Year: 1876

It was the afternoon of the Sd Of July.
1776, and the air was heavy with the heat
that seemed to scar and burn the long
grass by the dusty road that wound like a
ribbon of gray about the bills, until it was
lost in the overlapping folds of green in
the dusky shadow of the valley below.
The old farm house stood but stones
throw from the pathway, and yet so heavy
and dense were the over arching elms
around il, that the glimpses one could
catch through their low boughs were Vt
broad halls and wide rooms cool as ne
forest depths, and as quiet as IT the speA of
the dreamy summer day had fallen over
all the scene. wild rose had clsmbered
over the porch, and as the wind tossed the
loosened blossoms to the ground breath
of fragrance was waited through the house,
to mingle with the sweetness that came
from the yellow thros's Of the woodbine
that shaded the east windows. Two
slender graceful greyhounds lay on the
broad stone steps, sver a1d anon swapping
at the flies that annoyed them, or starting
ND hastily to follow their young mistress ss
she ran to the gate to watch for the travel
er, the ring Of whose horses hoois on the
Uneven re ad warned her OF his approach,
and as each passed, without drawing
bridle-rein 10 stop at the old fashioned
stiIe, size would turn with look OF disap-
pointment to answer t. her fathers ques-
ton, "They are not in sight yet, father"
But she had no patience with her en-
broidery, and would loss from her the
square of canvass where family outlined
in silk of purple snd gold were the
beautiful pansies she was FORM
ing stitch by stitch. She was
a beautiful girl, dressed In the quaint
fashion of a hundred years ago, delicate
Iy tinted dress OF some thin material, that
clung to her form in soft folds while 1t
only Frightened its exquisite proportions.
She was complete contrast to the stern,
rugged, square built old man who either
paced wita impatient, though.hsiting sters,
the wide hall or threw himself wesrily on
the low couch drawn where the wind
might reach il. Father and daughter, you
could tell by the mingled air of love and
command Of the one aud the respectful,
gentle manner of the ctaer, and yet In out
ward appearance you caught no resem-
blsnce az all, for all save the naughty
bearing of the daughter aS inherited from
the fair young mother whose pictured face
was all that was let to tell of her lowell.
ness. Roger Laech was accustomed to
unwavering obedieres from his only
child, and woul; not for q moment toler-
ste the slightest deviation from bis wishes,
and yet so tender and bcundless was his
love for her that but fleeting shadow
of pain or trouble would arouse bis
sympathy and care, for ever since Ter
mother died she had been his constant
companion. The old man was now con-
fined at home by wound incurred two or
three months before in a skirmish, and,
not able to be sgain with his command, he
was vexed and worried by the
enforced quiet. Since the 7th
of June, when Richard Henry
Lee bad brought before Congress the great
question of national independence, the
whole country had been waiting and list
ening as one man for the glorious tidines
to come from Philadelphia, and every fsrm
house on the principal roads was thSren-
devious of the neighbors to catch from
some pssser-by news OF how things were
progressing. As day after day passed the
excitement rose to.iever heat, until the
1st OF July, when a committee was sp-
pointed 20 prepare the declaration, aud
then from village and country the people
docked to the.city too impatient to await
the result at home. Never perhaps did
Col. Leeca ehafe and fret as now; when
others were pressing to the front he must
ren ain quiet:s way from the hustle and ex-
element that ne so longingly crsved. Sons
he had none, and he could only rely oD
the neighbors around him to bring to him
the chance news that they could gather,