The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1915-01-14
A SPLENDID
OPPORTUNITY
On the Fourth Of July
By JOHN Y. LARNED

tion of independence was promuiSat
ed on July 4, 1776, that the annlver-
sary of the day would be celebrated
with the firing of cannon and such eA-
plosive demonstrations OF JOY. Inc
prediction has been fulfilled to the
present day, but during the past guar
ter century the old independence day
passed away forever The day Is
now most fttingly celebrated by re
calling the struggle which made goou
the assertion of the American people
Here is a story of the Revolution:
New Jersey was the principal battle
ground of the Revolution. The region
! between New York and Philadelphia
was a great deal of the time deDa
table ground. The British occupied
New York city and. for portion OF
! the time, Philadelphia. Washington
! stationed himself on the heights OF
! Morristown, between the two cities,
but much nearer New York than
Philadelphia. Over the lower ground
from Trenton to Jersey City, couriers
were galloping, spies were lurking and
stray soldier wearing the red or the
blue was moving on some errand.
| Some FIVE miles southwest of New
ark, where the city of Orange now
stands, was the residence of a Tory
named Wardle. His daughter, V1r-
ginia, had two suitors, the one Brit
ish, the other an American officer.
Edgar PIimpton, 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 liza
BILE to fall into the hands of some re-
connoitering or foraging party of the
side against which he fought. Then,
too, it 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 |
Hoped through the valley between him |
and the Wardes and drew up before
the gate. Without waiting to be adj
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
fnopportunely, If he had not better
leave. but to all such questions she
gave unsatisfactory replies. Neverthe-
less. throughout the whole of his visit
she appeared i'll at ease, and he found
himself obliged to do nearly all the
talking, the young lady combining her
self to monosyllables.
Trowbridge knew of the attentions
of Captain Plimpton and had come to
her to ask her to decide between him
self and the Britisher. He began 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 he
finished with the words decide now
between him and me" a closet door
opened and his rival stepped forth In
he dress Of citizen.
"If this matter is to be settled here"
lie said. 81 prefer not to be placed in
he position of eayesdropber. Rather
would hear my doom openly" 6
How comes it. captain" said Trow-
ridge, that you are so near the Amer
can lines and not In uniform? Are
ou aware that if caught as you are
'ou are liable to be treated as a spy" T
He had no sooner spoken the words a
han there was the sound of horses r
oofs without and through the window 7
hey could see dozen Continental
roopers at the gate An officer dis
and coming up to the door o
,hich stood open walked into the hall. q
cooking into the living room he saw e
he two men and the girl. To Trow 0
ridge in whom he recognized patriot n
mcer, he said: /
pardon me, sir, for entering unan-
but ! have been told that
ritisb spy was in this neighborhood q
nd since this house is occupied by no q
,rious Tories | am likely to find him =
ere
There Is no spy on these premises"
,plied Trowbridge. 81 give you my
ord for that" ~
The officer looked suspiciously at
llmpton Il fear.' he said, that ! "
lal have to ask this gentleman to r'
We an account of himself" ly
Plimpton was about to speak-to de- SC
are his Identity when Trowbridge be
opped him. Ct
II have vouched for the gentleman" ~
, said. THAT should be enough" G.
''Who Is he?" -
Il have told you that be is not a az
~" IN
Nevertheless ! must satisfy myself til
that" to
Leave this house. sir
On what autborityT'
BY order Of the commander in
ief. | am Lieutenant Trowbridge of 4,
, staff" ~
Pardon me, lieutenant" said the :"
ler. and. turning. he rejoined his "a
'opers, and they all rode away. &c
Then followed an impressive tn bleau 1T
rginla. turning to Captain Plimpton.
* his hand in both of hers. looking w
n steadfastly in the eyes Then she no
ned. and. throwing her arms about
pwbridge. her head fell on his ~