Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

488 hour, and the sentinel at the door then asked the visitors to withdraw. But he was forced to repeat the request three times. Jessica screamed in ‘awful an- guish at the first summons, and at the last she swooned in her lover’s arms, and was borne from the cell by her father and the soldier. Thus David was left to an afternoon and night of black gloom and poignant grief. His hopes of the last three days were shattered. Washington had sent for the only available witnesses, and it was evident that their testimony had not greatly affected his judgment. On Sunday afternoon there came to the cell a dashing young aide-de-camp, very smart in the elaborate uniform of a staff officer. David was reclining upon his blanket, and the visitor sat down on the keg. . ‘“T am Captain Alexander Hamilton, Mr. Treves,”’ he announced in a kindly tone, ‘‘and I am come to offer you the sincere compliments of his excellency, General Washington, and his - deepest sympathy and regret.” ‘“‘T understand, sir,’ responded David quietly, but the words came forth with a great sigh. ‘ Will you do me the honor, Captain Hamilton, to tender my compli- ments to his excellency, and say to him that I do not cease to thank him for his gracious kindliness to me? I am hardly resigned to my fate, but I accept it as one of the unfortufiate incidents of war.”’ Hamilton leaned forward and placed a hand gently on the prisoner’s shoulder. “ Faith, sir,” he exclaimed, -“‘I was told that you were a right good fellow, and I believe it now! “But come, Mr. Treves,” he added al- most jocularly, “‘ you’re not far from my own age, and we youngsters don’t give up so readily. It’s my unpleasant duty to — well, almost to give you a death- warrant, as it were; but worse men than you, sir, have escaped from under the very noose. War has made you and me enemies, and I promise you I’d be the first to shoot if I saw you attempting to THE ARGOSY. flee, but— Oh, well, prisoners have es- caped from the most vigilant of captors. See, sir—you’ll have me quite maudlin in my talk if you keep that long face!’’ ‘““T can’t keep it for long in such genial company, sir!” declared David, forcing a sorry smile. ‘Pray don’t think that I’d make light of your. trouble,” Hamilton added hastily. ‘““T have brought you, at his excellency’s request, a Bible and sundry writing ma- terials. If you require other articles for your comfort or convenience, they will be furnished; and on leaving, I shall or- der for you a table and chair, as well as a comfortable cot. I believe his excel- lency does not. know that your prison is so ill furnished.” The sprightly aide-de-camp, already known as one of Washington’s favorites, prolonged his visit to an hour, and Da- vid found himself chatting almost lightly with him at the end. The call had blighted his last lingering hopes, but the virile spirit of the visitor strengthened him in fortitude and pre- pared him, in a way, for the imminent ordeal. Monday, the last day, was warm and sultry for late September, and the heat in the cell was stifling as the prisoner spread his writing materials on the small table and prepared for his final melan- choly duties. A sentinel was now sta- tioned directly outside the door — the death-watch—and .David could hear him panting and cursing the oppressive weather. When the guard was relieved’ at ten o’clock, the new sentinel opened the door. “Look ye, prisoner!” he called out. ‘“‘T’ve orders to open the door and give ye air to breathe but ye’re not to come near it, an’ I’m here to see that ye don’t. Ecod! Ye’ll have it no hotter nor this, me lad, wherever ye find yerself to-mor- row!”’ | David winced at the brutal jest, but held his peace and sat himself down to his task. For Jessica he filled a score of pages comicloool C©