Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1907 — ■ Maj W [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

■ Maj W

BY J. FENIMORE COOPER

h STORY OF THE REVOLUTION

CHAPTER XXll.—(Continued.) All eyes were now turned on DunwooCe. who. looking at his watch, spoke a few words with Henry, in an undertone, and hastened from the apartment, followed by Frances. The subject of their conversation was a wish expressed by the prisoner for a clergyman of percussion, and a promise from the major, that one should be sent from Fishkill town, through which he was about to pass on his way to the ferry to intercept the expected return of Harper. Mason soon nade his bow at the door, and willingly complied -with the wishes of the landlady; and the divine was invited to make his appearance accordingly. He stalked into the room, and giving a stiff nod with his head, took the chair offered Ijim by the black, in dignified jsitence. Mr. Wharton led Sarah from the apartment. His retreat was noticed by the divine, in a kind of scornful disdain, who began to hum the air of a popular psalm tune, giving it the full richness of the twang that distinguishes the Eastern psalmody. “Caesar,” said Miss Peyton, "hand the gentleman some reffeshment; he must need it after his ride.” “My strength is not in the things of life,” said the divine, speaking in a hollow, sepulchral voice. “Thrice have 1 da y held forth in my master's service, and fainted not.” “I apprehend, then, sir, that fatigue will disable you from performing the duties which kindness had induced you to attempt,” “Woman 1” exclaimed the stranger, with energy, “when was I ever known to shrink from a duty? But ‘judge not, lest ye be judged,’ and fancy not that 1 it is given to mortal eyes to fathom the intentions of the Deity.” “Nay, I pretend not to judge of either events, or the intentions of my fellow creatures, much less of those of Omnipotence.”

“’Tis well, woman —’tis well," cried the minister, waving his hand with supercilious disdain; “humility becometh thy ■ex, and lost condition; thy weakness grlveth thee on headlong, like ‘unto the hpsom of destruction.’ ” Surprised at this extraordinary deportment, yielding to that habit which urges «a to speak reverently on sacred subjects, •ven when perhaps we had better continue silent, Miss Peyton said: “There is a power above, that can and will sustain us all In well-doing, if we •eek its support in humility and truth.” So saying, she withdrew, followed by the landlady, who was not a little shocked by the intemperate seal of her new acquaintance. Henry had with difficulty repressed the indignation excited by this unprovoked attack on his meek and unresisting aunt; but as the door closed on her retiring figare. be gave way to jjis feelings. “I must confess, sir,” he exclaimed, with heat, “that in receiving a minister •f God I thought I was admitting a Christian, and one who, by feeling his •wn weaknesses, knew how to pity the frailties of others. You have wounded the meek spirit of an excellent woman, •nd I acknowledge but little inclination to mingle in prayer with so intolerant a spirit.” The minister stood erect, with grave composure, following with his eyes, in a kind of scornful pity, the retiring females. and suffered the expostulation of the youth to be given as if unworthy of his notice. A third voice, however, spoke. "Such a denunciation would have driven many women into fits; *f>ut it has answered the purpose well enough, as it 18.” “Who's that?” cried the prisoner, in amazement. gazing around the room in quest of the speaker: “It is I, Captain Wharton,” said Harvey Birch, removing the spectacles, and exhibiting his piercing eyes, shining under a pair of false eyebrows. “Good heavens—Harvey I” "Silence!” said the peddler, solemnly T • ’tis a name not to be mentioned, and least of all here, within the heart of the American army.” Birch paused, and qased around him for a moment, with an •motion exceeding the base passion of fear, and then continued, in a gloomy tone, “There are a thousand halters in that very name, and little hope would there be left me of another escape, should I be again taken. This is a fearful venture that I am makingbut I could not deep in quiet, and know that an innocent man was about'to die the deathi of a dog. when I might save him.” “No,” said Henry, with a glow of generous feeling on his cheek; “if the risk to yourself be so heavy, retire as you eame and leave me to my fate. Dunwoodie is making powerful exertions in my behalf; and If he meets with Mr. Harper in the course of the night, my liberation is certain.”

“Harper!" echoed the peddler, remaintag with his hands raised, in the act of replacing the spectacles; “what do you know of Harper? and why do you think he will do you service?” “I have his promise—you remember •or recent meeting in my father's dwelling, and be then gave an unasked promise to assist me." “Yes —but do you know him? that is—why do you think he has the power? or what reason have you for believing he wW remember his word?” -If there ever was a stamp of truth, •r simple, honest” benevolence, in the countenance of man, it shone in his,” said Henry; “besides, Dunwoodie has powerful friends in the rebel army, and it would be better that I take the chance where I am, than thus to expose you to cartain death, if detected.” "Captain Wharton,” said Birch, looking guardedly around, and speaking with impressive seriousness of manner, “if I fall you, all fail you. No Harper nor Dunwoodie can save your life; unless you get put with me, and that within the hour, you die to-morrow on the gallows of She peddler beckoned him to be silsnt

and, walking to the door, opened it with the stiff, formal air with which he bad entered the apartment. "Friend, let no one enter,” he said to the sentinel; “we are about to go to prayer, and would wish to he alone." "You overact your part." said young Wharton, in constant apprehension of discovery; “your zeal is too intemperate.” "For a foot soldier and them Eastern militia it might be,” said Harvey, turning a bag upside down that Caesar now banded him; “but these dragoons are fellows that you must brag down. A faint heart, Captain Wharton, would do but little here; but come, here is a black shroud for your good looking countenance,” taking at the same timij a parchitnent mask and fitting it to the face of Henry. “The master and the man must change places for a season.” “I don’t tink be look a bit like me,” said Casar, with disgust, as he surveyed his young inaster with his new complexion. “Stop a minute, Cresar,” said the peddler, with the lurking drollery that at times formed part of his manner, “till we get on the wool.” “He worse than ebber now,” cried the discontented African. “A think colored man like a sheep. I nebber see such a lip, Harvey; he most as big as a sausage!” 1 Great pains had been taken in forming the different articles used in the disguise of Captain Wharton, and when arranged, under the skillful superintendence of the peddler, they formed together a transformation that would easily escape detection from any but an extraordinary observer. The mask was stuffed and shaped in such a manner as to preserve the peculiarities, as well as the color, of the African visage; and the wig was so artfully formed of black and white wool, as to imitate the pepper-and-salt color of Csesar’s cwn I cad. Ctrsar, who had received minute instructions from the peddler in their morning interview, immediately commenced throwing aside his coarse garments, which the youth took up and prepared to invest himself with. .

CHAPTER XXIII. Everything now was arranged for action, and the peddler very deliberately went over the whole of his injunctions to the two actors in the scene. Thus prepared, he opened the door and called aloud to the sentinel. “Let the woman of the house be called,” said Harvey, in the solemn key of his assumed character; “and let her come alone. The prisoner is in a happy train of meditation, and must not be led from his devotions.” Ca?sar sank his face between his hands, and when the soldier looked into the

apartment, be thought he saw his charge in deep abstraction. Casting a glance of huge contempt at the divine, he called aloud for the good woman of the house. She hastened to the summons, with earnest zeal, entertaining a secret hope that she was to be admitted to the gossip of a death-bed repentance. “Sister," said the minister, in the authoritative tones of a master, “have you in the house ‘The Christian Criminal's Last Momenta, or Thoughts on Eternity, for Them who Die a Violent Death?’ ’’ “I never heard of the book!” said the matron, in astonishment. “ ’Tis not unlikely; there are many books you have never heard of; it is impossible for this poor penitent to pass in peace without the consolations of that volume. One hour’s reading in it is worth an age of man’s preaching.” “Bless me, what a treasure to possess! —when was it put out?" “It was first put out at Geneva, in the Greek language, and then translated at Boston. It is a book, woman, that should be in the hands of every Christian, especially such as die upon the gallows. Have a horse prepared instantly for this black, who shall accogipany me. and I will send down the volume yet in season. Brother, compose thy mind; you are now in the narrow path to glory.” Clew wriggled z little in his chair, but he had sufficient recollection to conceal his face with bands that were, in their turn, concealed by gloves. The landlady departed to comply with this very reasonable request, and the group of conspirators were again left to themselves. The man soon returned, and that the horses were at the door. Harvey gave, the captain a glance, and led the way down the stairs, first desiring the woman to leave the prisoner to himself, in order that be might digest the wholesome mental food that he had so lately received. A rumor iof the odd character of the priest had spread from the sentinel at the door to his comrades; m toat when Har-

vey and Wharton reached the open before the building, they found a dokeu idle dragoons loitering about, with tha waggish intention of quizzing the fanatic, and employed in affected admiration of the steeds. “A fine horse!” said the leader in thia plan of mischief; “but a little low in ■ flesh ; I suppose from hard labor in your calling.” “My calling may be laborsome to both myself and this faithful beast, but then a day of settling is at hand, that will reward me for all my outgoings and incomings,” said Birch, putting his foot in the stirrup and preparing to mount. “Csesar, you can ride up the road and deliver the note —the unhappy prisoner will be wanting the book, for his hours ire”, numbered.” "Ay—ay, go..along, Caesar, and get the book,” shouted ;= half a dozen all crowding eagerly around the ideal priest, in anticipation of a frolic. “What are you at there, scoundrels?” cried Lieutenant Mason, as he came in sight; “away with every man of you to your quarters, and let me find that each horse is cleaned and littered when I (ome round.” The sound of the officer’s voice operated like a charm. The peddler took that opportunity to mount, but he had to preserve the gravity of bis movements; condition of their beasts was but too just, and A dozen dragoon Horses stood saddled and bridled at hand, ready to receive their riders at a moment's warning. “Well, have you bitted the poor fellow within,” said Mason, “that he can take his last ride under the curb of divinity, old gentleman?” “Out upon thee for a reviler and scoffer of goodness!” said Birch, moving slowly, and with a due observance of clerical dignity, down the road, followed by the imaginary Csesar; “but I leave thee, and that behind me that will prove thy condemnation, and take from thee a hearty and joyful deliverance.”

“Corporal of the guard!—corporal of the guard!” shouted the sentinel in the passage to the chambers; “corporal of the guard ! —corporal of the guard I” The subaltern flew up the narrow stairway that led to the room of the prisoner, and demanded the meaning of the outcry. The soldier was standing at the open door of the apartment, looking in with a suspicious eye on the supposed British officer. On observing his lieutenant, he fell back with habitual respect, and replied, with an air of puzzled thought: “I don’t know, sir; but just now the prisoner looked queers- Ever since the preacher has left him he don’t look as be used to do—but,” gazing’intently over the shoulder of his officer, “it must be him, too! There is the same powdered head, and the darn in the coat, where he was hit the day he had the last brush with the enemy.” “And then all this noise is occasioned by your doubting whether that poor gentleman is your prisoner or not, is it, sirrah? Who do you think it can be else?” “I don’t know who else it can be.” returned the fellow, sullenly; “but he is grown thicker and shorter, if it is he; and see for yourself, sir, he shakes all over, like a man in an ague.” “That anabaptist, methodistical, quaker, psalm-singing rascal has frightened the boy with his farrago about flames and brimstone. I’ll step in and cheer him with a little rational conversation.” “I have heard of fear making a man white,” said the soldier, drawing back, and staring as if his eyes woufil start from their sockets, “but it has changed the royal captain to a black !”

The truth was that Crnsar, unable to hear what Mason uttered in a low voice, incautiously removed the wig a little from one of his ears in order to hear the better, without in the least remembering that its color might prove fatal to his disguise. The sentinel had kept his eyes fastened on his prisoner, and noticed the action. The attention of Mason was instantly drawn to the Same object; and, forgetting all delicacy for a brother officer in distress, the lieutenant sprang forward and seized the terrified African by the throat. “Who are you?” cried Mason, dashing th? head of the old man against the angle of the wall at each interrogatory.; “who are you, and where is the Englishman? Speak, thou thunder-cloud! Answer me, you jackdaw, or I’ll hang you on the gallows of the spy I” “Harvey, Harvey!” cried Cresar, dancing from one leg to th£ other, as he thought each member in. turn might be assailed. , ■' ’• “Harvey Birch !” echoed the trooper, hurling the black from him and rushing from the room. “To arms! to arms! Fifty guineas for the life of the peddlerspy —give no quarter to either. Mount! mount ’. to arms! to horse (To be continued.)

“THE ROYAL CAPTAIN HAS CHANGED TO A BLACK.”