From Kingdom to Colony

by Mary Devereux

  CHAPTER XXXV

  "Dorothy, speak,--what is it?" her brother demanded. "Hugh?" and heturned questioningly, as Dorothy threw herself into his arms.

  "He called me a British spy," she sobbed, "and tried to shoot me!"

  He held her closer, while he listened to Hugh and Captain Southorn asthey told him of all that had passed.

  It appeared that Hugh, returning through the woods from his mission tothe outposts, had found a horse tied not far away from where they werenow standing. This struck him as something unusual; and looking about,he noticed that the bushes were trampled and broken in a directionwhich seemed to lead toward Washington's headquarters.

  Suspecting a possible spy, he had cautiously followed the plainlymarked way, and soon caught sight of a man dodging about, as if notwishing to be seen, and so intent upon watching something in front ofhim as to be quite unconscious of Hugh's approach.

  Stealing as close as possible, Hugh stood silent, now aware that theman's attention was centred upon the regular pathway through the wood.

  Presently he saw him raise his gun, and feared it might be Washingtonhimself at whom he was aiming; for he knew the Commander-in-Chief wasto be abroad that morning, and he made no doubt that this was someemissary of the enemy bent upon murdering him.

  Thinking only of this, Hugh had thrown himself upon the man, but toolate to prevent the discharge of the gun, although he succeeded indiverting its aim.

  "And saved her life!" exclaimed Captain Southorn and John Devereuxtogether.

  Hugh uttered no word until Dorothy turned to him suddenly and took hishand, while she looked up at him in a way that needed no speech.

  "Never mind, Dot," he said huskily. "You gave him a fine lesson, justsuch as he deserved, and it does me good to think of it. Only, I'dlike to have done it myself."

  She blushed, and dropped his hand, stealing a sidewise glance at herhusband, who was looking at Hugh and herself.

  Jack was now about to speak; but Hugh started quickly, exclaiming,"This will never do; I am forgetting my duty, and must hurry on andmake my report."

  "One second, Hugh," said Jack; "I have something to say to you."

  They walked along together, conversing in low tones, while Dorothy,with a nervous little laugh, said to her husband, "Are you afraid ofme, now that you see the temper I possess?"

  "Nay, little one," he answered, drawing closer to her and taking herhand. "You did nothing more than the circumstances richly provoked.And," with a teasing laugh, "I do not forget a certain day, in anotherwood, when my own cheek felt the weight of this same dainty hand'sdispleasure."

  She looked a bit uncomfortable, and he hastened to add, "And I feltafterward that I, too, received but my just deserts for my presumption."

  "I always wondered," she said, now smilingly, "what you could think ofa young lady who would rig herself up in her brother's raiment, to roamabout at night; and who would so far forget herself as to slap agentleman in the face,--and one of His Majesty's officers at that."

  He laughed. "Then you must know, sweet wife," he answered, as shestood looking down, stirring the leaves with her boot tip, "that I onlyloved you the better, if possible, for it all. It showed you topossess a brave heart and daring spirit, such as are ever the mostloyal to the man a true woman loves. But for all those same acts ofyours, I'd not have dared to do as I did; but I felt that no othercourse would lead you to follow the feeling I was sure I read in youreyes."

  John Devereux, who had gone out to the roadway with Hugh, now called tothem.

  "Come, both of you," he said; "it is time to be off."

  "This must be our real good-by, little one." Captain Southorn glancedabout them, and then put his arm around Dorothy. "We shall both beleaving shortly, and I cannot say good-by properly with a lot of otherfolk about. Ah," with a shudder, and holding her up to his breast,"when I think of what might have happened, had not your friend Hughcome upon the scene, it makes it all the harder for me to let you goagain."

  "But there is no danger now," she said courageously; "the man is aprisoner. But whatever could have put such a crazy idea into hishead?" she asked indignantly.

  "Did you never see him before?" her husband inquired.

  "Yes, at the Gray Horse Inn;" but her brother's voice, now callingrather impatiently, cut short her story.

  "And will you come when I send word?" Captain Southorn asked.

  "Yes," she whispered.

  "Well, thank God it will be but a few days until then," he said, givingher a parting kiss. "So for now, my wife,--my own little wife, adieu!"

  As they were taking their way to the house, Jack looked at his watchand scowled a little as he saw the lateness of the hour. Then heturned to Dorothy, and inquired, as her husband had done, in regard toher knowledge of Farmer Gilbert.

  She told of all that Mary and herself had seen of him at the inn; andher brother's quick perceptions put the facts together while helistened.

  They found gathered before the house an unusual number of men, inanimated conversation; but as the three figures approached, they allbecame silent, glancing at the new-comers in a way to indicate that therecent occurrence had formed the subject of their discussion.

  Some of them now strolled away, while those who remained--all of themconnected with the headquarters--drew aside to let Lieutenant Devereuxand his companions pass.

  "Do you know if Sergeant Knollys is within, Harris?" Jack inquired,addressing one of them.

  "Yes, I am quite sure you will find him inside."

  Turning to another of the men, Jack bade him have the horses brought atonce, and order the escort to be ready for immediate departure.

  "We shall have to hasten, Dot," he said hurriedly, as they went alongthe hall. "And," addressing her husband, "Captain Southorn, I must nowturn you over to Captain Ireson."

  "Then I am not like to see you again," said the young Englishman, as heextended his hand.

  "No, I should have gone to Boston with you, to escort Captain Picketton his return, but I have orders to see my small sister safely to thehouse and care of our neighbor, Mistress Knollys."

  "And when are we to meet again?"

  He spoke earnestly, almost with emotion, for he had come to have astrong affection for this handsome, high-spirited young Colonist, whoseface and manner so resembled Dorothy's.

  "Who can say?" asked Jack, sadly, as the two stood with clasped hands,looking fixedly at one another.

  "Well, God grant that it be before long, and when our countries are atpeace," exclaimed Southorn.

  "Amen to that," answered Jack. "And," in a voice that trembled, "youwill always be good to--" The sentence was left unfinished, while hisarm stole about his sister's shoulders.

  "As God is my witness,--always," was the solemn reply.

  "And now, Dot," said her brother, with a contented sigh, and speakingin a more cheerful tone, as if now throwing off all his misgivings,"you must bid Captain Southorn farewell for a few days, and we will getunder way. But first I have to go with him and report to CaptainIreson."

  She held out both hands to her husband, who bent over and pressed themto his lips.

  "You will surely come when I send?" he asked softly.

  She nodded, looking up at him through her tears.

  In half an hour the party of soldiers, with Dorothy and her brother,took the way to Dorchester, Hugh appearing at the last moment to sayfarewell, as his duty called him in another direction. And it was notlong before a smaller party, bearing a flag of truce, set out withCaptain Southorn, to effect his exchange for Captain Pickett.

  The following day Farmer Gilbert was brought before General Washington,who listened gravely to his attempted justification. Then, after astern rebuke, so lucid and emphatic as to enlighten the man's dullwits, now made somewhat clearer by his confinement and enforcedabstinence, he was permitted to go his way.

  A week after this, little Mistress Southorn was escorted to the Britishlines and handed over to her waiting husband; a
nd a few days later, atransport sailed, taking back to England some disabled officers andsoldiers, as well as a small number of royalists, who were forced toleave the country for the one whose cause they espoused too openly.

  Dorothy was standing by the ship's rail, alone, her husband having lefther for a few minutes. She was busy watching the stir and bustle ofdeparture, when she recognized, in a seeming farmer who had come aboardwith poultry, the pedler, Johnnie Strings.

  The sight of his shrewd face and keen little eyes brought to hermingled feelings of pleasure and alarm, and, wondering what his missioncould be, she hurried toward him.

  "Oh, Johnnie, is it safe for you to be here?" she exclaimed, as shegrasped his hand.

  "Sh-h, sweet mistress!" he said cautiously. "I won't be safe if yesing out in such fashion. Jest ye get that scared look off yer face,while we talk nat'ral like, for the sake o' them as stands 'round. Yesee I was the only one that could risk comin', an' I'm to carry backthe last news o' ye. But oh, Mistress Dorothy," and his voice took anote of expostulation, "however had ye the heart to do it? But o'course we all know 't was not really yer own doin', arter all. I tellye, mistress, that mornin' at the Sachem's Cave saw the beginnin' of asight o' mischief."

  She passed this by without comment, smiling at him kindly while shegave him many parting messages for those at Dorchester, and for AuntLettice and little 'Bitha, and all at the old house.

  The pedler promised to deliver them, and then looking into her face, hesighed mournfully.

  "Aye, but 't is thankful I am, mistress, that yer old father ne'erlived to see this day."

  "Oh, Johnnie, don't say that--how can you?" she cried impulsively.

  He saw the pained expression his words had brought, and added hastily,as he drew the back of his hand across his eyes, "There, there, sweetmistress, don't take my foolish words to heart, for my own is so sorethis day over all that's come to pass, an' that ye should be goin' awaylike this, that I scarce know jest what I be sayin'."

  Before Dorothy could reply, she saw her husband approaching; andJohnnie, seeing him as well, turned to go.

  "Won't you wait and speak to him?" she asked, a little shyly.

  "No, no, Mistress Dorothy," was his emphatic answer,--"don't ye askthat o' me. I could n't stummick it--not I. God keep ye, sweetmistress, an' bring ye back to this land some day, when we 've drivenout all the d----d redcoats."

  With this characteristic blessing, the pedler hastened away, and wassoon lost to sight amongst the barrels and casks piled about the wharf.

  A few hours later, Dorothy stood with her husband's arm about her,watching through gathering tears the land draw away,--watching it growdim and shadowy, to fade at last from sight, while all about them laythe purple sea, sparkling under the rays of the late afternoon sun.

  Her eyes lingered longest upon the spot in the hazy distance near whereshe knew lay the beloved old home.

  "How far--how far away it is now," she murmured.

  "What, little one?" her husband asked softly.

  "I was thinking of my old home," she answered, surprised to have spokenher thought aloud. "And," looking about with a shiver, "it seems sofar--so lonely all about us here."

  "Are you frightened or unhappy?" he asked, drawing her still closer tohim.

  She looked up with brave, loyal eyes, and answered, as had herancestress, Anne Devereux, when she and her young husband were about toseek a new home in a strange, far-off land,--

  "No--not so long as we be together."

  Hugh Knollys fell--a Major in the Massachusetts line--during one of theclosing engagements of the war, and his mother did not long survive him.

  John Devereux passed through the conflict unharmed, and returned to thefarm, where he and Mary lived long and happily, with their childrengrowing up about them.

  They had each summer as their guests an Englishman and his wife--alittle, girl-like woman, whom every one adored--who crossed the sea topay them long visits. Sometimes the pleasant days found thisEnglishman seated in the Sachem's Cave, his eyes wandering off over thesea; and with him often would be Mary Broughton's eldest son, andfirst-born--Jack, who had his Aunt Dorothy's curling locks and darkeyes.

  The favorite story at such times, and one never tired of by either theman or child, was that telling how in the great war his mother hadfrightened a young English soldier so that he fell over the rocks, andhow, soon after this, a certain brave little maid had hurled theburning lanterns from these same rocks, to save her brother and hiscompanions from danger.

  The youngster had first heard of all this from Johnnie Strings,--to theday of his death a crippled pensioner on the Devereux farm--who neverseemed to realize that the war was over, and who had expressed markeddisapproval when 'Bitha, now tall and stately, had, following herCousin Dorothy's example, and quite regardless of her own long-agoavowals, given her heart and hand to the nephew of this same Britishsoldier.

  With this must end my story of the old town. But there is anotherstory,--that of its fisher and sailor soldiers, and it is told in thedeeds they have wrought.

  These form a goodly part of the foundation upon which rests the mightyfabric of our nation. Their story is one of true, brave hearts; and itis told in a voice that will be heard until the earth itself shall havepassed away.

  It was the men of Marblehead who stepped forward that bitter winter'snight on the banks of the Delaware, when Washington and his little armylooked with dismayed eyes upon the powerful current sweeping beforethem, and which must be crossed, despite the great masses of ice thatthreatened destruction to whosoever should venture upon its roaringflood. They were the men who responded to his demand when he turnedfrom the menacing dangers of the river and asked, "Who of you will leadon, and put us upon the other side?"

  The monument that commemorates the success at Trenton is no less atribute to the unflinching courage and sturdiness of the fishermen ofMarblehead, who made that victory possible.

  And, as there, so stands their record during all the days of theRevolutionary struggle. Wherever they were--on land or water--in theattack they led, in the retreat they covered; and through all theirdeeds shone the ardent patriotism, the calm bravery, the unflinchingdevotion, that made them ever faithful in the performance of duty.

  "When anything is done, People see not the patient doing of it, Nor think how great would be the loss to man If it had not been done. As in a building Stone rests on stone, and, wanting a foundation, All would be wanting; so in human life, Each action rests on the foregone event That made it possible, but is forgotten, And buried in the earth."

  When the dawn of peace came, nowhere was it hailed with more exultantjoy than in Marblehead.

  Nowhere in all the land had there been such sacrifices made as by thepeople of this little town by the sea. Many of those who had beenwealthy were now reduced to poverty,--their commerce was ruined, theirblood had been poured out like water.

  But for all this there was no complaining by those who were left, noupbraiding sorrow for those who would never return. There was only joythat the struggle was ended, and independence achieved for themselvesand the nation they had helped to create. And down the long vista ofyears between their day and our own, the hallowed memory of theirloyalty shines out as do the lights of the old town over the night sea,whose waves sing for its heroes a fitting requiem.

  THE END

  UP AND DOWN THE SANDS OF GOLD

  _A PRESENT-DAY NOVEL_

  BY MARY DEVEREUX

  Author of "From Kingdom to Colony" and "Lafitte of Louisiana."

  12mo. Decorated Cloth. $1.50.

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  Humor and pathos, love and adventure, abound throughout the work.Spicy incidents are plentiful.--_Atlanta Constitution_.

  Margaret Leslie is a heroine who deserves a place in Mr. Howells'gallery of immortal heroines in fiction.--_Rochester Herald_.

  Margaret Leslie's brave service in the bat
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