Excellency. 'Tis Mistress Thankful Blossom,--the daughter of Abner
Blossom, charged with treasonous practice and favoring the enemy,
now in the guard-house at Morristown."

"Thankful Blossom?" repeated the general interrogatively.

"Your Excellency doubtless remembers a little provincial beauty and
a famous toast of the country-side,--the Cressida of our Morristown
epic, who led our gallant. Connecticut captain astray--"

"You have the advantages, besides the better memory of a younger
man, colonel," said Washington, with a playful smile that slightly
reddened the cheek of his aide-de-camp. "Yet I think I HAVE heard
of this phenomenon. By all means, admit her--and her escort."

"She is alone, general," responded the subordinate.

"Then the more reason why we should be polite," returned
Washington, for the first time altering his easy posture, rising to
his feet, and lightly clasping his ruffled hands before him. "We
must not keep her waiting. Give her access, my dear colonel, at
once; and even as she came,--ALONE."

The aide-de-camp bowed and withdrew. In another moment the half-
opened door swung wide to Mistress Thankful Blossom.

She was so beautiful in her simple riding-dress, so quaint and
original in that very beauty, and, above all, so teeming with a
certain vital earnestness of purpose just positive and audacious
enough to set off that beauty, that the grave gentleman before her