Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1907 — THE SPY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE SPY

BY J. FENIMORE COOPER

A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION

CHAPTER XXVI.— (Continued.) The competed feature! of the officer re Mixed into a smile of benevolence, and he •reaped the hand of the peddler firmly. “Now, indeed. I know you; and although the same reasons which bare hitherto compelled me to expose your valuable Rfe will still exist, rind prevent my open ty asserting your character, in private I can always bo your friend: fail not to apply to me when in want or Buffering, lit fti lona as God civeth to me. so long trill I frdely share with a man who feels 00 nobly and acts so well. If sickness or trant should ever assail you, and peace once inore smile upon our efforts, seek the gates of him whom you hare so often met a» Harper, and ho will not blush to neIfcaewledge yeti in his true character. - ' The officer stood for a few moments in (Mo attitude of intense thought lie then (row to him tlhe desk, and wrote a few Knee on a piece of paper, and gave it to Che peddler. “That Providence destines this country to tome great and glorious fate I must Mali ere. while I witness the patriotism (Mat pervades the bosoms of ber lowest •Itlxens,” he said. “It must be dreadful MM a mind like yours to descend into the grave,branded as a foe to liberty : but gon already know the lives that would be Sacrificed should your real character be ■Wealed. It is impossible to do you jusMoo—now, but I fearlessly intrust you CHth this should we never ■neet again, it may be serviceable to your children.” “Children.'’’-exclaimed the peddler, "can I give to a family the infamy of my Marne?” The officer gazed at the string emotion Me exhibited with pain, and he made a alight movement toward-the gold; but it waa arrested by the expression of his companion's face. Harvey saw the intention, and shook his head,as he continued, more saildly: “It is, indeed, a treasure that your ex.aallency gives me; it is safe, too. There are men living who could say that my life was nothing to me, compared to your secrets. The paper that.-l told you was loat, I swallowed when taken last by the Tirginians. It was the only time I ever Aeceired your excellency, and. it shall bo the last; yes, this is, indeed, a treasure te me ; perhaps,” he continued, witlr a ■nelalcholy smile, “it may be known after say death who was my friend ; but if it should not, there are uone to grieve for aae.” “Remember,” said the officer, with strong emotion, ‘‘that in sft> you will always have a secret friend; but openly I cannot know you.” Tb# armies of America and France wer* led by their illustrious commander against the enemy under Cornwallis, and terminated a campaign in triumph that had commenced in difficulties. Great Britain soon after became disgusted with the war; and the independence of the States was acknowledged. As years rolled by, it became a subject •f pride among the different actors in the war, and their descendants, to boast of their efforts in the cause which had confessedly heaped so many blessings upon their country; but the name of Ilarvey Birch died away among the multitude of agents who were thought to have labored m secret against the rights of their countrymen. His image, however, was often present to the mind of the powerful chief, who alone knew his true character; and •everal times did he cause secret inquiries to be made into the other's fate, one of which only resulted in any success. By tAiaJie learned that a peddler of a different name, but similar appearance, was toiling through the new settlements that were springing up in every direction, and that he was struggling with the advance •f years and apparent poverty. Death prerented further inquiries on the part of Hie officer, and a long period passed before fee was again heard of.

CHAPTER X\VII. It ire* thirty-three years after the interview which we have just related that an American army was once more arrayed against the troops of England; but the scene was transferred from the banks of Hie Hudson to those of the Niagara. The body of Washington had long lain mouldering in the tomb; but as time was test ©blitering the slight impressions of political ekmity or personal envy, his name was hourly receiving new lustre, and his worth and Integrity each moment became more visible, not only to bis oountrymrti. but to the world. He was already the acknowledged hero of an' age of re»<ft>n and truth; and many a young heart among those who formed the pride of our army in ISH, was glowing with the recollection of the one jtreat name of America, and inwardly beating with the •anguine expectation of emulating, in oome degree, its renown. In np one were tbeee virtuous hopes more viyjd than in the bosom of a young officer who stood on the table rock, contemplating the great cataract, on the evening of Jaly 23 .of that bloody year. „ There was another officer standing by the side of this favored youth ; and both seemed to be gaxing for the first time at the wonder of the western world. A profound silence was observed by each, until the companion of the officer that we hare described suddcnjr started, and pointing eagerly with his ■word into the abyss beneath, eiejaimed: **Bee! Wharton, there is a man crossing In the very eddies of the cataract, and in m skiff no bigger thnn an eggshell.” “He has a knapsack—it is probably a aoidier.” returned the other. “Let us teeet him at the ladder, Mason, and learn Us tidings.” Boms time was expended in reaching flte spot where the adventurer was intercepted. Contrary to the expectations of tbs young soldiers, he proved to be a tnan ter advanced inJife, and evidently no folfcwer of the camp. Hi* years might be ■svsnty, and they were indicated more by H» thia hairs of silver that lay scattered •oar bis wrinkled brow than bv any apparant failure of his system. His dress eras mean, and manifested the economy of Ito owner by the number and nature of ** o

its repairs; On btr bark was a scantily furnished pack. A feW words c.f salutation. and the old man inquire! she uews from the com ending armies j “We whipped the red-coats here the othbr day, among thqgtftss oft the Chippewn plains,” said the one who was called Mason; "“since when, we have been play~Trig hido and go-seei with the ships.” “Perhapa you Lave a sou among the soldiers.” said his companion, with an air of kindness; '“if so. tell me his name and regiment, * and I will take you to him.” The old man shook his head, and, passing his hand over his silver locks, with an air of meek resignation, he answered: “No ;I am alone in the World!” ~ • “You should have added;~Gaptnm Tlim. woodie,” cried his careless comrade, _ “if you--could Had either; for nearly half our army lirs marched down the road, and maybe, by this time, under the walls of Fort George, for anything (lint we know to the contrary.” The old, man stopped suddenly, and looked earnestly from one of his companions to the other; the action being observed by the soldiers, they-paused a!so.

“Did I hoar right?” the stranger uttered, raising his hand to screen his eyes from the rays -of -tbo-setting sun ; “what did he call you?” “My name is Wharton Dunwoodie,” replied tb«-yotrth,-amTlrng. The stranger motioned silently for him to remove his hat, which the youth did accordingly, and his fair hair blow aside like curls of silk, and opened the whole of his ingenuous countenance to the inspection of the other. —" 'Tis like out, nafive land 1“ exclaimed the old man. with vehemence. “Improving with time—God has blessed both." “Why do you stare thus, Lieutenant Mason?” cried Captain Dunwoodie, laugh-

ing a little; "you show more astonishment than when yon saw the falls.” “Oh. the falls' they are a thing to be looked at on a moonshiny night, by your aunt Sarah and that gay old bachelor, v Coj ; but a fellow like myself nevej surprise, unless it may be at suclr a tbuch as this,” The extraordinary vehemence of the stranger’s manner had passed away, but he listened to this speech with deep interest. while Dumvoodie replied, a little gravely: “Ooaia, come. Tom. no jokes about my good aunt, I beg; she is kindness itself; and I hare heard it whispered that her youth was not altogether happy.” “Why, as to rumor,” said Mason, “there goes one that Col. Singleton offers himself to her regularly every Valentine’s day; and there are some who add, that vour old great-aunt helps his suit.” “Aunt Jeanette!” said Dunwoodie. laughing: “dear good soul, she thinks but little of marriage in any shape. I believe, since the death of Dr. Sitgreaves.” The conversation was interrupted by sudden and heavy explosious of artillery, which were immediately, followed by continued volleys of small arms, and in a few minutes the air was filled with the tumult of a warm and well-contested battle. The two soldiers hastened witlm>recipitat ion toward the camp, accompanied by their new acquaintance. Captain Dunwoodie threw several friendly glances at the old man. who moved over the ground with astonishing energy for his years. In a short time they joined the regiment to which the officers belonged, when the captain, squeezing the stranger’s hand, earnestly begged that he would make inquiries after him on the following morning, and that he might see him in his own tout. Here they separated. Everything in the American camp announced an approaching struggle. At a distance of a few miles the sound of cannon and musketry was heard above the roar of the cataract. The troops were soon in motion. Night had set in before the reserve and Irregulars reached the foot of Lundy’s Lane, a road that diverged from river and crossed a conical eminence, at no greater distance from the Niagara highway. The summit of this hill was crowned with the enunon of the British, and in the tlat beneath was the remnant of Scott’s gallant brigade, which for a long time had held an unequal contest with distinguished bravery. A newline was interposed, and one column ofthe Americans directed to charge u* the hill, parallel to the road. This eolnftn took the English in flauk. and. bayoneting their artillerists, gained possession Jof the cannon. They were immediately joined by their comrades, and the enemy was swept from the bill.’ Repeated and bloody charges were made Jo recover the guns, but ip all they were repulsed with slaughter. During the last of these struggles the ardor of the youthful captain urged him to lead his men some distance in advance. to scatter a daring party of the enemy. He succeeded, bu{ in returning to the line' missed* his lieutenant from the station- that be ought to have occupied. Soon after thia repulse, which was the last, orders wer# given to th« shat-

vered troops to rcturti to the camp. Th* Wtyej iterw hift'b to he” sow; preparations were 'made to take in such of the wounded as could. be *mOTed. At this moment Wharton Dunwoodie, impell- ) ~cd" by-affection for his ,ti iond. seized a ' lighted fusee, oud taking two of his men, went himself in quest of fils body, wliers ho was Ktijtpo-i-d to have fallen. Mason was found on the side of the bill, but unable to walk from a fractured legTDtinwoodie saw and Hew to the side of his conrradc. exclaiming: "Ah ! dear I'osu 1 knew J should fincT you the nearest'man to the cn«my.” • “Softly, softly: handle me tenderly,” replied the lieutenant ; "there is a brave nearer'than He l ashed out of our 'Smoko, near my'platoon, to make a prisoner or some such thing, bud | poor fellow, he never came back; —therd 1 he lies just over the hillock. I have spoken to. him several times, but I fancy ! -lie is pust answering.'' ’ —Dttftwooibe went—txr the sivot ,-and-to-bi» asi ouisli iiemt -beheld the stranger. ‘it is the old man!"' cried the youth;, “lift him 1 , and let hint be carried In ; tlla bones shall rest on-native soil.” The men approached to obey. lie was lying on hj& back, with hi* face exposed to the glaring light of the fusee-; his eyes -were closCdyJirs tf”in clumber; his lipa, sunken. with years, vvry-ff .slieliljv moved from their natural -position, but Jt seemed more like a smile than a convulsion which had caused the change, A soldier s musket lay near him; his hands were pressed upon his breast, and one of them contained a substance that glistened like silver. Dunwoodie stooped, and removing the limbs, perceived the place where the bullet had found a passage to his heart, The subject of his last- care was a tin "box, - through tvhlfl'rThe TaTaTlead had gone ; and the dying-momento of the old man. must ha ve passed in drawing it from his bosom. Dunwoodie .opened it, and found a_ paper in which, his astonishment, he—read the following: “Cifcttriistances of political' importance, which involve file lives and fortunes of many, have hit her toy kept secret what this paper now reveals. Ilarvey Birch has for years been a faithful and unrequited servant of his country. Though a man docs not, may God reward him for bis conductl ' < 1 EO\ -WASHI NtITONY' It was the Spy of the Neutral Ground, who died as- fie Had lived, devoted to his country, and A martyr to her liberties. (The End.)

“ TIS LIKE OUR NATIVE LAND.”