The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2

by William Alexander Caruthers

  CHAPTER VI.

  On the morning of the Anniversary of the Restoration, the sun was justemerging above the eastern horizon, the sky was unclouded and serene,the air balmy and elastic, and the volumes of misty drapery from theriver were fast rolling away over the hills, as the Recluse stood uponone of the highest points of the river cliffs, with folded arms,surveying the scene around him.

  Far back as the eye could reach to the west, all was interminableforest--the foreground exhibiting occasional specks of cleared land,where some planter, more adventurous than his fellows, had boldlytrusted his fortunes to the mercy of the savage.

  He looked upon the little city beneath, as the weary mariner on a longvoyage may be supposed to look upon a green island in the midst of adesert of waters. His chest heaved as the swelling emotions of pent upyears burst from his over-loaded heart. Bacon, the manly and ingenuousyouth, whom the reader will remember as having been appointed to visithim on this morning, had just sprung upon a mettled and pawing charger,which was now throwing the fire and pebbles from his heels in thickvolleys, as his master with a fire and impetuosity scarcely inferior tohis own, bent over his uncurbed neck as he descended into the plain.Several pieces of light artillery, together with volleys of musketry inquick succession, thundered over the smooth waters of the Powhatan, andreverberated in multiplied peals under the feet of the Recluse. Therewas something connected with this day, and its celebration, which seemedpowerfully to have stirred up the still waters within him. Thick comingfancies connected with by-gone days were rolling over his soul in anuncontrolled torrent. But we must leave him for a time to his ownreflections, amidst the solitary grandeur of the scene, while we pursuethe road of the flying Cavalier towards the city.

  The bells from the Church and State House were now also heard in theintervals of the cannonade, and as we approach nearer to the scene, astrange confusion of many sounds greet the ear. Drums and fifes, violinsand banjoes, and even jews-harps, all lent their aid to swell the burstof joy and gratulation. Smiling and happy faces were grouped along thestreets, while gay damsels, in their holyday finery, adorned the doorsand windows of the busy citizens. A perfect Babel of commingled noisesissued from the spacious area of a tobacco warehouse, which, after theusual fashion, consisted of an extensive roof, supported by colonnadesto every front. Here was congregated the rising generation--boisterousand happy in the midst of their games and sports. No schoolmaster wasabroad on that day, to rush in upon the unwary urchins, and wreak uponthem the vengeance of Samson upon the Philistines.

  Our forefathers suffered their children to follow very much their ownhumours in the selection of those amusements suited to their age andcondition. We see not but the result was as happy as that of the systemsof our day, when every thing is regulated by system, even to the gamesand amusements of our children. The time is certainly not far distantwhen Geography will be taught by a game at cards; Chemistry by set_conversations_ upon the constituents of our edibles, and NaturalPhilosophy developed in nursery rhymes, that we may imbibe it with ourlullabies.

  On the morning in question, as merry a set of boisterous lads kicked upthe dust in the old warehouse, as ever fought over a game of marbles, orlaughed through one of leap-frog. And while the merry urchins, whom wehave taken under our special protection, were thus enjoying a gloriousholyday, their elders and superiors were moved by the same impulses. Themansion of the Governor itself was in visible commotion; servantsswelling with importance, aped the grandeur of their masters' looks,while they ran from room to room on their various duties. A provincialband of music was stationed under the windows, uniting their sweetsounds to the Babel-like uproar, in the well known tune of "Over thewaters to Charley."

  There was one little green spot upon the common inviting thecontemplative mind to pleasing reveries. Here a few of the humblermaidens of the city were adorning the overhanging bushes with gaygarlands of flowers, preparatory to the evening dance, which theycontemplated celebrating in imitation of their superiors, who were tomove in more stately measures at the mansion of the Governor.

  The household of Gideon Fairfax was likewise earlier than usual on thealert, and he being one of the council of the Colony, came in also for ashare of the honours noised forth under the windows of the mostdistinguished Cavaliers.

  Breakfast had been some time waiting at the table, and the fondlyindulged daughter had been repeatedly summoned, but still she came not.This excited the more surprise in the minds of her parents, as theysupposed, that on this eventful morning, of all others in the year, shewould be up with the lark. The truth was, that after retiring at such anunusual hour of the night, or rather morning--her slumbers weredisturbed between sleeping and waking, by shadowy dreams of yellingsavages, chivalrous youths, and mighty giants.

  At length, however, she appeared, but instead of bounding into the roomwith gay and elastic steps, and more buoyant spirits, in happyanticipation of the promised enjoyments of the day, her movements wereslow and heavy--her eyes red and swollen, and her whole appearanceindicative of languor and dejection. Her fond parents were instantly ather side--each taking a hand as she walked into the room, and strivingto learn from the fancied invalid the nature of her sufferings. Sheassured them that she had nothing to complain of but want of rest, andwith this they were the more readily satisfied, as towards morning therehad indeed been much firing of guns, and other demonstrations ofloyalty. Her parents being thus satisfied, that her account of thematter was the true one, Virginia was suffered to assume her place atthe head of the table--a place she had for some time occupied on accountof the delicate state of her mother's health. Meanwhile the anxiousparents assumed their own places, and endeavoured to beguile theirdaughter's languor by allusions to the merry sounds, and gay groupwithout, not forgetting the assembly at the Governor's; and it is morethan probable that they would have succeeded, as few spirited andblooming beauties of sixteen can long listen unmoved to such details,had not Virginia, raising her half cheerful face at that moment to alarge mirror which hung opposite, caught the reflection of a person inwhose welfare she took a lively interest, standing in one corner of theroom, and partly behind her chair, with a countenance and attitude whichexpressed the deepest misery. This was no other that Wyanokee, her ownlittle Indian attendant, who officiated near the person of hermistress, in a medium capacity between friend and servant; the mistressonly requiring the companion, and the maid spontaneously offering theservices due both from affection and gratitude.

  The figure of Wyanokee was diminutive, but like most of the aboriginalfemales, exquisitely proportioned, and graceful, after the fashion ofnature's finest schooling. Her face was oval and between a brown andyellow colour, yet there was a vital tinge occasionally illuminatingthis predominant dark ground, which bespoke the refined female, inlanguage intelligible to all, and far more eloquently than the tongue.Her hair was jet black, and folded upon her small round head after thefashion of the Europeans; and her brilliant teeth exhibited a strikingcontrast to the dark shades of her skin, and darker sparkling eyes. Thedelicately penciled brows, arched beautifully over a countenancestrikingly feminine and lady-like; and the general expression was thatcalm sadness which has been remarked as characteristic of thedomesticated aborigines from that day to the present. Her dress wasessentially after the fashion of the whites of that day, just retainingsufficient of the Indian costume, however, to set off her slight butgraceful figure to the best advantage. The exquisite proportions of herfinely shaped foot and ankle were displayed in a closely fitting deerskin moccasin, studded around the eyelet holes, and wrought in curious,but not unpleasing figures, with party-coloured beads and porcupinequills. Around her neck, and falling upon her gently swelling bosom,were many ingeniously wrought ornaments of wampum and silver--and aroundher wrists, bracelets of the same materials. Wyanokee was of theChickahominy tribe, and had been taken prisoner after the murder of herparents by one of the neighbouring tribes, who at the time were at warwith the Chickahominies. Nathaniel Bacon saw her in one of his h
untingexcursions, and struck with her native beauty, and pleading countenance,redeemed her from captivity at the expense of a string of blue beads.From thence he brought her to Jamestown, to remain until someopportunity should occur of restoring her to her tribe. Her parentshaving been slain, however, as we have already said, and much timenecessarily having elapsed before such opportunity occurred, Virginiatook advantage of it, and by mild and affectionate treatment,endeavoured to win her to herself. A mutual and peculiar attachment wasthe consequence, so that when the opportunity actually occurred,Wyanokee refused to return to the almost extinct tribe of her fathers.Two years had now elapsed since her introduction into the Fairfaxfamily, during which time Virginia, an assiduous pupil herself, becamein her turn instructress to her little protegee. Already had she learnedmany of the little feminine arts and accomplishments of civilized life,and made considerable proficiency in the English language--which,however, she never employed except in private to her instructress, oron some urgent occasion. Half the young Cavaliers in Jamestown wouldhave been willing devotees at the shrine of Wyanokee's beauty, after thecorrupt fashions of the parent court and country. But such celebrity wasnot suited to the taste or ambition of the Indian maiden. Whenever thelittle errands of her patroness led her to the shops of the city,instead of encouraging the forward and impudent gallantries of the youngprofligates, she would trip along like a frightened partridge--alwaysturning a deaf ear to their flatteries, and keeping her eyes fixed uponthe earth, in the most modest, natural and simple guise. Notwithstandingher habitual indifference to the flatteries of her many admirers, therewas one youth whose very step upon the door sill her practised ear coulddetect. Not that her deliverer had ever taken advantage of her gratitudeto him--her ignorance of civilized refinements, or her dependentsituation, to poison her mind with the deceitful flatteries too commonwith his comrades of that day. The passion was perhaps the growth oftime and reflection and the effect of gratitude, as the little Indianmaiden became capable of instituting comparisons between his conducttowards herself and that of the young Cavaliers, whose assiduities havebeen already mentioned. Certain it is, that if it had been from somesudden impulse in their earlier intercourse, the customs of her racewould have fully borne her out in declaring her passion to its objectat once. At the time of which we write, however, this feeling was aprofound secret within her own bosom, as she hoped and believed; and themore Virginia impressed upon her mind the necessity of reserve andmodesty in her intercourse with the other sex, the more jealous shebecame in concealing the passion that possessed her heart. Nevertheless,it influenced all her after life, and gave a touching interest to theprogress of her moral and intellectual development.

  Some few of her Indian peculiarities were still retained by Wyanokee;her gesticulation was far more powerful and expressive than her smallcompass of language, and the ordinary indifference of her race topassing and exciting themes, was yet preserved by her. Her gentlemistress could indeed work upon her sensibilities through the medium ofher affection and gratitude, like a skilful musician upon a finely tonedinstrument, but the master key was still wanting even to her. There wasone peculiarity of her race not quite so agreeable or inoffensive asthose already mentioned--namely, the silence and celerity of hermovements; sometimes she would appear to Virginia in the middle of thenight with the imagined abruptness of an unearthly spirit. Often wouldthe fair maiden awake from her slumbers and find her stooping over hercouch--with the saddest and most intense interest expressed in hercountenance--and again she would glide through the silent apartments ofthe spacious mansion with a movement so shadowy and noiseless, that itseemed almost impossible to be effected by a substantial being.

  When Virginia raised her eyes from the breakfast-table, and beheldWyanokee's mute despair, as exhibited in the opposite mirror, her formernervous alarm and agitation instantly returned.

  She was entirely at a loss to account for the unusual feeling exhibitedby her attendant, except by connecting it in some way with her latenocturnal adventures. And it was a fearful supposition which flashedthrough her mind, that Wyanokee was acquainted with her last night'sundertaking; yet at the same time ignorant of her motives. Hurryingmechanically through the meal, she rose, and taking the hand of theyoung Indian, was about to retire; but at that moment Nathaniel Baconrode up to the door, his charger covered with dust and foam; leapingfrom his back and throwing the rein to an attendant, he entered the roomat the very moment when the two maidens were about to make their exit.Under the peculiar circumstances of the case perhaps no one could haveentered more mal-appropos. Mr. Fairfax himself and Bacon had parted, atthe termination of their last interview, with excited and unpleasantfeelings, both having lost command of temper. Virginia had last seen himunder circumstances also which in themselves were calculated to exciteno very pleasing reminiscences; but considering the precise attitude inwhich she stood at that moment with regard to Wyanokee, the interviewpromised to be still more embarrassing. Nor was the promisefalsified--the salutations of the gentlemen were cold, formal, andembarrassing to both parties, while the two maidens stood on the eve ofdeparture, each labouring under her own peculiar difficulties. Virginiafelt as if all the adventures of the preceding night stood revealed toher parents, without any of the justificatory motives which hadsatisfied her own mind for embarking in them--while her attendant lookedto her as if she too was labouring under a weight of surreptitiousknowledge. Mrs. Fairfax was the only one of the party who preservedself-possession enough to welcome their young friend, after so long anabsence, in intelligible language.

  With the peculiar tact of the cultivated female mind she judiciously ledthe conversation to such subjects of universal interest at the time, asto induce her husband and the young Cavalier to forget their lateunpleasant difference, and Virginia to resume her seat at the table,where she busied herself in helping the visiter to his breakfast. It wassingular enough too, as Virginia no doubt thought, that one of thesesubjects should have direct reference to some personages who had solately and so intently occupied her own thoughts--namely the Roundheadsand Independents. Frank Beverly it seems had already blown abroad themeeting of these persons in secret conclave, as mentioned in the firstchapter. The meal being concluded, Bacon again sprang upon his horse andhurried forward to the portico of the Berkley Arms, in which were nowdisplayed no very equivocal evidences of loyalty, from the master of thehouse and his numerous guests, who thronged its area upon his approach.All the _elite_ of the Cavalier youth were there in a perfect throng.

  No sooner had Bacon alighted and made his way into the throng, than thetumultuous discussion of the youths was hushed into silence. This wasnot so much owing to any sternness in the dignity of the youth as to thepeculiar nature of the discussion which was going on between Dudley andBeverly, and their several partizans, at the very moment of hisentrance. The tumblers of julip were held in suspense, while heavy betswere offered, and about to be taken, upon the disputed question whetherthe very person who so suddenly appeared among them would be present atthe celebration. No sooner had he set foot on the premises, however,than the fat landlord came waddling up, grasping the hand of our hero inone of his own, while in the other he presented him with a goblet of thenational beverage.

  "A pledge! a pledge!" now resounded from several quarters of the wellfilled Tap. It may well be supposed that the suspected one had no verygreat relish for julip after breakfast, but knowing the importance ofsuch trifles on an occasion like the present, and under all the peculiarcircumstances in which he was placed he took the cup, and elevating it,said--"Here's to the merry king Charles, who shall be king but Charley."

  "Bravely done," shouted the host--and "huzzah for Bacon," shouted hisown immediate partisans, many of whom belonged to a volunteer militarycompany of which he was the commander, and whom to see was the veryobject of his visit to the Arms. Taking Dudley therefore by the arm, andcalling to others of the corps, he invited them to a private interviewin another apartment. As Bacon passed Frank Beverly a mutual but coldsaluta
tion was exchanged--dignified and polite on the part of theformer, and cold, haughty and sneering on that of the latter--theungracious feeling not at all lessened, it is probable, by the pointedexclusion of Beverly and his partisans from the private meeting justalluded to.

  Although this was Bacon's first appearance in public, since his abruptdeparture from the house of his friend and patron, it was not the firstvisit he had paid to the hotel, where he and his partisans now heldtheir meeting. He had privately visited the landlord on the precedingevening, previous to the adventures related in the last chapter, forsome purposes connected with the present meeting of his friends, butwhich he was by no means willing should be generally known. At thatvisit he was informed by the landlord of the mischievous plot laid byhis rival to deprive him of the pleasure of Virginia's hand during theapproaching festivities at the Mansion of the Governor, and his firstintention was to counteract their machinations. But so intensely had hismind been engaged with the adventures of the preceding evening, that allminor interests escaped his recollection. It was the object of his visiton this morning, to remedy that oversight; but so cold and formal washis reception by Mr. Fairfax, and so embarrassed was that of hisdaughter, that he gave up the scheme for the present, leaving the housewith any thing but pleasant emotions. Indeed, from the variouscombinations of parties and factions, he saw his own position becominghourly more embarrassing and difficult, and still more so from theneutral position in which he was thrown--partly from the mysteryconnected with his origin, and partly from his connexion with theRecluse. But let the Independents on the one hand, and the Cavaliers onthe other, plot and counterplot as they might, his course was clearlytaken in his own mind. None of the doubts as to what cause he shouldespouse, which had been hinted at by some of the personages of ournarrative, really existed in his mind. His course was plain, manly,upright, and straight forward. Nevertheless, as has been seen, he hadnot thus far entirely escaped suspicion. But trusting to the uprightnessof his intentions, he took his measures on this eventful morning with asingle eye to the public peace and the cause of truth, justice andhumanity. It was to promote these great ends, that he now assembled themembers of the military company of which he was the commander. Upon whatservice they were to be engaged, will appear in the succeedingchapters.