Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

64 Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEVIL “What! The jelly!” ‘“‘What’s in your mouth is no secret, Peachy.” “Lord, if the jelly was in your mouth, Tom, you need n’t care because the news isin mine.” And there was a Jolly laugh. The cloven foot will show itself,’ put in Dare mis- chievously. ‘‘The calves’-foot jelly has betrayed the ‘Of- fishil Corresthpondence,’ as Pat would say. What did the letter say, Tom?” | “Well, — that His Excellency the General-in-Chief had ‘apparently abandoned us to our fate.’ [That ‘if we had but arms, we could protect ourselves’ — and His Excel- lency ‘could stick to the North!’ Oh, it was white-hot.” “Wish I knew what General Washington answered,’ broke in Dare. “He might have answered that no one could expect to get five legs of mutton from a sheep!” said Tom grimly. And the three young folks — watching the secret springs of Statecraft, and walking with the Earthquake — fell sober. | Peachy turned the pony’s head. “Well, hurry up and come back to school, Tom. We are way over in Cesar.”” How should he know that young Anderson was done with schools and schoolmasters — forever! “Well, if I did have to sell Picayune, the Gray Goose won't go lean. I'll tell you, sis, it’s no use to talk about ‘the enemy of our country.’ Colonel Tarleton’s every inch a gentleman — and a devilish fine fellow to boot. And he’s getting well!” laughing with delight. One day Mimi, Dare, and ‘Tom went in a body to call upon the convalescent. The little governess — with many misgivings as to the propriety of the step, and much for- mality withal — presented “‘ Monsieur le colonel”’ to “‘Ma- demoiselle,” merely. Whereat he smiled. Ah, but this was a gallant young fellow who was making his bow to the little girl, What big, blue, compelling eyes! His fair hair was tied smoothly back with a black riband, and he wore ECONMMIECLOOOKSa(e© m