Guilford High School - Rostrum Yearbook (Guilford, ME)

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12 THE ROSTRUM Major-General Arnold started to follow her, and then stopped and turned back, grumbling to himself, What a foolish girl! Why she doesn't take Carlisle is more than I can see thro-ugh. What a son-in-law he would make! I am glad she has fo-rgotten that 'rebel' Morrow whom I refused to let her see. I certainly would not want one cf George Wash- ington's 'rebels' in my family. Major--General Arnold did not know that at the very moment he was speaking, the rebel Morrow was in the Arnold library waiting for Millie Arnold. The heavily paneled library door closed behind Millie with a dull thud. From behind a tall screen by the win- dow a tall, blond. broad-shculdered man stepped swiftly. She flew to his arms. Her shaking fingers traced the thin, starved hollow of his cheek. It had been a long. cruel winter for the soldiers. Not enough to eat. Not enough to wear. But his men were tall, true-hearted men who be- lieved they were fighting for a just cause. Millie was the first one to speak. Pat! Pat, darling! What torture you're enduring this winter. Oh! If only I co-uld help you in some way. .But what's. the use! Father would never let me help you. He is so prej- udiced against the 'rebels' as he in- sists upon calling them. I cannot understand his attitude at all. He wishes to marry me off to that Colo- nel Sir Gerald Carlisle. As if I could ever care for that plump, pasty- skinned hypocrite. The only reason he wishes to marry me is because he thinks he might get some of my fath- er's money. But I shall never marry him. Patrick kissed ther tenderly, his blue eyes looking into her dark ones full oif despair, and then said, Mil- lie, dear, after the war is over will you marry me and co-me to live with me on the farm in Vermont, or is it asking too much? Could you be happy' living on a farm ? Millie answered him with her eyes shining, Pat, I could be happy living anywhere with you. Yes, after the war is over I will marry you. Oh, my darling, I'm so gjlad I came, he said. I am glad you came, also, said Millie, but it would be so much bet- ter irf you could come without all this secrecy and plotting. I will be so glad when it is all over. I have often wondered what my life would have been like if my mother had lived. That picture over there on the table is mv mother. She looks a great deal like me and I'm sure that if she had lived, my life would have been much happier. She died when I was born. and I have been brought up by my father mostly. and he has always tried to run my life. Millie and Patrick were sitting in the center of the room by a large table when suddenly Millie heard her father's heavy voice calling, Mil1ie! Millie! She said to Pat, Hide in this clos- et behind the portieres until it is quiet again. Quick! Patrick ran quickly into the closet, closing the door tightly behind him. Millie sat down at the table and opened a book just as her father en- tered. He glared at her. demanding, Who has been in here with you ? Why-why-no one. father. Millie said, but her voice was trembling and betraying her. Maj or-General Arnold had evident- lv' been' celebrating bv drinking heav- ily, as he walked with an unsteady tread. and he was at the stage Where he had an ugly temper. He looked around the room and th en opened the door and hollered to a few of the ofii- cers standing nearby, among whom

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THE ROSTRUM ll could hope to escape their pursuers. Under any other general they cculd not have escaped, but they had Wash- ington for their leader, and Washing- ton was the heart, strength and soul of the Revolution. Finding that he could not hold New Jersey, he was at last forced to cross the Delaware at Trenton. The British would have pushed on after him, but the American general had seized every boat for nearly a hundred miles up and down the river. All that the British could do was to sit down on the bank and wait for the stream to freeze over. In the meantime the redcoats were holding New York City. On Christmas Eve, 1776, the city was brilliantly lighted and much cele- brating was going on. At the home of Major-General Ar- nold, a grand party was in session. The scarlet uniforms of the British officers gleamed brilliantly in the glare of the lighted candles and their swords flashed and their powdered wigs looked as white as snow. Beau- tiful, laughing ladies were dressed gayly in huge, swirling skirts and ruffles and laces. Millie Arnold came down the up- stairs hall toward the curved stair- way, looking very lovely in her blue and silver gown. Tall and slender, lher blue-black hair hanging about her face in glossy curls, she made a pretty picture. Her dusky little maid, Katie, sud- denly darted forward from the shad- ows under the railing and whispered in Millie's ear. Millie started and her eyes lighted up with a brilliance to match the light of the candles. Her heart beat faster and she clutched at the railing. Where is he. Katie '? she asked. Downstairs in de Massafs den, replied Katie. Millie hurried down the stairs, her tiny silver slippers scarcely touching the steps. Over and over in her heart she was saying, He is here, I am going to see him. When she reached the foot of the stairs, the redcoats surged forward asking her for dances, but she shook her head smilingly. Colonel Sir Gerald Carlisle was not so easily disposed of. He took her arm possessively, saying, You are looking very lovely tonight, Millie. Will you have the first dance with me ? To which she replied, I'm sorry, Gerald, but I have a last minute duty to attend to in the library. I'll be back soon. Major-General Arnold, a tall, stern, white-haired man, dressed in his cflicer's regalia, stepped forward at this moment and seized his daugh- ter Millie's arm. He whirled her around to face him. t'What do you mean by not dancing with Colonel Sir Carlisle? I distinct- ly heard him ask you to dance with him and I also heard your answer. A duty to attend to! What is a duty compared to dancing with a gentle- man of his breeding? You must know he has asked my permission to marry you and of course I consented. What more could you ask than to be Lady Carlisle? Gerald Carlisle is advancing rapidly in the British Army. Soon he will be at the top. A Major or a General or a Co-mman- der! Whom do you expect to marry? So mind what I tell you and gs back and dance with him or he may change his mind about wanting to marry you. Major-General Arnold spoke all of these words in one breath with- cut giving Millie a chance to open her mouth. Father, I will dance with Colonel Sir Carlisle later, but at present I am occupied. With these words Millie walked away toward the library.

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THE ROSTRUM 13 was Co-lonel Sir Gerald Carlisle. Search this place! he ordered. Coloner Sir Gerald Carlisle, in his hurry to do his prospective wfather-in- law's slightest bidding, tipped over a stand cn which three or four candles were standing. One of the candle-s set Hre to his coat tails and he did not notice this until the flames had a start. But when he began to feel the heat he let out a terrific bellow, whereupon the oflicers and Major- General Arnold forgot what they were loo-king for and came to his aid. They all rushed out of the room toward the kitchen where the fire was put out and the drinking re- sumed. And all was quiet once more. Millie opened the library door and looked cut into the hall. The men and women were all drinkng gayly and boisterously. They had forgot- ten all about her. She went back in- to the library and opened the closet door and said to Pat, Are you stifled ? He answered. Not quite. but I had a long wait, at least it seemed long to me. How did you come here, anyway, Pat ? Millie asked. Did you come through the Window from the garden or up over the 'bank and over the bal- cony railing ? He answered, his eyes still linger- ing on her face. I came in through the Window from the garden and I waited here for awhile until Katie came in, then I sent her for you. Pat, you know the house is full of father's British otiicers and you simply must hide yourself some- where until the party's over. In the carriage barn or in the stable. Hurry before thev find you! Millie's voice was trembling in her anxiety. g Patrick Morrow pointed toward the window, his face paling slightly as he said. Look, Millie! Millie looked out on the cold De- cember nightg its very stillness seemed omincus to her. There, through the snow-covered trees she could see two Hessian soldiers who were on guard examining footprints in the fresh snow. The footprints led to the library window in a straight, unerring line. It's far to-o late, said Pat, but never mind, Millie, dear. It was worth capture to wish you a Merry Christmas. The best of luck to you, and God bless you, dear. But it isn't too late, said Millie, opening a closet and pulling out a dark cape, a beaver hat, and a pair of riding boots, Here are some things of father's. You can put them on and steal out, unseen by any- one. Quick, Pat! Let me help you out cuf your uniform. Her frantic fingers fumbled with the brass buttons of his tattered coat. But at last she got it open. Some- thing fell suddenly into her hand. A womanls lace handkerchief and a crushed knct of pink ribbon. Noth- ing that had ever belonged to her. Pat! There was someone else in his life. The horror in her dark eyes hardened them as she backed slowly away from him. Another woman, whose tokens he was wearing over his heart. He had lied to her and deceived her and she had loved him so terribly and hopelessly. How could you, Pat? Oh, how could you? cried Millie, as she stood stiff as a statue against the wall. Patrick started towards her, his hands outstretched, his whole face the picture of despair. 'Millie, in the name of God. Millie, listen to me! He spoke with his voice trem- bling. ' Millie was now at the door. Her fingers grasped the door knob so tightly that her knuckles showed white. She could hear the music,