Peggy Owen and Liberty

by Lucy Foster Madison

  CHAPTER XXVI

  THE ADVENTURE OF THE GLEN

  "Fair as morning beam, although the fairest far, Giving to horror grace, to danger pride, Shine martial Faith, and Courtesy's bright star, Through all the wreckful storms that cloud the brow of War."

  --"_Lady of the Lake._"

  The morning gun at West Point had not ceased to echo among thesurrounding hills the next morning when the horses for Mr. Owen andthe two maidens were brought to headquarters. Harriet, quite recoveredfrom her indisposition of the day before, vaulted lightly into thesaddle, and bowed low as General Washington came forth to bid themfarewell.

  "Your Excellency overwhelms us with kindness, sir," she cried. "Youhave been nobility itself in granting this respite to my brother. Ihave no fear now as to the outcome of the matter. There is no doubt inmy mind but that the real culprit will be delivered into your handswithin a few days."

  "I trust that it may fall out as you wish, Miss Harriet," answeredthe general courteously. "As I have said, you shall have ample timefor your mission."

  "Thank you, sir. Ten days should be more than sufficient time. 'Tisbut to go to New York, lay the whole affair before Sir Guy Carleton,and return."

  "There are many things which might occur to bring about delay, MissHarriet," he observed quietly. "In a case of this nature 'tis the partof wisdom to accept all that is offered. We will say two weeks; butGeneral Carleton must give his decision by the end of that time. Thematter now rests with him. I wish you all a safe journey."

  He bowed gravely, and, overcome by the kindliness of this great man,the three left Newburgh much happier than when they entered it.Harriet was to cross the river at Dobbs Ferry, the post where allcommunication between the two armies was maintained, while Mr. Owenand Peggy were to return to Chatham to inform Clifford of the resultof the interview with General Washington.

  In high spirits Harriet laughed and chatted as she had not done fordays, pausing ever and anon to admire the beauties of the river,uttering exclamations of delight at some particularly imposing view.Before them lay West Point with Crow's Nest Mountain, Butter Hill andthe two Beacon mountains; on the southwest, Pollopel's Island, in useat this time as a military prison, lay at the northern entrance to theHighlands; on the east were the fertile valleys of the Mattewan andWappinger's Creeks, and the village of Fishkill Landing; behind themwas Newburgh Bay with the little village of the same name upon itsshores, beyond which lay a broad champaign country.

  "Father and Clifford must see this before we sail for home," criedHarriet. "Oh, if I were king I'd never let the Americans deprive me ofsuch a river!"

  "If it affects thee like that, lass, perchance then thee has a slightidea of how we, who are natives of the country, feel toward thoseinvaders who try to wrest it from us."

  "I don't wonder at your feelings, Cousin David," she said. "'Tis only,being English, that it seems to me a mistake to give these coloniesup."

  "We have demonstrated by force of arms that we are no longer colonies,Harriet," he reminded her quietly.

  "Oh, I know, Cousin David," she replied gaily. "But, until peace isdeclared, I cannot but regard you as belonging to us."

  At this David Owen laughed heartily, but his daughter's cheeksflushed, and her eyes sparkled.

  "Thee amuses me, lass. Thy attitude is England's precisely. The kingand his counselors know that they are beaten, but are loath to signarticles of peace, acknowledging our independence, because by so doingthey surrender their last hold upon what they are pleased to stillterm 'colonies.' But it must come."

  "A truce, a truce," she cried laughing. "How can we acknowledge thatwe are beaten? When did England ever confess such a thing? At any rateyou never could have been victorious had you not been Englishyourselves."

  Peggy joined her father's laughter, and Harriet too was merry.

  "Get all the consolation thou canst out that fact, Harriet," said Mr.Owen. "So long as independence is acknowledged we care not what sopEngland throws to her pride. But," he added with a deep sigh, "I dowish most earnestly that peace would come."

  And so, in such frame of mind, for Harriet's confidence was so greatthat it could not but infect them, Dobbs Ferry was reached. The girlwaved them a lively farewell as she stepped aboard the barge which wasto take her across the river.

  "It won't be a week ere I shall be back, Peggy," she cried. "I don'tmind saying now that I have reason for my belief that Sir Guy will doas I wish in this. A week, my cousin, and you, and Clifford, and Iwill start again for Lancaster." She secreted her passport as shewaved again to them.

  "I pray so, Harriet," returned Peggy.

  "She builds too strongly upon the belief that the British commanderwill help her, I fear me," remarked Mr. Owen as the ferry pushed awayfor the far shore. Peggy turned to him quickly.

  "Has thee no hope, father?"

  "Very little, lass. General Washington warned Sir Henry Clinton whatthe consequences would be if he did not give up the perpetrators ofthe murder of Captain Johnson. Sir Henry responded by ordering acourt-martial. When Sir Guy came he communicated the findings of thecourt, and seemed to feel bound by the fact that it returned a verdictof not guilty against the leaders. I see not how Harriet can changethe attitude of the British commander."

  "If she fails will General Washington carry out the execution,father?" Peggy's lips tremblingly put the question.

  "He must, child. He must do what is right at whatever cost to hisfeelings. This whole affair hath distressed him greatly, but justiceto the army and to the public require that the measure be carried outin full. He did not come to his determination without maturedeliberation, and his course hath been sanctioned by Congress, andsupported by the approbation of the principal officers of the army.The general explained the matter at some length to me last night. Itis peculiarly distressing to us, lass, because the victim happens tobe of kin. Still, however painful the matter is, we must acknowledgethe justice of the proceeding."

  "Ye-es, father." But Peggy's voice was very faint, and she lookedwhite and spent.

  Just? Oh, yes; it was just, but granting justice; granting that it wasthe method of procedure in warfare, what comfort could that give tothose who loved the boy? Peggy was greatly downcast in spirits when,as Harriet's figure became a mere speck on the farther shore, she andher father resumed their journey to Chatham.

  Colonel Dayton was greatly pleased over the report from headquarters.

  "I hope that the guilty may be brought to punishment instead of thisyouth," he ejaculated fervently. "I cannot tell you, Mr. Owen, howexceedingly distasteful this whole affair is to all of us. If it werenot right and just we could not proceed with it. I believe that Ivoice the thought of every American when I say that I hope the sisterwill succeed in her efforts. Did the general send any messageregarding the young man's treatment?"

  "There is a letter, colonel," exclaimed David Owen, drawing forth themissive. "I had nigh forgotten it."

  "This is most kind of the general," exclaimed the colonel with anexpression of relief as he perused the letter. "I will call the youngman to hear it."

  In a few moments an orderly with Clifford in charge entered the room.The youth greeted his cousins affectionately, and listened attentivelyto the officer as he read the epistle:

  "You will treat Captain Williams with every tenderness and politenessconsistent with his present situation which his rank, fortune andconnections together with his private estate demand. Further, informthe young gentleman that his sister hath been permitted to go to NewYork to place the matter in the hands of Sir Guy Carleton. No furthersteps in the matter will be taken until his commander is heard from."

  Colonel Dayton looked up benignantly.

  "So there is hope that you may not suffer for the guilty, CaptainWilliams," he said. "If Sir Guy will but let us have CaptainLippencott, you, young sir, will not have to pay the penalty for thismost atrocious deed. Let us hope that your sister will be successful."

  Clifford smiled rather
wearily.

  "'Tis but a prolongation of the suspense," he remarked. "She won'tsucceed. Sir Guy can't give up any man after a court-martial absolveshim from blame. Still, I am glad that Harriet is well away. 'Twill bejust as well for her to be with father until this whole miserablebusiness is brought to a conclusion."

  "Then, lad, thou hast no hope?" questioned Mr. Owen.

  "None whatever, Cousin David. How long a time hath your chief givenHarriet?"

  "Two weeks, Clifford."

  "Two weeks! Why, that is a lifetime," exclaimed he. "Much may happenin two weeks."

  "True, Captain Williams; and, provided you will give your word ofhonor that you will make no attempt to escape, you shall be free to goand come at your pleasure," spoke Colonel Dayton.

  "I give it, sir, and thank you," returned Clifford. "You have been andare most kind."

  "Then we shall begin by leaving you with your cousins," said thecolonel. "Come, orderly."

  "Is there aught that thou wouldst have me attend to, my lad?" askedMr. Owen as Colonel Dayton left them. "If there is anything that canbe done I should be glad to do it."

  "There is something, Cousin David." Clifford looked at him eagerly. "Isuppose the end will come soon after the two weeks are up, therefore Iwish you would stay until 'tis over. You and Peggy. When I was inVirginia last year wounded, as I thought, unto death, Peggy came to methere that I might have some of my kindred near me in my last hours.My need is greater now than it was then. It won't be very long. I'dlike a friendly face near me at the last."

  Mr. Owen was almost overcome by the plea.

  "My lad," he replied huskily, "it distresses me to refuse thee aughtat this time, but I cannot stay. I am a soldier, as thou art, andunder orders. Leave was given for a few days, but 'tis nearly gone. Iwill make an effort to come again before the two weeks are up."

  "Then let Peggy stay, sir. Accommodations are easily procured eitherin the village, or out here with one of the officers' families. Shewould be well cared for, and 'twould be a comfort to me."

  The boyish face was full of pleading. He was very young. David Owen'seyes misted suddenly as his youth came home to him.

  "It must be as Peggy says, lad," he rejoined, turning toward hisdaughter with concern. He had noted her pallor and sadness when hetold her that there was but little hope for the boy, and he knew thatif she stayed it must of necessity be a tax upon her strength. Peggymet his anxious glance with a brave smile. She was ever ready to sinkself if by so doing she could give comfort to another.

  "Certainly I will stay, if Clifford wishes it, father," she said. "Ithink I should like to, and Harriet would wish it, I know."

  "Can thee bear it, lass, knowing that thy cousin's time may be short?"

  "Cousin David," spoke Clifford quickly, "there isn't going to beanything melancholy about these two weeks. 'Twould benefit neither mycousin nor myself to dwell upon the approach of death; so----"

  "She shall stay, lad," interrupted Mr. Owen. "Thy words remove thelast scruple I had anent it. Would that I might be with thee also, butI shall try to come back."

  Accordingly when David Owen started on his return to Lancaster Peggywas left at Chatham. Mrs. Dayton had declared that she must make herhome with them, and gratefully the maiden accepted the hospitality.Clifford, conformable to the instructions sent by General Washington,was subjected to little restraint. Relying upon the safeguard of hishonor the American colonel let him come and go through the cantonment,the village, and about the surrounding country at his pleasure.

  Peggy had her own little mare with her, and Clifford having procureda mount, it came about that they spent long hours in the saddle,exploring the neighboring hills, the roads and byways around the camp.At no time did Clifford exhibit sadness or melancholy. Had it notbeen for the knowledge ever present in the background of theirconsciousness of what was to come it would have been a happy period.

  The days passed. Ten had gone by, but there came no word from Harriet.Peggy found herself growing apprehensive. Would Harriet succeed? sheasked herself again and again. No word had come from her. Did it meanfailure? She had been so sure. And Peggy was glad that GeneralWashington had insisted that two weeks be the period given for themission. That Clifford was not insensible of the flight of time wasmade known to her the day before the two weeks were up.

  "We are going to ride as far as we can to-day, my cousin," he said asthe horses were brought round. "There may be word from Harriet, orfrom your general to-morrow. Perhaps something will occur that willprevent us from riding."

  "Where shall we go, Clifford?" asked Peggy falling at once into hismood. "Our longest ride is to the five knob tree on the Short Hillsroad."

  "That will do admirably," he answered. "And the glen beyond. Let us gothrough it once more. It hath much of beauty and romance in itsscenery."

  The day was quite warm, but it was pleasant riding. Clifford wasunusually silent, and for the greater part of the distance seemedabsorbed in thought. He turned toward her at length smiling:

  "I am not very talkative this morning, Peggy. I have been thinking ofyour father. He thought that he might return, you remember."

  "Yes, Clifford. And I," she added tremulously, "have been thinking ofHarriet. We have had no word."

  "She hath failed, my cousin. Had it not been so she would have beenhere. Harriet likes not to confess failure. I was certain that shewould not succeed, and consented for her sake alone that she shouldmake the effort."

  "Still, by that means thee had an extra lease of life, Clifford,"Peggy reminded him.

  "I wonder if that hath been altogether for the best, Peggy," he saidseriously. "Sometimes, when after all one must undergo such a penaltyas lies before me, the kindest thing that can happen is to have itover with without delay."

  "Don't, Clifford," she cried shuddering. "I think that none of uscould have stood it. It would have broken our hearts. With the delaywe cannot but hope and believe that something will prevent this awfulmeasure from being carried out."

  They had reached the five knob tree by this time, and beyond it laythe glen of which Clifford had spoken. It was as he had said romanticin its wildness. Various cascades leaped in foamy beauty across thepath of the road which ran through the deep vale. Firs lay thicklystrewn about, and the horses had to pick their way carefully throughthem. Copper mines, whose furnaces had been half destroyed by theEnglish, were now overgrown with vines and half hidden by fallentrees, showed the combined ravages of war and nature. A few yards inadvance of them the glen widened into a sylvan amphitheater, wavingwith firs and pines, and rendered almost impassable by underbrush. Ashort turning in the road suddenly brought them in front of a romanticwaterfall. The cousins drew rein, watching the fall of the waterin silence, for the sound of the cascade precluded them fromconversation. The sun shone through the tree tops giving a varied hueto the rich greenness of the foliage, and tinging with prismatic huesthe sparkling water. So intent were they upon the downpour of thewaterfall that they did not notice the dark forms which stole out fromthe underbrush, and stealthily formed a cordon about them. By theheads of the horses two forms arose suddenly like gnomes from theearth, and a scream escaped Peggy's lips as a hoarse voice shouted:

  "You are our prisoners! Dismount instantly."