The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-07-20
ANNE DELAPP-2

several times on business and when
Anne had occasion to address him
she had done so in a manner of
studied formality. She was sure he
could have no clue to the quickening
of her heart beats each time he
drew near. Of late he had not visited
the house as old Delapp, staunch in
his loyalty to King George, suspect
ed, with good reason, that Gray
was strongly inclined toward those
who would overthrow the power of
the King in the Colonies.
Little did Anne know that the
contagion of her smile had so en-
tangled the heart of Gray that he
had often stopped his work to watch
her, unobserved, as she drove in the
cows or helped Indian Jim, the farm
hand to corral the sheep. Anne
was not beautiful. But when she
smiled, which was nearly always,
Gray was sure there was not another
maid at the old Meeting House at
Stoney Brook who could compare
with her.
On this particular morning as
Gray reached the end of a furrow
he stopped to rest for moment and
looking up Unexpectedly caught
Anne gazing directly at him. She
turned away and quickly reaching
for more corn grabbed a pullet
which had jumped into the basket
unobserved by her. With a little
cry of surprise the girl dropped the
chicken and the basket at the same
time. Before she could retreat
toward the house Gray strobe up to
the fence. His manner of greeting
was so frank and gentlemanly that
ere she knew it Anne was convers.
ing with him and he had climbed
over the worm fence, boldly invad'
ing the forbidden precincts of ole
Delapp's land. Reaching into {
cherry tree beneath which she stooC
Gray broke off a blossom-lader
bough and handed it to her.
Anne was greatly agitated les
her foster father come and catcl
Gray there. She wanted him to g.
back to his ploughing and yet it wa
sweet to have him stay. There wa
strange mixture of fear and rap
ture Juggling at her heart. Sh
managed to tell Gray that DelapI
had forbidden her to speak to hin
because he was rebel. Gray laugh
ed at this and his manner only serve
to increase the fear of Anne. Tn
swapping of a twig gave Gray jus
sufficient warning to leap behind
tree as old Delapp came into vieN
at turn in the path. Anne in he
excitement dropped the cherr
bough. Delapp seeing it accuse'
her of breaking it from the ire
probably with a sinful idea of sci
adornment. She took a lecturinl
good naturally and Delapp walked
away. After he had gone Ora.
came from his hiding place ant
Anne besought him to leave her a
once. Springing lightly over thu
fence Gray was away while Anne
picking up her empty basket ant
stuffing some of the cherry blossom
into the pocket of her apron, started
for the house. Once she turned tt
look after Gray and to her conster
nation and delight she saw him look
ing full at her. Then she fled VI
the path without once glancini
back.
* * Il
Jonathan Delapp was seated OF
his porch talking with Joshua Hon
eyman, who had ridden out from
Trenton on some business, whel
Anne appeared with the empty has
ket. She made courtesy and passed
from view around a corner of thu
house. Delapp and Honeyman were
talking over troubled condition o,
the country and Delapp waXeC
wroth as he bitterly condemned
those who agitated against the
King.
Honeyman was guarded in his re
marks but it was plain that he wa:
in sympathy with the Americans