CHAPTER XIX--A PROMISE AND AN ACCUSATION
Under each flower of radiant hue A serpent lies unbidden; And chance ofttimes doth bring to view That which hath been hidden.
--The Valley of Tayef.
The camp was thrown into a turmoil of excitement the next day when itwas learned that two regiments of British had indeed endeavored to takeGeneral Maxwell's brigade by surprise. A detachment in search of thegovernor had reached Liberty Hall shortly after three o'clock thatmorning, but not finding him at home a quest was made for his privatepapers, which were saved by the quick wit of his daughter, Susannah.Baffled in this attempt they rejoined their comrades who had surroundedElizabethtown, expecting to capture the brigade at least.
General Maxwell, however, by reason of Harriet's warning had marched outbefore their arrival, and surprised the enemy by falling upon them atdaybreak.
The lively skirmish that ensued, resulted in the loss of several men oneach side, while the academy, where were kept stores of various kinds,the Presbyterian Hospital, and a few other buildings were burned by theBritish in their retreat.
When this news was received Harriet and Peggy became the heroines of thehour. A constant stream of visitors besieged the Owens' quarters untilMr. Owen laughingly declared that he should have to entreat protectionfrom General Washington.
In all the demonstration, however, Peggy was a secondary luminary.
"'Tis the more remarkable because thee is an English girl," was DavidOwen's comment when Harriet protested against so much attention beingshown her. "And thee deserves it, my child. 'Twas a great thing for theeto do."
"But Peggy found the note," spoke Harriet with insistence. "I must havebeen miles away when she found it. Wasn't I, Peggy?"
Peggy gave her a puzzled look. Why did she make such a point of notbeing present when the note was found, she asked herself.
"My daughter," chided her father, "did thee not hear thy cousin'squestion? Thou hast not answered her."
"Oh!" exclaimed Peggy rousing herself. "What was it, Harriet? I waswondering about something."
"'Twas naught," spoke Harriet. "I only said I was not with you when thenote was found."
"No, thee was not with me," answered Peggy, and something of herperplexity was visible in her manner.
On Friday morning, the day following the sortie by the enemy, Mrs. Owenentered the parlor where the two girls were for the moment sitting alonewith Mr. Owen.
"Girls," she said, "an aide hath just come from His Excellency with hiscompliments. He desires the pleasure of Misses Margaret and HarrietOwen's company to dinner. You are to accompany the aide, who will waitfor you to get ready, and will see that you are safely returned beforenight falls."
"Oh, must we go?" cried Harriet. "Please, Cousin David, may I not staywith you?"
"Tut, tut, lass!" returned he. "Refuse His Excellency's invitation todine? 'Twould be monstrous unmannerly, and that thee is not, Harriet."
"But I would rather stay with you," she pleaded, and her dismay was veryapparent.
"And deprive the general of the pleasure of thanking thee for thyheroism?" he asked. "He wishes to interview you both about the note, Idare say. He said the matter would need attention."
"I don't know anything about it, my cousin," she objected almost intears. "'Twas Peggy who found it."
"Nay; thee must go, Harriet," he said in such a tone that she knew that'twas useless to object further.
The two girls went up-stairs to dress. It was the first time that theyhad been alone together since they had found the note on Wednesday. ToPeggy's surprise, Harriet's hands were shaking so that she could notunfasten her frock. A feeling of vague alarm thrilled Peggy at thesight. She went to her cousin quickly.
"Harriet," she cried, "what is it? Why do you tremble so?"
"Peggy," answered Harriet, sinking into a chair with a little sob, "I amafraid. I am so afraid!"
"Afraid?" repeated the amazed Peggy. "Of what, Harriet?"
"Of your Mr. Washington," answered the girl. "He is so stern, and,and----Oh, I am afraid!" she cried wringing her hands.
"True, he is a stern man," said the perplexed Peggy, "but still he hatha kind heart. We have dined there often, Harriet, and thee did not mind.I see not why thee should fear him now. He will but ask us about thenote, and thank thee for thy timely warning to the governor and thebrigade."
"You will not tell him that at first I did not wish to go, or to haveyou go, will you, Peggy?" pleaded Harriet. "I thought better of it,Peggy. I--I felt sorry about it afterward."
"Thee made up for thy hesitancy nobly, Harriet," spoke Peggy warmly, allher bewilderment vanishing at her cousin's acknowledgment of sorrow forwhat she had tried to do. "I will do as thee wishes in the matter."
"And will you tell him that I was not near when the note was found?"asked the girl eagerly.
"Yes; for thee was not. But why? I cannot see what difference 'twouldmake whether thee was there or not."
"You are a good little thing, Peggy," said Harriet kissing her withoutreplying to the question. "'Twas mean of me to ride ahead and give thewarning. 'Tis you who should have the credit, but I had to. I had to.Some day you will know. Oh!" she cried checking herself suddenly, "whatam I saying?"
"Harriet, thee is all undone anent something. Is thee not well? Let mecall mother, and she will give thee some 'Jesuit's bark.' Thee is allunstrung," spoke Peggy with solicitude.
"No, no; I am all right now," said Harriet with something of heraccustomed gaiety of manner. "And, Peggy, whatever happens remember thatI am your cousin, leal and true. I am only a girl, Peggy, and alone in astrange land."
"Harriet, what is the matter? Thee speaks in riddles," ejaculated Peggy,wonderingly.
"Peggy, I am unstrung," answered Harriet. "And I am afraid that I havedone wrong about--about many things. I wish, oh, Peggy, I wish I had nothad you give that note to that soldier. I'm afraid that 'twill befound."
"Well? And what if it is, Harriet? There is nought of harm in it?" Peggyspoke calmly hoping to soothe her cousin by her manner.
"Peggy!" Harriet clasped her arms about her convulsively. "Promise methat you will not tell that I asked you to give it to him!"
"But," began Peggy.
"Promise, promise," cried Harriet feverishly.
"I promise, Harriet," said Peggy, hoping to quiet her.
"Peggy" called Mrs. Owen's voice at this moment, "thee must make haste.The aide is waiting."
"Yes, mother," answered Peggy and there was no further opportunity forconversation. To her surprise Harriet recovered her spirits at once andwhen they reached headquarters was quite herself.
"'Twas most kind of you, Lady Washington, to have us again so soon," shecried gaily as Mrs. Washington received them in the wide hall of thedwelling.
"It is we who are honored," said the lady graciously. "I am quite crosswith Mr. Washington because he insists that he must see you first. Hewishes to have some talk with you before the dinner is served. No,Billy," as William Lee, General Washington's body-servant, came forwardto show the maidens up-stairs. "It will give me great pleasure to helpthe young ladies myself with their wraps. We are all very proud of ourEnglish co-patriot. 'Twas a great thing for you to do, my dear," sheadded leading the way up the winding staircase. "It must have taken aneffort on your part to go against your own people, and shows veryplainly that your sympathy with the cause is sincere."
"Thank you, madam," murmured Harriet in some confusion. "But, but Peggyhere----"
"'Tis no more than we expect from Peggy," said the matron, giving Peggysuch a gentle pat on the shoulder that Peggy's heart grew warm andtender. "Her views are so well known that nothing she could do for uswould surprise us. That is why we say so little of her share in thematter." And she gave Peggy another caressing touch.
Why, of course that was it, Peggy told herself with a flash ofunderstanding. How foolish she had been to ca
re, or to have any feelingon the subject at all. It was a great thing for Harriet to do. And sothinking she felt her heart grow very tender toward her cousin who hadsuddenly lost her animation and was pale and silent as they came downthe stairs, and were ushered into the commander-in-chief's office.
General Washington was sitting before a large mahogany table whose wellpolished top was almost covered by papers. He rose as the girls entered.
"Mrs. Washington has hardly forgiven me for taking you away from her,"he remarked smilingly. "I have promised that I will detain you but a fewmoments. Miss Harriet, your head will be quite turned before you willhave finished with the toasting and feasting. But 'twas bravely done!You both showed rare judgment and courage in acting as you did. It saveda valiant man from capture and perhaps the slaughter of an entirebrigade."
"Your Excellency is very kind," stammered Harriet while Peggy murmured a"Thank thee, sir."
"Mr. Hamilton, will you kindly place chairs for the ladies?" spoke thegeneral to a slight young man who came forward from the fireplace nearwhich he had been standing. "Nay," in response to an inquiring glance,"you are not to stay, sir. Mrs. Washington will gladden you later by anintroduction." Then as the young man left the room he added with aslight smile, "I have to be stern with the blades when there are ladiesabout, else they would have time for no other engagements. And now tellme, I beg, all about this affair. How came it that ye were riding uponthat road?"
"I asked Peggy to go there," spoke Harriet quickly; "you see, sir," withcharming candor, "Governor Livingston is a great friend of CousinDavid's, and came to see him but the other day. He told us a great dealof Liberty Hall, and how he had planted hundreds of trees which he hadimported from France and England, until I was curious anent the place.Cousin David, or Ensign Drayton, usually rides with us, but Wednesdayboth were on duty; so, as Cousin David said that there was no danger solong as we kept within the lines, Peggy and I went for our ride alone. Iknow not how it came about; but perhaps 'twas because the governor hadtalked about his home, but we found ourselves all at once upon theturnpike going toward Elizabethtown. Presently Fleetwood, being aswifter nag than Star, became restive at our slow pace and to take theedge off him I dashed ahead for a little canter. While I was gone Peggyfound the letter and when I came back there she was reading it. It didnot take us long to decide what to do, and--but the rest you know, sir,"she ended abruptly.
"Yes; I know the rest," he said musingly. "And so you were not therewhen Miss Peggy found the note?"
"No," she answered him. "I must have been a mile away. Don't you thinkso, Peggy?"
"I do not know how far it was," replied Peggy thoughtfully, "but theewas not with me, Harriet."
"Where did you find it, Miss Peggy?" asked the general turning to her."You must see that it proves that there is a spy amongst us, and theplace where 'twas found may aid somewhat to his capture. Tell me asnearly as possible where you found it."
"Does thee remember where three pines stand together at a bend in thepike about ten miles from Elizabethtown?" she asked. Then as he noddedassent she continued: "It was just in front of those pines, FriendWashington, that it was lying. I caught sight of it and thought some onehad lost a letter, and so dismounted and picked it up. Then Harrietreturned and--and we had some talk." Peggy was so candid that she foundit hard to gloss over the conversation with her cousin, but she went onafter a pause so slight as not to be noticeable. "'Twas deemed best toride direct to the governor's house, and Harriet's Fleetwood beingswifter than my Star, reached the Hall first."
"It could not have lain long," he said, selecting the missive from amonga pile of papers. "The road was muddy and the paper is scarcely soiled.Then, too, there was a wind blowing, and 'twould have been taken up fromthe road had it been there long. According to this the person whodropped it must have been so short a distance ahead of you that youcould not have failed to see him."
"There were but we two on the road, sir," spoke Harriet, although thequestion was directed to Peggy. "We neither met any one, YourExcellency, nor did we see any one until we reached Liberty Hall."
"That being the case," he said rising, "I will no longer risk Mrs.Washington's disfavor by keeping you from her. Permit me to thank youboth and particularly Miss Harriet for the judgment you showed. You didthe only thing that could be done, and 'tis rare indeed that maidens soyoung show such thought. I hope that you will both pleasure usfrequently with your presence."
He opened the door for them with stately courtliness. Curtseying deeplythe maidens reached the threshold just as a group of soldiers bustledunceremoniously into the hall, and blocked the exit.
"A spy, Your Excellency," cried an orderly, excitedly saluting.
The soldiers drew apart as the orderly spoke and from their midst cameJohn Drayton leading the very private soldier to whom Peggy had givenHarriet's note.
"Your Excellency," said the ensign saluting, "I caught this fellow justas he was stealing from the lines. He had a most incriminating note uponhis person. His actions for some time have been most suspicious, and----"
"Sir," spoke General Washington gravely, "do you not see that there areladies present? Let them pass, I beg of you. Such things are not of anature for gentle ears to hear."
As he spoke the eyes of the prisoner rested upon the maidens. He gave ashort cry as he saw them, and sprang forward.
"If I did have a note, Your Excellency," he cried, "there stands thegirl who gave it to me."
"Where?" asked the general sternly.
"There!" said the man pointing to Peggy. "That girl gave me the letterTuesday afternoon."
Peggy Owen, Patriot: A Story for Girls Page 21