ritisher. BE began a little
speech he had arranged to that effect.
but Virginia. showing signs of still
greater embarrassment. endeavored to
check him. He persisted and just as be
finished with the words decide now
between him and me" a closet door
opened and his rival stepped forth In
the dress of q citizen.
If this matter Is to be settled here"
be said. II prefer not to be placed in
the position Of eavesdropper.. Rather.
I would hear my doom openly"
.4: How. comes 1t, captain" said Trow.
bridge. that you are 90 near the Amer.
lean lines and not in uniform7' Are
you aware that II caught as you are
you are liable to be treated as a spy'f'
He had nc soone spoken the words
than there was the sound Of horses
ho0fs without and through the window
they could e q dozen Continental
troopers at the gate. An officer dis
mounted and coming up to. the door
which stood open walked into the hall.
Looking into the living oom be saw
the two men and the girl. To Trow-
bridge. In whom be recognized a patriot
officer. be said:
Pardon me. sir. for entering unan-
nounced. but have been told that a
British spy was in this neighb0rhood
and since this house il occupied by no
tortous Tories l am likely to dnd him
here"
There u no spy on these premises"
replied Trowbridge. ~" give you my
word for that"
The officer looked s~uspicously at
Plimpton. Il fear" he said. that |
shall have to ask this gentleman to
give an account Of himself"
Plimpton vas about to speak-to de-
clare his identity when Trowbridge
stopped him
II have vouched for the gentleman"
he said. THAT should he enough"
"WhO il he?"
u have told you that he Ia not 4
spy"
Nevertheless must satisfy myself
Of that.
leave this house. sir"
ION what authority"
by order Of the commander In
chief, am Lieutenant Trowbridge Of
his staff"
pardon me. lieutenant" said the
other. and. turning, be rejOined hia