"And now her charms are fading fast,
Her spirits now no more are gay!
Alas! that beauty cannot last!
That flowers so sweet so soon decay!
How chang'd from youth's too flattering scene!
Where are her fond admirers gone?
Alas! and shall there then be none
—— Cynthia's graveThe torrent and the blast can mar the loveliest scenes in nature;——war, with his ruthless hand may rival the elements in their work of destruction——but it is passion alone that can lay waste the human heart. The whirlwind and the floor have duration in their existence, and have bounds to their fury; the earth recovers from the devastation of the conflict with a fertility that seems enriched by the blood of its victims.——But there are feelings that no human agency can limit, and mental wounds that surpass the art of man to heal.
For some years Sarah Wharton had indulged in contemplations on the person and character of Wellmere, that were natural to her sex and situation; and now, when these transient recollections were become permanent from security, and she looked forward to the moment that she was to take the most momentous step of her life, with that engrossing passion which marks a woman's love, the discovery of his real character was a blow tooheavy for her faculties to bear. It has already been seen, that her first indications of returning life, were unaccompanied by a consciousness of what had so recently occurred, nor did her friends, on receiving her from the arms of the trooper, recover more than the lovely image of her whom they had once known.
The walls of the cottage were all that was left of the building, and these, blackened by smoke and stripped of their piazzas and ornaments, served only as dreary memorials of the peaceful contentment and security that had so lately reigned within. The roof, together with the rest of the wood-work, had tumbled into the cellars, and a pale and flitting light ascending from their embers, shone faintly through the windows on objects in the lawn. The early flight of the Skinners left the dragoons at liberty to exert themselves in saving much of the furniture from the flames, and this lay scattered in heaps, giving the finishing touch of desolation to the scene. Whenever a stronger ray of light than common shot upwards, the composed figures of sergeant Hollister and his associates, sitting on their horses in rigid discipline, were to be seen in the back ground of the picture, together with the beast of Mrs. Flanagan, that having slipt its bridle, was quietly grazing by the highway. Betty herself had advanced to where the sergeant was posted, and with an incredible degree of composure, witnessed the whole of the events as they occurred. More than once she suggested to her companion the probability, as the fighting seemed to be over, that the proper time for plunder was arrived, but the veteran promptly acquainted her with his orders, and remained both inflexible and immoveable; until the washerwoman noticing Lawton to come round the wing of the building with Sarah, ventured by herself amongst the warriors. The trooper, afterplacing Sarah on a sofa that had been hurled from the building by two of his men, refired with delicacy, that the ladies might succeed him in his care, and in order to reflect on what further was necessary to be done. Miss Peyton and her niece flew, with a rapture that was blessed with a momentary forgetfulness of all but her preservation, to receive Sarah from the trooper, but the vacant eye and flushed cheek, restored them instantly to their recollection.
"Sarah, my child, my beloved niece." said the spinster, folding her in her arins, "you are saved, and may the blessing of God await him who has been the instrument."
"See," said Sarah, gently pushing her aunt aside, and pointing to the glimmering ruins, "the windows are illuminated in honour of my arrival. They always receive a bride thus——he told me so; listen, and you will hear the bells."
"Here is no bride, no rejoicing, nothing but woe," cried Frances, in a manner but little less frantic than that of her sister; "Oh! may heaven restore you my sister to us——to yourself."
"Peace, foolish young woman," said Sarah, with a smile of affected pity, "all cannot be happy at the same moment; perhaps you have no brother, or no husband to console you; you look beautiful, and will yet find one, but," she continued, dropping her voice to a whisper, "see that he has no other wife——'tis dreadful to think what might happen should he be twice married."
"The shock has destroyed her mind," said Miss Peyton, shaking with apprehension, and clasping her hands in agony, "my child, my beauteous Sarah is a maniac."
"No, no, no," cried Frances, "it is fever—— she is light-headed————she must recover——she shall recover."
The aunt caught joyfully at the hope conveyed in this suggestion, and despatched Katy to request the immediate aid and advice of Dr. Sitgreaves. The operator was found enquiring among the men for professional employment, and inquisitively examining every bruise and scratch that he could induce the sturdy warriors to acknowledge they had received. A summons of the sort conveyed by Katy was instantly obeyed, and not a minute elapsed before he was by the side of Miss Peyton.
"This is a melancholy termination to so joyful a commencement of the night. Madam," he observed, with a soothing manner; "but war must bring its attendant miseries, though doubtless it often supports the cause of liberty, and improves the knowledge of surgical science."
Miss Peyton could make no reply, but pointed to her niece in agony.
" 'Tis fever," answered Frances, "see how glassy is her eye, and look at her cheek, how flushed."
The surgeon stood for a moment deeply studying the outward symptoms of his patient, and then silently took her hand into his own. It was seldom that the hard and abstracted features of the operator discovered any violent emotion; all his passions seemed schooled to the most classical dignity, and his countenance did not often betray what his heart so frequently felt. In the present instance, however, the eager gaze of the aunt and sister soon detected the emotions of Sitgreaves. After laying his fingers for a minute on the beautiful arm, which, bared to the elbow, and glittering with jewels, Sarah suffered him to retain, he dropped it with a heavy sigh, and dashing his hand over his eyes, turned sorrowfully to Miss Peyton as he said——-
"Here is no fever to excite——'tis a case, my dear madam, for time and care only; these, with the blessing of God, may effect a cure."
"And where is the wretch who has caused this ruin," exclaimed Singleton, rejecting the support of his man, and making an effort to rise from the chair where the care of his sister had placed him. "It is in vain that we overcome our enemies, if conquered they can still inflict such wounds as this."
"Dos't think foolish boy," said Lawton with a bitter smile, "that hearts can feel in a colony? What is America but a satellite of England——to move as she moves, follow where she wists, and shine that the mother country may become more splendid by her radiance. Surely you forget that it is honour enough for a colonist to receive ruin from the hand of a child of Britain."
"I forget not that I wear a sword," said Singleton, falling back exhausted; "but was there no willing arm ready to avenge that lovely sufferer—— to appease the wrongs of this hoary father."
"Neither arms nor hearts are wanting, sir, in such a cause," said the trooper fiercely; "but chance oftentimes helps the wicked. By heavens, I'd give Roanoke himself for a clear field with the miscreant."
"Nay! captain dear, no be parting with the horse, any way," said Betty, with a significant look; "it is no trifle that can be had by jist asking, and the baste is sure of foot and jumps like a squirrel."
"Woman!" cried Lawton, "fifty horses, ay, the best that were ever reared on the banks of the Potomac, would be but a paltry price for one blow at such a villain."
"Come." said the surgeon, "the night air can do no service to George or these ladies, and it is incumbent on us to remove them where theycan find surgical attendance and refreshment. Here is nothing but smoking ruins and the miasma of the swamps."
To this rational proposition, no objection could be raised, and the necessary orders were issued by Lawton to remove the whole party to the Four Corners.
America furnished but few and very indifferent carriage makers at the period of which we write, and every vehicle that in the least aspired to the dignity of patrician notice, was the manufacture of a London mechanic. When Mr. Wharton left the city, he was one of the very few that maintained the state of a carriage in his establishment, and at the time that Miss Peyton and his daughters joined him in his retirement, they had been conveyed to the cottage in the heavy chariot that had once so imposingly rolled through the windings of Queen Street, or emerged with sombre dignity into the more spacious drive of Broadway. This vehicle stood undisturbed where it had been placed on its arrival, and the ages of the horses had alone protected the favourites of Cæsar from sequestration, by the contending forces in their neighbourhood. With a heavy heart the black, assisted by a few of the dragoons, proceeded to prepare it for the reception of the ladies. It was a cumbrous vehicle, whose faded linings and tarnished hammercloths, together with its pannels of changing colour, denoted the want of that art which had once given it lustre and beauty. The "lion couchant" of the Wharton arms, was reposing on the reviving splendour of a blazonry that told the armorial bearings of a prince of the church, and the mitre that already began to shine through its American mask, was a symbol of the rank of its original owner. The chaise which conveyed Miss Singleton was also safe, forthe stables and out-buildings had entirely escaped the flames; it certainly had been no part of the plan of the marauders to leave so well appointed a stud behind them, but the suddenness of the attack by Lawton, not only disconcerted their arrangement on this point, but on many others also. A guard was left on the ground under the command of Hollister, who having discovered that his enemy was of mortal mould, took his position with admirable coolness and no little skill, to guard against surprise. He drew off his small party to such a distance from the ruins, that it was effectually concealed in the darkness, while at the same time the light continued sufficiently powerful to discover any one, who might approach the lawn with an intent to plunder.
Satisfied with this judicious arrangement, Capt. Lawton made his dispositions for the march: Miss Peyton and her two nieces with Isabella, were placed in the chariot, while the cart of Mrs. Flanagan being amply supplied with blankets and a bed, was honoured with the persons of Capt. Singleton and his man. Dr. Sitgreaves took charge of the chaise and Mr. Wharton, and what became of the rest of the family during that eventful night is unknown; for Cæsar, alone, of the domestics, was to be found, if we except the house keeper. Having disposed of the whole party in this manner, Lawton gave the word to march. He remained himself for a few minutes alone on the lawn, secreting various pieces of plate and other valuables, that he ws fearful might tempt the cupidity of his own men; when perceiving nothing more that he conceived likely to overcome their honesty, he threw himself into the saddle, with the soldierly intention of bringing up the rear.
"Stop, stop." cried a female voice, "will you leave me alone to be murdered; the spoon ismelted I believe, and I'll have compensation if there's law or justice in the land."
Lawton turned an enquiring eye in the direction of the sound, and perceived a female emerging from the ruins, loaded with an enormous bundle, that vied in size with the renowned pack of the pedlar.
"Who have we here?" said the trooper, "rising like a ph?nix from the flames; oh! by the soul of Hippocrates, but it is the identical she-doctor of famous needle reputation. Well, good woman, what means this outcry?"
"Outcry!" echoed Katy, panting for breath; "is it not disparagement enough to lose a silver spoon, but I must be left alone in this dreary place to be robbed, and perhaps murdered? Harvey would not serve me so; when I lived with Harvey I was always treated with respect at least, if he was a little close with his secrets, and wasteful with his money."
"Then you once formed part of the household, Madam, of Mr. Harvey Birch?"
"You may say I was the whole of his household," returned the other; "there was nobody but I and he, and the old gentleman; you did'nt know the old gentleman, did you?"
"That happiness was denied me," said Lawton, "but how long did you live in the family of this Birch?"
"I disremember the precise time," said Katy, "but it must have been hard on upon nine years, but what better am I for it all?"
"Sure enough, I can see but little benefit that you have derived from the association truly. But is there not something odd in Mr. Birch?"
"Odd indeed," replied Katy, lowering her voice and looking around her; "he was a wonderful disregardful man, and minded a guinea no morethan I do a karnal of corn. But help me to some way of joining Miss Jeanette, and I will tell you prodigies of what Harvey has done first and last."
"You will!" exclaimed the trooper, musing, "here, give me leave to feel your arm above the elbow——-there——-it is no small matter of bone that you have, I see." So saying he gave the spinster a sudden whirl that at once destroyed her philosophy of mind, and effectually confused all her faculties, until she found herself safely if not comfortably seated on the crupper of Lawton's steed.
"Now, Madam, you have the consolation of knowing that you are as well mounted as heart can wish. The nag is sure of foot, and will leap like a panther."
"Let me get down," cried Katy, struggling to release herself from his iron grasp, and yet afraid of falling; "this is no way to put a woman on a horse, besides I can't ride without a pillion."
"Softly, good madam," said Lawton; "for although Roanoke never falls before, he sometimes rises behind. He is far from being accustomed to a pair of heels beating upon his flanks like a drummajor on a field day——a single touch of the spur will serve him for a fortnight, and it's by no means wise to be kicking in this manner, for he is a horse that but little likes to be outdone."
"Let me down, I say," screamed Katy, "I shall fall and be killed. Besides, I have nothing to hold on with, my arms are full, don't you see."
"True," returned the trooper, observing that he had brought bundle and all from the ground, "I perceive that you belong to the baggage guard; but my sword-belt will encircle your little waist as well as my own."
Katy was too much pleased with this compliment to make any resistance while he buckled her close to his own Herculean frame, and drivinga spur into his charger they flew from the lawn with a rapidity that defied further denial. After trotting on for some time, at a rate that discomposed the spinster vastly, they overtook the cart of the washerwoman driving slowly over the stones, with a proper consideration for the wounds of Capt. Singleton. The occurrences of that eventful night had produced an excitement in the young soldier, that was followed by the ordinary lassitude of re-action, and he lay carefully enveloped in blankets, and supported by his man, but little able to converse, though deeply brooding over the past. The dialogue between Lawton and his companion, ceased with the commencement of their motions, but a foot pace being more favourable to speech, the trooper began anew——
"Then you have been an inmate in the same house with Harvey Birch?"
"For more as nine years," said Katy, drawing her breath, and rejoicing greatly that their speed was abated.
The deep tones of the trooper's voice, were soon convey'd by the night air to the ears of the washerwoman, and turning her head, where she sat directing the movements of her mare, she heard both question and answer.
"Belike then, good woman, yee'r knowing whether or no he's a-kin to Beelzeboob," said Betty; "it's Sargeant Hollister who's saying the same, and no fool is the sargent, any way."
"It's a scandalous disparagement," cried Katy, most vehemently, "there's no kinder soul than Harvey that carries a pack; and for a gownd or a tidy apron, he will never take a King's farthing from a friend. Belzebub indeed! For what would he read the bible if he had bealings with the evil spirit?"
"He's an honest divil, any way, as I was saying before," returned Betty; "the guinea was pure. But then the sargeant thinks him amiss, and it's no want of larning that Mister Hollister has."
"He's a fool," said Katy tartly. "Harvey moutht be a man of substance, but he's so disregardful. How often have I told him, that if he did nothing but peddle, and would put his gains to use, and get married, so that things at home could be kept snug and tidy, and leave off his dealings with the rig'lars and all sich incumberments, that he would soon be an excellent liver. Sergeant Hollister would be glad to hold a candle to him, I guess, indeed."
"Pooh!" said Betty, in her philosophical way; "yee'r no thinking that Mister Hollister is an officer, and stands next the cornet in the troop. But this pedlar gave warning of the brush, the night, and it's no sure, that Captain Jack would have got the day, but for the rinforcement."
"How say you, Betty," cried the trooper, bending forward on his saddle, "had you notice of our danger from this said Birch?"
"The very same, darling; and it's hurry I was till the boys was in motion——not but I knew yee'r enough for the cow-boys, any time. But wi'd the divil on your side, I was sure of the day. I'm only wondering there's so little plunder in a business of Beelzeboob's contriving."
"I'm obliged to you for the rescue," said Lawton, "and equally indebted to the motive."
"Is it the plunder? But little did I think of it, till I saw the moveables on the ground, some burnt and some broke, and other some as good as new. It would be convanient to have one feather bed in the corps, any way."
"By heavens, 'twas timely succour. Had not Roanoke been swifter than their bullets, I must have fallen. The animal is worth his weight in gold."
"It's continental you mane, darling. Goold weighs heavy, and is no plenty in the States. If the nagur had'nt been staying and frighting the sargeant with his copper-coloured looks, and a matter of blarney 'bout ghosts, we should have been in time to have killed all the dogs, and taken the rest prisoners."
"It is very well as it is, Betty," said Lawton; "a day will yet come, I trust, when these miscreants will be rewarded——if not in judgments upon their persons, at least in the opinions of their fellow citizens. The time must arrive when America will learn to distinguish between a patriot and a robber."
"Speak low," said Katy; "there's some who think much of themselves that have doings with the skinners."
"It's more they are thinking of themselves then, than other people thinks of them," cried Betty; a thief's a thief, any way, whether he stales for King George or for Congress."
"I knew that evil would soon happen," said Katy; "the sun set to-night behind a black cloud, and the house-dog whined, although I gave him his supper with my own hands; besides, it's not a week sin I dreamed that dream about the thousand lighted candles, and the cakes being burnt in the oven. Miss Peyton said it was all because I had the tallow melted to dip the next day, and a new baking set; but I know'd better nor that from the beginning."
"Well," said Betty, "it's but little I drame, any way——jist keep an asy conscience and a plenty of the stuff in yee, and yee'l sleep like an infant.The last drame I had was when the boys put the thistle-tops in the blankets, and then I was thinking that Captain Jack's man was currying me down, for the matter of Roanoke: but it's no trifle I mind either in skin or stomach."
"I'm sure," said Katy, with a stiff erection that drew Lawton back in his saddle, "no man should ever dare to lay hands on any bed of mine——it's indecent and despisable conduct."
"Pooh! pooh!" cried Betty; "if you tag after a troop of horse, a small bit of a joke must be borne: what would become of the states and liberty if the boys had never a clane shirt or a drop to comfort them? Ask Captain Jack there, if they'd fight, Mrs. Beelzeboob, and they no clane linen to keep the victory in."
"I'm a single woman, and my name is Haynes," said Katy, "and I'd thank you to use no disparaging terms when speaking to me; it's what I isn't use to, and Harvey is no more of Beelzebub nor yourself."
"You must tolerate a little license in the tongue of Mrs. Flanagan, madam," said the trooper; "the drop she speaks of is often of an extraordinary size, and then she has acquired the freedom of a soldier's manner."
"Pooh! captain, darling," cried Betty, "why do you bother the woman——talk like yeerself, dear, and it's no fool of a tongue that yee've got in yee'r own head. But it's here away that the sargeant made a halt, thinking there might be more divils than one stirring, the night. The clouds are as black as Arnold's heart, and deuce the star is there a twinkling among them. Well, the mare is used to a march after night-fall, and is smelling out the road like a pointer slut."
"It wants but little to the rising moon," observed the trooper. He called a dragoon who wasriding in advance, to him, gave a few orders and cautions relative to the comfort and safety of Singleton, and speaking a consoling word to his friend himself, gave Roanoke the spur, and dashed by the cart at a rate that again put to flight all the philosophy of Katharine Haynes.
"Good luck to yee for a free rider and a bold," shouted the washerwoman as he passed, "if yee'r meeting Mister Beelzeboob, jist back the baste up to him and show him his consort that yee've got on the crupper. I'm thinking it's no long he'd tarry to chat. Well, well, it's his life that we saved, he was saying himself——though the plunder is nothing to signify."
The cries of Betty Flanagan were too familiar to the ears of Captain Lawton to cause any alteration in the gait of his steed, or to elicit a reply. Notwithstanding the unusual burden that Roanoke sustained, he got over the ground with great rapidity, and the distance between the cart of Mrs. Flanagan and the chariot of Miss Peyton, was passed in a manner that, however it answered the intentions of the trooper, in no degree contributed to the comfort of his companion. The meeting occurred but a short distance from the quarters of Lawton, and at the same instant the moon broke from behind a mass of clouds that hovered over the horizon, and threw a light upon objects that seemed paler than usual after the glaring brightness of the conflagration. There is, however, a sweetness in moonlight that no competition of art can equal, and Lawton checked his horse, and mused in silence for the remainder of the ride.
Compared with the simple elegance and substantial comfort of the Locusts, the "Hotel Flanagan" presented but a dreary spectacle. In the place of carpeted floors and curtained windows, were the yawning cracks of a rudely constructeddwelling, and boards and paper were ingeniously applied to supply the place of the green glass in more than half the lights. The care of Lawton had anticipated every improvement that their situation would allow, and blazing fires were made before the party arrived, to cheer as much as possible the desolation within. The dragoons who had been charged with this duty, conveyed a few necessary articles of furniture, and Miss Peyton and her companions on alighting, found something like habitable apartments prepared for their reception. The mind of Sarah had continued to wander during the ride, and, with the pliability of insanity, she accommodated every circumstance to the feelings that were uppermost in her own bosom. It was necessary to support her to the room intended for the ladies; but the instant she was placed on the seat where her sister sat, she passed an arm affectionately around the waist of Frances, and pointing slowly with the other, said in an under tone——-
"See, this is the palace of his father; here is the light of a thousand torches——-but no bridegroom. Oh! never——-never wed without a ring——- a prepared ring; and be wary lest another has a right to it. Poor little girl, how you tremble! but you are safe——-there never can be two bridegrooms for more than one bride.——-Oh!——-no——-no——-no——- do not tremble, do not weep, you are safe."
"It is impossible to minister to a mind that has sustained such a blow," said the trooper, who was compassionately regarding the ruin, to Isabella Singleton; "time and God's mercy can alone avail her; but something more may be done towards the bodily comfort of you all. You are a solider's daughter and used to scenes like this;—— help me to exclude some of the cold air from these windows."
Miss Singleton promptly acceded to his request, and while Lawton was endeavouring from without to remedy the defect of broken panes, Isabella was arranging a substitute for a curtain within.
"I hear the cart," said the trooper, in reply to one of her interrogatories. "Betty is tender-hearted in the main; believe me, poor George will not only be safe but comfortable."
"God bless her for her care, and bless you all," said Isabella fervently. "Dr. Sitgreaves has gone down the road to meet him, I know——but what is that glittering in the moon-beams?"
Directly opposite to the window where they stood, were the out-buildings of the farm, and the quick eye of Lawton caught at a glance the object to which she alluded.
" 'Tis the glare of fire-arms," said the trooper, springing from the window towards his charger, who yet remained caparisoned at the door. His movement was quick as thought, but a flash of fire was followed by the whistling of a bullet, before he had proceeded a step. A loud shriek burst from the dwelling, and the Captain sprang into his saddle——the whole was the business of but a moment.
"Mount——mount, and follow," shouted the trooper, and before his astonished men could understand the cause of alarm, Roanoke had carried him in safety over the fence which intervened between him and his foe. The chase was for life and death, but the distance to the rocks was again too short, and the disappointed trooper saw his intended victim vanish in their clefts where he could not follow.
"By the life of Washington," muttered Lawton, as he sheathed his sabre, "I would have made two halves of him had he not been so nimble on the foot——but a time will come." So saying he returned to his quarters with the indifference of aman who knew his life was at any moment to be offered a sacrifice to his country. An extraordinary tumult in the house induced him to quicken his speed, and on arriving at the door, the panic-stricken Katy informed him that, the bullet aimed at his own life had taken effect in the bosom of Miss Singleton.
