Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1907 — THE SPY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE SPY

BY J. FENIMORE COOPER

A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION

CHAPTER IX.—(Continued.) Frances abandoned her whole soul,to the music. Isabella moved from the win4ew as her last tones melted on the ear •f her admiring listener, and, for the first •baa, her eye rested on the pallid face of the intruder. A glow of fire lighted the countenance of both at the same instant, the blue eye of Frances met the brilliant Mack one of her guest, and both fell in •bashed confusion; they advanced, however, until they met. “This sudden change in the weather, •ad perhaps the situation of my brother, have united to make me melancholy. Miss Jim... j .... t> TtmHffllo in a latp t A n* “’Tis thought you have little to apprehend for your brother,” said Frances, tn the same embarrassed manner; “had S>u seen him when he was brought in by ajor Dunwoodie ” Frances paused, with a feeling of •hame, for which she could not account; and, in raising her eyes, she saw Isabella

studying her countenance with earnestness. “You were speaking of Major Dunwoodie,“ said Isabella, faintly. “Hare yon seen him often?” “He is my relative,” said Frances. “Our Barents were cousins," faintly replied Trances. “And he is to be your husband?” said the stranger, impetuously. Frances felt shocked, and all her pride awakened, by this direct attack upon her feelings, and she raised her eyes from the ioor a little proudly, when the pale cheek mad quivering lip of Isabella removed her resentment in a moment. “It is true! my conjecture is true; apeak to me. Miss Wharton; I conjure you, in mercy to my feelings, to tell me — 4o you love Dunwoodie?” There was a plaintive eainestness in the voice that disarmed Frances, and the only answer she could make was hiding her burning face between her hands. Isabella paced the floor in silence until ahe had succeeded in conquering the violence of her feelings, when, taking the hand of the other, she spoke with ah evident effort at composure. “Pardon me. Miss Wharton, if my ungovernable feelings have led me into impropriety : the powerful motive—the cruel season—” she hesitated; Franees now raised her face, and tlieir eyes once more met; they fell in each other's arms, and laid their burning cheeks together. The embrace was long—was ardent and sincere—but neither spoke; and on separating. Frances retired to her own room without further explanation. While this extraordinary scone was acting in the room of Miss Singleton, matters of great importance were agitated in the drawing room. The disposition of the fragments of dinner was a task that required exertion and calculation. Notwithstanding several of the small game had nestled in the pocket of Captain Lawton'& man. still there was more left nnconsumed. than the prudent Miss Peyton knew how to dispose of to advantage. Caesar and his mistress had a long communication on this important business, and the consequence was that Colonel Wellmere was left to the hospitality of Sarah Wharton. All the ordinary topics •f conversation were exhausted, when the colonel touched lightly on the transactions of the preceding day. “We little thought. Miss Wharton, when I first saw this Mr. Dunwoodie in your house in Queen street, that he was to be the renowned warrior he has proved himself,” said Wellmere, endeavoring to ■mile away his chagrin. “Renowned, when we considef* the enemy he overcame." said Sarah, with considtration for her companion's feiings. “ ’Twhk most unfortunate, indeed, in every respect, that you met with the accident, or doubtless the royal arms would have triumphed in their usual manner.” “And yet the pleasure of such society as this accident has introduced me to would more than repay the pain of a mortified spirit aid wounded body,” added the colonel, in a manner of peculiar softaaaa.

“I hope the latter is but trifling.” said Sarah, stooping to hide her blushes under the pretext of biting a thread from the work on her knee. “Trifling, indeed, compared to the former,” returned the colonel. “Ah! Miss Wharton, it ia in such moments that are feel the full value of friendship and sympathy.” Those who have never tried it cannot •eslly imagine what a rapid progress a warm-hearted female can make in love, in the short space of half an hour, particularly where there ia a predisposition to the distemper. Sarah found the conversation. when it began to touch on friendahip and sympathy, too Interesting to venture her voice with a reply. She. bow*f»r, tamed her eyes oo the rolonel. and ■nw him gating at her fine face with an admiration that was quite as manifest.

and much more soothing, than any words could make it. CHAPTER X. V The position held by the corps of dragoons was a favorite place of halting with their commnndcr. A cluster of some halfdozen small and dilapidated buildings formed what was called the village of the Four Corners. As usual, one of the most imposing of these edifices had been termed “a house of entertainment for man and beast.” On a rough board suspended from a gallows-looking post, written in red chalk, “Elizabeth Flanagan, her hotcly”— an- -ebullition -of—the wit of some idle wags of the corps. The matron. whose name had thus been exalted to an office of such unexpected dignity, ordinarily discharged the duties of a female sutler, washerwoman and, to use the language of Katy Ilavnes. petticoat doctor to the troops. She was the widow of a soldier who had been killed in the service. The men were quartered in the adjacent barns, and the officers collected in the “Hotel Flanagan,” as they facetiously called headquarters. Betty was well known to every soldier in the corps, and, although absolutely intolerable to all whom habit had not made familiar -with her virtues, was a general favorite with these partisan warriors. Her faults were a trifling love of liquor and a total disregard of, language: her virtues, an unbounded love for her adopted country, perfect honesty when dealing with the soldiery, and great good nature. Such was the mistress of the mansion, who showed her blooming face from the door to welcome the arrival of her favorite, Captain I-awton, and his companion, her master in matters of surgery. “Ah! by my hopes of promotion, my gentle Elizabeth, but you are welcome!” cried the trooper, as he threw himself ftom his saddle; “this villainous fresh water gas from ths Canadas has been whistling among my bones till they ache with the cold, but the sight of your fiery countenance is as cheering as a Christmas fire.”

“Now sure, Captain Jack yee's always full of your eomplimentaries,” replied the sutler, taking the bridle of her customer; “but hurry in for the life of you, darling.” A long table, made of boards, was stretched through the middle of the largest apartment, or the bar room, and on it was a display of crockery ware. The steams of cookery arose from an adjoining kitchen. The captain of dragoons was in no manner displeased at the prospect of terminating pleasantly a day that had been agreeably commenced. He was soon surrounded by his comrades, who made many eager inquiries concerning his adventures. while the surgeon proceeded, with certain quakings of the heart, to examine into the state of his wounded. Enormous fires wore snapping in the chimneys of the bouse. The group within were all young men, and tried soldiers. Some were endeavoring to sleep on the benches which lined the walls, some were walking the apartments, and others were seated in earnest discussion on subjects

connected with the business of their lives. Occasionally, as the door of the kitchen opened, the hissing sounds of the frying pans and the inviting savor of the food creSted a stagnation in all other employments. All -this time Dumvoodie sat by himself, gazing at the fire, and lost in reflection. He had made earnest inquiries of Sitgreaves after the condition of Singleton. during which a profound and respectful silence was maintained in the room : but as soon as he had ended and resumed his seat, the usual ease and freedom prevailed. A loud summons at the door of the building created a halt in the uproar, and the dragoons instinctively caught up their artn* to he prepared for the worst. The door was opened, and the Skinners entered, dragging in the peddler, bending beneath the load of uis pack. “Which is Captain Lawton?” said the leader of the gang. “He waits your pleasure.”” said the trooper, dryly. “Then here I deliver to your hands a condemned traitor; this is Harvey Birch, the peddler-spy.” . Lawton started a* he looked his old acquaintance in the face, and turning to the Skinner with a lowering look, he asked : * “And who are you. that speak so freely of your neighbors? But.” bowing to Dunwoodie, “here Is the commanding cer.”“Are you Harrey Birch?” said Dunwoodie. advancing with an air of authority. “I am.” said Rireji. proudly. “"“And a traitor to fflur country.” continued the major, with sternness; “do you know that I should be justified in ordering your execution this hight ?" “ 'Tis not the will of God to call a soul so hastily to his presence," mid the peddler, with solemnity. “You apeak the truth.” said Dun

■———■Mill II ■■■■—■■nil.. I I I woodle; "and a few brief hours shall ha added to your life. But as your offense is most odious to a soldier, so -it will be sure to meet a soldier’s vengeance; you jdie to-morrow/^ “’Tis as God wißs.” “I have spent many a good hour to entrap the villain,” said the Skinner, “and I hope you will give me a certificate that will entitle us to the reward." “Major Dunwoodie,” said the officer of the day, entering the room, “the patrols report a house to be burnt near yestet day’s battleground.” “ 'Tsvas the hut of the peddler,” muttered the leader of the gang; “we- have hot left him a shingle for shelter; I should have burnt it months ago, but I wanted his shed for a trap to catch the sly fox in." “You seem a most ingenious patriot,” said Lawton. “Major Dunwoodie, I second the request of this worthy gentleman, and crave the office of bestowing the reward on him amt' his fellows.” “Take it—and you, miserable man, prepare for the fate which will surely befall you before the setting of to-morrow's sun.”

“Life offers but little to tempt me jvitb,” said Harvey, gazing wildly at the strange faces Tn the apartment: “Come, worthy children of America !” said Lawton, "follow and receive your reward.” The gang eagerly accepted.the invitation, and followed the captain toward the quarters assigned to his troop. Dunwoodie paused a moment, from reluctance to triumph over a fallen foe, before he proceeded. “You have already been tried. Harvey Birch, Tind The truth has proved you to '‘’be an enemy too dangerous to the liberties of America to be suffered to live.” “The truth!” echoed the peddler, starting.

"Ay! the truth ; you were charged with loitering near the continental army, to gain intelligence of its movements, and, by communicating them to the enemy, to enable him to frustrate} the intentions of Washington.” “Will Washington say so, think you?” “Doubtless be would.” "No, no, no,” cried the peddler, in a voice and with a manner that startled Dunwoodie; “Washington can see beyond the hollow views of pretended patriots.” “Have you anything, wretched man, to urge to the commander-in-chief why you should not die?” said the major. Birch trembled. His face assumed the ghastly paleness of death, and his hand drew a box of tin from the folds of his shirt; he opened it, showing by the act that it contained a small piece of paper; on this document his eye was for an instant fixed —he had already held it toward Dunwoodie, when, suddenly withdrawing his hand, he exclaimed ; “No—it dies with me; I know the conditions of my service, and will not purchase life with their forfeiture.” “Deliver that paper and you may possibly find favor,” cried Dunwoodie, expecting a discovery of importance to the ca use. “It dies with repeated Birch, a flush passing over his pallid features, and lighting them with extraordinary brilliancy. “Seize the traitor-” cried the major, “and wrest the secret from his hands.” The order was immediately obeyed; but the movements of the peddler were too quick; in an instant he swallowed the paper. Dunwoodie whispered bis orders in the ear of a subaltern, and motioned to the peddler to withdraw. The interruption caused by this scene prevented further enjoyment around the table, and the officers dispersed to their several places of rest. In a short time the only noise to bo heard was the heavy tread of the sentinel, as he paced the frozen ground in front of the Hotel Flanagan. (To be continued.)

“DO YOU LOVE DUNWOODIE?”

BETTY WAS WELL KNOWS.