CHAPTER VII
DAVID OWEN IS INFORMED OF THE FACTS
"Why are our bodies soft, and weak, and smooth, Unapt to toil, and trouble in the world, But that our soft conditions, and our hearts, Should well agree with our external parts?"
--"_Taming of the Shrew._"
"I didn't mean it, Peggy," sobbed Sally over and over. "Thee knowsthat I didn't mean it to turn out so. Thee knows that I wouldn't dosuch a thing, doesn't thee? I said the loom. Truly I said the loom. Iran to the stairway just as quickly as I could after the sheriff saidhe knew of the closet, and I called to thee to tell him to go to theloom. And thee didn't hear me? Oh, Peggy! Peggy I thee knows that Iwouldn't betray thy cousin knowingly. Thee knows it, Peggy?"
"There, Sally," soothed Peggy. "I know that thee would do naught thatwas not honorable. I see it all. All that was intended. Thee thoughtthat Clifford would go up attic behind the loom, and that by assuminga bold front thee could deceive the sheriff into believing that he wasnot on the place. Sheriff Will would naturally go to the closet, as heknew of it. I am to blame too, Sally. It was just a miserablemisapprehension on both our parts."
"But Clifford will always believe that I betrayed him," said Sallychokingly, lifting her tear-stained face. "And oh, I did like him somuch! What will they do with him, Peggy?"
"I don't know," answered Peggy thoughtfully. "Take him back toLancaster, probably. Father said this morning that the sheriff toldhim a number of the prisoners had escaped. Clifford, it seems, hadstopped at the sheriff's own house to inquire the way to the StateHouse. I told him, I remember, that we lived just across from it. Hiscloak had fallen apart and disclosed his uniform, and some onesuspected that 'twas one of the British prisoners. The sheriff was notat home at the time, but when he came he was told of the occurrence,and at once went in pursuit of him. But now," Peggy concluded soberly,"we must take heed to ourselves. I hope that he believed me when Itold him that father had naught to do with the matter. If only thepunishment would fall on me, and not on thee, or father, I would notmind what happened."
"Thee must go to him at once and unravel the whole affair," counseledMrs. Evans who had joined them as soon as the sheriff left. "'Tis bestthat he should know of it at once. Sally, thee must go with Peggy, andtell of thy share in it."
"Yes, mother," assented Sally meekly. "Peggy, will thee ever love meagain?"
"I haven't stopped yet, Sally," replied Peggy kissing her. "Thee mustnot feel so bad. After all the sheriff might have found him up attic.Thee knows how carefully he searches."
"I would not have been to blame for that, Peggy. Now Clifford willalways believe that I did it on purpose."
"Perchance there may come a time when thee can explain all to him,"comforted her friend. "Let us go to father now, Sally. He must knowall that hath occurred."
THE TWO GIRLS SET FORTH.]
Without further ado the two girls set forth for Peggy's home. Thedistant hills that ridged the west bank of the Schuylkill stretched aluminous belt in the glistening sunshine. The city was clothed in agarb of pure white, a dazzling garment that was symbolical of thepeace with which The Founder desired his beloved city to be filled.But there was little peace in the hearts of the two maidens who wendedtheir way sadly and silently toward the Owen home in Chestnut Street.
David Owen, his wife, Nurse Johnson, Robert and Fairfax were assembledin the living-room of the dwelling. They rose with exclamations ofdismay at sight of Peggy's pale face, and Sally's red eyes.
"What hath happened, lass?" cried her father. "Thou art in trouble. Isit of a serious nature?"
"Yes, father," answered the girl tremulously. "It may be grave troublefor thee, though it should be for me alone, as I am solely to blame."She paused for a moment to steady her voice, then continued: "Father,the escaped prisoner whom the sheriff sought was Clifford. He camehere yesterday just after dinner asking for shelter. I could not turnhim away in such a storm. Indeed, he would not have sought us out atall had it not been for the weather. And--and I hid him in the kitchenchamber."
"Clifford!" ejaculated her father. "Thy Cousin Clifford? But where ishe now? The kitchen chamber was searched, but we found no one there.Where is he?"
"The sheriff hath him," Peggy told him chokingly. "Sally took him homewith her last night, and I went there to see him this afternoon. I metthe sheriff in Fourth Street as I left here, and he must have followedme; for I had scarce begun to talk to Clifford when he came and tookmy cousin. He talks of an indictment."
Both girls were crying by this time, and with an exclamation ofconcern Mrs. Owen hastened to them, and drew them into an embrace.
"There! There!" she said soothingly. "David will manage it somehow.Don't sob so, Sally. After all thee is not so much to blame. Perchancethe Council will excuse what thee did, as 'twas to help Peggy."
"I don't care for the old Council," flashed Sally through her tears."'Tis that Peggy's cousin thinks that I betrayed him. I thought he wasup attic, and he wasn't. I told Peggy to tell him to go there, but shedid not hear me. Thee knows my fault, Mrs. Owen," she wailed in anagony of self-reproach. "Thee knows just how froward and saucy I canbe, and I was just that way with the sheriff, and--and pert. He spokeof the closet, showing that he knew of it, and I was so sure thatClifford was up attic that I asked the sheriff if I should open thedoor for him. I did, and there was Clifford," she ended with a freshburst of tears.
"I know just how you feel," interposed Nurse Johnson sympathetically."And so the prisoner was Clifford? Well, I am sorry that he was taken.Tell us all about it, Peggy."
"Yes, lass," spoke David Owen. "Calm thyself as soon as may be, andlet me know the matter in detail. I must know all concerning it."
Mr. Owen spoke gravely. Well he knew what the feeling was toward thosewho assisted prisoners of war in escaping. Aiding or abetting theenemy in any way was not tolerated, either in the city or the countryat large. The systematic cruelties practiced toward the Americanprisoners both in the dreadful prison ships and the jails, thebarbarities perpetrated toward their countrymen in the South, theharassing of the coasts, the raids of the refugees, the capture oftheir merchantmen by British privateers; all these things and manyothers served to keep the hearts of Americans inflamed with rancortoward the English. They were not disposed to overlook any indulgencedisplayed toward such an enemy.
Presently Peggy had so far recovered her usual composure that she wasable to relate succinctly all that had occurred. Her father listenedattentively.
"Why did thee not come to me for aid, lass?" he asked when she hadfinished the recital.
"Why, father, 'twould go hard with thee were it to become known thatthee had given aid to a prisoner," answered Peggy. "I wished to keepthee clear of it. Then, too, thee might have deemed it duty to giveup my cousin, and I could not bear that; yet I should want thee to dowhat was right."
"I think I understand, lass," he said, "'Twas most ingenious to thinkof having him come to the door as Sally's escort. I knew not that thouhadst so much of daring in thee to originate such a plan."
Peggy flushed scarlet at this. She had suppressed all mention ofFairfax's connection with the matter, wishing not to implicate him. Soshe stared at her father in an embarrassed silence, uneasy at thepraise she did not merit.
"But why was he not discovered?" went on David Owen musingly. "Theroom was searched twice. By the way," turning suddenly toward FairfaxJohnson, "captain, was it not thee who went up there first?"
"It was, sir," answered the young man promptly. "I stumbled overClifford, who was lying wrapped up in a fur rug. He chuckled as I didso, and I knew at once who it was. I had known him in Williamsburgh,you remember."
"Why didst thou not cry out? Thou wert taken unawares, as it were. Imarvel at thy command," and Mr. Owen regarded him keenly.
"Well," hesitated the youth, "I went up there because I suspected thatMiss Peggy had some one hidden there, and I wanted to help her."
"Thou knew of it? But how?"
"
Because she was out of the room longer than any one after dinner, andhad time to make arrangements of that nature if she so desired, sir.Then too she did not reply when the sheriff asked us all to saywhether we had seen anything of a British prisoner."
"All this went on, and I saw naught of it!" exclaimed Mr. Owen. "Why!where were my eyes? I would have affirmed that I could account forevery action of every member of the household."
"We younger people were together a great deal yesterday, sir. We hadmore opportunities for observing if anything was amiss with one of ournumber than you would have."
"Was it thou who wast responsible for the plan of getting away?"questioned Mr. Owen. "Methought 'twas too daring to have originatedwith Peggy."
"Well, yes," acknowledged Fairfax flushing. "The daring lay only inthe execution of it. The girls and Clifford furnished that."
"But to risk thy liberty for such a thing, lad! Was it worth while tojeopardize thy new commission to aid Peggy with her cousin?"
Fairfax stirred restlessly.
"But I was under great obligations to Clifford too, sir," he madeanswer presently. "He kept my mother from molestation in Williamsburghwhen the enemy was in possession of the place. I was in duty bound tohelp him."
"And next I shall hear that Robert hath been concerned in the affairtoo," uttered David Owen, turning to Robert Dale with a glimmer of asmile. "I begin to believe that there hath been a regular conspiracyamong you young people. Speak up, lad. What did thee do?"
"Very little," answered the youth frankly. "Not so much as I shouldhave liked to do, Mr. Owen. I did not know that 'twas Peggy's cousinwhom she was hiding. I did know that there was some one. I suspectedwho Sally's escort might be, and when I saw that she was dismayed atthe prospect of having to bring him to the table, I spoke as I did tohelp her."
"Without knowing who it might be, Robert?" exclaimed Mr. Owen inamazement.
"Peggy would conceal no one without thinking it right, sir," returnedRobert simply. "I think we all know that is the reason we stood byher."
"Well, upon my word!" David Owen rubbed his hands thoughtfully. "Andhow is Betty concerned?"
"Betty is entirely exempt from the matter, I believe," remarked MajorDale smiling. "The rest of us are guilty."
"Did I do wrong, father?" asked Peggy timidly. "Is thee angry withme?"
"Nay, lass. With thy soft heart thee could not do otherwise. Yesterdaywas no day to turn any one from shelter, even though he were not thycousin. I would not have thee insensible to mercy, no matter who askedit. I grieve only that such an act should involve thy young friendsin consequences which may prove of serious character to allconcerned."
"We are willing to abide by the consequences," spoke the two youthssimultaneously. Mr. Owen shook his head.
"Nay," he said. "I will not permit it. Peggy alone must be heldresponsible for what hath occurred. 'Tis just and right. I will see ifaught can be done with the Council. I want also to find where Cliffordhath been put, to see if I shall be allowed to do anything for him. Attimes food and comforts are given to prisoners, and perchance we maybe permitted to do this for him."
"And oh, Mr. Owen! if thee does see him, tell him how it happened,"pleaded Sally. "I could bear a term of imprisonment better than thathe should esteem me a treacherous friend."
"I will do what I can, Sally," he promised her.
David Owen was absent for nearly two hours, and an anxious time ofwaiting it proved. The girls were comforted and petted by the twoladies, while the youths made them relate over and over all theincidents leading to the capture of Clifford. At length Mr. Owenreturned.
"Clifford is in the new jail pending his return to Lancaster," he toldthem. "I saw and talked with him. I told him all that thee wished,Sally, and that thee had naught to do with his capture. He exoneratesPeggy from all thought of treachery, but I grieve to say that the ladexhibits a perverse disbelief in thee, Sally. He would hear of noexcuse for thee, though I tried to make him understand how it all cameabout."
"I knew it," said Sally with tears. "I knew he would not believe inme."
"Never mind, Sally," said Peggy. "I will try to see him, and I willmake him listen to reason."
"Thee will not be permitted, lass. It was granted me as a great favor,but, because of the aid which thou didst render him, 'twould be mostunwise for thee to seek to see him. I arranged with Mr. Ledie that asmuch comfort should be given him as is compatible with his state asprisoner. 'Tis all that can be done."
"And the Council, David?" queried his wife, anxiously. "Could thee doanything about that?"
"The Council have consented that Peggy and Sally shall appear beforethem on the morning of Second-day at ten of the clock, to show causewhy they should not be indicted. 'Tis an unheard of thing to permitit, as 'tis usual to petition, but I asked for their appearance,knowing that their youth would be in their favor. 'Tis a grave matter,as they acknowledged, but I think the most of them feel kindly towardye. I talked with several."
But Mrs. Owen saw that he spoke with assumed lightness. "I think," shesaid, "that we ought to have Sally's mother with us. To-morrow isFirst-day, which will give time to discuss the subject in all itsbearings. She should be with us. Robert, wilt thou go for her?"
"With pleasure, Mrs. Owen," he responded rising. "And we must notforget that Uncle Jacob Deering is one of the Council."
"True," exclaimed Lowry Owen, her face lighting up. "True; I hadforgotten."
Peggy Owen and Liberty Page 9