&f< of 
 
 >
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD
 
 'YouB HIGHNESS FORGETS HIMSELF ! " SHE SAID, SHARPLY. 
 Page 47.
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 BEING THE ROMANCE OF A TORY BELLE 
 AND A PATRIOT CAPTAIN 
 
 BY 
 
 HAROLD MORTON KRAMER 
 AUTHOR OF " HEARTS AND THE CROSS " 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY H. C. EDWARDS 
 
 BOSTON 
 LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
 
 Published, August, 1907 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD Co. 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 GAYLE LANGFOKD 
 
 flortoooH iJrrss 
 Berwick & Smith Co. 
 Norwood, Mass., U. S. A.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. " As THE TWIG Is BENT " . . . i 
 
 II. " THE TREE Is INCLINED" ... 20 
 
 III. THE PRESENT MEETS THE PAST . . 43 
 
 IV. RED ROSES ...... 66 
 
 V. THE CLANG OF A BELL .... 87 
 
 VI. PROTECTING THE ENEMY . . . .in 
 
 VII. WANDERERS ...... 134 
 
 VIII. A MAID AND A SONG .... 159 
 
 IX. THE PARTING OF THE WAYS . . .180 
 
 X. AT THE RED Fox INN . . . .192 
 
 XI. THE SHADOW ..... 214 
 
 XII. A MESSAGE IN RED .... 243 
 
 XIII. THE KINDLING OF A FLAME . . . 259 
 
 XIV. A BIT OF NEWS ..... 273 
 XV. IN WHICH I TURN CLERGYMAN . . 286 
 
 XVI. A MATCHLESS MAID .... 302 
 
 XVII. "TOOK KEER o' HER BOY" . . .328 
 
 XVIII. SETTLING AN ACCOUNT .... 343 
 
 XIX. INTO THE NEW DAY .... 362 
 
 2136S83
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 " YOUR HIGHNESS FORGETS HIMSELF ! " SHE SAID 
 
 SHARPLY (See page 47} . . . Frontispiece 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 LIFTING THE PRINCE OFF HIS FEET, I FLUNG HIM 
 
 HEADLONG DOWN THE STAIRS . . .122 
 I SAW THAT THE RIDER IN FRONT WAS SUPPORTED 
 
 BY THE ARMS OF THE ONE BEHIND . . . 1 86 
 "THE SPY HAS BEEN A -WOOING! WHERE THERE'S 
 
 A ROSE THERE HAS BEEN A WENCH!" . .212 
 " YOU HAVE THE EFFRONTERY TO REPORT THE LOSS 
 
 OF YOUR DESPATCHES AND HAVE NO EXCUSE?". 276 
 " OH, GOD ! LOOK OUT, MARSE IAN ! " . . . 334
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 " AS THE TWIG IS BENT " 
 
 AS I sit now in the cheerful glow of the 
 blazing backlog it seems that memory 
 was born to me amid the terrors of that 
 evil night well, longer ago than I like to ac- 
 knowledge, for though gray locks and faltering 
 limbs be not a disgrace, yet would I fain hug to 
 my heart the pleasing delusion that Youth still 
 lingers near me. 
 
 True, I note an increasing affection for pipe 
 and ale-mug and the dreamy, reminiscential 
 comfort of the backlog's ruddy offering, but 
 even in such moments I feel the years slipping 
 from my shoulders, and oft do I return from 
 this mental visit to bygones and find myself, 
 sword in hand, in the centre of the room, lunging,
 
 2 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 parrying, the blade flashing with the old fiery 
 gleam in the candle-light, my wrist supple and 
 strong, my feet sure and shifty. And then, the 
 blade once more hung in its honored niche, I 
 sigh at the age of memory. 
 
 But, in truth, no mother has a more God-given, 
 pain-racked right to hug to her bosom her first- 
 born than I have to love and cherish and coddle 
 in the firelight's glow this precious phenomenon, 
 memory, for the travails of its birth left their 
 stamp upon me here, this jagged scar but illy 
 concealed by my forelock, which I have worn 
 low since that night as a matter of concealment, 
 for I confess to the weakness of a pride in per- 
 sonal appearances. Some boasting Othello might 
 take pride in the display of such a souvenir of 
 blood and woe, but I prefer it to remain unseen. 
 Perhaps when I lie in my coffin the minister may 
 tenderly brush back these whitened locks and 
 point to this mutilated forehead in preaching 
 to those assembled the doctrine of thankfulness 
 and praise to Almighty God for the blessings of 
 peace they enjoy, the survey of which should lead 
 them closer to that Just One whose care and 
 mercy have been manifested to me these many 
 times. And if it be true that on occasions, in the 
 blackness of despair, I wondered if Jehovah yet
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT- 3 
 
 reigned, surely I may be forgiven, for did not 
 even the Son, in the bitterness of crucifixion, cry 
 out from the Cross, " My God, why hast Thou 
 forsaken me? " 
 
 'Twas a night in the year 1764 to which I 
 referred in the beginning, and I live again the 
 whole dreadful affair; I hear the swirling of 
 angry waters, the creaking of masts and spars, 
 the flapping of sails, the shouts of maddened 
 men, and the booming of cannon. I see the 
 lightning's vivid flashing, terrible, but less fre- 
 quent than the flashing of firearms, and then 
 
 But I had as well explain it all to you while the 
 mood is with me. 
 
 My father, John MacDonald Lester, was a 
 merchant in the city of Boston, and I know now, 
 though I was too young to know then, that during 
 the years of my babyhood he was wealthy. His 
 schooners plied between that city and the West 
 Indies, and his trade in molasses, sugar, wines, 
 and spices throve for a season. But in 1760 
 George Third ascended the throne of England, 
 and conditions in the Colonies rapidly passed 
 from bad to worse. 
 
 He quickly surrounded himself with advisers 
 whose conceptions of right, justice, and liberty 
 were as dwarfish as his own. Under such con-
 
 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 ditions trade stagnated, wealth stole away from 
 the homes where it had snuggled, and the business 
 of John MacDonald Lester was no exception. 
 Month by month disaster clawed at my father's 
 affairs, and I recall now that in the evenings when 
 my gentle mother would sing me to sleep my 
 drowsy lids would often fly open with a sudden- 
 ness that revealed to me truant tears escaping 
 from her eyes. What it all meant I knew not then, 
 but I know now, and I, myself, feel the agony of 
 mind that must have been the portion of my 
 parents during those gloomy days. 
 
 Finally my father's fleet of schooners was re- 
 duced to one, the Eagle, and it was on this 
 vessel that he embarked that June day, 1764, 
 for a trading voyage. I was past twelve years of 
 age then and it was decided that I was to accom- 
 pany him, both as a matter of company to my 
 father and in the belief that the voyage would 
 bring to my cheeks once more the color that some 
 childish ailment had stolen. Of that voyage but 
 little need be said. Let it be summed in the 
 statement that for weeks we cruised about from 
 port to port, loading with molasses, wines, sugars, 
 and other goods, the whole being a matter of 
 never-ending delight to me. 
 
 It was on the return voyage that life became
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT " 5 
 
 real to me. We were within but little more than 
 a day's sail of Boston, and my father, who had 
 neglected me for the last twenty-four hours and 
 had devoted himself to a nervous pacing, back 
 and forth, back and forth, of the deck, suddenly 
 called me to his side. 
 
 " Ian," he said (My name was bestowed in 
 honor of my rugged Scotch grandfather), " are 
 you brave? " 
 
 I remember that I stared at him, my eyes 
 widening with wonderment. Then it occurred to 
 me that he was but giving me a test, so I said, 
 " Yes," without further thought. 
 
 " Then keep your courage warm, for this night 
 it will be required of you," he replied, and to my 
 surprise there was no smile in the taut-drawn 
 muscles of his mouth. 
 
 He looked me full in the face a moment, and 
 then with one hand on my shoulder he pointed 
 off to leeward. 
 
 "Yonder," he said, "lies your country, 
 America. It is the land of your birth, the land 
 where you have a right under God to pursue 
 happiness, and in manhood provide for those you 
 love. No king has God's sanction to rob you of 
 your rights. I tell you this in order that you may 
 understand my motives in what is to come.
 
 6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 King George has crushed our people until poverty 
 is before me. By the enforcement of his Importa- 
 tion Act, I will be required to pay such exorbitant 
 duties on this cargo that but little will be left me. 
 My business has been so wrecked that I find 
 that nothing will separate my family from want 
 if the King's officers get their hands on this 
 cargo." 
 
 He tramped away a short distance, and then 
 turned once more to me. 
 
 " Ian," he said, and his voice had in it a quality 
 of harshness I had never heard there before. 
 " I intend landing this cargo without paying 
 duty." 
 
 During the balance of that day and night, 
 and much of the next day, we beat about, slowly 
 approaching the coast, intending to make a dash 
 for an inlet not far from Boston when darkness 
 should come. To me my father explained the 
 danger of detection and death from the royal 
 sloops of war that were constantly patrolling the 
 coast, for he had determined not to surrender. 
 The crew loyally swore to die at their posts rather 
 than yield, for even then the spirit of liberty and 
 resistance to the King was burning in most 
 American breasts. 
 
 As darkness came on the clouds began banking
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT. " 7 
 
 on the horizon, and as the last ray of daylight 
 faded, a tinge of copper spread over the clouds. 
 " A nasty night for the job, sir," said our sailing- 
 master, but father only nodded and continued 
 leaning on the rail and gazing at the dreary waste 
 of sea and sky. The muttering of thunder stole 
 to us soon, and the wind began a dirge in the 
 rigging, but the hand on the helm never faltered, 
 and straight for the coast we sped. A torrent of 
 rain fell upon us and the gale suddenly freshened, 
 so that it became necessary to take in a part of 
 our sail, but even with the small spread that 
 was left, the Eagle lurched and creaked and 
 shuddered in the grasp of the storm. And so 
 the night came on. 
 
 It was near midnight, and I stood on deck 
 clinging to a stanchion, a rope about my waist, 
 watching the struggle with the sea. Suddenly a 
 light appeared to spring up out of the waters 
 some distance away on our starboard bow. We 
 were running without lights, and though my 
 father and the sailing-master held a hurried 
 consultation regarding the vessel that had so 
 suddenly manifested its presence, it was deter- 
 mined to hold on our course. Half an hour 
 passed, and then the storm seemed to gather all 
 its electric forces into one awful blaze of lightning;
 
 8 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 the heavens were set afire and the sea was lighted 
 up as though the sun had by a miracle burst 
 through from the other side of the world. 
 
 Those who were abroad on that desert of water 
 stood revealed to each other. To our straining 
 eyes was revealed a British sloop-of-war, probably 
 mounting ten or twelve guns, pitching along about 
 half a mile distant from us and headed toward 
 us, though probably by accident, for it was im- 
 possible that they had discovered us before that 
 moment. But now - 
 
 My father shrieked to the sailing-master ; he in 
 turn howled sharp orders to the crew, and I saw 
 them crawling out on the yards, trimming sails, 
 while the wind tore at them and sought to drag 
 them to death. Every son aboard knew that 
 nothing remained for us now but flight and a 
 trust in God that we might elude the war-ship in 
 the darkness and storm. That they had seen us 
 we knew, and that they would divine our purpose 
 of unlawfully landing a cargo there was no doubt. 
 Schooners did not sail without lights in those 
 parts for other purposes. Scarcely a minute 
 passed until a rocket burned its way from the 
 sloop's deck into the night, followed almost 
 instantly by another of different hue, a command 
 for us to halt and give an account of ourselves,
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT- g 
 
 our sailing-master said. A moment later and we 
 had come about, the schooner staggering like a 
 drunken man, and were speeding away. Again 
 the rockets, and no response; then another 
 illumination from the sky and they saw our stern 
 towards them. 
 
 Hardly had the lightning died away until a 
 flash sprang from the sloop's bow, and the roar 
 of a cannon sounded, but we saw nothing of the 
 ball. Perhaps it was a blank shot, but I have 
 never been able so to persuade myself. In truth, 
 the royal officers were too fond of " shooting 
 loyalty to the King " into the Colonists for them 
 ever to waste powder in blank shots. Away we 
 sailed, the roaring of the cannon behind us blanch- 
 ing many tanned cheeks, for we were practically 
 helpless in a fight, having no arms but a few 
 muskets and a dozen cutlasses. But the darkness 
 and the plunging of the vessels saved us from 
 harm during the first few hours of the race, 
 though once a cannon-ball skimmed our lee rail 
 and splintered it. But presently the gray of 
 dawn began stealing over the sea, and as I once 
 more left the cabin, whither my father had forced 
 me to seek refuge, I found him standing by the 
 wheel, though I scarcely knew him at first sight, 
 so haggard his face, so deep-set his eyes, and so
 
 io GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 aged had he become in the night. He looked at 
 me, and by the feeble flicker of the binnacle light 
 I saw tears in his eyes. 
 
 " Are you still brave, Ian? " he asked. 
 
 " Yes," I answered, conscious that now I was 
 become either his weakness or his strength, as I 
 chose. 
 
 " God bless you, my son," he responded, and 
 embraced me. " If you live, remember this as 
 your first stroke for liberty. Surrender now 
 means prison, disgrace, poverty; persecution for 
 your mother and all of us. We must trust to our 
 sails." 
 
 With the approach of dawn the tempest had 
 stilled considerably, and we were now ploughing 
 the sea with quite a spread of canvas, while 
 the sailing-master anxiously watched the wind, 
 crowding to the masts every inch of sail that he 
 dared. For some time there had been no firing 
 from our pursuers, the uselessness of the can- 
 nonading in the dark having become apparent 
 to the sloop's commander, but now as the pall of 
 darkness began to lift, pursuer and pursued be- 
 came visible, white-winged iotas on a seemingly 
 limitless expanse of tossing waves. From their 
 masthead the ensign of his Majesty's navy was 
 fluttering in the gale; from our masthead-
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT n 
 
 nothing but a ribbon of canvas, torn by the 
 night's storm, washed to its original whiteness by 
 the torrents of rain, and now fluttering its bleached 
 and torn shape in the winds of heaven as though 
 proclaiming the spotlessness of Liberty's principle, 
 and the rending storms through which it could 
 and would pass and yet exist. 
 
 Words were few on our deck. Every man had 
 his duty, and no time for aught else! Spurts of 
 smoke and flame began belching from the war- 
 sloop's bow, and solid shot came skipping across 
 the waves; and as we watched, our only topsail 
 was carried away, greatly reducing our speed. 
 Preparations for spreading another were hurried, 
 but the sloop had gotten our range, and in a 
 few minutes a shot plumped through the vessel 
 just above the water-line, and another sent our 
 boom flying into the sea. At the same time our 
 steering-gear fouled, and the Eagle lay floundering, 
 helpless, in the sea. The next shot wrecked the 
 wheel-house and stretched the wheelsman, dying, 
 on our deck. Our hopeless condition and the 
 sight of the wheelsman's blood conquered my 
 father, and he turned, sobbing, to the sailing- 
 master and ordered a surrender. A sailor clam- 
 bered half-way up the splintered mast and shook 
 a sheet in the breeze as a token of our yielding.
 
 12 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 The sloop was now rapidly overhauling us, and 
 from her deck we could hear a cheer, as though 
 the sleuths of the sea were proud of their victory 
 over a helpless fugitive. 
 
 I stood by my father when the naval vessel 
 came alongside and her boarding crew clambered 
 over our splintered rail. His hand was on my 
 arm and I felt it quiver. Looking up, I noticed 
 that his shoulders were stooped, as though a 
 decade had suddenly dropped upon them. The 
 commander, a stocky-built, heavy-jowled man, 
 pompous in his brilliant uniform, strutted forward 
 to where we stood, his men halting a short distance 
 back. 
 
 " So, you traitorous dogs! " he shouted, " you 
 found yourselves no match for the King's men, 
 eh?" 
 
 As he spoke he stopped in front of my father, 
 his thumbs in his belt, and a malicious leer on 
 his face. My nostrils caught the fumes of liquor. 
 
 " We have not tried to fight, sir," responded 
 my father. " We are unarmed, else would you 
 not come swaggering along our deck. We en- 
 deavored to protect our own by escape, but 
 failed. That's all, sir." 
 
 ' You deserve a noose at the end of a yard- 
 arm, every son of a she cur. But we'll soon have
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT- 13 
 
 you in your kennels," and he laughed uproariously, 
 at the same time emitting a stream of tobacco 
 juice from his mouth that would have drenched 
 me had I not sprung aside. 
 
 I heard a low murmur from the Eagle's crew, 
 drawn up near the mainmast. The night had 
 stolen my childhood from me, and as I looked 
 into their sullen faces I knew that but a spark 
 was needed to fire a mine, the result of which 
 would be tragedy. That my intuitions were not 
 at fault was proven quickly. 
 
 " We are your prisoners, sir, and damn me, 
 you are drunk! " thundered my father. 
 
 The words were scarcely uttered when the 
 officer raised his heavy fist and struck him full 
 in the face, knocking him to the deck. Then I 
 heard a howl of rage arise from the men of the 
 Eagle. As though with one thought, they turned 
 and seized the cutlasses and muskets which had 
 been brought out during the early morning and 
 stacked near the mainmast. Why the officer had 
 not secured them when first he boarded us can 
 only be explained by his drunken condition, 
 which blinded him to all but his opportunity to 
 vent his vileness on helpless men. 
 
 An instant later a shower of bullets from the 
 Eagle's men and the boarding crew swept the
 
 i 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 deck, though so hasty was the fire that but few 
 fell. Then, led by the sailing-master, the Eagle's 
 men sprang forward with cutlasses upraised, and 
 in a trice Colonist and Briton were all desperately 
 fighting. 
 
 I snatched up one of the heavy blades and then 
 rushed to my father's side, but before I could 
 reach him I saw the officer bury his sword in the 
 unarmed man's breast. As my father fell his life- 
 blood spurted out and stained my garments. 
 Blinded with the horror of it all, I clutched the 
 cutlass with both hands and swung it with all my 
 strength. A shrill cry of pain brought me out of 
 the frenzy for a moment and I saw the officer's 
 sword drop, his right hand clinging to his wrist 
 by but a strip of bloody flesh. My blade had 
 swung true. He fell to his knees, and then, 
 rising, staggered to the boat's side, while I whirled 
 and dived into the hell of fighting, bleeding, 
 dying men which now separated me from my 
 father. God! It was awful on the deck of the 
 Eagle that Sunday morning. 
 
 The struggle was to the death; no longer was 
 the question of prisoners possible. Men fought 
 and fell dying, and in their death agonies reached 
 up from the mire of blood to strike a last blow. 
 But it could not last long. The Eagle's men were
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT- 15 
 
 too few. For me it was soon over. Hardly had I 
 plunged into the vortex of death when my blade 
 was sent flying from my weak hand, and a glancing 
 blow of a cutlass caught me here here under 
 the forelock. 'Twas a gaping, bloody wound, 
 and the boy, Ian Lester, went down on the deck 
 of the Eagle among the corpses and those who 
 soon would be corpses. And as I rolled over in 
 my agony of pain, I looked aloft and saw the 
 white remnant of sail still fluttering to heaven its 
 signal of the dawning of Liberty's struggle. Then 
 a blur of red came before my eyes, the shrieks of 
 men and the clashing of steel died away, and 
 the blessing of unconsciousness was mine. 
 
 It must have been an hour later when I feebly 
 wiped the blood from my eyes and raised myself 
 on one elbow. The fight was over, reinforcements 
 from the war-sloop had boarded us, and under 
 the direction of a gray-haired officer were going 
 about the decks, unclasping dead men from each 
 other's embrace, laying them out in separate 
 rows, Briton in one, American in the other, while 
 a surgeon was busy with the wounded, and the 
 blood was being washed from the Eagle's deck. 
 Once more objects danced unsteadily before me, 
 and I fainted. 
 
 When next I opened my eyes I found myself
 
 16 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 lying in a strange bunk, amid strange surround- 
 ings. I put my hand to my head and found a 
 bandage there. Then a man in the uniform of a 
 British naval surgeon stepped to my side. 
 
 " How do you feel, my boy? " he asked, kindly. 
 
 " All right, I think, sir," I replied. " Will you 
 tell me about what happened after I fell? " 
 
 He looked grave and serious. " I think I had 
 better not," he said, a tinge of sadness in his 
 tone. " Let me simply tell you that you are on 
 his Majesty's sloop, Oxford, and that you have a 
 nasty cut on your head." 
 
 "And my father?" 
 
 " His name, please." 
 
 " John MacDonald Lester, owner of the Eagle" 
 
 Another shadow rested on his face. " I know 
 you have courage, for they say you fought well, 
 so I may as well tell you that your father is dead." 
 
 I felt the hot tears gush from my eyes, and the 
 surgeon tried in vain to check my sobs. I thought 
 of my gentle mother, and knew that the blade 
 which took my father's life had shortened hers, 
 also. The surgeon gave me a quieting potion, 
 and after awhile I fell asleep, partly from sheer 
 weakness and weariness. Ah, boys were sturdy 
 in those days, and the heartaches and dangers 
 matured them quickly, making mere striplings
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS BENT- 17 
 
 leaders in the affairs of men, but I think you will 
 agree that it was no disgrace that I should lie 
 there and sleep, even though I had not looked 
 upon the face of my father since death had come. 
 
 It was almost sunset when I awakened. No 
 one was near, and, though weak and dizzy, I 
 clambered out of the bunk and made my way to 
 the deck. The sea was calm, there being just 
 enough breeze to keep us moving at a fair speed 
 with all sails set. I looked astern, and there 
 trailed the Eagle, a cable fastened to her bow. 
 Rent and torn, she breasted the sea unevenly, 
 but her white fragment of sail still flapped from 
 the masthead. 
 
 It w T as near noon of the following day when we 
 anchored in the bay at Boston, and I and the 
 three others of the Eagle who still clung to. life 
 were put ashore under guard. My father's body 
 was taken with us, and after a brief pause on the 
 dock, I was placed between two soldiers and 
 marched off towards prison. Behind me were 
 borne the wounded men, and behind them the 
 body of my father, a strong guard around us. 
 
 The news of the affair had spread, and the 
 streets were lined to see us pass. There were 
 jeering Loyalists, and side by side with them 
 women who wept in sympathy with us, and
 
 i8 GAYLE LANGFORD' 
 
 strong men who with white faces and set jaws 
 watched the procession of woe. As we turned 
 a corner I saw a little girl not more than seven, 
 with freckled face and straw-colored hair, pick up 
 a pebble and hurl it at me as she shouted, " Long 
 live King George! " A moment later I turned 
 and saw her burst into tears as my father's body 
 was borne past. 
 
 A little farther on and a woman came, scream- 
 ing, towards us. It was my mother. With 
 streaming eyes and outstretched arms, she rushed 
 towards me, but was forced away. 
 
 " Ian! Ian! Your father? " she moaned. 
 
 I could not utter a word, but turned and 
 pointed to the silent burden in the rear. With a 
 shriek she flung herself on the body of my father, 
 but was seized by soldiers and thrust back. 
 Forgetting my guards, I sprang towards her, but 
 a blow from a musket sent me down and the next 
 moment I was being dragged along, fighting, 
 crying, praying, while my guards laughed at my 
 struggles. 
 
 Of my imprisonment for a week as "an enemy 
 dangerous to the King " I need not tell. At the 
 end of the week I was released to attend the 
 funeral of my mother, who had been stricken 
 by brain fever, and after that I was taken charge
 
 "AS THE TWIG IS J3ENT- 19 
 
 of by an uncle of my father, living in Lexington. 
 What little of my father's property remained 
 was confiscated to the King and squandered 
 by his officers. 
 
 At every opportunity during the next ten years 
 I took fencing lessons, and my progress was a 
 matter of pleasure to my tutors, the most pro- 
 ficient men with the blade to be found in the 
 Colonies, for my great-uncle was not stingy in my 
 education. The rupture with England was con- 
 stantly widening, and I confess, though perhaps 
 it was evil in me, that I saw with delight the 
 Colonists preparing for war, for I longed to strike 
 a blow against the King. 
 
 I was one of those who sprang from bed at the 
 warning of Paul Revere that the British were 
 marching to Concord to destroy the ammunition 
 the Patriots had smuggled there from Boston. 
 But history has told you how Major Pitcairn's 
 advance found us on the Lexington common in 
 the early morning, and though there was dismay 
 in most Patriot hearts that day of tragedy, 
 in my breast exultation flamed, for the first 
 volley of the Revolution had been fired.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 " THE TREE IS INCLINED " 
 
 CAPTAIN LESTER! " 
 I looked up from the letter I had just 
 received from my father's uncle, a letter 
 that he had written me some three months 
 before, and which had been following me about, 
 up country and across country, in soldiers' saddle- 
 bags, while I was being blown hither, thither, by 
 the fierce blast of war that was now sweeping in 
 all its fury across the Colonies. 
 
 My great-uncle, while severe in his criticism of 
 King George's policies, was far from warm in the 
 cause of the Patriot armies. He was always a 
 timid man, and this Revolution, he foresaw, 
 would but result in the hanging of every wretched 
 man of us who failed to die in battle. This very 
 letter was begging me to " do nothing ill-judged " 
 lest I bring " the King's wrath on not only myself, 
 but all of my kin as well." Such whinings always 
 
 20
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 21 
 
 aroused my temper, which, I sometimes fear, lies 
 too close to the surface. And so it was in an ill 
 humor that I turned to the soldier who had 
 addressed me, and who still stood at salute while 
 I scowled at the pages before me. 
 
 " Well, Bates, what is it? Don't stand there 
 like a scarecrow! " Which ill speech shows what 
 a crusty temper I was in. 
 
 " Your pardon, sir, but it's orders to remain at 
 salute until the superior answers, sir." 
 
 In a moment I had caught my senses again. 
 " Of course it is, Bates," I replied, humbly, 
 " and you're a faithful soldier. I was vexed at 
 other things and vented my wrath on you. 
 What is your wish? " 
 
 " General Washington directs that you report 
 to him at once, sir." 
 
 You may be sure that the summons set my 
 heart a-thumping. Not one of my brother officers 
 but would have charged a British battery single- 
 handed if by so doing he could earn a summons 
 by the Chief, and this knowledge caused me to 
 come out of my cloud of gloom instanter. What 
 the summons might mean I had not the slightest 
 idea, but that it could not be of ill import I knew, 
 for, so far, my military record was stainless, 
 whatever the future might hold in store for me.
 
 22 GAYLE LANGFORL 
 
 And so, dressed my smartest, which was sorry 
 enough, the good Lord knows, I soon betook 
 myself to headquarters, a place admirably situated 
 as regarded easy communication with any portion 
 of the Patriot army, that now held New York. 
 The Chief was alone in his office when I was 
 shown in. 
 
 " Ah, Captain Lester? " There was a question 
 in his tone. 
 
 " Yes, sir." And I bowed. 
 
 Washington did not rise, but sat regarding me 
 critically for a moment as I stood at attention, 
 making the most of my inches. Those calm eyes 
 seemed searching my soul in that period of silence, 
 and I remember wondering if he would discover 
 the vanity that was rioting in my breast because 
 of the summons. Then he smiled, and his cold 
 face was transformed. 
 
 " You'll do, Captain! Pray be seated." 
 
 Without further preliminaries he drew a small 
 packet of papers from the desk, and laid them 
 before me. 
 
 " I have heard you spoken of as a brave, 
 discreet soldier Ah, good! You blush! " In 
 truth, my face was flaming like a schoolgirl's. 
 " There is worth in the man who blushes," he 
 added.
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 23 
 
 I racked my brains for an answer, but confusion 
 held my tongue, and, try as I would, I could but 
 sit mute, fingering my sabre nervously. His face 
 was grave again. 
 
 " You must know, Captain, that our position 
 here is precarious. Howe may appear at any 
 day with an overwhelming force. But even that 
 is not the worst danger that confronts us. Our 
 troops are poorly equipped, they have no money ; 
 in many instances their families at home are in 
 dire want. Patriotism is ebbing, and on the 
 rolls of your own troop I doubt not there are 
 many marked, ' Deserted.' And among those who 
 should be my most loyal officers intrigue has 
 found a home. They seek to put another in 
 my place, and " 
 
 " Devil take them! " I cried, springing to my 
 feet, carried away by the recital, for while the 
 words of it may sound calm enough to you, could 
 you have seen the sadness that stole into every 
 line of that proud face, could you have heard 
 the note of sorrow that burdened each word, 
 you would realize the emotion that jerked me to 
 my feet and sent my pulse a-bounding with my 
 desire to make the traitors feel the sting of my 
 steel. 
 
 " Easy, Captain," was the Chief's soft answer,
 
 24 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 and one great hand was upraised in deprecation. 
 I dropped back into my chair, my tongue glib 
 enough now with apologies. 
 
 " So, you can do other things than blush," he 
 said, a faint smile again visible. 
 
 " I can fight for you, sir! " I cried, the blood 
 not yet out of my head. 
 
 " Not for me, Captain, but for your country." 
 He took up the papers again. " These must 
 reach Philadelphia, and I have selected you to 
 take them there. You will find them properly 
 addressed. One is to be delivered to Congress 
 without delay, another is to be placed in the 
 hands of one of the most active Tories in the land, 
 Peter Langford, a man of great w r ealth, and a 
 resident of Philadelphia. And this communica- 
 tion - ' he drew a paper from the packet - 
 " must be dropped, apparently by accident, in 
 his house in order that it may fall into his hands. 
 The details you must work out for yourself, but 
 see that it falls into Langford's hands apparently 
 without your knowledge. You understand? " 
 
 " I do, sir," I replied, simply. 
 
 " I dislike to take harsh measures with those 
 not in arms, but this Langford is one of the most 
 dangerous enemies of the American cause, and so 
 I have taken occasion to warn him in the one
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 25 
 
 communication and to give him seemingly acci- 
 dental possession of the other in order that I may 
 see the result whether he will heed the warning 
 or attempt ruin to our cause by what he will con- 
 sider valuable information. Will you take an 
 escort or go alone? " 
 
 " Alone, I think, sir. An escort would but 
 invite attack, with few more chances of successful 
 resistance, and decidedly less opportunities of 
 escape by dodging." 
 
 " My idea. I am more than ever pleased with 
 you, Lester. When will you start? " 
 
 " Within the hour, sir." 
 
 As I saluted and would have withdrawn, he 
 arose and, towering over me, grasped my hand 
 and squeezed it. 
 
 " Report back to me when and where you 
 can," he said. 
 
 It was considerably less than an hour later that 
 I was pounding along towards our outposts, a 
 song in my heart. Then, after dismounting and 
 whispering the countersign numberless times, I 
 was galloping along country lanes and past fields 
 where none but women and young boys were to 
 be seen at work, the husbands and fathers being 
 with Washington. I wore my uniform, for the 
 risk was but little more, and I did not fancy being
 
 26 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 hung as a spy if caught in civilian's garb. I had 
 marched up the Kennebec with Arnold and had 
 won my captaincy in the charge amid the snows 
 of Quebec. I saw the gallant Arnold fall that day 
 of disaster, and would have challenged the man 
 who would have told me then that the time would 
 come when the army instead of singing of his 
 valor and patriotism would be cursing the name 
 of Benedict Arnold, traitor. 
 
 I have no mind to tell you of that journey to 
 Philadelphia and of my petty adventures. It 
 was getting dusk on the evening of July 3, 1776, 
 when my wearied horse carried me across the 
 Delaware and into the Quaker capital. The war 
 had not yet touched this section, and in place of 
 the frowning ramparts to which I had been 
 accustomed for these many months, I saw ter- 
 raced lawns; instead of the tread of soldiers, I 
 heard the trampling of feet on pleasure or trade 
 bent. 
 
 A carriage drawn by a magnificent team of 
 spirited animals suddenly swung around a corner, 
 and as I reined sharply to one side to avoid a 
 collision, the flunkey on the seat cut my horse 
 sharply with his whip. White with rage, I 
 wheeled, intending to spur after and cut him down, 
 but at that moment a mocking laugh rang out,
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 27 
 
 and my eyes turned from the flunkey to the occu- 
 pants, one a young lady whose features I could 
 not clearly distinguish in the gathering gloom, 
 and the other a man, evidently of about my own 
 age, and dressed in the height of the prevailing 
 fashion. Nothing more did I note concerning 
 him, but I sat rigid in my saddle staring at the 
 face of the young woman, who was now looking 
 back over her shoulder as the carriage whirled 
 on. In truth, a pretty face was always my 
 weakness, and so I sat there like a clown, instead 
 of spurring forward to vengeance. As seen in the 
 gloom, she was fair of complexion, her hair of the 
 shade of copper, her But again came that 
 laugh, and I swore like a sailor, consigning the 
 entire sex to perdition for their beauty and their 
 mockery. 
 
 An old negro came mincing along, crooning a 
 song, and something in the quaint melody struck 
 a chord in my heart that had remained silent 
 while the years crowded my boyhood into its 
 tomb. In a moment I was off my horse and 
 was standing before him, causing him to start 
 back in alarm. 
 
 " Rassle, you black angel! " I cried, forgetting 
 for the moment that all angels, whether white or 
 black, were popularly pictured as being feminine.
 
 28 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 He gazed at me, his eyes slowly widening. 
 Then his teeth began to show in a grin, and before 
 I could have prevented him if I had wanted to, 
 which I assuredly did not, he had wrapped his 
 arms about me and was hugging me. 
 
 " 'Fore God, Marse Ian, de ol' man done thought 
 it was a ha'nt! " 
 
 " Nonsense, you old rascal," (Queer, isn't it, 
 how we mix up our endearing terms?) " you never 
 saw a spook in your life." 
 
 "No, suh, nebber did; dat's a fac', but I'm 
 'spectin' to, suh, an', de Lord lub ye, Marse Ian, 
 I thought fer suah you was in dat place whar de 
 spooks hides." He released me and then stepping 
 back a pace, he put his hands on his knees and 
 half -stooped as he regarded me curiously. " What 
 become o' dat liT boy, Ian, what I useter ca'y on 
 dese yere ol' shoulders, huh? Whar he is, Marse 
 Soldier? An' what you all doin' wif dat voice o' 
 his, an' dat laugh o' his, an' - ' he reached for- 
 ward and raked back the hair from my forehead - 
 " an' what is you doin' wif dat scar? Huh, Marse 
 Soldier? If dis ain't spook work den de voodoo 
 man am a liar. Huh? " 
 
 "That boy died long ago before his youth 
 had fled at the hands of the King's hirelings, 
 Rassle, and from his grave arose a man whose
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 29 
 
 heart burned with a desire to avenge the boy's 
 death, a man God-blessed with strength to do the 
 heart's will." 
 
 "Don' un'erstan' it, Marse Ian I mean, 
 Marse Soldier don' un'erstan' it at all. Why, 
 'tain't been but er liT while since I done toted 
 'im on my back, an' ol' Marse John may de 
 blessed God rest his soul ! he look on mighty 
 proud like, an' tell ol' Rassle ter be keerful o' de 
 boy. An' de sweet ol' Missus Marse Soldier 
 she done fade erway jes' like a rose when de fros' 
 come. Jes' er liT while ergo, jes' er liT while 
 ergo 'twas, 'cause I kin hear 'er singin' right dis 
 minute, jes' sweet an' low like de Souf win's 
 what uster come in de June twilights : 
 
 " In de good ship Zion we are sailin' to our home, 
 Though de waves may dash and billers roll." 
 
 With his arms half -outstretched he swung them 
 back and forth to the rhythm of the song, and I ? 
 That chord he had touched in my bosom was 
 seconding the words; Memory was swelling the 
 music until my eyes were growing misty and I 
 scarce could see him. Faithful old servant in 
 my father's family he had been for years, until 
 Tragedy swept that home away and he was com- 
 pelled to turn to strangers.
 
 30 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Yes," I whispered, " like the South winds in 
 the June twilights. So soft! So sweet! And- 
 yes 'twas just like a rose she faded, Rassle just 
 as you say! Like a rose when the frost comes." 
 
 " But de good God done watches over de roses 
 what fades, Marse Ian, an' when de fros' cuts off 
 de pretty flowers He done takes 'em up fer to 
 decorate His throne. An' dar ol' Rassle gwine 
 ter see de sweet ol' Missus bimeby up dar 
 whar no fros' cain't come, an' whar it is always 
 Junetime, wif de Souf win's." 
 
 " Well, Rassle, enough of this," I said, clicking 
 my feet together and trying to resurrect Ian 
 Lester, the soldier, from the tomb in which I 
 had for the moment placed him in order to again 
 be Ian Lester, the boy. "It is not strange in 
 these days of blood that you thought me dead, 
 but what of yourself? You appear prosperous." 
 
 The old fellow straightened himself and stood 
 stiffly erect, his chest puffed out in a comical 
 effort to assume a look of dignity. 
 
 " I'se monstrous gran', Marse Ian, I suhtenly 
 is monstrous gran' dese days. I'se de gen de 
 gener'lis'mo o' de colored help up to Marse Peter 
 Langford's house, an' " 
 
 ' The generalissimo at Peter Langford's! Peter 
 Langford, the Tory? "
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 31 
 
 " Sh-h! Marse Ian, do be keerful o' yer tongue. 
 Dey don' like dat word ' Tory,' dese fine gen'le- 
 mens don', an' so I'se 'bleeged ter say dat I'se 
 de gener what ye said at Marse Peter 
 Langford's, de Loyalist. An' I'se monstrous 
 gran' up dere, lemme tell ye. An' I aint ' Rassle ' 
 no more, but ' E-ras-mus.' ' 
 
 The old fellow chuckled at the thoughts of his 
 " grandness," so unlike the old days when he was 
 as near a part of our family as black servants ever 
 came to be in any family, and I had dubbed him 
 " Rassle," a name that clung to him until he 
 entered upon his present " grandness." 
 
 " Then I am more than ever pleased at finding 
 you," I said. " I am going to his house this 
 evening." 
 
 " Wh-wh-a-at? Marse Soldier, in dem clothes? " 
 
 " Certainly. Why not? " 
 
 " 'Fore God, Marse Langford'll throw er fit 
 when he sees er rebel uniform in his house." 
 
 " Then let him, for to-night I will be there." 
 
 "An' ter-night! He-he-he-haw-haw!" He 
 burst into laughter. " What er time dar's gwine 
 ter be in dat house dis night! " 
 
 " Is there anything especially amusing about 
 the date that has been chosen for my visit? " 
 
 " Yes, suh, dar suhtenly is, fer ter-night dar's
 
 32 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 gwine ter be a gran' fancy ball fer de young Missy 
 Gayle an' fer some German Prince wif er name 
 dat done loosens my teef every time I gits gran' 
 an' tries ter say it. De Prince he been hyar fer 
 some time, an' de black folks say he powe'ful 
 sweet on Missy Gayle, an' ol' Marse Langford an' 
 ol' Missus Langford " (his voice sank to a whisper) 
 " dey monstrous fond er titles." 
 
 The old darky picked up a stick and began to 
 mark: 
 
 " Hyar de title, an' hyar Marse Langford's 
 money, an' dese two dey jes' keep a leakin', an' 
 a leakin', an' a 1-e-a-k-i-n' towards each other, 
 until bimeby dey's gwine ter git tergedder. An' 
 fer er feller what's fightin' 'ginst er king ter 
 march inter dat crowd wif his uniform on Oh, 
 Lord! Marse Ian, don' do it! " 
 
 " Devil a snap care I for their titles, their 
 money, and their salable womanflesh. It's 
 orders, Rassle, and I'm going. And as for you, 
 no matter what happens, forget you ever knew me." 
 
 " Yes, suh, Marse Ian, I'se gwine ter fergit, 
 I'se gwine ter remember dat, but you'se er gwine 
 inter a wasp nest. Dey mayn't hurt ye bad, but 
 dey'll suhtenly sting ye, Marse Ian. But I mus' 
 be er-gwine, 'cause dere's big doin's dar ter-night, 
 an' I'se monstrous gran' as de gener'lis'mo."
 
 " THE TREE IS INCLINED" 33 
 
 He chuckled again and went mincing away 
 while I mounted and rode to the Golden Lion, 
 a modest tavern, where I demanded accommoda- 
 tions for myself and beast. The signboard bore 
 a rude imitation of the royal coat of arms, but the 
 landlord was said to be secretly a Patriot sym- 
 pathizer, though cringing and timorous to a 
 degree that kept him constantly shifting in his 
 efforts to balance his principles on both shoulders. 
 As I strode into the tap-room with spurs and 
 sabre clanking I created a mild sort of a sensation, 
 and very shortly I observed two or three of the 
 loafers who had been watching me uneasily slink 
 out of the door and disappear. " Tories, and 
 scared limber for fear vengeance is come," I said 
 to myself, and I have never changed my mind. 
 
 I was given a room and a tub of water, in which 
 I was soon splashing merrily, and then with the 
 aid of a broom the dust was taken out of my 
 clothes as much as possible, and after a mug of 
 ale and a steaming supper I stepped forth into 
 the night a different-looking figure from the 
 w^eary one who had ridden there two hours before. 
 The despatch to Congress remained sewed in the 
 waistband of my trousers, to be ripped out and 
 delivered on the morrow. The letter to Langford 
 and the one I was to lose were in an inner pocket.
 
 34 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 As I approached Langford's I saw that Rassle 
 had not exaggerated. There was every evidence of 
 "big doin's " at hand. The mansion sat back- 
 from the street quite a distance, and the walk 
 leading to it was shaded by a row of trees on 
 either side. From these trees giant lanterns hung 
 this night, making a pathway of light. This 
 pathway no rebel feet were expected to tread, 
 but on that July night the negroes in scarlet and 
 gold livery who stood at the entrance gasped with 
 astonishment, for with head erect and sword 
 dangling, a captain of the Continental army, in 
 full uniform, strode past them and marched up 
 the avenue of Tory magnificence to the house 
 a-glitter from ground to dome with many candles. 
 And then this captain raised the great knocker 
 and sent a summons thundering through the 
 halls. A black servant in livery swung open the 
 door, and then sprang back. 
 
 " I wish to see Mr. Langford at once," I said. 
 ' Yes, suh; step in, suh," responded the serv- 
 ant, his years of training governing. " This 
 way, suh," and he led me through a grand hallway 
 and ushered me into a library. "What name, 
 suh?" 
 
 " Never mind the name. Tell him it is im- 
 portant, and that will do."
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 35 
 
 The room was a spacious one and fitted with 
 all of the luxury great wealth could command. 
 Costly paintings hung on the walls, and rare 
 books were on the shelves. A long table and 
 easy chairs were there, but I had not time to stare 
 further, for the door opened and into the room 
 stepped a man dressed in the prevailing fashion 
 of an old English gentleman of wealth, the 
 buckles on his shoes being pure silver, his stock- 
 ings of finest spun silk; deep ruffles of rare lace 
 hung about his hands, while the rest of his attire 
 was a bewildering arrangement of satin and silks, 
 and his hair, worn in an aristocratic queue, was 
 powdered snow white. He was near seventy 
 years of age, stout built, and with a face so red 
 as to suggest the nearness of palsy. 
 
 " Well, damn me! " he exclaimed, halting as 
 he caught sight of a rebel uniform before him. 
 
 I bowed as gracefully as possible. " Mr. Peter 
 Langford, I presume," I said, though I knew 
 'twas he. 
 
 " It is, sir," he responded, sharply, his eyes 
 slowly taking me in from sole to crown. "And 
 who the devil are you, sir, that you are here in 
 such a clownish costume? " 
 
 " Ian Lester, Captain in the Continental Army, 
 at your service, sir, and here by orders of his
 
 36 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Excellency, George Washington, Cornrnander-in- 
 Chief of the Patriot forces." 
 
 "Patriot! Rebel pigs! And ' what prompts 
 your Mister Washington to send you to me? " 
 
 " A letter, sir," and I drew it forth, at the same 
 time loosening the other in my pocket so that I 
 could drop it when I thought best. 
 
 He looked at the communication a moment, 
 and then as he was about to break the seal, he 
 paused and motioned to a chair. 
 
 " Be seated, Mister Lester." 
 
 I took the seat, watching him intently as he 
 stood nervously tearing his way to the contents 
 of the letter. As he read, I saw his expression 
 change from surprise to anger, then fear, and 
 finally rage, until, as he finished, he crushed the 
 paper in his hands and stood over me as though 
 about to strike. If he expected me to spring from 
 my chair in alarm he met with disappointment. 
 Curses fell from his lips until as a trooper and one 
 accustomed to profanity, I was forced to admire 
 his command of it. I remember once, a year 
 later, when my horse was stung by a bullet during 
 a skirmish and bolted to the rear with me while 
 shouts and jeers assailed me, how I prayed for 
 Peter Langford's stock of words and phrases to 
 pour out on that beast.
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 37 
 
 " And do you know the contents of this letter? " 
 he shouted, after he had again taken breath. 
 
 " I have not the honor of reading General 
 Washington's correspondence," I replied, be- 
 ginning to be amused. 
 
 He dropped into a chair, spread the crumpled 
 sheet on the table, piecing in a portion he had 
 torn off in his rage, and read it again. In the 
 pause that followed, I heard a masculine voice 
 somewhere down the corridor raised in a short 
 refrain, and though I was not linguist enough to 
 understand the words, I recognized them as 
 German. "The Prince," I thought. Then a 
 feminine voice, a sweet contralto, took up the 
 words, and the song came towards me. I glanced 
 again at Langford. The purple of his rage was 
 giving, way to the pallor of his fear. 
 
 " Any reply, sir? " I asked. 
 
 " Yes. Tell your Washington I said be damned 
 to him ! No ! No wait I'll write him and 
 
 But I did not hear the rest. The duet had 
 stopped at our door, there was a burst of laughter 
 in which there was a note that set my pulse 
 a-jumping, and then the door opened and in the 
 singers stepped. A prince, evidently, was the 
 man, judging by the decorations he wore; a 
 German without a doubt, by the nationality
 
 38 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 stamped on his features; a man of twenty-six, 
 perhaps, rather large of frame and florid of counte- 
 nance; his clothes all that fashion could demand 
 or money provide. But the face of the girl I had 
 seen before looking back at me as her carriage 
 had whirled away in the dusk and I had sat in my 
 saddle thirsting for the blood of her flunkey. 
 
 Seen now in the brilliance of many candles, I 
 could not say her beauty was perfect. Here and 
 there was an undeniable freckle, but her blue 
 eyes looked out into the world from beneath 
 cunningly arched eyebrows, and above them was 
 a forehead as smooth as velvet, receding back 
 into a bounteous mass of hair that had the dull 
 gleam of copper. But her eyes were the most 
 wonderful into which I had ever gazed. Dancing 
 with merriment as she entered the room, as the 
 firelight flickers on the polished andirons, they 
 suddenly changed as she caught sight of me, and 
 I saw the warmth fade and a look of cold hauteur 
 steal into them, and, carrying out the figure of 
 comparison, I imagined I felt the chill of the 
 frost as it chased the firelight's glow from the 
 fire-dogs. 
 
 " Ah, a pardon, Herr Langford. We knew not 
 that this room was occupied." 'Twas the man 
 who spoke, his English excellent.
 
 - THE TREE IS INCLINED " 39 
 
 " Never mind, Prince, do not go. I will soon 
 dismiss this " 
 
 I was already on my feet and sweeping my hat 
 to the floor in my most gallant obeisance to the 
 lady, so I stole his insult by an interruption. 
 
 " This messenger from General Washington," 
 I exclaimed quickly. " Ian Lester, Captain in the 
 Continental Army." 
 
 For my speech I was rewarded by a burst of 
 laughter from the girl, and its sarcasm penetrated 
 even my armor, that I had prided myself was 
 proof against Tory ridicule. I squared my 
 shoulders, but could not hide from her the evi- 
 dence that I was hit, for my tanned face had 
 flushed a deeper red. 
 
 " See, Prince," she said, turning to her com- 
 panion, " the man is really haughty, quite as 
 haughty as as Erasmus, our generalissimo." 
 And again there was a burst of mocking laughter 
 that stung me. 
 
 " 'Tis because of a serene consciousness of 
 proper demeanor," I replied, quickly. "As a 
 soldier, I have my duties, and these have I per- 
 formed in a manner that leaves no reproach on 
 my pride. Doubtless, your generalissimo is 
 proud of the same freedom from error. Even so 
 fair a lady as yourself has resting upon her
 
 40 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 shoulders obligations towards those who are 
 beneath her roof by invitation or by duty, 
 shall I say? I trust your haughtiness is born of 
 as untroubled a conscience as mine and your 
 servant's." 
 
 I saw the color flame to her cheeks and knew I 
 had slipped the thrust beneath her guard. The 
 Prince stepped forward quickly, anger blazing in 
 every line of his features. I smiled into his face. 
 
 " Gott I " he exclaimed, his anger confusing his 
 English. " It is such insult! " 
 
 But the girl stepped between us, and though 
 her cheeks were still red, the frost had left her 
 eyes. 
 
 " Nay, Prince," she said, bravely. " Tis but 
 a merited rebuke! In truth, he has a more civil 
 tongue than I." 
 
 And I? The sudden warming glimpse of a 
 noble nature melted me and I would have snatched 
 her hand and kissed it, but the harsh voice of 
 Langford brought me to myself again. 
 
 " I must have time to consider my reply to 
 your Mister Washington! Already are the guests 
 arriving for the ball, and they demand my atten- 
 tion! How will three to-morrow afternoon do? " 
 
 " Your pleasure is mine, sir," I replied. 
 
 I saw 'twas time I dropped my decoy letter,
 
 "THE TREE IS INCLINED" 41 
 
 and as I bowed to him the deed was done. I 
 heard the slightest crinkle of paper as it fell 
 lightly to the floor, and the eager light that leaped 
 to the old Tory's eyes told me that the bait would 
 be seized. The girl had crossed to another part 
 of the room, and I rejoiced when I noted that 
 she had not seen the paper fall. Somehow, since 
 her sudden warming a moment before, I had 
 hoped that she would not acquiesce in the pur- 
 loining of another's papers! Langford hastily 
 arose to his feet, and I turned away a moment 
 to give him his opportunity. When I faced him 
 again I adjusted my sword belt and thus, dropping 
 my eyes, saw that the paper no longer lay on the 
 floor. Langford appeared to be in a deep study, 
 and as I turned to take my leave, he stopped me. 
 
 " One moment. I would have a word with the 
 Prince first." 
 
 He led the German aside and spoke to him 
 earnestly, and then the latter nodded his head. 
 Langford turned to me. 
 
 " Will you accept an invitation to be my guest 
 until I have prepared my letter to Washington? " 
 
 I stood dumb with surprise. The girl turned 
 quickly and stared at him in amazement. My 
 thoughts were galloping, but I could not solve 
 the puzzle. However, it seemed that a stay
 
 42 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 beneath Langford's roof might promise adventures 
 of some sort, and as I was rusting because of a 
 lack of thrills, I decided to remain. 
 
 The girl's eyes were upon me, and my resolu- 
 tion was strengthened when I saw no trace of 
 winter there. 
 
 ' ' Surely, ' ' I replied. ' ' I will be most honored. "
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THE PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 
 
 A SERVANT showed me to a room, where 
 I added a few touches to my toilet and 
 made ready to play my part in this 
 strange proceeding. Why should I, a rough 
 captain of Continentals, be asked to attend this 
 brilliant affair to which none but the most loyal 
 subjects of his Majesty, King George, were sup- 
 posed to be bidden? Once had I urged upon 
 Langford the sensation my uniform would create 
 in the ballroom and parlors, but he replied that 
 as 'twas a fancy dress ball all sorts of characters 
 would be represented, and that my appearance as 
 a rebel soldier would be regarded but as a freak 
 idea of some young gallant. However, he added, 
 with a cold smile, if I was ashamed so to appear 
 among ladies and gentlemen I could either remain 
 in seclusion or he would provide me with fitter 
 costume. 
 
 If he had sought to touch my pride, he suc- 
 
 43
 
 44 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 ceeded, and I thought of what Rassle had said: 
 " Dey mayn't hurt ye bad, but dey'll suhtenly 
 sting ye." Indeed, I began to suspect this to be 
 his reason for inviting me. Did he wish me to be 
 impressed with the splendor of it all and to con- 
 trast it with the wretchedness of the Patriot con- 
 ditions in the hope that I would carry discouraging 
 reports back to the army? 
 
 " I'll wear my uniform, sir," I said, " and will 
 look in upon the festivities." 
 
 Long before I had put the finishing touches to 
 my primping I neard the fiddles sounding in the 
 rooms below, and half an hour later when I 
 descended I could not repress an exclamation of 
 admiration for the magnificence of the scene. 
 The floors of the rooms were polished until they 
 reflected the light of many massive candles, the 
 fragrance from a wilderness of flowers banked 
 here and there greeted me; and the brilliance of 
 the silks, satins, brocades, and laces of both 
 ladies and gentlemen caused me to survey rather 
 ruefully the blue and buff of my poor uniform. 
 
 As I surmised, the appearance of one in the 
 Continental uniform startled the revellers, but a 
 moment later they smiled in the belief that 'twas 
 but a masquerade. 
 
 I heard a murmur and saw a sudden craning of
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 45 
 
 necks, and looked around just in time to see 
 Gayle Langford enter the room on the arm of the 
 Prince, who now wore the full uniform of a Hessian 
 colonel, a most brilliant bit of dress, you who 
 know the conceit of it will agree. At his side 
 dangled a jewelled sword of exquisite workmanship. 
 I balk at the telling of how the fair Tory was 
 gowned, for, blunt man of war that I was, I had 
 no descriptive eye for feminine furbelows, but 
 this I know, 'twas a wondrously beautiful creation 
 of finest fabrics, cut low enough to reveal a neck 
 of perfection and just a modest bit of well-turned 
 shoulder. I confess it, they were a distinguished, 
 a handsome couple, and I am not sure but that 
 I did think for a moment of the wretched contrast 
 of the conditions of the Patriots. Was it not, 
 after all, a foolish, hopeless struggle in which we 
 were engaged ? But I rejoice that a blush of shame 
 for the harboring of such fancies soon warmed my 
 cheek! The couple at once became the centre of 
 a chattering, laughing group, at whose outer 
 edge I hovered. Then as the strains of the minuet 
 sounded to the sweep of the rosined bows the 
 group dissolved and left the Prince and Mistress 
 Gayle momentarily alone. A sudden resolve 
 flashed to my brain, and with a few quick strides 
 I stood before her, bowing:
 
 4 6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " 'Tis the minuet! May I have the honor? " 
 1 asked. 
 
 'Twas a bold stroke, and I quite expected the 
 gasp of astonishment from the Prince and the 
 look of resentment that flashed in her eyes. She 
 drew back, her chin uptilted in the queenly 
 hauteur that certainly became her wondrously 
 well. 
 
 " Impertinent! " she exclaimed, her tone icy. 
 
 " And when did it become impertinence for a 
 gentleman to crave a lady's hand in the dance? " 
 
 " I do not know you, sir! " 
 
 The depth of scorn in her voice rather 
 amused me, for I had determined to humble her 
 pride. 
 
 " Ah," I replied, smiling, " your memory is 
 poor. But an hour agone I had the honor of 
 presenting myself, Ian Lester, courier of his 
 Excellency, General Washington." 
 
 Never an opportunity I allowed to pass for the 
 hurling at these Tories the name and rank of the 
 Washington they hated. She indulged in the 
 very feminine practice of biting her lower lip and 
 tapping the toe of one daintily slippered foot on 
 the floor. 
 
 " But by what right can such as you demand 
 my company? "
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 47 
 
 "Not 'demand,' but 'beg,' and by the 
 right of a guest here by invitation." 
 
 Then fury gathered in her eyes, and for a few 
 breaths I thought my throat was in danger of a 
 clutch by those jewelled fingers. I stepped to 
 her side and offered my arm. My uniform had 
 made me conspicuous, and already many eyes 
 were focusing on us! She hesitated, and then 
 fearing to refuse in the sight of her staring guests, 
 she slipped her hand within the crook of my 
 elbow. 
 
 " Fraulein! " 
 
 The Prince, who had stood stiffly by, clutched 
 her wrist, but, already quivering with anger, she 
 shook herself free from his grasp. 
 
 " Your Highness forgets himself! " she said, 
 sharply. " Mister Lester is my father's guest. 
 Come," she added, turning to me, " they await 
 us." 
 
 We turned to take our places in the minuet, 
 but as we did so the Prince flashed me a look so 
 full of hatred that the soft cluck of my sword 
 trappings was comforting as I led the lady 
 from his side. That his discomfiture had not 
 escaped the notice of others was evident by the 
 half-suppressed smiles discernible on many faces 
 turned in our direction.
 
 48 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 And then I forgot all about the glowering 
 German as we trod the measures of the stately 
 minuet. Beautiful women curtsied and tripped 
 gracefully to the passionate voice of the fiddles, 
 but, forgetting the decision I had reached in the 
 library, I mentally swore that none there could 
 compare with Mistress Gayle Langford. I forgot 
 that she was an heiress, a loyal subject of the 
 King, and that I was but little more than pauper, 
 a rebel against all she held dear; I forgot Wash- 
 ington and the ragged battalions ; I forgot all but 
 the melody, rising, trembling, sinking, pleading; 
 the fragrance of rare flowers that stole to my 
 brain and robbed my intellect of its powers; 
 the merry quip of youth and beauty. In truth, 
 I came near forgetting all but the radiant woman 
 to whom I bowed more profoundly than to any 
 other. 
 
 " Tis in the minuet that the longing for eternal 
 youth is born," I said. 
 
 " Tis youth itself," she returned. " Pray tell 
 me, what weight have years when its measures 
 sound? " 
 
 Her cheeks were glowing, her eyes shone with 
 a lustre that rivalled the stars of heaven, and as I 
 gazed into them I heard a great crying in my soul. 
 
 " Years? None that is, if Love be the scales.
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 49 
 
 But unless they be weighed by heart-throbs 
 they lie as millstones." 
 
 'Twas in the order of the dance that at that 
 moment I should bow to her, and you may be 
 sure that all the grace I could command was 
 condensed into that obeisance. 
 
 " And, sir, 'twould seem that in the song of the 
 fiddles there is that which oils the hinges of the 
 tongue and places thereon pretty speeches." 
 
 " Ah, Mistress Langford, 'tis even so, but first 
 doth the music carry the open sesame to the 
 heart and release that which speeds to the tongue." 
 
 " In graceful flattery." 
 
 " Nay in awkward honesty." 
 
 The music stopped. There was a burst of 
 applause, in which my companion joined, but the 
 musicians refused to continue the number. I 
 drew Gayle Langford's hand within my arm and 
 led her away. 
 
 " 'Twas cruel in them to hush the fiddles," I 
 said. 
 
 She made no reply, and glancing at her, I saw 
 that the glow was dying from her cheeks, the 
 enchantment of the music slowly fading. We 
 passed behind an embankment of roses, and she 
 suddenly snatched her hand from my arm. In 
 surprise I turned to her.
 
 So GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Permit me to find you a seat," I said. 
 
 "Leave me at once!" she cried. "I I 
 hate you! Do you hear, sir? I hate you, you 
 rebel! " 
 
 I stood staring', not yet fully aroused from my 
 fool's paradise into which I had been wooed by 
 the minuet. The next instant she had brushed 
 aside a curtain and disappeared within another 
 room. Ah, well, it was no more than I should 
 have expected, so what need to stand there like 
 a bumpkin? 
 
 I strolled leisurely about, stopping now and 
 then to flip a jest with some inquisitive gallant 
 who wondered at my uniform, and now and then 
 I ogled pretty girls who from behind their fans 
 sought conquest by dimpling cheeks and arching 
 brows. I wonder if 'tis sin that my pulse still 
 quickens at the arching of a brow and the coy 
 challenge of a smile? 
 
 Once I peeped into a room and saw old Peter 
 Langford seated at a table, several other men 
 leaning forward to hear what he was saying. In 
 his hands he held a paper, and I had no doubt 
 that it was the one I had dropped on his library- 
 floor. Evidently a council was being held by a 
 few trusted spirits, and I would have chanced 
 much to learn what was being said, but it was
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 51 
 
 impossible, for guests were constantly passing, and 
 even as I peeped into the room I knew that I 
 was observed by those without. Therefore, I 
 dared not hesitate, but passed on. I did not care 
 to return to the ballroom. There I had accom- 
 plished more than I had hoped. Now for seclusion 
 and a chance for thought. 
 
 I heard voices in a near-by room and, finding 
 the door half -open, looked in. A cloud of fragrant 
 tobacco smoke was rising, and about the room 
 three men were lounging, pipes in mouths. 
 
 " Your pardon, gentlemen. Do I intrude? " 
 
 " Intrude? No, no; a welcome, sir, and a pipe 
 if you say the word." 
 
 Thus invited, I entered, and, taking a pipe from 
 the mantel, filled it and settled back in content- 
 ment. 
 
 "My name is Boyd Richard Boyd, and 
 these, Thomas Dunn and Harry Thornton, all of 
 Philadelphia, and loyal to the heart to King 
 George," said one, gaily. 
 
 It was a direct invitation for me to introduce 
 myself. I blew a ring of smoke and watched it 
 widen. Then I replied: 
 
 " These many times to-night have I presented 
 myself, and will I do it again. Gentlemen, your 
 servant, Ian Lester, Captain in the Continental
 
 52 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 army, courier for General Washington , and to the 
 last drop of blood in my heart loyal to the cause 
 of American liberty! " 
 
 I sent two more smoke rings floating towards 
 the ceiling before the silence that followed was 
 broken. Then Boyd smote his thigh with his 
 palm and, leaning back in his chair, roared 
 with laughter, in which his companions quickly 
 joined. 
 
 " Good! " he shouted. " 'Fore God, you're a 
 good one, sir. You have taught us how to mas- 
 querade. Here you, Dunn, you with your 
 brigand's garb, learn wisdom from our friend. 
 Instead of merely looking fierce, you should stick 
 to your role and lift the purses of all you 
 meet." 
 
 I smiled, and after a few minutes' raillery, in 
 which I am sure I gave full measure in return 
 for all I received, the trio knocked the ashes from 
 their pipes, and declared their intentions of 
 seeking the ladies. 
 
 " And, mayhap, a buss from rosy lips, in the 
 garden, eh, my Captain? " And Boyd slapped 
 me on the shoulder as they went out. 
 
 I was grateful for being left alone, and allowed 
 my thoughts to riot as I drew the smoke in long, 
 full whiffs. A window opened out into the
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 53 
 
 grounds lighted here and there by lanterns, and 
 occasionally bursts of song and laughter would 
 float in from those who had deserted the ball- 
 room for the cool pleasures of a promenade 
 beneath the trees and, mayhap, a buss from 
 rosy lips. 
 
 The cry of a night-bird came to me and made 
 me lonely, for it brought vividly to my mind a 
 night scout I had made some months before with 
 Lieutenant Wilson, and how we had agreed on an 
 imitation of a night-bird's cry as a signal. But 
 Wilson, poor fellow, failed in his sounding of the 
 signal, was seized with a fit of coughing, and was 
 riddled by bullets from a British outpost the 
 next instant, while I had the devil's own ride in 
 escaping. The war had but fairly begun ; I knew 
 that. It must be years ere peace could come. 
 And would it be peace with liberty, or would it 
 be peace with tyranny? And would I witness 
 the sheathing of the sword, or would my bones 
 lie in some unmarked spot, as would, of a certainty, 
 the skeletons of hundreds no less entitled to life 
 and happiness than I? I had been impatient to 
 draw the sword, 'tis true, but, after all, was not 
 the cost to be greater than I had recked? But I 
 had been right, I told myself; the birth of a 
 nation must be in blood and agony. I blew
 
 54 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 other rings, and then turned my head to see the 
 Prince standing in the doorway, his hands on his 
 hips, regarding me with a cold stare. 
 
 " All alone, your Highness, won't you join me? 
 I've been deserted by my friends, Tom, Dick, 
 and Harry." I smiled at my jest, but the German 
 ignored it. 
 
 " Herr Lester is light of heart," he said, coming 
 in and seating himself facing me. 
 
 " Assuredly. Gloom is the heritage of defeat." 
 
 Again I smiled at him, and had the satisfaction 
 of seeing his lips tighten. 'Twas evident he 
 remembered the minuet. 
 
 " And does not the shadow of the traitor's 
 gallows to your heart uneasiness bring? " 
 
 " True it is, your Highness, that definitions 
 alter with the prejudices of the definer. By the 
 King's men I am called a traitor; by the lovers 
 of liberty I am called a Patriot." 
 
 A sardonic smile parted his lips and his hands 
 were raised to his throat in significant pantomime. 
 
 " Ach! " he exclaimed. " Patriot be it then - 
 but the rope will be as rough ! The noose strangles 
 definitions! " 
 
 I would not be truthful did I not confess to the 
 chill that crept up my spine at the picture he 
 drew so vividly with word and gesture, but I am
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 55 
 
 certain that naught but indifference was in my 
 face as I puffed at my pipe. 
 
 " Bullet or noose, 'tis but a fleeting difference," 
 I said. " Frankly, I prefer neither, but the choice 
 is not mine. I yielded that when I drew the 
 sword. And, after all, what matters a few years 
 more or less of breathing? Will not my rest be 
 as peaceful if it comes next week instead of next 
 year? " 
 
 " But it is folly, Herr Lester. Think you that 
 your jealous mobs can conquer the trained soldiers 
 of his Majesty, the King? " 
 
 " We shall have help " 
 
 " Bah! France will not aid you." 
 
 -From God," I said, as though concluding 
 my interrupted sentence. 
 
 I knew that what he said was truth. The eyes 
 of the Patriot leaders were turned to France, but 
 that wily nation had so far given no sign of notic- 
 ing our appeal for help in the crisis into which 
 she had undoubtedly encouraged us to enter. 
 
 " God will not produce men and muskets 
 where none exist," he replied with biting sarcasm. 
 
 " But perhaps He will create a storm and drown 
 some of these cursed Hessians that are sailing 
 to America to fight us because George Third 
 bought them at seven pounds per head!" I
 
 5 6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 retorted, and then let my eyes slowly roam over 
 the gorgeous uniform he wore. 
 
 He gasped out something in German that had 
 no meaning to me, but by the flush in his face 
 and the angry gleam of his eyes, I felt assured I 
 was not missing any compliments by not under- 
 standing that language. That he had sought me 
 for the purpose of picking a quarrel I had no 
 doubt, and I cannot say I was displeased. 
 
 " Enough of this! " he exclaimed, hotly. " I 
 have come to ask if an apology you have made 
 to Fraulein Langford? " 
 
 " Apology? Certainly not. For what? " 
 
 " For the impertinence of the minuet, you 
 Colonial clown ! She is not for such pauper rebels 
 as you! " 
 
 " Nor for such bankrupt titles as you! " I 
 shouted, exasperated beyond all control. 
 
 " You have a tongue like a rapier! " he hissed. 
 
 " And an arm like hickory! " I hurled back. 
 
 In an instant we were on our feet, and our 
 blades flashed in the candle-light as he lunged at 
 me and I parried. The table was between us, but 
 I grabbed it with my left hand and sent it crash- 
 ing, pipes, tobacco, and all, into the corner, and 
 then we leaped at each other, the lust of death in 
 our veins. There was one clash, and then
 
 ' ' Gentlemen ! ' ' 
 
 Between us darted Gayle Langford so recklessly 
 that she came near being spitted on my steel. 
 
 Instantly the blades were lowered, and as she 
 turned on us those wonderful eyes, now flashing 
 with indignation, I flung my sword on the floor 
 and dropped my head. 
 
 " I know I am beyond pardon, Mistress Lang- 
 ford, for brawling beneath your roof, yet w T ould I 
 crave leniency of condemnation." 
 
 " She saved your worthless life, rebel! " rasped 
 the Prince. 
 
 I thought she would rebuke him for his lack of 
 manners in her presence, but, heigho! I had 
 reckoned without her sex, for she simply slipped 
 her hand within the crook of his arm and turned 
 her back to me. 
 
 " Prince, my father has asked me to fetch you," 
 she said, and they walked out of the room, leaving 
 me standing there as though I were one of the 
 servants. But even in that moment of humiliation 
 I admired the proud poise of her head, the glimpse 
 of snowy shoulder but I cursed the broad 
 shoulders beside her that were gaudy with Hes- 
 sian colors. 
 
 If she had but delayed, I growled to myself, I 
 would have slit that finery over his jealous heart.
 
 58 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 But the thought brought a smile. What under 
 heaven was the prig jealous of? Of me, a pauper 
 rebel? The smile broadened into a chuckle, and 
 'twas in a right good humor that I picked up my 
 sword from the floor and began righting the 
 table. He might rest easy; I wanted none of 
 that little Tory spitfire in mine. 
 
 I was of a mind to return to the ballroom and 
 make bold with my eyes and my bows should I 
 trap a flirtatious smile and mayhap 'twould 
 lead to a stroll beneath the trees, and a buss from 
 rosy lips. My sword was my country's, but my 
 arms and my lips ah, well, they were for 
 Loyalist and Patriot alike, providing the Loyalist 
 or Patriot were youngish and fair. Indeed, I 
 believe I would have gone forthwith on my 
 scandalous mission of amours had not Boyd 
 popped his head into the room at that moment. 
 
 " Hello! " he cried, cheerily. " The Continen- 
 tals are still intrenched here, are they? " 
 
 " Yes, I have been smoking the pipe of peace," 
 and I pointed to the tobacco. 
 
 " Well, it's a devilish shame the Colonists and 
 King George can't do that," he replied. " Damn 
 me er Captain Lester, I believe you said 
 if I don't half sympathize with these ragged chaps 
 who are following Washington! "
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 59 
 
 " Boyd, do you mean that? " I cried, springing 
 forward and clutching him by the shoulder. 
 
 He met my eyes unflinchingly. " I suppose it's 
 treason, sir, but I'm man enough to swear I mean 
 it, though but an hour ago I swore my loyalty 
 to the King. I tell you again, as freely as though 
 you were what your cloth proclaims you, I half - 
 aye, more than half sympathize with Wash- 
 ington's cause." 
 
 I seized his hand. " Boyd! " I exclaimed. 
 " Boyd, I am what my cloth proclaims, a Conti- 
 nental captain. The cause needs men like you - 
 needs you. Decide! " 
 
 He stared at me, and I felt his hand trembling 
 with the emotions that were sweeping over him, 
 with the fires of patriotism that were kindling in 
 his soul. Ah, 'twas a bold thing in those days 
 to make declaration as he had, and 'twas a leap 
 into untold dangers to spring forth from the 
 ranks of the King's men into the undisciplined, 
 ill-equipped, gloomy lines of Continentals. 
 
 " And now a horde of Hessian hirelings are to 
 be set upon Americans fighting for justice, 
 they say now ; after to-morrow independence ! " 
 He had turned to the window and was looking 
 out into the gardens, his forehead wrinkled as 
 though with deep study.
 
 60 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Independence to-morrow? " I cried. 
 
 " Aye, to-morrow, I doubt not, Congress will 
 pass the Declaration of Independence, and then 
 men must choose whether they are for liberty 
 or the bondage of a king's will. There can be 
 no middle ground." 
 
 " And you, Boyd? Are you not with us? " 
 
 He was silent for a moment, and then he turned 
 towards me, his shoulders squared, his head erect, 
 his eyes unwavering, and when he spoke his 
 voice was steady, his tones even. 
 
 " Lester, by the God above me, I am with you ! " 
 
 Then his hand met mine, and I knew that so 
 long as breath remained in our bodies we were to 
 be friends. 
 
 A blast rang through the mansion, and a 
 moment later was sounding through the gardens. 
 
 " The summons to the banquet table," said 
 Boyd. " Come, you have no lady; neither have 
 I. Together let us eat, drink, and be merry, for 
 to-morrow tyranny dies! " 
 
 Our laughs rang together as he linked his arm 
 with mine and led me to the feast. 
 
 Ah, 'twas an assemblage of wealth and fashion 
 and beauty that sat at table within that grand 
 hall. The gorgeous costumes of the ladies and 
 gentlemen, the flashing of the candles' light on
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 61 
 
 the gold and silver of the table service, the gar- 
 lands of fragrant roses, the corps of black servants 
 in brilliant liveries, formed a picture I'll never 
 forget. And Erasmus, the generalissimo, looking 
 " monstrous grand," stood near by, directing the 
 servants, though he near forgot his duties in 
 astonishment when he saw me striding down the 
 room in the full regimentals of a rebel. But far 
 be it from me to attempt to tell you of the edibles 
 set before us at that gathering. Though I had 
 been well born and reared, I had to confess my 
 ignorance as to the composition of many of the 
 chef's concoctions, but they were all tasty, and 
 as my appetite had become quite vigorous by 
 reason of months of campaigning with rations 
 always an after consideration, I heeded but little 
 the quip and jest that darted back and forth, 
 across and around the table, frequently with 
 " the rebel " as the butt of it, but devoted my 
 attention to the getting of a good supper. I 
 knew not what might lie before me, but did know 
 that a well-nourished body was a mighty bulwark 
 for the intrenchment of a dauntless spiiit, and 
 if the Tories chose to help strengthen this bul- 
 wark well, 'twas satisfactory to me. 
 
 At the head of the table sat Peter Langford, 
 his flushed face in striking contrast with the
 
 62 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 powdered whiteness of his hair. At the opposite 
 end of the table sat his wife, a proud, imperious- 
 appearing lady of sixty years, fashionably gowned 
 in all the frills of the day. At the right hand of 
 Langford sat his daughter, and beside her the 
 Prince. Not once did I catch the girl's eyes on 
 me. But the Prince! 'Twere well that looks 
 were not rapiers, else had I perished from his 
 eyes ere we had been at table a moment. 
 
 As the banquet proceeded and the wine quick- 
 ened the blood, the merriment increased until 
 the serving was interspersed with bedlam. The 
 Prince was called on and responded with a Ger- 
 man ballad that might as well have been Greek 
 so far as my understanding was concerned, but 
 truth compels me to say that the fellow had a 
 splendid voice, and rendered the song so exceed- 
 ingly well that even I joined in the hand-clapping, 
 though he shot me another rapier from his eyes 
 as my reward. Then above the general hubbub 
 there was a cry for a toast from Mistress Langford. 
 She hesitated a moment, and then arose to her 
 feet, wine-glass in hand. Instantly there was 
 silence. Then her glass was raised. 
 
 "Long live King George!" she cried, and 
 kissed the goblet. 
 
 At the same moment, for the first time during
 
 the banquet, her eyes shot to mine and held there, 
 defiance and scorn eloquent in their glorious 
 depths (for I felt that they were glorious, even 
 in that moment). Her cheeks were flushed, her 
 chin tip-tilted, a challenge to me in every fibre of 
 her being. 
 
 At once, in response to her toast, the merry- 
 makers sprang to their feet, and amid the chorus 
 of " Long live King George! " the glasses were 
 drained. 
 
 Impulsively, I had half -risen to my feet, but as 
 her challenge flashed to me, I deliberately re- 
 sumed my seat and set my glass, untouched by 
 my lips, on the table. I thought I saw a change 
 in her bearing as I did so, but whether of admira- 
 tion for my audacity or of disdain I could not tell. 
 In truth, my brain was busy with another problem 
 that had suddenly been born to it in her toast, 
 " Long live King George." That cry brought 
 back something but what was it? From some 
 niche in the past that cry, that voice seemed to 
 be coming to me as an echo. I struggled to 
 sweep the cobwebs of years from the chambers 
 of memory, but 'twas baffling. I heeded not the 
 stare of the crowd as they noted my refusal of the 
 toast; I heard not the whispers and murmurs; I 
 was harking to the voice of memory; I was
 
 64 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 travelling back through the years, probing, search- 
 ing for the echo. 
 
 In my perplexity I ran my fingers through my 
 hair, and as I did so I felt the jagged scar beneath 
 my forelock, and then I gasped as I suddenly 
 raised my eyes and looked again into her face. I 
 was a boy again, wounded and faint and sorrow- 
 ing, marching through Boston's streets close- 
 guarded by files of British soldiers, and I felt the 
 sting of a pebble thrown at me by a freckle-faced, 
 straw-haired little girl who shouted at me, " Long 
 live King George! " and then burst into tears at 
 sight of the dead borne close behind me. Aye, 
 the past and present were united now in the 
 person of this Tory maid. 
 
 " The Captain drinks not the toast," said the 
 Prince, and I heard him. 
 
 " No, and it could not be expected that I 
 would. 'Twould choke in my throat," I responded. 
 
 The company were mostly seated again, and 
 Boyd, leaning toward me, whispered: 
 
 " Lester, I smell a row r ! " 
 
 " In truth, I like the scent," I retorted, and he 
 subsided. 
 
 " Ach! It is in keeping with the rebel uniform 
 that the wearer lacks breeding, and insults by 
 refusing a lady's toast."
 
 PRESENT MEETS THE PAST 65 
 
 That the German was trying to provoke me to 
 disgracing myself I realized. That he sought to 
 force me to a duel I believed. Of the former I 
 was chary, for the latter I was hotly impatient. 
 Had I been close I would have dashed my wine 
 in his face, but as it was I arose to my feet, 
 choking down my anger and forcing a smile. 
 
 " Your Highness, and ladies and gentlemen," I 
 said, bowing, " I will drink the lady's toast if she 
 and you will drink one I shall propose." 
 
 "Agreed!" "Agreed!" The cries arose from 
 all sides. 
 
 I raised my wine-glass and drained it. Then I 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " 'Tis a toast in two parts, and, sirs and ladies, 
 did this goblet contain my heart's blood I would 
 drink it. Here's success to General George 
 Washington! " 
 
 An angry murmur arose. 
 
 " Drink! " I cried. " Your words are passed! " 
 
 With a laugh, many of them raised their glasses 
 and gulped the toast. 
 
 " And now for the second part." I picked up 
 a glass of water and raised it high, and then 
 looked straight into the eyes of Gayle Langford. 
 
 " God rest the souls of the Eagle's men! "
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 RED ROSES 
 
 EVEN now I cannot keep from my face the 
 smiles as I recall the effect of my toast. 
 Mistress Gayle Langford I thought was 
 near to swooning when I mentioned the Eagle. 
 She started from her seat and reached out her 
 hands towards me, much as a mother would in 
 imploring a child, and I heard her moan as though 
 stricken. Tis not this recollection that stirs my 
 risibles, but the commotion that followed. Men 
 were on their feet and surging towards me, 
 clamoring excitedly, the Prince hurling German 
 curses at my head and imploring the mob, for it 
 was but little less by now, to let him reach me 
 with his blade. 
 
 " Aye, let the Hessian peacock sink his steel 
 in one who scorns to draw a blade in the presence 
 of such a company! " I cried, standing erect 
 with my arms folded, and the speech won me 
 friends, for some of the cooler heads, now heartily 
 
 66
 
 RED ROSES 67 
 
 ashamed of the riot they had begun in the banquet- 
 hall, began calming those about them. 
 
 I saw Gayle Langford lay her hand on the 
 Prince's shoulder, and her lips moved quickly as 
 though in sharp reprimand, though her words did 
 not reach me. The German hesitated, and then, 
 replacing his sword, turned sullenly towards the 
 table and sat down. Peter Langford had pleaded 
 for quiet, and now he resumed his seat. And 
 then I chanced to catch sight of Erasmus, who 
 stood in his corner, arms uplifted, and such a 
 comical look of terror on his black face as he 
 looked into my eyes that I laughed outright, and 
 again took my place at the table. 
 
 " 'Fore God, Lester, are they all like you? " 
 whispered Boyd, and I knew he meant the 
 Patriots. 
 
 " Luckily, no," I answered. " Fear not, 
 friend; the rest are sane." 
 
 " Heaven be praised! " he breathed fervently. 
 
 Perhaps 'tis useless to say that the banquet 
 came soon to an end after that, and I doubted not 
 that old Peter Langford would send me marching 
 down the walk and out the gate with scant 
 ceremony. Therefore it was with amazement 
 that, half an hour later, I received the message 
 borne to me by a servant as I sat in the smoking-
 
 68 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 room watching the card play of a quartet of young 
 bloods who had forgotten the cyclone of the 
 banquet in the fever of gambling. Mr. Langford 
 knew I must be tired, said the servant in his own 
 way, and my room was ready for me. 
 
 Knocking the ashes from my pipe, I bade the 
 gamblers a courteous good night, though, in truth, 
 a good morning were more fitting, and followed 
 my guide. The room to which he showed me was 
 on the second floor, one of several opening off 
 a long hall. The interior but you care naught 
 for that, as it has no bearing on this tale. Let me 
 simply say that 'twas handsomely furnished, with 
 the great bed looking especially inviting to a tired 
 soldier. The servant lighted my candles and 
 then bowed himself from my presence, hoping 
 " dat de bright spirits would stay wif me." I 
 threw my sword on the bed, and then went to the 
 window. 'Twas a matter of pleasure to me that I 
 found a long veranda on that side of the house, 
 and I was not long in availing myself of the com- 
 forts it offered on such a fine midsummer night. 
 Comfortably seated near its rail, I would have 
 given much for a pipe and tobacco, but none had 
 I. The town was dark, except here and there a 
 flickering lantern marking a street corner, but the 
 moon was peeping up over a church tower on the
 
 RED ROSES 69 
 
 far side of the town, and it would not be long 
 until Philadelphia would be reclaimed from the 
 darkness. 
 
 The party was breaking up, and groups were 
 leaving, singing, laughing, shouting on their way 
 to where the carriages awaited them, a black 
 servant with a sonorous voice standing at the 
 gateway bawling out the calls to the drivers. 
 Indeed, 'twas an animated scene, but, hardy 
 soldier though I was, I was beginning to confess to 
 myself a great weariness, and, returning to the 
 room, I prepared for rest. My clothes I piled on 
 the chair, man fashion ; my sword I placed within 
 reach, as years of turmoil and danger had taught 
 me. The servant had spread out on the bed a 
 long, linen nightshirt, and this I donned, con- 
 fident that the royal arms worked on the collar 
 in scarlet silk would not prevent my sleeping 
 soundly. Then I stretched myself out with a 
 sigh of comfort, and my last conscious moment 
 was filled with the bawling of the negro at the gate. 
 
 But peaceful slumber was not to be the portion 
 of Ian Lester that night, though I must have 
 slept at least two hours before I suddenly sat bolt 
 upright, listening and peering about me. Surely 
 I had not entangled the shout of the negro in my 
 dreams !
 
 70 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 God, no ! My heart almost thumped itself to my 
 teeth as a scream rang through the mansion, a 
 woman's cry of terror. In a trice I had flung the 
 covers from me, and, sword in hand, was shooting 
 back the bolts of my hall door. And now I knew 
 that the trouble was in an adjoining room, for as 
 I sprang into the hallway I heard a man's voice : 
 
 " Hush, damn you! Hush! It's a mistake, I 
 tell you!" 
 
 There was another scream, which quickly died 
 away in a gurgle. I heard the sounds of a struggle 
 and knew that the fellow was choking the woman 
 into silence. By this time I was at the door, 
 twisting and rattling at the knob, but the bolts 
 were in place on the inside, and I am afraid that I 
 swore terribly. Then I stepped back and flung 
 my weight against the panels. Of a surety, they 
 would have been stout bolts that had withstood 
 that human battering-ram, and these were not 
 equal to task. As a result, I went to my knees 
 on the floor of the room by reason of the force 
 with which I had come through the doorway, 
 but in a moment I was on my feet. As I plunged 
 into the room I saw by the moonlight a man 
 bending over the bed, struggling with the occu- 
 pant, but as I regained my feet he turned and 
 sprang through the open window on to the veranda.
 
 RED ROSES 71 
 
 I was but a short bound behind him, and in time 
 to hear a voice from the shadows below cursing 
 him. 
 
 " The next room, you blundering ass! " 
 
 I would have sworn that 'twas the voice of the 
 Prince, but I had no time for tone analysis, for 
 the prowler suddenly whirled and faced me. 
 
 " I'll kill you, you meddler! " he rasped. 
 
 His sword leaped from its sheath, and in a 
 moment we were fighting merrily on the veranda 
 in the moonlight. His face I could not see for a 
 dark mask he wore, but that his eyes were sharp 
 and his wrist supple I soon found. A night-robe 
 is a poor garb for a test of steel, and the uncertain 
 light of the moon, with many shadows, is apt to 
 bring grief to the best of swordsmen, and so I 
 found that 'twas no child's play that lay before 
 me. 
 
 Backward and forward we fought without a 
 sound save the harsh clash and ring of steel meet- 
 ing steel. Once the fellow stepped into a shadow, 
 and then lunged at me so suddenly that he passed 
 my guard and would have run me through had I 
 not had nimble feet and sprung aside, though the 
 blade ripped through my robe and tickled my 
 ribs in the passing. I thought it strange that none 
 of the men of the household came to help me,
 
 72 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 though I heard voices behind me in the room 
 from which I had chased the knave. Not that I 
 was faint of heart, but it seemed the natural thing 
 to expect. 
 
 The cowardly thrust from the shadows stung 
 me to an anger I had not previously felt, and I 
 went to the attack so furiously that the fellow 
 was soon beaten from his refuge of gloom. Once 
 I heard a sharp gasp as of pain and was certain 
 that I had pinked him, but the play of his blade 
 never faltered. However, I steadily forced him 
 backward across the veranda, and presently I noted 
 with delight that his breathing was becoming 
 labored and his stroke less true. I, myself, was 
 tiring of the struggle, but my hardy life had made 
 me the physical superior of this fellow, who, 
 doubtless, was much given to the wine- cup. With 
 this new inspiration, I pressed him still harder, 
 and though he fought now almost entirely on the 
 defensive, I could not reach him until I resorted 
 to a trick. Feinting a thrust, I caused his blade 
 to drop in guarding, and then, stepping widely to 
 the left at the same moment, I lunged straight at 
 his heart. He was a wary rascal else had I 
 finished him there, but his blade flashed up in 
 time to turn my point from his breast and save 
 himself from a fatal stroke, but the force I had
 
 RED ROSES 73 
 
 put into it was too great to be far deflected, and 
 his back-handed parry served but to guide my 
 point to his right shoulder, and there it sank deep. 
 He screamed with pain, and then, suddenly leap- 
 ing backward, he vaulted over the veranda rail 
 before I could reach him, and I heard him strike 
 the ground heavily. 
 
 Now thoroughly determined to have the fellow, 
 I also sprang to the rail, but the distance was too 
 great and I hesitated to take the leap. But the 
 posts were thickly entwined with vines, and, 
 grasping these, I lowered myself to the ground. 
 I remember smiling as I did so at the fright that 
 would result should one of the blacks chance to 
 see that white-robed apparition, a gleaming sword 
 in its teeth, swinging and swaying between 
 heaven and earth. But when I reached the 
 ground the scoundrel had disappeared, and 
 though I stalked about through the grounds like 
 an avenging spirit, searching every shadow, 
 'twas in vain. 
 
 In the rooms above me lights were flashing, and 
 I heard a babel of voices, and now I bethought me 
 'twas time I sought my chamber and donned 
 fitter clothing for a ramble through house and 
 gardens. But how was I to do this? I liked not 
 the climb up those vines, and 'twere useless to do
 
 74 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 so, any way, for I had carefully fastened my 
 window before going to bed, and as for entrance 
 through the lady's chamber well, hardly. 
 
 There was no help for it, so I marched up to the 
 great door and sounded a summons. Then I 
 waited, half -audibly consigning to the warm 
 caresses of the devil the rascal who had caused me 
 to be in such a plight. Presently I saw a servant 
 coming down the hall cautiously, shading a 
 candle with his hand and peering ahead of its 
 light as though anxious to get an early glimpse 
 of an unknown terror. It was evident that the 
 black was already frightened by the uproar above 
 stairs, and so I was prepared for the shriek of 
 terror when he swung open the door and saw 
 before him a spectre in white with tousled hair, 
 bare feet, and naked sword. 
 
 The candle fell to the floor, and with another 
 howl the darky turned and plunged back into 
 the dark recesses. I heard the slamming of a 
 door and the slipping of bolts somewhere in the 
 distance and knew that he had barricaded him- 
 self, and probably was now on his knees pleading 
 for forgiveness for some pet sin. Snatching up 
 the candle, I did the only thing possible, 
 marched down the hallway and up the stairs alone. 
 The servant's howl of terror had attracted atten-
 
 RED ROSES 75 
 
 tion from above, and when I was half-way up the 
 stairs I heard a rush of feet, and, looking up, saw 
 a fringe of white faces peering down at me from 
 above the landing rail. I had paused to look, 
 but now as I resumed my spectral march upward 
 the faces disappeared and I heard an excited 
 discussion. As I reached the head of the stairs 
 and turned to go down the hall I was startled by 
 a cry of, " Halt! " 
 
 The candle blinded me for a moment, but now 
 I saw a man confronting me with levelled pistol, 
 and beyond him, in the dim light of two candles 
 farther down the hall, was a group of men and a 
 few women, the look of fright on their faces evi- 
 dent even in that uncertain light. In truth, 
 I must have been an uncanny sight standing there 
 like an incarnated spirit from another world. 
 
 '' Who are you? " came the demand. 
 
 " Ian Lester, Captain of Continentals," I 
 responded with habitual formality. 
 
 There was a half -smothered shriek from the 
 women, and I saw them turn and dart into their 
 rooms. Then the ludicrousness of it all dawned 
 on me, and I leaned against the wall and roared 
 in a paroxysm of laughter. 
 
 ' 'Fore God, you look more like a captain of 
 devils," was the comment of the man with the
 
 76 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 pistol, who now lowered the weapon and indulged 
 in a chuckle himself. 
 
 " Well, if the ladies have hidden their eyes 
 from this embarrassing spectacle, I'll proceed," I 
 said, and, candle and sword in hand, I marched 
 on through the snickering men to my room, where 
 I threw myself on the bed and again rolled 
 in a seizure of laughter that I was unable to con- 
 trol. 
 
 It was near to dawn by this time, and I decided 
 that I might as well dress and investigate the 
 cause and result of the rumpus, so, wiping the 
 laughter tears from my eyes, I rolled off the bed 
 and turned to the chair where I had left my 
 clothes. Then the mirth in my bosom died a 
 sudden death. The chair was there but the 
 clothes were not. Seizing the candle, I hastily 
 looked the room over, but not a stitch was to be 
 found. 
 
 Consumed with rage, I sprang to the door and 
 would have rushed into the hall again had not the 
 sound of feminine voices out there caused me to 
 pause in dismay. I began beating on the door 
 with my clenched fists. 
 
 "Ho, Langford! Langford! Langford, I say! " 
 I bellowed with all the volume anger could give 
 my voice.
 
 RED ROSES 77 
 
 Instantly the women hushed, and I pounded 
 the louder. 
 
 " Send Peter Langford here instantly! " I 
 shouted. 
 
 There was a commotion in the hallway, and a 
 moment later the old Tory opened the door and 
 stuck his head into my room. 
 
 " What devil's racket is this? " he demanded, 
 with a show of anger. 
 
 I seized him by the shoulders and pulled him 
 inside. 
 
 "My clothes!" I demanded. "They have 
 been stolen! " 
 
 " Well, I am not responsible. I believe you 
 chased the thief, yourself." 
 
 " But not this thief. That rascal came through 
 a window from without. This scoundrel came 
 through the door from within. See, the window 
 of this room is securely fastened! " 
 
 He made a show of examining the window catch, 
 and the while my brain was busy. Many things 
 were beginning to become clear to my mind, and 
 they all hinged on the distressing fact that the 
 despatch I carried from Washington for Congress 
 was stolen. It was sewed in the waistband of 
 my short-clothes. Why had this scheming old 
 Tory inveigled me into becoming his guest? Did
 
 78 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 he suspect that I carried important papers besides 
 the one I had purposely dropped? Why had the 
 night prowler entered the room adjoining mine? 
 In a flash I remembered hearing him tell the 
 woman that it was a mistake, and I remembered 
 that some one on the ground below had cursed 
 him for a blunderer when we were fighting on the 
 veranda. 
 
 " The next room, you blundering ass ! " 
 
 Those were the words. The next room was 
 mine. Had the fellow been sent burglaring as a 
 part of a plot to seize my despatches? And had 
 not the theft of my clothes taken place for this 
 purpose by some one within the house while I 
 was crossing steel on the outside with the knave 
 who had blundered? 'Twas all so plain that in 
 my rage I was of a mind to redden my sword with 
 old Langford's blood. 
 
 " You thieving cur! " 
 
 My fingers went to his throat, throttling the 
 cry that rose to his lips, and in a moment I had 
 him on his knees, the lust of death in my heart, 
 but the face of Mistress Gayle seemed to come 
 between us, and my fingers relaxed. Then a 
 realization of my loss swept over me, and I sank 
 into a chair and with my face in my hands 
 sobbed like a boy. The reputation of soldierly
 
 RED ROSES 79 
 
 efficiency I had builded up by months of hardship 
 amid scenes of blood was swept away, leaving me 
 disgraced, mined. Washington had trusted me, 
 and a woman's cry had caused me to forget. I 
 had gone scrambling down vines and wandering 
 barefooted through the grounds like a clown 
 while my enemies quietly possessed themselves 
 of my precious papers. 
 
 When I looked up, Langford was standing 
 before me, and the leer on his face quickly stilled 
 my sobs. 
 
 " Are all rebels children? " he asked, and it 
 stung me. 
 
 " No," I replied, " but it is well my uniform 
 was stolen. I am unworthy it." 
 
 " One would suppose the fool's garb were of 
 spun gold to hear your lamentations. Was it, 
 indeed, so valuable? " 
 
 It seemed to be a family trait of the Langfords 
 that their thoughts should be writ in their eyes, 
 and now his were snapping with an eagerness 
 that would have warned me had not my brains 
 already resumed their duty of guarding my 
 tongue. 
 
 : ' Valuable? Poof! I was but vexed, and 
 acted childishly. Provided I secure decent garb 
 the thief is welcome to those poor rags."
 
 8o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " But your valuables? " 
 
 Again the snapping eyes told their story, and 
 I spread a smile so natural that I flatter myself 
 he was puzzled. 
 
 " Were but trifles. One or two gold pieces and 
 some continentals. Disappointment will be the 
 thief's portion." 
 
 " It must have been one of the servants. I 
 cannot believe it of my guests, but the blacks are 
 always thieving." 
 
 " And in the meantime I am naked, save foi 
 this robe which was slitted by that knave's blade.'"' 
 
 " I will see that you are provided." 
 
 He backed out of the room, evidently fearing 
 that my fingers might again squeeze his gullet, 
 and I sat there in the early dawn disconsolate and 
 half -regretting that I had sprung aside when the 
 thrust had come from the shadow. The confusion 
 in the halls died away for a time, but by the time 
 the sun had peeped in at my window I heard the 
 servants in the yard below me singing bits of 
 quaint songs in subdued tones. There was naught 
 for me to do but wait as patiently as possible, but 
 I am afraid I said some monstrously wicked things 
 during that wait. But at last there was a knock, 
 and a servant entered and laid out on my bed a 
 complete furnishing of clothing.
 
 RED ROSES 81 
 
 " Marse Langford say he think dey fit you an' 
 he hope dey please." 
 
 " Tell Mr. Langford that I feel under obligations 
 to him. for many things and don't forget to 
 tell him I said many things." 
 
 Quickly I donned the garments, and then I 
 surveyed myself in the mirror, vain prig that I 
 was, but it had been many days since I had been 
 arrayed in the tucks and finery of a citizen gentle- 
 man, and, in truth, the feel of the satins was 
 pleasing. White silk hose, rose-colored short- 
 clothes, with waistcoat and coat of scarlet slashed 
 with creamy trimmings, rich lace at the cuffs and 
 throat, and the powdered wig that accompanied 
 the finery made of me quite a Brurnmel, it seemed 
 to me. 
 
 When the summons came for breakfast I found 
 Langford alone to break bread with me. Why the 
 other men were absent I never knew, but, doubt- 
 less, it was all a part of the game being played by 
 this King's man, and I was compelled to admit 
 that he had succeeded so well thus far that he 
 should be given credit for knowing what was best 
 for his own plans. I felt much like a whipped boy, 
 and ate my breakfast almost in silence. 
 
 " You will return at three for my letter? " he 
 asked, when, the meal over, I announced my
 
 82 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 intention of going out into the city. " I am sure 
 that by that time I will be able to decide as to my 
 answer to Mister Washington. And I will have 
 my servants' quarters searched for your cloth- 
 ing." 
 
 As usual, his eyes were as printed pages, and I 
 read in them sly vaunting, for the rascal felt 
 assured of finding something hidden about my 
 clothing. My lips pressed themselves into a 
 straight line, and the hot reply born in my heart 
 did not live to pass them. 
 
 The sun was already beating down with great 
 fury when I ran down the front steps, and the 
 day gave evidence of being one of sultriness. 
 As I reached the long promenade leading to the 
 gate I paused, for there before me was Gayle 
 Langford bending over a rose-bush close beside 
 the walk. As she heard my step she looked up, 
 her left arm supporting a great cluster of the 
 magnificent roses, her right hand still clinging to 
 a flower she was about to pluck. Dressed in 
 some stuff that was light and airy and with dainty 
 figures, radiant and fresh and cool-looking was 
 she, and in a moment my cocked hat was sweep- 
 ing near to the ground as I made my bow. 
 
 " Flora among her treasures," I said. 
 
 The look of bewilderment that had at first come
 
 RED ROSES 83 
 
 to her face vanished in a smile that quite be- 
 wildered me. 
 
 " La, it is, indeed, Captain Lester. The tailor's 
 conceits quite disguise you, but your audacious 
 speech is betrayal." 
 
 " God grant that I never be betrayed to an 
 enemy less fair." 
 
 A soft flush stole to her cheeks and heightened 
 the color already there. There was but a moment's 
 hesitation, and then she came towards me, hand 
 outstretched, the roses winnowing from her arm 
 and providing a pathway of petals. 
 
 " How ungracious of me," she said, her voice 
 low and soft as a flute, " to stand idly playing 
 with words when I should be giving you my hand 
 in gratitude for your gallant rescue." 
 
 She laid her dainty hand, all pink and white, 
 like one of her rose petals, in my rough palm, 
 and bending over it, I pressed my lips to the 
 ringer tips, the while a great trembling seized me. 
 
 " 'Twas you ? " I queried, and my voice must 
 have betrayed the great surprise I felt. 
 
 " And you knew it not? " 
 
 " Until this moment, no." 
 
 I looked into her eyes and saw there a returning 
 flash of her hauteur, with a growing mixture of 
 disappointment.
 
 84 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Else your blade would have been less ready, 
 perhaps." 
 
 " Else had I certainly slain the knave," I re- 
 sponded, and wondered why I had so thrown my 
 soul into the words. 
 
 " Though your sword is for any wench who 
 pipes a cry. Doubtless you thought 'twas some 
 lass you had ogled in the ball-room." 
 
 " My sword is for the defence of those who need 
 it my country first ; beauty, though Loyalist, 
 next." 
 
 She had spoken herself into a position she little 
 relished, and now was plainly hard put for reply. 
 Hence she irrelevantly held up the flowers. 
 
 " Are they not beautiful? " she asked. 
 
 " Indeed, they are but little less so than those 
 blooming in your cheeks." 
 
 " Fie, Captain, I expected something more 
 original from you." 
 
 " Truth has but slight originality. It is like a 
 rose. If the rose is beautiful, all men use the same 
 word in complimenting it." 
 
 " Will nothing stay your saucy tongue? " she 
 asked, laughing. 
 
 " If I stand in your presence, naught but death." 
 
 " Then begone, sir, this instant, for I have 
 harked to enough impertinences! " Her eyes
 
 RED ROSES - 85 
 
 suddenly flashed anger, as a cloud sweeps across 
 the sky, blotting out the sunshine. 
 
 " And I have stifled the voice of duty too long 
 to stand thus in the perfume of Tory crinoline." 
 
 "Rebel insults!" 
 
 " Doubtless you prefer Hessian blandish- 
 ments!" I retorted, for she had vexed me 
 beyond endurance. 
 
 " Sir! " There was a world of scorn in the 
 word. 
 
 " A rebel tongue is a thing despised, but a 
 rebel sword is a gift of God in time of peril! " 
 
 I swung my hat in another bow and stalked 
 down the promenade, my head high in the air. 
 
 "Captain!" 
 
 I marched on. 
 
 " Captain Lester! " 
 
 There was an appeal in the tone, and I wheeled. 
 She came to me, holding out two roses. 
 
 "I I was ungrateful to forget," she said. 
 " Will you not accept these, the most beautiful 
 of the garden? " 
 
 " And I was a knave to remind you, Mistress 
 Langford," I replied, taking the flowers as 
 tenderly as though they would crumble at a rude 
 touch. " I thank you and beg humbly for your 
 forgiveness."
 
 86 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 She smiled and turned away. 
 
 "Mistress Gayle! " 
 
 'Twas my call this time, and as she turned I 
 pressed one of the roses to my lips. 
 
 "To our better friendship!" I cried, and 
 tossed it to her. 
 
 It fell to the ground. She hesitated; then, 
 stooping, she picked it up and, thrusting it into 
 her bodice, ran laughing to the house.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 
 
 THE quaint old city was quiet on that mid- 
 summer morning, but it was not the 
 quietude of contentment ; rather was it the 
 quiet that comes just before the hurricane sweeps 
 down, bringing death and woe, destroying the old 
 and levelling for the erection of the new and better ; 
 the quiet of the tiger that, fleeing from the hunts- 
 man until driven to desperation, now crouches, 
 with ominous purring, for a spring, ready to be- 
 come a hunter of the hunter. The tradesmen in 
 their plain, drab cloth, stood in the doorways 
 talking earnestly with those who paused to chat. 
 And 'twas not God's covenants that burdened 
 their tongues, but a king's tyranny and men's 
 rights or a king's graciousness and rebels' 
 treason according to what group was talking - 
 for it must be remembered that there were many 
 who sided with George Third and viewed the 
 
 87
 
 88 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Patriots as so many vipers that were stinging 
 the hand that had blessed them. 
 
 Would Congress adopt the resolution declaring 
 the Colonies free and independent? 
 
 That was the burden of the tongues this humid 
 morning, and many even of those who were ready 
 to strike a blow at England for the sake of securing 
 redress for certain wrongs were of the opinion 
 that a declaration of independence was a step too 
 far, a bit of mad folly that could but result in 
 disaster. Gentlemen in gold-laced hats and carry- 
 ing gold-headed canes met and pounded the 
 walks with their sticks as they argued, inter- 
 spersing their discussion with frequent resorts to 
 their gold snuff-boxes. About the market-places 
 the drivers of Conestoga wagons called to one 
 another, and always the discussion was, " Will 
 the delegates sign? " 
 
 I was a stranger and was able to overhear but 
 little of the talk, for in those days men were 
 careful who heard their declarations on political 
 subjects. But I cared naught for the idle talk, 
 anyway. The rose on my lapel was giving out a 
 sweet fragrance. I was no longer in buff and 
 blue, and I seemed floating away from war and 
 its horrors. 
 
 The little Tory was a beauteous vixen! I
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 89 
 
 turned my eyes to the great white cover of a 
 Conestoga wagon, and there on its corded sides I 
 saw her face, saucy, wilful, cold, warm and 
 radiant, pleading, freckled, fair and perfect! 
 Did ever a man see so impossible a picture before ? 
 But perhaps no one had ever before seen Mistress 
 Langford's face with eyes like mine. Heigho! 
 I know not, but I know that by the time I had 
 reached the inn where I had stopped the night 
 before I was near ready to curse the entire name 
 of Langford. In my room, I tore the flower from 
 my coat and flung it into a corner. 
 
 " So be it with all Tories ! " I muttered savagely. 
 
 Then I straightway walked over to that corner, 
 picked up the rose, and pinned it on my lapel 
 again. Inconsistent dolt, say you? Well, I am 
 but telling you a truthful tale, and 'twould not 
 be truth did I paint myself as a high-headed 
 youngster whose hours were a grand symmetry 
 of consistency. 
 
 Boyd had promised to meet me here at ten, 
 and though 'twas past the hour he had not come. 
 I paced the floor in impatience until a tap sounded 
 on the panels. 
 
 "Come in!" 
 
 The door opened and Boyd paused on the 
 threshold, staring at me.
 
 go GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " I beg pardon, sir. I thought why, it 
 well, spit me, if it isn't Captain Lester, after all! " 
 
 " Nay, 'tis Mister Lester this morning," I said, 
 looking down at my fine clothes rather ruefully. 
 
 He came in and closed the door, and then 
 regarded me curiously. 
 
 "Satins and lace and a rose," he said, a 
 question in his eyes rather than in his inflection. 
 
 " Yes, I bought the flower in a shop." 
 
 Somehow, the lie slipped out of my mouth, for 
 I felt that he would not understand the rose 
 incident. Besides, I was rather nettled at his 
 tone. 
 
 " And the clothes? " he asked, point-blank. 
 
 For answer I told him the story of the night 
 and how my despatches had been stolen. He 
 dropped into a chair near the open window and 
 was silent for a time. 
 
 " Philadelphia is a furnace to-day," he said, at 
 last, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. 
 
 " Aye, and from the crucible will come - 
 what? " 
 
 He shook his head slowly. " May God's pity 
 rest on the poor chaps who swelter in the State- 
 house to-day." 
 
 " And what of the chaps who shall carry for- 
 ward what they begin? "
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 91 
 
 He turned his eyes to me again, and a doubt- 
 was there. 
 
 " I had reference to the heat, Lester. But is 
 this Captain of Continentals faltering in the 
 cause? " 
 
 " Falter? " I drew myself up to my fullest 
 height, and probably I looked severe, for he had 
 touched me on a tender spot. " Boyd, some day 
 I'll tell you the story of a scar, and " 
 
 I paused and sprang to the window, for at that 
 moment a handsome coach with gilt panels came 
 bowling along, and at its window I saw the face 
 of Gayle Langford. She saw me, bowed, and 
 smiled into my eyes as I leaned far out on the 
 window-sill, and as she bowed I caught sight of a 
 great red rose in her bodice. Then the coach 
 swept on, but I still hung out of the window, 
 watching it until it turned a corner and left me 
 naught but a dust cloud. Then I drew my head 
 in, and found Boyd watching me, a cold smile on 
 his lips. I reddened under his gaze. 
 
 " And of a rose? " he asked, a sarcasm in his 
 voice. 
 
 " You saw? " I stumbled over the words in 
 my confusion. 
 
 He nodded. 
 
 " I saw King George's most loyal wench
 
 92 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 smile, up at you. And I caught the flash of a 
 rose." 
 
 " Well, what of it? " I demanded, anger 
 beginning to kindle at his manner. 
 
 " What of it, Lester? Nothing I hope." 
 
 " Damn it, man, have done with your flings. 
 What would you say? " 
 
 " Easy, my Captain. Let not the heat of the 
 day creep into your brain." 
 
 I said nothing, but turned to the window and 
 sat down. 
 
 " The rose she wore, Lester, is a rare one. I 
 know something of floriculture and often have 
 inspected Langford's garden. There is but one 
 bush of that variety in all of the Colonies. It is 
 in Langford's garden and the rose you wear 
 grew upon it I " 
 
 I had been reared a truth-loving lad, and now 
 the knowledge that I had been trapped in my lie 
 brought confusion to me. I raised my eyes, 
 but dropped them before his steady gaze. 
 My face was hot, not with anger now, but with 
 shame. 
 
 " Lester," he cried. " Tell me the truth about 
 this flower! " 
 
 " She gave it to me," I replied, humbly. 
 
 " Ah! " He caught his breath sharply. " And
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 93 
 
 your uniform, Lester, and yes by God, your 
 despatches? " 
 
 I looked at him then. " What mean you? " I 
 asked. 
 
 With a quick stride he was at my side, looking 
 down at me, his hands clenched, and when he 
 spoke his voice was hoarse. 
 
 " Mean? I mean that beauty in petticoats has 
 before now ensnared men and wooed from them 
 that which should have been dearer than life. 
 You lied to me about the rose, Lester, but if you 
 have lied about those despatches, 'fore Christ, 
 you must answer to me! " 
 
 Then I understood. 'Twas in his mind that I 
 had sold my honor for this Tory beauty's favor. 
 The accusation shot me through with rage, but 
 even as I came to my feet another thought had 
 stayed my fingers that would have sought his 
 throat. 
 
 " Boyd," I said, " those words would mean 
 your death were it not for this, that they prove 
 to me as nothing else could the patriotism that 
 is in your heart. I'll tell you the story of this 
 rose, and as for Mistress Langford, I would not 
 buckle her slipper for her brightest smile. 'Twas 
 but a passing whim that rammed my head like 
 a gander's out of the window a moment ago."
 
 94 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Whereupon I gave him the details of my tilt in 
 the garden with the girl, and then of my boyhood, 
 and the last cruise of the Eagle. When I had 
 finished he was clinging to my hand. 
 
 " But, ah, Lester, how often have I seen red 
 lips change the politics of a stalwart man! " he 
 said, concluding his apologies. 
 
 " But the Declaration, Boyd? You know more 
 of it than I. Tell me, will they sign? " 
 
 His face clouded. " Last night I would have 
 said yes without a pause. But during the night 
 evil influences have been at work. Some of the 
 delegates hesitate, waiting to hear some word 
 from the court of France. Oh, did King Louis 
 but send a whisper of hope! " 
 
 " And to-day brings the hour of destiny to a 
 nation," I said, impressed with the solemnity of 
 it all. 
 
 At that moment there came a burst of up- 
 roarious laughter from the tap-room below. 
 
 " Aye, the hour of destiny, but the rabble still 
 carouse." 
 
 And then we fell to discussing the business that 
 had brought us together, a consideration as to 
 how Boyd could best serve the American cause, 
 and the decision was that he would return with 
 me to New York and take service with Washing-
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 95 
 
 ton. But little did I dream of what was to come 
 to pass ere I stood in the Chief's presence. 
 
 We descended the stairs and entered the tap- 
 room. It was hazy with tobacco smoke, and 
 grouped about a table in one corner were several 
 scurvy-looking fellows, drunk and beating the 
 table with pewter mugs in accompaniment to a 
 song. The singer's back was to us, but I recog- 
 nized him as the Prince. Our entrance attracted 
 no attention, and, seating ourselves in another 
 part of the room, we ordered each a mug of ale. 
 
 " The Prince seeks genteel company," remarked 
 Boyd. 
 
 " He has an object, I'll be bound," I replied, 
 listening to the chatter of the gang. 
 
 "Ho, landlord! More ale! More ale!" they 
 cried. 
 
 "No!" cried the Prince. "No more babe's 
 milk will we have. A sling of kill-devil give us." 
 
 " Long live the Prince! " shouted one, and the 
 mugs were banged furiously on the table to the 
 shouts of " The Prince! " " The Prince! " 
 
 We sat with our backs to them, listening in 
 silence, while the publican bustled about and soon 
 had the rum concoction before them, with many 
 bows and smirks. 
 
 " I'll give you a toast," said one, evidently of
 
 9 6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 better education than the rest, though many of 
 the choicest knaves of the day were well reared 
 and learned. " Here's to the Prince and his 
 loving wench, Mistress Langford ! May the nectar 
 of her lips be his in the future as in the past! " 
 
 " Sit still! " 
 
 Boyd hurled the command at me in a whisper 
 and jerked me back into my chair as I started up. 
 The toast was drunk with a yell of laughter, in 
 which the Prince joined. 
 
 " Ach, you jolly dogs!" he exclaimed play- 
 fully. " You have many eyes that are sharp, I 
 see. I pledge you in return, this: May your 
 lips be always moist with kisses as sweet as those 
 of my adoring Mistress Lang 
 
 I wrenched free from Boyd and was on my feet. 
 
 " Stop, you cur! " I shouted, and the name 
 died on his lips. 
 
 " O Lord! " groaned Boyd. 
 
 "Ach! And who is this?" cried the Prince, 
 turning to me, fury in his voice. 
 
 With a few quick strides I was before him. 
 
 " A gentleman, you whelp of a wolf, who would 
 wash your tongue of its dirty lies! " 
 
 I raised my ale-mug and dashed the liquor into 
 his face and mouth as he stood gaping at me. His 
 henchmen had recovered from their astonishment
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 97 
 
 by this time, and my rash act was like to have 
 cost me dear at that moment, for they surged 
 towards me with a howl of sullen rage, and though 
 there was not a sword among them they might 
 have overpowered me and beaten me to death 
 had not Boyd used his wits. Quick as a flash he 
 seized a stool and hurled it into their midst, 
 bowling a couple of the leaders over, and stopping 
 the rush. Then he grabbed a table and whirled 
 it in front of us as a barricade. 
 
 " Fair play for all! " he cried, and even in that 
 moment I admired his coolness and quickness of 
 thought. 
 
 The Prince, spluttering with fury, was wiping 
 the liquor from his face with one hand, while his 
 dress sword was already gleaming in his right. 
 
 ' ' Gott ! The rebel Captain it is ! " he exclaimed. 
 " Your heart I will dangle on my rapier! " 
 
 He made a lunge towards me across the table, 
 but I saved myself by springing back. 
 
 " Hold! Your Highness, he is unarmed! " 
 Boyd had seized another stool and was standing 
 with it upraised. 
 
 " Then I shall gash him as I please," snarled 
 the German. 
 
 " Surely! Murder would suit you best," I 
 retorted.
 
 9 8 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " But wait and let him fight you on equal 
 terms," Boyd pleaded. " Do not murder him." 
 
 " To kill a dog is not murder! " 
 
 There was a shout of approval from his followers, 
 and the Prince lunged at me again across the table. 
 Boyd swung at him with the stool, but the Ger- 
 man eluded the blow, and before Boyd could 
 recover himself half a dozen hands had clutched 
 the stool and torn it from his grasp. The next 
 instant it came hurtling through the air from the 
 other side of our barricade. A noise in the 
 passageway behind me had caused me to half- 
 turn, and now I saw the flying stool too late to 
 dodge it. There was a fearful whack, I felt as 
 though my head had burst, a million lights 
 streaked with red were before my eyes, I heard 
 some one shouting as though in command, and 
 then the noises trailed off into silence and darkness. 
 
 Boyd was bending over me when I opened my 
 eyes some time later in my own room of the inn, 
 and behind him I saw the uniforms of Continental 
 soldiers. I put my hand to my head, which was 
 aching terribly, and found it swathed in bandages. 
 
 "Thunder and dragons! Will nothing keep 
 you quiet? " exclaimed Boyd, petulantly, forcing 
 me back on to the pillow as I tried to rise. 
 
 " Surely," I replied. " Try a recital."
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 99 
 
 " Well, keep your broken pate on the feathers 
 and I'll tell you the very little you don't know. 
 Your head stopped that flying stool, and then 
 they swarmed over the table at us. By now we 
 would have been beaten as black as jerked 
 venison and as dead had not a squad popped 
 into the room just then and sent the rascals 
 scurrying." 
 
 A sergeant stepped forward from the soldiers 
 and saluted. 
 
 " A squad of Wilmoth's horse, sir. Half a 
 regiment is scattered about the town while the 
 Congress debates the Declaration." 
 
 " I see," I said, though, in truth, I did not see. 
 
 " My squad was at the stables of the Golden 
 Lion when the landlord rushed out and said a 
 Captain of Continentals was likely to be mobbed. 
 That's all, sir." 
 
 " Thank heaven that it's enough," I replied, 
 smiling in spite of my throbbing head. 
 
 " Can we be of further assistance, sir! " queried 
 the sergeant. 
 
 " No, I thank you for what you have done." 
 
 I sat up on the side of the bed in spite of Boyd's 
 protests. 
 
 " No time for coddling or pillows now," I 
 answered.
 
 ioo GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " But your head, Lester; your head? " 
 
 " Feels big enough to take care of itself," I 
 replied, putting my hands to my temples. 
 
 " But the consequences - 
 
 " Will be devilish interesting to that titled 
 knave when I meet him with my blade in hand." 
 
 I sprang up, but sat down instanter, with a 
 groan that was wrung from me by the sudden 
 pains that laced my head. 
 
 In a trice Boyd was at my side with a cup of 
 water with which he wet my bandages and cooled 
 my tortured head. He had no trouble in getting 
 me stretched out, for I was sick and faint from 
 the torture. For the next few hours I was off 
 my back but little, though I sat up occasionally 
 in an effort to force Nature to grant me the relief 
 I demanded, and never was new-found friend 
 more solicitous than was Boyd during those hours. 
 It was two by the clock when I finally struggled 
 to my feet and swore I was going forth. Boyd 
 argued and begged in vain, for my appointment 
 with Langford was for three, and I was deter- 
 mined to be punctual. And so, after fresh 
 bandages had been wrapped about my head and 
 I had taken a few swallows of wine, we set forth. 
 I noticed that the streets were almost deserted, 
 and remarked it.
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 101 
 
 " They crowd about the State-house," replied 
 Boyd. 
 
 At first my legs felt weak and wabbly, and my 
 steps were uncertain, but each minute was 
 bringing me strength, though the afternoon was 
 stifling hot. To avoid the heat we hugged the 
 shade wherever possible, and I must admit that 
 no wench ever leaned more heavily on her gallant's 
 arm than did I on Boyd's. Our way led us past 
 the State-house, and here under leafy locust 
 trees we found a vast crowd assembled, all eyes 
 turned toward the building, all ears strained to 
 catch such sounds of debate as might escape 
 through the open windows. Patriot and Tory 
 were side by side, but it was not a comforting 
 day for the Tory, for the spirit of the hour was 
 beginning to manifest itself more and more in 
 open jeers at the Loyalists. As the hours had 
 dragged along the enthusiasts had grown more 
 and more exasperated, until by now the passions 
 and prejudices were so wrought up that open 
 brawls were imminent. 
 
 " The bellman will ring the news if they sign," 
 said one of the watchers as we turned away from 
 the crowd. 
 
 At the Langford gate Boyd left me, and I made 
 my way alone up the broad walk to the door. A
 
 102 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 black servant was trimming about the rose-bushes, 
 and in an angle of the great house a caged canary 
 was pouring forth its loudest song. I glanced 
 up at the veranda where I had duelled the night 
 before. And that window at the left was hers! 
 I paused with a sudden catch of my breath. 
 Was that the flutter of a handkerchief at the 
 window? No, it was but the ripple of a dainty 
 curtain as the wind slipped in at the open window. 
 I trudged on towards the door, but something 
 had caused the blood to swell my veins until my 
 poor head ached more furiously than ever. 
 
 I lifted the great brass knocker and sent a 
 vicious summons thundering. I would get this 
 letter from Langford and turn my back forever 
 on the nest of intrigue. Of a truth, I had made 
 a pretty mess of my mission. What terrible 
 results might come from the loss of my despatches 
 I had no means of guessing, but here I was humil- 
 iated and my career ruined because a woman had 
 screamed in the night. Ah! That scream! 
 Could it be that the woman who voiced it was in 
 the plot, feeling sure that I would do just as I 
 did? 
 
 After the servant had directed me to the library 
 I dropped into a chair and scowled at a painting 
 on the wall. Was this girl in the plot? I hated
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 103 
 
 the little vixen with all the intensity of my nature. 
 I knew I did, for ever since that day when I had 
 marched as a wounded boy through Boston's 
 streets I had nourished a grudge against the 
 freckle-faced girl who had thrown pebbles at 
 me. And now it was in her defence that my 
 career had been wrecked beneath her father's 
 roof. 
 
 I heard a step in the doorway and turned to 
 see the black face of Erasmus there. 
 
 "Beg pahdon, suh; I begs pahdon. I'se 
 lookin' fer " 
 
 " Come in here, Rassle, you link of memory," 
 I cried, springing to my feet. 
 
 " De Lord lub us, if 'tain't Marse Ian, an' him 
 a-lookin' like er Tory nabob! " 
 
 " And does your present grandness teach you 
 to make remarks about your master's guests? " 
 I demanded, severely. 
 
 " No, suh; no, suh," he answered, coming 
 into the room. " I suhtenly begs pahdon agin 
 fer my 'pertinence I'se monstrous gran' hyar, 
 an' I shorely feels bad t' think dat I'se done 
 f ergot my manners. But, Marse Ian, what it all 
 mean? I ask ye will ye tell ol' Rassle what 
 become o' Marse Soldier, an' wharfore ye become 
 Marse Silk an' Satin? "
 
 io 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " You don't mean that you haven't heard of 
 my uniform being stolen? " 
 
 " I b'lieves I did, suh; I b'lieves I did hear o' 
 somethin' bein' tooken, but I didn't know it 
 was Marse Soldier's clo'es! " 
 
 Then I recounted to him the events of the night 
 before, and when I told him of the fight on the 
 veranda and my return in my night-dress, the old 
 fellow tittered. 
 
 " Te-he-he! I done hears about dat. 01' 
 Mammy Sue's Sammy Jim he open de door fer 
 ye, and, Lord, he ain't done shakin' yit, he dat 
 skeert o' de ha'nts. Te-he-he! Dat boy done 
 tol' us dat a yarthquake shook de house an' dat 
 when he open de door dar stood er spook ten feet 
 high wid er sword o' fire an' er robe o' grave 
 clo'es. He said de ha'nt let go er bref an' de 
 house done rattle ergin, an' dat when he run de 
 spirit done chase him an' scorch his wool wif dat 
 sword o' fire. Te-he-he! " 
 
 " Well, as soon as old Langford returns I'll be 
 off, and Sammy Jim probably will not see any 
 more spooks," I replied, laughing. 
 
 " Ye don' know Sammy Jim, Marse Ian. He 
 gwine ter see ha'nts reg'lar now. OF Unc' Fair- 
 fax, de voodoo man, he workin' right dis minute 
 on er charm o' rabbit hair an' some other fixin's
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 105 
 
 fer Sammy Jim what'll gib him power ter see 
 ha'nts wifout no hurt comin' ter him. Yes, suh, 
 he's gwine ter see 'em reg'lar now." 
 
 " By the way, Rassle, is the Prince about the 
 house? " 
 
 " 'Spec' not, suh. Seed him an' Missy Gayle 
 settin' mighty proud like on hosses' backs an' er 
 gallopin' down de street about a hour ergo." 
 
 " The Prince doesn't like me very well, Rassle." 
 
 I spoke in an unconcerned way, and then smiled 
 at the comical shake of the darky's head. 
 
 " Lord, I done 'spicioned dat very thing at de 
 banquet last night." 
 
 " Quite a lively affair, eh, Rassle? " 
 
 " Don' want no more like it, Marse Ian. I 
 done tol' ye ye'd git stinged in dis hornets' nest, 
 an' I reckon I done tol' ye right. But he-he-he! 
 haw-haw-haw ! what er screechin' dar was 
 when ye toasted Marse Gin'ral Washington an' 
 de Eagle!" 
 
 The old fellow placed his hands on his hips 
 and shook with laughter. 
 
 " Lord lub ye, Marse Ian," he continued, 
 suddenly growing serious. " When ol' Rassle 
 stood dar an' heerd ye a-raisin' de debbil wid dem 
 Tories, I says ter myself, says I, ' Rassle, dat 
 Marse Soldier suhtenly am little Marse Ian, fer
 
 106 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 dey ain't no other boy ever yit growed what'd 
 have such 'dacity.' Ye suhtenly looked mon- 
 strous gran' standin' dar jest like dis, wif er 
 glass held way up high, an' er sayin' ' Yere's 
 health ter Gin'ral Washington! ' An' let me " 
 
 " WeU! " 
 
 We both turned to see Peter Langford standing 
 in the library door, his cane planted in front of 
 him, his eyes shooting rage at Erasmus, who 
 immediately began bowing and stammering. 
 
 " Since when did you take to toasting this 
 rebel general? " Langford demanded, and then 
 almost in the same breath ordered him to get out 
 of the room. 
 
 " You're on time, I see," he said, turning to 
 me. 
 
 " And you are late, I see." 
 
 " Yes, but I have the letter. I've been down to 
 the State-house to see if I could learn what new 
 traitorous action these rebels will take." 
 
 "And the Declaration will they sign?" I 
 asked, eagerly. 
 
 " Sign? Of course not. They're a pack of 
 ingrates, but they are too smart to follow the 
 lead of such scatterbrains as Tom Jefferson, 
 Patrick Henry, and the rest of those cursed 
 Virginians."
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 107 
 
 " But mark you, Peter Langford. If the 
 Declaration be not signed to-day it will be held 
 up before the people until sentiment drives the 
 cowardly delegates to put their signatures to it. 
 But I believe 'twill be signed to-day." 
 
 The blood swelled the veins in his face and 
 head, and he trembled with rage as he thumped 
 the floor with his stick. 
 
 " Bah! " he shrieked. " You young traitor, 
 I'll be present when the crowd of you hang for 
 your treason to King George. They'll not sign 
 until France says the word, and King Louis will 
 never say it." 
 
 I walked to the window and looked out. There 
 was not a breath of air stirring now, and the 
 leaves of bush and tree hung limp. Somewhere 
 near at hand a rooster crowed lonesomely, and 
 then there was silence. It was as though the 
 world breathlessly awaited those tracings of ink. 
 
 " The old bellman will sound the signal when 
 'tis done," I said, turning to Langford again. 
 
 " Then he'll sound your death-knell; but he'll 
 not ring." 
 
 He said something more, but I lost the words. 
 I had heard the beat of hoofs, and glanced out of 
 the window in time to see the Prince handing 
 Gayle Langford to the ground. The next minute
 
 io8 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 she came flying up the stairway and burst into 
 the room like a shower of pink and white blossoms. 
 
 " Papa, they say the Congress - 
 
 This much she had flung off her tongue ere she 
 had time to see me and check herself. Then she 
 paused, embarrassed. 
 
 " Oh, you are hurt! " she exclaimed, catching 
 sight of the bandage around my head. 
 
 " No, it's just that is I mean I tied that 
 around my head as a protection from the heat," 
 I stammered. 
 
 I found my hatred of a memory fast dimming. 
 Instead of apologizing for her abrupt interruption, 
 or even greeting me, she had followed Sympathy 
 and given voice to it in her tone and action. 
 
 " What's his hurts to you, Gayle? " demanded 
 Langford, angry that her tone had been kind. 
 
 " The same as though it were Erasmus," she 
 replied. " I hate the sight of bandages, for they 
 speak of pain, and - 
 
 " Then let us not call this a bandage, but, 
 rather, the white flag of truce." 
 
 " Agreed. Sound the ' parley.' You cannot be 
 badly hurt else would you not jest so." 
 
 " But what meant you about the Congress? " 
 rasped Langford, and the pretty speech I had on 
 my tongue melted away.
 
 THE CLANG OF A BELL 109 
 
 She lashed her skirt with her riding-whip. 
 
 " They say the Congress is certain to sign the 
 Declaration! " 
 
 " They lie! They'll not do it! It'll mean " 
 
 " War more terrible than ever," interrupted 
 the girl, a note of sadness in her voice. 
 
 " It will mean the birth of a nation! " I cried. 
 
 Langford turned to his table and snatched up a 
 letter. 
 
 " Here! " he shouted. " Here is my reply to 
 that imp of treason, Washington. Out of this 
 house and " 
 
 " Clang ! " 
 
 His voice died in his throat, and his jaw dropped. 
 He stood staring straight ahead, seeing nothing. 
 
 " Clang ! " " Clang ! " 
 
 I turned to the girl. She was deathly pale, and 
 her riding-whip, bent double, was clenched in both 
 hands. She shivered slightly, as though a sudden 
 chill had struck her. Again and again the bell 
 in the State-house sounded on the still after- 
 noon. 
 
 " They've signed! " I shouted, and sprang to 
 the window, wild with delight. 
 
 The streets were filling with people, cries and 
 shouts were arising from every hand, and soon 
 the bells in other steeples were joining in the
 
 no GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 anthem of joy. I heard a gasp and turned to see 
 Langford swaying unsteadily. 
 
 " The traitors ! The traitors! " he shrieked, his 
 hands outstretched, and his fingers working con- 
 vulsively. ' ' They'll hang for this ! The King ' ' 
 
 The girl gave a cry as he suddenly sank in a 
 heap to the floor. In an instant we both were at 
 his side, but a look into his purple face told me 
 that he had burst a blood-vessel in his brain in 
 his paroxysm of rage, and it was my judgment 
 that he was beyond aid, but I pounded furiously 
 on a call-bell and sent a servant flying for a doctor. 
 
 " He must have a leech! " I said.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 
 
 SOON the house was in an uproar. Mrs. 
 Langford was absent from home, and the 
 servants ran pell-mell hither and thither, 
 weeping and moaning and doing no good. The 
 Prince came, and hostilities between us were sus- 
 pended while we carried the dying or dead man, 
 we scarcely knew which, up the stairs to a bed. 
 Outside, the bells were still keeping up their wild 
 clatter, and presently we began hearing the 
 shouts of crowds parading the streets. 
 
 " Death to Tories! " 
 
 The cry came in at the bedroom window from 
 the street below, and I glanced at the German. 
 His usually ruddy face had paled, and his hand 
 was unsteady as he snatched up a decanter, 
 poured a glass full of wine and gulped it at a 
 swallow. Neither of us spoke. There was a 
 medley of hoots and cries from the streets, and 
 then the disturbers passed on. 
 
 in
 
 ii2 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 The physician came, but a moment told him 
 the story. Peter Langford had died at the moment 
 Liberty was born. The afternoon waned, but I 
 remained in the house at the simple request of 
 Gayle Langford. 
 
 " I am so alone," she said, sobbing. 
 
 And, indeed, she was, for terror stalked on the 
 streets of Philadelphia that memorable evening. 
 Well it is that historians have failed to chronicle 
 the riotous doings of those hours when many 
 zealous Patriots became so carried away by their 
 enthusiasm that they, hot-headed, followed leaders 
 whose motives were revenge, plunder, anything 
 that such an occasion might offer. These men 
 were knaves who were always ready to break into 
 rioting, and such a time as this was not to be 
 wasted, so that those who had upheld the King 
 found themselves prisoners in their homes, not 
 daring to venture forth to counsel with those 
 whose sympathies were in like channels. And so 
 it was that Gayle Langford found herself so alone 
 with no sympathizing one of her own sex to 
 mingle tears with her in this house of the dead. 
 That Mrs. Langford had sought refuge in some 
 friend's house we doubted not, and did not expect 
 her return ere the morrow. 
 
 At early dusk Erasmus was sent forth to learn
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 113 
 
 what was taking place. We were in the drawing- 
 room, the girl, the Prince, and I, when he returned. 
 
 " 'Fo' God, Marse la I means Missy Lang- 
 ford I suhtenly is upset in my mind. Bar's 
 awful doin's up town! " The old fellow stood in 
 the middle of the floor and swayed his body from 
 side to side, fright depicted in every line of his 
 face and every tone of his voice. " Dey's tearin' 
 down de statue o' King Geo'ge an' er meltin' it 
 inter bullets wif er big bonfire. An' all de time 
 dey howlin', ' De Tories say dey sick o' dis freedom 
 talk. Hyar's pills what'll make 'em well! ' 
 
 " Go on, Rassle," I commanded, as he paused. 
 
 He looked at the girl, and she nodded. " Tell 
 us all," she said, faintly. 
 
 " Oh, de good God pertect us, dar's gwine ter 
 be bad doin's dis night! " he suddenly wailed. 
 Then he turned to me as though with confidence. 
 " Marse Ian, dey drinkin' kill-debil, an' dey don't 
 pay no 'tention ter de mens what tries ter make 
 'em behave. An'- oh, de good Lord, Marse 
 Ian dey fix up an ol' suit er clo'es stuffed wif 
 straw an' dey tie er rope about de neck an' h'ist 
 it up to er tree. ' Dat ol' Pete Langford, de Tory. 
 He gittin' up in de worl' mighty fast,' some one 
 hollers, an' den dey all laugh." 
 
 I heard a moan, and turned in time to see the
 
 ii 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 girl sink to the floor in a heap. I looked toward 
 the Prince, but he was striding up and down the 
 room, muttering, " Ach! Gott! " over and over, 
 and paying not the slightest heed to the girl, 
 so I sprang to her side and raised her. Her face 
 was chalk-white, and there was a dry sob in her 
 throat as she struggled to her feet with my 
 assistance. 
 
 " I thank you," she said in a broken, strained 
 voice. " It was a sudden weakness, but I am 
 stronger now. Go on, Erasmus." 
 
 " I cain't tell no mo', Missy. I stood dar a 
 lookin' an' a listenin' till all to once some one 
 hollered, ' Hyar's ol' Langford's niggah now,' 
 but befo' dey could cotch me, dis ol' niggah he 
 turn an' dodge down er alley an' run fer home 
 jest like er young rabbit." 
 
 Then she dismissed him and ordered the candles 
 lighted. An occasional tremor was in her voice 
 and the color was still absent from her cheeks, 
 but I found myself admiring the wonderful pluck 
 of this girl in an hour so fraught with peril and 
 grief to her. She ordered supper served, but old 
 Erasmus returned shortly bearing the intelligence 
 that not a servant could be found about the place. 
 
 " Dey's dat skeert dey all done run erway an' 
 hide," he said.
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 115 
 
 But no one cared to eat, so the desertion made 
 but little difference. Darkness deepened, and I 
 would have gone forth to see what the true con- 
 ditions were, but the girl begged so hard for me 
 to remain that I did so. The shutters were closed 
 and we sat in an up-stairs room, talking but little. 
 In a room on the same floor lay the body of Peter 
 Langford. Hoots and cries came at intervals 
 from the street, and through the cracks of the 
 shutters we could see the ruddy glow of bonfires. 
 The Prince had recovered his composure to some 
 extent. 
 
 " Ach! Could King Louis but witness the noble 
 acts of America's Patriots," he sneered. 
 
 I know that my face must have gone a- flaming 
 with the taunt, but in the presence of this grief- 
 burdened girl and in the house of the dead I could 
 not treat his insolence as it deserved. 
 
 " Could King Louis visit Philadelphia this 
 night he would see not the Patriots, but the evil 
 ones of no politics abroad in deeds of violence. 
 They'll fight in neither army, but plunder both. 
 With the dawn order will be restored." 
 
 " But to-night? The sun it shines not yet for 
 some hours ! ' ' 
 
 " In the meantime, the coward heart that fears 
 the darkness must quake! "
 
 n6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 I made no effort to mask the contempt I felt, 
 but turned from him and sank into a chair. The 
 girl had sat unheeding, doubtless unhearing, our 
 exchange. Scarcely had I touched the chair 
 when some one came bounding up the stairs, 
 and I sprang to my feet just as Erasmus came 
 rushing into the room, puffing and blowing. 
 
 " Marse Ian ! Missy! Dey's comin' ! Dey's 
 comin'!" he gasped. 
 
 " Who is coming? What do you mean? " I 
 asked, as the girl came to her feet. 
 
 " O Lord, we'se all gwine ter be hunged! We'se 
 gwine ter be hunged! " 
 
 " Speak up, Rassle! What is it? " I demanded, 
 taking him by the shoulder and shaking him in 
 my impatience. 
 
 " De mob! I sees 'em comin' wif torches an' 
 er rope. An' I hears 'em say dey gwine ter put 
 tar an' feathers on Marse Langford an' den pull 
 him up by er rope! " 
 
 " You heard this, Erasmus? " asked the girl. 
 
 " Yassum; I done heered it wif my own ears, 
 Missy! O Lord, I wish't I hadn't." 
 
 She wheeled to me, and her eyes were flashing 
 once more with hauteur and anger. 
 
 " So! " she exclaimed in a tone that was as 
 metallic as the clash of steel. " This is a sample
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 117 
 
 of what your rebels' policies are bringing to us! 
 Ian Lester, Captain of Continentals, I salute you 
 and compliment you on your gallant follow- 
 ing! " 
 
 Such a world of scorn was in her voice, her 
 eyes, her proud face with tip-tilted chin, that I 
 dropped my eyes before her. 
 
 " For God's sake, Mistress Langford, don't 
 judge us so! Tis not our Patriots! Tis a rabble 
 such as any city harbors. True, the people are 
 drunk with the thought of independence, but " 
 
 There was a sudden clamor in front of the house 
 and I paused. 
 
 " Aye, drunk with the broth of treason that 
 you have helped brew! " she exclaimed. Then 
 she darted to the window and flung open the 
 shutters. " See! " she cried, pointing to where 
 a dozen torches were flaring under the trees. 
 " The wolves seek their kind! Out and join the 
 pack, you rebel! " 
 
 To my dying day I'll bear in my mind the 
 picture she made as she stood there in the candle- 
 light, her burning eyes shooting sparks of fire 
 into mine, her arm extended, pointing through 
 the open window to where the half-drunken 
 devils below were approaching the house. The 
 mob also saw the open window and the girl
 
 ii8 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 framed in its light, and a stone thrown by some 
 brute clattered close beside the casing. 
 
 " Have a care! " I warned, and sprang to close 
 the shutters. 
 
 But her hand clutched mine and jerked my 
 grasp from the shutter. 
 
 " Stand back! " she cried. " I'll not hide from 
 such as they! " 
 
 Then she impulsively flung the shutters wide 
 open again, and before I could stop her she had 
 leaned far out, her hand uplifted into the night. 
 
 " Long live the King! " she shouted. 
 
 There was a howl of rage from below, and I 
 seized her roughly about the waist, and by main 
 strength I dragged her back from the window 
 just in time for her to escape the shower of missiles 
 that came from the rioters. 
 
 " In God's name, keep away from the window! " 
 I panted, for she was struggling like a wildcat. 
 
 " I'll not! I'll not! I despise the cowards! 
 Prince ! Help me ! ' ' 
 
 I glanced about the room, but the German 
 was not there. When he had left or where he 
 had gone I knew not. 
 
 " The Prince is not here," I replied, still forcing 
 her away from the window. 
 
 She ceased her struggles an instant, glanced
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 119 
 
 about the room, and then suddenly sank into a 
 chair, sobbing. 
 
 " God, I am deserted! " she cried hysterically. 
 " Let them come! Let them kill me! " She 
 struggled to her feet again. " Let me die at my 
 window. I am helpless! " 
 
 I pushed her back into the chair, and in a 
 moment had the shutters closed again. 
 
 " No, no! you are not deserted! " I exclaimed. 
 " 'Fore heaven, Mistress Langford, I'll stand 
 between you and them! " 
 
 A thundering summons sounded at the front 
 door. 
 
 " Rassle! " 
 
 "Yes, suh!" 
 
 The old darky was standing in the hallway 
 moaning and praying. 
 
 " Are the doors fastened? " 
 
 " Done bolted 'em all myself, suh. But, O 
 Lord! Dey cain't stand dat! " he added with a 
 wail as a sudden shock announced that the mob 
 was battering at the door. 
 
 " Go to where your master lies, Rassle, and do 
 your best to make them respect the dead if they 
 reach there. Go! " 
 
 Again the shock came at the door and I knew 
 that the mob would soon batter down the barrier.
 
 120 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Run to my room and fetch my sword," I 
 said to the girl. 
 
 She darted away without a word, and I ran 
 down the stairs. 
 
 " What do you want? " I demanded, 
 loudly. 
 
 " Pete Langford, and we're goin' to have him, 
 too! " came the response, at which there was a 
 yell of approval, and a chorus of cries of " Death 
 to Tories!" 
 
 " Peter Langford has gone! " I cried. 
 
 " Gone where? " 
 
 " To another world. He is dead!" 
 
 A mocking laugh came to me through the 
 panels. 
 
 " You're a liar! The old fox is hidin', but we'll 
 drag him out in a minute! " 
 
 Crash ! Crash ! A battering-ram was splintering 
 the door, and already I could see the light of 
 their torches through the shattered panels. 
 
 " You'll rot in prison for this! " I yelled. 
 
 Crash! Crash! Crash! The door was giving 
 away, and I wisely retreated up the stairs. As I 
 reached the top I heard a final crash and through 
 the doorway poured the mob. 
 
 " Halt! " 
 
 I raised my hand threateningly, and the pack
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 121 
 
 of human wolves paused a moment. Gayle Lang- 
 ford came flying down the hallway. 
 
 ' ' Quick ! My sword ! " I whispered, turning to her. 
 
 " It's gone! " she replied, a sob of despair in 
 her voice. 
 
 "Gone? God help us!" I groaned. 
 
 " Damn the Tory dandy! " shouted one of the 
 pack. " After him and " 
 
 " A moment! Death is here! " I cried, trying 
 to gain time, I knew not exactly what for. 
 " Quick, make your escape! " I added, turning 
 to the girl. 
 
 Her chin went up in her proud way. 
 
 " I stay with you," she said, and stepped 
 closer. 
 
 " There's a devilish pretty girl there, too," 
 came from below. 
 
 " You hound! You'll never live to touch her! " 
 I flung back at him. 
 
 All of the fighting blood within me had begun 
 firing my brain by now, and I was ready to struggle 
 and bleed and die laughing if I could batter the 
 life from the bodies of some of those below me. 
 
 " And who are you, my lace-cuffed fashion- 
 plate? " 
 
 I parted my lips to reply, but the sound died 
 on my tongue as a voice behind me spoke :
 
 122 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " I'll tell you who he is." 
 
 I turned, and gasped in astonishment, for there 
 stood the Prince arrayed in my uniform and with 
 my blade at his side. An inarticulate sound came 
 from the girl's lips, and I choked back a flood of 
 curses. 
 
 " Lovers of liberty, listen to me," said the 
 Prince. " I am Ian Lester, Captain of Continen- 
 tals, and here stands one you seek a Tory spy ! " 
 
 The girl sprang forward. 
 
 " It's a lie! " she screamed. 
 
 Half blind with fury, I sprang at the German, 
 without a word, and before he could evade my 
 unexpected move I had him by the throat. He 
 half -drew the sword, but, realizing its uselessness 
 in such a close combat, he released the hilt and 
 tried to tear my hands from his throat. The 
 knaves below made a rush up the stairs, but when 
 they were half-way up I exerted all my strength 
 in one sudden twist, and, lifting the Prince off 
 his feet, flung him headlong down the stairs. 
 He clutched for support, but missed, and then 
 went plunging into those crowding the stairs, 
 bowling three or four of them over like tenpins, 
 and forming a squirming, cursing human barricade 
 in front of the rest. 
 
 I was for following the Prince and fighting it
 
 LIFTING THE PKINCE OFF HIS FEKT, I FIATNG HIM HEADLONG 
 DOWN THE STAIRS. Page 122.
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 123 
 
 out on the stairway, but as my descending foot 
 touched the top step a soft hand clutched my arm, 
 and Gayle Langf ord spoke into my ear : 
 
 " Come, follow me. Quick! It's hopeless 
 here! " 
 
 In a flash reason returned and showed me she 
 was right. I did as bidden, and, holding me by 
 the hand as though I were a child, she sped back 
 the hallway and turned down another and darker 
 one, while behind us we could hear pandemonium 
 on the stairway as the fallen ones struggled to free 
 themselves. Suddenly the girl paused, fumbled 
 at a door-knob, and then led me into a room. She 
 released my hand and in an instant I had shot the 
 bolts into place. 
 
 " Listen! " she said. 
 
 Above the racket we could hear a voice shouting : 
 
 " After him! Hang the dog of a spy! " 
 
 " The Prince! " whispered the girl, and a note 
 of disgust was in her voice. 
 
 " They'll hunt us out in a few minutes," I 
 said. " What have we for defence? " 
 
 " Nothing. We must run away. They will kill 
 you! " 
 
 " It's hateful that word, ' run,' but there's 
 no help for it. And you will go with me? " 
 
 " Do you think I dare stay? "
 
 i2 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " No no. But but the charge that Eras- 
 mus guards? " 
 
 There was a brief pause. " The dead are at 
 rest forever," she said, her voice low. 
 
 As she spoke she groped across the room to a 
 window and opened the heavy shutters. Behind 
 us we could hear confusion in the hallways and 
 many voices shouting divers things. 
 
 " This is our only chance," she said, as I 
 reached her side. 
 
 I looked out. It was a sheer drop of thirty feet 
 to the ground, and not a vine to which we could 
 cling in descending. 
 
 " It's no use," I said. " I had better make a 
 fight. A jump means broken bones." 
 
 " And to fight means death to you and 
 and worse for me from those brutes! " 
 
 "Yes you're right! And they're coming! 
 I'll go first and catch you! " 
 
 We could hear them streaming down the hall, 
 cursing as they searched first one room and then 
 another. 
 
 " A rope for the spy and lovin' arms for the 
 Tory wench," bellowed one. 
 
 It was the last threat rather than fear of the 
 rope that put my feet on the window-sill, and I 
 was slipping over the edge, teeth hard set for
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 125 
 
 the fall, when I felt her hand on my arm once 
 more. 
 
 " Wait! Come back! " she whispered eagerly, 
 and as I paused I saw her seize her broad sash, 
 undo the knot with a jerk, and the next moment 
 she had unwound it from about her waist and 
 was holding it towards me. 
 
 " A rope! " she exclaimed. 
 
 I clutched the sash and felt of its texture. 
 
 " It will never hold unless doubled and then 
 it will be far too short." 
 
 I am sure I groaned, for hope had flared high 
 in my breast, and now its ashes were choking me. 
 
 " Have you nothing else? " I asked. 
 
 " Nothing unless -- unless Turn your 
 back, sir! " she suddenly commanded. 
 
 I did as I was bidden, and at the same instant 
 I heard the swish of feminine draperies. 
 
 "Here, take this! No don't look at me," 
 she cried, and then I found myself clutching the 
 long wrapper she had worn. I know I acted like 
 a dunce, for I stood there without action, and she 
 stamped her foot in a justifiable fury of impatience. 
 
 " Don't stand and stare! Tie the arms to this 
 doubled sash, and the sash to this table." 
 
 A step in the hall near our door aroused me, 
 and in a trice I had obeyed the orders of my fair
 
 i26 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 commander. The table was dragged to the win- 
 dow, and with the improvised rope in my hands 
 I was once more on the sill just as a rough hand 
 grasped the knob. 
 
 "Ha! A bolted door! Ho! This way! We'll 
 find our game in here! " roared a voice, and I 
 heard them coming. There was a smothered 
 moan from somewhere in the darkness of the 
 room where the girl was crouching. 
 
 " When the sash slacks, follow me quickly! " 
 I said, and slid down into space. 
 
 I felt the flimsy stuff stretch and give beneath 
 my weight, and I expected each breath that it 
 would break, but I was nimble and soon found 
 myself at the end. I cast one look towards the 
 ground, but it lay in shadow and I knew not how 
 far away. There was no time for speculation, for 
 I could hear the door above being battered. I 
 set my teeth and dropped. I must have fallen 
 ten feet, and the drop near knocked the breath 
 from my body. Then as I scrambled to my feet 
 and looked up I heard the door splintering and 
 saw the dull gleam of the torches shining into the 
 room. And then ! I caught my breath, for 
 there in the window, in clinging garments of 
 white, was a slight figure sharply outlined by the 
 dull glow.
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 127 
 
 "Come!" I cried. 
 
 " Don't you dare look! " she replied, the 
 eternal feminine mastering her even in that 
 moment of peril. 
 
 Obediently I dropped rny eyes for the instant, 
 but her danger was too great, and I looked up 
 to see her swaying in mid-air like a nymph from 
 another world. The torches' glow became a glare 
 and I knew the mob had broken into the room. 
 
 " Hurry! I'll catch you! " I called to her, 
 and braced myself with my eyes glued on the 
 swaying figure. 
 
 " Hell and furies, the window! " shouted some 
 one from above, and a face peered out. The girl, 
 descending slowly, was still far from the end of 
 the wrapper-rope. 
 
 "Ha! There's a nibble at the line! We'll 
 land one of the fish yet," came the shout. 
 
 The knave seized the sash, and, calling for 
 help, began tugging at it in an endeavor to pull 
 the girl back into the room. Then of a sudden 
 I heard a tear, the wrapper parted, and with a 
 half -scream Gayle Langford plunged down to my 
 waiting arms. I saw the fellow at the window 
 stagger back as the resistance ceased, and then a 
 human thunderbolt landed in my arms and I 
 went down under the shock. For a moment I
 
 128 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 lay dazed and gasping, my face to the sky, and 
 then I became conscious of a dead weight lying 
 across my chest. I put out one hand and it 
 rested on a mass of dishevelled hair. 
 
 " Are you hurt? " I asked eagerly. 
 
 There was no reply. The girl lay quite still, 
 and a terrible fear pierced me. Had her neck been 
 broken by the fall? Rolling her gently from me 
 to the grass, I felt for her pulse, but in my eager- 
 ness I clasped the slender wrist everywhere but 
 in the right spot, and finally, with a feeling of 
 transgression, I placed my hand over her heart, 
 but her stays foiled me. Whether or not there 
 was a pulsation beyond that armament I knew 
 not, and no time was left me to ponder, for a 
 flaring torch was poked out of the window above. 
 
 " Here they are! " 
 
 The report of a pistol echoed the words, and I 
 felt the wind of the bullet as it zipped close to 
 my ear. 
 
 To hesitate was to invite death. I picked the 
 girl up in my arms and ran as well as I could. 
 The night had grown intensely dark, a storm was 
 gathering, and already I could hear the muttering 
 thunder, rolling nearer and nearer. As I plunged 
 into the darkness of the small park in the rear 
 of the mansion I came near colliding with a tree,
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 129 
 
 and this taught me caution. Not a sign of life 
 came from my burden, whose slight form hung 
 limp. That it probably would be but a few 
 minutes until the pack would be after us I doubted 
 not. Perhaps for my life they cared little, but 
 the girl? For her ! 
 
 I heard the splash of water near, and, thread- 
 ing my way among the trees, came to a small 
 fountain. Laying the girl down, I dashed hand- 
 fuls of the water into her face, and soon had the 
 delight of hearing her draw a deep breath. After 
 all, she had been but stunned by the fall. Another 
 dash of water, and she sat up. 
 
 "I I fell, did I not? " she asked in such a 
 serious vein that I laughed outright. 
 
 " I think you did," I replied. 
 
 Then her scattered wits returned, and she 
 came to her feet, a white apparition in the gloom. 
 
 " But how came I here? I could not walk! " 
 
 I detected a note in her voice that made me 
 stammer in an effort to invent a lie. 
 
 " Hold your tongue! " she said sharply. " You 
 must have carried me. I was in your arms ! ' ' 
 
 " It was necessary, believe me," I replied, 
 humbly. 
 
 A flash of lightning came and she shrank back 
 in embarrassment.
 
 i3o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Turn your back, sir! " she commanded. 
 " Where is my my wrapper? It fell with me." 
 
 Inwardly I cursed myself for a blundering, 
 thoughtless dolt. I had forgotten it, and when 
 I blurted out this statement, she began to sob. 
 
 " Don't! " I implored. " Wait here, and, 
 'fore God, I'll go back after the gown! " 
 
 I was already turning towards the house when 
 she stopped me. 
 
 " No, no! I'm a heartless, o'ermodest wretch. 
 I'm sorry for what I said, Captain Lester. We 
 must leave here at once but you go first, 
 won't you? I'll follow and direct." 
 
 I jerked off my long, swallow-tailed coat and 
 handed it to her. 
 
 " Wrap this about you. It will help protect 
 you." 
 
 She hesitated a moment, and then slipped the 
 garment on, with a sweet word of thanks. 
 
 A moment longer we stood discussing our pre- 
 dicament. Where should we go? In the wild 
 riots of that night, which, as I have said, history 
 has kindly ignored, there was not where for us 
 to turn for shelter. Her Tory friends undoubtedly 
 were besieged or barricaded as we had been, and 
 there would be small chance of our gaining admit- 
 tance into any Patriot homes.
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 131 
 
 Shouts and the light of torches near the building 
 cut short our deliberations and sent us scurrying 
 through the park, the girl shrinking from the main 
 streets because of her scant attire, and I, myself, 
 being a strange sight, coatless, hatless, and with 
 a bandage about my head. 
 
 Down dark side streets we hurried, often being 
 compelled to dodge down alleyways and across 
 open lots by sudden clamors in front of us. My 
 reckless nature rebelled at this running and 
 skulking, but when I objected she washed my 
 opposition away with tears and a declaration 
 that she was near to dying with shame as it was, 
 and to come into light places with a staring crowd 
 about her would surely kill her. And so we 
 dodged, and ran, and hid, this way and that, I 
 in the lead always, until I swore that my shame 
 was becoming greater than hers. At last we 
 darted down a dark avenue, and in a few moments 
 we found our further progress blocked by a small 
 river. 
 
 "The Schuylkffl," she said. "0 dear, I 
 must have become confused." 
 
 Not far away a crowd of revellers began singing 
 a ribald song. I could hear the girl gasp. 
 
 " Oh, they are coming towards the river! " she 
 cried.
 
 132 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 11 Well, shall we jump in and swim? " I asked, 
 as sarcastically as I could. " Or will you let me 
 fight a way through them? " 
 
 " No, no, no! Let's not let them see us. 
 Maybe there is a boat some place near. Look 
 quickly. There must be a boat !" 
 
 I walked slowly along the river bank, not heed- 
 ing her imploring cries to hurry. In truth, I was 
 sick of this running away, and was hungering for 
 a fight. My spirit demanded it as the only means 
 of restoring my self-respect to its throne. Sud- 
 denly I heard her footsteps, and, looking around, 
 I saw the dull outline of her white skirts below 
 my coat moving along the bank, and knew that 
 she was also searching. With a wicked grin, I 
 stopped, with my hands on my hips, and began 
 whistling a gay tune. 
 
 " You wretch! " she cried. "I'll never for- 
 give - Oh, Heaven be praised! Here is a boat! 
 I knew I could find one." 
 
 " Good fairy princess, can you not wave your 
 wand again and materialize some giant stork on 
 whose back we can fly to safety from a few drunken 
 clowns? " 
 
 I heard the rattle of a chain, and knew she was 
 trying to handle the boat. 
 
 " Come and help me, please," she implored.
 
 PROTECTING THE ENEMY 133 
 
 " There is really no hurry," I responded, 
 tantalizingly, and listening to the approach of 
 the roisterers, to whom, doubtless, the boat be- 
 longed. 
 
 No word came in reply, but I saw a sudden 
 collapse of something in white, and prostrate on 
 the river's bank I heard her crying. 
 
 Heigho! The magic of a woman's tears! 
 They sent me to her; they raised her from the 
 sod; they swung the boat from the bank into the 
 stream; they bent my back to the pull of the 
 oars while she sat in a wretched heap in the stern ; 
 they robbed me of the lust for combat, and when 
 we heard the men shouting and cursing as they 
 searched for their boat, and I saw her cower down 
 into the seat, a thrill of pleasure came to my 
 heart because I had yielded to her tears and had 
 fled from insult to her.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 WANDERERS 
 
 THE thunder of the approaching storm 
 still growled, and an occasional flash of 
 lightning lighted up the heavens and 
 made the water look blacker than ever. For a 
 long time not a word was spoken by either of us. 
 There were but few craft on the river that night, 
 and I had but little trouble in avoiding them. 
 We could still see the glare of bonfires up in the 
 city, and ever and anon could hear the cries of 
 the crowds that paraded the streets. 
 
 " Where are we going? " asked the girl, pres- 
 ently. 
 
 " Taking an excursion into the Unknown 
 Somewhere," I replied lightly. 
 
 In truth, I had no idea where our voyage would 
 end, but I began to realize more and more that 
 it would not do to land in Philadelphia that 
 night, for there was not where to take the girl. 
 
 134
 
 WANDERERS 135 
 
 It would profit me nothing to fight. The insult 
 to her in her scant attire would not be hushed, 
 and, besides, I was only one and they were many. 
 
 And so I bent to the oars, an anxious eye on 
 the approaching storm. The lights of the city 
 slowly winked away and we found ourselves in 
 the stillness of the open country. A few drops 
 of rain fell, and my spirits did likewise. What 
 was I to do with the maid, afloat in an open boat 
 in a rain-storm? Of a surety, the exposure 
 would kill her. Rough, hardened soldier, the 
 storm meant nothing to me, but Gayle Langford 
 was tender reared. 
 
 The wind freshened, and then, close on a clap 
 of thunder that seemed to crack the rugged hills, 
 came a dash of rain. 
 
 " Look! " she suddenly cried. 
 
 I saw her outstretched hand in the darkness, 
 and turned my head, the next lightning flash 
 showing me an overhanging cliff on the left bank. 
 
 " We can shelter there! " 
 
 I wasted no word in reply, but with a terrific 
 straining at the oars sent the boat shooting under 
 the crags, where, as the storm was blowing from 
 the southwest, we were completely sheltered. 
 ' The fairy princess once more," I said. 
 
 " Oh, the horror of it all! " she replied.
 
 136 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 The wind had risen and was whipping the little 
 river into froth, while the rain came down in 
 torrents. 
 
 "Poor girl!" 
 
 My tone must have been heavy with compassion, 
 for it stiffened my companion's courage. 
 
 " But think of yourself, Captain Lester. Was 
 ever soldier so ensnared by the woes of a miserable 
 woman? " 
 
 " I would be unworthy the name of soldier did 
 a pang of regret rest in my heart for whatever I 
 have been able to do for you." 
 
 " And sometimes I have been horrid, but I 
 really I have been so spoiled, Captain." 
 
 Her tone was so humble that I smiled, aware 
 that the darkness would hide it. 
 
 " A night in this boat beneath these crags will 
 be sufficient penance," I replied. 
 
 " I am quite comfortable." 
 
 " You mean you will not complain. It is brave 
 of you." 
 
 "No! No! Don't say that! You forget I 
 made you run like a coward." 
 
 " I know now that it was best. I could not 
 have saved you from insult." 
 
 " But you could have saved your pride." 
 
 " Pride? I had it once, but lost it with my
 
 WANDERERS 137 
 
 des with my uniform." I had come near to 
 uttering the word. 
 
 I used the oars gently, just enough to maintain 
 our position and keep the boat from going from 
 under the crags with the current. She was silent 
 a long time. 
 
 " In either instance," she said at last, " 'twas 
 lost in my defence." 
 
 Then her grief at her father's death swept over 
 her and she cried aloud in the agony of her 
 sorrow. And I, great hulking fellow, sat there 
 but a few feet distant and did nothing but paddle 
 with the oars. I tried to think of something to 
 say, but could not. I wonder if I ought to admit 
 that I longed to take her in my arms and comfort 
 her, for I felt that with her ears close to my lips 
 I could whisper something, I knew not just what, 
 but something with the magic of solace in it. 
 In my mental turmoil I gave the oars a vicious 
 pull that sent the boat flying out into midstream. 
 
 " Oh-h-h! " she gasped. 
 
 The rain dashed into my face and brought me 
 to my senses. 
 
 " Idiot! " I said to myself, pulling back to 
 shelter. 
 
 Then I found my tongue and by eloquently 
 outraging my conscience succeeded in convincing
 
 138 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 her that the rioters would respect the dead, an 
 assurance I did not feel at all. 
 
 But 'tis a miserable tale, the story of that night. 
 I sat at the oars during the long hours, keeping 
 the boat under the sheltering cliffs, and the girl 
 sobbed herself to exhaustion, and, huddled down 
 in the boat's stern, fell asleep. In my weary 
 vigil I had but my own rioting thoughts for 
 company, and gloomy entertainment they fur- 
 nished. 
 
 I thought of Washington. Somewhere off to 
 the east the Chief was planning for the cause of 
 liberty, full confident that the young captain he 
 had sent as a courier to Congress would do his 
 duty. And had I done it? The girl murmured 
 something in her uneasy slumber and I stared at 
 her in the darkness and storm. God knows I 
 loved my country! On more than one occasion 
 had I diced with death in serving the cause. But 
 what quality of patriotism was it that demanded 
 of me that I ignore suffering womanhood in 
 devotion to a political principle? 
 
 With the waning of the night the storm lessened 
 gradually, finally rolling itself away to the east- 
 ward, followed by a rear-guard of spiteful lightning 
 flashes. The clouds hung heavy, though, and 
 there was no rosy flush in the dawn, but, instead,
 
 WANDERERS 139 
 
 it came dull and sullen, as though night had 
 turned a gray pallor. In the boat's stern the 
 girl still slept in her weariness. Her bronze hair 
 was tumbled about her face, but it gave to it an 
 added charm. From her closed eyes a tear had 
 escaped and lay close to the end of the long lashes. 
 A flood of pity for her, bereaved and thrown on 
 the rough mercies of a strange soldier, aye, a 
 rebel, came to me as I gazed at her huddled 
 there beneath my coat. But of a sudden her eyes 
 opened and trapped my stare full on her face, 
 and a wave of red mounted slowly from her 
 throat to her brow. 
 
 " I crave a pardon; I but pity you! " I cried. 
 
 She drew the coat closer about her. 
 
 " What right have I to resent a stare? " she 
 asked, slowly. 
 
 " The right of a queen! " I exclaimed. 
 
 ;< Then I also have the power to pardon and 
 I do so." 
 
 A sad smile accompanied the words, and I 
 turned to my oars as a relief from embarrassment. 
 
 "What now, Captain?" 
 
 " Up the river, I suppose. What is your wish? " 
 
 " Whatever is best. But we cannot spend our 
 lives in this boat." 
 
 "Alas, no!"
 
 i 4 o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 'Twas a rash slip of my unruly tongue, and, as 
 I saw the hauteur leap into her eyes, with a jerk 
 of the oars I sent the boat out into the stream. 
 The scene was a dreary one. Stretching back 
 from the river, now muddy and swollen from the 
 night's rain, the hills lay sodden in the mists of 
 the gray morning; from an old log, half -sub- 
 merged, a monster turtle slid into the river as I 
 rowed past, and from off in the woodlands came 
 the morning chorus of birdland. For an hour we 
 voyaged with slight conversation. The little 
 Tory sat bundled to the chin in my coat, but 
 below it fluffed an expanse of white skirt much 
 too short to conceal a goodly bit of bewitching 
 ankle in gay hosiery, and with dainty feet encased 
 in slippers of red. 
 
 " Will milady order her breakfast? " I asked, 
 jocularly, striving to dispel the gloom. 
 
 " I think I will order a tale of adventure." 
 Her eyes were on me in a curious way. 
 
 " And tell it yourself? " I queried. 
 
 " Nay, I am curious for a better one. Captain, 
 that scar! " 
 
 She leaned forward and pointed to my forehead, 
 the wind having blown my hair back unnoticed 
 by me. 
 
 " I fear you will not enjoy it."
 
 WANDERERS 141 
 
 " But my woman's curiosity will torture me." 
 She smiled at her words. 
 
 "'Twill be a tale of blood and death; a 
 story of a boy who became a man in a night of 
 storm and a morning of horror; of a boy who 
 walked, wounded, between British soldiers ahead 
 of his father's body; a tale of a little girl who 
 stood on Boston's streets and threw pebbles at 
 the boy. It will " 
 
 " Don't! Don't! " she cried. 
 
 As I had proceeded I saw doubt, realization, 
 sorrow, replacing each other in her eyes, and then 
 she stretched out her hands to me imploringly 
 as the flood-gates of memory opened. 
 
 " You were on the Eagle f " 
 
 " I received that scar on her deck." 
 
 " And I I scourged you." 
 
 " You were far too young to be responsible." 
 
 " But I cried when I saw them carrying your 
 father's body." 
 
 " I know it. It has softened a memory I have 
 hated." 
 
 She looked at me, a sudden alarm showing in 
 her eyes. 
 
 " And I am in your power now! " she ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " Such power as I have yes."
 
 142 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 "And you " 
 
 " Will spend the last vestige of that weak 
 power in your defence." 
 
 Again she was silent for a long time, and I was 
 in no mood to speak. Her next words were of 
 her home, her father, her mother. Could Erasmus 
 protect the dead? Not once did the Prince's 
 name pass her lips. I comforted her as best I 
 could, telling her that as soon as an inviting spot 
 was found we would land and seek shelter at some 
 farmhouse, and that, doubtless, some way could 
 be found to send her back to the city. And so I 
 pulled away more lustily than ever, and finally 
 the sun broke through the gray cloud banks, and 
 the world again wore a smile, though the added 
 warmth soon brought the perspiration to my 
 brow. 
 
 " We must be near Valley Forge," said the 
 girl. 
 
 I made no reply, but scanned the shores closely 
 for some place of landing. The excitement of 
 the night, and its exertions, had caused my bruised 
 head to hurt terribly. Pains darted from temple 
 to temple, and once I seemed sinking into a 
 stupor, and was aroused by her sharp cry just 
 in time to avoid splitting the boat on a jagged 
 rock that rose from the river's bed.
 
 WANDERERS 143 
 
 " Your face is very white," she said. " Are 
 you ill? " 
 
 " I am afraid I am a little," I admitted. 
 
 " Then let me row." 
 
 "No! No!" 
 
 I shook my head as though to clear it of its 
 agonies, and pulled more desperately than before, 
 but it was not for long. Things became confused ; 
 I dropped an oar, and it was only her quick clutch 
 that saved it from being swept away. 
 
 " You must let me row. I have been on the 
 river often." 
 
 Weak and half-blind with suffering, I obeyed 
 like a child and crawled on hands and knees to 
 the boat's stern, where I lay exhausted, but once 
 I roused slightly and saw Gayle Langford bending 
 to the oars, her copperish hair glinting in the 
 morning sun, my coat falling open and disclosing 
 a snowy neck and bare shoulder. Then I must 
 have fainted, for I remember nothing more until 
 a scrape on the boat's bottom aroused me and I 
 saw her stepping ashore, the chain in hand. I 
 staggered to my feet, but the boat rocked, I 
 lost my balance and in an instant was in the 
 river, her scream sounding in my ears as I went 
 down. But the water spurred my energies and 
 cleared my brain for a time, and as it was but a
 
 144 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 few feet in depth there, I quickly recovered my- 
 self and waded ashore, where I stood dripping 
 before her. 
 
 " The plunge did me good," I said. 
 
 " There is a house just around that hill," she 
 replied, pointing. " I saw it from the river's 
 bend, but this was the only place I could find a 
 landing." 
 
 We fastened the boat chain to a sapling and 
 trudged away in search of shelter, but my strength, 
 which had been rallied by my plunge into the 
 river, rapidly deserted me, and as we walked I 
 found my footsteps growing unsteady. Once I 
 stumbled and would have fallen had she not 
 clutched me by the shoulder. Her exclamation 
 of alarm again goaded my flagging powers, and 
 as I drew myself erect and stepped out with a 
 great show of firmness I tried to laugh away my 
 stumble as a bit of awkwardness. 
 
 " We will soon reach the house," she said, 
 and the trembling note in her voice, together 
 with the uneasiness in her eyes as she looked into 
 my face told me that I could not deceive her. 
 In truth, had I but known it, the looks of me 
 were enough to bring cheer to the heart of an 
 undertaker. 
 
 " This hill is very steep," I mumbled. In
 
 WANDERERS 145 
 
 after days I walked the same path again and 
 found that 'twas almost level. 
 
 " Ah, the house! " she cried, and ahead of us 
 I could see a white building of some kind, though 
 the outlines were confused. 
 
 My feet seemed leaden, but I felt her hand 
 suddenly seize my arm and I was conscious that 
 I was being sustained and guided. I knew when 
 we passed a gate, and again I summoned every 
 ounce of my strength to clear my befogged brain. 
 In the shade of a fruit-tree I saw a girl seated at 
 a spinning-wheel, her back towards us, the whirr 
 of the wheel and the song she was softly humming 
 preventing her from noting our approach until 
 we were close behind her, when a stumble on my 
 part attracted her attention. She sprang to her 
 feet with a cry of alarm, and then stood staring 
 at us, in her face a mixture of fear and amazement 
 that was evident to even my blurred senses. 
 
 " Who are you? " she demanded. 
 
 I tried to bow, and would have fallen had not 
 Gayle Langford's grasp again saved me. 
 
 " I beg that you be not alarmed," I said. 
 "We are " 
 
 Then I paused, for a great question had pro- 
 jected itself into my poor head. Who were we? 
 In those troublesome times of bitterest hate 'twas
 
 i 4 6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 most important who you were or claimed to 
 be. I glanced at my companion. Bareheaded 
 and with her copperish hair tumbled wretchedly 
 about her ears, with my brilliant coat wrapped 
 closely about her, but allowing a tiny expanse of 
 white skirt to peep out beneath, she stood looking 
 mutely at me, and I could see that she, too, had 
 forgotten to prepare for such a query. And I 
 realized that my own appearance must weigh 
 heavily against us. Minus my coat, with my 
 head bandaged, and wet from crown to toe, I 
 was not a spectacle to be welcomed by any 
 lady. 
 
 " In humanity's scale, fellow sufferers," I 
 replied. 
 
 " But why came you here, and in such a 
 plight? " 
 
 " I crave shelter and protection for the lady. 
 For myself I only ask permission to lie in the 
 shade of one of your trees and rest until I am 
 stronger. We are " - a blindness seized me 
 " victims " - I felt my body swaying "of 
 a rabble a rabble 
 
 I was conscious that the ground seemed rising 
 up in front of me, and I felt a pair of arms clasped 
 about me. Then came a blank. 
 
 When next consciousness returned to me it
 
 WANDERERS 147 
 
 was as though my senses were rushing towards 
 me through some narrow channel; a roaring 
 was in my ears, growing louder and louder, until 
 it suddenly calmed, leaving me in a realm of 
 sweet peace. I felt a soft touch on my forehead, 
 changing quickly to each temple; my eyelids 
 seemed weighted, but I forced them up and 
 then found myself looking at a vision in white, 
 a girl of, probably, twenty, with a complexion 
 like the glint of old wine, and with raven hair. 
 A candle was burning on the table behind her, 
 its soft light framing her as in a halo, a picture 
 I never forgot. I was lying in a bed ; the comfort 
 of fresh, clean linen was all about me. I spoke no 
 word, but stared up into her face, and was con- 
 scious of a pleasure in the fact that my vision 
 was not blurred. She looked at me a moment, 
 a slight tinge of red showing in her cheeks; then 
 she smiled, and the room became brighter. 
 
 " Your eyes are clear. You will live," she said. 
 
 " Nay. Surely must I have already passed 
 away else how could I be here in heaven? " 
 
 I saw the smile leave her lips. 
 
 " Hush! Tis sacrilegious." But the brilliance 
 of her eyes deepened. 
 
 " I meant no mockery. But ? " I paused 
 and let my gaze wander here and there, over the
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 bed, about the room, and finally to her. She 
 read the question in my eyes. 
 
 " The chore-boy helped us carry you in after 
 you fainted, and he put you to bed while we pre- 
 pared the few simple remedies possible. You 
 have been delirious much of the day." 
 
 "And did I babble?" 
 
 She smiled again. " Yes mostly about an 
 eagle and some little girl who threw stones at 
 you. Boyhood scenes, probably." 
 
 The Eagle ! A little girl who threw stones at me ! 
 
 " Yes," I replied, " an incident of my youth 
 where a boy died." 
 
 " I thought it must have some sad history. 
 Your sister cried whenever you raved about it." 
 
 I looked at her a little stupidly. " My sister? " 
 
 " Why, yes, do you not remember that you 
 came together? " 
 
 Understanding crept slowly into my mind. 
 Gayle Langford had claimed me as her brother, 
 and the reason was plain. 'Twas the safest 
 refuge for her in view of her scant attire and the 
 evident fact that we had spent the night together. 
 
 "Yes yes of course. My brain is not 
 quite clear yet, and I forgot for a moment." 
 
 " But no more talking. You must rest. I am 
 going now."
 
 WANDERERS 149 
 
 She turned towards the door. 
 
 " I will surely perish from curiosity if you leave 
 me alone now," I said. 
 
 She smiled and the room grew brighter again. 
 
 " Your sister was right, I see." 
 
 Not having the faintest idea what my sister 
 had said, it was clearly impossible for me to do 
 aught but keep silent. She added: 
 
 " She said that so long as you held consciousness 
 nothing could daunt you." 
 
 Oho! The maid had been complimenting me! 
 I felt my pulse quicken, but as I was revelling in 
 the glory of the eyes in front of me, I could not 
 have told to save my battered head whether the 
 glow within me was born of the absent one's 
 compliments or the present one's glances. Fickle 
 weakling, say you? Well, have your fling and 
 welcome, but let me but plead this, that we of 
 the army had found scant time in many weary 
 months to accustom ourselves to the petticoat 
 world. 
 
 " Sister " (I almost strangled on the word) 
 " always was o'erproud of her brother." 
 
 The ludicrousness sent me into a violent fit of 
 coughing to cover my desire to roar with laugh- 
 ter. 
 
 " Perhaps," she said, moving over to the table
 
 i5o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 and making a fine pretence of busying herself 
 with the candle. " It's a way most sisters have." 
 
 " Do they? I have always wished I had a 
 sister," I replied, with all of the brilliancy of an 
 idiot. 
 
 She glanced at me quickly, but before she 
 could speak I was floundering in an effort to 
 extricate myself from my blunder. 
 
 " I mean," I stammered, " that I've always 
 wished I could be near my sister. You see, a 
 soldier is very much alone as regards family 
 ties;" 
 
 " Yes, my brother She paused. 
 
 "Your brother well?" 
 
 " Is a soldier, too." 
 
 The speech bore a note of defiance, and her 
 head was thrown back with an air of pride. 
 
 " Indeed? Then he and I are brothers." 
 
 " My brother wears a uniform." 
 
 There was no mistaking the biting suggestive- 
 ness of the fling, and I felt my cheeks burn. 
 
 " What command? " I asked, ignoring her 
 thrust. 
 
 " Wilmoth's horse. Perhaps you have met 
 them? " 
 
 " Aye, that I have else I would not be 
 here,"
 
 WANDERERS 151 
 
 " I suspicioned something of the kind," she 
 replied, and the sarcasm of her tone nettled me. 
 
 "Think you I am fleeing from them? Why, 
 they saved my worthless life! " 
 
 " Ah? " 
 
 " But tell me, where is my my sister? " 
 
 " I left her asleep. I will call her now." 
 
 "No, no, don't!" I cried as she turned 
 towards the door again. " May I ask with whom 
 I have been fencing with words? We have not 
 yet been presented, you know." 
 
 " My name? Certainly. It is Mary Wilmoth. 
 And yours? " 
 
 The query came like the crack of a whip. 
 Dolt that I was, not to have foreseen it. 
 
 " Why, my sister certainly gave you that. 
 Thank you for telling me yours. I really feel 
 that I must rest now." 
 
 But she was not to be tricked. Her eyes were 
 on me steadily. 
 
 " Perhaps I did not clearly understand the 
 name when she gave it to me." 
 
 I looked toward the door, praying that Gayle 
 Langford might step into the room. What name 
 had she given? Was I a Langford? Was she a 
 Lester? Were we both some one else? I had no 
 way of telling, and there stood the girl awaiting
 
 152 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 my reply, a reply that, doubtless, would uncover 
 the deceit that had been undertaken with the 
 best intentions possible, and, in uncovering it, 
 would plunge us deeper than ever into the murk 
 of foul suspicion. 
 
 " The poor girl herself was about done up. 
 My name? Ian Lester." 
 
 One chance was as likely to be right as another, 
 so I clung to my own name. I was watching her 
 closely, and I saw her lips tighten. 
 
 "Then I really did misunderstand your sis- 
 ter." 
 
 There was such a depth of meaning to that 
 slight pause, such a sting to the unuttered accusa- 
 tion that I groaned aloud. 
 
 " Are you suffering? " There was no warmth 
 to the query. 
 
 " Yes my head is hurting me." I closed 
 my eyes to avoid hers. 
 
 " Possibly it is your conscience." 
 
 I opened my eyes and looked again into her 
 face, and it seemed to me that as she stood there 
 she was a marble statue of accusation. I could 
 feel the scorn of her eyes piercing me. 
 
 " Accept my surrender," I said, gloomily. 
 
 " Then you are not Ian Lester? " 
 
 " Yes Captain in the Continental army."
 
 WANDERERS 153 
 
 " And and that woman ? " 
 
 " That lady is Mistress Gayle Langford, of 
 Philadelphia, loyal to the King." 
 
 " But she said " 
 
 " And so would you under like circumstances 
 to avert suspicion where guilt did not exist, for 
 there is no harsher nor more unjust judge of 
 woman than woman." 
 
 I could see her eyes soften a little at my speech, 
 and once she parted her lips to speak, but did 
 not. She walked to the door, hesitated, and 
 then turned to me. 
 
 " I will send my mother to you. I have already 
 remained too long." 
 
 She passed out and I heard her footsteps 
 descending the stairs. The pains were lacing my 
 head again, and I moistened my parched lips 
 with my tongue. Then of a sudden I flung the 
 covering from me, dropped my feet over the 
 edge, raised myself, and sat down on the side of 
 the bed. My clothing was hung across a chair 
 near by and I rose to my feet, but a giddiness 
 overcame me and I plunged forward to my knees 
 on the floor. The fall served only to increase my 
 determination to conquer my weakness, so I 
 crawled to the chair and, clinging to it, gained 
 my feet, and then slowly and with much unsteadi-
 
 154 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 ness I donned my clothes, even to the coat, which 
 Gayle Langford doubtless had no further use for 
 now that she was again with those of her sex. 
 By the time I was dressed I was nigh exhausted, 
 but managed to reach the open window, where I 
 clung to the frame and sought strength of the soft 
 breezes of the night. 
 
 What was I about to do? I scarcely knew. 
 The headstrong impulses that so often controlled 
 me were in command again. I was stung by the 
 position in which I found myself. I had ruined 
 my military career by springing to the defence of 
 a woman who screamed ; I had suffered a broken 
 head in defending this same woman's name; I 
 had endured exposure and fatigue and risked 
 death in caring for her for a woman who hated 
 me for being a rebel against her King. And 
 now another woman had humbled me and lashed 
 me with suspicion. As I leaned against the 
 window-casing I dimly remember cursing the 
 entire sex. I longed to be astride a horse, clothed 
 in the uniform of American liberty. I put one 
 trembling hand to my forehead and felt of the 
 jagged scar beneath my forelock, and at the feel 
 of it my blood leaped again and my brain cleared. 
 To feel the quiver of horse-flesh between my 
 knees! To hear the turmoil of battle! To strike
 
 WANDERERS 155 
 
 again in vengeance! Ah, yes, that was it! The 
 Eagle and her bloody deck were before me! 
 
 How I longed for the brave blue and buff, for 
 the jangle of my old sabre! Then would I have 
 been a man again, not a weakened, purposeless 
 dupe in the garb of a Tory fop. About New York 
 I knew the British forces were massing; General 
 Howe was approaching Sandy Hook when I 
 rode away from the army, and it was well known 
 among Washington's officers that Admiral Lord 
 Howe was sailing from England with a fleet and 
 a large land force, expecting to assist in the grand 
 coup that was to capture Long Island, annihilate 
 Washington's army, and end the war triumphantly 
 for King George. There was but one path for 
 me to tread; it led straight back to General 
 Washington, and the easiest way for me to make 
 my start was the best the window. I was an 
 object of suspicion in the household, and should 
 I go down the stairs unpleasant scenes would 
 result, with, perhaps, more scorn from Gayle 
 Langford, for now that she was rested and clothed 
 once more I doubted not that she would forget 
 all but the fact that I was a rebel. I threw one 
 leg over the window-sill and was calculating on 
 the strength of the vines to which I must trust 
 myself in my descent, when an exclamation
 
 156 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 behind me caused me to turn. I had tarried too 
 long, for in the doorway stood an old lady with 
 hair like snow, and at her side was Gayle Langford. 
 
 For one brief instant did I hesitate in choosing 
 whether to clutch the vines and make away or 
 to remain. I chose the latter, and, scrambling 
 to my feet, made my best bow. 
 
 " Truly honored am I by this call," I said, 
 stiffly. 
 
 " Which seems to have been made at the last 
 tick of opportunity if we were to see you." 
 
 Mrs. Wilmoth stepped into the room and pointed 
 to the window as she spoke. The girl said nothing, 
 nor could I read her eyes, for she stood much in 
 the shadow. 
 
 " Yes," I replied, " I was leaving." 
 
 " Like a gentleman? " 
 
 The contempt of her tone stung me. 
 
 " I heard the call of duty," I said. 
 
 " Indeed! And its message? " 
 
 " Its message was a rebuke that I should longer 
 linger here while off yonder " (my arm waved 
 toward the coast) "my comrades are on the eve 
 of the death-grapple. My place now is at the 
 side of General Washington." 
 
 I saw her eyes soften as I spoke, and at the 
 name of Washington she clapped her hands.
 
 WANDERERS 157 
 
 " But why the window? " she asked. 
 
 " Because I was foolish, Madam," I said. 
 " Physically suffering, I also was much dis- 
 turbed in mind by the suspicions directed against 
 me and and " 
 
 " Mistress Langford? " 
 
 With a quiet smile she completed the sentence 
 for me. 
 
 '* Then you know " 
 
 " The whole story, Captain Lester." 
 
 Gayle Langford had stepped forward into the 
 candle-light and spoken. 
 
 " I have acknowledged my falsehood, told on 
 an impulse as a a protection, and we are 
 now known as we are you, a reb - " (the blood 
 flamed in her cheeks) : 'a Continental soldier, 
 and I a Loyalist to King George." 
 
 " It is this we have come to tell you, Captain. 
 My son is a major in your army. You are wounded 
 and weak. You can best serve your country by 
 recovering your strength and not by driving your- 
 self to the grave by exhaustion. We will leave 
 you now and you had best return to bed. Good 
 night." 
 
 With a graceful curtsy she turned towards the 
 door ; as I bowed to her I caught the gaze of 
 Gayle Langford, and long after I had again crept
 
 158 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 between the sheets I tossed about uneasily, 
 vainly trying to assure myself as to what I had 
 read in her eyes. Was it pity? Was it more 
 than pity ? Was it ? But my exhausted 
 system clamored for rest and I fell into a heavy 
 slumber.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 
 
 THE lazy flapping of a blind against the 
 casing of the window seemed beating a 
 tattoo on my brain, and I opened my eyes 
 to find, much to my astonishment, that the sun 
 was high in the sky. From the yard below there 
 came a peculiar whirring and the sound of a girl's 
 voice singing in a subdued tone a ballad popular 
 with the Continental army: 
 
 " My lover is a soldier lad, 
 
 King George's crown he's scorning. 
 He rides and fights with Washington 
 In Liberty's bright morning." 
 
 " Putnam! " 
 
 The song had ended and the singer had voiced 
 the call that caused my sleepy eyes to open wider, 
 for, in truth, was the name one to thrill a Patriot 
 soldier. 
 
 '59
 
 i6o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Putnam! Putnam, I say! " 
 
 Vexation crept into the tone and the voice was 
 raised. 
 
 " Yassum." 
 
 It was the voice of a darky boy, and as I 
 raised on my elbow and peeped slyly out the 
 window I saw the lazy little rascal yawning and 
 stretching himself under a tree, though the girl 
 was not in view. 
 
 " You lump of laziness, have you been asleep 
 so early in the day? " 
 
 " No'm! No'm! " He was now on his feet, 
 but stood scratching his woolly head, dully. " I 
 done sot down hyar jes' er minute ter think 
 erbout erbout " 
 
 " Never mind! If you don't stay awake, some 
 of these Tories will catch you sure." 
 
 " Yassum, I'se gwine ter stay awake, Miss 
 Mary. I shorely is." 
 
 He hurried around the corner of the house 
 to where the girl was, and I clambered out 
 of bed, and though my head throbbed 
 somewhat, I was happy to note that my 
 strength was considerable. I had just slipped 
 into my clothes when there came a rap on my 
 door. 
 
 "Well!" I responded.
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 161 
 
 " Marse Captain, de Missus she say is you 
 awake yet? " 
 
 I laughed as I recognized Putnam's voice. 
 
 "I'm not sure, Putnam. Come in and see." 
 
 The door was opened and a negro boy of about 
 twelve years stood before me. He was as black 
 as the heart of midnight, but his eyes were bright 
 and his broad mouth seemed constantly on the 
 verge of a wide grin. He was bareheaded and 
 barefooted, and in his hands he carried a pitcher 
 of water. 
 
 " De Missus say she sen' up your breakfas' if 
 you all is awake." 
 
 " Give me the water, Putnam, and go tell your 
 mistress that I'll be down in a moment. Under- 
 stand? " 
 
 " Yassir." 
 
 He handed me the pitcher and then turned 
 and scampered down the stairway. The cool 
 water was a delight; I removed the bandage 
 from my head and splashed in the bowl like a 
 schoolboy, and then I found myself standing 
 before the mirror and pluming myself with all of 
 the care of a London dandy. True, the cut of 
 my clothes bespoke the Tory, but little I heeded 
 that. In truth, I confess I was pleased at their 
 gorgeousness, for with my coat on, the bandage
 
 i6 2 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 absent from my head, and my face freshened by 
 the long sleep, I fancied Mary Wilmoth would 
 find me a very different looking personage from 
 the weary, suffering, fainting wretch who had 
 staggered half-clothed into her presence twenty- 
 four hours before, though my face yet lacked the 
 flush of health. Going to the window I peeped 
 cautiously out, but no one was in sight. The 
 whirring continued, but no song arose. I turned 
 to the door and passed out into the hallway to 
 the stairs. I soon found that my legs were yet 
 trembly and unsteady, but I descended the stairs 
 with a tolerably firm tread, and as I reached the 
 hallway below Mrs. Wilmoth stepped out from 
 the parlor and extended her hand in greeting. 
 
 " We are much pleased that you are able to 
 be out of your bed, Captain," she said. 
 
 " Dear Madam, my tongue is halting twixt a 
 self-berating of my indolence that kept me so 
 late abed, and thanks for your graciousness in 
 permitting me such indulgence." 
 
 She smiled. 
 
 " It is in such indomitable wills that the hope 
 of liberty lies." 
 
 And then I blushed like a schoolboy at her 
 praise, and she led the way into the parlor, where 
 Gayle Langford stood as though awaiting me.
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 163 
 
 She was dressed in a very plain gown, borrowed 
 from Mary Wilmoth, but the sombre garb of a 
 nun could not diminish the imperious dignity 
 that distinguished her and made glorious a beauty 
 that in a careful analysis showed defects. 
 
 " Your bright eyes are answers to the hope I 
 was about to express that your sleep had been 
 refreshing," I said, bowing to her. 
 
 " And your pretty speech is proof that pain 
 and fatigue have not clogged your tongue," she 
 replied with a pretty curtsy, whereat we all three 
 laughed and fell to an exchange of commonplaces 
 which was only interrupted by Mrs. Wilmoth 
 urging me to step into the dining-room for my 
 breakfast. 
 
 In truth, I ought not to say she urged me, for 
 my appetite was clamoring for a cup of the coffee 
 whose fragrance had found its way to my nostrils. 
 And as I sat at table Gayle Langford told me of 
 her determination to return to Philadelphia, 
 making the start the next morning. 'Twas such 
 news as I might have expected, but I confess that 
 I did not. The events of the last thirty-six hours 
 seemed to have been weeks in transpiring ; during 
 those hours of danger, of distress and exposure, 
 we had been so much in each other's company, 
 aye, so much to each other, that in an unconscious
 
 i6 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 way I had come to regard myself as her guardian, 
 her protector, and in the beauty of this mid- 
 summer morning, with the majesty and peace of 
 Valley Forge about us, I had forgotten for the 
 moment that she was the proudest Loyalist 
 maid in all the Colonies, the daughter of Peter 
 Langford, whose hatred of the rebels to his King 
 was such that he died when liberty's message 
 had sounded, and that I was in her eyes a traitor, 
 a man whose sword was drawn in opposition to 
 that which she held most dear. But when the 
 first shock of a surprise I should not have felt 
 had passed I remembered it all and gulped a cup 
 of Mrs. Wilmoth's steaming coffee in an effort 
 to compose myself, for I had found our brief 
 companionship most pleasant, fraught with hard- 
 ships and vexations though it had been. 
 
 In her return to Philadelphia I foresaw the 
 dividing of our pathways, with slight chance that 
 they would ever merge again. The guide-post 
 pointed her to wealth, ease, the splendor of 
 fashion's world; destiny beckoned me with 
 bloody ringer to the horror of battle-fields, the 
 dreariness of lonely bivouacs perhaps the un- 
 known grave of a soldier. How human impulses 
 shift and change, like the sands on the beach! 
 Last night I was for clambering out of a window
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 165 
 
 and putting forth to escape her, and now, like a 
 dolt, I sat scalding my throat because she had 
 said she was preparing to leave me. 
 
 " Why to-morrow? Are you not welcome 
 here? " I asked, at length. 
 
 She raised her eyes to mine and the tears were 
 on the lashes as she asked: 
 
 " Can you have forgotten the trust Erasmus 
 guards and my mother? " 
 
 "No, your duty is there," I said slowly. 
 " Who accompanies you? " 
 
 " Putnam is to drive we take the Wilmoth 
 chaise." 
 
 I set my cup down and looked hard at her. 
 
 " You will journey with no escort save that 
 negro boy, along " 
 
 " I am sure there will be no danger." 
 
 " Along roads infested with highwaymen? " 
 
 " I have neither gold nor jewels to tempt 
 them," she replied smiling. 
 
 "But but these devils prize beauty 
 equally with jewels." 
 
 A wave of red crept -slowly up from her throat, 
 and I turned my eyes away to relieve her em- 
 barrassment. 
 
 " Nevertheless, Captain, I must take the risk. 
 We go to-morrow."
 
 i66 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 I glanced again at her, and saw the old flash 
 in her eyes. What a soldier she would have been 
 had she been a man! But I had decided a point. 
 
 " Then if there is a horse about this place I 
 ride with you." 
 
 I would have sworn that sudden catch of her 
 breath was for pleasure, but when she spoke it 
 was to voice a remonstrance. 
 
 " No, no, it must not be." 
 
 " Will my company be so distasteful, then? " 
 
 'Twas impertinence, I know, but for some 
 reason I was nettled at her manner of speech, 
 and my nasty temper bested me. 
 
 " I have not detected myself considering that 
 question," she replied, haughtily. 
 
 My word for it, 'twas a waspish sting her words 
 gave me, and for a moment I was of a mind to 
 wash my hands of the whole mess and let her fare 
 as fate should will, but after I had taken another 
 swallow of coffee and the sting had eased a bit 
 I saw my error. 
 
 " Your pardon, Mistress Langford. Your lash 
 is just, and - 
 
 " Oh, but it was petulant of me," she said, 
 warming suddenly. " You have done so much 
 for me, Captain, and my wicked tongue has ill 
 repaid you."
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 167 
 
 " Nay! Nay! 'Twas right well deserved, say 
 I. But to your journey ; I shall ride by your side." 
 And e'en as I spoke I was swearing to myself that 
 such another capricious maid did not live in all 
 the Colonies. 
 
 " But your head is " 
 
 " Of scant use for brains, but amply able to 
 stop stools." 
 
 "Ah!" She was leaning across the table 
 towards me. " A stool? You forget you have 
 not told me the story of your bandage. Not a 
 tavern brawl? " 
 
 Here was a pretty situation. I had no mind 
 to tell the girl that I was fighting in a public 
 tavern because her name had been mentioned in 
 a way not to my liking, and I was not inclined 
 to lie to her about it. 
 
 " Mistress Langford, I assure you my hurt was 
 received in an affair in no wise discreditable to 
 myself, but for reasons of my own I ask to be 
 excused from relating the incident." 
 
 " Oh, certainly." Her tone was indiffer- 
 ent. 
 
 I tried to think of something that would ease 
 the conversation into channels less thickly strewn 
 with rocks, but nothing came to my tongue, and 
 we both sat there stiffly silent until I had finished
 
 i68 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 eating. Mrs. Wilmoth had excused herself when 
 I first sat down to breakfast. 
 
 " Shall we walk out into the yard? " I asked, 
 at last. " I think I heard Mistress Mary out 
 there, and I have not yet paid my respects to 
 her." 
 
 " I think I prefer the cool of the parlor." 
 
 In the hallway she left me, and a moment later 
 I heard her voice in the parlor raised in careless 
 lilts of song. I confess I was vexed that she had 
 so coolly declined to accompany me, but I marched 
 down the hallway and out into the yard in my most 
 careless manner, and with never a glance to the 
 rear. The morning was well advanced, and 
 already the rays of heat could be seen dancing 
 between the house and the woodlands beyond the 
 meadow, but for the first time I got a good view 
 of Valley Forge, and paused a moment in the 
 doorway to enjoy the scene. Months later, when 
 I viewed those rugged hills and tortuous gorges 
 under vastly different conditions, the memory 
 of that blazing July morning oft came to 
 mock me in the bitterest winter the valley ever 
 knew. 
 
 I strolled around the house to where I heard 
 again the peculiar whirr and the low-sung words 
 of a song.
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 169 
 
 " Maids' hearts must break for Freedom's sake, 
 
 Of this I give you warning, 
 But the brave and true have work to do 
 In Liberty's bright morning." 
 
 Mary Witmoth was so busy at her spinning- 
 wheel that I was close beside her before she 
 looked up with a start. 
 
 "La, how you startled me, Mister Captain 
 Lester." 
 
 The words were accompanied by a winsome 
 smile that showed me two rows of snow-white 
 teeth and a most fetching dimple. Her head 
 was bare and the winds had tossed and rumpled 
 her raven hair recklessly. I looked into the 
 sparkling eyes and felt my pulse bound. Aye, 
 there was beauty without flaw. 
 
 " I am pleased to see you able to be about 
 this morning," she said, and extended her hand 
 in greeting. 
 
 " When the lark trilled I deafened my ears 
 with slumber, but when Juno sang I spurned 
 Morpheus," I said, and lifted her fingers to my lips. 
 
 Heigho! 'Twas wondrous bold, the speech and 
 the salute together, but I had not been of warm 
 flesh and red blood could I have resisted. And 
 while I was noting the glow in her cheeks deepen 
 I heard a voice behind me.
 
 iyo GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Oh, Captain Lester, I brought you a hat." 
 
 I turned and beheld Gayle Langford, who 
 stood at the corner of the house holding a hat 
 towards me, a smile on her lips. I did not realize 
 that I was still clinging to Mary Wilmoth's hand 
 until that young lady jerked it from my grasp, 
 and as she did so I saw a mocking light danc- 
 ing in Gayle's eyes, the playground for her 
 emotions. 
 
 " It belongs to Mrs. Wilmoth's son, but she 
 kindly suggested that I bring it to you lest the 
 hot sun cause your injured head trouble." 
 
 " I had forgotten that I was bareheaded," I 
 answered, taking the hat, and then my face must 
 have dyed red, for at the unfortunate speech the 
 girl gave vent to a peal of laughter. I jammed the 
 hat on my head savagely. " I mean that - 
 I mean the shade here - 
 
 " And the breeze from the spinning-wheel was 
 so refreshing," she interrupted, and the mockery 
 still danced in her eyes. 
 
 " At least the song was," I said, stiffly. " A 
 Continental who felt the throb of an aching 
 head while Patriot lips were singing ' Liberty's 
 Morning ' would of a certainty be a weakling." 
 
 I saw the mockery die out of her eyes, and her 
 chin rose just a trifle as she replied :
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 171 
 
 " Happy Continentals! The blaze of the sun 
 is tempered by traitorous songs, and 
 
 " No, not that! " cried Mary Wilmoth. " I 
 like not the word ' traitor,' Mistress Langford. 
 'Tis harsh!" 
 
 She had turned to her spinning and was softly 
 pedalling the wheel until the other's words had 
 brought her to her feet. Like a flash Gayle 
 Langford's hands were outstretched towards the 
 Patriot maid, and I saw the ice in her eyes 
 melting. 
 
 " Forgive me, I beg," she said. " 'Twas un- 
 kind of me and I your debtor for so much. 
 Captain Lester lashed my prejudices, and they 
 cried out." 
 
 " A truce twixt King George and the Colonists ! " 
 cried Mary, clasping Gayle's hands. Then, as is 
 ever the way with women, their lips met. The 
 little Tory laughed gaily, and then turned and 
 ran back to the house, leaving me standing there 
 staring after her until the whirr of the spinning- 
 wheel sounded, and I turned to see Mary Wilmoth 
 with her foot on the pedal, busy at work in silence. 
 
 " 'Twas the fault of my unruly tongue," I 
 said, stepping to her side. " May I not be for- 
 given? " I swept my hat from my head as I 
 spoke.
 
 172 
 
 " You must keep your hat on, for you were 
 not to blame, Captain. She was laughing be- 
 cause " She paused, and her cheeks burned 
 a deeper red. " Not all of King George's Loyalists 
 are in the field," she added, hastily. 
 
 I understood her confusion perfectly. It was 
 as clear to her as to me that had I not been kissing 
 her fingers so enthusiastically just as Gayle Lang- 
 ford appeared the tiff would not have occurred. 
 
 " Nor is all of the Continental soldiers' inspira- 
 tion in the flag we carry! " 
 
 As I spoke she bent lower over the wheel, but 
 my bold eyes noted the red still dyeing her cheeks. 
 Her deft hands faltered an instant, and then there 
 was a snarl of flax that stopped the wheel. 
 
 " Let me help you." 
 
 Unheeding her half-hearted protests, I began 
 clawing at the tangle, and as I now recall the 
 incident I must have made a bad snarl hopeless, 
 for, as I worked, the glowing cheek of the girl 
 came close to me, and, though I nervously pulled 
 and hauled at the flax, my eyes were on the 
 tempting beauty before me. Then our hands 
 met between the spokes of the wheel and I felt 
 my pulse suddenly begin pounding furiously. 
 The contact was for only an instant, but it was 
 sufficient to send the blood rushing to my head,
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 173 
 
 with the result that a network of pains raced 
 from temple to temple and the trees began to 
 dance. I took a step, but the ground was rising, 
 and I would have gone down ingloriously had 
 not Mary Wilmoth glanced about and noted my 
 tottering step. With a cry she clutched me by 
 the arm. Her grasp steadied me and I stood 
 erect. 
 
 " Let me lie under the tree a moment and it 
 will pass," I said, and staggered to the tree, and 
 her arms supported me as I sank down at full 
 length in its shade. 
 
 " You must have a cold application," she said, 
 and I saw her running towards the well. Down 
 came the sweep, and in a moment she came 
 flying back with a gourd of cool water. 
 
 I lay very quiet while she made a bandage of 
 my kerchief and cooled it until it eased the 
 throbbing agony. Once I opened my eyes, but 
 closed them instanter, for I had looked full into 
 her face and had drunk in her faultless beauty. 
 
 "Putnam! Putnam!" 
 
 I looked around and saw the little negro stand- 
 ing close to the well, looking at us and yawn- 
 ing. 
 
 " Yassum, I'm comin'," he responded, and 
 came lazily forward.
 
 174 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Do you know where mother and the 
 other lady are? " 
 
 The darky scratched his head. " Miss Mary," 
 he said, with great deliberation, " I'se mos' 
 suah I done see 'em in de ga'den jus' now. Dey 
 was two ladies dar, an' I reckon as how dey was 
 dem, Miss Mary. I go right dis minit an' see fo' 
 suhten, an' den I hurry back an' - 
 
 " Never mind. Captain Lester is ill and you 
 must help me get him to his room." 
 
 Supported by the two I was led tottering into 
 the house and up to my room, where I sprawled 
 on the bed and mentally cursed the fate that 
 made me a prey to such a weakness. 
 
 " Thank you," I said, as the girl wet the 
 bandage again. " A rest will set me right." 
 
 I kept my eyes closed, but I heard Putnam 
 yawning, and with my promise to call her should 
 I want anything, the girl withdrew. In truth, I 
 was most heartily ashamed of myself. A velvety 
 cheek, a liquid eye, a warm hand, and I had gone 
 all a-quiver like a schoolboy! What a queer 
 thing was love and what a devilish thing, if 
 my splitting head counted for aught. True, my 
 months of war had not made of me a connoisseur 
 of women, but, by the sword of Washington, if 
 ever maid was lovable, Mary Wilmoth was!
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 175 
 
 And then, vain prig, I pictured myself as I should 
 stand before her some uncertain day in 
 the brave buff and blue of the Continentals, and 
 have her kiss my sword and send me a-riding 
 with Washington with her dainty kerchief flutter- 
 ing encouragement as I flashed my sabre in 
 salute. I had fought passing well before, but 
 now! Ah, now! 
 
 I was aroused from my thoughts by voices in 
 the yard below, and then came the unmistakable 
 clank of sabres, the stamping and whinnying of 
 horses, and I slipped from the bed and knelt at 
 the window, my training having made me most 
 cautious. What I saw almost wrung a cry of 
 delight from my lips. Below me was a squad of 
 Continental soldiers, four of them, standing at 
 their horses' heads, and the leader, wearing the 
 uniform of a major, was clasping Mrs. Wilmoth 
 in his arms, wiiile she cried with delight and 
 patted his shoulder lovingly. It was all as clear 
 as sunlight that Major Wilmoth had ridden out 
 from Philadelphia to visit his home. 
 
 I lay back on the bed and listened to the ex- 
 cited hum below stairs, and envied the lucky 
 soldier who had a home and mother to visit. But 
 it's a dark road a man's thoughts travel when he 
 starts at this point, and I was only aroused from
 
 176 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 my communings by a heavy tread on the stairs 
 and the gentle voice of a woman, occasionally 
 interrupted by the heavier tones of a man, and 
 then Mrs. Wilmoth stepped into the room, fol- 
 lowed closely by a man I knew to be her son 
 before she said: 
 
 " My son, Major Wilmoth, Captain Lester." 
 
 I was struggling to my feet, when his kindly 
 voice stopped me. 
 
 " Tut! Tut! Captain, lie still. A feather bed 
 is a luxury no soldier can afford to rise from until 
 necessity calls." 
 
 He laughed as he spoke, and as I swept him 
 with a glance I knew I should like Major Wilmoth. 
 He was a handsome fellow, thirty-two, tall, 
 spare, and straight, with a pair of eyes that were 
 keen and kindly. 
 
 " 'Tis delicious, sir," I replied, " but I fear 
 I will be spoiled for a pillow of boots and a bed 
 of grass." 
 
 " But this head of yours, tell me of it. I have 
 some skill in doctoring." 
 
 He came to me and took my wrist in his hand, 
 but as he counted the beats I saw his eyes slowly 
 travelling over my attire, and a frown wrinkled 
 his brow. 
 
 " I am not in satins and laces from choice,
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 177 
 
 Major, as I can explain. As for my head, it is 
 the worse for having stopped a stool flung by a 
 sturdy arm." 
 
 " A brawl, Captain? " 
 
 His voice was low and even, and I felt his eyes 
 searching me. 
 
 " I pledge you it was naught for which I need 
 feel shame. But had it not been for a squad of 
 your men, sir, it would have cost my life." 
 
 He looked at me a moment without speak- 
 ing. Then a light seemed to be dawning in his 
 mind. 
 
 " Was it at the Golden Lion? " he asked. 
 
 I nodded, and he suddenly seized my hand in 
 both of his. 
 
 " Egad, Captain, I know the story now. It 
 was because of a girl, and unarmed you tried to 
 clean out a room full." 
 
 I began signalling him desperately, for Gayle 
 Langford had ascended the stairs unnoticed and 
 now stood in the doorway at his back. But he 
 misconstrued my efforts. 
 
 " Tut! Tut! I know the whole brave story. My 
 sergeant told me how you faced the cutthroats 
 until the stool put you down. 'Twas a brave 
 deed, and all for a bright eye and pretty face, eh, 
 Captain? "
 
 178 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 11 Oh, you do not understand at all! " I fairly 
 groaned, my eyes on Gayle Langford. 
 
 Wilmoth laughed in his cheery way. " Don't 
 understand? Fie! Think you I have no weak- 
 ness for the wenches? But I came to doctor 
 Caesar, not to praise him. That broken head 
 must torture you." 
 
 He had caught my half -suppressed groan, born 
 of an agony of spirit rather than of body, and 
 promptly interpreted it wrongly. 
 
 " I think he needs a physician's attentions," 
 spoke up Gayle Langford, coming forward. 
 
 I tried to catch her eye to read there what 
 interpretation she had put on Wilmoth's words. 
 
 " Well, I doctored before I soldiered, so I may 
 be able to help him." He was fingering about 
 my skull with a touch so deft that it satisfied me 
 that he knew his profession. 
 
 " I feared a skull fracture, but happily it 
 proves not so," he said at length. " Your injuries 
 are no worse than bruises, and a day or two of 
 quiet in bed with some treatment will put you on 
 your feet again, as good a target as ever a redcoat 
 shot at." 
 
 I glanced at the girl, but in her eyes I read 
 nothing but hauteur and indifference. I turned 
 to Wilmoth.
 
 A MAID AND A SONG 179 
 
 " I ride to-morrow morning, Major." 
 
 He stared at me. " Ride where? Why? " 
 
 I sought the Tory maid's eyes again, but she 
 had crossed to the window. However, I would 
 have sworn I saw a faint tinge of color creeping 
 up into her cheeks. 
 
 " To Philadelphia as escort for Mistress Lang- 
 ford," I responded. " She goes in the morning 
 with none but Putnam." 
 
 " Such a sacrifice is quite unnecessary, Captain. 
 Putnam and I shall not be molested." 
 
 The girl had turned towards me and she spoke 
 carelessly. 
 
 " No, you will stay on the feathers," replied 
 Wilmoth. " I return to Philadelphia to-morrow, 
 and will gladly escort Mistress Langford." 
 
 For an instant I was on the point of rebellion, 
 but the smile the girl gave him and the memory 
 of a Patriot maid with the glow of wine in her 
 cheeks checked my speech. It would be very 
 pleasant to play invalid at Valley Forge a few 
 days ; of that I was certain. 
 
 " I suppose you are right," I said at last.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 
 
 MAJOR WILMOTH proved an able man in 
 the concoction of liniments and applica- 
 tions from the herbs of the farm, and 
 before night had fallen I felt my head to be 
 clearer than it had been since it stopped the stool, 
 but it was Mary Wilmoth who bandaged my head 
 and kept the cloths wet with the soothing lini- 
 ment. In truth, I may as well confess, too, that 
 I required a prodigious lot of attention, for the 
 bandage just would not remain in place or is 
 it better I should admit I pulled the rags awry 
 purposely? Mayhap 'twas a bit of fever in my 
 blood that caused me to do this, but this I know, 
 'twas most delicious to have Mary Wilmoth's 
 soft fingers arranging the bandage, and to hear 
 her gentle voice expressing sympathy when I 
 moaned. Ah, me! As I look back at it now 
 through the smoke of my pipe I cannot find it in 
 
 180
 
 PARTING OF THE WAYS 181 
 
 my heart to chide myself for affecting a suffering 
 I did not feel. Her touch, her voice but you 
 cannot feel and hear as I did then. 
 
 " How long since you saw your brother last? " 
 I asked her. 
 
 " Six months," she replied. " He has been 
 in Virginia until recently, when he was detailed 
 for duty in the capital, and to-morrow he leaves 
 us again." There was a catch in her voice. 
 
 " Yes, the lot of a soldier." 
 
 ' Yes, yes, duty! Always it is duty! There 
 is no time for aught else! " 
 
 " Nay, not even for for love. It must flash 
 into the soldier's life like a meteor and catch step 
 with his heart-throbs, else Love falls by the way 
 and he marches alone with Duty." 
 
 She was deftly arranging the bandages, and as 
 I spoke I looked full into her eyes, and then my 
 hand suddenly clasped hers. " Alone with Duty," 
 I repeated tremulously. 
 
 " Captain you oh, the awfulness of war! " 
 She turned her face towards the window, but her 
 hand rested in mine. " Duty always duty! " 
 she exclaimed, as though repeating to herself. 
 
 There was a heavy step on the stairs, and she 
 snatched her hand away just as her brother's 
 head appeared above the landing.
 
 182 
 
 " How fares our patient, sister? " he called. 
 
 " Much better, I am sure," I answered for her, 
 while the girl fumbled with the bandages. 
 
 " Good! Let's try that pulse. Um-m-m! " 
 He glanced sharply at me as he counted the 
 beats. " Pulse entirely too rapid. Strange. 
 Probably weakness and disquietude. Saturate 
 that bandage well this time, Mary, and we'll try 
 letting him rest and sleep." 
 
 I tried to protest, but he silenced me by assuring 
 me that head injuries required perfect quiet and 
 rest, though the patient was always clamorous 
 for company and excitement. 
 
 " You'll get all you want of both before King 
 George squeals. Better lie still and rest while 
 you can. Dream of Washington if you wish to 
 for oft you will ride with him and dream of this 
 peace and rest." 
 
 Then they left me, Wilmoth's arm about his 
 sister, but at the head of the stairs she turned, 
 and the glance she gave me, brief though it was, 
 gave me pleasant thoughts for company, and soon 
 I fell asleep. But they were not pleasant dreams 
 that came to my pillow. I was riding into battle, 
 when my horse was shot from under me and I 
 found myself prostrate with a multitude of red- 
 coats confronting me, each with levelled musket.
 
 PARTING OF THE WAYS 183 
 
 I closed my eyes and awaited the shock of bullets, 
 but they came not, and I opened my eyes. Be- 
 tween the British and me stood a woman, her 
 arms outstretched. (Such is the power of dreams.) 
 Filled with wonder I sprang to my feet, and as 
 the British wheeled and marched away the woman 
 turned her face towards me. It was Gayle 
 Langford. 
 
 I gasped and awakened to find the sun fast 
 setting, but its last rays falling full on my face. 
 I was wet with perspiration, and small wonder 
 was it my dreams had been distorted. 
 
 'Twas surprising the improvement I noted in 
 my condition when I went down-stairs- the next 
 morning. The dizziness had gone and my keen 
 appetite was evidence that - my old strength 
 would soon return. A blithe enough morn it 
 was, but there was little of song and cheer in the 
 Wilmoth home, for scarcely had the breakfast- 
 table been cleared than Wilmoth 's men appeared 
 with the horses in the road before the house. I 
 stood on the little veranda while the aged mother 
 and the sister clung to son and brother, weeping, 
 for now that the Declaration of Independence 
 had been signed it meant renewed vigor in the 
 war, and the soldier they were bidding adieu was 
 apt to see stern hours ere he came riding home
 
 i8 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 again; indeed, if he ever came. But, God's 
 mercy! Little we dreamed how soon he would 
 be in that house once more, nor that his home- 
 coming would be more grief-laden than this 
 departure. 
 
 Putnam drove out of the lane with the chaise 
 and awaited Gayle Langford. Her farewells to 
 mother and daughter were scarcely heard by 
 them, but when she turned to me a sudden 
 realization shot to my brain that she was about 
 to pass out of my life, and it brought a curious 
 saddening pang. 
 
 " Captain Lester, 'tis the parting of our ways, 
 I presume," she said, slowly. 
 
 " It seems so," I replied. " May your future 
 be less stormy than that fragment of your life 
 into which I have entered." 
 
 " But at my home if I have a home left me - 
 you will ever be welcome, Captain. May I not 
 hope to see you there some day? " 
 
 " I would be most happy, Mistress Langford, 
 to entertain such a hope, but war is a hard master. 
 Your way leads to Philadelphia and home, while 
 I go to join Washington and offer my life in 
 battling against that you hold dear. Most likely 
 'tis our farewell." 
 
 She dropped her head as I spoke, and was silent
 
 PARTING OF THE WAYS 185 
 
 a moment. I, too, found my tongue suddenly 
 tied, and so we stood without speaking. I looked 
 down the road, hot and dusty in the July sun- 
 shine, winding down through a rocky defile and 
 then up and over a rugged hill. When she 
 should pass over that hill 'twould be the ending 
 of it all. And how little was that all! 
 
 " Time we were off ! " called Major Wilmoth, 
 and the girl's head raised as she extended her 
 hand. 
 
 " But through it all, please believe me most 
 grateful! " she exclaimed. 
 
 I clasped the soft hand and looked into her 
 eyes. 
 
 " And I am grateful, also grateful to the 
 fate that privileged me to serve you." My lips 
 touched her finger tips, and then she turned 
 away. 
 
 We three who were left behind watched the 
 cavalcade as it passed down the road at a brisk 
 trot, two soldiers riding in advance of the chaise 
 and two in the rear, while Major Wilmoth rode 
 beside the conveyance. As they passed over the 
 brow of the hill we saw the officer turn in his 
 saddle and wave his hat in salute, and methought 
 there was flutter of kerchief from the chaise. 
 Then they dipped over the hill and were gone.
 
 i86 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 I sat on the veranda alone while mother and 
 daughter went into the house and wept out their 
 grief. I felt an impatience now for action, for 
 here was I, a soldier, sitting indolently in a quiet 
 nook of Valley Forge when there was work for 
 every Patriot hand! But on the morrow Putnam 
 would return, bringing with him my horse, and 
 on the following day I would be off to report my 
 miserable failure to the Chief, and to beg for a 
 chance to retrieve my failure by desperate deeds. 
 Little chance was there that Gayle Langford and I 
 would ever meet again. Poor lass! I wondered 
 what she would find where her home had once 
 stood. 
 
 The spinning-wheel was still that day and no 
 word of song came from Mary Wilmoth's lips. 
 In truth, I saw her but little, and then the message 
 of sorrow that was writ on her face told me that 
 'twas a day which should be hers alone. Dinner 
 was but a solemn ceremony; the ladies scarcely 
 touched food, and I ate but sparingly. Then 
 during the dull, hot hours of the afternoon I 
 fretted alone in the yard, pacing nervously under 
 the trees and planning for the future, and always 
 at the end of my beat I paused to stare down the 
 hot, dusty road toward Philadelphia. 
 
 My thoughts wandered and lagged, for I had
 
 I SAW THAT THE RIDEK IX FRONT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE 
 ARMS OF THE ONE BEHIND. Pdlje 187.
 
 PARTING OF THE WAYS 187 
 
 suddenly paused and was gazing at a blotch on 
 the afternoon sky, certainly a horseman coming 
 over the ridge from towards Philadelphia. Nearer 
 came the horse, in a heavy, rolling lope and I 
 stared curiously at its rider. Was he drunk? 
 The distance was great, but I could see that he 
 lurched unsteadily and, ha! there were two 
 riders. I could note this plainly now. Then I 
 dashed toward the road, for I detected the buff 
 and blue of a Continental uniform. On they 
 came, and I shaded my eyes with my hand as I 
 strained to conquer the distance with my vision. 
 Closer, closer, and I saw that the rider in front 
 was supported by the arms of the one behind. 
 God's name! 'Twas an officer! Then I caught 
 my breath and sprang over the fence, for the 
 officer had straightened himself momentarily in 
 the saddle and I recognized the features of Wil- 
 moth. And surely that red stain was blood! 
 Aye, now the crimson of it was to be seen on his 
 face and on the arms of the soldier who supported 
 him in the saddle. 
 
 " Heaven's mercy! What ill has befallen 
 you? " I cried as the horse pounded up to where 
 I stood beneath a tree. 
 
 " A cutthroat attack, sir," replied the soldier, 
 reining in his mount.
 
 i88 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Wilmoth's chin was on his breast and his eyes 
 were closed, his face ghastly, like ashes streaked 
 with blood. I reached up and the soldier loosened 
 his grasp on Wilmoth, who swayed in the saddle 
 and then, with a feeble, instinctive clutch at 
 the leather, slid over into my arms, uncon- 
 scious. 
 
 " They jumped us in the cut beyond the Red 
 Fox inn, sir, ten miles out from the city." The 
 soldier swung himself from the saddle. " They 
 volleyed " 
 
 " The girl! " I cried. " What of her? " 
 
 He shook his head. " I don't know. The 
 mercy o' God, but 'twas quick and hellish, sir. 
 They fired and emptied three of our saddles and 
 then closed with us. There was no time for 
 powder-burning by us. 'Twas sabre and death. 
 I and my mate were jogging in the rear when hell 
 belched. He tumbled over when they fired, and 
 then I saw 'em charging the chaise. I heard the 
 girl scream and saw the Major standing in his 
 stirrups with his sabre swinging; then I rode for 
 him, hacking my way through the devil's 
 imps." 
 
 I sprang to the horse and had one foot a-stirrup 
 when I felt an iron grip on my arm, and, turning, 
 I looked into the haggard face of the soldier.
 
 PARTING OF THE WAYS 189 
 
 " What would you do? " he asked. 
 
 " Save that girl from their bloody clutches," 
 I said. 
 
 " Your pardon, sir, but that can wait now 
 he cannot." He pointed to the form on the 
 sward beneath the tree. 
 
 " Yes yes bring some water in your hat 
 from the spring yonder," and I turned to Wil- 
 moth and began loosening his clothes. 
 
 We wet our kerchiefs and stanched the flow of 
 blood from a wound in the breast, and while I 
 strove to revive Wilmoth, the trooper continued 
 his story of the fight. 
 
 " I got to him and w r e fought our best, but the 
 chaise pony lunged ahead and left us behind. 
 You should have seen the Major fight then! 
 ' Save the girl ! ' he shouts to me, and we tried 
 to fight our way to her, but a murderous dog 
 shoved a pistol into his face, and as I was not in 
 position to strike, I spurred my horse and rode 
 him down, but as he fell he fired. I saw Wilmoth 
 clutch at his breast with both hands, and I caught 
 him as he was falling. Then I swung over behind 
 him and kept him in the saddle. I dropped my 
 sabre in doing this, and without a weapon, with 
 my mates all down, I could do nothing for the girl 
 if she still lived. I clapped spur and made a
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 dash down the road. Luckily, they didn't follow, 
 and " 
 
 I heard not the finish, for in the cottage door- 
 way I saw Mary Wilmoth standing, shading her 
 eyes and looking at us. The next moment she 
 came running out to the road, and instinctively 
 I sprang in front of the prostrate form of her 
 brother and motioned her back. 
 
 " Don't come here," I cried, but she heeded 
 not. 
 
 Without pausing or speaking she came on until 
 I ran to meet her and caught her by the shoulders. 
 
 " Let go! I know they have killed him! You 
 shall not keep me away! " 
 
 With a quick wrench she tore herself from my 
 grasp and in an instant had flung herself across 
 the body of her brother, where she sobbed in an 
 agony of grief, and though I tried in my awk- 
 ward way to comfort her, it was idle speech until 
 I exclaimed: 
 
 " We must get him to a bed. Mistress Mary, 
 be your brother's sister! " 
 
 She sprang to her feet and dashed the tears 
 away. 
 
 1 'Tis well spoken, Captain. Do you carry him 
 in tenderly and I will prepare mother." 
 
 Without another word she sped towards the
 
 PARTING OF THE WAYS 191 
 
 house, while the trooper and I followed, carrying 
 the wounded officer as best we could. 
 
 Half an hour later we had him sufficiently 
 revived to whisper to us directions which his own 
 skill as a physician dictated. 
 
 "And you Lester how is your 
 strength? " he queried brokenly, but with a gaze 
 so steady that I knew its significance. 
 
 " Equal to my duty! " I cried, and he smiled. 
 
 No saddle-horse was there about the place, 
 save the trooper's, and weary as it was the saddle 
 was again strapped to its back. For weapon I 
 had naught save a dress sword of Wilmoth's, a 
 mere rapier, which the brave mother brought to 
 me. There had been but few words, and now as I 
 stood ready to go, there were but few. Wilmoth 
 half-raised one hand, and, stepping forward, I 
 took it in my own. 
 
 " I will do my best," I said, and turned towards 
 the door. 
 
 A few hasty words of thanks and farewell to 
 
 mother and daughter and I was in the saddle, 
 
 but paused to lean down towards Mary Wilmoth. 
 
 ' Tis not farewell. I shall come again!" I 
 
 murmured, and the color deepened in her cheeks. 
 
 That July day I spake with the tongue of a 
 prophet.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 
 
 AT the brow of the hill I turned in my 
 saddle, but about the Wilmoth house 
 there was no one visible, and with a 
 queer feeling of being utterly alone, I pushed my 
 jaded mount forward at as fast a pace as it could 
 make. 
 
 The sun was already hanging on the bluffs in 
 the west, and shadows were creeping down from 
 the forests, but, fret and urge as I did, the horse 
 beneath me could not be gotten out of a heavy, 
 plodding walk. In the west the sky was in a dull 
 glow, as though the sun had welded earth and 
 heaven together; then the dusk deepened and 
 the shrill cry of some wild bird came to me from 
 the river somewhere off to my right, bringing to 
 me a shuddering remembrance of the death of 
 Wilson on that night scout. Ere the morrow 
 dawned might I not be with him in his eternal 
 
 192
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 193 
 
 bivouac? The road turned sharply to the left 
 along a rugged hillside, and as I jogged around 
 the turn, I suddenly drew rein, for close beside 
 the road, perched on a mammoth boulder, was a 
 youth who made a strange, clicking sound on 
 something he held in his hands. 
 
 " Hello! " I cried, taken by surprise. 
 
 The youth looked towards me, but even in the 
 gloom I could see that there was neither surprise 
 nor alarm on his face naught but stolidness. 
 
 " Cricket loves a summer night 
 
 Hi-lo-diddle-de-dee 
 Sings its song without any light 
 Hi-lo listen to me ! " 
 
 The thing he held in his hands was clicked in 
 a rude accompaniment to the doggerel chant, 
 and though at first my hand had gone to my 
 rapier hilt, I now released my grip. 
 
 " Who are you? " I challenged. 
 
 The clicking stopped an instant. 
 
 " Rhymer! " he answered, and the clicking was 
 renewed. 
 
 I smiled. In spite of my desperate mission, in 
 spite of my distress of mind, there was that about 
 the figure on the boulder that gave me a touch of 
 mirth.
 
 194 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 11 By the shade of Shakespeare, 'tis a proper 
 enough name," I replied. 
 
 " Rhymer, Rhymer is my name. 
 Never, no never, will I bring it shame. 
 My cricket I love, and never do I sing 
 Of Washington, nor of George, the King." 
 
 " Neither Patriot nor Loyalist, eh? What is 
 that thing you have? " 
 
 The clicking ceased, and after scrutinizing me 
 a moment, he held it out towards me, saying: 
 
 " Cricket." 
 
 'Twas a queer article I held in my hand, being 
 nothing but a quarter of a large hickory- nut shell 
 with a groove around it lengthwise and with a 
 string stretched taut along this groove. A bit of 
 wood was twisted into this string, and as the 
 fingers thrummed one end of the wood, the tension 
 of the string clicked the other end sharply against 
 the dry shell. I handed it back to him. 
 
 " How far is it to the Red Fox inn? " I 
 straightened in the saddle, ready to ride on. 
 
 " Red Fox lives beyond the wood ; 
 I'd hate to walk, but a big man could. 
 There my cricket's song will bring no smile, 
 For it cannot be heard a double half-mile."
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 195 
 
 " Double half-mile? Oh, a mile from here, 
 beyond the wood." 
 
 The rhymer had left his perch on the rock and 
 was now walking slowly in a circle around my 
 horse and me, and through the dusk I could see 
 that his eyes were noting every detail of animal 
 and rider. His cricket was hushed and he spoke 
 no word, but swept me from stirrup to head with 
 that solemn, owlish gaze. For a moment I 
 humored him in silence, but as he slowly tramped 
 around and around me I began to feel a creepy 
 sensation as though a witch were casting a spell 
 upon me. 
 
 " Have done with your staring, you imp of the 
 shadows! " I exclaimed in vexation. " What do 
 you here? " 
 
 Never a word came in reply, but he paused in 
 his circling and stood looking at me unblinkingly. 
 My curiosity set me to studying him, but all that 
 my scrutiny told me was that before me stood a 
 youth of very uncertain age, tall and gaunt, ill- 
 dressed, and with a shock of straw-colored hair. 
 " A half-wit," I told myself in conclusion. 
 
 "Out of my way, dunce!" I cried, "or I'll 
 ride you down." 
 
 But never a muscle twitched, nor did his stare 
 falter for the space of a breath.
 
 i 9 6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 11 By the dagger of Brutus, you have bored a 
 hole from my breastbone to my spinal cord with 
 your stare! Tell me, what may it please you 
 to decide? " 
 
 I spoke sharply, for anger was warming the 
 blood of me. The cricket clicked and he droned 
 in a low tone: 
 
 " Wild hawks know a game-cock from a hen 
 It's death to the cock to be trapped in a pen. 
 A witch is a witch rides a broomstick like a hag 
 Don't play macaroni on a soldier's nag." 
 
 The cricket hushed abruptly, and almost with 
 the last word the strange being whirled and 
 dashed into the timber on the hillside. 
 
 " Stop! Come back! " I shouted, but he gave 
 me no heed. 
 
 The youth, be he fool or sage, had warned me! 
 ;< Don't play macaroni on a soldier's nag." I 
 glanced at my Tory finery, and, in truth, I was 
 beruffled and frilled with lace and satins like a 
 London dandy, even to the light rapier that hung 
 at my side. And my horse? Simply a sturdy 
 animal. But my eyes rested on my saddle. There 
 was the telltale. No mincing macaroni ever 
 chose such a saddle. It and the ponderous sad- 
 dle-bags bespoke the trooper in every inch.
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 197 
 
 "Rhymer" had picked the flaws; would not 
 others? " A witch is a witch, rides a broom- 
 stick like a hag! " The shrewd imp was telling 
 me to be consistent. Pah! I was not out to 
 deceive, but to fight and rescue. Aye, to rescue 
 a Tory who hated all I loved. I clucked to my 
 horse and rode slowly forward. But, after all, 
 how was it to be done? Gayle Langford was - 
 where? Was I to go galloping up the road, crying 
 out into the night a challenge to her assailants to 
 come forth and do battle and then release her? 
 Darkness was come and silence brooded over the 
 earth, a fit time for deeds of stealth and cunning 
 rather than of trumpet-blared recklessness. 
 
 The attack had taken place beyond the inn, 
 and a duller brain than even mine could see that 
 the plot of ambush was formed while r Wilmoth's 
 party rested at the tavern, and that when they 
 had pressed on, the devils had begun their car- 
 nage. Had Gayle Langford survived? The 
 answer was too plain. There was no doubt that 
 no bullet had reached her unfortunately. They 
 had seen her at the inn and death was not her 
 sentence. I found myself clutching at my rapier, 
 and my heels scourging the horse's flanks until 
 it was plunging forward once more in a gallop. 
 The evening air was cooling to my brow, and after
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 a time I grew calmer. Down the road a light 
 was shining through the darkness, probably the 
 beacon of the Red Fox inn, and I drew rein and 
 cudgelled my brains for a plan. 
 
 " Wild hawks know a game-cock from a hen 
 It's death to the cock to be trapped in a pen." 
 
 The Red Fox, undoubtedly, was the hotbed of 
 crime, the headquarters of assassins, and the 
 dunce on the hillside had warned me with his 
 rhymes against being trapped in the pen; he 
 had told me they would know " a game-cock 
 from a hen " a soldier from a fop. The Red 
 Fox was close at hand; whatever my plan, I 
 must choose it quickly. And I did. Slipping 
 from my saddle, I led the horse back a little way 
 into the wood and tied him to a tree, after which 
 I returned to the road, deliberately sprawled 
 myself at full length in the dust, and, setting my 
 teeth, picked up a hand full of gravel and scraped 
 my face with it that the blood-streaks would show. 
 Then I trudged forward to where the great lantern 
 hung in front of the inn. 
 
 Zounds! The memory of that night is heavy 
 upon me now, and I fancy I can see again the 
 faint flash of the heat lightning as it glimmered 
 along the horizon in the east. The slight breeze
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 199 
 
 had fallen away until it was now a dead calm, 
 with the stars peeping here and there from 
 amidst broken masses of clouds, and over all a 
 silence that seemed oppressive, until I drew close 
 to the inn, a great, rambling structure of two 
 stories, and then the quiet of the night was 
 broken by a man's voice raised in a drinking song. 
 
 I fain would have paused beneath the beacon 
 to take note of my appearance, but this was not 
 to be, for, as I approached, a wizened little old 
 man came to the open door and leaned carelessly 
 against the casing, the while smoking a long- 
 stemmed pipe. He was looking up at the sky for 
 the moment, but as I advanced, limping, his 
 eyes suddenly rested on me; and with an ex- 
 clamation he stepped a pace backward, and, pipe 
 in hand, stood looking at me irresolutely. At 
 his exclamation the song hushed, and three or 
 four other forms were framed in the doorway 
 with its background of candle-light. 
 
 I limped boldly forward and crossed the 
 threshold to confront an evil-looking set with 
 the word " cutthroat " plainly stamped on their 
 visages. 
 
 " Give me a seat and do your gaping after- 
 wards," I said, pausing a moment, and assuming 
 a surly tone.
 
 200 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 As I spoke I ran my eyes over their faces, 
 challenging their stares, and giving look for look. 
 A short apron was about the waist of the wizened 
 one, the badge of the host, and I scowled at him 
 as he hesitated. 
 
 " D'ye hear, clown? A stool for a gentle- 
 man! " 
 
 The blood of a long line of innkeepers was too 
 strong in his veins to resist the commanding tone, 
 and his hands crossed themselves behind his 
 back as he ducked his head in an obeisance. 
 
 " Yes, sir, most certainly, a stool ; sit here, 
 sir, and may its comfort please you." 
 
 He placed a stool at a table for me and put his 
 arm back of me for support as I sat down gingerly, 
 straightened out my right leg, and pursed my lips 
 as though in pain. 
 
 " A flagon of wine, landlord, and don't be as 
 slow as you were with the stool." 
 
 " Your temper's brittle to-night," remarked 
 one of the men, grinning, as the innkeeper danced 
 away to fill my order. 
 
 I glowered at the speaker, and 'tis not flattery 
 to myself that I say that my look feazed him, 
 for the grin left his face and he stepped back a 
 pace. Then I appeared to melt, and let my gaze 
 wander carelessly.
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 201 
 
 " Mayhap it's none of your porridge, my buck, 
 but I guess you're right, though it's devilish 
 good reason I have for crabbedness." I glanced 
 down at myself and began brushing my 
 clothes. 
 
 " What's happened? " 
 
 " Horse threw me into the dust. Ugh! My 
 throat's lined with it! Ho, landlord! Bring cups 
 for my friends here. They shall help me moisten 
 my temper." 
 
 The invitation to drink was as magic, and 
 they crowded about me with rude banter concern- 
 ing my mishap. 
 
 " Where'd it happen? " asked one, a murderous- 
 looking lout who had not warmed at my invitation 
 as the others had. 
 
 " Down below here in a cut." I waved 
 my hand towards Philadelphia, and while pre- 
 tending to smooth my clothes I caught the 
 glance that flashed from one to another, and 
 which told me as though 'twere writ that these 
 were they who had ambushed Wilmoth's 
 party. 
 
 " Where's the horse? " 
 
 " Well-nigh to Philadelphia by this time, I 
 expect. At least, he was going back in that 
 direction as though all of the horse-devils were
 
 202 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 after him the last I saw of him. Confound the 
 brute, I suppose he saw something that caused 
 him to whirl and bolt. I know I saw something 
 stars when he threw me." 
 
 The innkeeper brought the wine, and right 
 merrily did they drink at my expense, and chaff 
 at my plight seemed royal entertainment to them. 
 I called again and again for more wine, and 
 though I was precious careful to stint my own 
 cup and to make bumpers of theirs, I gradually 
 assumed an air of intoxication until, sprawling 
 myself with a table as a rest for my elbows, I 
 roared out bits of song and swore that should I 
 ever meet up with that horse it should have an 
 extra bait of corn for throwing me into the com- 
 pany of such good fellows. Since my meeting 
 with Rhymer, I realized that craftiness and 
 not bold effrontery must rescue Gayle Langford, 
 for that she was a prisoner somewhere about the 
 inn I felt certain. As to how I was to be of 
 service to her God wot, not I. 
 
 " And where might you be travelling, friend? " 
 queried one knave, his arm about my shoulder. 
 
 " To the worms," I replied, blinking at him 
 solemnly. 
 
 " To the worms? " he echoed, while the others 
 stared.
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 203 
 
 " Of a truth, yes. And with me go ye all, for 
 they hold frolic for us in the graves, whither we 
 are journeying." 
 
 " Ugh ! Tis a devilish dismal humor you have." 
 
 A shudder seemed to run through the crowd, 
 and I saw an ashy pallor showing in more than 
 one cheek, while the half-drained cups went 
 shakingly to lips and the wine was gulped. 
 
 " Dismal? Breath o' me, man, 'tis not so! 
 Are we not a merry party here? And what care 
 we what feasts this sweet flesh of ours shall 
 furnish after we lay it aside ? 'Tis a long journey 
 or, mayhap, a short one, in these troublous times. 
 A hot bullet, or perhaps a cold blade that warms 
 itself in our vitals, 'tis soon ended aye, 
 even though it be the hangman's noose that 
 interrupts our drop, squeezes our gullet, and 
 cracks our neck! " 
 
 I had straightened up and delivered the grisly 
 speech with all the dramatics I could command, 
 dropping my voice towards the close until the 
 words came in a hoarse whisper. I ran my eyes 
 slowly over the group as I paused, and saw horror 
 there. Faces that had shown pallor before were 
 ghastly now, and more than one hand stole to 
 throat and clutched at it as though the man were 
 choking.
 
 204 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 11 Damn your croakings who are you? " 
 demanded one, fiercely, the gray still showing in 
 his cheeks. 
 
 " An atom doomed to be blown here and there 
 by the storm we call life." 
 
 " And where did you blow from last? " 
 
 " From Philadelphia." 
 
 " What brought you riding down -into this 
 community? " 
 
 I glanced carelessly around at the group, and 
 everywhere I met black looks, but 'twas in keep- 
 ing with my plan, for I had decided that they 
 would suspect my real purpose less if I appeared 
 careless of their good regard than if I sought 
 their friendship. And if it came to a fight 
 
 " Mayhap for my health," I replied, shrugging 
 my shoulders. " It has grown wondrous sultry 
 in the city since the Independence bell rang." 
 
 A puzzled look passed over their faces. 
 
 " Look here, you ain't alone in that idea. But 
 you'd better speak plainer. Maybe we'd better 
 understand each other for certain." 
 
 " Ho, landlord, more wine! " I called, wishing 
 to gain a moment, for I was not prepared to 
 speak plainly. 
 
 As the innkeeper hurried away to fill the order, 
 there was a sudden clicking just outside the
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 205 
 
 front door, and the next instant Rhymer stood 
 in the doorway, thrumming his cricket and 
 executing a foolish sort of dance by hopping up 
 and down on one foot and tapping the heel and 
 toe of the other shoe on the floor. 
 
 " Wild hawk prowls by day and by night 
 
 Game-cock is wise if he takes to flight. 
 ' Game-cock is mine,' says the wild hawk brag, 
 For I've got my eye on the broomstick of a hag.' " 
 
 The dance of the dunce was not stayed by the 
 crazy chant that was given in rhythm to the 
 clicking of the cricket, and not once did he glance 
 towards me, but it shot to my brain that he was 
 intending his words for me. There was a sudden 
 hush when the fellow first entered and began his 
 jigging, then the innkeeper came forward. 
 
 " Don't mind him, gentlemen," he said, " it's 
 only Rhymer." 
 
 " And who is Rhymer? " growled one. 
 
 The landlord flung out his arms and spread 
 his palms. 
 
 " Lor', no one knows much about him except 
 that he's touched here " (tapping his head), " and 
 works around at the farms. Sometimes he 
 wanders away and is gone for days, but when he 
 comes back he can't tell where he has been, but
 
 2o6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 he says he has been with the squirrels and the 
 birds. He's a good worker in the daytime, but 
 at night he likes to wander around with his 
 cricket, making up foolish rhymes." 
 
 I edged around to a position directly in front 
 of the strange creature and looked him full in 
 the face with a question plainly showing in my 
 eyes, but though the fellow took no more notice 
 of me than if I had been a stool, he stepped a bit 
 closer and his voice was lower and hinted at a 
 pleading tone as he chanted more doggerel : 
 
 " There was a game-cock that had no sense ; 
 It crowed at night on an old rail fence ; 
 But a bad man came slipping down the road 
 That was the very last time that game-cock crowed." 
 
 There was no doubt left in my mind. He was 
 warning me. I was the game-cock that crowed 
 at night and, outside, danger was closing 
 about me. Instinctively my hand crept to my 
 rapier and loosened the blade in its scabbard 
 and yes, by the sword of Washington, a glimmer 
 of satisfaction, of approval, or some kindred 
 emotion, flashed across Rhymer's face as I did 
 so. 'Twas always my weakness to hold in dread 
 that which was unseen much more than that I 
 could see, and so as the dunce began another
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 207 
 
 measureless dance to the clickety-click-click, 
 clickety-click-click, of the cricket, I found myself 
 edging towards the door with the intention of 
 choosing my own battle-ground if fight I must. 
 
 The half-drunken varlets were vastly amused 
 with the caperings of Rhymer, and I was near to 
 succeeding when there were a few hasty steps 
 heard without, and as I sprang for the door I was 
 confronted by a man of my own height, though 
 inclined to stoutness, and as I looked at him, 
 barring my exit, I noted a heavy blade hanging 
 at his side, such a blade as I had seen carried by 
 the men of Wilmoth's horse. For a moment we 
 stood looking into each other's eyes, our hands 
 on our sword-hilts, perfect silence about us, for 
 even Rhymer had paused to stare with the others 
 at our little tableau. The other was first to speak. 
 
 " Ah, not leaving these jolly dogs so uncere- 
 moniously, are you? " he asked, and though his 
 words were polite, the challenge behind them 
 could not be hidden. 
 
 " But for a breath of air and a peep at the 
 weather," I replied, searching my memory to 
 locate that voice, for it had been in my ears before 
 then, I would have made oath. 
 
 He laughed, but no mirth was in his tone. 
 
 " 'Tis a fairish night, with the moon just peep-
 
 208 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 ing over the woodland," he replied. " So much 
 for that. For the breath, pray remain until we 
 come to know each other better. How came you 
 here? " 
 
 That I was in one of the closest places of my 
 reckless life I fully realized, and, stepping aside, 
 I placed my back to the wall before I replied: 
 
 " Hoity toity! My swashbuckling friend, you 
 question as though 'twere aught of your business. 
 Tis in my mind to cuff you for your insolence. 
 But these bucks here could answer, so I will say 
 my own say. I rode out from Philadelphia 
 town " 
 
 " And down here in the cut his nag saw 
 ghosts ha, ha! and bolted back to town, after 
 sprawling him in the dust. Ho, ho! " The tipsy 
 knave laughed at the thought. 
 
 " He lies! " 
 
 Instantly my rapier flashed from its scabbard 
 and there was a clatter as every rascal of them 
 came to his feet, but quickly as I had drawn, the 
 man in the doorway had bared his blade no less 
 tardily. 
 
 " I found this fellow's horse tied in the wood 
 below here, and I swear those fine feathers are 
 false plumage. Men, before you stands a cornered 
 rat a spy from Washington! "
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 209 
 
 The flesh of me grows cold even now when I 
 recall that moment. The faces about me dark- 
 ened with a sudden storm of passion, and a low, 
 muttering growl arose as they moved as though 
 to assail me. But I waited not. With a spring, 
 I played my rapier so close to the circle of faces 
 that they dropped back a pace, and then with 
 another bound I was back to my position against 
 the wall. 
 
 " Aye, shrink back, you buzzards, and have a 
 care how you list to the chattering of such mag- 
 pies as he! " 
 
 'Twas my purpose to taunt him into attacking 
 me, for such was my confidence in my wrist and 
 arm that I believed I could vanquish him with 
 the others driven back, but he made no reply, 
 save to turn and whisper a few words to one of 
 his fellows, who nodded and left the room, and 
 a moment later I heard his heavy soles on the 
 stairway. Rhymer now clicked his cricket and, 
 shuffling his feet, began chanting: 
 
 " When a big storm comes in the lonesome night, 
 
 Hi-lo-diddle-de-dee 
 It seems to me that " 
 
 " Have done with that yawp! " exclaimed one 
 burly ruffian, cutting short the dunce's dance
 
 210 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 by seizing him by the throat and hurling him 
 aside. 
 
 By this time I had come to look for some word 
 of warning or advice in the strange fellow's chants, 
 and I was just turning to see where he had been 
 flung, when I heard the unmistakable svvish, swish 
 of skirts. I faced the doorway that led to the 
 stairs, and there before me stood Gayle Langford. 
 
 Yes, by the blood of my veins, there was the 
 little Tory, as calm as a June evening, looking 
 us over as though curious to know why we were 
 there, and there were no ropes about her, nothing 
 to indicate that she was a prisoner. As her eyes 
 looked into mine something showed in them, but 
 her gaze shifted too quickly for me to read the 
 message. The man who had denounced me bowed 
 obsequiously to her. 
 
 " Mistress Langford," he said, " will you please 
 tell us who this man is? " He pointed to me. 
 
 I held my breath. Slowly she looked me over, 
 while my heart beat against my ribs like a hammer. 
 
 " It is Ian Lester, a captain of Continentals! " 
 
 As I heard my doom spoke by her whom I had 
 lost honor, aye, doubtless my life now, in serving, 
 a bitter curse fell from my lips, and then like a 
 thunderbolt of fury I flung myself at the fellow 
 before me, but the knave was as quick as I, and
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 211 
 
 his blade turned aside my desperate lunge. Twice, 
 thrice, our steel clashed, and then my rapier 
 shattered against his heavier blade, leaving but 
 the hilt and a stub in my hand. 
 
 " I'll kill you, you meddler! " he grated. 
 
 The light of murder shone in his eyes as he 
 dropped the point of his sword and lunged at my 
 heart. There was room for but a short backward 
 spring on my part, and as I took it I struck at his 
 weapon with my broken blade, but I knew 'twas 
 a vain defence and that I could not turn his stroke. 
 
 But with a wild howl of terror Rhymer plunged 
 forward as the fellow aimed the stroke, and their 
 bodies clashed together just in time to swerve 
 his point, and instead of spitting me it pierced 
 my coat and scraped a rib. Rhymer seemed to 
 have gone daft with terror, for he shrieked like 
 some wild thing, and, recovering from the shock 
 of the first collision, he butted headlong into the 
 others, bowling some of them over and mixing 
 them up into indescribable confusion. But the 
 fellow who had assailed me was on his feet re- 
 covering himself for another lunge, when, of a 
 sudden, Gayle Langford threw herself in front of 
 me with upraised arms. 
 
 " Stop! " she cried. " There must be no 
 killing! "
 
 212 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Stand aside! " 
 
 " I'll not! " and she stepped towards him. 
 "You forget " 
 
 The remainder of the sentence was spoken to 
 him in a whisper as she leaned over his blade 
 towards him, but since his threat, " I'll kill you, 
 you meddler," my mind had been groping to 
 recall where I had heard his voice and those 
 words before, and now I remembered. The knave 
 before me was he with whom I had fought on 
 the veranda outside Gayle Langford's window. 
 Doubtless he had been a guest at the house that 
 night and had seen me there. Whatever her 
 words were, they caused him to lower his weapon, 
 though a protest came from the gang, who had 
 recovered from their confusion and kicked the 
 dunce out into the night. She turned towards 
 them and her chin upturned a trifle. 
 
 " He is your prisoner, unarmed; take him! " 
 
 She stepped aside and they hurled themselves 
 on to me, and though I struggled desperately 
 'twas soon over and I was in their hands, my 
 clothes torn, and on the floor before me a crushed 
 red rose that had fallen from my bosom. One of 
 the knaves picked it up and held it aloft. 
 
 " See! " he cried. " The spy has been a wooing! 
 Where there's a rose there has been a wench! "
 
 ' TlIE SPY HAS BKKX A-WOOIXG ! WHERE THERE'S A ROSE 
 THERE HAS BKKN A WEXCH ! " P(UJ212.
 
 AT THE RED FOX INN 213 
 
 I glanced at the girl. She stood with her eyes 
 fixed on the remains of the flower, a dull red 
 creeping into her cheeks. 
 
 " Thank you for tearing it out of my bosom," 
 I said. " 'Twould have burnt my flesh had it 
 remained."
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 THE SHADOW 
 
 FOR a breath there was no sound in the 
 room, and then Gayle Langford turned 
 away. 
 
 " I bid you good night, my loyal friends," she 
 said, but at the stairway she paused and glanced 
 towards me. Only for a flash did our eyes meet, 
 and then she gathered up her skirts and ran up 
 the stairs, a burst of laughter coming from her 
 lips; aye, laughter that mocked me, though with 
 all its mockery it sounded hysterical to my ears. 
 Around me was a semicircle of enemies, and 
 behind me was the wall; further fighting on my 
 part was folly, so I rearranged my clothing as 
 coolly as I could command myself, and sat 
 down. 
 
 " Will not some one say the word? I'm dry as 
 a herring," I said, tilting back my chair. 
 
 Such an unexpected act and speech almost 
 214
 
 THE SHADOW 215 
 
 took them off their feet, and there was a faint 
 glint of admiration in the leader's eyes as he 
 slapped his thigh. 
 
 " Body o' me, but you're a cool one! " he ex- 
 claimed. " A nerve like that would bring you 
 something if you fought for the King. And 
 why shouldn't you do something for yourself? 
 The most you can hope for with Washington is 
 a hangman's noose. With the King you would 
 have something to live for the King knows 
 how to reward." 
 
 He paused and I sat silent. Evidently he took 
 encouragement from this. 
 
 " Why not? " he added. " Eh, what say 
 you? " 
 
 " Simply that I would knock you down could I 
 reach you," I replied. 
 
 " Ho, landlord, wine for us all! " he cried, 
 turning to the innkeeper. Then, turning to me, 
 he added: " If you will not fight with us you 
 shall drink with us." 
 
 " Good wine has no politics, but 'tis apt to 
 make mortal man forget his God, his King, or his 
 country, once it takes command of his brain. 
 Here's hoping that when next we meet you cannot 
 jump from the veranda! " 
 
 His cup had gone to his lips, but he lowered it,
 
 216 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 paused, and then, raising it once more, drained 
 it. But I knew my shot had struck home. 
 
 " Your riddles are as silly as Rhymer's," he 
 said. 
 
 " If they be too deep for you, ask the Prince to 
 solve them." 
 
 " Your tongue is as sharp as Mephisto's fork. 
 Landlord, our friend wishes to retire. Show him 
 to a nice, quiet room, and some of these other 
 gentlemen will accompany you." Then the 
 knave turned to me. " Will you go along peace- 
 ably or shall we do battle and bind you? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " Think you I so greatly love your company? 
 I prefer my prison." 
 
 As I spoke I rose to my feet and four of the 
 fellows laid their hands on me. Mercy o' God, 
 but my blood was near to cooking my veins, so 
 hot it was, but for once I had kept my brains at 
 work and made no struggle. There was a hurried 
 consultation in whispers, and then the innkeeper 
 took up a candle and led the way up the stairs. 
 There was a broad landing or hallway at the top, 
 with a room at one end and other rooms along 
 the side. What manner of structure it was at 
 the far end of the hall I could not tell then, for it 
 lay in shadow.
 
 THE SHADOW 217 
 
 " The end room is the one," said the landlord, 
 pausing at its door and fumbling with his keys. 
 " Only one window and it is barred with a 
 rocky precipice below it. He'd as well cut his 
 throat as to try that window." 
 
 " And a gallant buck with a bit o' steel will 
 stay close outside the door here to keep him from 
 gettin' too lonesome," responded one of the 
 roughs, and the others chuckled. 
 
 The innkeeper threw open the door. :< Walk 
 right in," he said, bowing in mock servility. 
 "An' may it please your - 
 
 " Ah, gentlemen, so that is to be the rebel's 
 quarters? " 
 
 'Twas a woman's voice that interrupted, and, 
 wheeling about I saw Gayle Langford standing 
 in the doorway of the room at the other end of 
 the hall, a candle held aloft in her hand, and by its 
 light I noted that another hallway led off to the 
 left at the end. 
 
 " Yes, and you may sleep in peace, my lady, 
 for the fellow will not cause any further bother 
 this night." 
 
 A light laugh from the girl followed this assur- 
 ance. 
 
 "I'll confess that I was curious to know where 
 you would find a perfectly safe place for him.
 
 218 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 He cannot escape from there? " There was a 
 question in her tone. 
 
 For answer one fellow clapped his hand to the 
 blade that hung at his side. 
 
 " Not unless he swallows this toothpick of 
 mine," he said, grinning. 
 
 "Have done with your clownish jests!" I 
 growled. " Lock the door and shut yourself 
 from my sight." 
 
 I turned my back to the treacherous girl at the 
 other end of the hall and walked into the room; 
 there was another burst of laughter from her, and 
 I heard her door shut. I heard one of the knaves 
 catch his breath sharply, and as I looked at him 
 I saw him gazing down the hallway, and in his 
 eyes was that which caused me to shudder in 
 pity for the tender-reared girl whose hatred of the 
 Continentals was prompting her to terms of 
 fellowship with these hell-hounds. Then I looked 
 about me. In one corner stood a bed, and beside 
 it a heavy chair, but not another stick of furniture 
 was there in the room. 
 
 " Sweet dreams o' Washington," called one as 
 the door was banged shut behind me, leaving me 
 in darkness. 
 
 But scarcely had the key turned in the lock 
 than I had sprung to the door and had my ear
 
 THE SHADOW 219 
 
 close to the keyhole. I heard the laugh that 
 followed the parting jest and then the clatter of 
 their heavy feet as they went down the stairs, 
 calling back to the one on guard to " slit the spy " 
 if he caused trouble. 
 
 They were gone, but I was not left in entire 
 darkness, for a tiny ray of light peeped in where 
 some hand in other days had whittled a small 
 crescent-shaped place on the edge of the door 
 close to the lock. Doubtless some other prisoner 
 had begun carving his way to freedom, but evi- 
 dently his work had been soon interfered with. 
 
 That ray of light held small attraction for me, 
 and I left the door and went to the window, 
 where the moon was peeping in at me. The 
 window was heavily barred, but I could look out 
 on a scene of quiet beauty, where the rugged hills 
 that bordered the Schuylkill were softened by 
 the moonlight, and seemed to be a part of another 
 world, a world of peace and glory ; a world where 
 there was no demand called duty that cried for 
 the heart's blood; a world where God smiled and 
 there was no war. 
 
 I peered down through the bars. The inn- 
 keeper had spoken truly. That portion of the 
 tavern was built out to the edge of a precipice, 
 and some distance below I could see the rocks.
 
 220 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 And right over there was the river the river 
 where I had rowed her to safety. Aye, up that 
 river I had toiled, passing this very inn in the 
 darkness of a stormy night, and now within a 
 hundred yards of its banks she had betrayed 
 me! But it had not been all in vain, after all, 
 for had I not met Mary Wilmoth? Ah, 'twas 
 worth the toil at the oars, worth betrayal unto 
 death to know for even so short a time a maid 
 like her. Even now I could hear her voice out 
 in the moonlit world singing. 
 
 " My lover is a soldier lad, 
 King George's crown he's scorning." 
 
 'Twas a pretty conceit of my fancy and I gave 
 myself up to it, and then I forgot the song, and 
 worshipped the vision the moonlight gave me. 
 Long I stood there, staring at Fancy's picture, 
 until I was suddenly aware that the image of the 
 Patriot maid had faded, and, in its stead, I was 
 kneeling in reverence to another picture, and in 
 the image was the glint of copper-tinted tresses, 
 the haughty, imperious face of - There was a 
 burst of drunken laughter from below, and up the 
 stairs came the chorus of a drinking song. I 
 heard my guard tramping restlessly for a few 
 moments, and then he paused. I crept to the
 
 THE SHADOW 221 
 
 door and peeped through the crevice. It was 
 about on a line with the middle of the hall and 
 gave me a good view. I could see the candle 
 resting on the shelf a short distance down the 
 hall, and leaning against the wall was the imp 
 who guarded me, holding in his hand a flask, 
 which I saw go to his lips often. Again the 
 roisterers below raised their voices in carousal 
 and I saw the guard take a few steps towards the 
 stairway and stand as though listening to his 
 fellows. 
 
 Then my gaze wandered past him, down the 
 hall, to where the shadows lurked about Gayle 
 Langford's room, and I was about to turn away 
 when I felt my heart leap, and an exclamation 
 reached my lips, but was choked there. 
 
 Dimly outlined in the shadows at the far end 
 of the hall was a form. I strained my eyes. 
 'Fore God, I could not be mistaken ! No ! It was 
 moving, creeping towards me, crouching close to 
 the wall, but steadily creeping nearer, nearer, 
 noiseless as some spirit from the pit of darkness. 
 I looked towards the guard. His back was partially 
 turned towards the creeping shadow, and he was 
 intent on hearing the carousal of his mates. 
 
 Almost breathless, and with my heart thumping 
 against my ribs till it seemed it must be heard,
 
 222 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 I turned to watch that which was coming out of 
 the gloom. And now the faint gleam of the candle 
 glanced on something bright, and I knew it to 
 be steel. Man it was that was creeping out of the 
 shadows ! That I could now tell, though the head 
 and shoulders were so muffled in a cape that the 
 features could not be seen. But in his hand was 
 a naked blade. A thrill of exultant joy shot me 
 through and through. It could mean but one 
 thing an attempt to rescue me ! Where that 
 nameless one had come from was beyond my 
 ken, but from out of the night help was creeping 
 to me. Could it be that Rhymer had gained 
 entrance and was risking his life for mine? 
 
 Fascinated, I knelt there in the darkness and 
 watched, but there was something so uncanny 
 about it that I came near to being seized with a 
 delirium of fear, though the unknown could not 
 mean harm to me. How close could Tragedy 
 creep before discovery? Such a strain my nerves 
 had never before known, and God grant that I 
 may never again be called upon to undergo such 
 moments of suspense. 
 
 Only about fifteen feet now separate the two 
 in the hallway! Closer, closer! Twelve feet! 
 The cape is drawn more carefully about the face, 
 and the sword arm is being extended! Ten feet!
 
 THE SHADOW 223 
 
 Broth o' the witches, but my eyes will drop out of 
 their sockets soon ! Another outburst from below 
 and the guard turns. 
 
 Like a flash the crouching figure leaps forward, 
 and his naked blade glitters in a desperate lunge. 
 But the distance is a fraction too great. There is 
 a wild cry of alarm from the guard as he throws 
 himself aside barely in time to escape the other's 
 steel. Then as the Shadow recovers, the guard 
 draws and for an instant they pause, but only for 
 the space of a breath, for, lithe as a panther, the 
 Shadow springs forward once more, and a spark 
 flies from the clash of steel. 
 
 Click! Click! Is-s-s-sh, click! How they 
 fought! But never a glimpse of the face of the 
 Shadow could I get for the low drawn hat and the 
 folds of the cape draped about the left arm and 
 held high. He was only a youth; that I could 
 tell ; but that he was the better sword was evident 
 to my practised eye in the second encounter, and 
 the knave of a guard quickly knew it, too, for he 
 fought on the defensive, desperately striving to 
 keep that circling, flashing blade from his vitals, 
 but ever it played closer and closer, until the look 
 of horror on the cutthroat's face as I saw it once 
 in the candle-light told me that already he felt 
 the hand of death clutching at him. That the
 
 224 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 cry of alarm had not been heard below was evi- 
 dent, for the carousing continued. Could the 
 youth's strength but last 'twould soon end, but 
 now the guard raised his voice again and again in 
 wild screams. They were his death-signal. 
 Desperately the Shadow thrust, parried, and 
 lunged. The drunken howls below ceased. In a 
 moment they would be pouring up the stairs, 
 and I dolt ! had been kneeling spellbound 
 at the crevice. The chair! With a bound, I had 
 clutched it, and then, rushing back, I swung it 
 with all of my strength against the panels of the 
 door. Crash! Crash! A jagged, splintered hole 
 showed, and as I swung the chair aloft for another 
 blow my gaze passed through the splintered panel 
 and saw the Shadow's sword suddenly flash past 
 the other's guard ; there was a scream of agony, 
 and the knave, clutching at his breast, reeled and 
 plunged face downward to the floor, but even as 
 he was reeling, the Shadow had sprung past him 
 and was working desperately with the key. I 
 dropped the chair and seized the knob, only to 
 find a flood of maledictions crowding my tongue 
 as I realized after a moment of endeavor that my 
 blows had sprung the lock and the key would not 
 turn. And now there was a rush of feet below, 
 and I heard the stair door below swung open.
 
 THE SHADOW 225 
 
 "Out of the way, friend!" I cried. "The 
 lock is sprung, but I'll batter it down! " 
 
 Even as I spoke I was swinging the heavy chair 
 aloft. There was not a word from the Shadow, 
 but through the broken panel I saw the unknown 
 whirl and dash back down the hallway, sweeping 
 the candle from the shelf with his sword as he 
 passed. But his purpose of plunging the hall 
 into darkness failed, for the blaze clung to the 
 candle-wick in spite of the fall, and the candle 
 lay spluttering on the floor. 
 
 I paused not to watch the flight of the Shadow, 
 but attacked the door with all of the strength 
 my desperation gave me. Alas! 'Twas all in 
 vain, that gallant fight by the Shadow and my 
 hammering of the door, for into the hall sprang 
 the rest of the gang. I dropped my chair and 
 almost sobbed in my despair. 
 
 " Furies o' hell! What means this? " shouted 
 the foremost, snatching up the candle from the 
 floor and looking about. 
 
 There was a groan from my late guard, and 
 they were quickly at his side and raising his head. 
 Then they saw the splintered door. 
 
 " The damned rebel has escaped! Quick, which 
 way did he go? " cried the leader. 
 
 In the darkness of my prison I crouched and
 
 226 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 harked to it all, peering out through the splintered 
 panels. 
 
 " Speak! Curse it, man, speak before you 
 die!" 
 
 The wounded man slowly raised one hand and 
 pointed down the hall. 
 
 " There! Into that room at the end ! " 
 
 " Not that room, man! Not that room! 'Tis 
 the girl's room! Think again! " And he poured 
 whiskey down his throat. 
 
 " I am certain. I saw him the can- 
 dle on the floor. That room! " 
 
 One of them had come to my room and was 
 working at the door. 
 
 " Why, this door is still locked! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " It wasn't the rebel He's still 
 there The devil sent an imp from 
 the dark. And there!" Again the trembling 
 hand pointed down the hall. 
 
 With a curse, they dropped the dying man and 
 rushed pell-mell, candles, swords, and pistols in 
 hand, down the hall, where they seized the knob 
 of Gayle Langford's door. Finding it locked, 
 they beat on the panels with pistol butts until I 
 thought those panels, too, would be shat- 
 tered. 
 
 " Ho, within! Ho, there! " They shouted.
 
 THE SHADOW 227 
 
 " In mercy's name, gentlemen, what causes 
 such uproar? " came the response I knew to be 
 Gayle Langford's. 
 
 " Open at once or we'll break in! " commanded 
 the leader. 
 
 " How dare you be so insulting! " flashed back 
 the reply in her haughtiest tone. " I am dressing, 
 and he who dares to force an entrance will find 
 a hot bullet awaiting him." 
 
 " But you had better hurry. There may be an 
 assassin hiding in your room." 
 
 A half -suppressed scream came from beyond the 
 door. 
 
 " In a moment just a moment! " she said, 
 tremulously. 
 
 But almost as she spoke I heard the key click 
 in the lock, the door swung open, and in the 
 candle-light she stood before them all, her clothing 
 but illy arranged, her hair tumbling as though she 
 had just sprung from her bed, but with it all she 
 was the proud, imperious daughter of Peter Lang- 
 ford, the aristocrat, and the flash of her eyes 
 commanded even them who confronted her. 
 
 " And now may I be given an explanation? " 
 she asked. 
 
 " Our mate on guard at the rebel's door has 
 been done to death" (I saw the girl clasp her
 
 228 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 hands as though in fear or horror at the tragedy), 
 " and he swears that the fellow came into this 
 room." 
 
 " Father of mercy! Do search quickly! But, 
 pshaw! The poor fellow was mistaken, for my 
 door was locked." 
 
 " But he vows " 
 
 " Delirium distorts, you know. You can see 
 there is not a closet in the room, and if he is not 
 under the bed " (I saw them stoop and peer 
 around) "he is not here. That window will 
 not raise, for I tried it when I retired, so he could 
 not have unlocked my door, locked it again, and 
 then jumped out of the window." 
 
 One of the men advanced farther into the room, 
 and a moment later I heard him saying, " The 
 girl's right. The window is stuck fast." 
 
 " The the man must have dodged down 
 this hallway," said the girl. 
 
 " Two of you go back to the rebel's cage, and 
 the rest follow me," was the chief's command, 
 and they obeyed. 
 
 Holding their candles high, and peering nerv- 
 ously this way and that as though fearful that 
 some sudden Terror would pounce upon them, 
 they came slowly back down the hall, and actuated 
 by a sudden impulse of humor, I placed my lips
 
 THE SHADOW 229 
 
 close to the shattered panel, gave the door-knob 
 a vicious rattle, and shouted: 
 
 " Hands up, you dogs! " 
 
 The effect was all I could have wished. The 
 candle clattered to the floor, and so near were 
 they ready to swoon with fright that one jerked 
 the trigger of his pistol and sent a ball into the 
 floor. The sense of humor has ever been a saving 
 grace with me, and it came to the relief of my 
 overtaxed nerves now and sent me rolling in a 
 paroxysm of laughter. 
 
 The shot recalled the others, and I heard them 
 coming down the hall on the run. 
 
 " What now? " 
 
 I peered out through the splintered panel once 
 more. The mystified and demoralized twain had 
 recovered the candle and were standing and 
 looking about as though ready to bolt and run at 
 the next alarm. 
 
 " The cursed place is haunted," replied one. 
 " I'll swear I heard " 
 
 " And so did I," broke in the other. " A voice 
 right by us yelled for - 
 
 " But who fired that shot? " was the demand. 
 
 They looked at one another a moment. 
 
 " Reckon I must have," said one, at last, raising 
 his pistol and examining it.
 
 2 3 o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " But what were you shooting at? " 
 
 That this man was complete master of the band 
 was evident. His words came sharp and cold, 
 and I saw the culprit drop his head and shift his 
 feet uneasily. 
 
 " Nothing, I reckon. You see, I pulled the 
 trigger by accident. Some one yelled, and " 
 
 " And you came damned near shooting your- 
 self," finished the leader, sarcastically. " But 
 let's see after our mate yonder." 
 
 I watched them come to the fallen one and bend 
 over him, one of them placing a flask between his 
 lips. The leader placed his hand over the heart. 
 
 " Don't waste that whiskey," he said. " This 
 man's dead." 
 
 The heartless, unconcerned manner of the fellow 
 sent a shudder through me. Hardened as I was 
 by many months of battle and bloodshed, I had 
 never before seen any man stand in the presence 
 of death without softening a shade, and as I 
 harked now to this speech I drew a swift mental 
 picture of the pleasure the speaker would take 
 in murdering me. Why I had been spared this 
 long I had no idea. Something the girl had 
 whispered had saved my life, though for how long, 
 I had no way of judging, and I was not to be left 
 long to my own thoughts.
 
 THE SHADOW 231 
 
 " Open the door and let's take a look at that 
 rebel." 
 
 I thought it time to speak. 
 
 " Thanks," I called. " It's monstrous lone- 
 some in here when there's so much doing right 
 close." 
 
 The rascals were working at the lock and cursing 
 at every twist, until finally the key turned, the 
 door swung open, and I stood before them, my 
 arms folded, looking from one to the other as 
 calmly as I could, though, in truth, I kept a wary 
 glance on all of them lest some treacherous thrust 
 end my soldiering then and there. 
 
 " Ah, you are still here, I see," said the spokes- 
 man. 
 
 " Sorry I can't lie out of it," I replied, not 
 moving from the doorway. 
 
 " What can you tell us of this? " was the 
 demand, his finger pointing to the corpse. 
 
 " First of us to the worms and the hangman 
 cheated! " I exclaimed. 
 
 " But who did it? " 
 
 " I wish I knew." 
 
 The earnestness of my speech convinced 
 him that I was speaking the truth, and I 
 saw a look of utter perplexity come over his 
 face.
 
 232 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " It's strange where the devil's imp came from 
 and how he escaped." 
 
 " But now that he has escaped and I 
 haven't - - 'twould be most land of you to let 
 me finish this vexatious night peacefully in 
 bed." 
 
 I yawned as I spoke, for now that the excite- 
 ment was past I was feeling the need of rest. 
 The leader stood scowling at me for some time 
 without speaking, and I knew that he was wres- 
 tling with my fate as his problem, but at last he 
 ordered me back into the room where I had been, 
 and I went cheerfully, not caring what arrange- 
 ments they made for guarding me. I was worn 
 out and wanted only to rest and to let the morrow 
 bring its own suggestions to me, and so it was 
 that when they closed the battered door behind 
 me I did not take the trouble to peek out through 
 the holes to see what they did. Instead, I threw 
 myself on the bed and soon was sleeping soundly, 
 sleeping as only a wearied man could to whom 
 stirring adventures were no uncommon thing. 
 
 My slumber was unbroken until I felt a rough 
 hand on my shoulder and I opened my eyes to 
 see that it was broad day. Two of the knaves 
 were standing by my bed. 
 
 " Lor', we thought ye was dead, ye was that
 
 THE SHADOW 233 
 
 hard to wake," said one. " Jest ye huff yerself 
 out o' that bed an' come with us." 
 
 " Come where? " 
 
 By this time I was fully awake and was rising 
 from the bed. 
 
 " Goin' ter put ye in another room the 
 wench's room," he added, winking at his mate. 
 
 I stared at them, and the look that must have 
 been on my face caused them mirth, for they 
 chuckled. 
 
 " Thought he'd look better pleased, even if she 
 is Tory, didn't ye, Bill? " 
 
 " Can't never tell how these lace an' ruffles 
 fellers feels by the way they looks," was the reply. 
 
 " Now, look here," exclaimed the first, when I 
 told them I was ready. " We're goin' to take ye 
 to another room, an' if ye try to give us the leg 
 ye'll find a heap o' lead scorchin' yer ribs." He 
 held up his cocked pistol as he spoke. 
 
 " Then I'll not try to run," I answered. 
 
 Each took hold of an arm, and with drawn 
 pistols they marched me out into the hall. In- 
 stantly my eyes sought the room at the far end. 
 The door was open, and for some reason I was 
 glad. I glanced towards the stairway. Both saw 
 the look and their grasp tightened on my arm, 
 while their pistols were raised threateningly.
 
 234 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Don't try it! " 
 
 I laughed. " Not I with the promise of 
 your lead." 
 
 They shoved me rather roughly into the room 
 lately occupied by Gayle Langford and pulled 
 the door shut behind us. I glanced about the 
 room. The bed was neatly made up and there 
 was not a sign that it had been occupied recently. 
 Besides the bed, there was no article of furniture 
 save two chairs in the room. 
 
 " Ye'll spend the day maybe longer here, 
 so get comfortable," said one. "An' as I'm to 
 stay in the room to see that ye don't fall out the 
 window, ner nothin' like that, I'll jest take a chair 
 myself." 
 
 He sat down in one corner near the door, and 
 rested his pistol on his lap, and his companion, 
 after a brief whispered conference with him, left 
 the room. I walked to the one window and 
 looked out on the plaza in front of the inn, the 
 Philadelphia road lying just beyond. One of the 
 panes of glass in the window was broken, evidently 
 recently. 
 
 " It seems to have been a disastrous night for 
 mine host's property," I said, pointing to the 
 jagged piece of glass sticking in the sash. 
 
 " The wench did that this morning. Upset a
 
 THE SHADOW 235 
 
 chair against it somehow. Tried to catch the 
 chair and ripped a gash into her hand. It bled 
 like fury, but she laughed about it. Devilish 
 shame to let a wench like that go away without a 
 good lovin'." 
 
 At that moment I saw several horses being led 
 around to the plaza, and I caught my breath a 
 little sharply, I suspect, when I observed a side- 
 saddle on one of the beasts, and then out of the 
 inn came the riders, the gang of cutthroats 
 with Gayle Langford in their midst, and her 
 merry laugh was sounding above the babble of 
 rough raillery. 
 
 " Ain't it a cussed shame to be stuck here while 
 the rest of 'em hits the road for Philadelphia? " 
 
 My guard was standing close behind me, but 
 as I looked around, I saw the pistol pointing 
 menacingly towards me. I made no answer, but 
 turned once more to the window. I saw the 
 leader nod towards the hostler, and the animal 
 with the side-saddle was led to where the girl 
 stood. The leader bowed to her, offered his hand 
 as a stirrup, and the next moment she had sprung 
 lightly to the saddle. She looked bewitching in 
 the morning sunlight, sitting her horse as easily 
 and gracefully as she would have sat in one of 
 the Langford parlor chairs, and now as she
 
 236 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 gathered up the reins I noticed for the first time 
 that a band of white was about her left hand. 
 The others swung into their saddles, and as the 
 girl's horse suddenly backed and whirled, as 
 though a result of the confusion, she was brought 
 facing squarely towards my window. It was for 
 only an instant, but in that breath her eyes had 
 been raised and they flashed a look directly into 
 mine as I stood pressing my face against the glass. 
 At the same instant she raised her left hand 
 slightly and then dropped it quickly to the reins. 
 'Twas a brief gesture, but I noted that the bandage 
 about her hand was stained with red, and I would 
 have sworn that the look and the raising of the 
 hand were not mere chances. They were purposely 
 given, I was sure. 
 
 Then they rode away, the girl and the chief 
 bringing up the rear, and as they started, Gayle 
 Langford's mount seemed seized with a sudden 
 desire to dash away to the left. Then she clutched 
 the reins in her right, and swung the animal 
 back towards her evil companion, but as she did 
 so I saw her left hand drop to her skirt and a 
 red-stained kerchief fluttered from the hand to the 
 ground. This was not seen by her companion, 
 for the girl had regained control of her horse and 
 had cut him with the whip, sending him thunder-
 
 THE SHADOW 237 
 
 ing away, with the astonished knave riding hard 
 to keep at her horse's heels. 
 
 " Those precious friends of yours are apt to run 
 into a squad of Continental soldiers on that road," 
 I said, turning to my jailer. 
 
 " Which is the reason they will leave it a little 
 farther on and take another road to town." 
 
 He grinned complacently as he gave me this 
 reply. I tramped the floor awhile, the fellow 
 watching me closely, and always when I glanced 
 at him I saw the muzzle of his pistol covering me, 
 until finally I threw myself on the bed and gave 
 myself up to bitter reflections. And the face of 
 Gayle Langford looked at me from the walls, 
 the ceiling, the air looked at me and scoffed 
 at me ; looked at me and smiled at me ; looked at 
 me and baffled me. Was there ever such a living 
 enigma as this little Tory? Why did she cause 
 her horse to shy away at the start? and why did 
 she drop the kerchief from her wounded hand? 
 Pah! What was the use of trying to fathom the 
 subtleties of the sex? Like a will-o'-the-wisp 
 they led one on with their vagaries and allurements 
 until one found quicksand beneath one's feet, 
 and then each succeeding struggle plunged the 
 poor fool the deeper, while still the face of the 
 woman danced about in his brain or was it
 
 238 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 really glowing out there there ! over there ! 
 now up there ! now over here ! there ! 
 there! there? 
 
 There was a movement on the part of the 
 guard, and as I looked at him I saw that he was 
 listening intently. I came to my feet, also, for in 
 my ears was a distant and faint thud, thud, thud! 
 The guard sprang to the window and stood for a 
 moment with his ear close to the broken pane. 
 Then he turned to me. 
 
 " Horses on the gallop, too, by God! " 
 
 It was true. The pounding of the hoofs was 
 unmistakable now. That the guard realized the 
 possibilities of it was evident by the uneasy look 
 he turned on me, but unmindful of his ugly pistol, 
 I pushed my way in front of him and pressed my 
 face to the glass again, straining to catch the first 
 glimpse of the horsemen riding so furiously from 
 Philadelphia way. Behind me, peering over my 
 shoulder, was the guard, his eyes fixed on the road. 
 Then I gasped with delight, for, sweeping into 
 view came a squad of cavalry in the buff and blue 
 of the Continental army. 
 
 I felt the cold muzzle of the pistol against my 
 temple, and the voice of the guard came to me, 
 hoarse and raspingly: 
 
 " Down on your knees, an' if ye make a move
 
 THE SHADOW 239 
 
 or a sound I'll splatter your brains over this 
 room! " 
 
 There was no choice. I went to my knees, my 
 eyes just clearing the window-sill. I looked into 
 the eyes of the knave standing over me and what 
 I saw there sent a chill to my heart. He had 
 drawn away from the window, but we could both 
 see without being seen. I heard a word of com- 
 mand and the pace was slackened, and now I 
 could see that riding with the troopers was a 
 negro boy Putnam, by the heavens ! And 
 there was another not in uniform. Surely it was 
 yes, he turned his head just then it was Boyd. 
 What did it mean? Of a truth, I was believing 
 just then that it meant death for me. 
 
 At a brisk trot the little squad turned from 
 the road and rode up to the inn. I saw them 
 draw rein and the innkeeper hurry out to meet 
 them. 
 
 " Keep down! " snarled my guard. 
 
 Crouching thus, I could not see the scene 
 below, but through the broken window I heard 
 the sound of voices, though I could not distin- 
 guish the words. Then there was a clatter of 
 horses' hoofs again. 
 
 " Good! " breathed the guard. 
 
 I dared to risk raising my head a trifle, and
 
 240 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 saw the squad striking spurs and riding away 
 towards Valley Forge while the innkeeper stood 
 waving his hand in that direction. I almost 
 groaned in my despair. Putnam was riding 
 ahead now, and Boyd, who had lingered to adjust 
 his saddle girth, was spurring after them when I 
 saw him suddenly draw rein and spring to the 
 ground. Then he picked up something and 
 shouted to his companions. His cry was heard, 
 and as the troopers turned in their saddles, Boyd 
 waved aloft something white and red-stained. 
 Then back came those blessed fellows. Below 
 stairs I heard doors slamming violently. In 
 front, Boyd was pointing to the blood-stained 
 handkerchief and then to the inn, and I saw 
 hands going to pistol holsters. 
 
 " Damn ye they'll have to dig a grave for 
 ye, now! " 
 
 The rascal's eyes were bloodshot, and I closed 
 my eyes as he swung the muzzle of the pistol 
 towards my head. 
 
 " Don't shoot! Are ye crazy, man? " 
 The cry came from the far end of the hall, and 
 we saw the innkeeper running towards us. 
 "Crazy? Yes, to kill this damned rebel!" 
 " And have the soldiers here in a trice at the 
 sound of the shot? Man, ye'd hang us both!
 
 THE SHADOW 241 
 
 Hold that gun on him while I bind his hands. 
 There! Now this pillow-slip into his mouth, so. 
 I've bolted the doors below. That'll stop 'em for 
 a minute. We can get out the back way to the 
 stables. They'll all rush into the house in front. 
 Run for it! " 
 
 The knave with the pistol saw the weight of 
 the landlord's words, for even as the one was bind- 
 ing my hands the other was gagging me with a 
 pillow-slip, and then they dashed out of the room, 
 only pausing to turn the key in the lock. Even 
 then I heard a pistol-butt beating on the door 
 below. I got to my feet and ran to the window as 
 there came a crash, and I knew the door had 
 been forced. Below, I could hear the soldiers 
 running through the rooms, jerking tables and 
 chairs about, and, kicking out the sash of the 
 window, I hurried back to the door and 
 began kicking at it. Up the stairs I could 
 hear them coming, and my heart leaped with 
 
 joy. 
 
 " Who is in there? " came the challenge. 
 
 'Twas impossible for me to reply, but I kicked 
 at the door harder than ever. 
 
 " There's no key here," I heard a voice say, 
 and then came the call: " Stand aside, in there. 
 We'll smash the door."
 
 242 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Then came the impact of heavy bodies against 
 the door, once, twice; it yielded; into the room 
 poured men in the uniform I loved, and with them 
 was Richard Boyd.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 
 
 IT ofttimes chances in the telling of a tale that 
 one must take that told by others and weave 
 it in, and so I must at this point tell to you 
 that which was told to me by my friend, Boyd, 
 after our meeting at the Red Fox inn. 
 
 When the bells sounded the tidings of inde- 
 pendence on July fourth Boyd was on the streets, 
 but towards evening, when the lawless element 
 began to hold sway, he went to his lodgings and 
 remained there, unconscious of the tragedy that 
 was visiting the house of his former friend, Peter 
 Langford. He heard the shouts of the rabble, 
 and sorrowed that Patriots would have to blush 
 for the evils of those first riotous hours. 
 
 I had promised to meet him at the Golden 
 Lion the next morning, at which time he was to 
 be ready to ride with me to Washington, and at 
 the appointed hour he was there, ready to fare 
 forth into the new life, but the Captain of Con- 
 
 243
 
 244 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 tinentals did not appear. Had the landlord seen 
 aught of him? No, the Captain's horse was still 
 in the stable and he had not showed his face 
 about the inn during either the night or morning. 
 
 Fuming with impatience, Boyd's suspicions 
 soon were whispering to him. That Tory maid 
 and the rose! Many a man had yielded all be- 
 cause of pink flesh and a smile! Another hour 
 passed. Exhausted with the carousal of the 
 night before, Philadelphia was abnormally quiet 
 that morning, and the calm irritated Boyd. 
 
 Standing before the inn, he suddenly smote 
 fist to palm and then started briskly in the 
 direction of the Langford residence. Every- 
 where were groups discussing the Declaration, 
 and not all of the Patriots believed the Congress 
 had chosen wisely. Reaching the entrance to the 
 Langford grounds, he paused and surveyed the 
 premises. Not a sign of life was to be seen about 
 the place, but the front doors were standing open, 
 and he strode forward, and then halted, astounded, 
 as he noted that the massive doors were battered 
 and hanging awry on their hinges. At the 
 threshold he stood uncertain, bewildered, and 
 then he saw, coming down the great hallway, an 
 old negro, his hands crossed behind his back, his 
 head bent low, and his steps slow.
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 245 
 
 " Erasmus," he called, recognizing the servant. 
 
 The negro stopped and raised his head. 
 
 " Yes, suh, yer su'vent, suh," and Erasmus 
 bowed. 
 
 " Tell Mr. Langford I wish to see him." 
 
 The negro advanced slowly to the door- 
 way. 
 
 " I cain't tell him, suh I cain't tell him 
 nuffiri' till de good Lord done tell ol' 'Rasmus ter 
 lay aside dis ol' body." 
 
 " You mean - 
 
 " I means, suh, dat Marse Langford done leave 
 dis woiT. He died yesterday." 
 
 "Yesterday? When? How?" 
 
 " Jes' when dat bell ring in de steeple de Lord 
 He lay His hand on Marse Langford an' 'twas 
 all over in a bref or two, suh, only a bref or 
 two." 
 
 Boyd stood silent a moment, while the darky 
 again dropped his head, and, crossing his hands 
 behind his back, swayed his body to and fro, 
 muttering unintelligible words. 
 
 " And what of his daughter? " Boyd asked, at 
 last. 
 
 Erasmus raised his head and looked steadily 
 at the questioner. 
 
 " 'Scuse me, suh, 'scuse me; ol' 'Rasmus don'
 
 246 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 want ter be 'pertinent, suh, but I'se 'bleeged ter 
 ask ye whyfore ye ask that? " 
 
 " Oh, for no reason, especially. Probably I 
 asked the wrong question. Listen, did you see a 
 young man, a stranger, here last night? you 
 surely remember him, Erasmus, the soldier who 
 gave the toast to Washington at the banquet. 
 Think, did you see him last night or this morn- 
 ing?" 
 
 " What ? Marse Ian ? Why - 
 
 But the negro suddenly clicked his jaws to- 
 gether and stood silent, a peculiar light shining 
 in his eyes. 
 
 " Yes, yes! " exclaimed Boyd. " Ian Lester, a 
 Patriot soldier, it was. Go on, Erasmus, go on. 
 Where is he now? " 
 
 There was no reply save a shake of the head. 
 
 " Well, speak! Is he here? Can't you speak? " 
 
 Erasmus uncrossed his hands and rested them 
 on his hips. 
 
 " Yes, suh, I reckon I can speak, an' I speaks 
 now, suh. Yes, suh, I speaks now an' tells you 
 dat maybe Marse dat man is hyar, an' 
 maybe he ain't hyar. Dar, suh, I done spoke." 
 
 "Devil take you!" blazed Boyd. "If you 
 don't tell me where he is I'll make ribbons of your 
 black hide! "
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 247 
 
 " Mebbe so, suh, mebbe so. But dis ol' man 
 ain't gwine ter tell ye nuffin ', suh, if ye ties dem 
 ribbons tergedder befo' my eyes. Ye done knows 
 him, suh, an' I cain't save him by lyin', but de 
 sweet ol' Missus she a-peepin' down from up in 
 de skies, an' I hear her whisperin' to ol' Rassle 
 dat what he call me ' Don' ye let 'em cotch 
 my boy, Rassle, don' ye do it if ye die.' An' I 
 ain't gwine ter tell ye nuffin', suh, 'bout dat 
 boy dat li'l ' Marse Ian what I ca'y on my 
 back." 
 
 As he spoke the old man's face was raised 
 higher and higher until he was looking up towards 
 heaven, and his arms were outstretched as though 
 reaching towards some one above. Boyd felt a 
 sudden moisture in his eyes, and his hand 
 fell on the servant's shoulder with a kindly 
 grip. 
 
 " Why, God bless your faithful old heart, I 
 don't understand all that you are saying, but I 
 understand that you are trying to shield Captain 
 Lester from his enemies. It is. glorious of you, 
 but I am his friend and I am seeking him. Tell 
 me, now, where can I find him? " 
 
 The old man suddenly lowered his arms until 
 they were on a level with the other's head, his 
 hands partly raised near Boyd's face, and between
 
 248 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 his hands he peered long and searchingly at the 
 man before him. 
 
 " Marse lan's friend? His friend? How come it, 
 suh? How come it? I'se a poor ol' niggah, suh, 
 but don' lie ter me dat ye are Marse lan's friend 
 if ye ain't. Don' do it, suh; don' do dat! " 
 There was a pathetic note of pleading in his 
 voice. 
 
 Boyd urged and argued and swore his friend- 
 ship, and finally Erasmus led the way to the 
 reception-room and recited to him the events 
 following the death of Peter Langford. 
 
 " De servants all done run away, suh, an' I 
 ain't seen none of 'em since. I'se de only one 
 what's left ter care fer de ol' Missus Langford, suh. 
 She done come home dis mornin' an' ol' Rasmus 
 de only one hyar ter tell her dat Marse 
 Langford dead. She up-stairs now wif dat poor 
 clay." 
 
 " And you have no idea where Lester has 
 gone? " 
 
 " No, suh, but he was er fightin' fer de sweet 
 young Missy when I seed him last, an' I hears de 
 trash say dey done 'scape by a winder, an' den 
 de trash runs all over de house an' steals all dey 
 can carry, but when dey comes ter Marse Lang- 
 ford's body I tells 'em de wrath o' God gwine ter
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 249 
 
 git 'em if dey tech him, an' den dey swears an 
 goes away." 
 
 " And no trace of Lester to be found! " Boyd 
 was tramping the floor. 
 
 " No, suh, but Marse Ian fight fer de young 
 Missy, an' Marse Ian he gwine ter keep her safe 
 an' bring her back bimeby. He gwine ter bring 
 her back safe." 
 
 He walked slowly to the window and looked 
 out as though expecting to see his Marse Ian 
 leading the girl up to the house at that 
 moment. 
 
 Boyd left the house soon afterwards and spent 
 the day hovering about the Golden Lion. The 
 hours dragged by wearily for him, but he waited 
 until near sunset before again calling at the Lang- 
 ford place. Friends of the family were in evidence 
 now, their gorgeous equipages being drawn up in 
 front of the house. He was well known to many 
 of them, and to him the Tories were bitter in their 
 ragings against the work of the mob, and in all 
 sincerity he agreed with them. Woe had come 
 to the place, of a surety, the master dead, the 
 daughter driven to flight and still strangely miss- 
 ing, the doors battered down, and the rooms 
 pillaged. Seeing Erasmus passing down the 
 hallway, Boyd hurried after him, and drawing
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 him into a secluded corner, he looked him full in 
 the face. 
 
 " Well? " he said. 
 
 The servant shook his head. " Only de good 
 Lord knows what become o' Marse Ian' an' da 
 young Missy. Only de good Lord knows, 'cause 
 we ain't heerd er whisper from 'em not er 
 whisper." 
 
 Boyd pondered a moment. " And the Prince 
 what of him? " 
 
 " Dat man he don' let himself be foun' when 
 de ragin' debils came batterin' at de doors, but 
 to-day he done come snufflin' an' a-moanin' 
 aroun' whar de ol' Missus be, an' he tell her how 
 he gwine ter miss ol' Marse Langford, an' how he 
 jes' a quiverin' fer to go out an' fight a passel o' 
 rebels an' bring Missy Gayle back." 
 
 The contempt of the servant for the Hessian 
 was so overpowering that even his lifetime of 
 training as a vassal who had no right to think 
 was swept away. 
 
 " Does he know that Captain Lester took the 
 girl away? " 
 
 " I'se most suhten he does, suh, but he let on 
 like he not hyar when de mob come. But he tell 
 ol' Missus dat he jus' know dat rebel Captain egg 
 de mob on ter smash in so he could steal de
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 251 
 
 young Missy. O Lord, if Marse Ian ever hear o' 
 dat he gwine ter stick er sword through dat man 
 fer such scan'lous talk. An' ol' 'Rasmus had 
 ter rassle wid de spirit when he heerd him say 
 dem words, fer dese ol' black hands jest natch'lly 
 kept er jerkin' an' er jerkin' fer ter choke him." 
 
 Boyd returned to the inn and again began the 
 weary wait. Another day dawned, but no news 
 came from the missing ones, and in the evening 
 when he called at the Langford place, he found 
 Mrs. Langford in a state of well-bred, fashionable 
 hysterics over the absence of the daughter, while 
 the Prince stalked about the place swearing that 
 it should be the work of his life to avenge the 
 Langford wrongs. The body of Peter Langford, 
 after being prepared for burial, was resting amid 
 a mocking splendor, the funeral being postponed 
 in the hope that some tidings could be learned 
 of the missing daughter. The authorities had 
 looked profound and had said, " Hah! " several 
 times when the story of Gayle Langford 's dis- 
 appearance had been poured into their ears, but 
 not the slightest clue could be obtained. 
 
 It was the following morning that Boyd, 
 racked by doubts and fears, found a new plan 
 forming in his mind, the idea being the result of 
 seeing a trooper riding by. Hurrying to the
 
 252 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 guard headquarters, he sought out the officer in 
 command and poured into his ears the story of 
 the disappearance of Captain Lester, courier of 
 his Excellency, General Washington. 
 
 The effect was most satisfactory. Orders were 
 at once issued to every squad in the city to make 
 diligent search for the missing one, and troopers 
 scoured the country surrounding Philadelphia, but 
 when the sun went down on the evening of the 
 seventh of July there were no tidings of the lost 
 ones. Unable to remain idle longer, Boyd 
 mounted his horse that evening and joined the 
 squad of Wilmoth's men, and again every con- 
 ceivable nook of the city was searched, but when 
 the first cock crew just before the dawn the little 
 squad of troopers sat in their saddles in silent 
 realization of defeat. The sergeant broke the 
 silence at last. 
 
 "Either the Captain is a dead man, or- 
 He paused and looked toward Boyd. 
 
 " Or what? " demanded Boyd, sharply, seeing 
 the other hesitate. 
 
 " Well, I'm not the man to blame a hot-blood 
 for forgetting when such a devilish fetching 
 wench smiles." 
 
 Boyd made no reply. He was seeing again a 
 red rose on a satin lapel, and the flutter of a
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 253 
 
 dainty kerchief from the gold-panelled windows 
 of a coach. 
 
 " Hark! " 
 
 One of the men had spoken, and as they 
 quieted their stamping mounts and kept perfect 
 silence there came to them from out of the 
 distance a faint thudding. In an instant one 
 had thrown himself from his saddle and had 
 his ear to the ground. 
 
 " It's a horse, and it's coming like hell! " he 
 cried. 
 
 A few hurried words of command and the squad 
 was spread out, fan-like, to intercept the oncom- 
 ing animal, whose hoof -beats were now be- 
 coming plain. 
 
 " No shooting unless you have to," commanded 
 the sergeant. "If he doesn't halt, catch the 
 bridle if you can. If not shoot." 
 
 There was something ghost-like about it all. 
 Nearer and nearer sounded those flying hoofs, 
 and near him in the darkness Boyd could see here 
 and there, troopers, firm-seated, reins taut, ready 
 to dash after the unknown one if he got by them. 
 Now the thunder of the hoofs sounded almost in 
 their midst, but the pall of darkness still hid the 
 animal from view. Only a moment 'twas thus, 
 and then from out of the gloom they saw a horse
 
 254 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 coming on at a furious gallop, and indistinctly 
 outlined on its back was a crouching figure. 
 
 " Halt! " 
 
 No answer, and no slacking of the headlong 
 pace. 
 
 " Halt! Halt, or we'll fire! " 
 
 There was an inarticulate cry from the figure 
 on the horse's back, but the beat of the iron-shod 
 hoofs never slacked. 
 
 " Charge! " shouted the sergeant as the strange 
 rider and his steed came abreast. " Catch that 
 bridle!" 
 
 Spurs sank, and there was a wild rush of steeds, 
 a bit of cursing, a howl that could mean naught 
 but terror, and the man who had withdrawn 
 farthest down the road had succeeded in clutching 
 the bridle of the strange horse and was checking 
 the animal. Then they all came riding back to 
 where the sergeant and Boyd sat their horses. 
 
 "Here he is, sergeant a little nigger, by 
 the Hi! Catch him, there! " 
 
 Like a flash, the figure had sprung from the 
 horse's back and had made a dash into the gloom, 
 but a trooper went plunging after him, and soon 
 came dragging him back, though the little prisoner 
 fought, squirmed, howled, and twisted until the 
 rest of the squad roared with laughter.
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 255 
 
 " Where in the name of Satan were you going 
 at that pace? " demanded the sergeant. 
 
 " Goin' ter de city," was the sullen reply. 
 
 " For what? " 
 
 " Fer to git away, suh." 
 
 " Away from what? Come, speak out! " 
 
 " From de debils what hopped out an' 'gin ter 
 shoot dis way an' dat way an' ebery which way. 
 Good Lord, dey done kill ever'body but me, I 
 'spect!" 
 
 " And who are you? " 
 
 "Me? I'se Putnam Maj'h Wilmoth's Put- 
 nam, suh." 
 
 The name of Wilmoth was magic to those men, 
 and it took but a few moments to convince the 
 little negro that he was in the hands of his master's 
 soldiers. He knew the uniform and shouted, 
 " Thank de Lord! " over and over until he was 
 hushed and told to give his story. And this he 
 did in a blundering sort of way. He told of the 
 strange man and the strange lady coming to Wil- 
 moth's home. He told of the attack on the party 
 near the Red Fox inn the afternoon previous, and 
 how, in the general confusion, he had sprung from 
 the chaise and rolled into a hollow, and from 
 there he had crept into the wood and hidden 
 himself until there were no longer any sounds of
 
 256 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 the fight, and then he had started to crawl back 
 to the road, but the sight of men at work with 
 shovels, digging trenches for the dead, had caused 
 him to again seek his place of concealment, where 
 he had remained hidden until night had fallen. 
 What had been the fate of Major Wilmoth or 
 Gayle Langford he did not know. 
 
 After night had fallen he had started to make 
 his way on foot to Philadelphia, as that was 
 closer than the Wilmoth home at Valley Forge. 
 He lost his way and wandered about most of the 
 night, and then, coming to a farmhouse by the 
 main road, his weariness and the terrors through 
 which he had passed overcame his scruples and he 
 crept into the stable and led out a horse. Spring- 
 ing to its back, he made a dash for Philadelphia 
 to spread the alarm. 
 
 Despatching a courier to headquarters with the 
 news, the sergeant ordered Putnam to lead the 
 way back over the road he had come, and in a few 
 moments they were galloping towards the scene 
 of the ambush. In the gray of dawn they searched 
 the spot, but there was nothing but patches of 
 fresh dirt to be found, here and there, and even 
 that would escape ordinary scrutiny owing to the 
 rocks and leaves that had been scattered over 
 the graves of horses and men. Then it was mount
 
 A MESSAGE IN RED 257 
 
 and away once more, and there was a grim pur- 
 pose in the breasts of those hardy men as they 
 galloped up to the Red Fox inn, weapons ready. 
 
 But the wits of the innkeeper were sharp that 
 morning. Perceiving the soldiers dashing towards 
 the inn, he at once surmised that the alarm had 
 spread, and his cunning came to his rescue. Im- 
 petuously he rushed forward to meet them and 
 forestalled their questions by wringing his hands 
 and asking God's blessing on them for their 
 coming. He had been compelled to give shelter 
 to a band of ruffians, who, he verily believed, had 
 done to death some parties unknown to him. He 
 could give no details, but in their debauches they 
 had hinted at murders. And, oh, could not the 
 brave soldiers follow them and compel them to 
 disgorge the money they had stolen from him, 
 his savings of years? They had not been gone 
 long, and they surely could be overtaken before 
 they reached Valley Forge. Yes, that was the 
 way they had gone towards Valley Forge 
 and, doubtless, there would be other murders and 
 other robberies soon if they w r ere not run down. 
 
 'Twas a clever tale and most glibly told. The 
 men were wild to avenge the assault on Wilmoth 
 mayhap his death. Hands were clutching pistol- 
 butts as the landlord wailed out his woeful story,
 
 258 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 and as he waved his hand towards Valley Forge 
 the spurs sank without word of command from 
 the sergeant, who was of a mind to search the inn, 
 but who had not the heart to recall his men. And 
 so they dashed away on the false scent. 
 
 As Boyd rode after them his eye glimpsed the 
 kerchief dropped by Gayle Langford, and an 
 impulse caused him to spring from his saddle and 
 pick it up. There were splotches of blood on it, 
 and he was about to cast it from him when he 
 noticed that some of the blood stains formed 
 letters. With a shout, he recalled the soldiers 
 and, spreading the bit of cambric on the saddle, 
 Boyd and the sergeant picked out rude letters, 
 one by one, until they found the startling message : 
 
 " Search inn." 
 
 With a rush, they came for the door only to find 
 it barred. Again and again the brawny men 
 threw their weight against the door, unheeding 
 the bruises, until the barriers gave way and they 
 poured into the inn. What followed I have told 
 you myself.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE KINDLING OF A FLAME 
 
 WHEN Wilmoth's men reached the stables 
 after I had told them of the purpose 
 of the innkeeper and the knave who 
 had guarded me they found the horses gone and 
 not a trace of the precious pair, so that pursuit 
 was useless. Then they came back up the stairs 
 to the room where I was relating my adventures 
 to the sergeant and Boyd, but for some reason 
 unknown even to myself I did not tell them that 
 Gayle Langford had occupied the room we then 
 were in. 
 
 " Mount, men, we ride to Valley Forge! " called 
 the sergeant. 
 
 " But let's fire this viper's nest before we go! " 
 exclaimed one. 
 
 The sergeant protested, but without waiting 
 for word from his superior, the trooper had 
 snatched the covers from the bed, and had the 
 
 259
 
 26o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 tick in his arms ready to drop it on the floor, 
 when an exclamation from Boyd caused me to 
 turn from the window. He was staring at the 
 bed, and there on a sheet spread over the bed- 
 cords I saw a suit of youth's clothing and beside 
 the clothing a naked sword. 
 
 " A pretty place to hide such a toy," said the 
 sergeant, picking up the blade, while Boyd held 
 up the clothing. 
 
 " What in the name of sin were they doing under 
 the bedtick? " he asked, turning towards me. 
 
 And I? My head was bursting with the blood 
 my thumping heart was driving through my veins. 
 Great God! Could it really be true that the 
 Unknown who fought and slew the guard in the 
 hallway had run into this room, as the dying man 
 had declared? And could it be ? No! No! 
 My brain whirled. But 'twas a mere stripling, 
 lithe as a panther, I had seen fighting in the 
 hallway! And they had searched the room soon 
 afterwards and declared that there was no way 
 of escape through the window. 
 
 " The man's near to a stroke," said the sergeant 
 as I stared dazedly at the cloak and small-clothes 
 Boyd held before me. 
 
 " Just the surprise, Sergeant, that's all," I 
 replied. " Had I known that blade was there I
 
 KINDLING OF A FLAME 261 
 
 should have given the varlet who guarded me 
 some rare entertainment." 
 
 Orders were given that there must be no 
 destruction of property, and- a little later we were 
 mounted and pushing on towards the Wilmoth 
 home. I was given one of the soldier's mounts 
 while he bestrode the saddleless horse ridden by 
 Putnam, who perched up behind the trooper. 
 Boyd rode by my side. 
 
 " Lester," said he, "do you know whose 
 kerchief this is? " He held out the blood-stained 
 article to me. 
 
 " I do. It is Gayle Langford's." 
 
 " God's love! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " And I want it," I said, tucking it into my 
 bosom. 
 
 I felt his eyes on me, but he did not speak, nor 
 did I. In the course of time we pounded up to 
 the Wilmoth place, and I saw Mary Wilmoth 
 standing in the doorway. A moment later she 
 came flying to welcome the men of her brother's 
 command, and to me she gave her hand in warm 
 greeting, and I bowed over the fingers and then 
 presented Boyd. To us she gave the pleasing 
 tidings that Major Wilmoth was improving. 
 The iron will of the man had conquered weakness 
 to the extent that he was able to direct mother
 
 262 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 and sister in their ministrations, and had himself 
 declared the wound not to be a fatal one. 
 
 'Twas God's peace to sit in that little cottage 
 and hark to the calm tones of the snowy-haired 
 mother as we discussed the plans for their future, 
 for I urged that they should leave their isolated 
 farm home and abide in Philadelphia. 
 
 " The war will be more bitter than ever," I 
 urged, " and the attack near the Red Fox proves 
 that roving bands of human devils are beginning 
 to scour the country. Murder and robbery are 
 not the worst of their crimes. Think of - 
 
 There was a burst of merry laughter from the 
 yard, where Boyd and Mary were strolling. I 
 paused and glanced at Wilmoth. His eyes met 
 mine. 
 
 " You are right, Captain," he replied. 
 
 And so it was settled that they should go on the 
 morrow. The soldiers set to work to construct 
 a suitable litter for their wounded commander, 
 and I agreed to remain and see them off, after 
 which Boyd and I would turn our faces towards 
 New York and the Chief, I to take one of the 
 troop horses, and my horse, in Philadelphia, to 
 be turned over to the troop in exchange. 
 
 After the agreement I walked to the door and 
 saw Boyd and the girl on a bench under the trees.
 
 KINDLING OF A FLAME 263 
 
 They made a wondrous handsome couple. He 
 was telling her some amusing incident, for her 
 face was beaming with humor, and as she glanced 
 up at my approach her eyes were dancing. 
 
 " In truth, 'tis but a short cry from tragedy 
 to mirth," I remarked. 
 
 " And perhaps as short 'twixt mirth and 
 tragedy," replied the girl, her eyes no longer 
 dancing. " Mr. Boyd tells me you two ride to 
 join Washington." 
 
 " Yes, my friend is to be a pupil in the school 
 of war." 
 
 " I hate the word," she said. " And yet, how 
 little we know of the war here. It seems unreal 
 to us, Captain, even though my brother is in the 
 service, for as yet war has not come to these hills." 
 
 " But it soon will," said Boyd. " Washington 
 is menaced at New York, and should he lose Long 
 Island he is certain to be driven towards Phila- 
 delphia, and then these hills will be overrun with 
 soldiers. Why, who knows but that some day I 
 may lead a charge against a battery placed on 
 yonder knoll." He waved his hand gaily towards 
 the road, and laughed merrily. 
 
 " Oh, it would be awful! " she cried. 
 
 " Nay, Mistress Wilmoth, 'twould be pro- 
 motion, I hope."
 
 264 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " What! Not yet in uniform and dreaming of 
 promotion? " 
 
 The shadow had gone from her eyes and her 
 laugh rang as cheerily as before. 
 
 " Well, if ambition captures cannons, where 's 
 the harm o' the dreams? " 
 
 " La, I am sure it is proper enough to dream 
 such dreams, and 'tis wondrous brave of you to 
 look forward so blithely to your soldiering. 
 Now, if 'twere Captain Lester, here, flipping a 
 jest about charging batteries 'twould be less 
 surprising, for he has faced them these many 
 times and yet lives, while you - 
 
 " May fall at the first volley," was Boyd's 
 interruption. 
 
 The laughter died from her eyes. " I pray it 
 prove not so," she said. " I meant only that you 
 had yet to taste of war's bitterness." 
 
 " True, for thus far it has given me naught but 
 its sweets." 
 
 The look of admiration the youngster turned 
 full on her face was, of a certainty, enough to put 
 the blushes into her cheeks, and the grace of 
 his gallant bow, hat in right hand over his heart, 
 sufficient to win pardon for the boldness of it. 
 And I ? I stood looking at the pretty scene 
 the blushing maid and the bowing cavalier
 
 KINDLING OF A FLAME 265 
 
 and found myself wondering why it was that it 
 brought no pang to me. Yestermorn I was 
 watching with hungry eyes the color-tide in her 
 cheeks, hanging enraptured on the lilt of her 
 song, and near ready to compose doggerel sonnets 
 on the splendour of her eyes. Heigho! What a 
 fickle scamp I was, to be sure! For between my 
 eyes and her face there was a lithe figure with 
 naked blade playing in the candle-light, and 
 against my heart I felt the folds of a blood- 
 stained kerchief. 
 
 Unconsciously I fetched a long-drawn sigh, and 
 instantly the girl flashed me a look of inquiry, 
 and Boyd, noting my dejection, made sport of it. 
 
 " Ha! Mistress Wilmoth, see before you Cap- 
 tain Lester, a jesting soldier in the smoke of hostile 
 batteries, but a doleful-faced macaroni in the 
 midst of peace." 
 
 " I meant not to be doleful," I said, bringing a 
 laugh, " but it saddened me to think this farm 
 must so soon be deserted for the protection of the 
 town. For my comrade has spoken truly the 
 red tide of war will surely sweep over these hills." 
 
 " This farm deserted? Protection of the 
 town? What mean you? " cried the girl. 
 
 " Tis decided by the chieftains of your house- 
 hold that you go to Philadelphia on the morrow."
 
 266 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 I strove to inject a vein of gaiety into my 
 speech, but I know not what manner of success 
 I made of it, for the look of questioning alarm 
 did not leave her face. I looked towards the 
 house and was rejoiced to see Mrs. Wilmoth 
 appear on the veranda. 
 
 " Your mother can best explain," I said, and 
 the maid turned and ran to her mother, and we 
 saw her throw herself into those sheltering arms. 
 
 Boyd and I faced about and in silence walked 
 slowly towards the stable. 
 
 " God, but she's glorious, Lester! " he ex- 
 claimed, at last. 
 
 "Aye, glorious!" I said softly, but I meant 
 not Mary Wilmoth. 
 
 " Did you ever see such a complexion, such 
 eyes, such " 
 
 " How now, friend is it love or war on which 
 you are bent? " 
 
 It was most bearish on my part, but the new 
 song that had been awakened in his heart was so 
 overpowering that he had no ears for aught else, 
 and so my curt speech went unrebuked. 
 
 "War to-morrow, Lester; but to-day ah, 
 well, to-day shall be to-day! " 
 
 He closed the speech with a sigh so pregnant 
 with tenderness that I melted and let my arm go
 
 KINDLING OF A FLAME 267 
 
 about his shoulders schoolboy like. And then we 
 talked of other things. 
 
 By evening all was ready for the departure on 
 the morrow, and though the leaving of their old 
 home was saddening to the gentle mother and to 
 Mary, they had been quick to recognize the stress 
 of danger. 
 
 " I reared my children here, sir," said Mrs. 
 Wilmoth as we sat in the candle-light. " Every 
 board of the house is precious to me, but our 
 leaving is but a small item of the cost being paid 
 by our Patriots." 
 
 " But we'll come back to it some day," said 
 the girl, " and we'll be the happier because we 
 have helped pay for liberty." 
 
 " Could my Lord Howe have heard that speech 
 he would take his redcoats home at once and tell 
 King George 'twere useless to strive to conquer 
 the Colonies! " exclaimed Boyd, his eyes feasting 
 on her flushed face. 
 
 Late we sat talking, and when the good-nights 
 finally were spoken Boyd glanced at the mother 
 and bowed most profoundly to the daughter. 
 Then as she caught up her candlestick and fol- 
 lowed her mother into their sleeping-room he 
 stood staring after her until with just a flash of 
 the eyes towards him she turned and closed the
 
 268 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 door behind her. I touched him on the arm, and 
 without a word he followed me up the stairs. 
 
 " She said she was coming back some day. 
 Think you, Captain, we ever will? " he asked, after 
 lying quiet for so long a time I had thought him 
 asleep. 
 
 " God knows but the memory of this bed 
 will be cheering on many a bivouac." 
 
 " Aye, 'tis something to be able to take memory 
 with one ! And mayhap we'll come back, too 
 some day." 
 
 He lay quiet again, and presently by the 
 regularity of his breathing I knew he was asleep, 
 but to me sleep came not readily. A multitude 
 of thoughts and fancies were scorching my brain, 
 and before my mental vision danced two words 
 in letters of blood " Search inn! " 
 
 Doubtless this night Gayle Langford was 
 lying in the shelter of her own home. And the 
 Prince had stood by her side. The Prince! 
 Had she not scorned him and hated him for a 
 poltroon that night of tragedy? But doubtless 
 he would have an explanation and feminine 
 hearts were ever ready to convince feminine 
 brains that the impossible is the very probable. 
 And Boyd had told me that the mother was 
 more ardent in her desires for a title for her
 
 KINDLING OF A FLAME 269 
 
 daughter than the father had been. And so I 
 was able to lie in that humble farmhouse and 
 forecast with certainty that which would come 
 to pass in a grand mansion in Philadelphia, and 
 oddly enough in making up my forecast I mentally 
 put it into the words of Erasmus: 
 
 " Hyar de title, an' hyar Marse Langford's 
 money, an' dese two dey jes' keep a-leakin', an' 
 a-leakin', an' a-leakin' towards each other until 
 bimeby dey is gwine ter git tergedder." 
 
 The moon looked in at the window and threw 
 a bar of light on the floor ; a white curtain swayed 
 gently in the grasp of the rose-scented breeze 
 that stole in from the night. 'Twas God's peace, 
 indeed. Boyd moved and murmured something 
 in his sleep. His words came back to me: " She 
 said she was coming back some day. Think 
 you, Captain, we ever will? " My heart had gone 
 out to the noble fellow, and should God grant me 
 one prayer it would be that he should come back 
 to her. 
 
 The first beams of the rising sun looked in at 
 the window where the sprites of the moonlight 
 had danced, and awoke me to the new day. 
 Boyd opened his eyes soon afterward, and we at 
 once arose, and while we were donning our 
 clothing we heard Mary Wilmoth's voice.
 
 270 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " My lover is a soldier lad, 
 
 King George's crown he's scorning. 
 He rides and fights with Washington 
 In Liberty's bright morning." 
 
 I glanced at Boyd and somewhat of bitterness 
 came to my heart as I noted the telltale flush in 
 his cheeks, for of a truth, the Patriot maid was 
 a delicious morsel of femininity, and I was again 
 half -convinced that I was filled with love for her. 
 But on my waistcoat was lying a bit of blood- 
 stained cambric, and for a moment I forgot the 
 singer in the mental picture of a maid who hated 
 all that I loved and loved all I hated, a maid in 
 whose hair were glints of copper. Ah, Mary 
 Wilmoth might be glorious, as Boyd had de- 
 clared; she might be delicious, as I had but 
 admitted, but Gayle Langford, Royalist to the 
 last drop of her blood, was magnificent, superb ! 
 
 " Maids' hearts must break for Freedom's sake 
 
 Of this I give you warning 
 But the brave and true have work to do 
 In Liberty's bright morning." 
 
 " On my life, 'tis a fitting song she pipes this 
 morning," said Boyd, standing close to the 
 window, listening.
 
 KINDLING OF A FLAME 271 
 
 I have ever been loth to dwell on scenes of 
 partings, for always are they most saddening to 
 me, even in these present days of peace. The 
 ways of Providence are beyond our ken; we bid 
 Godspeed and a quick return to a friend setting 
 forth on a journey perhaps of but one day or two 
 days by the best stage, and, lo! eternity rolls 
 between us. So it is that I cannot look back save 
 in tears on the parting of Boyd and myself with 
 the Wilmoths on that July morning. The sky 
 was cloudless, and a soft wind was stealing to 
 us from the south; never had the birdland 
 chorus been sweeter, never the breath of rose and 
 honeysuckle more fragrant, nor the joy of living 
 more masterful than in that hour which witnessed 
 our departure. 
 
 The cavalcade went slowly because of the 
 wounded man who rode in the rough litter, and 
 there was somewhat of stock, for it was foreseen 
 that chickens and cows would be valuable in 
 Philadelphia. At the top of the hill Mary Wil- 
 moth looked back at the old home, and when 
 she faced to the front again tears were trembling 
 on the long black lashes. 
 
 Boyd and I rode with them to the fork of the 
 roads, where our ways parted. There we dis- 
 mounted, and there was a brief pause given up to
 
 272 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 hand -shakings and good-byes. Then Wilmoth 
 gave the word and they pushed forward once 
 more. Long we stood silent in the road, Boyd 
 and I, watching our friends until the distance 
 blended them into a moving speck. Then we 
 mounted and galloped away to the east.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 
 
 THE notes of a bugle broke my slumbers, 
 and my sleep-steeped senses slowly ab- 
 sorbed a realization that reveille was 
 sounding, and that that bit of dirty white above 
 me was the roof of a ragged tent. Near by, I 
 heard the commands of sergeants preparing for 
 the morning roll-call, and with a throb of delight 
 I suddenly realized that 'twas all true no 
 trick of a dream and that I was once more 
 with the Continental army. Near me Boyd was 
 sitting up and yawning. 
 
 " How do you like the bugle? Tis music to a 
 soldier like me," I said, rather boastfully in my 
 sudden thrill. 
 
 " Well, if they're winding it just to entertain 
 me they can spare their breath," he replied. 
 " And as for you, it would take a court martial 
 to decide whether you are a soldier or a London 
 fop." 
 
 273
 
 274 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 'Fore God, his banter hit me harder than he 
 meant. I liked not that reference to court martial, 
 for I had yet to face Washington and report the 
 loss of my despatches while duelling for a Tory 
 maid. We had been challenged by the Patriot 
 pickets at dusk the evening before, and in due 
 time I had established my identity, and I having 
 vouched for my companion, we were permitted 
 to seek my old quarters. 
 
 " Your repartee is devilish dismal," I said, 
 gloomily. 
 
 "Confound it, man, brighten your face, can't 
 you, if that noisy old bugle is music to you? 
 You look as though you were ready for a stone 
 wall, a blindfold, and a firing squad. Remember 
 
 " The brave and true have work to do 
 In Liberty's bright morning." 
 
 " Aye, pipe your blithe song, my jester, but 
 you have no disastrous failure to report to the 
 Chief." 
 
 Filled as I was with forebodings, I could not 
 but smile at the amazement created among my 
 comrades when I appeared in my rufHes and silks, 
 soiled and travel-stained. The hour for me to 
 report to Washington came all too soon for me, 
 and with sinking heart I was ushered into his
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 275 
 
 presence. He sat at a long table that was littered 
 with papers, and near him was a group of offi- 
 cers. I caught the flash of surprise, followed in- 
 stantly by a frown, as he glimpsed my garb, for I 
 had had no chance to provide myself with uni- 
 form. 
 
 " Is this Captain Lester? " he asked, a note of 
 cold sarcasm in his emphasis. 
 
 " It is, sir, though I doubt not it will not long 
 be." 
 
 My cheeks were reddened with the disgrace of 
 my position, and I doubt not that their flush and 
 the regret with which my voice must have been 
 filled touched his great heart, for his gaze softened, 
 and then he turned to the officers. 
 
 " Gentlemen, Captain Lester has a private re- 
 port to submit. May we crave your indulgence? " 
 
 Instantly they were on their feet and bowing 
 themselves out of the room. The Chief turned 
 to me. 
 
 " Well? " he said. 
 
 " I have failed, sir," I answered, striving to 
 meet those steady eyes. 
 
 " I know it. What is your excuse? " 
 
 " You know it? " I cried, dumfounded. 
 "Why " 
 
 " Never mind how! Your excuse! "
 
 276 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 His voice was cold and stern. I fought a mental 
 battle for the space of half a minute while he 
 watched me silently. 
 
 " None, sir," I finally responded, though the 
 words were but little more than a whisper. 
 
 " You have the effrontery to report the loss of 
 your despatches and have no excuse? " 
 
 " There can be no excuse in my case, sir. But 
 I have not reported the loss of my despatches." 
 
 " 'Twas needless. But if you have no excuse, 
 perhaps you will at least favor me by a recital 
 of your doings since you left." 
 
 Whereupon I found my tongue and launched 
 upon what must have proved a vivid account of 
 the adventures that had befallen me since I had 
 ridden away from New York. As I proceeded he 
 arose and, walking to the window, stood look- 
 ing out, his back turned to me. I paused at 
 this. 
 
 " Go on. I am listening," he commanded. 
 
 When I told of the girl's scream of fear and 
 how I had sprung to her defence, forgetting all 
 in my eagerness to slay the knave who had in- 
 truded upon her, and how I had fled with her to 
 protect her from the rabble, one of his hands 
 went to his chin and remained there, a favorite 
 attitude of his when profoundly interested. I
 
 " YOU HAVE THE EFFRONTERY TO REPORT THE LOSS OF YOUR 
 DESPATCHES AND HAVE NO EXCUSE ? " Page 276.
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 277 
 
 brought the recital through the affair at the Red 
 Fox inn without telling of the Unknown's duel 
 in the hallway and without saying aught of a 
 blood-stained kerchief. 
 
 " And now, sir, I report for punishment," I 
 said as bravely as possible in conclusion. 
 
 He stood motionless for a moment, and then 
 turned towards me. 
 
 " And what favor do you ask? " 
 
 " None, sir, lest it be permission to lead the 
 most desperate hope in the struggle that is coming 
 to us permission to die honorably." 
 
 My old zeal was returning, and there was much 
 of fervor in my plea. 
 
 " God grant your death may be honorable 
 when it comes, for your life has been so." 
 
 " But my failure, sir! " 
 
 He laid his hand on my shoulder. " My boy," 
 he said, and his tone was kindly, " a soldier's 
 blade should be for his country first and virtue 
 next, because ' the greatest good to the greatest 
 number ' is a rule as old as civilization, but young 
 blood cannot always be expected to be deaf to a 
 female's cry until country has been considered. 
 I think that at your age I should have had the 
 same report to submit that you have brought 
 me."
 
 278 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 He must have seen the tears that sprang to my 
 eyes, for he ceased speaking for a moment and 
 took a few turns across the room. 
 
 " You will resume command of your company 
 at once, Captain," he said, stopping before me 
 again. 
 
 I began pouring out my thanks, but he stopped 
 me with a gesture. 
 
 " It is only fair," he said, " to tell you that one 
 reason for my leniency is because your failure 
 did no harm rather did it work some good. 
 A change in plans made it desirable that a message 
 should be sent to Congress asking that your in- 
 formation be disregarded and the last despatch 
 acted upon. Thirty-six hours after you left, 
 another messenger was on his way to Philadelphia. 
 He delivered his despatch and learned that you 
 had not. Two days ago a Tory spy was caught 
 with the despatch stolen from you on his person. 
 I knew then that for some reason you had failed. 
 Such information as the enemy gained from that 
 message served only to mislead them. " 
 
 I have no wish to tell to you that which is writ 
 in the histories of your country. This tale has 
 to do with those things that are writ only in
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 279 
 
 hearts, and so I ignore those terrible days when 
 Long Island and the adjacent country was stained 
 with blood. In those weeks Boyd won praise 
 for his gallantry, and when Washington's beaten 
 army was sent flying across New Jersey, he 
 marched with it as a lieutenant, though so great 
 was the number of desertions that he was com- 
 mander of but a handful. 
 
 Despair marched by the side of each Patriot 
 soldier in that retreat before Cornwallis, and 
 officers, wearied and numbed with the increasing 
 cold, blasphemed God in their bitterness. But 
 still we struggled on towards the Delaware, 
 ofttimes our rear guard hearing the music of the 
 bands of the British advance. 
 
 " Remember that I once asked you if you 
 thought we would ever come back? " said 
 Boyd, as we plodded along. " Well, we're 
 coming." 
 
 A ghost of a smile played about his lips for a 
 moment, and then was gone, leaving there the 
 tense lines that suffering had drawn. 
 
 " Yes, but it looks as though if we ever see 
 Philadelphia again it will be as prisoners of 
 Cornwallis," I replied. 
 
 " If only that cursed Lee would quit plotting 
 and go to fighting! " he exclaimed.
 
 2 8o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " If only King George would sing ' Yankee 
 Doodle! ' " was my reply, meant to be caustic. 
 
 Winter in all of its severity found us still re- 
 treating. Before us and on either side of us were 
 folk whose patriotism cooled more rapidly at the 
 approach of Cornwallis than did their shins at 
 the nip of winter, and behind us were the Hessians 
 and British, jesting at the pitiful trail of red left 
 on the snow by the hundreds who were without 
 shoes. And the scouts who hung on the flanks 
 of the enemy each day brought tales of brutish 
 excesses by the Hessians. 
 
 But at last the Delaware lay before us, and the 
 ever-slothful enemy rested at Princeton long 
 enough for us to cross in safety. Then we hovered 
 on the west bank of the Delaware while the enemy 
 gave up the pursuit at the river bank and went 
 into winter quarters, full confident that such 
 Continentals as did not freeze to death would 
 desert before spring. 
 
 Boyd, being familiar with the country, was 
 given much scouting duty, and brought back the 
 first information of the Congress deserting Phila- 
 delphia for Baltimore. On these journeys to the 
 Capital he managed to pay his respects quite 
 often to Mary Wilmoth, who, with her mother, 
 he found living in a modest cottage, and it was
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 281 
 
 on his return from one of these expeditions that 
 he entered the miserable little hut where I was 
 quartered and proudly exhibited a heavy scarf 
 she had knit for him. 
 
 "Is it not splendid? " he asked, wrapping it 
 about his throat and ears in order to best exhibit 
 it. 
 
 " Aye, and most becoming," I responded, " for 
 it hides all of your countenance but your eye- 
 brows." 
 
 " My lover is a soldier lad," 
 
 sang Boyd, blithely, and added: " Tis not 
 beauty but bullets that count, friend Lester, so 
 it matters not what the scarf may hide so long 
 as it keeps the cold from stealing the life from a 
 body that may stop British lead." 
 
 " Nay, rather let us hope 'twill keep frost from 
 the lips that hunger to buss a Patriot maid," I 
 replied, smiling. 
 
 He laughed and unwound the scarf from about 
 his neck. 
 
 " In truth, I like your idea the better," he said, 
 " and in payment for the suggestion will I give 
 you a bit of news that may interest you. The 
 Langfords have left Philadelphia,"
 
 282 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 He looked me full in the face as he spoke, and 
 I knew that he had not forgotten a red rose, and 
 how I had hung out of the window of the Golden 
 Lion when the young Loyalist had smiled at me 
 from her coach. But no sign of unusual interest 
 reached my face. 
 
 " Indeed? " I put the answer carelessly, I 
 flatter myself. 
 
 " Yes, the house is closed. But I have greater 
 news." 
 
 : ' Then out with it at once, Sir Gossiper," I 
 cried, jocularly. 
 
 " Gayle Langford is soon to wed the Prince." 
 
 I had taken up the candle in order to more 
 closely examine the gift scarf, and somehow the 
 bit of tallow slipped from my hand and fell to 
 the floor. Quickly reaching forward, I snatched 
 it up, the moment's respite enabling me to 
 recover myself. 
 
 " This freezing and starving has made my 
 clutch uncertain," I said, replacing the candle. 
 
 " Beginning to have ' nerves,' Lester? " 
 
 " It seems they're growing shaky," I replied. 
 
 " But the wedding care you nothing for the 
 yarn?" 
 
 " Ah, yes, the wedding. 'Twas like to have 
 been forgotten in our discussion of starvation
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 283 
 
 and ' nerves.' Of course, tell me of the wed- 
 ding." 
 
 " Well, after all, 'tis a brief tale. I only know 
 that 'tis said the ceremony will be spoken during 
 the holidays, and that the Langfords are now 
 with the Prince in his winter quarters." 
 
 " Winter quarters? Then he has finally joined 
 the army? " 
 
 " It seems so, and commands some Hessian 
 battalion though where I know not." 
 
 " Mayhap over yonder," I replied, waving my 
 hand towards the Delaware. 
 
 " Tis said in the town that after the death of 
 Peter Langford, Mistress Gayle and the Prince 
 were constantly in each other's company, and 
 that the girl was greatly devoted to the 
 rascal." 
 
 " Very likely. 'Tis a way girls have bestow- 
 ing their affections on rascals." 
 
 I looked at him so significantly, and smiled, 
 that he blushed a fiery red, and, shifting from 
 one foot to another, said he believed he had 
 better be about his duties. 
 
 " But not until you take my hand, old friend, 
 and say you harbor no resentment because of my 
 jests," I said, rising and standing before him. 
 
 He seized my hand and squeezed it. " Bless
 
 284 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 you, there is no room in my heart for surliness." 
 And with a merry laugh, he was gone. 
 
 Then, with none to see, the mask fell from my 
 face and the truth that had never been really 
 confessed to myself crushed down upon my heart 
 until, in the pain of it, I rose and paced the 
 narrow hut. Yes, 'twas true, I loved Gayle Lang- 
 ford! God in heaven, 'twas drearily, pitifully 
 true! And now this hour had come, as I had 
 known it must come, and, knowing it, I had not 
 before yielded my brain to my heart and never 
 had I been able to force my heart to yield to my 
 brain. What man with red blood in his veins 
 can? 
 
 " You should never have loved her! " piped a 
 small voice to me, and I clenched my hands and 
 would have struck had the voice come from 
 mortal. Never had there been an instant when I 
 failed to realize how far apart we were, as far 
 apart as though we had our being on different 
 planets hers a brilliant star high above the 
 sunless world where I groped along a danger- 
 strewn pathway lighted only by war's lurid 
 lightnings. Dear God, every moment I had been 
 filled with the knowledge of its hopelessness! 
 But why should I have been led to her side, to 
 look into her eyes, to hear the music of her voice,
 
 A BIT OF NEWS 285 
 
 to see the nobility of her soul shine through the 
 mists? I had not sought her. If it were true 
 that God ruled, had He not taken me by the 
 hand and led me to her? And now 
 
 I know not how long I sat there, brooding, 
 but the cold crept to my marrow and I saw that 
 my candle was spluttering its life out. In the 
 east the dawn was flinging its orange and gold 
 banners into the sky and a crescent moon hung 
 lustreless over a whitened hill where ever and 
 anon the snow sprang up in glee dances to the 
 piping of the north wind.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 IN WHICH I TURN CLERGYMAN 
 
 AS the days dragged by, a whisper filtered 
 through the American camp that lifted 
 the freezing and starving soldiers out of 
 the pit of despair, for it said that Washington 
 was planning to cross the Delaware and strike 
 the enemy at Trenton. 
 
 Night after night our scouts crossed the river 
 and reconnoitred in and about Trenton, and as 
 day succeeded day their reports were that Rahl 
 was growing more and more careless and that 
 carousals and debauchery were rapidly succeeding 
 any semblance of discipline and caution. A 
 Patriot farmer on the Jersey shore kept a stable 
 filled with horses for the use of the American 
 scouts, who would cross the river after dark, 
 make their way to this stable and provide them- 
 selves with a mount, returning the horse and 
 hiding the saddle before coming back to camp. 
 
 286
 
 / TURN CLERGYMAN 287 
 
 Late in the afternoon of Christmas Day I 
 pushed off from the Pennsylvania shore bent on 
 noting the extent of the Hessian Christmas 
 carousals and reporting to the Chief, when our 
 army should land in Jersey that night. I went 
 alone, and scarce had I left the protection of the 
 shore until I found that 'twas a most hazardous 
 task that lay before me. The high wind and the 
 swift current sent the ice cakes crashing and 
 grinding against each other, and in fighting the 
 ice away from my boat I had but little time to 
 row, but managed to keep my course fairly well 
 until close to the farther shore, when a giant floe 
 struck the frail craft with terrific force and stove 
 in the side. Instantly the water rushed in, and, 
 seeing my only hope, I slammed the oars into 
 position and tugged desperately at them. Lower 
 and lower the boat settled, until, within a few 
 feet of safety, it sank from under me and I found 
 myself swimming in the icy river. God's mercy! 
 Had I been less the hardened soldier I would 
 have died of the chill, but I struggled with the 
 strength of despair and soon found my feet 
 touching bottom. 
 
 I waded ashore and without delay set off at a 
 brisk run for the home of the fanner, and though 
 my clothing froze on me as I ran, the exercise kept
 
 288 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 my blood circulating and I was able to stagger 
 into the kitchen of the farmhouse, where hot rum 
 was poured down my throat and my clothing 
 was spread to dry before a roaring fire. Then at 
 dusk I fared forth, mounted on a horse from the 
 " scout's stable," as it was known in our lines. 
 With the saddle were holsters and pistols. 
 
 I was in no hurry to reach the town, and rode 
 slowly, thankful that the wind was at my back. 
 Presently I became aware of the pounding of 
 hoofs on the frozen road behind me, and, turning 
 in my saddle, I saw a man coming at a full gallop. 
 Drawing the folds of my heavy cape the closer 
 about me to hide my uniform, though there was 
 small chance of the faded rags being recognized 
 as a uniform, I slipped a pistol from its holster 
 and concealed it under my cape as the stranger 
 rode to my side and reined down to the jog pace 
 of my mount. 
 
 " Friend, you ride as though the weather were 
 to your liking," he said in a heavy voice. 
 
 " My beast is weary," I replied, studying him 
 as best I could in the gloom. 
 
 " ' A righteous man regardeth the life of his 
 beast.' Proverbs xii: 10." 
 
 His cloak was wrapped closely about him, but 
 I could see that his garb was sombre throughout.
 
 I TURN CLERGYMAN 289 
 
 " Ah, a minister of the gospel, I take it," I 
 said at a hazard. 
 
 " Even so. ' Whoso despiseth the word shall 
 be destroyed; but he that feareth the command- 
 ment shall be rewarded.' Proverbs xiii:i3." 
 
 "Ride you to Trenton?" 
 
 " Yes, even to that town which I am told is 
 given to much wickedness since the coming of 
 the soldiers." 
 
 " In truth, I think they stand much in need of 
 a clergyman," I said. 
 
 " Gladly would I speak unto them the message 
 of our God, yet they do but scoff at its preaching, 
 I am told. Tis not to preach that I ride to 
 Trenton." 
 
 " Not to preach? " 
 
 " Nay, but to speak the solemn words of a 
 marriage ceremony." 
 
 The exclamation that broke from my lips was 
 stolen by the sweep of the rising wind and escaped 
 my companion. 
 
 " This night," he continued, " a noble from 
 across the seas espouses a Philadelphia maid. 
 She will have none of the army chaplains, and I 
 was sent for. I had best hasten my beast lest I 
 be late." 
 
 " At what hour will the vows be taken, and
 
 2 9 o GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 where? " I bent my head low over my saddle to 
 hide the anxiety my question might indicate. 
 
 "When the hour of eight is half -spent at 
 Colonel Rahl's headquarters." 
 
 He spoke to his horse and the animal broke into 
 a sharp canter. I did likewise and rode at his 
 side, my brain a whirling chaos. 
 
 " This ungodly strife is near to an end," said 
 the preacher, " and 'tis well that the hearts of 
 men and maids turn to tenderer subjects. Tis 
 fitting that Ug-g-h! Great Jehovah! " 
 
 The sentence he was voicing so glibly gave way 
 to the closing exclamations as he saw a hand from 
 out of the gloom suddenly clutch his bridle-rein 
 while another hand shoved the dark muzzle of a 
 pistol close to his face. 
 
 " Fear not, for no harm shall come to you if 
 you obey me quickly," I said. 
 
 " ' Horror hath taken hold upon me because of 
 the wicked that forsake thy law ! ' So 'tis writ in 
 the Psalms. But what is your evil will, man of 
 violence? " 
 
 " First that you hold your hands above your 
 head while I search for your weapons. So. Ah, 
 you are unarmed, I see." 
 
 " ' In God is my salvation and my glory; and 
 my refuge is in God.' So saith the Psalmist."
 
 / TURN CLERGYMAN 291 
 
 " 'Tis a glorious faith, I grant, but for hearty 
 persuasion a toy like this is greatly to be admired." 
 I patted my pistol as I spoke. " And now, my 
 good man, I will trouble you to dismount. 
 Thanks. Now please to tie both horses to this 
 tree. Very nicely done, I vow. Kindly walk 
 ahead of me to yon house, which I'll wager has 
 been deserted by those who feared Briton or 
 American." 
 
 He remained silent but marched ahead to the 
 cabin close beside the road, which, as I surmised, 
 had been deserted. The door yielded easily. I 
 had taken from my pouch a piece of candle, a bit 
 of tinder obtained from the Patriot farmer, and 
 my flint and steel, and these I held out to my cap- 
 tive as we reached the door, at the same time 
 keeping my pistol covering him. 
 
 " Strike a light, please," I commanded, and 
 he knelt on the floor and began striking the 
 sparks from the flint. 
 
 After a few efforts the tinder caught the spark, 
 and a moment later the preacher stood before 
 me with lighted candle. I stepped within and 
 put my back to the closed door. Nothing in the 
 way of furniture had been left in the cabin, and 
 I knew that I need fear no interruption in the 
 programme on which I had decided.
 
 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " A rebel soldier! " he cried, as my cloak fell 
 away and revealed my uniform. " ' All they 
 that take the sword shall perish with the 
 sword!' " 
 
 " 'Tis some comfort, then, to know that I shall 
 not be hanged, as my uncle fears. But I must 
 insist on trading clothes with you." 
 
 He expostulated and quoted much Scripture 
 to convince me I was plunging into the awful 
 pit, but a demonstration with that evil-looking 
 pistol caused him to hastily disrobe, and then 
 he stood with chattering teeth while I discarded 
 my uniform. 
 
 " Zounds, man, you would be the beau of the 
 army would you but 'list! " I chaffed, after we 
 had again dressed. " Now I must borrow that 
 handsome wig you wear. Sorry I have none to 
 exchange for it. Here, I will return your valu- 
 ables, all but this prayer-book, and this bit of 
 paper with Colonel Rahl's signature passing the 
 Reverend Jonathan Collenbaugh through his 
 lines. Possibly I may ride to Trenton. If so, I 
 will present your regrets and explain that you are 
 unable to officiate at the wedding to-night. I 
 will fasten the hasp on the door as I go out, but 
 a strong man like you can soon break it down. 
 I shall be compelled to turn your horse loose, but
 
 I TURN CLERGYMAN 293 
 
 by a few hours of steady walking you should be 
 able to reach shelter. And you will not freeze if 
 you walk." 
 
 I backed out, pulled the door shut, and dropped 
 the peg in the hasp. Then I ran to the horses, 
 jerked the bridle off the minister's mount, and 
 sent the animal scurrying away; after which I 
 sprang into my own saddle and galloped away 
 towards Trenton. 
 
 I knew that the Reverend Collenbaugh could not 
 reach the town for at least two hours after I did, 
 and then he was apt to have a night in the guard- 
 house before he could explain how he chanced 
 to be wearing a rebel uniform. That I was taking 
 one of the most desperate chances of my unpeace- 
 ful career I well knew, but I had resolved that 
 there should be no wedding at Rahl's that night. 
 After that Perhaps I might fall in the attack 
 for which Washington's army was at that moment 
 on the march, and then wedding or war would 
 mean naught to me, but 'neath winter's snows 
 and summer's roses I should sleep unmindful of 
 it all. 
 
 Snow was beginning to fall, and by the time 
 the lights of Trenton were in view the snow was 
 whirling about me in great clouds. Suddenly a 
 figure loomed up before me in the roadway.
 
 2 9 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 "Halt!" came the sharp challenge, and I 
 promptly obeyed. 
 
 " A man of peace on a tender mission," I 
 replied in response to the picket's questions. 
 Then I handed over my stolen pass. He called, 
 and from a shed appeared another soldier with a 
 lantern. 
 
 " Humph! A parson! " There was a sneer in 
 his tone as he handed the paper back to me. 
 
 " Yea, even so. ' Whoso despiseth the word 
 shall be destroyed; but he that feareth the 
 commandment shall be rewarded,' ' quoth I, 
 striving to imitate Collenbaugh's tone and 
 manner. 
 
 Then I rode on, receiving an occasional chal- 
 lenge, until I was near to Rahl's headquarters, 
 which I could readily distinguish by the abun- 
 dance of light and the music of the fiddles and 
 hautboys, for the Hessian colonel was notoriously 
 fond of music and pomp. When near this place 
 I dismounted and led my horse to the shelter of 
 a small shed in the rear of a house that appeared 
 tenantless. I examined the pistols in the holsters, 
 and, making sure that they were ready for service, 
 I replaced them and carefully protected them 
 from the weather. I would have felt much better 
 with them at my hips, but they were far too heavy
 
 I TURN CLERGYMAN 295 
 
 and cumbersome to carry without holsters, so I 
 tucked my prayer-book under my arm and went 
 boldly forth. 
 
 Drunken Hessians were everywhere, and I 
 smiled grimly as I thought of the avenging army 
 that soon would fall upon the hirelings who had 
 left a trail of debauchery across the country. 
 Before Rahl's headquarters stood cannons that 
 should have been in defences. At the entrance 
 a sentry halted me, and smiled as he read my 
 pass. 
 
 " It's all reg'lar, Parson, an' I know jolly well 
 there's to be a marryin' to-night, but I must call 
 the Captain of the Guard. It's orders from 
 Colonel Rahl." 
 
 A few moments later and a swagger young 
 English officer appeared, garbed in all of the 
 brilliance of the British dress uniform. He 
 looked at my pass and smiled, also. 
 
 " Come right in, sir, and warm your bones. It 
 must have been a beastly ride you have had, sir. 
 But Mistress Langford needs must have a minister 
 of her own church and no army chaplain would 
 she have near her." He rattled on as he led me 
 into the house, not giving me opportunity for 
 reply. " The Prince is a lucky blade though 
 he doesn't deserve such a bride. There! I've let
 
 296 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 my tongue wag too much. But when you see her 
 you'll say, yourself, that she's superb, for even a 
 preacher knows a comely wench when he sees her, 
 eh, Parson? " 
 
 " ' As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a 
 fair woman which is without discretion,' ' I 
 replied, chancing to remember a quotation which 
 had been a favorite of my great-uncle's. 
 
 He laughed merrily and ushered me into a 
 waiting-room. 
 
 " What is your pleasure? " he asked. 
 
 " I would have speech with the maiden 
 
 " Certainly, I'll there, I am being called. 
 I'll return as soon as possible and present you." 
 
 With a gay song on his lips he hurried away 
 and I stood alone, listening to the sound of the 
 music, while from a near-by room came bursts 
 of laughter and an occasional verse of a drinking 
 song. Rumor had told us of the Continental 
 army that there was much guzzling of liquor at 
 the Hessian headquarters, and even on this 
 occasion they were drinking to excess. 
 
 It lacked about an hour of the time for the 
 ceremony. A log blazed on the cavernous fire- 
 place and half a dozen candles in highly polished 
 brass holders illuminated the room. I stepped to 
 the window and peered out into the winter's
 
 I TURN CLERGYMAN 297 
 
 storm. Would that blinding whirl of snow drift 
 across my grave a few hours hence? Nervous? 
 Aye, 'tis as well I should confess it, for here was I 
 surrounded by those who would snuff out my life 
 at a moment's notice should aught betray me, 
 while somewhere within the house was the maid 
 I loved, a maid who was even then decking her- 
 self for espousal with another and a few miles 
 away my comrades were coming to give battle. 
 Think you I had no cause for nervousness? 
 
 " Is you waitin' fer some one, suh? " asked a 
 voice behind me, and, turning, I stood face to 
 face with old Erasmus, gorgeous in the Langford 
 livery. 
 
 " Even so. I am the minister come to join the 
 man and the maid in wedlock. I would speak 
 with the maid." I was wondering how my 
 disguise would stand this test. 
 
 " Yes, suh, I 'spect she be monstrous glad ter 
 see ye, suh, fer she has been a-walkin' de floor an' 
 er talkin' to herself like she done feared ye 
 wouldn't " 
 
 His eyes, which he had turned on me carelessly, 
 seemed suddenly to dilate, and he took a quick 
 step towards me, staring full into my face. 
 
 " What ails you, fellow, that you stare thus 
 at me? " I exclaimed sternly.
 
 298 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " 'Scuse me, suh, 'scuse me I thought 
 what? how come it? " He paused a moment 
 and then threw out his arms towards me, and 
 cried in a tense whisper: " Marse Ian! Oh, de 
 good Lord, Marse Ian! " 
 
 " Sh-h-h! Not that name, Rassle! Pull your- 
 self together quickly. It's life or death to me." 
 
 " Yes, suh, I'se gwine ter keep dat name jes' 
 in my heart, an' neber speak it hyar agin, fer, 
 Oh-h-h! de sweet ol' Missus lookin' downerginan' 
 pleadin' wif ol' Rassle ter keer fer her boy! " 
 
 " Then as you love her memory, give not a 
 sign, no matter what happens. How came you 
 here? " 
 
 " Wif de Langfords, suh. Dat title an' dat 
 money dey've kept on er leakin', an' ter-night 
 dey gwine ter git tergedder." 
 
 "No, no! Not this night, Rassle! But take 
 me to Gayle Langford at once." 
 
 " Yes, suh, Marse la Marse Preacher, jes' 
 f oiler me." 
 
 He turned towards the door, but as he did so 
 the Captain of the Guard stepped into the room. 
 
 " Ah, the servant was about to direct you, eh, 
 Parson? But I welcome the honor." He smiled 
 pleasantly. " You may go," he added, turning 
 to the negro.
 
 299 
 
 Erasmus hesitated, glanced at me, and then, 
 bowing low, he walked slowly away, and I saw 
 his lips move and knew he was in prayer. 
 
 " May I offer my arm, Parson? But pardon 
 my thoughtlessness in not introducing myself. 
 Parson, your most humble servant, Francis Dun- 
 lap Colburn, Captain in his Majesty's Grenadiers." 
 He bowed low before me, and I found myself lik- 
 ing the blithe fellow. 
 
 " And may no bullet e'er be molded that will 
 close your honest eyes in death," I responded 
 with right hearty fervor. 
 
 " A right civil speech, sir, and my thanks 
 for it. Shall we now seek the expectant 
 maid? " 
 
 I took his arm and we walked out into the 
 hallway, a strangely contrasted pair, the brilliant 
 colors and gold cordings of his uniform having 
 an added splendor when compared with the 
 sombre clergyman's garb I was wearing. 
 
 "This noble," I asked, "is he not deserving 
 of his bride? " 
 
 " Mayhap it ill becomes one of us roistering 
 blades to speak ill of any man, but I have no 
 stomach for a fortune-hunter, be he King's Loy- 
 alist or rebel! " 
 
 We had paused at the foot of the stairs.
 
 300 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " But the maid loves the scamp, doubtless," 
 I said, as we commenced the ascent. 
 
 He laughed. ' Who can read the heart of such 
 as she? I have no skill in the tender subtleties of 
 the wenches, Parson. But the mother! Oh, the 
 m-o-t-h-e-r! " He drawled the word, then paused 
 again and cocked his head to one side, and drew 
 down the corners of his mouth in a comical way. 
 " Saint George, but 'tis enough to turn vinegar 
 to sugar to hear her loll that title, ' Pr-r-ince,' on 
 her tongue, turning it over and over like a sweet- 
 meat, and tasting it on all sides. Why, 'tis the 
 jest of the mess-room behind the Prince's 
 back, mind you, for he plays a clever blade when 
 he has the courage to use it." 
 
 I think my hand gripped his arm a little tighter 
 as my mind drew for me a picture of the sacrifice 
 this girl was making in the name of duty. I 
 made no reply, for, in truth, had I parted my 
 lips a flood of most unministerial words would 
 have rolled out. We went up the stairs in silence 
 and found ourselves on a broad landing, from 
 which wide hallways led, and spacious doorways 
 revealed rooms brilliant with candle-light, as was 
 the landing. From some room below came the 
 subdued notes of the riddles and hautboys in 
 rhythmic melody.
 
 / TURN CLERGYMAN 301 
 
 " Look! " whispered Colburn, waving his hand 
 towards the open door of a room in front of us. 
 
 Sweet heaven, his word was tardy, for my eyes 
 had already fixed on the picture before me. In 
 a mahogany chair sat a girl, gowned in creamy 
 silk cut low, and revealing a shoulder whose 
 whiteness shamed the snow on the hills; her 
 hair was adorned with a cluster of flowers tucked 
 in among the billowy masses where the candle- 
 light revealed coppery glints. On a table before 
 her rested her outstretched arms; her head was 
 drooped slightly, every lineament denoting medi- 
 tation. Her profile was revealed to me, and in 
 her cheek I saw no glow. 
 
 " Gayle Langford! " I exclaimed, softly. 
 
 He glanced quickly at me. " How know you 
 that? " 
 
 I felt the blood mount to my face. "I the 
 bride I could not fail to surmise," I replied, in 
 confusion. 
 
 " Saint George, no! God fashioned but one 
 and for a Hessian " He broke off abruptly. 
 " Come, let me present you."
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 
 
 NOW, indeed, was I come to one of the 
 crucial moments of my reckless life, and 
 my heart beat fast during those few steps 
 that carried us into the room where she had sat 
 alone. And then we stood before her as she 
 dropped her arms from the table and raised her 
 eyes to our faces. 
 
 " Mistress Langford, 'tis a most gracious honor 
 that is mine, the ill-deserved privilege of present- 
 ing to you the clergyman whom you await. 
 Permit me the Reverend Jonathan Collen- 
 baugh." 
 
 " And may it prove that joy comes with me," 
 I said in the heavy tone I had assumed, and with 
 a most unusual sweep to my bow in order to the 
 the better avert my face. 
 
 I saw her bend in a curtsy of delicious grace, 
 and then I raised my head and looked into her 
 eyes. 
 
 302
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 303 
 
 " I fear it has been a most distressing journey 
 to which the whim of an o'erfoolish maid sum- 
 moned you," she was saying. " But I did not 
 know the weather " 
 
 Amazement had leaped to her eyes, and a 
 wave of red rushed to her cheeks as her gaze fixed 
 on my face. Then the color faded and the deathly 
 whiteness of marble was in her face. There was 
 a sudden gasp deep in her throat and her body 
 swayed. 
 
 " Saint George! What ails you, child? " cried 
 Colburn, springing forward and catching her 
 arm. "A sudden illness? Let me summon the 
 ladies." 
 
 " No, no, Captain! " The words were husky, 
 but her body no longer swayed. " It is it is 
 why cannot a bride affect a swoon without 
 the house being aroused? " The wraith of a smile 
 came to her lips and she turned her gaze from 
 me to the grenadier. 
 
 " Affect? There's not another maid in all the 
 Colonies would have come out of that without a 
 pillbag fussing over her." 
 
 " You English have an ever ready stock of 
 compliments, Captain. I am beholden to you." 
 
 " And you double my amazement and admira- 
 tion by your clever play of words, which any man
 
 3o 4 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 with the brains of a lout can see are but skirmishes 
 to enable you to rally your forces. Mistress, your 
 fettered slave." And the gallant fellow swept her 
 a courteous bow. " Were it a century earlier I 
 would duel the Prince for your smile." 
 
 " Command of self is most commendable in 
 maid or man," spake I. 
 
 Her eyes came back to mine and for a few 
 breaths I stood looking into their depths, trying 
 to read my fate. A word from her and I was 
 doomed. I saw the amazement and bewilderment 
 slowly fade, and in their stead came a cold hauteur 
 with the old, proud poise of the head. Then she 
 spoke. 
 
 " 'Tis very true, ah, reverend sir, that both 
 maids and men sometimes are guilty of most 
 detestable actions." There was no mistaking the 
 import of her words. 
 
 " Oh, my dear lady," cried Colburn, " you 
 quite mistake the Parson's meaning, I am sure. 
 He " 
 
 " Pray do not be too heedful of our little ex- 
 change, Captain Colburn," she interrupted. " I 
 attach no special significance to Reverend Collen- 
 baugh's remark and I am very certain that he 
 did not in the slightest misunderstand my mean- 
 ing er did you, Reverend Collenbaugh? "
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 305 
 
 She turned her eyes to me again and the 
 mockery I saw playing there sent the blood to 
 my cheeks. 
 
 " Not in the slightest degree," I replied, with 
 a feeling that I was being humiliated. 
 
 There was a knock at the doorway and Erasmus 
 entered. 
 
 " 'Scuse me, but a sojer down-stairs done ask 
 me ter say dat de Cap'n of de Guard was wanted 
 below." 
 
 " Tell them I'll be down at once," said Colburn. 
 
 I saw the girl watching the darky closely and 
 divined that she was seeking to detect any sign 
 of recognition of me. But the old fellow paid not 
 the slightest heed to me, and I thought I saw a 
 faint look of relief come into her eyes, where her 
 emotions always were plainly writ. 
 
 " Duty! Duty! 'Tis a stern master we of the 
 army serve," exclaimed Colburn, but his tone was 
 gay as ever. " 'Tis 
 
 1 A word and a bow to beauty, 
 Then away at the beck of Duty.' " 
 
 " And duty is not always pleasant," I said. 
 " Saint George, no ! Here we have been chasing 
 Washington's men across country and shooting
 
 3 o6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 a few of the rebels now and then because it was 
 our duty, but I'll vow 'twould have been more to 
 my liking to give the poor beggars warm coats 
 and a stomach full of food." 
 
 "May God bless your noble heart!" I ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " And to-night the ragamuffins are freezing 
 and starving just across the Delaware. ' ' He struck 
 the hilt of his sword sharply. " Poor beggars! 
 Poor, wretched beggars! " he said, softly. 
 
 " Aye, they freeze beyond the Delaware while 
 the King's men revel in this!" I stretched 
 out my arms with a gesture that encompassed 
 the comforts and brilliance of the building. 
 
 Gayle Langford said nothing, but, slowly 
 turning away, she sank into a chair. I tried to 
 catch her eyes, but her face was averted, arms 
 resting on the table. 
 
 " And yet, did they but know it, 'twould be 
 easy for the rebels to seize this town. If " 
 
 "Captain Colburn!" cried the girl, facing 
 towards him suddenly, and flinging up one hand 
 with an imperious gesture. " Have a care how 
 you discuss a possible weakness in the presence 
 of a stranger even though he be a clergyman." 
 She shot me a swift glance. 
 
 Colburn laughed easily. " I accept the repri-
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 307 
 
 mand, Mistress Langford, but, in truth, we could 
 put every picket in bed with perfect safety this 
 night, for no army on earth could cross the 
 Delaware in its present condition." 
 
 "But this Washington does he not delight 
 in doing that which the King's officers declare 
 cannot be done? " 
 
 A shadow rested on his face a moment. " There 
 is much of truth in your words, yet he is but 
 human. But I must descend at once or that poor 
 old servant of yours will be climbing the stairs 
 once more after me. I'll warrant those yagers 
 have been cursing monstrously because I have 
 not come." 
 
 He bowed and turned away, but at the door he 
 paused, and looked back. 
 
 " By the way, Mistress Langford, I will seek 
 the Prince and inform him that the clergyman has 
 arrived. 'Twill be a most charming message " 
 
 " No, no, no! " she cried, springing to her feet. 
 " You must not, Captain, you must not! " He 
 looked at her in surprise, and she caught herself. 
 " Tis but a bit of sentiment, Captain, but let me 
 tell my fiance that bit of news. Come, Captain, 
 your promise of silence." 
 
 Her laugh rang blithe, but the marble was in 
 her cheeks.
 
 3 o8 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " My sacred promise," was the grenadier's 
 smiling reply, and then he passed down the 
 stairs. 
 
 We were alone. There was a moment in which 
 no word was spoken, a moment when the rhythmic 
 notes of the hautboys and fiddles seemed throb- 
 bing themselves into my brain. Then she turned 
 to me, and her tone was tense as she asked : 
 
 " Captain Lester, why are you here? " 
 
 Her eyes were burning into mine; the mask 
 she had worn had fallen away, and instead of 
 the laugh that had burst from her lips there was 
 something akin to a sob in her voice. For a few 
 heart-beats the danger was forgotten and I felt 
 only the thrill of her presence, of being near her; 
 and if I had confessed to myself on the other side 
 of the Delaware that I loved her, with what a 
 mighty sweep was it flooding my heart now with 
 her before me in all her warm, pulsating beauty, 
 and with the events of this evening revealing 
 new beauties of her character! Small wonder 
 was it if I stood dumb. 
 
 " Why, please? " she repeated. 
 
 " I came for your sake! " I said, and the fervor 
 of my words sent a bit of color to her face. 
 
 " A riddle, sir. For my sake? " 
 
 " Aye, for your sake. I have taken my life in
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 3 9 
 
 my hand that I might save you from this mon- 
 strous sacrifice! " 
 
 There was a faint gasp, a quick intaking of her 
 breath. Then her eyes showed naught but the 
 coldness of winter. 
 
 " Enough of this masquerade," she said. 
 " Doubtless you have gained all of the informa- 
 tion you sought. You have now an opportunity 
 for escape. Take it and go at once. I have not 
 forgotten that I owe you much, else I could not 
 permit the escape of a spy! " 
 
 The red burned in my cheeks at this. ' You 
 mistake. I am not here as a spy, though I left 
 camp on a scout." 
 
 " A ' scout ' in the enemy's lines in disguise? " 
 There was a world of scorn in her tones. 
 
 "I met Collenbaugh on the road a pistol- 
 muzzle under his nose and he traded me this garb 
 for my uniform. God, it was the only way! He 
 was coming here to bind you in marriage to : 
 
 " To one I promised to wed." 
 
 " Doubtless, but whom you do not love. You 
 cannot love him. You would never wed such as 
 he save " 
 
 " Silence, sir! Have done with these insults. 
 There may yet be time for you to escape." 
 
 " And though he donned a stolen uniform and
 
 310 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 left you to the protection of a stranger that July 
 night, you still would wed him? " 
 
 It seemed to me a slight shiver passed over her. 
 
 " The Prince is not ever ready to brawl, 'tis 
 true, like some but - 
 
 " I have not brawled except to resent insults 
 to to " 
 
 I hesitated, seeing whither my sudden exas- 
 peration had led me. 
 
 " To some tavern maid. Doubtless the seeking 
 of her smiles by another was ample cause for it 
 all." 
 
 She sank down into the chair again, and I 
 stood looking at her dumbly. 
 
 " I confess, Captain, that quite unintentionally 
 I overheard Major Wilmoth's words that day in 
 the farmhouse when he ministered to your broken 
 head. I chanced Ah, please come in, mother. 
 The bride-elect is quite deserted." 
 
 She had risen suddenly to her feet and was 
 holding out her hands to some one behind her. 
 I heard the swish of skirts, and, turning, saw Mrs. 
 Langford entering the room. 
 
 " Let me present Reverend Collenbaugh, 
 mother." 
 
 The elder lady surveyed me critically through 
 her lorgnette, after a stately acknowledgment,
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 311 
 
 and I wondered if she would recognize the reckless 
 courier who had thrown the banquet into a 
 turmoil. 
 
 " There is something about your features that 
 seems familiar, sir," she said. 
 
 " A fact not altogether singular," I replied. 
 " Utter strangers have often impressed me thus." 
 
 " It seems that I have certainly seen you 
 somewhere," she persisted. 
 
 " No doubt in our drives about Philadelphia," 
 said the girl. " You have often been there, have 
 you not, Mr. Collenbaugh? " 
 
 " I have been there," I replied. 
 
 " Where is the Prince? " asked Mrs. Langford, 
 turning to the girl. 
 
 " Doubtless, below stairs with Colonel Rahl. I 
 have not seen him since candle-light." 
 
 " The dear fellow is such a favorite with the 
 officers," said the old dame to me, cooingly. 
 " They insist on his being with them every 
 possible moment, for now that nothing remains 
 of this sinful revolution but a few ragged adven- 
 turers beyond the Delaware, the Prince expects 
 to return to his estates soon after the wedding." 
 
 " And of course you will accompany them? " 
 There was a question in my tone. 
 
 " Yes yes, I suppose so. The dear Prince
 
 3 i2 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 insisted that the wedding be celebrated here at 
 once, so he could arrange to return. Of course, 
 it is just a little soon after after Mr. Lang- 
 ford's death but the Prince is so devoted to 
 my daughter and it will be a very simple 
 affair and Gayle loves the Prince so well! " 
 
 " Tis proper enough," I said, but my eyes were 
 on the girl, whose face was averted. 
 
 " O dear me, I am sure it is or I should never 
 have consented to the dear Prince's importuni- 
 ties," replied the mother, grandly, and I found 
 myself smiling at the remembrance of what the 
 Captain of the Guard had said about her lolling 
 the title on her tongue. 
 
 The girl walked slowly to the window and stood 
 leaning on the casement, looking out at the 
 blinding whirl of snow. She kept her face well 
 from me, but there was naught of joy and blissful 
 anticipation in her attitude. Rather was it the 
 air of one who had nerved herself to the meeting 
 of a certain crisis, and who would not harbor a 
 thought to the contrary. The mother glanced 
 towards her, and then, leaning towards me, said 
 in a low tone: 
 
 " And you know that a mother must always 
 protect her daughter against youthful follies. 
 Sometimes romance blinds a maid to ah her
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 313 
 
 real love and ah interests. Gayle loves the 
 Prince very dearly, but a dashing young rebel 
 officer did her a ah great service some 
 months ago, and she was really a bit distant to 
 the dear Prince for a few weeks. But she came to 
 see that I was right in my counsels, my mother's 
 love, you know, and soon she had quite for- 
 gotten the rebel and was willing to grant the dear 
 Prince's plea for an early marriage. Do you not 
 think I was right in my ah counsels, 
 Reverend Collenbaugh? " 
 
 " A mother who pleads for her daughter's best 
 interests is always to be commended," I replied, 
 bowing. 
 
 " Oh, I knew you would say I did right," she 
 exclaimed eagerly, though, in truth, I had said 
 nothing of the kind, as you will agree. 
 
 " I must see to other duties now. Tis less than 
 an hour until the ceremony, a very trying ordeal 
 for a maid. My daughter may become ah 
 nervous, you know, and ah I am sure you 
 will advise her rightly should she ah say 
 aught to you." 
 
 " Of that you maybe assured," I replied, but 
 the sarcasm of my speech was not caught. 
 
 She cooed her thanks and then swept from the 
 room, after a hesitating look towards the girl at
 
 314 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 the window. I sank into the chair by the table 
 and put one hand to my throbbing temples. I 
 had been right. 'Twas a sacrifice, a cruel sacrifice, 
 Gayle Langford was making of herself on the 
 altar of her mother's ambition and the mother 
 herself, now that the ceremony was about to be 
 consummated, was feeling a faint twinge of 
 conscience, hence her appeal to the pretended 
 clergyman for endorsement. And in her heart 
 was a fear that the girl might falter at the last 
 moment and cry out to the minister. But another 
 thought jerked me out of the chair, and set me 
 to pacing the room. Gayle Langford sped across 
 the room and confronted me. 
 
 " Captain Lester," she said, " how long do you 
 expect to remain here? Surely, you do not plan 
 to perform a ceremony that will be a mock- 
 ery! " 
 
 "No, there will be no wedding to-night! " 
 " You presume too far, sir. Am I to permit 
 you to stop my wedding simply because you once 
 saved me from a pack of your rebel wolves? I 
 have offered you an opportunity to escape. I 
 offer it again. Go at once before Rahl and his 
 officers ascend the stairs. I shall summon an 
 army chaplain and have the marriage proceed in 
 spite of your interference."
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 315 
 
 " You would marry that poltroon in spite of 
 all? " I asked, thoroughly exasperated. 
 
 " Tis wondrous brave to insult a man in his 
 absence! " There was a scorn in her voice that 
 stung me. 
 
 " Summon him, then, and if it be that he has 
 the courage to resent an insult I will save you 
 from this marriage." 
 
 " What mean you? " The words were but little 
 more than a gasp. 
 
 " That I am the better swordsman, and a 
 thrust will avenge me and save you." 
 
 She darted to the doorway, and then faced me 
 again. 
 
 " This one last chance I offer you! " she cried. 
 " Go now or I call the guard! " 
 
 I folded my arms. " I am waiting your call," 
 I replied. 
 
 There was a moment's hesitation, and in that 
 moment a prodigious babble of voices came to 
 us from below, there were a few sharp words of 
 command, and the hubbub ceased. Then we heard 
 a heavy step on the stairs. With a startled look 
 on her face the girl retreated from the doorway, 
 but I breathed more freely when I saw the 
 Captain of the Guard approaching. He turned 
 his eyes on me with a searching look.
 
 3i6 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " A most extraordinary incident, Parson," he 
 said. " The guards have brought in a fellow in 
 a ragged rebel uniform, and, by the flesh of the 
 devil, he was crazy enough to swear he was Rev- 
 erend Collenbaugh, that he had been robbed of his 
 clothes, and had by rare good luck found a 
 countryman coming this way, with whom he 
 rode to the town. Twas a rambling tale of 
 pistols, vacant cabins, and bandits." 
 
 " I trust that you dealt gently with the poor 
 fellow," I replied piously. " He must, indeed, 
 be sadly deranged." 
 
 ' Yes, to be sure. You know there can be but 
 one Reverend Collenbaugh. I confess I have not 
 known the clergy as intimately as my soul's welfare 
 demands, but I picked you to be the real parson." 
 He laughed merrily. " What think you, Mistress 
 Langford? " he asked. 
 
 " I am able to answer positively to this gentle- 
 man's identity, for I find that we have known 
 each other before to-night." 
 
 She smiled sweetly and the officer seized a 
 conclusion. 
 
 " Then all doubt is removed. Parson, you are 
 fortunate, for I confess that had she not known 
 you some embarrassment might have resulted." 
 
 " We certainly have known each other before
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 317 
 
 to-night, Captain," I responded. " May I sug- 
 gest a comfortable nook in the guard-house for 
 the other man? No doubt he is demented, and, 
 having heard of my mission, he ah, I have it! 
 Is he a man much of my build, with an inclina- 
 tion to baldness that should be covered by a wig, 
 and with one finger of his left hand gone at the 
 knuckle? " I described the real Collenbaugh. 
 
 " Those very things I noticed," replied Colburn. 
 
 " I thought as much. I remember pausing at 
 a farmhouse to warm myself, and the poor fellow 
 who was my host was most inquisitive as to my 
 journey. It came to me then that his mind was 
 not right. Guard him and care for him properly, 
 I pray you, for he has done no wrong." 
 
 " Have no fear. You ministers are too tender- 
 hearted for these days of war. I cannot tarry 
 longer, as 'tis time for the changing of the 
 guard." 
 
 Gayle Langford and I stood looking into each 
 other's eyes after he had left us. I was the first 
 to speak. 
 
 " It was good of you," I said. 
 
 " Oh, I beg of you to go. 'Tis not possible your 
 masquerade can long be successful. Why will you 
 not heed my words? Why will you not? " 
 
 No longer was she the haughty, imperious one,
 
 3 i8 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 but a pleading, beseeching maid near to tears, 
 and with a suspicion of a sob in her throat. 
 
 " Mayhap you are right, that I should go. 
 But 'tis not the danger that prompts the words. 
 It and I have been companions during many bitter 
 months. Tore God, Mistress Gayle I came 
 but in the hope of in some way saving you from 
 this marriage, and even now I would remain and 
 give my life if need be to prevent a sacrifice, but 
 you have declared that you will wed the Prince 
 in spite of my efforts, and so I will bid you 
 farewell." 
 
 Her hands were clasped, and her head had 
 dropped as I spoke, but now she raised her eyes 
 and I saw tears trembling on the long lashes. 
 The wail of the fiddles and hautboys had begun 
 again in a sadly sweet strain. 
 
 " Farewell? Tis a sad word, Captain, but - 
 yes, I know 'tis well chosen. It must, indeed, 
 be farewell. I am grateful you do not know 
 how grateful but I want you to remember me 
 as happy in my marriage." 
 
 " Happy? 'Tis the one word that bids me go. 
 Should I tarry longer 'twould be but selfishness 
 prompting." 
 
 " Selfishness f " 
 
 " Aye, girl. Need the words be spoken to tell
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 319 
 
 you that I love you, that I came hoping to bear 
 you away from here where, I hardly knew? 
 I knew only that I felt you were needing a strong 
 arm, and so I came, trusting that I might serve 
 you. I was wrong in it all and so 'tis farewell." 
 
 " You love me? " she asked, and there was a 
 light, a baffling light, behind the tears in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " Love you? I " Something choked in 
 my throat, and my hands clenched until the nails 
 cut into the palms. 
 
 " I am truly sorry," she said. " You have 
 done so much " 
 
 " No, no, no! What I have done was but 
 trifling compared to this! " 
 
 I thrust my hand into my shirt front and drew 
 out a blood-stained kerchief, which I pressed to 
 my lips. 
 
 " And in a dim hallway some one fought to the 
 death for me." 
 
 There was a half -smothered cry, and a wave of 
 red suffused her face. 
 
 " Could you see " She paused in confusion. 
 
 "All the attack and retreat. And later I 
 found the blade and the clothes." 
 
 " You must forget it! Indeed, you must! Oh, 
 the shame of it! "
 
 320 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Oh, the glory of it! " I cried. 
 
 " But you must not delay. You can go forth 
 now unmolested. If you will have it so, our 
 debts to each other are paid. Captain, farewell." 
 
 She reached out one dainty hand, and I, great, 
 rough fellow, seized it and bent low over it, 
 kissing the soft fingers much too fervidly. And 
 when I turned away the candles were dancing 
 unsteadily through the mist that blurred my eyes. 
 
 But a voice in the hallway below brought a 
 faint cry from the girl, and I paused, for well I 
 knew those tones that were raised in the lilt of 
 some German ballad. 
 
 "The Prince is coming!" Her words were 
 heavy with despair. 
 
 " Have no fear," I said, the scent of danger 
 fetching a smile to my lips, for in my present 
 mood I would have welcomed action. 
 
 " Your disguise will not deceive him." 
 
 " Then I can fight," I replied. 
 
 " No, you must not." The singer was at the 
 bottom of the stairs. " You must hide! " 
 
 " 'Tis a poor word for a soldier to learn, I 
 pledge you." 
 
 " But for my sake! " The singer was ascending 
 the stairs. " You will for my sake? " 
 
 The struggle with my pride was sharp but
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 321 
 
 short. " You know you have but to command," 
 I said. " I have run and dodged for you before. 
 So will I now. Where? " 
 
 She had run to the doorway and looked hurriedly 
 about. She faced me with cheeks of marble. 
 
 " There is not where " She paused; then 
 darting across the room, she jerked back the 
 heavy curtains and revealed to me a daintily 
 furnished bedroom. "Yes! Inhere! Quickly!" 
 
 " But they will search. I will be caught in a 
 trap. Better had I fight now! " 
 
 " No, no! They will not dare to search here ! " 
 The scarlet was flaming in her cheeks again. 
 "It is my sleeping-room." The singer was 
 nearing the landing. " For my sake! " she 
 whispered, and I plunged into the room, the cur- 
 tains fell, and I was in gloom. And there I stood, 
 listening to what took place beyond the curtains. 
 
 " Ah, did you, indeed, think your bride entitled 
 to a moment of your time? " The question was 
 in a playful, chaffing tone. 
 
 " Every moment has my heart been with you, 
 my promised one," replied the Prince, his English 
 smooth. 
 
 If I could but see! But how simple. I smiled 
 as I cautiously pulled back one edge of the curtain. 
 She had stepped towards the Prince, who had
 
 322 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 paused to bow to her. How well he looked in 
 his rich crimson satins, with immaculately white 
 cuffs of lace, and a waistcoat of purest white silk! 
 
 " Every moment? Then pardon must be 
 yours." 
 
 She laughed gaily, and I felt my heart throb 
 with admiration. What a superb woman she was ! 
 
 " Pardon? And nothing more? May I not 
 have your lips, my beloved? " 
 
 He stretched out his arms, and 'twas well that 
 he was not watching the curtain, for a man behind 
 it clenched his hands so suddenly that the curtain 
 was swayed violently. 
 
 " No, no! " she cried, springing aside. " That 
 must not be until I am your wife." 
 
 I looked at the Prince, and the flush in his 
 cheeks told me the story of the wine-cup. A 
 frown rested on his brow a moment, and then he 
 laughed. 
 
 " Ach, well, 'tis not long I must wait." Then 
 he looked about the room. " Your dear mother 
 told me the minister was here." 
 
 "Oh, then you did not meet him on the stair- 
 way, did you? " 
 
 " On the stairway? I met no one. Where did 
 he go? " 
 
 " He did not tell me where he was going, and I
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 323 
 
 did not notice him after he left this room, but I 
 know he started towards the stairs." 
 
 " Soon he will return, and I am granted a few 
 moments with you alone until then." 
 
 She sank into a chair and he seated himself 
 close by, and they fell to discussing their plans 
 for the future. God's love! Imagine standing 
 still as a mouse and hearing another man telling 
 the girl you love of the plans he has made for 
 wedding her and taking her to foreign shores! 
 The girl had seated herself facing the curtains, 
 and from the pallor in her cheeks and the uneasy 
 looks she shot to the curtains at intervals I knew 
 that she was fearing the very thing that was in 
 my heart a fury that bade me throw aside the 
 curtains and hurl myself at his throat. But the 
 Langford eyes were ever eloquent and I read the 
 plea in them. So I stood silent and smothered 
 the flames within me. 
 
 Presently, there was a rustle of silks, and the 
 mother entered. Where was the minister? He 
 had left the room but a few minutes before. The 
 old dame tapped the floor nervously with her 
 foot and glanced sharply at the girl, evidently 
 suspecting that she had conspired to delay the 
 wedding, for I well knew that the mother would 
 know no peace until Gayle Langford was a prin-
 
 324 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 cess. A few more minutes and a burst of laughter 
 and a chatter of voices announced the coming of 
 the guests. I watched them enter, several officers 
 in all of the glitter and conceit of the British and 
 Hessian uniforms, and a few ladies with brocades 
 and silks and towering head-dresses. The 
 musicians assembled in the hallway and all was 
 ready for the wedding all save the clergyman 
 who was to pronounce the ceremony. Gayle 
 Langford moved about among her guests infor- 
 mally, chatting, laughing, never a serious look 
 on her face, but ever she managed to hover close 
 to the curtains, and, at intervals, I could see her 
 flash a glance towards them. 
 
 The hour for the ceremony passed, and Mrs. 
 Langford was near to hysterics at the absence of 
 Collenbaugh. The Captain of the Guard was 
 appealed to, and with clanking sword strode here 
 and there, questioning, searching, while the others 
 of the party promenaded in the hallway. Finally 
 Colburn came back into the room and marched 
 directly towards the room where I stood, but 
 Gayle Langford, wary and watchful, turned, 
 laughing, from the Prince's side and glided in 
 front of the officer, laying her hand gently on his 
 arm. 
 
 " Not that room, please, Captain," she whis-
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 325 
 
 pered, and smiled up into his face, the color once 
 more mounting to her own cheeks. " Tis my 
 sleeping-room." 
 
 " And, therefore, most sacred," he responded, 
 facing about. 
 
 There was a babble of voices again when the 
 Captain of the Guard announced that the minister 
 was not to be found. The guard had been changed 
 but recently, and therefore it could not be learned 
 when he had left the house. Mrs. Langford 
 sought the consolation of tears, and begged her 
 daughter to accept the services of an army 
 chaplain. 
 
 " I will not this night," she declared. " Colonel 
 Rahl's wine-flasks have been too seductive. Per- 
 haps Reverend Collenbaugh may return. If not 
 then the chaplain at noon to-morrow, providing 
 he is sober." 
 
 I smiled grimly at this, for I hoped that by 
 noon on the morrow the Continental army would 
 be masters in Trenton. 
 
 Then the musicians were ordered back to their 
 former stations, and soon the gaieties below were 
 claiming attention. Mrs. Langford had been 
 taken in charge by the other women, who vowed 
 that she needed amusement, and the Prince was 
 led away by Rahl, who locked arms with him
 
 326 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 and swore that he must go below and sing them 
 a jolly song. Gayle Langford alone remained, 
 promising to join them presently. 
 
 As the last one descended the stairs the girl's 
 laugh died on her lips, and, turning, she almost 
 staggered back to a chair. Thrusting aside the 
 curtains, I was kneeling at her side in an instant 
 and pressing a fold of her garments to my lips. 
 
 " It was magnificent," I said, hoarsely. 
 
 " Please do not kneel there," she replied, 
 wearily. " I want only that you should escape 
 now." 
 
 " 'Twill be most easy to dupe the guards out- 
 side if you can make sure that none of the officers 
 are about the lower hallway." 
 
 " That will I do at once." 
 
 She arose and went to the stairway, I following 
 close behind. Half-way down, she leaned over 
 the banister rail, and after looking carefully 
 about, turned to me. 
 
 " Your chance," she said, and I ran lightly 
 down the stairs to where she stood. Then I 
 paused, looking down into her face. Her eyes 
 dropped, and she gave me her hand. 
 
 " It is farewell," she whispered. 
 
 I kissed the tips of her fingers. " It may prove 
 so, and it may not," I replied, thinking of the
 
 A MATCHLESS MAID 327 
 
 ragged battalions probably battling with the 
 Delaware at that moment. 
 
 I hurried down the stairs, but at the door I 
 looked back. She was standing where I had left 
 her, clutching the banister with both hands, and 
 for one brief instant her eyes burned into mine. 
 Then I flung open the door and stepped boldly 
 forth into the world without.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 " TOOK KEER o' HER BOY " 
 
 HARDLY had I closed the door behind me 
 when I found a Hessian soldier confront- 
 ing me. 
 
 " Ach, Gott ! Is it not the preacher man they 
 have been howling for? " he asked, in wretched 
 English. 
 
 " Yes," I answered, " but I was lying down 
 asleep in a quiet place. I sat up late last night 
 with a man who may not live to see another sun 
 set." 
 
 In truth, I had done that very thing. 'Twas 
 Boyd and who could tell who would be living 
 and who dead after the coming battle? 
 
 " Well, I was told to watch for this preacher, 
 but as you are coming out and not going in, of 
 course it's all right." 
 
 " Of course," I said. " It's a bad night and I 
 have some leagues to cover. Br-r-r ! Good night. ' ' 
 
 Without waiting for him to reply, I strode 
 328
 
 "TOOK KEER O' HER BOY" 329 
 
 away, fearful that some of the officers would be 
 leaving the headquarters. The storm was in- 
 creasing in violence and a strong north wind 
 struck chill to the marrow of my bones. I soon 
 reached the spot where I had tied my horse, and 
 was rejoiced at finding the animal still there, 
 though the poor beast was pawing, and tugging 
 at the bridle in an effort to break loose. My 
 pistols were dry, and in a moment I was in the 
 saddle, my spirits bounding, for now I was quite 
 ready to take my chances in a quick dash and a 
 sudden firing if danger threatened. 
 
 Down the street I rode, my cloak wrapped 
 closely about me, strains of music coming to me 
 from the headquarters. The paper I had stolen 
 from Collenbaugh passed me by the pickets 
 without trouble, and soon I was away from the 
 town and pounding along the country road. It 
 was a hard journey that Christmas night, and I 
 knew that stern work lay ahead of me before I 
 was to know rest. I passed the deserted cabin 
 where I had traded clothes with Collenbaugh, 
 but well I knew that the unhappy clergyman was 
 at that moment under guard in Trenton. Every 
 moment I expected to meet the advance-guard 
 of Washington's Continentals, and my heart grew 
 heavier as mile after mile was passed and no sign
 
 330 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 of them. But I found them at last, a shivering, 
 suffering handful, crouched on the Jersey shore 
 awaiting the coming of their comrades, who were 
 crossing the river as rapidly as possible. 
 
 Seeking the Chief, I made my report, omitting 
 any recital of the events that had befallen me in 
 Rahl's headquarters. 
 
 The hours dragged by, the flat boats rilled with 
 soldiers having perilous voyages, and dawn was 
 not many hours away when all of the little army 
 were mustered on the Jersey shore, and then in 
 two divisions and by separate roads we began our 
 march on Trenton. In the unloading of artillery 
 from the hay barges, a captain had suffered a 
 broken leg, and it was ordered that he be taken 
 to the farmhouse near by for shelter. This gave 
 me the chance I had been wanting, and with a 
 few words of explanation I secured his uniform 
 in exchange for Collenbaugh's sombre garments. 
 
 Boyd sought my side. " Lester," he said, 
 " mayhap there's a Hessian bullet in yon village 
 awaiting me. If you come back and I do 
 not you will see Mary Wilmoth and tell 
 her " 
 
 " Aye, comrade, fear not but that the maid 
 shall learn that the thought of her stoutened the 
 heart of a soldier to the very last."
 
 'TOOK KEER O> HER BOY" 331 
 
 " And you, Lester; if you fall 
 
 " I have a great-uncle somewhere up Boston 
 way. You might tell him. Doubtless 'twill please 
 him that I escaped being hanged." 
 
 " Tis a poor hour for a jest," said he, re- 
 proachfully. 
 
 " God's mercy! I remember of no hour that 
 needed jest more than this," I answered, lightly. 
 
 " But is there no one to to care? " 
 
 " None." 
 
 I saw him look at me as though about to speak, 
 but no word passed his lips and we went forward 
 in silence after that. The snow had about half 
 turned to sleet and increased the misery of the 
 plodding soldiers. 
 
 'Twas broad day when we halted a moment at 
 the outskirts of Trenton. Then a report from 
 General Sullivan that he was ready to strike on 
 the other side of the town, and we went forward, 
 soon being greeted by the sound of skirmish 
 firing from beyond. It put life and warmth into 
 the chilled bodies, and soon our own division was 
 cheering merrily as we fought. Rahl tried des- 
 perately to rally his men and turn the tide of 
 battle that had turned against him at the first 
 volley, but he could not. 
 
 A Continental battery was dragged past me
 
 332 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 and I saw the gunners training it on the building 
 where but a few hours before the fiddles and the 
 hautboys had made merry music. 
 
 "Don't fire; for God's sake, don't fire!" I 
 shouted, throwing myself across the cannon. 
 
 "What ails the man?" exclaimed the com- 
 mander. 
 
 " There are women there in that house 
 the soldiers are in the streets! " I cried. 
 
 The muzzle was swung to one side and soon 
 the gun was roaring. But little more than half 
 an hour of bloody work, and word came that Rahl 
 had struck his colors, and when the Hessian 
 gave up his sword 'twas seen that his life would 
 also soon be given up, for a wound in his breast 
 was drenching his brilliant uniform with blood. 
 
 I made my way to the headquarters. No 
 longer were cannons standing in front of the 
 building. Here and there lay men to whom the 
 struggle meant nothing further. Marks of bullets 
 were plainly to be seen on the house, and a dread 
 was upon me as I rushed up to the door. In the 
 hallway I came face to face with old Erasmus. 
 
 " Glory be ter God! " he exclaimed. " Hyar's 
 little Marse Ian! Glory be ter God! " And his 
 black arms went about me in an embrace of 
 unfaltering love.
 
 'TOOK KEER O' HER BOY' 1 333 
 
 " The Langfords, Rassle, what of them? " 
 
 " Dey's safe, suh, but deol' Missus she might' 
 nigh skeered ter death, but, lawsee! Missy 
 Gayle, she order de ol' Missus an' de oder women 
 eroun' like er gin'ral, an' neber a squawk from 
 her." 
 
 " And Mistress Gayle, where is she now? " 
 
 " She is here! " called a voice from the stair- 
 way. " I presume we are all prisoners. Have 
 you shackles ready? " 
 
 There stood the little Tory, looking down at 
 me, contempt plainly writ on her face. 
 
 " Prisoners for the present, I presume," I 
 replied, bowing. " But my query was given 
 voice only by my anxiety for your safety." 
 
 She made me a deep curtsy. " Most gracious 
 of you, Captain, or should I say Reverend sir ? " 
 
 " Naught care I. Just so your mockery puts 
 pleasure into your heart." 
 
 I turned on my heel, and, with chin high, 
 marched into the adjoining room. The windows 
 had been shattered by stray bullets and 'twas 
 most dismal and cold there, the wind sweeping 
 in with but slight hindrance. Erasmus had 
 followed at my heels. 
 
 " Marse Ian," he said, catching my hand, 
 " don' yer eber fergit dat dar's a God in heben.
 
 334 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Don' yer eber fergit. When dem guns gin ter 
 racket an' de bullets was er singin' dem death- 
 songs ol' Rassle flopped right down on his knees 
 an' pray fer you. An' de louder dem cannons 
 boomed de harder ol' Rassle pray fer de Lord ter 
 push de bullets away from you. Marse Ian, yer 
 ort ter learn ter pray." 
 
 I looked at the faithful old fellow a moment, 
 and the tears I saw in his eyes as he pleaded 
 softened my heart, which was hard and bitter 
 enough at that moment. 
 
 " Well, Rassle, I believe you are right. I 
 haven't been to my knees since since I was a 
 boy. I always prayed then, Rassle with my 
 mother." 
 
 " Yes, 'deed you did, Marse Ian, I done 'member, 
 an' bless de Lord you 'member." 
 
 A groan of agony startled me, and, wheeling 
 quickly, I peered into a dim corner of the room, 
 where I saw lying on the floor a form in the uni- 
 form of a Hessian officer. The form moved, and 
 as I stepped forward the wounded man raised on 
 one elbow. 
 
 " Erasmus! Come here at once, sir! " 
 
 'Twas the voice of Gayle Langford, and in- 
 voluntarily I paused and looked towards the 
 doorway.
 
 "On, GOD! LOOK OUT, MARSE IAX ! " Page 335.
 
 "TOOK KEER O' HER BOY" 335 
 
 " Yes, Missy, I'se comin' dis minute. I'se - 
 Oh, God! Look out, Marse Ian! " 
 
 To my astonishment I saw the darky throw 
 himself towards me with outstretched arms. 
 Almost at the same instant came the report of 
 a pistol, and with a horrible scream Erasmus 
 spun around, clutching at his breast, and then 
 plunged heavily to the floor. A puff of smoke 
 was floating from the corner where the wounded 
 Hessian lay, and clutched in his hand I saw a 
 pistol. 
 
 " Damn you for an assassin! " 
 
 My pistol came from its holster with a jerk; 
 my eye glanced along the barrel, but as the 
 sights covered his brain-pan the finger that was 
 curving about the trigger faltered in its pressure, 
 for I had recognized the blood-streaked features 
 of the Prince. 
 
 " I can't kill you / " I muttered, lowering my 
 weapon. But with a spring I was at his side and 
 had kicked the pistol from his hand. A hasty 
 search proved that he had no other weapon, and 
 as he fell back on the floor, mumbling a plea for 
 mercy, I turned to old Erasmus. He opened his 
 eyes as I knelt at his side. 
 
 " Marse Ian, yer ain't hurt ? " he gasped. 
 
 " No, no. You you caught the bullet."
 
 336 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 In truth, I could speak but little better than 
 he, for the sobs were choking me. A glance had 
 told my experienced eye that Erasmus had 
 given his life for mine. There was a scurry of 
 feet on the stairway, a rustle of skirts, and Gayle 
 Langford stood in the doorway, her face pale. 
 
 " What wretched thing has happened now? " 
 she cried. 
 
 " Your servant has been wounded," I replied. 
 " You must not come in here." 
 
 " Who has done this? I must help him! " 
 
 She darted forward, but I rose and laid my 
 hand on her shoulder, keeping my body between 
 her and the corner where the murderer lay. 
 
 " Run and prepare a bed. I will carry him to it. 
 Quick! It is cold here." 
 
 There was an instant's hesitation, and then 
 she turned and ran out of the room. I knelt 
 again by the darky. 
 
 " It ain't cold Marse Ian. Ain't de 
 wind from de Souf ? What? You'se gwine 
 ter pack oF Rassle? " 
 
 I had gathered him up in my arms and was 
 starting for the stairway when an officer with a 
 file of men appeared at the outer door. A few 
 words, and one of the men was assisting me with 
 my burden, while the others made the Prince a
 
 "TOOK KEER O' HER BOY" 337 
 
 prisoner. We laid our burden on the bed the girl 
 had ready, and she set to work to stanch the 
 blood that gushed from a wound in his breast. 
 I knew that 'twas impossible to secure a surgeon's 
 aid that early after the battle, and I also knew 
 that no human being could defeat death in this 
 struggle. I forced rum between his lips, and he 
 rallied for a moment. 
 
 " Marse Ian don' fergit when yer prayed. 
 It was how come it? dis ain't Marse 
 Ian. It Marse Soldier! How yes ol' Rassle 
 
 done remember now. It why dar's de 
 sweet ol' Missus an' she smilin' an' smilin' 
 yes I done take keer o' yer boy ! Ol' Rassle 
 
 done take keer o' yer boy! " 
 
 He closed his eyes again and for a moment lay 
 quite still, a moment in which there was no 
 sound save the sobs of a girl who was kneeling 
 with me beside this humble bit of clay from which 
 the life God had breathed into it was slowly 
 leaving. 
 
 " Yes, dear old friend," I said, huskily, holding 
 his hand tightly in my own. " You have taken 
 care of her boy. You have died for her boy! " 
 
 Gayle Langford looked at me in surprise. 
 Then I saw that the truth was dawning on her. 
 
 " You ? " she asked, and I nodded.
 
 338 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Aye, he was in my father's family until 
 hush! " His eyes had opened once more, but in 
 their stare there was no light of the present. 
 His hands were outstretched feebly. 
 
 "Come hyar li'l Marse Ian ol' Rassle 
 gwine ter gib yer a ride dar! on my back! 
 Te, he, he!- See de Missus smilin'--Oh, 
 Lord, it cain't be it cain't de ol' Marster 
 dead on de Eagle" The girl buried her face 
 in the pillow. The dying man's arms swayed to 
 and fro. "Listen! Marse Ian I hear de 
 sweet ol' Missus er singin' singin' -- an* de 
 twilight done come. Yes right dar's whar 
 she's sleepin' right un'erneath dem sweet 
 roses what ol' Rassle plant. She's what? 
 Marse Soldier Ian don' go ter Langford's. 
 Dey hates dat uniform. Yes de ol' Mis- 
 sus smilin' at Rassle fer he he done take 
 keer her boy ! Marse Ian - 
 
 The wrinkled hand dropped at his side, there 
 was a tremble of his lips and then he lay very still. 
 Like a schoolboy I sobbed out my grief and wet 
 the calm, dead face with my tears. The girl 
 arose and went to the window and stood there, 
 until I had straightened the old form and drawn 
 a sheet over it. 
 
 " Who did this thing? " she asked, turning to me.
 
 "TOOK KEER O' HER BOY" 339 
 
 " A wounded Hessian," I replied, after a pause 
 in which conflicting impulses rioted in my brain. 
 " The bullet was aimed for my heart. Erasmus 
 offered his. You had better seek your own room," 
 I added. 
 
 "Have you seen or heard aught of the 
 Prince? " she asked. 
 
 " I saw him a prisoner." 
 
 For a few breaths there was silence ; then I led 
 her to the door, and, with a slight bow, she left 
 me. 
 
 Seeking General Washington, I obtained per- 
 mission to bury the body of Erasmus, and at mid- 
 day a squad of my men lowered the black body 
 into the grave, but the soul, fair as a lily, was 
 beyond the skies. As the rude box rested in the 
 bottom of the grave, the sergeant looked at me. 
 I caught the look and dropped to my knees 
 in the snow and offered an awkward, fervent 
 prayer. 
 
 Diligently I sought to learn the fate of the 
 Prince, but in vain. There was much confusion. 
 Prisoners were being marched away, and every 
 wagon was being filled with the wounded, while 
 burial details were laying the dead to rest. We 
 were to make a quick retreat back across the 
 Delaware before the enemy could learn of the
 
 340 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 blow and overwhelm us. Dejectedly I stood 
 near headquarters awaiting the order to move, 
 when a sudden commotion in a squad of prisoners 
 attracted my attention. 
 
 " ' How long will ye imagine mischief against 
 a man? Ye shall be slain, all of you: as a bowing 
 wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.' So 
 saith the Psalmist." 
 
 I started with surprise, and stepped closer. 
 There in the group of prisoners stood the Reverend 
 Jonathan Collenbaugh, still wearing my ragged 
 uniform. 
 
 " He's got us puzzled, sir," said the lieutenant 
 in command, responding to my question. " He 
 wears the uniform but swears he is not a soldier, 
 and it's plain that he isn't." 
 
 " ' Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; 
 preserve my life from fear of the enemy.' ' 
 
 The preacher stood among his fellow prisoners, 
 hands clasped in front of him, his eyes uplifted 
 towards the sky, the while the British and Hes- 
 sians eyed him curiously. 
 
 " Probably a bit touched up here, sir," said the 
 lieutenant, tapping his forehead. 
 
 I laughed. " No, the fellow is sane enough. I 
 took his clothes." Without heeding the officer's 
 gasp of astonishment, I turned towards the
 
 "TOOK KEER O' HER BOY" 341 
 
 prisoner. " Collenbaugh! " I called. " Content 
 your mind, for you shall soon be free." 
 
 He stared at me, and then recognition came to 
 him. 
 
 " Thou evil one," he cried, raising one arm 
 appealingly. " Hear the prayer of the Psalmist: 
 ' Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and 
 save me from bloody men! ' 
 
 " Within the hour," I replied. " Your hand- 
 some satins are lost to you, but let your heart be 
 glad, for the wearing of them enabled a man to 
 prevent a crime." 
 
 " Your words are mystery, but there is no 
 thought of raiment in my mind. I like not the 
 company of these men of carnal warfare." 
 
 I tarried not to exchange further words, but 
 hurried to the Chief, where a hasty explanation, 
 that lacked much of explaining all, secured an 
 order for Collenbaugh's release. Already the 
 bugles were sounding, and as I ran back to the 
 group of prisoners the troops were on the move. 
 Thrusting the order into the lieutenant's hands, I 
 hastened to my own troop, now serving as in- 
 fantry, and we took up the march back to the 
 Delaware. Snow had again begun falling, and 
 mercifully spread its mantle over the dark stains 
 born of the battle.
 
 342 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Our march was past Rahl's old headquarters. 
 A little knot of townspeople had gathered there 
 to watch us pass, and my eyes eagerly searched 
 for a mass of copper-tinted hair. She was not 
 there. The wind bit at me cruelly, and the 
 dreariness of it all was sinking deeper; snow 
 slapped me like a taunt. But, God's love! That 
 face at an upper window ! The throb of my heart 
 drove back the increeping wretchedness with a 
 flood of something warm and exultant, the touch 
 of the snow became a caress to my cheek, all 
 because Gayle Langford stood looking down at 
 me. Heigho ! 'Tis a wondrous thing when youth's 
 fires are in the veins. I flashed my blade in 
 salute. There was no response, and once more 
 the march was changed to a weary plod. 
 
 On, on, tramp, tramp! Then youth again 
 conquered pride, and I turned and looked back. 
 Dimly seen through the snowy veil was the 
 mansion and yes, it was true Leaning 
 far out from that upper window was Gayle Lang- 
 ford. And her face was towards me! 
 
 Then a flurry of snow danced between us and 
 the picture was blotted out.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 
 
 BY the mercy of God all bitter things pass 
 away, and so winter's snows finally gave 
 way to spring's sunshine. The birds came 
 back to us, and the gladness of the season was 
 trilled daily from a myriad of tiny throats. The 
 ice had gone from the Delaware, and now when 
 the Continentals voyaged across it the oarsmen 
 lolled lazily at their work, and occasionally paused 
 to idly skip rocks over the waves. The green had 
 crept up into the grass, and from the much- 
 neglected fields came the odor of freshly ploughed 
 ground. In town and country the fruit-trees were 
 carrying a mass of pink and white bloom, and the 
 breath of the late April days was sweet with its 
 fragrance. 
 
 Mary Wilmoth found the awakening of the 
 world to the new season of life so filled with 
 memories of the happiness of the old home that 
 she spent much time walking about the city, 
 
 343
 
 344 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 venturing as far into the outskirts as she deemed 
 prudent, in order that she might revel in the 
 delights Nature was spilling over the countryside 
 Each bird, each blossom, each tree whose branches 
 whispered to the breezes, was as a dear friend to 
 her, and with these as her daily companions she 
 was ever blithe, and looked through the war 
 gloom to the brightness of the sunshine. It was 
 while on one of these rambles, as she told me 
 afterwards, that her attention was attracted by 
 the fluttering of a kerchief from a passing car- 
 riage. Almost at the same moment it stopped 
 and Gayle Langford, leaning forward, smiled into 
 her eyes. 
 
 " How fortunate, my dear Mary! You must sit 
 here by me," she called, gaily. 
 
 Mary ran to clasp the outstretched hand, and 
 chattered her joy at the meeting, but her glance 
 noted the gorgeousness of the equipage, the 
 dainty stylishness of the other's attire, and then 
 she dropped her eyes to her own plain, cheap 
 dress. The contrast was quite apparent, and for 
 an instant the light faded from her eyes. 
 
 " I thank you, but I I think 'twere better 
 that I continue my walk," she said. 
 
 Gayle caught the droop of the eyes and readily 
 understood.
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 345 
 
 " Indeed, I will not be denied! " she exclaimed. 
 " I am quite petulant when my friends withhold 
 from me a favor, so get right up here by my side, 
 else you condemn me to an hour of tears because 
 that on which my heart is set is refused me." 
 
 Laughing merrily, Mistress Mary sprang lightly 
 to the seat and snuggled down beside the maid 
 whose hauteur had sent many a mincing macaroni 
 slinking away like a whipped boy. 
 
 " Your return to Philadelphia has been recent? " 
 asked she as they drove onward. 
 
 " Yes. After the horror of the attack on Tren- 
 ton we went to Boston for some weeks. We 
 once lived there when I was a little girl." A 
 great cluster of blossoms which she held in her 
 hand were raised to her face as though she would 
 inhale their perfume. 
 
 " Trenton! Yes, it must have been terrible for 
 you. Of course it was glorious for our cause, 
 but it meant so much to you. The battle came 
 before there was a wedding, I understand." 
 
 " Yes, because of Trenton I am yet a maid." 
 
 Mary looked up into her companion's face and 
 there was a soft glow of sympathy in her dark 
 eyes. 
 
 " 'Tis most sad to have such a shocking affair 
 thrust between you and the man you love.
 
 346 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Richard I I mean Lieutenant Boyd wrote 
 me somewhat of it, though he said 'twas little he 
 knew. He wrote that he thought Captain Lester 
 had knowledge of it, but that he never would 
 discuss the Trenton affair. Had we not better 
 drive to your home? You are looking a trifle pale 
 and wearied." 
 
 " No, no! Tis but your fancy. Lieutenant 
 Boyd distinguished himself at Trenton, I 
 heard." 
 
 " Oh, he was splendid, they say! " she cried, 
 enthusiastically. " But he doesn't write me much 
 about it, though he says that during all of it he 
 was thinking of " 
 
 She paused suddenly, and when Gayle looked 
 into her face she saw the blood surging up into 
 her cheeks. 
 
 " Thinking of what did you say? " she asked, 
 smiling. 
 
 Mary suddenly seized her hand and pressed it 
 between both of her own. 
 
 " Men say such extravagant things to maids, 
 think you not so, dear Gayle? " 
 
 " But maids count them not extravagant. Is 
 it not so? " 
 
 The girl at her side laughed in a sudden burst 
 of exuberant spirits.
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 3 47 
 
 " La, I am afraid we are most amazing fond of 
 the extravagances," she replied. 
 
 "And Lieutenant Boyd do you hear often 
 from him? " 
 
 " Only one letter these ten days and the 
 postboy comes from Washington's camp twice a 
 week," she replied, looking up with a pretty pout. 
 
 Gayle smiled, and, bending her head suddenly, 
 kissed the maid. 
 
 " Then you love him very dearly, do you not? " 
 she said. 
 
 Mary raised her head quickly, a startled look 
 in her eyes, the while her cheeks grew rosier. 
 
 " Why I do not know. It is a very 
 serious thing to be in love isn't it?" She 
 paused and looked down at her fingers, which 
 she interlaced a bit nervously. Her companion 
 made no answer, but sat very still. " And I do 
 not feel at all serious," she continued, looking up 
 again, and smiling. " I am just happy all the 
 time like my canary, that sings the gladness 
 each new day puts into its heart. Is that love? 
 If it is it must be a most wonderful thing, don't 
 you think? " 
 
 "Yes love is a most wonderful thing." 
 The blossoms were pressed to her face again. 
 " And a most blessed thing when it comes thus.
 
 348 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 But not always does love put music into the 
 heart. Sometimes love means pain." Her 
 voice was very low and the words ended in but 
 little more than a whisper. 
 
 " But how can it mean pain if it is given us by 
 God? You see I am a bit simple in my beliefs, 
 for it has ever been my thought that God gave us 
 love." She was looking up into Gayle Langford's 
 face, wistfulness in her eyes. 
 
 " Bless you, my sweet, if 'tis simplicity, then 
 is simplicity truth. But do not let any ' whys ' 
 burden your tongue nor hush your song. God 
 sends us both the rain and the sunshine and 
 counts them equally blessed." 
 
 Mary sat silent for a moment, looking away, 
 but she saw not the houses, nor the trees, and she 
 heard not the crunch of the carriage wheels. 
 
 " I wonder if if - - 'tis really love," she said 
 at last, slowly. Then she turned again to Gayle. 
 " Will you think me a most bold and immodest 
 maid if I tell you that I once thought I was near 
 to loving Captain Lester? There, you have 
 dropped those beautiful blossoms! " 
 
 Gayle stooped to gather up the scattered bloom, 
 and, somehow, the blossoms seemed difficult to 
 secure, for she fumbled after them an unexpected 
 length of time, her face averted. Then she
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 349 
 
 leaned back and inhaled the fragrance of the 
 bloom. 
 
 " Captain Lester! Ah, true, he is a most gallant 
 soldier." 
 
 " Yes, he is splendid, but then Richard 
 is well, he is just Richard! " And then they 
 both laughed. 
 
 " Now that we have met once more you must 
 promise to come often to see me," said Gayle. 
 
 " Oh, I will be delighted. In these dreadful 
 times one so loves friends. And you seem so 
 strong and wise. You see, I always confided in 
 my brother, but the war, you know." 
 
 Mistress Langford laughed again. " I fear I 
 cannot take your brother's place. I am un- 
 acquainted with the accomplishments of brothers 
 unless it be " She stopped in confusion. 
 
 " Unless it be what? " 
 
 " The art of fence. Are you shocked? " 
 
 " Indeed, no. Are you skilled in it? " 
 
 " To a fair degree. My father never quite 
 forgave me for not being his son instead of his 
 daughter, and he vowed I should be taught to 
 fence ' like a gentleman.' So I was tutored by a 
 master of the art, and, in truth, I liked it." 
 
 " I have heard that many maids in the cities 
 have learned it."
 
 350 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " The exercise is amazingly beneficial and 
 sometimes a bit of skill with a rapier is valuable 
 in other ways." 
 
 " But, Gayle, look! Is there not something 
 familiar about yon horsemen? " 
 
 Two Continental officers had turned a corner 
 ahead of them at a sharp trot. Mistress Langford 
 looked and the bloom fled from her cheeks. 
 
 " Captain Lester! " she gasped. 
 
 " Richard! " cried Mary. 
 
 Aye, it was, indeed, we. The Congress had 
 crept back to Philadelphia after Washington's 
 brilliant successes at Trenton and Princeton, but 
 so weak-kneed were they that the Chief was 
 constantly pestered with pleas not actual de- 
 mands for a stronger force in the city, until 
 finally he ordered a troop of horse to the capital, 
 and Boyd and I officered it. And now that we 
 were settled in our new quarters Boyd was wild 
 for a canter through the streets he knew so well. 
 We spied the carriage and recognized its occu- 
 pants at the same instant. 
 
 "Sword of Washington!" exclaimed Boyd. 
 " A petticoat truce! " 
 
 And then we found ourselves springing from 
 our mounts beside the carriage and sweeping 
 our hats low in profound bows.
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 351 
 
 " The fortunes of war are not always ill," I 
 said. 
 
 " A surprise, truly," said Mistress Gayle, not 
 ungraciously. " We did not dream " 
 
 " Ah, no," broke in Boyd. " 'Twas the grave 
 members of the Congress who dreamed of my 
 Lords Howe and Cornwallis. And we were 
 ordered here to quiet their slumbers." 
 
 And then our tongues wagged at a most pro- 
 digious rate, but naught was spoken of Trenton 
 till we were about to mount again, and then 
 Mistress Gayle leaned towards me and asked, 
 hesitatingly, if I had lately visited the grave of 
 Erasmus. 
 
 " 'Tis growing green," I replied. "I knelt 
 there less than a fortnight ago." 
 
 Gayle Langford's eyes were lowered, but as we 
 swung into our saddles I saw a tinge of color steal 
 into her cheeks. Then as they drove away, Mary 
 Wilmoth turned and smiled back at Boyd. 
 
 " My friends will always be welcome at our 
 home," she called. 
 
 I was watching Gayle Langford. She half- 
 turned, as though on impulse, and then, seeming 
 to catch herself, she faced to the front once more, 
 and as the carriage rolled away I saw her head 
 go up to the old proud poise.
 
 352 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 We rode mostly in silence until we once more dis- 
 mounted at headquarters. Then Boyd stood for a 
 moment looking himself over in a critical manner. 
 
 " I must get a new uniform," he said, re- 
 flectively. " This faded and patched rig-out will 
 do very well for the field, but here - Yes, I'll 
 get a new one at once." 
 
 I laughed, but 'tis doubtful if he heard me, for 
 he was slapping his thigh with his riding-whip 
 and humming softly to himself. 
 
 During the next week I found time to call on 
 the Wilmoths and pay my respects, but I did not 
 meet Gayle Langford. When I took my departure 
 I told myself that I was glad I had not encountered 
 the little Tory, but as I trudged back towards my 
 quarters, lost in a maze of thought, I suddenly 
 admitted to myself that 'twas an unusual route I 
 was following to reach my destination for there 
 before me was the Langford home. The hour 
 was not late ; I had just heard the watch call the 
 hour of nine. The night was clear, the sky 
 starlit, the air balmy. 
 
 A few lights were to be seen about the Langford 
 home, and in front of the main doorway a lantern 
 was burning. Would I ever cease being a fool, 
 I asked myself as I found myself standing under 
 one of the trees in the grounds.
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 353 
 
 Aye, a harsh word it was and ever distasteful 
 to me, but it was being whispered into my ears 
 that moment from out of the night, just as it 
 had been whispered to me in many other moments 
 before. Many a night had I lain dreaming of the 
 baffling little witch, then awakened to find the 
 camp-fire casting strange shadows, from out of 
 which nameless, formless things seemed croaking 
 at me, " Thou fool! " " Thou fool! " And now 
 they were whispering it again from the leaves that 
 rustled above me, from the rose-bushes that 
 marked the Langf ord gardens ; and the plaintive 
 cry of a restless night-bird came to me as a jeer. 
 
 Through the stillness of the night I heard the 
 faint plashing of a fountain, and it seemed but 
 a mocking echo of a night was it but nine 
 months before? a night that had become a 
 sacred memory to me, for by that fountain I had 
 held in my arms yes, I was a fool to come here 
 now. 
 
 I turned my back to the house, but had taken 
 but one step when I shrank back against the tree 
 and strained my eyes into the gloom. Surely I 
 was not mistaken. No, there it was again, a 
 shadowy form that darted from tree to tree and 
 crawled slowly across the wider spaces, but 
 always working towards the house. Cautiously I
 
 354 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 began the same tactics, keeping directly in the 
 rear of the other, and clutching my sword scab- 
 bard firmly lest a clank betray me. Closer we 
 drew to the house, until the faint glow of the 
 lantern revealed to me the familiar uniform of a 
 Continental officer. Finally he reached the last 
 tree and stood in its shadow a moment, while I 
 crouched beside another not far away, mystified. 
 What could it mean? Was this home, once the 
 Tory headquarters in Philadelphia, still suspected, 
 and was this man here to spy, even though the 
 leader of it all had lain in his grave these many 
 months? 
 
 The figure stepped away from the tree a pace 
 and I saw his arm swing. Then, " spat! " went a 
 stone against the tin of the lantern, swaying it 
 violently, but failing to extinguish the light, 
 evidently the fellow's object. I heard him mutter 
 a curse at his failure, and then he walked boldly 
 forward while I darted to the tree where he had 
 stood. Now he was plainly revealed to me in the 
 lantern's light, and I cudgelled my brains to 
 determine where I had seen that figure before. It 
 was strangely familiar, but his back was towards 
 me. If only he would turn his face. 
 
 Acting on a sudden thought, I clanked my 
 scabbard against the tree. Instantly he wheeled
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 355 
 
 about, and a gasp of surprise escaped me as I 
 found myself staring at the face of the Prince. 
 
 Like a flash I saw the truth. He had escaped 
 from prison and had in some way secured the 
 uniform for a disguise. Naturally, he was seeking 
 refuge in the Langford home. Only an instant 
 he gazed back into the shadows, and then turned 
 and hurried towards the house, but with a bound 
 I was after him. 
 
 He was in the full glow of the lantern when he 
 heard me coming, and wheeled, the blade he wore 
 at his side being whisked from its sheath as he 
 did so. My own steel flashed as I sprang to face 
 him, and for a breath we stood with set jaws, 
 eying each other, and 'twas plain that neither of 
 us doubted that we were to duel to the death. 
 
 " On guard! " I cried. " I do not murder! " 
 
 " No, you die! " he rasped. 
 
 There was a shower of sparks as our steel met. 
 In my mind was a stolen uniform with despatches, 
 and another vision of a lonely grave at Trenton 
 where Erasmus slept. My attack was so savage 
 that I soon forced him back to where the shadows 
 lay, but I saw my mistake, and, feigning weakness 
 and failing courage, I began to retreat step by 
 step, firing him with the belief that he could soon 
 run me through, and thus drawing him slowly
 
 356 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 back to the light, and there I stopped and began 
 measuring my skill with his. 
 
 He was eager and his lust for my life dulled his 
 cunning. Fighting carefully, I saw his guard 
 falter, and there was a glitter on my blade as I 
 slipped it straight for his heart but turned my 
 wrist at the last instant just in time to slit his 
 waistcoat instead of his heart. 'Twas purposely 
 done, but why ? The query I could scarcely answer 
 myself. 
 
 Soon I realized that I was his master in the art 
 of fence, and the low laugh that escaped me 
 maddened him until my blade once more pinked 
 him, this time on the arm, though I could as well 
 have run him through. The fellow had earned 
 death. His murderous treachery at Trenton had 
 forfeited his life, if there had been no other scores 
 to settle. But should I be his executioner? In 
 my heart the cry was sounding, "If he dies 
 Gayle Langford may be won! " 
 
 A sweat oozed out on my brow, not because of 
 the enemy before me, but because of the struggle 
 with the enemy within me. With that personal 
 desire in my heart, would it be execution or 
 murder if I slew him? And Gayle Langford loved 
 him in spite of all. Of that I was certain. Could 
 I give his life to her to the girl who had pelted
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 357 
 
 me with pebbles in Boston's streets, and whose 
 memory I had hated? These thoughts raced 
 like lightning flashes through my mind as we 
 duelled. He was tiring, I could see ; the play of 
 his blade was slackening, and the fear of death 
 was dilating his eyes. I laughed again in mockery. 
 
 " I trust your Highness remembers Trenton," 
 I taunted. 
 
 There was no reply, but his arm stiffened and 
 the sneer nerved him to better work, until he had 
 me fighting at my best paces. Again hope shone 
 in his eyes. Click! Click! z-z-z-zh Click! 
 The sparks played merrily. Then of a sudden I 
 heard a rattle at the door, and springing aside for 
 an instant I shot a glance there, and saw Gayle 
 Langford step out, then clasp her hands with a 
 cry of hoiTor as she took in the scene and recog- 
 nized the fighters. Then our blades met again, 
 and I caught a glimpse of her flying down the 
 steps towards us. 
 
 " Stand back! " I cried, waving my left hand 
 towards her. 
 
 " Ach! You shall see the rebel die! " exclaimed 
 the Prince. 
 
 Again he attacked with murderous fury, and 
 again I pricked his arm and laughed. Then I 
 caught his blade in a weak position, there was a
 
 358 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 swift downward thrust of my own steel, a sudden 
 twist, and I had sent his blade whirling from his 
 hand. I dropped the point of my sword to the 
 ground, and, turning, bowed to the girl, who stood 
 mute, horror writ on her face. 
 
 " I give his life to you," I said. 
 
 Before she could reply, there were shouts on 
 the streets and the sound of men running. Swing- 
 ing my sword overhead, I dashed the lantern to 
 pieces. 
 
 " Into the house you," I called to the Prince. 
 " Our little play has been seen." 
 
 Hardly had he obeyed than one of the watch 
 came running up the walk, followed by a motley 
 crowd of idlers. I stepped between them and the 
 girl. 
 
 " A moment too late," I said. " The cut- 
 throat has escaped." 
 
 " I saw a duel," said the watch. 
 ' Yes, a robber attacked this young lady. I 
 heard her scream and ran to her aid. We fought 
 till he heard you coming, then he dashed the 
 light out and fled in that direction." I pointed 
 down towards the trees beyond the house, and 
 the thick-heads went streaming away into the 
 shadows. Then for the first time Gayle Langford 
 spoke.
 
 SETTLING AN ACCOUNT 359 
 
 " You are generous," she said, simply. 
 
 " Good night," I replied, replacing my sword 
 and bowing to her. Then I turned and walked 
 away. 
 
 The burning tobacco was glowing in the bowl 
 of my pipe when Boyd entered our quarters an 
 hour or two later. His uniform was spotless, and 
 his face was abeam with smiles. Ignoring the 
 chair he sat down on an edge of the table and 
 hummed a bit of gay song. The signs were 
 unmistakable. 
 
 " I am waiting to hear the news. Out with 
 it." 
 
 He crushed his hat in both hands and a faint 
 flush showed in his cheeks. 
 
 " Ah, Lester, everything is all right now. I 
 told her I mean I asked that is " 
 
 " Never mind, comrade. I know. And she 
 gave herself to you? " 
 
 " Doesn't seem as though it could be true, does 
 it, Lester? But she did. Yes, she did, she did." 
 
 He was crushing that poor hat frightfully in 
 his enthusiasm, but I did not remind him of it. 
 Somehow, no words came to me, and I sat with 
 elbow on table, my chin in hand, staring at the 
 flickering candles. 
 
 " Hang it, man, haven't you a word of con-
 
 360 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 gratulations ? " he cried. " Just because you 
 know nothing of love, must you make a sphinx 
 of yourself? " 
 
 " No, no, Boyd. A pardon for my rudeness, 
 though 'twas not intended. I am glad for you 
 I congratulate you with my whole heart." I 
 clasped his hand, and he smiled at the fervor of 
 my words. 
 
 " I believe you mean every word," he said. 
 " I spoke too sharply, I know, but you can't 
 realize what all of this means to a fellow, Lester. 
 Of course you have but one love the army. 
 You have no thought for the love of woman." 
 
 He paused as though expecting me to speak, 
 but I was filling my pipe again and made no 
 answer, so he continued: 
 
 " After this war is over the Colonies will need 
 an army, and your thoughts are all for your 
 military career. Tis proper enough, I am sure, 
 but I care naught for it. I want the love of a 
 wife, a home with a cheerful hearth and, 
 mayhap, children playing about me. You see 
 we are very different." 
 
 " Yes very different," I replied, slowly, 
 watching the smoke wreaths, and, 'fore God, from 
 each ring Gayle Langford was looking down at 
 me.
 
 361 
 
 " But once I thought differently, Lester," he 
 said, with a laugh. " You know I once thought 
 you in love with that little Tory, Gayle Langford." 
 
 I blew half a dozen smoke rings. 
 
 " Really? Oh, yes, come to think of it, I 
 remember that you did." 
 
 All the happiness that was bubbling in his 
 heart was revealed to me during the next half- 
 hour and then he said he was going to bed. In 
 the adjoining room I soon heard him singing 
 softly : 
 
 " My lover is a soldier lad, 
 
 King George's crown he's scorning. 
 He rides and fights with Washington 
 In Liberty's bright morning." 
 
 Long I sat there, pondering. " Of course you 
 have but one love the army," he had said. I 
 cared naught for love of wife, for the joy of a 
 home! And I had duelled with a man and given 
 his life to her ! From the west came the low rumble 
 of thunder, and as I walked to the window a flash 
 of lightning burned along the horizon. I hoped 
 it would rain ; I wanted it to storm the light- 
 ning to set the sky in flames, and the wind to 
 shriek in fury. The calm was maddening.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 
 
 MY nervous lust for action was gratified 
 early the next morning, when orders 
 from headquarters sent me a-riding with 
 a small detachment over into Jersey, and for 
 nearly a week we were busy swooping down on 
 Tory communities and posting broadsides issued 
 by the Congress. But it was tame business, 
 after all, this threatening and warning a people 
 not courageous enough to espouse the cause of 
 either Patriot or Briton. And then we pounded 
 back to Philadelphia, leaving behind us scowls 
 and sullen yielding to the orders posted. 
 
 The storm I had prayed for burst upon us at 
 twilight while we still were an hour's ride from 
 the city, but there was nothing to do but take it, 
 and so I rode on, with the troopers splashing along 
 behind me, their curses in my ears. In truth, we 
 were a wretched-appearing party when I directed 
 
 362
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 363 
 
 the sergeant to dismiss them, and turned towards 
 the headquarters, where I found light and life 
 and music, for the commander was giving a ball 
 to his officers and a number of civilians. 
 
 " Get into dry garments and join us, Lester," 
 he said, when I had finished my report. " There'll 
 be some bonny wenches here to-night with 
 roguish eyes and lips like the crimson of a rose 
 petal. You will forget your present misery in a 
 flirtation and mayhap a buss from rosy lips." 
 
 " Mayhap a buss from rosy lips! " Oddly 
 enough those were the words that kept running 
 through my mind later as I peeled my soaked 
 garments off and got myself into a uniform that 
 was dry. Somehow the words came to me with 
 the odor of midsummer clinging to them, and I 
 saw again the brilliance of the Langford mansion 
 on that July night when the rebel captain auda- 
 ciously made his bow to the haughtiest maid in 
 all the Colonies and claimed her for the minuet. 
 That night I had clutched and vigorously pulled 
 the string that unwound a skein of trouble for 
 me, and the more desperately I had tugged at it 
 the more complicated had become my vexations. 
 But now the end of the skein had been reached, 
 and in a duel a few nights ago I had cleared myself 
 of all its entanglements and flung it from me.
 
 364 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " Mayhap a buss from rosy lips." I smiled. 
 Thus the sentence had marked the beginning and 
 ending of a chapter of heartaches and woe. 
 
 In truth, 'twas a right brilliant assemblage that 
 danced and chatted and flirted at the commander's 
 ball. Once the wail of the hautboys and the sob 
 of the fiddles seemed to whisper to me of Trenton, 
 but I shut that out from memory and revelled in 
 the present. I felt a light touch on my arm, and 
 turned to find Mary Wilmoth smiling up at me. 
 
 " La, Captain, I scarce could believe 'twas you. 
 Rich Lieutenant Boyd told me you were in 
 the saddle out there." She waved her hand 
 towards the window, where the rain was beating. 
 
 " A merciful Providence saved us from all except 
 one hour of it," I replied, bending over her fingers. 
 " You are radiant to-night. I dare not attempt 
 to tell you how radiant lest Dick challenges me 
 for a meeting at dawn." 
 
 She tossed her head. " I think you alarm 
 yourself needlessly about Lieutenant Boyd. Why 
 he he has danced twice with other maids this 
 night." 
 
 " 'Tis most astounding! " I cried, laughing. 
 " Then I will challenge him. To think the young 
 scamp should have such ill taste! " 
 
 " He said the officers would chaff him if he
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 365 
 
 danced always with me. They wouldn't be so 
 horrid, would they, Captain? But I wouldn't 
 care. He is splendid, Richard is, and maybe 
 maybe the war will take him from me soon." 
 
 "Tut, tut, Mistress Wilmoth! A soldier's 
 sweetheart must think only of the glory he fights 
 to win for her. For what is glory what is 
 anything in the world to a man if he cannot kneel 
 and place it at some woman's feet and see her 
 smile on him for his tribute? " 
 
 She laughed merrily, and made me a deep 
 curtsy. 
 
 " 'Tis most gracious, your speech, Captain, and 
 I will think no more sad thoughts. But I don't 
 want Richard to lay honors at my feet. I want 
 just him." 
 
 " Would that I could have my wishes so quickly 
 answered," I responded. " For yonder comes 
 the scamp with his soul in his eyes." 
 
 She turned to greet him, and just a wee. bit of 
 envy of their great happiness crept into my heart 
 as I noted the glow that came to her cheek and 
 the smile that revealed the scarlet of her lips 
 and the whiteness of her teeth. By Boyd's side 
 was a tall young officer wearing the uniform of a 
 captain of Continentals. 
 
 " Welcome back to the fold, Lester! " exclaimed
 
 366 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Boyd, clasping my hand. " Let me introduce 
 Captain Wilton Hawley." 
 
 I doubt if he ever knew whether we acknowledged 
 the presentation or not, for the last word was 
 scarce off his tongue until he had given his arm 
 to Mary Wilmoth and was leading her away, his 
 head bent close to her ear. For a breath Captain 
 Hawley and I both turned to watch the pretty 
 picture, and then we smiled but spoke no word 
 concerning them. 
 
 " Let us step into the smoking-room and have 
 a pipe," said my new acquaintance. " I believe 
 we have met before, Captain Lester." 
 
 " I think not," I replied, as we seated ourselves 
 and lighted pipes. " Though in truth, now that 
 I look hard at you, there is something familiar 
 about you." 
 
 He smiled and blew a smoke ring upward. 
 " Perhaps I am mistaken. The man I knew was 
 a daredevil chap who would have been a bloody 
 corpse at the Red Fox inn there, you dropped 
 some ashes on your coat ! had not a girl whis- 
 pered a cunning falsehood to the knave who was 
 about to slay him. This little fib made him 
 appear more valuable alive than dead." 
 
 " How the devil know you this? " I cried, 
 springing to my feet.
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 367 
 
 "How? Well perhaps I see it pictured in 
 the smoke. One can see much in smoke. Sit 
 down. I would tell you more about the man I 
 took you to be." 
 
 I sat down, and stared at him, vainly trying 
 to recall where I had met him, and wondering 
 who could have told him the tale of the Red Fox 
 inn. 
 
 " The girl ah! what a girl she was, Captain! 
 God has made but few of her pattern ! had been 
 spared from a brutal fate when it was found that 
 she was the fiance of the real chief of the knaves. 
 I believe they called him Prince somebody. And 
 in the room to which she was hurriedly shown 
 after a massacre she found a suit of boy's clothing 
 and a rapier, which the landlord had forgotten. 
 With these " 
 
 " No more! Tell me who you are!" I had 
 dashed the pipe to the floor and was gripping the 
 back of my chair with a fury of impatience. 
 
 He arose slowly to his feet, laid his pipe aside 
 carefully, and then looked me full in the face. 
 
 " Draw on your imagination a little," he said. 
 " Imagine a straw-colored shock of hair in place 
 of this powdered wig; imagine all ill-fitting, 
 cheap homespun garments instead of this uni- 
 form; and then this: "
 
 3 68 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 He thrust his hand into his bosom and drew 
 forth a hickorynut shell "cricket," and I saw 
 his eyes suddenly grow dull and his face expres- 
 sionless. Then he began strumming the " cricket" 
 with his fingers and executing a silly sort of 
 dance as he chanted: 
 
 " Wild hawk caught a game-cock in a pen 
 
 Hi-lo-diddle-de-dee. 
 
 But game-cock was saved by the clucking of a hen 
 Hi-lo-she saved him did she." 
 
 I was on my feet, staring in astonishment. 
 
 " By all the gods! Rhymer I " I shouted. 
 
 Then the light came back to his eyes, his face 
 resumed its normal expression, and he slapped 
 his thigh as he broke into a ringing laugh. 
 
 " At your service, Captain," he said, bowing. 
 " Shall you challenge me for inflicting those 
 doggerel rhymes on you? " 
 
 " Doggerel, perhaps, but always expressive," I 
 replied. 
 
 " Well, sometimes I did manage to inject a 
 warning into the horrid jingles. But I must 
 leave you now I have this dance with a Bright 
 Eyes." 
 
 He hurried away, and I sat alone, smoking and 
 thinking it all over. There was no music in my
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 369 
 
 feet that night, and dance after dance was meas- 
 ured off while I sat there. Boyd found me still 
 wooing my pipe. 
 
 " Dick," I said, " what know you of Captain 
 Hawley? " 
 
 " Precious little. One of the shrewdest men 
 in Washington's secret service, they say. Ever 
 meet him before? " 
 
 " Yes once." More smoke rings. 
 
 " Well, he is partly responsible for my having 
 a devilish unpleasant detail." 
 
 I looked at him inquiringly. 
 
 " It's a stone wall, a blindfold, and a volley 
 for another poor devil. I'm to command, ' Fire ! ' " 
 
 " An execution? Who? When? " 
 
 " Thirty-six hours from now at noon Wed- 
 nesday. You know that precious nobleman of 
 Gayle Langford's escaped or was that after 
 you went over into Jersey ? You heard of it ? Well, 
 this secret-service captain ferreted out the man 
 who permitted him to escape and then furnished 
 him with clothing and equipment. What did 
 you say? " 
 
 " Nothing nothing! Go on ! " 
 
 " Well, Hawley found out the first part of it, 
 and then one of the watch identified him as a 
 man he had seen with Gayle Langford that same
 
 370 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 night. The fellow had fought with some 
 knave, and the watch saw it and ran right up to 
 him. He says the lantern was smashed, but he 
 positively identifies him. Tis a serious thing at 
 this critical point of the war, and the court 
 martial says he is to die. A courier returned 
 from the Chief yesterday. Washington is visiting 
 the cantonments and is now at Princeton. He 
 approves the sentence. ' An example,' he says, 
 but I like not the detail. Ugh! To pour lead 
 into a blindfolded God's name! what ails you? " 
 
 The last words I heard as I dropped my pipe on 
 the table and dashed from the room. Officers and 
 ladies paused in the dance to stare at me as I 
 ran across the ballroom floor, surely a strange 
 spectacle. Down the stairs I plunged, three steps 
 at a bound, and then out of the building. An 
 orderly's horse stood tethered close by, and, 
 jerking the reins loose from the post, I sprang 
 into the saddle and galloped away towards the 
 Langford home, but my heart sank as I came in 
 sight of the place, for not a light was to be seen. 
 Throwing myself from the saddle, I ran up the 
 walk to the house and thundered at the heavy 
 doors. Again and again the ponderous knocker 
 sounded its summons, but no response came. 
 
 As I look back at it now, I confess that I cursed
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 371 
 
 wildly as I hammered like a madman at that door, 
 cursed and thundered in rage and despair. Then 
 my arms fell at my side and my head sank down 
 on my chest and I stood there baffled. The rain 
 beat down on me, but I paid it no heed. Gayle 
 Langford was gone. No need to ask where or 
 why. Doubtless at this very hour she and the 
 Prince were making their way along some lonely 
 road in an effort to reach the coast. And a man 
 was to die for that which she could deny. Perhaps 
 he had been guilty to some extent but, God's 
 name! was I innocent, and was he to shoulder 
 his blame and mine? Doubtless he was some 
 country yokel whom the Prince had dazzled by 
 lying promises, but I There was defence for 
 him; for me, none. 
 
 I rode slowly back to headquarters unmindful 
 of the rain and storm, my thoughts whirling. Once 
 more in the commandant's office, I sent an orderly 
 for him. He came, frowning and in ill humor at 
 being disturbed in the dance. 
 
 " Well, what the devil causes you to send for 
 me, Captain? " he asked, sharply. 
 
 " A question of life or death," I replied. " I 
 learn a man has been condemned 
 
 " Rightly. He's to be an example. Washing- 
 ton approves."
 
 372 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 "Yes but if some one else could be found 
 who would confess to guilt? " 
 
 " Then there would be two face the volley. 
 This man is guilty. No such trick as that will be 
 sufficient to gain time for him." 
 
 There was a rustle of skirts, and a piquant, 
 pretty face looked in at the doorway. 
 
 " Colonel, are you going to hide yourself in this 
 dismal room when the music is sounding for our 
 dance? " 
 
 " No, no. I am coming now. Anything else, 
 Captain? " He turned towards the door. In 
 my brain I heard Boyd's words, " Washington 
 rests at Princeton." 
 
 " Yes," I cried, " give me two days' leave and 
 a pass to Washington." 
 
 " What folly is this? " he asked, halting. 
 
 " No folly! Grant my request and I will free 
 one man or give you two for the bindfolds." 
 
 " Please hurry, Colonel," came the woman's 
 voice. " But if you have no care very well." 
 
 There was another rustle, and 'twas evident 
 she was leaving. 
 
 "Coming this moment!" he called, starting 
 towards the door. " You shall have your wish in 
 the morning, Captain, I am engaged now." 
 
 " No, no, no! " I shrieked, springing after him
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 373 
 
 and clutching his arm. ; 'Twill be too late! 
 What is the dance to a life? " 
 
 He shook my hand roughly from his arm. 
 " Captain, do not forget yourself! I said, in the 
 morning. Coming, my dear! " 
 
 He was gone. The lure of a woman's eyes, the 
 scarlet of a woman's lips, the purr of a woman's 
 voice, had seduced him from duty and sent one 
 man to his death and, mayhap, another to a 
 madhouse. God! Could I hear the drums roll 
 the death-march and keep my reason? Could I 
 hear that awful volley echo, and live to remember 
 it through all of my life? There was a gleam of 
 lightning at the window and a gust of wind slapped 
 the pane with a dash of rain. 
 
 How I reached a chair I could never remember, 
 but I found myself in a chair, my arms sprawled 
 out on the commander's desk, my head on one 
 arm. Before me lay a pile of reports, bearing his 
 signature. Then like a flash I saw hope! Seizing 
 paper and pen I began to carefully imitate that 
 signature. Once, twice, thrice over and over 
 again I wrote it, slowly improving, until at last 
 I was satisfied. To write out the credentials I 
 wished was but the work of a moment, but I 
 hesitated at the forgery. But only for a breath, 
 and then with bold flourish I placed his name to
 
 374 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 it. 'Twas done, and now of a surety had all of my 
 honorable service come to naught. But down 
 yonder in a prison was a man who counted the 
 hours that lay between him and a volley! A 
 long cape hung on the wall, and this I snatched 
 as I came to my feet, thrusting the forged pass 
 into my pocket, and then with the cape wrapped 
 about me I soon was riding away into the night 
 and storm. 
 
 Soul of me, but 'twas a beastly night, and my 
 cape but illy protected me from the storm. At 
 the bridge I was challenged, but a hasty glance 
 at my paper caused the picket to shout, " Ride 
 on and the Lord pity you." Then I was away, 
 riding furiously where the road permitted, and 
 swearing savagely where the rain had made 
 almost bottomless pits of the road. 
 
 The crowing of roosters came to my ears from 
 a farmhouse as I floundered by, and I knew 'twas 
 midnight or a little past. I could not spare horse- 
 flesh, and the poor beast was lashed and goaded 
 fearfully, but at Trenton I would change mounts- 
 did my present one live to carry me there. Mile 
 after mile was put behind us, and I found myself 
 wondering how Gayle Langford fared that evil 
 night. Once, on such a night, she had huddled 
 down in a boat, with me. To-night ? Was she
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 375 
 
 in the saddle braving the storm, or was she in a 
 coach, snuggled down beside the Prince, unmind- 
 ful of the night and its woes; happy in the fact 
 that they were together, going away from 
 tragedy to love and joy? I found my teeth 
 hard set, my riding-whip lashing the horse 
 cruelly. 
 
 A faint gray was showing where the sky in 
 the east came down to the earth; the lightning 
 no longer gleamed; and the rain was slackening, 
 but the road was little less than a long ribbon of 
 soft, oozy mud, that stretched away between rail 
 fences seemingly to the end of the world. The 
 gray crept higher into the dripping sky, and this 
 time the crowing of the roosters proclaimed the 
 coming of dawn. Presently I eould count the 
 trees that showed like huge dark streaks on a 
 curtain of drab, and in the lightening gloom I 
 saw that my horse's head was drooping low, its 
 nostrils distended, and occasionally there was a 
 stumble not due to the road, but to the exhaustion 
 that was claiming the beast. 
 
 But still the animal struggled onward, and I 
 sat coaxing and urging, and straining my eyes 
 for the first glimpse of Trenton. At last it came. 
 Before me was a small cluster of houses; then 
 more and more, until I found myself riding a
 
 376 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 staggering horse through Trenton's streets in the 
 semi-dawn. 
 
 Uncertain which way to turn in seeking a fresh 
 mount, I rode on until I found myself close to a 
 building I well remembered, for 'twas the one 
 where Rahl had had his quarters. To my surprise, 
 I saw sentinels in Continental uniform slowly 
 pacing beats in front and at the sides of the house. 
 I had not known there was a soldier in Trenton. 
 As I reined in beside one of the sentinels he noted 
 my rank and came to a salute. 
 
 " Where can I find a fresh mount? " I asked. 
 " I must get to Princeton ere General Washington 
 leaves." 
 
 " You might as well dismount, then, for the 
 Chief has already left Princeton, sir." 
 
 ' ' Left Princeton ? Then ' ' 
 
 I did not finish the sentence. A sudden dizzi- 
 ness rushed over me and only a quick clutch saved 
 me from pitching from the saddle. 
 
 " Aye, left Princeton and he is now sleeping 
 in this house! " 
 
 I sat staring at him, unable for the moment 
 to grasp the fullness of his words. Then I fairly 
 tumbled to the ground. 
 
 " God be praised! " I mumbled, for now that 
 I was on my feet I found that I was well-nigh
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 377 
 
 ready to sink from exhaustion. I dropped the 
 bridle-reins and stumbled weakly towards the 
 door, but the sentinel barred my way. 
 
 " I must speak to Washington at once! " I 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Impossible, sir, he is sleeping." 
 
 " Then he must be called. Tis life or death! " 
 
 " Not at this hour." 
 
 " Damn this heartlessness that will let a man 
 die rather than yield a few moments of selfishness. 
 First it is a dance, and next it is the ease of a 
 pillow and a man counting his hours! " 
 
 I was blazing with fury, and my words must 
 have been shouted, for I heard a window above me 
 go up, and, glancing up, I saw the face of General 
 Washington peering out at me. 
 
 " What is the fuss? " he asked, quietly. 
 
 " I must have speech with you, sir! " I cried. 
 " A man's life depends on it." 
 
 " Then step into the office below and I will be 
 down in a moment." 
 
 The sentinel saluted and I entered the house, 
 turning from the hallway into a room I well 
 remembered, for there had Erasmus remembered 
 his promise to my mother to " take keer o' her 
 boy." I fell into a chair and gazed moodily about 
 the room in the faint light that stole in at the
 
 378 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 windows. Presently there was a step on the stairs, 
 and the next moment General Washington entered 
 the room. I came to my feet. 
 
 " Now your story ah, Captain Lester, is it 
 not? " 
 
 He held out his hand to me in a kindly way, 
 but I did not take it. 
 
 "No, no, sir. Not your hand until you 
 have heard me. Then you will not offer it." 
 
 He looked at me a moment, and then seated 
 himself. 
 
 " Very well, then let me hear you," he replied. 
 
 " Tis a story, sir, of a man who became a fool 
 because he loved a woman." 
 
 He smiled. " A common enough tale, Captain." 
 
 Then there was a moment of silence until I 
 found my tongue and launched upon a recital 
 that caused him to clasp and unclasp his hands 
 several times and to stroke his chin medita- 
 tively. I told him of it all, how I had lost my 
 despatches while duelling for her; how I stole 
 her away from the rabble that night after the 
 Declaration ; of her fight for me in the dark hall- 
 way of the Red Fox inn, and her message in 
 blood that saved me. I told of the affair in Tren- 
 ton Christmas night, and of the night I had fol- 
 lowed sentiment and found myself in the Lang-
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 379 
 
 ford grounds, where I had met the Prince. I 
 spared myself not at all, but admitted I could 
 have slain him and would not. 
 
 " My personal desire would have made it 
 murder," I said in conclusion. 
 
 "But he was disarmed. You could have re- 
 turned him to prison," he said. 
 
 " That is why I am here, sir. I gave him to 
 her." 
 
 He arose and paced the floor in silence. Finally 
 he paused before me. 
 
 " This is your second offence, Captain Lester. 
 Are you prepared to meet the consequences of 
 what you have just told me? " 
 
 " I am, sir, and ask only that the life of that 
 condemned soldier be spared. The poor yokel is 
 less guilty than I." 
 
 "I must take a brief while to consider this, 
 for " 
 
 An orderly scratched on the door. " A lady 
 to see you, sir." 
 
 " I cannot see her now! " exclaimed the Chief 
 impatiently. " I suppose she wants her husband 
 to come home and plough! " 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir, but I don't think so. Your 
 pardon again, sir, but it will take a squad to keep 
 her out. She has already lashed one of my mates
 
 380 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 with her riding-whip because he tried to stop 
 her." 
 
 A grim smile played about the lips of the 
 commander. 
 
 " Then I suppose I must see her in order to 
 save my soldiers. Show her in but take the 
 riding- whip away from her." 
 
 He smiled again, and then glanced at me. 
 " Captain, you may withdraw until I have seen 
 this female fury. In the adjoining room you will 
 find food on the table. You must be famished. 
 Step in and help yourself until this interview is 
 ended." 
 
 I bowed, thrust aside the curtain dividing the 
 two rooms, and seated myself at the table. The 
 food was not warm, but bread and butter and cold 
 fowl, with a bit of wine, is a royal breakfast to 
 one worn and weary as I was. From beyond 
 the curtain came the sound of voices, but I heeded 
 them not. 'Twas food I wanted, and already it 
 and the wine were putting new life into me. 
 Then suddenly the bread fell from my hand and 
 I sat back from the table, listening. The voice 
 of the woman had come to me like an electric 
 shock. 
 
 "He did it all for me!" 
 
 'Twas not the wine nor the food that sent the
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 381 
 
 blood a-bounding through my veins. 'Twas the 
 voice of Gayle Langford! 
 
 In a trice I was at the curtain, and peeping 
 cautiously into the other room. God's name! I 
 wonder to this day how I kept from betraying 
 myself, for there before me stood Gayle Langford 
 facing General Washington. She wore a rain- 
 drenched riding-habit, which clung to her slender 
 figure, and her dull-copper hair had tumbled and 
 been blown into a disorder that was most bewitch- 
 ing. Her cheeks were aglow, and her eyes were 
 speaking more than her tongue. 
 
 " You shall not take his life! You shall not! 
 He has given so much to his country to these 
 Colonies he loves! You do not know how he 
 became a man on the Eagle's deck, nor how he 
 hated a girl who shouted ' Long live King 
 George,' but I know I know and yet he 
 spared this prisoner, and gave him life and 
 liberty for the sake of that same girl! " 
 
 Her hands were clasped, she was leaning for- 
 ward, with every nerve plainly at highest tension 
 as she spoke rapidly, forcefully, her eyes fixed 
 on the face of the man before her. 
 
 " And why have you come here? " Washing- 
 ton's tones were calm and methodical. 
 
 "Why?" she cried. "Why? Because
 
 382 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 because I love him aye, love him because, 
 if he dies, the same volley shall take my own 
 life! You are the great Washington of whom I 
 have heard so much, and you know something of 
 duty. I have tried to follow it, to give myself 
 to this other because my father and my mother 
 wished it, but I have sent him from me because 
 I love this man who is condemned to die with 
 your approval! " 
 
 Marry! 'Twas strange that they did not hear 
 the shouting of my heart, the gladness that was 
 crying in my soul. I turned my gaze to the 
 Chief. Mystification was writ on his face, and 
 his hand went to his chin. 
 
 " Tis most strange," he said. " Why have 
 you delayed this call? " 
 
 " Because I learned of all this but a few hours 
 ago. We closed our house and went to Princeton 
 on the day following the escape. I was there 
 yesterday when you left for Trenton. Last night 
 I learned from the village folk that a man was to 
 be shot for assisting in that escape. I questioned, 
 they knew not the name, but said 'twas he who 
 was found at the Langford home by the watch." 
 
 " And you love the yokel? " 
 
 "Yokel! Captain Ian Lester a yokel? The 
 great Washington can be insulting, I learn."
 
 383 
 
 'Fore God, she was more glorious in her in- 
 dignation than in her pleading. Her chin had 
 gone up in that old way, and if a woman's eyes 
 could kill, the Continental army would that 
 instant have lost its commander. I saw a sur- 
 prised look flash across the Chief's face. Then he 
 walked to the window, and the side view I had 
 of his face showed me a quiet smile on his lips. 
 Could he have seen my face but he could not. 
 'Twas plain he was enjoying her error. 
 
 " And so you ordered your coach and came to 
 worry me." His back was towards her, and the 
 smile still lingered. 
 
 " My coach ! Think you I could have consent 
 to come? I crept through a window at the dead 
 of night, stole a horse from the stable, and came 
 here to see the man they told me was stern but 
 just. I came to beg for a life." 
 
 Then he turned and looked at her, and I, 
 kneeling there by that curtain, held out my arms 
 unseen to her. 
 
 " And if I do not grant it? " 
 
 She stood mute for a moment, one hand slowly 
 going towards him. Then she sank into a chair 
 and a sob was in her voice as she spoke, very 
 low: 
 
 " Then I die at the same moment with him! "
 
 384 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 Stepping forward, he laid one hand kindly on 
 her head. 
 
 " Keep the tears from your eyes, child Lester 
 shall live." 
 
 In truth, I never could clearly recall the scene 
 that followed, for the joy I saw flaming in her 
 face put chaos into my brain, but I remember 
 the Chief's closing words: 
 
 " Come to me in an hour and you shall have 
 the paper. And I will give you an escort to 
 Philadelphia that you may bear the message 
 yourself." 
 
 She was gone. I flung aside the curtain and 
 rushed into the room. 
 
 " You heard? " asked Washington, smil- 
 ing. 
 
 " Yes, yes! Blessed God, I heard! " 
 
 He looked at me a moment, and no smile was 
 on his lips. 
 
 " Was it she for whom you forgot duty? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " It was." 
 
 He sat down at a desk and wrote rapidly for a 
 few moments. Then he arose and handed me a 
 paper. 
 
 " And she has caused me to forget it, also," 
 he said. " You are to be her escort to Phila-
 
 INTO THE NEW DAY 385 
 
 delphia. That paper is the only wedding-present 
 I can give to you now." 
 
 I glanced at it and read the order counter- 
 manding the death-sentence of the soldier in 
 prison. 
 
 The rain had ceased when I walked out of the 
 house, and a rosy glow was in the east, marking 
 the spot where the sun would soon rise. Birdland 
 had awakened, and from the trees came the piping 
 of the morning songs. My horse still stood where 
 I had left him, and I turned away to walk, walk, 
 walk, and join with the birds and the thousand 
 things of nature in praise to God. 
 
 I found my steps leading me to the Delaware, 
 towards the spot where Erasmus slept. Just 
 beyond that clump of trees it lay, and I wondered 
 if the faithful old black could look back across the 
 dark river that morning and see the joy in his 
 Marse lan's heart. 
 
 The whinny of a horse came to me, and I then 
 saw the grave, and at the green mound a girl 
 was kneeling. 
 
 My heart pounded and things danced before 
 my eyes a little unsteadily. . . . Then I came 
 to myself and- found that I was holding Gayle 
 Langford in my arms. I know not what words 
 had been said before that. Neither do I care.
 
 3 86 GAYLE LANGFORD 
 
 " We must plant flowers here," I said, at last. 
 
 " Yes," she replied, softly, " for he ' took 
 keer o' her boy! ' Shall it be roses red roses? " 
 
 There was a moment when my lips won hers. 
 The sun peeped over the horizon at us; the 
 scent of blossoms came on the morning air, and 
 the chorus from the songsters in the trees swelled 
 stronger, sweeter. Near by Gayle's horse was 
 pawing impatiently. I slipped the bridle-rein 
 over my arm, and then, hand in hand, we walked 
 away into the glory of the new day. 
 
 THE END.
 
 A Daughter 
 of the South 
 
 By GEORGE CART EGGLESTON 
 
 Illustrated by E. Pollak Decorated Cover, $1.50 
 
 THE action of the story lies in the region of the 
 lower Mississippi river, from Cairo to New 
 Orleans, and its time is the period near the 
 end of the Civil War, after the great river was opened 
 to navigation, but when its banks and bayous were still 
 vexed with hostilities, and the greedy lawlessness of 
 speculators who gave to their business a good deal of 
 the character of crime. It has for its heroine a young 
 woman of high breeding and high character, proud, 
 passionate and duty loving, a woman who thinks clear- 
 ly, feels strongly and acts in obedience to her own 
 convictions without any shadow of fear or shrinking 
 from the consequences of right doing. 
 
 "In painting Southern romances, George Gary Eggleston is at 
 his best, and his latest book, 'A Daughter of the South,' has the 
 same sweet, pure flavor of love and heroism that characterized his 
 popular novel, 'Dorothy South.* " St. Paul Dispatch. 
 
 "It is a charming story, full of delicacy and sweetness, and the 
 picture the author gives of the closing months of the great struggle 
 is well drawn. ' ' Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 
 
 "As pretty a talc of Southern chivalry and Northern devotion as 
 any one need ask to read is 'A Daughter of the South,' with its 
 picture of wartime conditions which no Southerner who lived 
 through them will ever forget." Milwaukee Free, Press. 
 
 Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 
 
 BOSTON
 
 Cbe Cittle Green Door 
 
 By MART E. STONE B AS SETT 
 
 Eight illustrations by Louise Clarke and twenty-five decorative 
 half-title pages by Ethel Pearce Clements 
 
 izmo Cloth $1.50 
 
 A charming romance of the time of 
 Louis XIII. The door which 
 gives the title to the book leads to a 
 beautiful retired garden belonging to the 
 King. In this garden is developed one of 
 the sweetest and tenderest romances ever 
 told. The tone of the book is singularly 
 pure and elevated, although its power is 
 intense. 
 
 "This is a tale of limpid purity and sweetness, which, although 
 its action is developed amid the intrigues and deceptions of a corrupt 
 French court, remains fine and delicate to the end. There is 
 power as well as poetry in the little romance, so delicate in con- 
 ception." Chicago Daily News. 
 
 "Tender, sweet, passionate, pure ; a lily from the garden of 
 loves." Baltimore Herald. 
 
 "The story is exquisitely pure and tender, possessing a finished 
 daintiness that will charm all clean-minded persons." Louisville 
 Courier-Journal. 
 
 "This book carries with it all the exhilaration of a beautiful 
 nature, of flowers, birds, and living things, and the beauty of a 
 winsome personality of a pure, beautiful girl. It is a romance en- 
 tirely of the fancy, but a refreshing one." Chicago Tribune. 
 
 "The little romance is charmingly wrought, and will be sure to 
 find its way to the heart of the reader." Boston Transcript. 
 
 Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 
 
 BOSTON
 
 MISS BILLY 
 
 A NEIGHBORHOOD STORY 
 
 By EDITH K. STOKELY and MARIAN K. HURD 
 
 Illustrated by CHARLES COPEL.AND 
 
 I2mo Cloth 1.50 
 
 "Vf ISS BILLY" deserves more than passing 
 notice in these days of civic improvement. 
 It is a story of what an irrepressible young woman 
 accomplished in the neighborhood into which her 
 family felt obliged to move for financial reasons. 
 The street was almost as unpromising as the celebrated 
 " Cabbage Patch." and its characters equally inter- 
 esting and original. The happy common-sense of 
 Miss Billy and the quaint sayings and doings of 
 her new neighbors form a capital story. 
 
 "The story abounds in humor with a hint of tears and an over- 
 flowing kindness of heart bubbling over in infectious gayety." 
 
 Boston Herald. 
 
 "The book is sure to have an immense number of readers." 
 
 St. Louis Star. 
 
 "The plan of the tale is original, the conversation very bright and 
 witty, the style smooth, and the characters true to life." 
 
 Boston Transcript. 
 
 "It is a human interest story which appeals to the heart, and at 
 one juncture to the eyes of the sympathetic readers." 
 
 Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph. 
 
 " 'Miss Billy' is a charmingly bright, clever little story, full of 
 spontaneous humor and frankly inspirational." 
 
 Chicago Daily News. 
 
 ' 'This is an ideal story. "-N. Y. Times. 
 
 Cotbrop, Eee $ Sbcpard go. Boston
 
 CI)e 
 
 of Eittle 
 
 By HARRY LEON WILSON Full page and text illus- 
 trations by ROSE CECIL O'NEILL isrno Cloth $1.50 
 
 "TTHE BOSS," whose title has been bestowed 
 * partly in jest, is the editor of a weekly paper 
 of a typical village in the Middle West. The real 
 hero of the book is his staunch friend, though his 
 rival in love. The story is told by the friend, who 
 left the village at the call of the Civil War, returning 
 as Major to resume his law practice and to figure in 
 a delightfully told romance. The humor is every- 
 where present and of a very high order. 
 
 SOME PRE.SS OPINIONS 
 
 " 'The Boss of Little Arcady' is one to be enjoyed in 
 every page for its genuine humor, its sly satire without a 
 touch of malice, and the story of love and friendship which 
 runs through it and ends happily." Cleveland Plain Dealer. 
 " 'The Boss of Little Arcady' is clever, with a cleverness 
 that is not forced, and with a crispness that seems to belong 
 toil andwhich has the flavor of spontaneity." 
 
 Brooklyn Eagle. 
 
 "It is a story to be read a second time; if not wholly, then 
 in part. The result for the reader is one of the best things 
 that life affords a book that delights, quickens the sympa- 
 thies and revivifies the quiescent good in one's nature." 
 Minneapolis yournal. 
 
 "Not a dull line in it from cover to cover." The Advance, 
 Chicago. 
 
 "The simpler and sweeter things of life hold sway in Little 
 Arcady and the Boss is lovably original." Chicago 
 Evening Post. 
 
 "Reading this story is like living among people whom we 
 have known at some time or other, and the charm of the 
 book is in its character descriptions. It is one of the best 
 novels of the year." Philadelphia Inquirer. 
 
 Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 4* Boston
 
 Judith's Garden 
 
 By MARY E. STONE BASSETT 
 
 With illustrations in color by George Wright, Text printed 
 in two colors throughout, with special ornamentation. 
 8vo, light green silk cloth, rough edges, gilt top, $ J.50 
 
 A N exquisite, delicious, charming book, 
 as fresh as new-mown hay, as fragrant 
 as the odor from the garden of the gods. 
 It is the story of a garden, a woman, and a 
 man. The woman is delicate and refined, 
 witty, and interesting ; the man is Irish, 
 funny, original, happy, a delicious and 
 perfect foil to the woman. His brogue is 
 stunning, and his wit infectious and fetching. 
 The garden is quite all right. There is move- 
 ment in the book ; life is abundant, and it 
 attracts. It will catch the interest of every 
 lover of flowers, and their name is legion, 
 and will delight and comfort every reader. 
 
 Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston
 
 The Potter and the Clay 
 
 A Romance of To-day 
 
 By MAUD HOWARD PETERSON. Bound in blue doth, 
 decorative cover, rough edges, gilt top. Four drawings by 
 Charlotte Harding. Sfce, 5 x Ttf. Price $1.50 
 
 ONE of the strongest and most forceful of re- 
 cent novels, now attracting marked attention, 
 and already one of the most successful books of 
 the present year. The characters are unique, 
 the plot is puzzling, and the action is remarkably 
 vivid. Readers and critics alike pronounce it a 
 romance of rare strength and beauty. The scenes 
 are laid in America, Scotland, and India ; and one 
 of the most thrilling and pathetic chapters in re- 
 cent fiction is found in Trevelyan's heroic self- 
 sacrifice during the heart-rending epidemic of 
 cholera in the latter country. The story through- 
 out is one of great strength. 
 
 Margaret E. Sangster: "From the opening 
 chapter, which tugs at the heart, to the close, 
 when we read through tears, the charm of the 
 book never flags. It is not for one season, but 
 of abiding human interest." 
 
 Minot J. Savage : * I predict for the book a very 
 large sale, and for the authoress brilliant work 
 in the future." 
 
 Boston Journal: " One of the most remarkable books 
 of the year. Brilliant, but better than that, 
 tender." 
 
 Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston
 
 LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 A 000126796 2