Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1899 — THE PATRIOTS TALISMAN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PATRIOTS TALISMAN.

By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.

CHAPTER XII. •‘Well, Doctor,” 'said the cavalry captoin, ’entering the quarters of the surfißOilheperal, “I think you our two dead Hurons over to the next burytog party: only, first, I would like to be Oureghat one of item has a scar over the glghr eye. I have a faint recollection of Waving seen some such thing.” “Aye, to be sure, my boy,” cried Rush, excitedly—for he saw that Seaton had gained important intelligence—“and a prodigious scar it was, evidently made MWtoinahawk. But what have you “Ilhave found that-the gentleman with ♦bp gear over' his eye is Mr. Wolf-tooth, a nAir friend and confidant of Sir WilHlanf Howe, mid that the other dusky ■adventurer was Master Wolf-tooth’s partner In business. In short, my dear Doc’tnr, I know all about it. Sit down and I will tell you.” Tfiey sat down and Seaton told the •atory, whereat the doctor was greatly amazed, and very much pleased. It not only lifted a load from his shoulders, but -It removed a greater load from his mind, -tor he had feared that there might be ©till further hidden danger to his young ■and'valued friend. Before noop the attempt upon Capt. flea ton’s life* became known throughout 'the Camp, and. those who could gain pertnispion went to the provost's quarters to look upon the dead Hurons, the bodies •haring been turned over to that officer’s department. There was no need that -ournero should expose the name of his personal enemy, for reason enough for <he>daatardly attempt was found in the gallant captain’s successful raids among the‘enemy’s friends and supporters. No one could tell how or when the two .skulkers had come into camp. A rigid in--vestigation was held, but to no further purpose than the pointing out of two or ■three possible passes which had not heretofore been particularly guarded. Extra r sentinels were posted, and new and more •stringent orders were issued for the gov--ornfaent of the officers of the guard. During the next three weeks Captain ‘Beaton, with his command, made two ■more excursions into, the country, bring*lng back to camp needed provisions of -various kinds. On Sunday, the first day of March, a -messenger arrived in camp with a mail ’’bag, having come across the country from Late in the day an orderly -from headquarters entered Seaton’s hut. **A letter for you, Captain; and one for yon, Lieut. Douglas.” “So my. brother has found post, pt | length,” said the lieutenant, as he glanc--«d at the superscription of the missive ho had received. And then he sat dpwn -to read the news from home. Seaton had recognized upon his packet •the hand of Patience Angell. He turned his *back to his companions before he hrokb the seal. A letter from Patience, and,. Within, one from Lillian! He pressed the latter missive to his lips, and then laid it away next to his heart while he "turned to the former. At the first glance a half-smothered exclamation broke from Jhis lips. bad news, I trust, Captain?” “Not to me, good Douglas, but to the loved’ ones away. ' News of my death has reached Philadelphia.” “Aye,” cried tie lieutenant, “and be «ure the most profound wish was father to tljf-thought of those who gave the in--telligence. But never mind. We’know What We know. The British cannot hold ’Philadelphia forever; and when they are ■gone, Captain Robert Seaton shall appear to the dear ones, none the worse for the ■very,. , kind attentions of his English friends ”

Below the address upon the outside of Patience's letter, and as a part of the •uperecription, was written: “irCaptain Robert Seaton is dead, will the .officer in command of his company burn “this without opening it, and ask Mr. Isaac Potts to communicate the same to Patience Angell of Philadelphia, if he can possibly do so?” Robert had not particularly noticed this foot note .of the'superscription, at ' first—he had wen too anxious know ts there was an inclosure within from the lovedone. The letter was as follows: ; ** “Philadelphia, Reb. 12, 1778. “Dear Robert—As I write this I know •aot whether you are dead. Our enemies publicly boast thai Captain Robert Seaton, the Rebel cavalry leader, has been slain by the king’s troops; but I do not Wish to believe it. I tell Lillian, whose heart is breaking, that it cannot be. And yet, I ought not to tell her so. Better, perhaps. f<Jr her, that she should think you dead. My dear, brave boy, you? Country, may be all that is left for you rd hopefully love. Lillian is enslaved, andj I fear, must marry with an English nSblemait to please her father. The man ip an earl, and Jacob Eastcourt has ■eworflf that Lillian shall become his wife. I see. not how it is to be helped. (Patience, here gives a detail of business matters, and then concludes:) Your heart wiU. hot break. The active duties of your Office,, and the stirring scenes of a solfiler'a'life, will, I trust, lift your mind ; above useless repining. , Lillian has written.Xline, which I inclose. God grant ehat tilts may find you alive and well If you HVe, let me hear from you as soon as you dkn. Mr. Potts, the, Quaker preach<r, baa a means of forwarding smaN par•cels tb Philadelphia. “PATIENCE ANGELL.” Seiton next opened Lillian's letter. It waajtrltten in a tremulous hand, and ( there Were great stains upon the page where tears had fallen. It was without date.apd was as follows: “My Own—My Darting: Do I call you •o foe the last time? O! my poor heart! me you are dead. I cannot yet* 'tieliate It. It is too horrible. There has . teMcrtra battle. Biit-O! have they murdeiM you? I have dreamed the awful S&S? VS: rc” Strength no more to hold out against ESteiOj -

galling and fearful. Can you not make to me some sign? Can you not write? O! if you live, let me have the blessed assurance! God keep you, darling! ♦ • • • “LILLIAN.” Robert Seaton read the leter a second time, and then folded it, and put it away against his painfully throbbing heart He could not think in that place, with his comrades near him. He knew that he had their keenest sympathies, but he could not expose to them this great agony. He arose and put on his hat and cloak and went out into the open, frosty air—away where his men could not see him. When fully assured that no human eye was upon him, he convulsively clasped his hands and raised them toward heaven. “Great God of mercy! hear me in this hour, I humbly beseech Thee! O! let the bitter cup pass from me! Have compassion on my great love! Save me—ol save me from despair!” Then he bowed his head, and stood for a long time in silent meditation; and when the paroxysm had passed and he could control his emotions, he paced to and fro while he considered. That old dread of the English earl had not been an empty phantasy. . If he could not convey to Lillian intelligence of the fact that he was alive, she might be forced into the marriage upon which her father had set his heart, and be lost to him forever! That was the only poi,nt—intelligence to Lillian. He could not lose her. She was the one bright star of his life—the one object in which all his hopes of future earthly joy were centered. He would not flinch from the Patriot’s duty. He could die, if need be. He had no fears of honorable death. But the losing of his dear love seemed worse than death—a life forever shattered, joyless, and desolate! He could not bear it —he would not, if it lay in his power to cast the burden off. First, his Country —next, Lillian. For eighteen long months he had held his life in his hand —had fought and worked and suffered for. his country. Might he not now honorably give one poor week to Lillian? When he returned to his quarters he trod the frozen earth like a man of iron. Each step was an emphasis upon his determination, and there was no shadow of faltering upon his face. He eat his supper, and had arisen for his hat, when Captain Harry Lee entered. The face of the gallant Virginian was flushed, and his bright eyes glanced. “Where now, Seaton?” “I am going up to see Mr. Potts. I must, if possible, send a leter to Phila*delphia.” “You must put it off for a short bit, my dear fellow. I have a better thing than letter writing. I am just from headquarters with orders. The adjutant general sent down here half an hour ago, but you were absent. Hark ye: Our Delaware scouts have come in, and bring information, reliable and circumstantial, that an immense .provision train is on its way from the Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia, bearing all sorts of good things for the larders of the British. There are forty heavy wagons, guarded by a company of English dragoons and a strong detachment of Hessians. Washington wants those wagons, with their precious contents, and he bids you and me go and capture them. We are to set forth at once. The scouts will guide us, and we can intercept the train as early in the iriorning as: we please. We shall have a right gallant opportunity.” Had a man told him, half an hour before, that he was to b$ ordered upon such a mission at the present time, Seaton’s heart would have sank within hiffi; bht now, under the magic of Hajrry Lee’s inspiring voice, and with the work clearly before him, he grasped the opportunity. He might have a favor, by and by, to ask of the commander-in-chief. Success <?n this mission would not lessen the prospects of a favorable answer. “Dear Harry, I could have wished that this call had come at another time, but I am with you. Let your bugle sound the summons as soon as you please—my men shall be in their saddles!” “Good! We will be ready in an hour. We’ll find food for our horses on the way.” Robert Seaton had been called hi a great many emergencies—had been called unexpectedly—and had always gone forth, as his comrades knew, chderfujly and dauntlessly, though he went into deadly peril every time; but never before had he entered the battle path with just such feelings as now possessed him. The man of iron, who had walked to the hut at close of day, was still present. If he was not so cheerful as was his wont, he was sufficiently eager and fieiy to inspire his men as he had njever inspired them; Deep down in the sbul of the youthful chief was a stern resolve that he woipd do or die. He had dften before entered battle with the same resolve, but nevei; with the triple-tempered steel of desperation shutting out all cfcre for life, and only inviting mortal danger, as was now the case. I ( In truth, our hero was in an abnormal state. He had set his life upon the hazard of a die before Jhe call of this expedition had come. He had resolved upon a venture as much more fraught with danger than the present, as the present was more dangerous jthan the quiet sleep of a well-guarded 0a mp. Aye—and in that fearful venture, should his life be sacrificed, it would not be upon the altar of his country! He|had been made to feel, within the last hour, that there were conditions of life far worse than death. At an early hour in the evening the two companies of cavalry were drawn up in column for marching, with two faithful guides in advance. These guides were Delaware Indians, tried and true, and had been furnished by the chief sachem stf that tribe, Koquethagaeehlon, better known in history as Oaptain White-Eyes. He was a steadfast friend to the Patriots, and an active aad ardent supporter oi tn©ir cfiufic. At nine o’clock the squadron crossed the Schuylkill, and struck a course but US'.

almost as light as day. They were now approaching the road by which the provision. train was expected to come, and one of the scouts had ridden on in advance to reconnoitre. At a farm house, which came conveniently in their way, they halted to rest and feed their horses. Lee offered to pay for the provender, but the sturdy husbandman, with two sons in the Patriot army, when he knew the object of the expedition, refused the proffered money. If his humble contribution could help the cause of his country, he was content. The order had just been given to mount, when the outriding Delaware came dashing up with information that the train was doming down the middle road. > “Ho!* cried Seaton, springing into his “they hope to reach their lines before morning. They serve us well!” Having gained what information the scout had to give, Lieut. Douglas, who knew the country well, very quickly decided upon the point where the enemy could be struck most advantageously, and under his lead, with Seaton's troop in advance, the column pushed oh. The Delaware reported a full company of dragoons, and more than a hundred Hessian infantry, in guard over the train, and he judged from the pacing of the horses, that they had been rested and fed at midnight. The dragoons were in the van, with the infantry following the wagons when they Could not march upon the flanks. It was three o’clock by our hero’s watch when Douglas espied the head of the British column. “Seaton,” cried Lee, drawing his sword, “will you attack in front?” “Yes.” “Then I will sweep around to the rear and close the trap. I need not caution you to make your first blow a crushing one. Forward!” Never did the very perfection of military drill and training manifest itself more emphatically than on the present occasion. Like one man Seaton’s troop dashed upon the English dragoons, while like one other man the troop of Harry Lee swept around to the rear of the long, lumbering train, striking the surprised Hessians like a tornado. The conflict was sharp and short. Seaton bad by far the most fighting to do, and he was equal to it. As though assured of a charmed life, cased in a body of triple steel, he plunged forward, shouting in trumpet tones to his men, and cutting down everything that opposed hhn. A score of pistol shots were discharged in his face without wounding him, and the sabre-strokes aimed at his head glanced off harmless upon his trenchant Toledo blade. His devoted men saw and admired, and pressed stanchly to his support. In fifteen minutes Lee had overcome captured the Hessians, and in five minutes more the dragoons surrendered, the major in command, faint and bleeding, delivering his sword to Captain Seaton.

The loss of life had not been great. Lee had lost three men, and Seaton had lost only two. A few were wounded. Of the enemy twenty had been killed outright, and quite a number wounded. The dead and wounded were placed upon the wagons, and the prisoners, to the number of a 197, were placed under a sufficient guard, with Lieut. Douglas in immediate charge. And thus the victorious Patriot* set out upon their return. At the dwelling of the liberty-loving farmer they halted to let his eyes behold the result; and the good man felt himself amply repaid. By the middle of the forenoon on the day following, the expedition marched into camp; and when the forty great wagons were seen, heavily laden with needed provisions, and when it was also seen that a goodly battalion of British troops had been captured, the welkin rang until it seemed ready to split. Even the women Who were gathered at headquarters, with Lady Washington at their head, seeing not the dead and the wounded, came out and joined in the jubilation. In the afternoon general orders were published, which gave to the officers concerned most grateful emotions, and which made the rank and file of the squadron feel doubly repaid for their labor. They were heroes indeed. On the evening of that day Captain Seaton called upon Mr. Potts, the owner of the house where the chieftain dwelt, and asked if it would be possible to get a letter through to Philadelphia within a few days. The old Quaker shook his head. He had sent letters through to patriotic families in that city, but the old avenue had been closed to him. He knew not when he might find another. Our hero then sat down and wrote a note to Gen. Washington, respectfully asking if he could have an interview with his commander-in-chief on a strictly personal matter. In less thafi half an hour an orderly appeared, and summoned our captain to the chieftain’s presence. He found Washington alone, and was received with cordial frankness. '

“General, I came to crave a boon. Between me and yoUr august self there is no intermediate commander, save Harry Lee. He favors my request. I would like a leave of absence for two weeks.” “Is it necessary, Oaptain?" “To me, General, it is more than a matter of life and death. I only ask for two weeks; and I would not ask that, were I not assured that I should leave an officer at the head of my command in every way worthy and competent.” “Aye, I know Roderic Douglas weß. But, Captain, you are going into danger?” “I have counted carefully the cost, your excellency, and I shall be circumspect.” “And if we should lose you?” “For eighteen hard months, General, my; life has been my country’s, and, as you know, she has been welcome to its sacrifice upon the altar of duty at any moment. For two short weeks, I pray you, let it be mine!” « “Captain Seaton!” cried Washington, grasping the hand of the gallant youth, “I owe you much, and I will not refuse this request. When do you wish to set forth T* “Immediately.” “Before morning?" “Yes, General. Every hour bears upon me as though freighted with the weal or woe of a lifetime.” “Come to me in half an hoar, and your papers shall be ready.” And thereupon Washington dismissed the captain, and sent for his adjutant general. (To be continued.) Copyright Some men who have more money than brains are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Buying Better Gooia. Merchants all over the country are reporting through the medium of newspaper correspondents that not only are their customers buying more goods, but also that they are buying better goods. A St Paul (Minn.) merchant said, for instance: “Women who last year were buying 25-cent stuffs for shirt waists and dresses, are now getting dollar materials.” It Is the buying of higher-priced goods which in part swells the volume of trade for 1899 Q beyond that of 1898. It is the better quality of goods which is represented by these higher prices which in large measure marks the advantage which the people of the country will have in 1899 beyond that which they had in 1898. Last year the prosperity which came in with Protection was of sufficiently great proportion to give all the people of the country who were willing to work all the necessities of life, and in many cases to settle up the debts contracted in Tariff reform times and to make them square with the world. The additional year of prosperity, of increasing prosperity, since then, has meant such an increase of money that the luxuries of life, in quality as well as in quantity and variety, have been brought within reach.

The “Robber Baron*.” In the days of Grover Cleveland the puddler In an iron mill found his wages shrinking until they got down to $2.40 per ton, says the Outburst When William McKinley came into power and the Republican! prosperity dawned over the land, like a welcome sunrise after a long dura night of anxiety and commercial distress, the aforesaid puddler found his stipend rapidly increased until it reached $3.75; and two weeks ago the “robber barons”—as Bryan calls the owners of the iron mills—gave him a further raise to $4. Another set of “cobber barons” who manage the great Pennsylvania Railroad has recently established a permanent pension system for faithful employes who have grown too bld for the active service of the road, and so the terrible work of the “robber barons” goes on, while the labor agitator, who sucks his fat living froth the sweatearned wages of the honest workman, rends the air with cries of “tyranny,” because dynamite and lawless destruction are not encouraged by the government under which we live.—Colfax (Wash.) Gazette. Will Not See. Senator Vest of Missouri will not see or believe that any prosperity has come to the farmer in the past two years. He said In an interview at Toronto, Canada, on Monday: “Republicans claim prosperity as due to the tariff policy, but farmers have received no particular benefit from the prosperity, and are as dissatisfied as ever.” Facts from ail sections of the country, especially the great farming West, disprove the sentence above uttered by Mr. Vest Millions of mortgages in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, lowa and the Dakotas were in 1898 paid off by the increased sale of their f "©ducts, and millions more will be paid and canceled before Christmas chimes are rung from the gold the 1899 crops will bring them—Fremont (Ohio) The Value of Confidence. It is possible, of course, that business may be somewhat unfavorably affected by the political battle of next year, this being a not uncommon experience in the year of presidential coptest but the danger of this will be reduced to a minimum if events shall be such as to create general confidence in Republican success. Let the financial and commercial interests of the country feel well assured of another Republican triumph and the national campaign will have ’ittle effect upon business.—Omaha Bee. Trost* io Saarland. English manufacturers apparently do not need Protection to father their trusts. Although England is a FreeTrade country, the large number of trusts is being rapidly increased. Even so conservative a paper as the London Economist advises that “it is absurd to keep going a hundred Inefficient

competing agencies to do what one efficient consolidated agency can do as well.” It seems that trusts do not depend for fatherhood upon Protection, despite Havemeyeris assertion to the contrary.—Tacoma (Wash.) Ledger. , - Tin Plate Prices. Every one knows that tin plate has advanced considerably in price within the present year. The Democratic theorists claim that the advance In the United States is due incidentally to the tin plate trust and to the tariff, it being their that a protective tariff is a promoter *of trusts. N6w let us’ look at the prices which the Welsn tin plate manufacturers receive. They now obtain $1.45 a box more than they did in January last This is a greater advance than has been made in the United States. We respectfully ask our Democratic friends to explain this. If the protective tariff and the trust caused the-ad-vance in the prices of tin plate in the United States, what caused a greater advance in price in Wales, where there is no tariff at all? We pause for reply.—Toledo Blade. Reason to Celebrate. Labor Day this year should have bad an extra big celebration. It stands for more than it has stood for for a number of years past; for more, at least, than it has stood for since the free-traders got in their knock-down blow at American Industries in 1892. It is the year’s holiday yyhlch Is especially dedicated to the wage-earners, and the wageearners of the. country have plenty of reason to celebrate this year. . They have had more work for which to celebrate and' more money with which to pay fpi their celebration. What Hollow-Headed Politicians Ray. This is a Republican year—and the bank clearances and commercial agency reports show that fully 50 per cent, more business is being done in the United States to-day than was done during the reign of Grover 11. And yet you will now and then run across a hollow j headed politician who will tell you that it would be well for this country to go back to the dead-sea stagnation of those hard old free-trade and free soup bemocratic days.—Darlington (Mo.) Record. A Vjghty Nation. Oswald Ottendorfer. says that this country is no longer the ideal America to Europeans that it was. It must be confessed that it has changed in some of its features. At one time it was the Mecca of the poor of Europe, who migrated hither because it offered a welcome to the home seekehs. Then it was also the market for European products. Now we are a mighty nation, invading the markets of . Europe and growing prosperous at the expense of older countries.—Seattle (Wash.) Post-Intelligencer. Hard-Up for Arnument*. With Montana wool bringing from 18 to 18% cents, it is hard for the Democratic papers of the State to work up an argument against the Republican plan of protection to. homA products. Very little has been heard from them recently regarding the “free entry of raw materials for manufacturing,” and “tariff for revenue only.”—Boulder Age. / Bpd.for Calamity Croakers. Scarcity Of workmen and high prices for common labor now characterize the industrial situation throughout the Northwest Such conditions are not conducive to the agitation of calamity theories. Prosperity is silencing many political demagogues. Minneapolis (Minn.) Progress. « . - >- ” ■■■■■■ How to Prodnce a Panic. A Democratic' victory next year would bring the prosperity promptly to'an end and precipitate another panic Hke that which Cleveland’s election in 1892 caused.—St Louis Globe-Demo-crat Love is a very one-sided affair when the husband thinks he should have all of it and carries none of ft home to his wi£e ’ Health lies in labor, and there is f deU phUU J*