“I know him!” said Mr. Barlow, nodding his head. “He is certainly an industrious man, and one who has already amassed something; still I think you would prefer Hoskins & Co., since they do a much safer business.”
“To tell the truth, uncle! I am quite determined against the match. In the first place I cannot go to Jamaica, where I would die of the fever the first summer; in the second place I will not marry a man who, however respectable he may be, is old enough for my father, if not grandfather; and lastly, I should prefer one whom at least I have had the pleasure of seeing.”
“In your first objection there is some sense,” observed Mr. Barlow, taking a pinch from his gold snuff box; “but the other two are hardly worth listening to, yet time presses; the Reporter comes out at 4 o’clock; and the “Fortune” sails tomorrow; as you are not willing to listen to Hoskins & Co., we must hurry over the business with Drummond. If you are willing to marry the man, I have, under certain conditions, no objections to your doing so: although I must tell you that his business, although lucrative, is more or less dangerous.”
“Every girl who marries a seaman must prepare herself for that.”
“At any rate, there must be some arrangements made to ensure your property, in event of his death; since I mean to allow you a certain income, which I have no notion your husband should lose in speculation. Promise me not to write to Jamaica, nor come to any understanding on the matter, until I have had a talk with him.”
“Certainly! I will do as you desire, and thank you much for your kindness;” replied his niece and in a few moments they separated, Mr. Barlow not at all angry at her refusal of his Jamaica friend, since the other offer seemed almost as advantageous; and Eliza hardly knowing how to determine immediately on her acceptance of a man with whom she had never exchanged a word, and whom she only suspected to be her neighbor, from the following circumstances.
About six months previous to the above conversation, Eliza’s attention was attracted by a young naval officer, who boarded opposite Mr. Barlow’s, and whose handsome exterior won the maiden’s admiration, as she sat at the window with her work, while he was constantly busied in writing near his casement. After a while she fancied that the youth seemed reciprocally interested, and with little to employ her thoughts, they turned day and night on the unknown object of her admiration, although she acknowledged that it was weak and foolish so to do. Several months passed away, when one morning the stranger appeared at the window in a travelling dress, and stood for some moments looking towards Mr. Barlow’s house, with a serious and almost sad expression, till when Eliza accidentally appeared, he pressed his hand to his heart, bowed low and presently disappeared.
On the following day a new occupant took possession of the chamber, and on enquiring from the maid, who boarded opposite, the servant replied that the room had been occupied by a handsome naval officer by the name of Drummond, who had however left the day before to take command of a ship. Often did Eliza, from this time, find her thoughts turning to the handsome seaman, she frequently sighed as she looked towards the window where he had been accustomed to set, and was greatly surprised to see a young man, closely resembling him, walking about the neighboring wharf. The only difference in their appearance was, that the one was fair complexioned, and the other darkened to an almost Spanish hue.
One day, while busied with some light needlework, a letter was brought in with Eliza’s direction, and which proved to be the offer of marriage already referred to; its signature was “J. W. Drummond.” ‘It must be he, and no other,’ whispered the voice of her heart, as she read its contents; for although the name was common in England, she believed that her admirer was her former neighbor, since he wrote that although not personally acquainted, he had often had the pleasure of seeing her. On confiding the matter to her maid, the letter almost settled her doubts by bringing in a visiting card, left, as her acquaintance, the porter at the boarding house had told her, by their late lodger, and on which was inscribed “William John Drummond.”
“The matter is settled,” observed Mr. Barlow, as he one morning entered his niece’s chamber, a place with which he was but little acquainted. “I have spoken with Captain Drummond, informed him of your and my acceptance of his suit; and promised him to bestow on you two hundred pounds per annum. He will be here tomorrow week, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I chose that time to attend to this little matter, as it would be more convenient than on mail day. The betrothal can then take place in the presence of witnesses, and the necessary papers be executed.”
“Oh! how good you are, dear uncle,” cried Eliza, kissing his hand.
“I also told him that I should not object to his visiting you, and he will be here today.”
“So soon?” exclaimed Eliza, blushing with agitation; “I did not know that he was in the city!”
“Yes! and he sails in a short time for France.”
“For France! A British naval officer! What does he do there?”
“He attends to his business and a little besides. But what is this about a British officer? Drummond is captain of a merchant ship.”
“Impossible! I have seen him in uniform.”
“It must have been some fancy uniform.”
“Then you have been acquainted with him for a long time?”
“Not exactly, since I have never meddled with the smuggling trade.”
“How! what do you mean, uncle.”
“Nay! I should have said nothing about it, since it may, and may not be true; although people report that Drummond is tolerable active in that business. This much is certain, that he is intimate with Hackstone & Co., who have made a fortune by contraband.”
At the period of our story, smuggling was not held in such disrepute as at present, yet, nevertheless, Eliza was greatly disturbed by this intelligence; and she earnestly wished that the rumor, as her uncle said, might prove false. Yet greater was her anxiety on another point, whether the John William Drummond, who sued for her hand, was one and the same with the handsome stranger who had boarded opposite. What if he should be another, she mentally exclaimed, ‘Ah! I shall have to marry him, whether he prove agreeable or disagreeable, since my uncle would never forgive me if I hesitated.’
While absorbed in these reflections, Captain Drummond was announced, and Eliza became so pale and tremulous, as to be unable to stand. The door opened and her lover entered; not her former neighbor, but a handsome man about thirty, who greatly resembled him, and whose animated and independent bearing stamped him immediately as a seaman. He seemed to notice the maiden’s perplexity, and sought to remove it by observing that under common circumstances, his conduct might have been thought impertinent, in thus writing to her without a formal introduction; but that he was better acquainted with her than she supposed; since a friend of his had often spoken of her, before he himself had the pleasure of seeing her, which notice first induced him to sue for her hand. Fearful that she might become the affianced of another before he returned to Liverpool, he had determined to trust to luck like a seaman, and rejoiced that he had been so successful.
Drummond’s honest and ingenuous manner of speaking, produced a favorable impression on Eliza, indeed almost any girl would have looked on him with favor; and it was therefore not to be wondered at, that interested by his lively conversation and prepossessing appearance, the image of the naval officer somewhat faded from her mind, and when, after a long interview, he departed, she felt that if not exactly a loving, she would not be an unhappy bride. The visit was repeated every day until the betrothal, on the evening previous to which Eliza’s lover informed her that he had succeeded in procuring a witness to sign the papers on the following day. Without mentioning his name, he remarked that it was the same person who had first interested him in her favor, and who, no doubt, would be greatly surprised on learning the name of his bride.
It was about 4 o’clock on the appointed afternoon, when Eliza, Mr. Barlow, Nathaniel Simple and a few intimate friends, together with a lawye
r, were collected in the merchant’s drawing room.
Dressed in tasteful costume, the bride sought to appear tranquil and cheerful, while she waited the bride-groom’s arrival; but in spite of her seeming attention to the conversation, which turned principally on commercial subjects, she could not repress emotions of anxiety and alarm; and a hand cold as ice seemed to press on her heart, as a carriage rolled tip; voices were heard on the stairs; and Drummond entered, attended by the young naval officer who had resided opposite.
After introducing him to the master of the house, her lover brought him up to Eliza observing playfully, “here is my brother, whom I commend to your mercy, although he really does not deserve it. Would you believe it, after first inducing me through his enthusiastic admiration of you, to sue for your hand; after promising to become the witness of our union, he dared this morning to plead that he might be excused from attending, under pretext of some very urgent business; nay, even now, he only shows himself on condition that I allow him to depart in an hour.”
William Drummond blushed deeply and stammered some unintelligible words of excuse; while Eliza, overcome almost to fainting, scarcely heard her uncle, when looking at his watch he desired the notary to read aloud the marriage contrast. She however supported herself tolerably well till he came to the clause, “Miss Eliza Barlow promises to marry John William Drummond,” when she began to totter, a feeble “no! no!” broke from her lips, and she sank senseless on the ground.
It is impossible to describe the confusion produced by this unexpected occurrence; the company dispersed, physicians were called in, who declared her attack to be convulsion of the most dangerous character; and in truth more than a month elapsed, during which she languished between life and death. In the meanwhile, John Drummond had been compelled by business to make a short voyage; but immediately on his return he received a letter from Eliza, in which she declared that she could not marry him, since by so doing, she would only cause unhappiness to both, but declined giving any reason for change of purpose; and when her lover wrote, pleading an interview, she declined any personal meeting, even while she assured him of her continued friendship and esteem.
Shortly after this time, John entered his brother’s chamber, while both were on a sojourn at Plymouth. With a melancholy countenance he handed William an open letter, exclaiming, “Read this, she loves you! I am convinced of it. Ah! had you acted more openly, all would have been different.”
“I assure you I never had an idea of marrying her,” rejoined William, “since how could I have supported her with my lieutenant’s pay? and I am sure her rich uncle would never have consented to so poor a match.”
“But you must marry her!” said John in a mournful tone, “I will try and persuade Barlow to allow you the same income which he promised me.”
“Never! I will neither be supported by the merchant, or deprive my brother of his betrothed.”’
“But she is mine no longer, dear William: sue at once for Eliza’s hand, and thus make false the old saying, that twins born in the parsonage will always cause unhappiness to each other.”
“How can you be so superstitious? An unlucky chain of circumstances alone has caused this misunderstanding, which might as easily have existed between mere acquaintances. If I had said Eliza interested me, and that I intended courting her as soon as I was able to support a wife, you would never have thought of choosing her, but as I could not hope for any success, I did not refer to my own feelings. You see it is all mere accident.”
“Be it as you wish, but I am convinced that one of us will bring misfortune on the other, and as we love one another, let us adopt the safe resolution of never meeting again if possible.”
“Gracious Heavens! what a dreadful thought! Ah! I see that you hate me for being the unhappy cause of your separation from Eliza.”
“Be composed, dear William, such is not the case. but only that something tells me that an unhappy fate hangs over us. You misunderstand me when you imagine that I propose to resign all future intercourse. No! I shall constantly think of you with anxious affection, and we will correspond together. Accident favors my views;—in a few days I sail for Boston, where the wealthy owner of a ship has made me a very liberal offer, if I will accept its command for two years.”
“Think, brother, of what you are about to do; for the sake of a mere old woman’s story you will forsake old England to go the United States, where even now the Hydra of rebellion is raising its head. As a good seaman, you must see into what a conflict your business may lead you as a British subject.”
“Nothing won without danger;” exclaimed John, “If I had not ventured something, I should not have amassed the little fortune which I now possess. You must allow that I would not have advanced as quickly had I entered the navy.”
“I own it; and never envied you, though receiving such small pittance myself. Nay,” he added, after a pause, in which he seemed trying how best to soften his expression, “I have often been anxious on your account.”
“You mean as regards the Custom House laws?”
“Yes! you must acknowledge that you run a risk in disregarding them as you do.”
“Risk! What seaman cares for that? I never think of it.”
“I know it! Your active spirit, your fearless disposition, may I add? your loose notions in regard to the laws, constantly lead you into danger. I entreat you, John! do not go to America.”
“Nay! but I must,” replied his brother, with a deep sigh. “A destiny hangs over the lot of man, and he can no more draw himself out of its influence, than can the moth which hovers above the candle. Look not so sorrowful, William, it is best that we should separate.”
In spite of all his brother’s entreaties and remonstrances, John remained firm in his first resolution, and when a few days after, he bid William farewell, he entreated him to preserve for him the same affection; advised him to explain his feelings to Eliza, since he himself had totally resigned the idea of marrying, and requested him, in the event of his death, to open his will, which he would find in the hands of notary Reynolds of Liverpool.
It was about this time that the well known stamp act was passed in the British parliament, greatly embittering the Americans against the mother country; a feeling which was further increased when a duty on tea roused them to such excess of feeling that boarding a vessel which just then arrived from the East Indies, they threw the whole of its cargo overboard, which act so provoked the government as to cause them to close the port of Boston, and declare null the charter of Massachusetts. This was the commencement of the war.
The brief limits of our story will not allow us to linger longer on this subject, than merely to call the attention of our readers to the cluster of large and small islands lying in the neighborhood of New York, and of which Long Island is the principal. This was the most important point for the warlike preparations, and the Generalissimo of the English army being aware of it, determined to make it the first place he would attack with his force of twenty thousand men. As Washington only commanded an army of sixteen thousand, he was obliged to act principally on the defensive; though knowing as he did, that Long Island formed the key to New York, he not only fortified it with 9,000 men under General Sullivan, but also equipped a number of small cutters, which hovered about the narrow channels among the Islands, ready at any favorable moment to make for sea, should the appearance of any British vessels offer them booty. Many American owners of vessels fitted out cutters at their own cost, placing them under experienced Captains, and it may be readily supposed that the number increased daily, since patriotism and self-interest were thus made to go hand in hand. One of these privateers, a vessel carrying ten or twelve guns, had in particular been very successful in its excursions against the foe, and was commanded by a young man of handsome exterior and good education, who had only lately been entrusted with the “Gray Shark,” as the privateer was called.
The English fleet had been for several days lying at the mouth of the Hudson,
when Admiral Lord Howe called together all the Captains under his command, to make arrangements for an intended attack. Most of them were men of mature age, and to them he freely talked over his various plans; at length turning to a young officer, who was no other than William Drummond, and who had listened with considerable interest to the consultation, he said, “I regret, sir, that I shall have to employ you in a less agreeable though no less honorable business than the one on which our friends here are about to enter; but the peculiar swiftness of your ship renders it better suited than any other to the undertaking. I have just learned that the privateer called the Gray Shark, which has distinguished itself by its daring acts, lies about forty miles eastward of this. I wish you immediately to sail in search of her; should you encounter her and she refuses to surrender, sink her at once, for it is necessary to make an example of her. The wind is favorable, and you may sail today.”
Eager to obey the orders of his superior, William Drumnmond was ready in a quarter of an hour, and before night drew on, he was on the high sea, although the favorable breeze had gradually lessened. The following morning proved so foggy, that it was impossible to discover the foe, and Drummond therefore lessened sail, fearful that the privateer might pass him and shelter herself among the islands before he could pursue her. As he walked up and down the poop, with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the fog as it took grotesque forms under the influence of the rising breeze, the loud cry was heard from the sailor stationed on the mast, “of a ship on the lee side, sir;” and on looking out the commander immediately perceived a large boat under sail, which soon reached the vessel. In a few moments, a man, whose dress marked him as superior to his companions, mounted on board the “Vulture,” and introduced himself as the captain of the bark “Mercury” from Liverpool, laden with provisions for the army, and which only two hours previously had been attacked by a vessel bearing the American flag. Opposition was not to be thought of; since, as the stranger affirmed, his foe was a ship with twelve guns. He and his crew were thrown into a large boat, with a cask of water and a few kegs of biscuit, and what had become of the “Mercury” he knew not, since he was compelled to set sail instantly.
The Second Macabre Megapack Page 3