gly, "and I am proud of you," and she hurried forward to greet and
welcome her friends, while Gilbert ran to summon "Cornwallis" to be
ready for the first act.

An old horse-blanket, suspended from the hay-loft in the rear of the
stable, served as a curtain behind which knelt Betty in the scarlet
coat. Gilbert now took his place beside her, trying to look stern and
noble. At Gilbert's whistle Winifred, who was in the hay-loft, was to
pull up the blanket by the long strings that Gilbert had skilfully
arranged.

The whistle sounded clearly. Up rose the curtain. There was an approving
murmur from the audience at the sight of "Cornwallis" on his knees.

"Spare me, noble Washington!" said Betty, but in rather a feeble voice.

Washington's right hand was stretched over the head of his conquered
foe.

"Arise, Cornwallis. Flee for your life. My army is at hand," responded
Washington; and Betty, stumbling a little, escaped from the rear door,
while Washington marched out to meet his army, and the audience
applauded.

Betty's mother had noticed the red coat, and wondered what English
soldier had consented to lend it for such a purpose. It did not occur
to her that Betty had taken it from their lodger's closet.

When Betty had entered the stable by the rear door and knelt according
to Washington's directions she could hear the murmur of voices.

"Who is with your mother?" she whispered to "Washington," but there had
been no time to answer, and Betty found herself facing not only
Gilbert's mother but a dozen other ladies of whom her mother was one;
and it was a very anxious and troubled Betty who joined the little group
behind the lilac bushes and, slipping off the red coat, put on an old
coat and hat belonging to Gilbert's father, and with the dressed up
broomsticks, took her place behind Fluff as the "Army."

Ned Ferris sounded a measured "rat-a-tat-tat" on his drum and strode
toward the entrance to the stable, followed by Washington and Lafayette,
the "Army," and the docile Hero. Lady Washington scrambled from the
hay-loft to the top of the grain-bin, drew her fine silk mantle about
her, and smiled graciously down upon the assembled guests. Mrs. Hastings
looked up at her. "For pity's sake!" her seatmate heard her murmur, "my
best mantle and bonnet!"

But at that moment came the quick beat of a drum. Washington's pony, a
little annoyed and nervous, and Fluff, determined to reach his stall as
quickly as possible, altho