Betsy Ross
[first reel missing]
1
"Some day your father may
forgive my American
patriotism and consent
to our marriage."
2
".... and if he doesn't,
we shall declare war
--- upon father!"
3
"Oh, my love! God guard
thee and keep thee true, even
as I have been true, always!"
4
LATE THAT EVENING
Misled by the red cape,
Vernon's jealousy is aroused.
5
"In God's name, Master Ashburn,
thee has killed him!"
6
"He deserved to die!"
7
"Doubtless he did---but thee will
be punished---and it will break
thy aunt's heart!"
8
"Thee does know the law.---
What chance has thee?---Thee
must flee!"
9
"A drop o' brandy an' a few
stitches 'll fetch Master Vernon
back---I'll call for help!"
10
".... call for help, will ye?"
11
"Did the man I fought escape
unhurt?"
12
"Ye lost yer head an' struck out
blindly.---Here's the result."
13
"No less than murder---but I can
save ye, lad!"
14
"The only witness to the murder
can keep his mouth shut---if he's
paid handsome for it!"
15
The following
morning.
16
"Betsy, are you sure
you love Joseph?"
17
"Then never let him find
it out.---He will take
advantage of it, just as
all men do."
18
The mother of Clarence Vernon, a
proud, aristocratic American
woman, whose sympathies are
not with the cause of liberty
Kate Lester
19
"How much does your honorable
protector demand for his silence?"
20
"And ye'll be enlistin' me in yer
camp, as yer trusted friend!---
Ye'll need me!"
21
"But you are an American!"
22
"Aye!--And a well-informed one, lad!
--'Tis reason enough for General
Howe to want me for a spy!"
23
".... and the 'Salvator' has sailed
without Joseph Ashburn,---
tomorrow his body may be
washed ashore!"
24
"What is he to thee?"
25
"I loved him!"
26
A YEAR LATER
Convinced that Joseph is dead---to
please her father, Betsy has
become the wife of John Ross.
27
"Thee has turned thy husband's
head with thy patriotism, and
thee will suffer accordingly!"
28
Joseph Ashburn, under the
assumed name of Nathaniel
Wheatley, has become a
temporary aide to General
Washington.
29
While in his own camp, Clarence
Vernon sees Joel Radley receive a
commission for his services rendered
as an enemy of America.
30
The spirit of '76
31
The return of
John Ross--
32
ANOTHER YEAR PASSES
The widow Betsy Ross is now
proprietress of the John Ross
Upholstery Shop.
33
Mrs. Lemuel Bass,
Betsy's dearest friend and
loyal admirer
Nellie Fillmore
34
Clarissa, forced to confess
her marriage, fails to convince
her father of its legality.
35
"If thee is married to the officer
in whose arms I found thee months
ago, where is thy certificate?"
36
"I have none.---We were secretly
married by a chaplain, who has
since returned to England!"
37
"....scarlet woman!"
38
"How offensively partisan
this trades-person is!"
39
"Scipio, don't you dare kill
that Vernon nigger---it will
ruin his new suit!"
40
For two days, a Dutch vendor
has sung his wares through the
streets of Philadelphia.
41
"In disguise!---Is thee sure he
is not a spy?"
42
"No, no!---He has regained his
commission, and has promised to join the
American Army---as soon as released
from the colors under which he
was serving!"
43
"My poor Clarissa!---I fear thee
is the dupe of an unscrupulous man!"
44
".... and some day, thee
will have faith in him,
even as I!"
45
"Lieutenant Wheatley, madame,
at your service.---General Washington
presents his compliments to Mistress
Betsy Ross."
46
General George Washington
George MacQuarrie
47
"They are all of my handiwork and
sent to thee anonymously.--- You
see, General, I, too, can never
tell a lie!"
48
"Do you think, Mistress
Ross, you could fashion
our country's first flag?"
49
"May we ask, General,
what inspired this
beautiful design?"
50
"Summoned before
Congress to consult
upon a flag, I looked up
and beheld the sunlight
streaming through the
diamond-paned
window of the gables,
falling upon the
table before me...."
51
".... the framework
separated the bars of
light so they became
stripes of red and
white ...."
52
".... through the window
I saw the blue sky,
where at night glitter
the silver stars---and
in those symbols
of the universe, I
saw---our flag!"
53
"You may remain to guard and
protect Mistress Ross until her
duties are completed."
54
"Why did thee allow the report
of thy death to break our hearts?
---And why is thee hiding under
another name?"
55
"I---I am a murderer!"
56
"Thy poor aunt would better
think thee dead than ever know
the unhappy truth.---I shall not
betray thee!"
57
A FEW DAYS LATER
Clarence Vernon,
Junior.
58
"Have no fear. No one but
friends knows thee is here."
59
Mrs. Vernon, hoping to serve
General Howe, attends a
reception in honor of
General Washington.
60
"In order to protect all loyal
Americans, it has become necessary
to deport those who secretly
favor the enemy."
61
"Then, General, you would better
look to Mistress Betsy Ross!---It is
rumored that her shop is a safe
harbor for spies!"
62
"....and a shot might have
alarmed some one who is
very ill, upstairs."
63
The last stitches in the
beloved flag!
64
"I am your sister's husband!"
65
"Thee has tricked my sister
and I shall protect thee only to
make it possible for thee to right
the wrong done her."
66
"Withdraw---but maintain a close
watch.---Should the spy seek to
escape---shoot!"
67
"The man is here!---Are you
hiding him because you love him
---more than your honor?"
68
"Congress will reward
you, Mistress Ross!"
69
"There can be no
reward so great
as the honor!"
70
"The occasion for the guard
no longer existing, you may withdraw
your men."
71
"Your Excellency, may I be
permitted to maintain the guard for
a time longer?"
72
"If a necessity exists, of what
nature is it?"
73
"I cannot reply, Your Excellency.
---I beg that you trust to my honor
as a soldier, to do a soldier's duty."
74
"My honor and the honor of the
nation depend upon the retention
of the guard."
75
"Your Excellency, I---I cannot
explain further!"
76
"Lieutenant Wheatley, you are
under arrest!"
77
"Deliver this note to General
Arnold as instructed, then report
your arrest to him in person."
78
Benedict Arnold.
79
"The General's written orders
were for you to return with
the papers!"
80
"General Washington, there is
an enemy officer hidden here---my
sister's husband!"
81
"....his presence was suspected
by Lieutenant Wheatley, who
because of his love for me, did not
wish to dishonor me!"
82
"Mistress Ross, will you produce
your prisoner?"
83
"Your position has been satisfactorily
explained by Mistress Ross."
84
"Mistress Ross, deliver your
prisoner to Lieutenant Wheatley."
85
"To save a good man's honor---
and perhaps his life, I am forced
to give thee up."
86
"Clarence Vernon!---You have
come from the dead!"
87
Early the next
morning.
88
"These papers belong to
General Washington.---In the
excitement of taking the
prisoner, they were
overlooked!"
89
"He was to stop at Bordentown.
---I may overtake him there!"
90
Returning from General Howe's
headquarters, Joel Radley arouses
the suspicions of the American
soldiers and is arrested.
91
"Ain't I always said wimin 'ud
be the death o' ye?"
92
"It is Captain Clarence
Vernon's discharge from
General Howe's army."
93
"Then he told the truth!---He
is not a spy! I beg thee,
General, to pardon him!---
He is eager to join the
American Army!"
94
"In times like these, the sentence of
the Court Martial is quickly carried
out.---I doubt if you can reach
Philadelphia in time to save him!"
95
"And to think
there is a little
child---born of a
murderer and a
condemned spy!"
96
"Ye can die with a clear conscience
as to the murder.---For 'twas I
who killed Old Ketch, the crier!..."
97
"You have been found guilty! The
Court sentences you to be
shot at noon!"
98
"....guilty!"
99
Noon--
100
"It is too late!---The spy
has been executed!"
101
"Thank God! I can now return
to my wife and child, an
honorable American!"
THE END
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