Peggy Owen and Liberty by Lucy Foster Madison

  CHAPTER II

  PEGGY IS SURPRISED

  "The state that strives for liberty, though foiled And forced to abandon what she bravely sought, Deserves at least applause for her attempt, And pity for her loss. But that's a cause Not often unsuccessful."

  --"_The Task," Cowper._

  Peggy was nearly blinded by the sudden rush of snow and wind thatfollowed the opening of the great front door, and so for the momentdid not recognize the two, a man and a woman, who stood there on thesteps.

  "Will ye enter, friends?" she asked courteously. "'Tis a fearfulstorm!"

  "That it is, Peggy. We are mighty glad to reach shelter. Come,Fairfax! I told you that we should be welcome."

  "Nurse Johnson," shrilled the girl in delight. "Why, come right in.Welcome? Of course thee is welcome. And thou also, Friend Fairfax.Why, we were speaking of thee but now. Mother, 'tis Friend Nurse, fromVirginia."

  "Come in, Friend Johnson," spoke Mrs. Owen warmly, coming in hastefrom the sitting-room. "Thee must be cold. 'Tis dreadful weather. Letme help thee with thy wraps."

  "I was getting pretty cold," acknowledged Nurse Johnson. "We were onour way to the Jerseys, where my sister hath taken a farm. We thoughtto get to Burlington to-night, but the storm made traveling sodifficult that I told Fairfax that I made no doubt you would put us upuntil 'twas over."

  "'Twill give us great pleasure, Friend Nurse--I should say, FriendJohnson," answered Mistress Owen graciously. "We have heard Peggy talkof thee so much that we have fallen into her way of speaking of thee."

  "Continue so to call me, Mrs. Owen. I like it," declared Nurse Johnsonheartily.

  "Peggy, see thou to the dishing up of the dinner, while I attend ourfriends," spoke her mother. "We were just on the point of taking it upwhen ye came," she explained. "Hot pepper-pot will warm ye better thananything."

  "Isn't that our Silent Knight?" queried Betty, in a shrill whisper asPeggy was passing through the room.

  "Yes, Betty. Shall I place him by thee at table?"

  "See how she is priming for conquest," remarked Sally as Betty,nodding acquiescence, began unconsciously to smooth her hair. "Shemust tell us every word he says; must she not, Robert?"

  "Of a verity," smiled the young man, his amusement plainly visible.

  "I think thee has met with every one, Friend Nurse," observed Mrs.Owen entering at this moment with the new arrivals. "David ye know, ofcourse. Sally and Betty ye met last year. Robert? No; ye do not knowhim. Robert Dale, of the army, Nurse Johnson. And this is Fairfax, herson, Robert. Ye should be good friends, as ye have both fought for thecountry."

  "Thou hast forgot to give Robert his rank, Lowry," spoke Mr. Owen asthe young men shook hands. "Friend Johnson, have this chair. Thou wiltfind it easy and quite comfortable."

  "Thy pardon, Robert," exclaimed Mrs. Owen. "I do not always rememberthat thou art Major Dale."

  "I do not always remember it myself, madam," returned the youthmodestly. "And I wish to be Robert to you always."

  "How these children grow!" exclaimed Nurse Johnson sinking into theeasy chair with a sigh of content. "It hardly seems possible thatFairfax is more than a boy; yet here he is a captain in the army."

  "A captain?" ejaculated Peggy in surprise.

  "Yes; it does seem strange, doesn't it? You see he served with themilitia in Virginia during the last few years, and I presume wouldhave stayed with it; but his uncle, my sister's husband, persuaded himto enlist with the regular army. He said that if he would enrollhimself among the New Jersey troops he would get him a commission ascaptain, which he did. That is one of the reasons we are going to NewJersey."

  "Thou wilt find it very comfortable here on the settle, CaptainJohnson," spoke Betty sweetly, drawing her skirts aside with such anunmistakable gesture that Fairfax, flushing hotly, was obliged toseat himself beside her.

  Peggy's glance met Sally's with quick understanding.

  "I will help thee, Peggy," said Sally, rising. "Nay; we do not needthee, Mrs. Owen. Didst ever see Betty's equal?" she questioned as theyreached the kitchen.

  Peggy laughed.

  "Sally, she will never make him talk in the world," she declared."Thou and I will have a good laugh at her when 'tis over. 'Twill givea fine chance to tease."

  "'Tis just like a party," cried Betty as, a little later, they weregathered about the table. "'Tis charming to meet old friends! Andeverybody is here save thy cousins, Clifford and Harriet, Peggy. Oh,yes! and Captain Drayton."

  "Captain Drayton is to go to Lancaster too, I understand," remarkedMr. Owen. "Did thee know, lass?"

  "No, father. I thought he was still with General Greene. He returnedto him after Yorktown."

  "Yes, I know. This is but a recent arrangement. I shall be glad tohave him at Lancaster. He is good help in a matter of the nature weshall find there."

  "And the cousins?" inquired Nurse Johnson. "Did they go to New Yorkfrom Yorktown? I have wondered anent it."

  "Harriet went with Cousin William to New York; but Clifford was sentsomewhere into the interior with the men. Thee remembers that all themajors and captains accompanied the men, to look after their welfareand to maintain discipline," explained Peggy.

  "I rather liked Clifford," remarked the nurse. "He certainly earnedour gratitude, Peggy, by protecting us when the British came toWilliamsburgh. Did Peggy tell you about it, Mrs. Owen?"

  "Yes; and so much else concerning the lad that I find myself quiteanxious to see him," answered Mrs. Owen. "Peggy declares that heshould have been her brother instead of Harriet's. He looks so muchlike David."

  "I think I agree with her. The resemblance is remarkable. But why didhe go under the name of Captain Williams? I never did understand it."

  "'Twas because he went into the army without his father's permission,"Peggy told her. "He feared that if he came to America under his ownname Cousin William might use his influence to have him returned toEngland. 'Tis generally known, however, that he is Colonel WilliamOwen's son, though he is called Captain Williams."

  "Well, I hope the lad is well treated wherever he may be," said thenurse musingly. "I should not like harm to befall him; he was soconsiderate of us. What is the outlook for another summer, Mr. Owen?"

  "The general is preparing for another campaign, Friend Johnson. Thepreparations are proceeding slowly, however, owing to the exhaustionof the country. Then, too, every state seems afraid of bearing morethan its share of the war. There is much disinclination to vigorousexertion. His Excellency is pleading and entreating that the peoplemay not let the late success of our arms render them insensible to thedanger we still face. There is talk of a new commander for theBritish, I hear. Meantime, our coasts are harassed by the enemy, andour commerce is all but stopped. Could the general have followed outhis wish, and laid siege to Charlestown after the success at Yorktown,we need not have prepared for another campaign."

  And so the talk went on. It was never in the character and traditionsof England to treat with an enemy in the hour of disaster. In itshistory treaties had, from time immemorial, followed upon victory,never upon defeat. It was therefore necessary as well as politic tograsp the full fruits of the brilliant success at Yorktown, andWashington, with the vigor which was one of the most striking traitsof his well balanced nature, wished to carry its consequences to theirutmost limit. But the French fleet under De Grasse refused toco-operate longer, and the general was forced to send his army back tothe Hudson while he began preparations for another campaign. Meantime,the illicit trade assumed proportions that threatened to undoeverything that had been gained by force of arms.

  All these things were discussed, and Nurse Johnson gave them thelatest news of the army in the South: General Greene had completelyinvested Charlestown, she said. General Wayne had been sent toGeorgia and now lay before Savannah. The capitulation of the twoplaces seemed but a question of time. The French still lay aboutWilliamsburgh, having chosen that place for their winter quarters.It was reported that they would go north with th
e opening of spring.In turn, Mr. Owen told of the numerous raids that had been made,principally by refugees along the coast, the capture of themerchantmen, and the war at sea. Under cover of the conversationof their elders, Peggy was amused to see that Betty was talkinganimatedly to Fairfax Johnson. Presently, the dinner was finished,and she found herself alone in the dining-room with her girl friends.

  "Peggy, thee maligned Captain Johnson," declared Betty closing thedoor of the sitting-room. "Get me a towel, Sally. We will both wipethe dishes." She polished a plate vigorously as she continued: "Ifound him most entertaining. He and his mother are going to northernNew Jersey, where his aunt and uncle have a large farm. Plantation, hecalls it. They grew very tired of being with the military so much atWilliamsburgh, though no one could desire better troops than theallies. They intend to make their home in New Jersey if they like it.His aunt hath but one son, who is with the military on Tom's River."

  Peggy gazed at her with an expression of the most intenseastonishment.

  "He told thee all that, Betty?" she exclaimed. "Why, thee iswonderful! In all the six or seven months that I knew him I neverheard him say so much."

  "He needs just a little encouragement," said Betty complacently. "Heis really quite interesting. I enjoyed the conversation greatly. SallyEvans, whatever is the matter?"

  "Oh! oh!" screamed Sally. "She enjoyed the conversation greatly. Ishould think she would. Why, she did all the talking. Robert and Icommented upon it. Oh, Betty! Betty!"

  "I did not do all the talking," retorted Betty indignantly. "How couldI have learned all the things I have said if I did the talking?"

  "The conversation went like this, Peggy," giggled Sally: "'Is the farma large one that thy aunt hath taken, Friend Fairfax?' 'Yes,' answershe. Then Betty with a smile: 'I believe Southerners call a farm aplantation, do they not?' 'Yes,' he said. 'Is being with the militaryso much the reason thou and thy mother left Williamsburgh?' 'Yes,' hesaid again. 'It really must be tiresome,' goes on Betty, 'though ithath been said that the French are exceedingly well behaved troops.Does thee not think so, Friend Fairfax?' 'Yes,' he said once more. Andthat is the way the whole conversation went. I don't believe the poorfellow said anything else but that one word, yes."

  "He did," declared Betty with heat. "I remember quite distinctly thatonce he said, 'It doth indeed;' and--and--oh! lots of other things. Yeare both just as mean as can be. And he did listen most attentively. Ireally enjoyed the talk, as I said."

  "I'll warrant thee did," laughed Peggy while Sally was convulsed withmirth. "I think thee did well, Betty. Thou art to be congratulated."

  "There, Sally Evans," cried Betty. "I knew that Peggy would thinkabout it in the right way."

  "Listen to her," sniffed Sally. "Didst ever hear the like? Betty," sheejaculated suddenly, "thee should not have helped with the dishes insuch a gown. Thee has got a spot on it. This is no place for a belle.Suppose that thee goes back into the sitting-room now, and find outsome more of Master Fairfax's plans."

  "So thee can have a chance to talk me over with Peggy?" questionedBetty scornfully. "I don't see any spot."

  "Here it is," answered Sally, lifting a fold of the pink paduasoy onwhich a small spot showed darkly. "It may be just water, which willnot stain. I should not like anything to happen to that gown. Theelooks so charming in it."

  "Thank thee, Sally," said Betty examining the spot critically, quitemollified by Sally's compliment. "I think 'twill be all right when'tis dry. It might be as well, though, to go back to the sitting-room.I dare say they are wondering what hath become of us. Thee will cometoo, will thee not?"

  "Yes, go; both of you," said Peggy, picking up the dish-pan, andstarting for the kitchen. "I will come too in a few moments. No,Sally, thee cannot help in the kitchen. Sukey and I will finish thepots and pans. It won't take long. And thee needs to be there to keepBetty in order," she ended merrily.

  "Well, if thee won't be long," agreed Sally reluctantly.

  Both girls passed into the sitting-room, while Peggy proceeded to thekitchen. As has been said, the kitchen was attached to the maindwelling by a covered entry way. On one side of this was a doorleading out to the west terrace, which, the girl noticed, was partlyopen.

  "No wonder 'tis hard to keep the kitchen warm with that door open,"she cried. "That must be some of Tom's carelessness. I must speak tohim."

  She put down the dish-pan on the wash bench, and went to the door toclose it. As it resisted her efforts to shut she stepped outside tosee what the trouble was. A startled ejaculation left her lips as theform of a man issued from behind it.

  "What does thee wish, friend?" demanded Peggy sternly. "Why does theenot come to the door like an honest man instead of sneaking behindit? I shall call my father."

  "Don't, Peggy," came in low tones from the man. "I was watching foryou. Will you shelter an escaping prisoner, my cousin?"

  "Clifford!" she cried in amazement. "Oh, Clifford!"