Peggy Owen and Liberty

by Lucy Foster Madison

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE TURN OF THE WHEEL

  "From every valley and hill there come The clamoring voices of fife and drum; And out in the fresh, cool morning air The soldiers are swarming everywhere."

  --_"Reveille," Michael O'Connor._

  "But first, Harriet, do take off that bonnet, and let me see thee asthou art really; with thy hair about thy face. So." Peggy reached overand untied the bow as she spoke, then removed the prim little bonnetfrom her cousin's head. "How beautiful thee is," she commented gazingat the maiden with admiring eyes. "I think thee grows more so everytime I see thee. That bonnet doth not become thee."

  Harriet shook back her chestnut ringlets, and laughed gaily. Herwonderful eyes, dancing with mirth, were starry in their radiance.

  "One would think that I did not make a good Quakeress, Peggy, to hearyou talk. Now confess," pinching Peggy's cheek playfully, "you did notdream that I was aught other than Truelove Davis; did you?"

  "N-no; and yet thee puzzled me," said Peggy. "Oh, Harriet, thee shouldturn play actress."

  "Well, there are times when I think of it, cousin mine. 'Tis raresport to make others believe that I am that which I am not."

  "But why did thee do it, Harriet? And to be here alone on thehighway!"

  "I wanted to see Clifford, Peggy. Neither father nor I had heard aughtfrom him since the misfortune at Yorktown, save that he was atLancaster. We knew not whether he was ill or in health, or whether hewas meeting with kindness or not. As your Congress permits supplies tobe sent to the captured British it occurred to me that I might comealong with them and find out about my brother. Of course, as the MostHonorable Council of Pennsylvania had banished me from the state, Idared not come openly, so I slipped in by the back door, as it were.

  "Father would not hear of my coming at first. Then I dressed up inthis garb, and went in to where he sat talking with the new commander,Sir Guy Carleton, who hath come to take Sir Henry Clinton's place, andneither one of them knew me. Sir Guy declared that there would be nodanger, as a Quakeress would meet with respectful treatment anywhere.He gave me a pass which would further insure my well being, and so,when a boat load of stores was shipped to Head of Elk the first ofthis week, I came with it. Everything hath gone off well until thisbreakdown, and I do not regret that, since it hath brought ustogether. So you see, Peggy, the matter is very simple after all."

  "Yes," said Peggy. "Harriet, thy brother was at our house in ThirdMonth."

  "He was?" exclaimed Harriet. "Tell me about it, Peggy."

  And Peggy told her all that had happened on that memorable first ofMarch, with its consequences.

  "So the Council hauled you and Sally up before it, did it?" criedHarriet. "Oh, dear, Peggy! you are always getting into trouble overus, aren't you? And Sally, and Robert, and Fairfax, all helped you inthe affair. That makes me feel sorry about Fairfax Johnson. Do youknow, Peggy, that matter hath created quite a stir in New York? Therewere many who wanted Sir Henry to turn over Captain Lippencott to therebel general, but the court-martial found that he was acting underverbal orders from the Honorable Board of Associated Loyalists, and soshould not be punished for obedience. Sir Guy is not altogethersatisfied with the finding."

  "It was very sad, Harriet," said Peggy, the tears coming to her eyes."Fairfax was only doing his duty in defending the state from invasion,and 'twas most inhuman to execute him in such a lawless manner. Ourpeople are not satisfied to let the matter rest, because 'twas a crimecommitted in open defiance of the laws of war."

  "Oh, well," spoke Harriet lightly. "Don't let's talk about it, Peggy.I dare say Sir Guy Carleton and your General Washington will arrive atsome understanding regarding the affair. Is that your mother's coachcoming?"

  "Yes. She will be glad to see thee, Harriet. She is fond of thee. AndRobert Dale is beside her. Thee will like him, Harriet. Indeed, Iknow not how one could help it."

  "Indeed, my cousin?" Harriet's brows went up quizzically. "I thoughtyou were all for Captain Drayton? I rather prefer this Major Dalemyself. He hath more manners than John Drayton ever had."

  Peggy's face flushed, but she observed quietly:

  "They are both dear lads, Harriet. Thee will see John also atLancaster. Father said that he had been sent there."

  "Then it will be quite like old times, Peggy. At Middlebrook therewere John Drayton and your father to take us about. If we have RobertDale, in addition to Clifford, we should have a gay time."

  "Perhaps," was Peggy's answer.

  A look of intense amazement appeared upon Robert Dale's face as herode up. He had left a demure Quakeress with Peggy, and returned tofind this beautiful, radiant girl. Both girls laughed at hisbewildered expression.

  "'Tis my Cousin Harriet Owen, Robert," explained Peggy. "She hathassumed this dress that she might go through to Lancaster with safetyto see her brother, Clifford."

  "But--but Truelove Davis?" The youth was plainly nonplused.

  "He wants Truelove, Peggy," cried Harriet her eyes dancing withmischief. "Where is that bonnet?" She caught it up as she spoke, tyingit again under her chin. "Does that please thee better, friend youth?"she asked turning toward the young man roguishly.

  "Would that I were a limner to paint you," burst from the young fellowimpulsively.

  Harriet smiled charmingly as she swept him an elaborate courtesy.

  "In that thee does not agree with my cousin, friend. She doth notconsider the bonnet becoming. In truth, I fear me that I did give herrather a bad quarter of an hour when I wore it."

  "Harriet?" exclaimed Mrs. Owen looking out of the calash which by thistime had come up to where they were. "Why, child, how came thee here?Robert thought----"

  "Yes, I know," cried Harriet. "I know what Robert thought, but 'tis asyou see, madam my cousin. If I may ride with you I will explain all."Into her voice there crept the supplicating quaver that Peggyremembered so well. Her mother responded instantly to the plea.

  "Why, Harriet, thou art doubly welcome. Once for the stranger whom wethought thee, and again for thyself. Get right in with me, child, andtell me all that hath befallen thee. Why, 'tis long since I have seenthee."

  "How beautiful she is," spoke Robert Dale as he and Peggy rode onafter Harriet had climbed into the coach beside Mrs. Owen. "Howbeautiful she is!"

  "Is she not?" asked Peggy eagerly. "Methinks she grows more so everytime I see her. Does thee not think so too, Robert?"

  "I do not know, Peggy. This is the first time I have ever seenher. When you were at Middlebrook I was with General Arnold inPhiladelphia. When you were in Philadelphia I was with the army,and so you see, Peggy, this is my first glimpse of your cousin."

  "Why, so it is, Robert. No wonder thee thinks her beautiful when 'tisthe first time thee has seen her. Every one does. Are not her eyesdazzling?"

  "They are, Peggy. Now tell me why she appeared in this garb here."

  "It was to see how Clifford fared," answered Peggy. "She hath notheard from him since Yorktown, and she wished to see for herself howhe was." And forthwith she related all that Harriet had told her ofthe matter.

  "That is very brave, Peggy," he declared with admiration. "Brave anddaring! What love she must bear him to risk so much to see him! Ishould like to know her better."

  "Thee shall, Robert," she cried, warmly pleased with thiswhole-hearted commendation of her beautiful cousin. "Harriet rideswell, and she shall ride with thee part of the way."

  And so with Harriet alternating with Peggy in riding Star the rest ofthe journey was passed. They came into Lancaster the next day, thetall spire of the court-house with the two faces of its clock beingthe first thing to be spied. The town swarmed with soldiers. It seemedto Peggy that there was one on every corner. In truth Lancaster wasin fair way toward being a military camp. The Americans found muchdifficulty in disposing of their prisoners. They had no military postsregularly fitted for the purpose, and could suggest no better meansfor securing them than to place them under guard in a thickly settledp
art of the country, where the inhabitants were most decidedly hostileto the English. So Reading, Carlisle, and Lancaster were chosen inPennsylvania, together with other points in Virginia and Marylandremote from the coast. In addition to the prisoners from the surrenderof Saratoga, who had been hurried into Lancaster at the first invasionof Virginia, many prisoners of Lord Cornwallis's army were confinedthere. This required a large number of American soldiers for guards,and it was no wonder that the town seemed overrun with troops.

  The streets of Lancaster were regular, and paved with brick like thoseof Philadelphia. It was the most important of the interior cities, andwas noted for the manufacture of guns, stage-coaches, stockings, andthe peculiar vehicles known as Conestoga wagons.

  Peggy, who was on Star when they entered the town, was gazing aboutwith the interested pleasure that a new place always excites, when shegave an exclamation of joy. They were passing the Black Bear Tavern atthe time, and at the entrance of the inn stood a well-known form.

  "John!" she called. "John Drayton!"

  Captain Drayton turned at the call, and an expression of delight sweptover his face at sight of the girl. With the jaunty gesture she knewso well he took off his cocked beaver, and came to them quickly.

  "Peggy," he cried, his gladness at seeing her plain to be seen. "Youare come at last. Your father told me that you were coming, and I havewatched every day for a week for you. Major Dale hath all the luck, tobring you. I should like to have gone, but I could not get leave."

  "And how does thee do, John?"

  "Well, Peggy. Well indeed. By the way! you know, I dare say, that yourCousin Clifford is here. I am barracks' master, and the prisoners areconfined in the barracks. Is it not a strange turn of the Wheel ofFortune that he should be in my charge, when a little less than ayear ago I was a prisoner under him? He doth not relish it much,either. Is your mother in the coach, Peggy?"

  "Yes; with Harriet," answered Peggy.

  "Harriet!" he ejaculated amazed. "Now what doth Harriet want? Ithought we had those cousins where they would not trouble you again."

  "Have you seen the lady of whom you speak, Drayton?" asked Robert Daleabruptly.

  "Often, major." Drayton laughed merrily. "There is not much love lostbetwixt us, either, although I owe much to her for rescuing me from anexceedingly embarrassing position. She would not let me thank herbecause, she informed me, that what she did was for Peggy. Now whatdoth she want, Peggy?"

  "She wants to see how Clifford fares, John. Thee is kind to him, Iknow."

  "I do all that I can, Peggy, because he is your cousin. I'd do muchmore if he would allow me. You know he never liked me, and he wouldactually deprive himself of necessities if he had to receive them atmy hands."

  "Will thee let us see him, John?"

  "Certainly. We are not very rigid. We keep a strict guard to preventescape, but otherwise we give the prisoners many privileges. I willspeak to your mother now, and Harriet."

  A cloud came to Robert Dale's brow as he heard Mrs. Owen say:

  "John, dear lad, if thee can get away from duty why not get insidewith us, and go on to the house? Then we shall all be together oncemore."

  "Thank you, madam," answered Drayton with alacrity. "I was hoping thatyou would ask me. I shall be pleased."

  "I did not know that Captain Drayton was so well known to your family,Peggy," remarked Robert with some stiffness.

  "Why, we have known him for years, Robert," replied Peggy. "Doesn'tthee like him?"

  "He is one of the most daring, dashing, reckless officers in theservice, Peggy. Whenever there is anything of an especially dangerousnature to be done, John Drayton is the first fellow to be named inconnection with its performance. I have always had a high regard forhim. At least until----" He paused in some confusion.

  Peggy laughed out suddenly, and a sparkle of mischief came into hereye.

  "At least until thee found that we knew him well. Is that it? Whatunworthy people we must be that the mere knowing us would render himunfit for thy regard."

  "Now, Peggy," he began protestingly, then he too laughed. "I am theunworthy one," he acknowledged humbly. "I did feel a pang that youpeople should know him so well, and I not know it."

  "Fie, Robert! As though we had not room in our hearts for manyfriends. Each hath his own peculiar nook, and thou hast thine."