Peggy Owen and Liberty
Page 11
CHAPTER IX
OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE
"Long war without and frequent broil within Had made a path for blood and giant sin, That waited but a signal to begin New havoc, such as civil discord blends, Which knows no neuter, owns but foes or friends."
--_"Count Lara," Byron._
The two mothers were at the door to greet them as David Owen broughtthe girls back. Both girls were much excited, half laughing, halfcrying, over the turn events had taken.
"'Tis good news, I can see," said Mrs. Owen leading them into thesitting-room. "As to how it came about I can gather nothing clearly."
"Oh, 'twas Sally, Sally," cried Peggy. "'Tis said that Mr. Henry ofVirginia is eloquent, but ye should have heard Sally. He could notexcel her."
"'Twas a complete rout," declared Mr. Owen, his usual composuresomewhat ruffled. "Here I was down-stairs beset with anxiety lestuntoward sentences be passed upon the girls when down from theCouncil chamber they came, escorted by Mr. Jacob Deering and PresidentMoore himself. Sally addressed the honorable body with so muchunction, I hear, that thy uncle, Robert, at once declared for them. Infact, his championship took the form of a direct challenge, whichcaused so much merriment that the Council was unable to proceed withthe business before it, and an adjournment was taken until thisafternoon."
"But what happened? What did you say? Do tell us, Sally," urged RobertDale. "I acknowledge that I am consumed with curiosity. I am sure theothers are affected in like manner. We were just sitting here whileyou were gone trying to cheer each other by hoping that the sentencewould be fines rather than imprisonment. And here you come back withneither, it seems, and colors flying. Do tell us what happened."
"Well," laughed Sally, who was plainly elated over the matter, "I wasgreatly frightened until we entered the Council chamber; but do yeknow," she broke off excitedly, "just as soon as I saw those men Iknew that there was not one of them who would have refused Cliffordshelter that stormy day? So I told them so. That's all."
A shout of laughter greeted this explanation. When it subsided Peggyspoke.
"Thee didn't tell them about Brutus, Sally," she chided. "'Twas thatthat first excited thy ire." With that she related in detail all thathad taken place.
"Hurrah for Sally! And hurrah for Uncle Jacob too," cried Robert."'Twas wonderful, as Peggy says. How did you happen to think of it,Sally?"
"'Twas high time that I did something to redeem myself," answeredSally. "After all," she continued a trifle wearily, for in spite ofthe petting and being made much of even her buoyant nature wasbeginning to feel the strain of events, "after all, I should not havebeen obliged to do it. Peggy and I are in our own city. It hath been along war, and from the first we have shown our patriotism by doingwhat we could. Whenever anything of this sort occurs it should not benecessary to do aught but explain how the matter came about withoutfear of punishment."
"War breeds suspicion, my child," explained Mr. Owen gravely. "Thepurest patriots are open to it; for sometimes treason lurks where 'tisleast suspected. Were it not that a close watch is kept we should havebeen betrayed to our undoing long since by traitors and spies. Forgreater security, therefore, Whigs submit to an espionage that attimes is most irksome and unpleasant."
"I see," said Sally. "I see. I---- Oh, I'm so tired!"
And with that--here was Sally on the floor in a dead faint. With anexclamation of alarm Peggy bent over her.
"All this hath been too much for her," she cried. "And 'tis my fault.Oh! I should not have let her help with Clifford."
"Nay, Peggy; she hath not been strong for some time," returned Mrs.Evans, as Mrs. Owen and Nurse Johnson brought burnt feathers andvinegar. "She overtaxed her strength at the hospital which is thereason that she hath remained at home this spring. She must have achange when a little stronger."
So, on her return to consciousness, Sally found herself put to bedand declared an invalid. Peggy insisted on being installed as chiefnurse.
"But I shall go down-stairs to-day, Peggy," spoke Sally on the morningof Wednesday. "I heard Nurse Johnson say last night that thy fatherwas to start for Lancaster this afternoon."
"He is, Sally. And what does thee think? Robert is to go with him."
"Robert?" exclaimed Sally amazed. "Why, Peggy, his furlough hath butjust begun."
"I know. Father reminded him of it, but he thought the prospectalluring, because father spoke of the danger of robbers. It seems thatthe woods of the great road to Lancaster is infested with them, andthat government stores are their especial prey. The journey will befraught with no little peril."
"How quickly he tired of us," mused Sally. "Here 'twas only Fifth-dayof last week that he came, and now he is to take to the field again.Fie, fie! Is that the gallantry of the military?"
"Perchance," answered Peggy laughing at her friend, "perchance, Sally,he hath been without leave for so long that he doth not know what todo with himself when off duty."
"I dare say, Peggy. Oh, dear! would I were going somewhere. I wouldnot care how much danger there was if I could get away for a time."Sally sighed deeply. "I have been here all my life, Peggy, save forthe summers we've spent at the farm. I wish I could have a change."
Nurse Johnson entered the room as the girl concluded her remarks.
"It is anent that very thing that I have come to speak to you both,"she said seating herself on the side of the bed. "Why could not youand Peggy go to Jersey with me for a while? You need a change, MissSally, and my sister is near enough to the coast for you to have thebenefit of the sea air. She hath a large house, and likes youngcompany. We will give you a fine time, and 'twould do you no end ofgood. Will ye go?"
"Oh, I should like it," cried Sally eagerly. "If Peggy will go I amsure that mother would be pleased to have me accept, Friend Nurse.Will thee, Peggy?"
"I'll have to see mother about it, Sally," answered Peggy slowly. Shedid not like the thought of leaving home again even for a few days,but Sally did need a change. She had extricated her from a gravedifficulty, and so, stifling a sigh, she added: "I will go if motherwill consent to it."
"I'm going to get up," spoke Sally decidedly. "When did thee wish tostart, Friend Nurse?"
"I should like to go to-morrow," answered Nurse Johnson. "Fairfax hathmade arrangements for a large sled to use in place of the double wagonin which we came. That will make traveling easy, and we should startwhile the snow is on the ground. Should there come a warm spell theroads would be terrible."
"Let's go right down-stairs to see about it," cried Sally. "If we goto-morrow there will be need for haste. See, Friend Nurse, the merethought of going with thee hath given me strength. How much better Ido feel already."
"I'll see that you have some color in these pale cheeks before I'mthrough with you," declared Nurse Johnson pinching them lightly."With Peggy and me to look after you a few days will make a greatdifference in you. Yes; let's see about it right away."
After all the matter was not mentioned immediately. David Owen hadreceived some further orders which hastened his departure, and in theconfusion of preparation the subject was not broached. It was at thetea table that Nurse Johnson unfolded the plan.
"And the raids, Friend Johnson?" spoke Mistress Owen. "Doth thy sisterlive where she would be subjected to them?"
"When Brother Tom wrote he said that there had been no trouble sinceYorktown," answered Nurse Johnson. "Did I think for one moment thatthere was danger I should not wish to take them into it. But Freeholdis some distance from the coast, though the sea breezes have anappreciable effect upon the climate, and 'twill be of benefit to bothgirls to get away for a little while. Miss Sally certainly needs thechange. I would take good care of them."
"I do not doubt it, friend," answered Peggy's mother. She saw thatSally was eager for the trip, and knew that the girl's mother wouldconsent to it only on condition that Peggy would go also. Both Mrs.Owen and her daughter felt that it would be ungracious to refuse, andconsent was given.
There is something exhilarating about the beginning of any journey.Add to it youth, brilliant sunshine, the keen air of a frosty morning,and the high spirits of the maidens will be understood. Sally wasalmost wild with delight.
"Oh, Friend Fairfax," she cried leaning forward to speak to him as theparty sped away, the snow creaking under the runners, "isn't this justthe nicest ride thee ever took? Isn't thee having just the best time?"
"Yes," answered the youth so briefly that her face clouded. Fairfaxwas once more enveloped in his garb of bashfulness, and attendedstrictly to the driving, letting the task of entertaining their guestsfall upon his mother.
"I do believe that he is feeling bad because Betty hath not come,"pouted Sally in a mischievous aside. "Doesn't thee, Peggy?"
To Peggy's amusement the youth turned quickly:
"I am, Mistress Sally. I--I'd like all three here."
And thus, with laughter and light conversation, the day passed. Thebeautiful country places which had bordered the road near Philadelphiagave way to pleasant villages, and these in turn were succeeded bythick woods whose pure clean beauty elicited exclamations of delight.In many places the road was unbroken, and the sleigh passed underwhite laden branches which drooped heavily, and which at the slightestjar would discharge their burden over the party in miniaturesnow-storms. They had made such a late start that it was decided tolie at Bristol for the night, and reached that place as the afternoonsun began to cast long chill shadows through the darkening woods andto shroud the way in fast deepening obscurity.
Across the Delaware the road took them through dense forests, andover trackless vacancies of snow-clad spaces into which the highwaydisappeared. There were a few scattering villages, and near these theyencountered travelers, but on the highroad they met no one. In spiteof themselves this fact wore upon them. The cold was not severe, butthere was a stillness that held a penetrating chillness of its own.The country was undulating, swelling into an elevation called theAtlantic Highlands near the coast, and into the range of mountains inthe north known as the Kittatinny Hills. All were well covered withforests of pine.
By noon of the third day they emerged from the woods, and found a longstretch of white-clad country before them. A few farms could be seenin the far distance, but otherwise there was no sign of life on thewide expanse. It seemed to Peggy and Sally that the highway lay overvast snow fields, and the glare of the sunlight on the snow began toblur and blind them.
"I should welcome the sight of bird or beast," observed Nurse Johnson."The stillness hath been oppressive to-day. 'Tis the hard part ofwinter travel. In summer there is always the hum of insect, or thesong of bird to while away the monotony of a journey, but in thewinter there is naught to break the quiet. 'Tis as though all Natureslept under the blanket of snow. Still, the riding hath not been hard.A sleigh is so much easier than a wagon. You girls are tired, though,I can see. What are you looking at, Sally?"
"There seems to be something moving over there," answered Sallyindicating some small elevations about three miles to the north of theroad. "Thee will get thy wish, Friend Nurse, for something is surelymoving about. We have seen naught for so long that any living thing iscurious. What are those specks, Friend Fairfax? They are too large forducks."
The youth turned and gazed steadily at the sand-hills to which shepointed. They were covered with snow which made them appear like icehummocks in the sunshine, and which rendered the small black objectsmoving among them very distinct.
"They look to me like men," remarked Peggy who sat on the front seatbeside Fairfax.
"They are men," he responded. "Men and horses."
"I wonder what they are doing there," cried Sally.
The youth did not reply, and Peggy caught the look that passed betweenhim and his mother. She bent toward him quickly.
"What is it?" she asked. "What does thee fear?"
"I fear they are desperadoes," he replied. "I must make yonfarmhouse."
With an exclamation the girl turned to look again at the sand-hills.To her amazement the spots that had been so indeterminate a fewmoments since now had become a body of horsemen, which was movingrapidly toward them. Fairfax was pale. He leaned forward and spoketo the horses just as Sally cried:
"They see us, Fairfax. They are coming on the run."
"Can you drive, Peggy?" he asked.
"Yes," she told him breathlessly.
"Then take my place," he said. "See the farmhouse to the right on thatcrossroad? We must make that, Peggy. I must get out the guns. If theycatch us there will be a fight."
"I have the ammunition, son," said Nurse Johnson. "Get over here, andlet me do the loading."
Peggy took the lines, and the youth stooped down and drew the musketsfrom under the front seat of the sleigh.
"Drive, Peggy," he called excitedly as he rose with the weapons."Drive as you never drove before. They are gaining on us."