Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

w HOT HALLIC ERMINIE RIVES Hearts 1 Courageous Copyright, 1902. by THE BOWEN MERKILL COMPANY 4* "Aye," "said Armand slowly. "Ono for on oh stroke you gave the bondwom an nt 0hidden Hull." Tho prlsonor multiplied Imprecations ?s thoy 'prepared bis punishment, but took thu blows In stony silence. Thru bo waited to tho trench, tied a ker chief about his nrm and, slinking his fist with n lust livid curse nt his cup tor, fled toward tho formications. That evening General Moses IIa7.cn *ot In his tent, the hvi.dnuuricra near est tho firing lino on the right rear of tho investing trenches, reading a close ly written note. The handwriting, though unfamiliar to him, was that of Cnptulu Jarrat. As ho read and reread it, lines of perplexity came into his strong Canadian face. "How was this brought?" he asked bis orderly. "With a dispatch flag from the east ern redoubt, sir," was the Answer. Ho was still perusing It when the or derly entered tho tent to announce Colo nel Armand. The general swore softly, crumpled the letter In his hand, hesitat ed, then nodded assent. Ills eyes were Sharp gray, Inset, and they fixed them* selves intently on the olticer as he en tered. ?T nm Informed, General Unsen," said Armand, snlutlng, "that you have In charge the makeup of a column which will storm the enemy's touth re doubt tonight" "Yes." "I wish to volunteer." Tho general's keen eyes looked Into Annand's steady ones. Then he rum pled his wig In thought. "I accept your services," he said at length. "Colonel Ale.xauder Ilumllton Will be in command. You will report to him nt the right of the first parallel at dusk." As the other passed out the general smoothed open the letter again. "And yet," he said slowly to himself, "Bene dict Arnold j?\.s also a brave man." At dusk In the muck-hlnck trenches lay 400 men, compact, wide eyed, wait ing the signal for storming. The earth silence was profound, and through It their breathing swelled like a ghostly tide. The hanging sky formed n whit ish arch under which all movements seeiucd nt n distance vague and form less. A spattering rain was dropping, and fitful Jags of lightning knifed the low clouds. From the rear an occa sional mortar was groaning, and from time to time n fiery rocket trail passed with a raucous shrieking overhead?a shot from the British batteries. Nearest the open lay a little group of twenty. It was the forlorn hope, vol unteers all, who were to lead the col umn. One of these was Colonel Ar mand. At the signal the twenty rose as one man and hurled forward on a run. A hundred paces and a challenge rang out; then the parapets opened In spurt ing gusts of death. The handful stayed for no sappers, hut scaled the abatis, leaped the ditch and rushed upon the works with their ?pontoons. Above them, as they climb ed, were hammering oaths, stabbing Steel and leaning, thrusting forms. The first point blank discharge had gone to waste, and Armand, dragging A grenadier headlong down by the Shoulders, leaped the wall and cleared ft space between two guns with his Saber, a space filled a moment after by the Inrush of the supporting battalion. The fight became a pandemonium of cries, grapples and yellow Hashes. The bleeding shadows swelled Instantly fuH Of a vast, red smoke, of yells, of curses, Of men trampled, struggling, grunting, Underfoot. Armand, lunging, turned suddenly upon a snaky form creeping In the Shadow of the gun. When seen, the man pressed back into the human Surge, Armand trailing him panther llkc. To the latter's sober he opposed a sword and used It well, hut gave way Steadily before the fury of Armand's attack, retreating across the space be tween the rear of the redoubt and tho river bank, scarce ten yards in width? pin acre now a melee of hand to hand 'encounters with sword, clubbed mus ket and bayonet. "Surrender!" cried Armand. For answer the other avoided n thrust and twisted to one side, and Armand, With the rush, feeling loose ground Crumble tinder his feet, realized sud denly that he was on the very marge t>f the high bank. At the instant a new uproar arose. Through and over the space plunged the third detachment sent to attack the redoubt In reverse. The impact sent a soldier tumbling at Armand's feet ns he sprang to re gain his footing, and, taking ad van* tage of the Instant, his assailant hurl td himself upon htm. As they toppled In the clinch Armand recognised his foe. "Now, curse you I" shrieked Jarrat. Then 11.0" fell. * * V % ? ? ? The rush had carried the position, and WUhin two hours tireless Continental Spndos had Inclosed it within the sec ond parallel, a result which carried con sternation to York town, where later In the evening, In Cornwnllls' headquar ters?now Governor Nelson's mansion, Since the American gunners had tum bled his first selection about his ears? a group of aids were assembled dis cussing the situation. With them sat Colonel Lord Chet Wynde, lately arrived with messages from Sir Henry Clinton at New York. The conversation was Interrupted by the entrance of Jarrat, followed by two Hessians bearing a stretcher. He ad dressed himself to Ix>rd Cbetwynde. "Will your lord- hip pardon me if I Snk a view of this man?" He pointed Bo the unconscious form upon the sag ging canvas. "I am no surgeon," said his lordship languidly. "Ho needs no treatment," Jarrat an rwered. " 'Tis but a chance tumble on the head. He is a prisoner taken to hlfht." I "What the deuce Yorktown wants of [prisoners I can't see!" drawled the oth [er, "Colonel Dundas Is in charge of [the barrack, I believe. Why bring him [to me?" I "For your Identification. Colonel Dun Idas wishes certain verification. Tills Kuan escaped, while under your seu ?tence, from the Duchess of Gordon In ?t Tho other bent bis eyes upon the ^mtfe face on the stretcher, then looked "Your lordship recognizes Ulm?" "Yes," wild Lord Chetwynde slowly. Next morning n dispatch started from Cornwallls to Clinton: Last evening- the enemy carried my ad vanced redoubt on ino left. Tho situation of th? pluee le, therefore, so precarious that I cannot recommend that tho float and army should run any great risk In en deavoring' to save Ii?. And so at 10 o'clock on tho morning of Oct. 17, in the thunder of the guns, a red coated drummer appeared on the left parapet of tho invested town. He stood silhouetted against the dun smoke clouds, heating a mes sage that was lost In tho roar. But with the sight tho cannonading fell silent. The smoke lifted, the mus ketry barked no more. And then the sound came clear, us sweet as cool rain In a Hcry desert. He was beating the long "parley." When the distant grounlngs died away In the air Willlamsburg came out of doors to listen and wonder and re joice. Thero In the afternoon Anno met Henry riding into Duke of Glou cester street with a deeper pain than she had ever seen in his dark face. "What is it? What Is it?" she cried. "Ah, he was only reported missing? missing! You are not going to tell me he is dead?" Then he told her as gently as he could. One of Cornwallis' messengers hud brought out tho report that one Louis Armand, captured two days be foro, was under condemnation In York town to die that night at sunset. 8he heard him with wide, terror struck eyes. "To diel" she cried. "He was cap tured then. Let them believe what they may, he Is a Continental otlleor? a prisoner of war! They cannot kill him. Why, they are negotiating now for surrender! I shall go to General Washington. He will not let them!" He shook his head very gravely. "Anne," ho said, "my poor, dear child! The general olllcers of the American lino know. They would not Interfere. Jnrrat's deviltry has won at last. He sent a letter out of York town three days ago to General Hu sen, denouncing Colonel Armand." CHAPTER XIX. N little time Anno was mounted and on her way to Ihe field of Yorktown, where tho allied ar mies lay awaiting the outcomo of that flag of truce. Joy rested over all the wide camps, but there was none in her heart. She was conscious only of a dreadful, numbing ache and a desperate neces sity to see him once more?to tell him. She had no further plan. The note she carried from Henry brought her with out delay to tho olllccr of the day, and the personal request it contained was not to be denied. The sun was low when she passed the inner works and entered Vorklown between battered walls and gouged earth mounds which testified to the fierceness of the lire rained upon the British by Ferguson's and Mnchin's batteries. All about her were honey combed streets cluttered with rich fur niture, empty knapsacks, books, frag ments of shells, iron caltrops, carcasses of men and horses, and horrors beyond description. But she scarcely saw them. lie was to die tlds night-this night- and the time was so pitifully short. The years he had fought must count for naught? all vanished before tin* weight of that one long-passed Philadelphia afternoon. What should have been ids hour of trl nmpli had become his hour of shame. And it was by her act! The thought made her shudder as if with an ague. It seemed to her that God must have been blotted from the aeavens?that there was no hope, no good, nothing but a colossal fate wheel which was rolling to crush Armand and her. Where were tho prisoners kept? she asked some one, who directed her to a barrack at the northern end of the town. Thither she pushed her way over foul refuse heaps and fetid ditches, through crowds of soldiers shouting loathsome doggerel, who Jeered and caught nt her, and past gold braided officers who cursed them savagely and made place. She noted none of these. At the barracks entrance she mot her first rebuff when a sentry barred her way. "You have a prisoner," she explained, her breath fluttering. "His name Is Armand. I would see him." He answered only with an uncom prehending stare. As he turned she tried to pass through, but lie thrust his musket across the door, with an angry Hessian grunt. A knot of soldiers toss ed some German phrases to him from behind her, and he smiled nt them stol idly over her head, Then sho became aware of a more kindly military face in the opening be hind him. A hand touched the Hes sian's shoulder; he faced about, sainted and moved off, and the knot of strag gler.", melted away. "I am Colonel Hondas," stated the of ficer in tho doorway. "Have you per mission to see tho prisoner?" "No," she replied pathetically. "Tills Is a special order. None save the commander In chief can give such leave." She snl down on the stone step, her eyes half closed, shaken by a dry sob. Not even to see him! it was ghastly! Colonel Dundas was struck with her pallor. Ho was a gentleman and hu mane. "TllO prisoner who dies tonight Is not under n recent condemnation, mistress," ho said not unkindly. "And 'tis said he now holds the rank of colo nel in the American army. Mnyhnp tho Continentals will yet make pro test." Sho looked up with wide, miserable eyes. How could she explain It all to him? "There is no time no time," she said with heavy lips. He had turned away, but her voice recalled him. "Where is Cornwallls' headquarters? Tell me, quick." "In (he Nelson mansion," ho answer ed. "Hope not on that, though. Sur render is deliberated, and the earl is under great strain." "But he will at least see me." He shook his bead doubtfully. "You have still an hour." Still an hour! How horrible to mens ure a life by minutes! Colonel Dundas watched her go with a frown of pity. War seemed more than stern to him at that moment. Then he catered the door, and rS0Ut for a <!:a plain fo liold himself In readl Qens. A sickness bad climbed luto An no's throat before 8bo reached tho house. For a thno she got no farther than the outer door. At length on officer, doubt less by, reason of ?ev evident distress, gave bot a chair In what bad beeu the drawing room. Scores of times bIic had aat in that selfsame vTOOUl an gay aa any gucHt. That site should It there now on such an errand seemed some hideous, mockery of truth. The Hi ills 11 commander had before him General Washington's ultimatum as to terms of surrender-could See no one. So they told her, but she would not be satisfied. Her errand was a matter of life and death?concerned an execution within on hour. Twice the oltleor who had given her the chair went into the inner room. The second time be returned with a flush of morti fication on ins face. "I dare not ask again," be told her. She eome out into the street at last When the sun was gathering crimson to Its fall, her whole mind numbed, her body wrenching with nervous ag ony and with bruised shadows beneath her burning eyes. Instinctively she started in the direction of the barrack, and as she walked with uncertain foot steps her fingers went, twisting a slip of paper they found In the pocket of her gown. Some soldiers wore boiling a pot over n street lire of split hoards, and as she passed thciu with the look of n sleepwalker she drew the paper out and looked at it. Instantly a great thrill went through her to the tips of her lingers, and her checks rushed Into flame. It was the hasty scrawl given her at (Jhidden Kail by Lord Cornwallis the day she lad gone to him for John the Uuptlst. Thla is what she read: My Dear Dundns?I suppoae we must let the lady havo her prisoner. Just give Ihem passes out. COHNWALLIS. She stood still a moment, afraid of the beating of her heart, cherishing a thought that was like a white conl in her brain. If she could I The soldiers were looking nt her curiously, for wo men were rare In the town. If she could: Then, clasping the paper to her breast, she ran with Winged feet to ward the barrack. As she nenred the river bank the son was a half disk of deep orange red. The Hessian sentry was still on guard. Hut he had seen his colonel's previous greeting, ami as she hastened tip the steps lie threw tho door wide, and she ran through the corridor straight Into Hondas' presence. lie WHS sitting at his tablr, and a sub altern bad Just entered for instruc tions. "I have It! I have it!" she cried and laughed?laughed Joyfully with her heart quaking and fainting. "You have It? I am glad." DundttS reached for the paper and read it, smiling. "General Cornwallis is surely occupied. He has e'en forgot to date it. However"? He struck a boll. "Ser geant, toll Major Needbnm his tile will not lie required tonight, and bring the prisoner Armand, fully clothed, to me." She scarce heard what followed save to realize In a vague way that he was marveling at her miracle. Hut every thing else vanished as Armand entered the room. "Prisoner," Colonel Dundas announc ed, "I am ordered to set you at llliorty. You owe so much clemency to this lady, who has Interceded with Lord ('ornwallls." Armand had been pale when he en tered. Having soon her, his face had grown quite colorless. He stood word less, bis shoulders lifting In a long, deep drawn breath. "Here is a double pass," continued Dundas. "That, I believe, ends my hos pitality." He rose and bowed, while the sergeant opened the door, and the two passed out Into the noisome, brawl ing street. Tho sun had set?the sky's golden ivory still moist fo:* the first stroke of night's soft brush to paint in the stars. A thin new moon tilted over the musty purple of the river. Reaction was come. She shivered again and put out a band toward him. "Speak to me," she whispered. "Rather," he said, "tell me at what house I can safely leave you." "Leave me?" "Aye. You havo made mo take my life at your hand. Spare me further humiliation if you can." She had not thought of this emer gency. Delay would spoil all. And even if ho reached the American line* ?ah, none knew better than she why lie should not go there! "I am tn danger," she inreuted breathlessly; "In great danger-1 can not explain now?here in Yorktown. I hove not a friend within the walls, no spot where I can be safe. I nsk you to take mo away." "Let us go, then, townrd tho bas tions," ho snid, turning. "No, no!" She caught at bis arm. "I cannot go Into the American camp. Bethink you, 'tis night. I must get to Gladden Hall. See?hero is the river. ?Tis but n few miles. Could yon row me so far, think you, against the cur rent?" He did not reply, but led the way to a path which zigzagged down the bluff to tho river. It was the spot where they had first met. Then the long stretch had bristled with shipping; now the wharfs had been pulled up to build rat rotted lean-tos, the bank was hollowed with dugout shelters from the shells, wherein wounded sol diers played at cards by new lit can dles, and the water's edge was a Jum ble of ownerless barges and perlaugers und a tohuboliu of shotits and wran gllngs. Along the line of craft, where the tide scum shuddered in with spran glcs of seaweed and chunks of wreck age, sentries patrolled ceaselessly with keen outlook for river deserters. Armand chose a narrow skiff, found two ours for it and placed her in the stern as a lieutenant examined their pass. Then, with a strong shove, he sent the boat darting out on to tho broad, smooth, unrlppllng current. It had scarce drawn well away when a figure blundered down the bank. "Call that boat In," he cried, "or hove tho sentries fire oil it! That man's name Is Armand. Ho Is an es caping prisoner." "Ob, no, Captain .Farrat," returned the lieutenant composedly. "You hnve the name all right, but he had a poss Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Dnndns. I know tho Slgunturo well enough. This Slugo routine is playing tho devil with your nerves, captain." "A pass!" shouted .Tarrat frantically. "Ry the ?host!" and went up the bank on a run. Colonel Dundas was gone from the barrack-, and Jarrat could no more get Speech With Cornwallis than < onld Anne a half hour before. Rut the con ference at headquarters ended while Jarrat waited, and the earl came out In no pretty humor. As luck would have it, Colonel Dundas was With him. There followed an Interesting scene, which left Lord Cornwallis in nastier mood than ever. "She fooled Tarleton oncex" he swore. / . New 'tis roll. Hondas. T'roni undor your very nose, too!" And Dundas, perspiring, wholly as toii.shed, hiiaC n d to order a 'iong'joa! !n pursuit of I lie aklfT on the httN ChnnCO of overhauling tho fugitives be fore they reached the American front. J.irrat, however, made a different eul eulat!on. ills cobra hate, inflamed by the sight of Ann?' In the bout, leaped to n rapid Conclusion.' Site had discovered that Armand bad heen exposed; they bad taken the river way?the only way to avoid the Americans. Ho he argued. And whither did they Hy? Where else than to Uludden Hall, now deserted, where she thought to couccal him till the hue and cry passed?where she may have hldffen horses. Tho long boat would probably be halted by the shore pickets-the skiff might slip through. Two hours after this rutiocinntlou Jarrat wos caught and held oil tho right skirt of tho besieging army as a deserter from the town, and forthwith be demanded to be taken to General Huscn's headquarters. There the general, seated in his tent, had Just penned the last page of n let ter: On the ltth. they had another Droblng. To-day, 17th, l.'d Cornwallls Bout u Hag requesting- n cesa'n of nrma & 2 Com mlaa'n'rs to form :\ Capitulation for tho Army & the surrender of the BhlplUK & Soata of York & Oloater. Thus huti the larl been bro't to anehor in the height of Ida career. My next shall his more par ticular, In the meantime bo anaur'O of tho Sincerity of y'r real friend and Ob'd't Humble Serv't. He was Hhaklng the sand box over the still wet signature When the captive was brought In. "Three days ago," Jarrat begun, "I bad the honor to send to you a letter from the town in regard to a certain Continental officer." The general sent the others out of hearing and bent his gray-black brows. "I have today heard of his condemna tion," he said. "He Is dead then. He has atoned. So far as I am concerned, his past shall be burled with him," "Hut If," Jarrat continued?"if 1 should tell you that he Is not dead; that the report of his condemnation was a trick; that he was not captured In the first place, but used the night attack to penetrate within York tow II without ex citing suspicion and so carry to Cora* Wallis full plans of the American works"? "Your proof of this?" asked H?sen, his teeth sot like a vise. "The proof is that this very night he hns been smuggled out beyond the Con tinental lines and lies at this moment In hiding In u house a half dozen miles from here waiting escape." "Where Is the house?" thundered the other. Jarrat's lean lips smiled. "Pardon me If I make terms. In return for my freedom I will guide a detachment to his burrow." "An this be true," said Unsen. He hesitated, but only for a moment. Then he called a sharp direction to his or derly. "I must see General Lafayette," he ?aid to Jarrat. "The cavalry legion Is no part of my brigade. Colonel Ar mand was under division orders only." Hut the marquis was making n tour of the works with the commander In chief and could not be found. "It must not wait," fumed Jarrat. "He will be off." (?oneral Hasen sat down and wrote a hurried order. "An he Is not there, why, 'twill be merely a ride for naught," he mused. "An he is, there will be small question. "Major Woodson," he said as a staff officer appeared, "take a relay of a dozen men immediately and go to the house this prisoner will show you. Should you find there Colonel Armand of the cavalry legion, arrest him." "An he resists"? said Jarrat. "The usual orders," the general an swered. "Go!" CHAPTER XX. S the skiff slipped out from the confusion of the town edge the moon, lifted like a paper sickle, silvered all tho misty distance. A mile away across the broad expanse Anne saw the twinkling lights of Gloucester and to her left the camp fires under the river bank slipping slow ly back. Hut the current was steady and their progress necessarily slow. Ahead loomed the massive star shaped Fusllcer's redoubt, With the Hrltish frigate (iuadaloupe moored some way outside, and, passing, she clinched her hands till the noils struck purple cres cents in her palms in a dumb terror of pursuit or alarm. They were scarce come opposite this when a shot, a shout and a sound of ours tumbled upon thwarts came clear ly over the water behind them. "They have found It out!" she cried. "ROW hard! Oh, would that 1 could help you!" "Found out what?" "I must tell you the truth. I have procured your escape by a trick, "f was not n true release which I brought to the barrack. 'Twas false. They are like to discover it ot any moment and pursue us." Ho stopped rowing, "You did that? for mo? You spoke falsely when you said you were in terrible danger?" "How," she pleaded, leaning forward from the stern. "Stop not an instant. I have fooled Cornwallls. Think you he will forget that? Or, If they tnke us, that I shall go scot free? Would you see mo In a cell?" The boat shot forward with a Jerk that made her catch her breath. "Where are you heading?" she asked presently, for he had turned Inshore. "The French battery is Just ahead. 'Tis the extreme left of the circling Continental front. Beyond that Is safe ty, mademoiselle." "I will not land there. You must pass the American lines. You must take mc home to Gladden Hall." "But"?? "Itow, row!" "I beg you to allow, us to land," h* urged. 'The regiment of the Gatlnals lies behind that bluff. They will not dare to pursue into the French tranches." "An you are afraid" Ob, what It cost lior heart to say that! Armand bent to the oars and in creased his speed. Neither spoke. She was suffering n like apprehension now of arousing the American pickets on tho shore. At any other time, doubt less, there would have been challenges, but on this night, the first of mailt weeks, ihe Continentals rested and made merry, waiting the signing of the nrthios of surrender. The skiff passed the danger point, and for awhile thcrs was no sound save the slap of tiny waves like children's bunds against the stem and the muffled din of the pursuit, which drew on with dogged persistency. "They will not lire," she said ut length in a low voice, "for fear of arousing the Americans. They have a ship's boat full, but they row crooked and uneven. Yet they come on fart fast. Tell me, could we get back to the Continental works?" "'Tis impossible uow. Thoy are be tween us and them. Gladden Hall Is the nearest refuge*'* "Are you certain V "Yen, mademoiselle." . "Listen," she confessed theu. "I have deceived you. I made you take me past the Continental Hue because?because you yourself cunuot go there. You must not go there. 'Tis not only tho lirltlsb who would seise you now. Ah, do you not understuud ? You have been denounced. 'Tis Known that you are the same who, tbey think, would havo misled the congress." "Informed Qgalust?" be said. "Again?" "Ob, what a ghastly thing for you to say to me! 'Twos Jurrat?Jurrat. How ashore and fly." "Where Y* "Anywhere, anywhere," she cried wildly, "only bo it be to safety! Haste! Tbey gain on uh!" "If we land tbey arc certain to tuko us. You cannot go afoot as fast as they." "I shall not go. You shall leave me there. How! Row!" "And why should you care for my lifer "Ah, will you stay when my heart is breaking? Thero is no time to talk now. What is anything they may do beside your life? I beseech yoai?I com mand you to run in. I never-intended you to take me farther.". "You would be safe if wo could reach Gladden Hall," ho said. Then he stood up and threw off his coat. Her tears came at this. "There is no one at tho hall to protect," she wept. "Not a slave to boot them back. Not a weapon. Tarleton sacked it. Ah, you do not believe me because I de ceived you before! But this is the truth?I swear it is the truth!" He made no answer, but set tho boat's bow straight up the stream and rowed as she had nover seen a man row before. She felt, the timbers shiver and creak, heard the deep intake of his breath and saw the splendid play of the arm muscles beuenth his shirt Sleeve. Theu, entering, ever more In sistent, came the creak of the pursu ing craft. The moonlight fell whltely on the shore they aklrtefd. Two miles?threo miles?past the shallows of King's creek and forbln's point. Every tongue of land, every wedge of forcHt, how well she knew them! Hut how slowly they fell behind! There was no longer danger of qnouslug the Conti nental pickets, and the pursuers' voices came clearly, gibing at the error of their prisoner which had carried him past the line of safety and made his taking certain. Once Anne heard the officer who led (give sharp command to put down a gun. A Beaut L'OO yards was all there was between tho two boats when Armand sprang upon the Whoxf of Gladden Hall. "Leave me," shetbegged faintly, "and save yourself! Y'ou have yet time." "Give me your hand!" he command ed peremptorily. He took it and led her, running, up the sloping lawn. Its unkempt forlornness was softened by the kindly moonlight, and not until they reached the front of tho house did its gray desolnteness become all at once apparent. Tho panes In the win dows were broken, the white pillars battered, the front door swinging, the yard unsightly with robblsh. "'Tis deserted!" Despair waB in his tone. "I told you that." "Are there no hrOrscS?" "The barns are burned. Leave me, leave me and go!*' He hurried her to Hie'front door, and they entered, heaving as they did so the larger boat bump the planking. Without a word be shot home the liolts In the great door and drov her Into the dining room, now oversi uttered with broken crockery. He locked both doors of this room, si .j.shcd the sashes of the porch window:* with n chair, brought together the he ivy outer blinds and slid the bars. As he fastened the sec ond the purs w*rs came tumbling to the porch. Anne, meantime, taking a clew from him, bud managed lo fasten one of the win iows In the opposite side. He sprang to secure the other lioforo the soldiers reached the back of the house. This shut out the last of the moon light, arid the room became a black darkness. Outs'dc was a deadened clamor, curses and shouts to fetch ship's lanterns and search the empty quarters for an ax. Anne could bear Armand's convulsive breathing. She had groped her way to the side board and opened Its candle drawer. A tiny half inch end rewarded her. Flint and steel still hung In their accustomed place. She struck thein and lighted the Wick with trembling bands. As she did so a heavy body came hurtling against the other side of the Inner door. "Hotter giro up, you wea sel," panted a voice. Armand answered loudly, "If 1 do will you promise lo let the lady go?" "No, no!" Ann.1 besought in an agony. "You shall not give yourself up to them! The}- would not hold to such n promise." With her cry. however, whirled a scramble of curses. "We'll lay you by the heels mid take the girl back, too, curse you!" And a rain of blows de scended on tho door, while a crash against one of the blinds shook the wall. leaping back. Armand dragged out the heavy mahogany sideboard, now slashed and den teil, and set it against one door. The other he re-enforced With the overturned table and bound Ibis to its place with the twisted win dow curtains. Last, lie wrenched an iron from the fireplace and stood wait ing. At the same moment the caudle end collapsed, the wick dropped, Dick ered and went out, and darkness fell around them again. A lull had come in the attack. Kvl dently a consultation was being held. The blackness seemed to lie upon Anflo'g soul like a heavy weight, and Armand's silence became unbearable. "What shall we do?" she asked dully. "We cannot hold out for long." But there was no reply. "I?I nm so frightened," she said plteously. "'Tis dark! Come to me, Louis!" She listened, but he made no stir. "You Will not Kiine to me, will not pity or comfort me?" she entreated ; through the void. "Yet tonight I tried 1 to save your life." "For what end? You who took from it all that uinkcs lifo sweet 1 1 trusted you!" She shrank at the ring of scorn ' In his voice. "I trusted you!" "And I you," she answered. "I loved and hoped mid trusted too. After they look yoU from here that evening, every I night when I went to bed I said a j prayer and kissed my poor band to you In the dark. And I hnvo (lone m every ; night since then every night, Louis." Something like a sob sounded in the room, and she stretched out hor arms town id it. "I tried to keep my promise. Von rc member when they lashed (bo bond woman? she woke with a crazed brain and the packet your packet u [is > oil AH those months 1 searched and found it ait lust by euuuce. I did not get to Philadelphia with it till?that niorh? lug." There was no further answer, and she slipped on her knees, feeling a yearning that was like a poignant sick ness. "You must hear." she went on plead ingly, clasping her Augers, "and be llevo me or my heart will break. Pate put me in tlic recess of the window at tho Bed Lion tavern, Louis. I saw Jar rat glvo you the forged message? saw you fight and run htm through. I knew you were truo?truo to your mas ter's honor and your own " "You accused me!" The words stung her. "Accused me to the Continentals!" "Listen! Listen to me!" she prayed desperately. "I must tell you it all now? now at the end. Jarrat showed mo the paper?the contract that bound you to give your life?your life! And I know you would do It. Oh, what that meant! I would have given my own life a hundred times to prevent It. Can you think what It cost me to stand in that room and say that?that of you? Your face was dreadful! I thought I should die when you looked at nie!" "So you killed my honor!" "No, no! Not that?I did not mean that, Louis! I had such little lime to think?such sinnll time to reason. I had only time to feel?to feel as a wo man will, and to net. I had to defeat the contract to keep you from goiug back to the prison?to death. I thought *I could clear you at the lust, I who knew you were true, because I had the packet- the true message. Only I prom ised my soul that I should not speak within the month." Her voice broke n little here, then went on in a sudden pathos of pleading: "What know we women of soldier's duty or soldier's honor?we who are cherished and toasted all our lives? We know only to love, to follow?and? and- to save what wc love in spite of all the world!" There was u movement now, a step. "Then I took the packet, Louis, into the congress to Dr. Franklin that very hour, and 1 could not tell you what 1 had done- and you escaped them. I thought you had gone to your death. And you didn't know! You never knew. Oh," she sobbed, "if you would only forgive me, only touch me, only lay your hand on my head"? Sin* heard a stumble, a smothered cry. The Iron bar clanged against tho floor. An aim, groping, trembling, tout bed her" Wet cheek. "My God! And I doubted you!" Ar mand's voice thrilled her in a great hurst of grief-wound Joy. "You gave the message? My darling, my darling!" She felt herself caught up In ids arms in tho dark, shuddering, crying, pant ing Incoherent phrases, kissing bis face, ids rough coat, Iiis epaulets, strangling with tierce terror and ecstasy of love and feeling ids passion strain and fold her. It seemed to her thill all of life and death was concentrated in I hat one embrace?that nothing existed in tho world hut the delirium of that single sweet bitter moment. A medley of shouts and ax Idows on both of the doors at one time soul her into quick spasms of dread. A panel splintered, a shaft of light and an arm thrust in. Armand released her, struck once with the iron bar, and the man fell back, cursing, with a broken arm. "Shoot!" olio shouted. "Are wo to be bayed by tin ; rat!" "Don't tire." came the response. The order was imperative. The blows began again. Another pan el crashed, and the holes let In more light, it fell upon Anne's pallid lips and showed her A inland's white sleeves and pale face, set. but calm. A blow struck the lock of the other door. It yielded, and the oak swung in against the stout sideboard. Anne felt her limbs grow cold. "Lost, lost!" she murmured and lean ed dumbly against the wainscoting. Suddenly a fusillade of musketry Woke the echoes out of doors, and a crisp shout garnished It. "File out of that ball and lay down arms'.'' There aroae a saturnalia of revile ment from the hall. Then, as it died, the voice asked, "What mean these ac tive hostilities in a period of armis tice V" "'Tis a sortie for an escaped prison er," came the Jarring mirth of Jarrat. "Well, major, I think you will have need yourself for all Ihe prisoners to be found here." Anne had gone from oik? terror to an other and bitterer one. "The Conti nentals'." she moaned. The crisp voice approached tho splin tered door. "Colonel Armand," it said, "I arrest you In tho name of tho Unit ed States of America. Do you surren- j der?" "By whose orders':'' "The general's commanding the Sec- j ond brigade." | "I am a colonel of independent cav alry," answered Armand clearly. "1 acknowledge orders only from the dlvl slon commander." Jarrat laughed. Sharp directions followed. The tiXCS cut wider Assures In the panels, and through these musUets obtruded and . took aim. "My orders are to take you | olive, to shoot if you resist. I give you j fire minutes to open Unit door." Anne run to Armand and threw' her- i self Into bis arms. "Ah, you must not! For Clod'8 sake, give yourself lip! 1 will toll it all to General Washington. j Ho will bear and believe me. I will" ? "Think you it would be credited?" he asked gently. "And if not"? She clllllg to him, weeping. "But you have; fought so. There is that! j Oh, 'twill give me your life your life! i That Is all I want! I care not for Shame or report, so I know it is not true! Ali, pity me! And 'tis my fault! Oh, tlds must be a hideous dream come to punish me!" "1 used to dream," ho said, "of you and me as wed in honor." "Oh, I would wed you in dishonor, in disgrace, In death! Sec," she said hur riedly, "hero Is my mother's wedding ring. I have always worn it about my neck. I love you! I love you!" She laid It in bis baud. "Put It upon my finger," she whis pered. "Say it after ine, 'I, Anne, take thee, Louis, to my wedded husband.' " A strange fire had conic into his face. "'I, Louis," he repented solemnly, " 'toko thee, Anne, to my wedded wife.' " "'To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for rich er, for poorer, In sickness and In health' "? ? "'To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for rich er, for poorer, In sickness and in health' "? She was sobbing now so that she could scarcely frame the words; "To love and to cherish-till death us do' join, Lotlls! It cannot, It shall not, pari us!" "My own love'." he said In choked tones, and held her quivering against ids breast, "Tho time is up," snid the voice. Anne clasped Armand with her young arms?tightly, desperately, ns if her warm, yielding body, her face fragrant with white fragrance, could keep back the doutb tbut looked from tbo.*e mur ales. His hands disengaged her own to pin to his coat a yellow bauble he had tak en from bis pocket, and theu, as she clung, her strained senses became con scious of n wheeling plunge of horse men at tbo porch, hurried steps, n voice shaking with a ?Innige vibration, ask ing questions in broken English. At tin* sound Armand threw back bis head and stood like a stone Image. There wob n pause. Then? "Louis Armand," said the sibilant, halting tongue, "I command you to open thces doorl You will not, eh? You know who I am?" Tho sideboard fell with a crash, the splintered door tumbled upon it, and Armand stood to attention In the bln/.e of lantern light. At a glance Anne knew tii ? oflicor who stood in Ihu door way, surrounded by a glittering staff. Ho was the major general commanding the dlVl !( U. "You surrendalr, then? Good! An' where. Major Woodson, is the infor tnair who has done such brilliant sairv ice to deuouuee?eh? Come stau* he side me, M'sieu Jarrat, an'" let US over whelm thces villain!" He advanced a stop into tbo room, his bright eyes on the pair. "Ha! An* you thcenk I have never recognize you, Charles, all thces time? me who was your old brother in the College dU I'lessls? M.o ? Lafayette? take off that wig! Take it off, 1 toll you!" Mechanically, Armand put his hand to his head. Ho drew off the black peruke, and, all at once uncoullncd, hip. brown, curling hair fell to his shoul ders, tbo ends just touching the yellow Cross of St. Louis which sparkled like u topaz on his breast. The act trans formed him. The set mouth was gone, :h" lace all soften d to yoUtbfUlllOSS. "Louis Armand, the Impostor, seized at YYilbanishing!" shouted Jarrat. "Ar inaud, who escaped tbo clutches of the congress! Armand, the trailer, gen tlemen. Tear off his cross!" One of the circle about L.-.fayette turned facing him with an oath, but the general was before him. "No!" ho cried. "No! Not Louis Armand the traitor, but Charles Louis Armand, colonel of Armand's legion and Marquis de la Troucrle!" There was an instant of silence that turiu-d a babel behind the speaker, "A Iii !" shouted Jarrat. "A He! The Marquis de la Troucrle is dead!" Anne hail risen, trembling, speechless, her eyes lixed and glittering. "Aye," said Armand sternly, stretch ing his arm toward him. "He has been dead these five years. But he did not die when you supposed. That was but a play necessary to deceive a dog one would not wish barking at bit heels, lie called himself n secretary, and you you Jackal?you thought to buy Iii in, a Frenchman, to betray his master, his king and these colonies!'' Lafayette laughed like a child. "Ho bribe him to be?what you thcenk, gentlemen??to be himself! A rare pleasant reo, eh? And Ihe congress, they thcenk he trick them in soventec six. Tbey would arres' him yet, when he Is denounce' even my General Ha senl" Jarrat had fallen back, his face black, bis fingers convulsively working, his teeth gritting one on another like peb bles In the ha ml. Armand's eyes wen? upon Anne, though he seemed to address all pres ent: "The marquis had a mission, and he found It to his purpose to to become himself. He found many thorns in Ids way. But he found one rose one rose so pure am! fragrant that ho wished to gather It. He foun 1 a lady a lady of Virginia, who l< ed him and ho llered In him. The marquis was liv ing then. He foun ' :mself In peril, and l.o trusted b r. And at last he thought she lind betr. ; : him." "Ah, my friend," cried Lafayette wistfully, "these long months seeing you. and l luve never told you I knew you - never in ked wherefore you hid yourself from all. \V:i i 1 not a friend, Charles?" "Then," Ai.?.:!?! con Untied, "God for give his unbelief! Then was when he died!" A great lovely light had come to Anne's face and smiled from her color less lips a light more lovely than the aurora over snow s. "Is It true?" she faltered, looking at him In a sorl of unbelieving wondei "Is it true? And will he live again?" For answer ho knelt down at her feet am! put his lips to her hand. She felt tears upon it, When they looked Up they were alone In tho room. From the yard came the rattle of bridle chains and the bustle of mounting. Lafayette met them on the threshold. "I have search' all the plaCO for a what you call it ?- sidesaddle." he laughed, "an' there ees one at las'. Colonel, mn'ainselle, you shall ride to town wit" me. We shall nil bo jus' like big children tonight! All, 1 have for get you did not know that only two, free hour ago, Cornwallis has surrpn dair to the Americans!" THE END, !?? nit 11'ih Fifth Fnrtuft. It Is worth noting that there are al most no Instances where fish ponds have been started and carefully man aged where they have not proved a financial success. Such a thing as a "derelict" fish farm Is almost un known, though there are thohsands of old fashioned ponds, originally meant to hold tench or carp, which are at present useless and neglected. London Country Gentleman. Complicated. Thingumbob My wife hns got Into some sort of scrap with tho neighbors, and I can't tell whether she's In the right or not. McJigger?That ought to be easily determined; there aro two ?ides to a quarrel always Thingum bob Two sides? Huh, there ore about a dozen sides to this quarrel. Fx ?bango. SIMPSON & COOPER Attorneys at Law. Will practice in all Stato Courts. Prompt rtttoutlon given to all business TilNDiPO THE NEW NEKVE TONIC AND KIDNEY CURE. f>nnses tho Klilnoyn and Madder, nurlflcs the Blood. I ma Flesh .... thin people, riirengtlicnii the Nerve*, clrnn Ilia Drain. Curoe Nervous rt.iiit.v. Iiwonmln, Kniiing Memory. Restore* la' botlT??S?,*,n?i,, oi Vou,h? ThlM MCW Remedy workHlllto Mnirle. hut In nl> eoiuuij- uaralea*. Weigh yourwlt ?rforrtaking! ?vP^lo1e, 3? ?.,IV? 12 >><??? sb.00. Iiv mall W? ?iLf?S,u'K r<"""1 ?'"' moneyft you ara oot bunetltutl. Try it uud bo convluccd. Laurens Drupr Co. A CONTINUAL STRAIN. Many inon and women are constantly subjected to what they commonly term "a continual ?train" because of rome (inanoial or fom'ly trouble. It wears and distresses them both mentally and pbyslcnll.v, affecting tholr nrrves bad ly and bringlog on llvor and kidney ailments, wiih the attendant evils of constipation, lofs of appetite, sleeple?? ness, low vitality and despondency. They c. nnot, as a rule, get rid of this "continual strain," but they can reme dy its health destroying effec's by tak ing frequco dostb of Groen's August Flower. 1t, tones up tho liver, stimu lates the kidneys, insures healthy bod ily functions, gives vim and spirit to one's who'e being, and eventually dis pels the phvsical or mental distress caus?d by that "continual strain." Trial bottle of Augiut Flower, 26c; reg ular size, 7<5c. At all druggists. n. ni Tarklnh Coffee. Here Is a Turkish receipt for mab Ing Turkish coffee obtulned In the Syrian quarter of New York, where tho truest coffee In the world Is sold at r> ceuts a cup in restaurants which are exact duplicates of thes* id Smyrna and Beirut: Put three lumps of sugar into a little pot, turn In the water and bring It to a boll. Then put In two tea*, spoonfuls of very finely ground Moefca coffee. As soon ns the froth rises lift the pot ond tap the bottom until the froth disappears. Do this three time*. Then turn the coffee Into delicate china cups, giving each cupful a share of froth. Tho coffee should be freshly roasted Mini ground, and tho grounds should be so fine as to pass the palate un noticed. Turks always drink tho grounds, considering them, indeed, to be the best part of n cup of coffee, a Nuclei)- Knemici. A leader of New York society said recently: "It Is almost Impossible to give a largo dinner any more. There are too many feuds and quarrels, and women who hato each other are ths cause of too much embarrassment tq a hostess. Of course they try to gloss their enmity for the tlmo, but the re sult Is worse than open warfaro. At one dinner a cabinet oftlcer sat be tween two great women of fashion. He talked to one and then to the other and tried to draw them Into a three cornered conversation. The women ob Stlnntely refused to exchange a word, and finally the man?and ho was sup posed to lie a diplomat?Introduced them. A chill followed. They bad known each other for twenty years," had been friends for ten and loathed ?ach other tho other ten." Church Notes. 1 ho iiuc-tcity and village churches are paint- d with tho Longman & Mar-* tines paints, and wo want every church to accept ou- donation whenever they paint. 8 and (i make 14, therefore when you want fourtof n ga'lona of paint, buy only eight of L & M and mix six gallons of pure liusicd o'l with it, making actual cost of paict about $1.20 per gallon. Don't pay $1.60 a gallon for linserd oil (woitn (10 cents) which you do when you l.uy oili' r pain's in a can with a paint label on it. Mnny houses aro well pa'nted with four ga'lor.s of I. ?c M and three gallons of linseed oil mixed therewith. Wr ars and covers Hko gold. Tbe*e celebrated paints are s .Id by W. L. Boyd, Laurons, S. C. ( linton Pharmacy, 0 inton. fi. ,rf ii,o liio Kind You Have Always BoujjM NOTICE OF County Treasurer. Tlio County Treasurer's Booki will be open for collection of State, County 3iul Com nutation Road Taxes for fis cal y ar 100:t at tho Treasurer's Ollice, 11 <Mii Ootober 16th to December 31, 100P Those who prefer to do fo can pay in January, 1915, with one per cent, addi.ional: thc>3e who prefer paying in February, 1006. can do so with 2 per cent, additional; those who prefer to p*y in March, lu0r>, to the 15th of raid month, can do so by paying an addi tional 7 ppr cent. After sa:d date the books will o'ose. All pers ns owning properly or pay ing taxes for others In more than or.o Township arc requested to c 11 f.-r re ceipts in each township in which they live. This h important, as additional cost and penally may not be attached. Prompt attention will bo given those who wish to pay their taxes through tho mail by checks, nionoy orders, e'o. Potsocs s nd ng in lists of names to bs taken oil*, are urged to send in early as ?heTreas-n er is very busy during the men h of December." Tho Tax Levy is as follow.-: State Tax, 6 mills County Ordinary, t>?, mil s Special County, 2$ mills Public Koad, ]} mills Sohoo', 3 mills Total 15 mills Special School, Lniren=>, 31 mills Special School, Waterloo. 2 mills Sp cial School, Cr??y Court, 2 mills Special Sein o', Cosa Hill. 3 mills Special School, Mountvllle, 21 mills Sp cial School, Foun ain Inn, 4 mil a Special Schojl, Hunter, 3 mills All able-bodied malocitizens between tho ages of 21 and 00 years are liable o pay a poll lax of $1.00, except old soldiers, who aro exempt; at f>'j years. Commutat'on Koad Tax $1 00, In 1 eu of working the public roads, to bo paid at the time as Stat0(1 abive. Coin j oai 1>- and avo'd iho rush. J. H. COPE LAND, County Treauirer. Laurcns, 3. C, Sept. 20, 1001?:d. Final Settlement. Take notice that on tho 17th day of Januiry, ii?_>r>, I will rendec a ilnal ro countof my acts and doing* as Admin islrutir of tho estate of Fannie O. Parks, deceased, In therlllca of Judge of Probate of LaureOS county at 11 O'o.o k a m ., and on tho same dato will apply for a linal discharge from my trust as such Administrator. All pprscin having demand i against said estate will please present them on or boforo that date, proven and authen ticated, or bo forever barred, and all persons indebted to said estato must make pajment to the, urdersiened be fore that date. W. M. HUNTER, Iv-m Administrator. W.U. KNI'JHT, R. K. BAI ? KNIGHT & BAKU, Attorneys at Law. ?T Will practlco in all the State and Federal Courts. Striotattention to all business intrusted to them. Office up-stairs, Simmons' Bnlldlrg N. B. Di.u? A. 0. Todd. DIAL & TODD, Attorneys and Coun sellors at Law. F.nterprise Bank and Todd Office Build Ing. L a u r rn H , S. CJ.