The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-02-04
Caught Within the.
Enemy, ! !. Lines
A Say Fee v..h.s,os's Ba.hday
By EVERETT 2. CLARKE

I There are many noted points connect
ed With the American Revolution In
New Jersey. The main struggle began
in Massachusetts,. was transferred to
New York and the bulk Of It was fought
out In New jersey, the surrender being
made In Virginia. After the battle Of
Long Island General washington's
central point-that Il, when he was not
In the deld-was at Morristown, In q
house which q now owned By q 90
ciety whose business It il to keep It In
order az q memento Of the Father Of
His Country.
Some ten miles south of Morristown
Is Basking ridge. where Is situated one
of New Jerseys historic homes. Dur.
ing Washingtoa's occupancy Of the
house at Morristown a wedding occur
red at this house, which he attended.
On bis way back to his headquarters
he stopped at a house in little place
called Mendham. telling the members
Of his stat who were with him to ride
on slowly and be would overtake them.
Dismounting from bis horse the gen.
eral entered the gate and asked for ad.
mittance by means OF the brass knock.
er which in those days was used in.
stead of the modern bell. He was ad.
United BY Miss Dorothy Hughes, the
daughter OF the person he sought
"How now. Mistress Dorothy7' said
the general. noticing that she was very
pale and all Of tremor. what is the
matter?"
Nothing" stammered the girl, "ex.
cept an agitation at our house being
honored by SO important a parsonage
az the commander in chief"
II fear you are exaggerating. Is your
father withinT
mo. general. He went to Elizabeth.
town this morning. We do not expect
his return till late this evening""
General Washington thought a mo-
ment, then said;
do you think you could deliver
message to him when he returns?"
II fear. general. that am bit 6us.
tered at the honor of this call. may
not give your message Alright"
"How is 1t, Mistress Dorothy, that
Notwithstanding this high honor which
you consider done you by the com.
mander In chief you permit him to
stand without Invitation to enter?'
pardon me, your excellency; I did
not suppose that you would stop after
hearing father is not at home. win
you be pleased to enterT'
"Only for the purpose Of writing
message since you are not minded to
deliver Il. verbally"
The girl led the general into the liv.
ing room. where she left him for q few
minutes to 60 for writing paper and
quill. The general after sharpening
the quill with his penknife sat down
at table. wrote his message. sanded
II, then took It to a window to read It
over. The window was draped With
heavy damask curtains, and his excel.
iency in order to get a better light
moved one Of them aside In doing 90
bis arm encountered a resistance 9th.
er than wood. Throwing back the cur
tain. he exposed young man in the
uniform Of a lieutenant In the British
army.
The reason for Dorothy's agitation
and unwillingness to admit him flashed
upon Washington at once.
he regarded the young man sternly.
then turned his gaze on Dorothy, who.
white as a cloth, was supporting her
self by mantel over the great stone
fireplace. The general saw at once that
he had discovered a pair Of lovers.
Don't fear. Mistress Dorothy" he
said. Fortunately your guest Is in
Uniform. Had be come without the In.
sigma Of his Office It would have been
my duty to have him arrested and tried
for being within our lines az a spy.
His object In coming IL only too ap-
parent-not to look at our forces and
our equipment to carry information Of
It to General Howe at New York, but
to feast bis eyes on very charming
young lady" Then to the officer he
continued: my position as an of1cer
In the Continental army does not 10
quire me to make . mountain Of q
molehilI BY accusing you Of intentions
which you have not, but It does re-
quire me to take you into custody.
Yet even that need not Inconvenience
you or shorten your VISIT You are
my prisoner. Give mo your name and
rank"
n am Lieutenant Ralph Harding OF
his British maJesty's -th regiment
Of foot"
every well. lieutenant Now give
me your word of honor 40 an officer
and gentleman that 40 soon az you
have finished your visit to my esteem,
ed friend. Mistress Dorothy Hughes,
you will proceed to the British lines
and will not bear arms against the
Continental forces until you have been
duly exchanged"
An expression of relief, which was
reflected in Dorothy's features, appear
ed on the young mans face as he gave
the required promise. Washington
went to the table. wrote something and
minded 1t to MIN. 1t read az follows:
Pass Lieutenant ralph Harding Of the
British army without our lines