CHAPTER XXI.
ANNIS.
How near the Capital City came to be handed down in history as OldWashington its denizens of to-day will never know. There were manycogent reasons for changing it. It had grown so slowly; it wouldrequire an immense amount of money to rebuild it; the place had nevertaken root in the affections of the whole country.
But, then, it was the city of Washington and the old worthies who hadmade the country. There was Florida for the southern point, as wellas Maine for the north-eastern; there were the great Mississippi andLouisiana, as well as the lake countries. Was it not nearly the center?
Men like Arthur Jettson set about retrieving their fortunes andshowing their faith in the place. Mrs. Madison made it as agreeable aspossible to foreign ministers and their wives, and guests from the moreimportant cities. Colonel and Mrs. Monroe added to the attractions.The Capitol was repaired slowly, but it was two years before the WhiteHouse was undertaken.
The scars were all healed long ago. The broad avenues stretch out withhandsome residences, and the streets that little Annis thought so funnybecause they were "like the A B C of the spelling book one way, andthe first lesson in the arithmetic the other way," have filled up thevacant spaces with rows of houses. Tiber Creek is no more, and RockCreek, which rushed and brawled and overflowed its banks in a freshet,is a dull little meandering stream. Where the Lees and Custises heldsway and entertained in a princely manner there is a grave, decoroussilence and a City of Heroes, who, having done their duty for libertyand country, sleep well under the green turf. Georgetown has enlargedher borders, and is beautiful. Mount Vernon, with its two hundredyears of history, is the nation's heritage. Old Washington is almostforgotten, with here and there a relic and a few old maps one can poreover in the grand Congressional Library. And now it is indeed the Cityof the Nation, with its many treasures, even if they are modern, itshandsome legations, its beautiful circles to commemorate the heroes oflater times. And Dolly Madison lived to see many of the improvements,and to be the historic link between the old and the new.
As for Annis Mason, she found it undeniably dull when Eustace Staffordhad gone. Even knowledge seemed to lose its charm, and the babies grewcommonplace. But, then, in the spring Miss Polly and her lover weremarried and set up a cozy little home of their own, and really wantedAnnis in it.
Then Varina came home--a tall, slim girl, quite vivacious and ever somuch better tempered than in her youth; and really rather patronizedAnnis, who was not a year younger, but quite a little girl, not come totrains nor a great pile of hair on the top of her head, and a cascadeof puffs in front, and a comb so big it had to be carried in a bag whenyou went out of an evening.
Then she had a lover, too--a fine young South Carolinian, who had animmense plantation and no end of slaves, and was going into the newindustry of raising cotton.
There was a very general demur. Varina was so young, if she was tall.But, then, Southern girls grew up soon, and many of them were wives atfifteen.
"There must be a year's engagement," her father said. Varina must learnhow to manage a household; and girls had a good deal of instruction inhousewifely arts in those days, even if there was a regiment of slavesto do everything.
"I'll coax off six months," Varina declared to her lover, and he wentaway with that comfort.
She was surprised and amused at Annis' book-learning, and teased herconsiderably. Did she mean to be a schoolmistress?
Charles returned in capital health and spirits and full of ambitiousplans. He had not _quite_ decided what he would be, either a chiefjustice or a minister abroad. He was not sure now that he wanted to bePresident.
"For people do say such dreadful things about you. And you don't seemto suit anyone. I don't wonder Mr. Madison looks old and thin andcareworn."
"Do you remember," said Varina laughingly, "that I used to opposea marriage between you and Annis? I wasn't going to let her haveeverything. I used to consider that you belonged to me."
"You had a great way of appropriating everybody."
"What a ridiculous thing I was! And now I have made up my mind that youare just suited to each other. You can still sit on the window ledgeand pore over the same book."
"Annis is well enough, but I am sure she wouldn't find Latin and Greekinteresting. And by the time I want to marry, Annis will be--well,quite an old woman."
"If you don't marry until you are forty-nine she will have turned thehalf-century. That would be rather old. I shall be a grandmother beforethat time."
"All you girls think about is getting married," returned the youthdisdainfully.
"We think to some purpose, too, don't we? I wouldn't be an old maid fora fortune!"
Annis was not sure she liked the defection on Charles' part. Heassumed a rather lofty air. Louis said he was still a prig, that allthe nonsense had not been knocked out of him. But he was a very niceboy, for all that--gentlemanly, refined, and extravagantly fond of hisstepmother. There were times when Annis felt inclined to jealousy.
He was going to enter college at Williamsburg.
"It ought to make me proud of my own State, as well as the wholecountry," he explained impressively to Annis. "And then I shall go toOxford maybe, or some of the old English places that have the years ofantiquity back of them, and stand for all that is highest in knowledge,that have romance and story and grandeur woven into their very stones.Cloistered shades! Think how beautiful they must be. And all the richesof Europe at one's command!"
"If you like that kind of riches," disdainfully. "Wars and bloodshed,rapine and cruelty, grasping and persecution----" Annis paused, out ofbreath from indignation.
"That's like a girl! You can't distinguish between physical andintellectual progress. All nations have begun on the low round. Itis the capability of ascending in the scale that gives them the realgrandeur."
"I think they have not ascended very much in the scale," returned Annisrather haughtily, the blackened ruins of the beloved Washington and theday and night of terror before her eyes.
"You are not capable of judging. It is what nations have done in theaggregate. A thousand years have witnessed marvels."
"Still, we haven't gone back to 'Solomon in all his glory.' AndJob, you know, had the names of the stars, and understood almosteverything."
She had been reading the book of Job aloud to her stepfather, who wasalways interested in the historical parts of the Bible.
"No one has really settled as to who Job was," said the youth with calmsuperiority.
"Well, the knowledge is all there," returned Annis. "Some day,thousands of years hence, someone may express doubts about Columbus andJohn Smith and Washington, but the country will be here."
Girls were not made for argument, and if you went on forever they wouldhave the last word, no matter how inane it might be. Charles thoughtAnnis much changed for the worse, just like other girls, because she nolonger hung on his words and paid him a loving deference. Her worshiphad been something new to the boy, for Varina claimed by force, andwas the superior power herself. The others simply petted him. Annisunderstood and appreciated. But he had outgrown the boyish fervor, andshe no longer paid homage to him.
He was too young to know that it was simply lack of admiration, andvanity crying out with the wound.
Annis had quaffed the sweets of admiration herself. A nature less fineand wholesome would have been spoiled by the warm and fond approvalof her brothers-in-law, and the preference of others she had met. Shewas coming to have the dawning self-appropriation of womanhood, and nolonger offered her choicest gifts, but felt they must be sought witha certain humility. And there was no humility at all about Charles atthat period. They were both too near parallel lines.
Yet it was a busy, happy, engrossing time. Varina took possessionof Louis, who was developing much of his father's easy-going nature,but with the ambitions of the new generation and the times; then, hisassociations had been cast on different lines. It was whispered, too,that a friend of Patty's with whom Annis was
a great favorite had casta glamour over the young lawyer.
Annis solaced herself with the thought that Varina would marry andgo away, but all the others would be left, and her dearly belovedWashington. Roger said she would do for an archaeologist, she was sofond of exploring ruins. She insisted that Marian and Captain Ralstonshould make pilgrimages to the little old hut where he had so nearlydied, and they found many marks of the battle, that if it had been anignominious rout, still had in it the better part of valor, when theenemy were overwhelming. Baltimore was glorying in her splendid defenseof Fort McHenry, and a girl who could not sing "The Star-spangledBanner" was considered half a Tory.
Though Annis was so young, hardly fifteen, she and Varina had so manyinvitations to Washington that Mr. Mason suggested they should engageboard by the month. Varina was making the best of her time, for she had"coaxed off" six months of the engagement, and her lover was to comesoon after Christmas. In the spring Louis was to set up a home of hisown.
Varina's marriage was in the old home, which was crowded with relativesand guests. Her mother's wedding gown did duty again, and then itwent to Jaqueline as an heirloom. Mr. Woodford was tall and reallyfine-looking, with a good deal of character in his face, and of goodfamily, ten years older than Varina, which brought him to the prime ofyoung manhood.
"Really!" exclaimed Patty, "I do not see what remarkable grace orvirtue in Varina captured so substantial and devoted a lover--thoughshe _has_ improved in temper, and is better-looking; but she will neverhave the Verney beauty--hardly the Mason. Well, one can't explain halfthe queer happenings in this world."
Besides the cotton, Mr. Woodford had extensive rice fields. Longago rice had been brought from Madagascar. In both the Carolinasmany industries had been established. Seventy years before, GeneralOglethorpe had carried to England from Georgia eight pounds of silk tobe made into a dress for the queen. It was no wonder England hated tolose her promising colonies.
Varina's marriage was extremely satisfactory. Patricia's had beenjust a little shadowed by Jaqueline's broken engagement, and thehalf-superstitious feeling that it brought the best luck to the housefor the eldest girl to be married first. But Miss Jaqueline had her owntrue lover after all, and was happy as a queen.
So Varina took her portion and the family blessing, even that of AuntCatharine, who was growing stout and felt that she had the burden ofhalf the world on her shoulders, and William and Mary College thrownin. She didn't see how anything could go on without her.
Perhaps to feel of use is one of the great incentives to earnest living.
"And you are to come and make me a long visit, Annis," Varina saidcordially. "I shall be sorry for you, left all alone here; and I'llwrite and tell you everything. And there's Dolly, too, who has thegayest of gay times! They are quite certain to nominate Cousin Prestonfor representative next year. You see we are getting to be ratherfamous people."
It was very lonely when they all went away. And now Annis had hermother all to herself. No, _not_ all--that could never be again. Fornow that there were no children whose future must be considered, andCharles had planned out his own, Randolph Mason, who had always beeneasy-going, dropped into the softened and indolent ways of prosperouselderly life, and became his wife's shadow.
True, his heart was large enough to take in Annis at every step. But hehad grown stout, and was not such an enthusiastic horseman, though theyearly races inspired all Virginians to keep some fine horses. He likedthe carriage better, with his wife beside him; and then Annis was aloneon the back seat. Of course he had the best right, Annis recognizedthat.
She sewed and did drawn work and made lace, worked embroidery in goldand silver thread, and helped with her "fitting out."
"But if I should never marry?" she said to her mother.
"Girls do, mostly," was the mother's quiet reply. "And your fatherinsists you shall have as much as the other girls."
So there was spinning, and weaving in the loom room, and bleachingto be considered in the spring, as May dew was esteemed a wonderfulwhitener of linens and cottons, though they were mostly woven in theEastern towns. Now and then came gossipy notes from Varina. Charleswrote dutiful letters to his mother, and sent love to Annis. But theWashington households were begging for Annis continually.
"Yes, I would go," said her mother. "It is dull for one girl alone hereon the plantation."
"Mamma--don't _you_ want me?" There was a lustrousness like tears inher eyes.
"My dear!" Her mother kissed her fondly. "Of course I want you. ButI have so many cares and occupations, and father takes a good deal ofmy time, and you have so few amusements. It is the difference, dear,between young people and old people. I want your young life to bepleasant."
"I wish we lived in Washington. Why can't papa build on VirginiaAvenue, and have a nice garden, and keep horses, and----" What else wasthere for him to do?
"He has become settled in this life. He was born and reared here, andhas his friends and neighbors about him. It would make him unhappy togo away. The slaves are all fond of him, and it is his pride to be agood master. No; he couldn't leave everything. It is the young peoplewho go out and settle in new homes. And that is the way the Lord hasordered it. 'For this cause'--that is, love--'shall a man leave fatherand mother, and cleave unto his wife.' And the wife does the samething."
"Mamma," with a faint tint of color, "I do not think I shall ever bemarried."
Her mother gave a soft little smile.
"You know Varina was always planning, and Patty used to say 'When I ammarried,' but I feel curious, and--alone. Perhaps I shall stay with youand father always," and she gave a tender little sigh. "Would you wantan old maid?"
"Perhaps I shall need you to take care of me, as grandma did Marian."
"But I don't want you to die." She clasped her arms about her mother'sneck convulsively.
"Dear, that would give us thirty-odd years. And grandmother was not avery old woman. A great many things may happen in that time. I thinkyou are a little out of spirits and lonesome. You had better go upto Jaqueline's to-morrow. Cato and Jim are going up with a load. Catocan escort you, and they can take a portmanteau in the wagon. CaptainRalston complains that you have quite deserted him."
"And desert you!" half reproachfully.
"I shall have papa. Yes, little girlie, you must go and have a nicetime. I shall think of all the pleasure you are enjoying. And we maycome up for a few days."
"Oh, mamma--if you will! It would be strange to love anyone better thanone's own mother."
But such things had been heard of in the history of womankind.
Annis went up to her beloved Washington. Three homes opened theirhospitable doors, and Louis took her to see his new house, just abovethe ruined pile that was full of storied incident already.
"They are sure to rebuild it," he said. "There is a grant beingconsidered. We have had to fight against considerable odds, but weshall keep our own Washington. Forty or fifty years from this I shallbe telling my grandchildren how men flew to arms in her defense,whether they were soldiers or not. And though the treaty has omittedsome things, we shall take them and keep them. France is our good allyagain. And John Quincy Adams has gone to St. Petersburg to make friendsof the Russians."
"Oh, that's the man Charles talks about, who went abroad with hisfather when he was such a little lad, and had such a hard time, andstudied and studied, and went to Holland and everywhere."
"And is a fine diplomat. For a young country we have raised amagnificent crop of men! I hope to be chief justice myself some day."
"And not President?"
"I'll leave that for Charles. A chief justice is appointed for life,and stands on his good behavior. Do you think they will be likely todischarge me, Annis?"
"Oh, I know they won't!" laughingly.
The house was being built only to half of the plan. The rest of theground was to remain a garden until Louis had increased in wealth.But it was very nice, with spacious rooms. Miss Marcia Ellicot wassomething o
f an heiress.
Annis found a difficulty in dividing herself around.
"There ought to be two or three of me," she said.
"And you are not to give me the cold shoulder," declared Mrs. Jettson."I do believe I was the first one to take a real fancy to you; and doyou remember how Rene quarreled with you about the babies? Arthur andFloyd are such big boys now."
A new boy had been added to the household. Babies were warmly welcomedin those days.
She liked Marian's quiet home. Captain Ralston was very fond of her. Hehad discarded his crutches, but still used a cane.
"And what do you think, Annis?" he said, his eyes alight withamusement. "I've had a letter from someone--just guess!"
"You know so many people," returned Annis with a curious heat in hercheeks.
"Someone you know, too. Your old enemy. My good nurse and friend."
"Oh, that--young Englishman who came over here to fight us," sheanswered with an indifferent air, though she had been certain in hermind when he first told her to guess.
"Yes; Stafford. He is coming over here to settle. He was convertedat the Battle of Bladensburg, and is a ranting, tearing, out-and-outAmerican. Why, you never knew a more ardent patriot! He is going totake the oath of allegiance at once, and find something to do, and doit bravely, earnestly. That is the kind of citizens we want. I think hehas had something of a time to convince his people, but his father hasgiven him a small sum of money to start him in life--nothing to what itwould cost his father if he stayed at home, he says. Strange how thesemen keep their sons at home, thinking trade disgraceful, when Englandwould swoop up all the commerce of the earth, forgetting what manner ofmen make commerce possible."
Annis was silent, yet there was a little heart-beat of exultation. Whyshe could not have told.
"Well--will you bid him welcome and Godspeed?"
"Why, it is nothing to me," with a pretty air of indifference.
She did not see the dainty flush on Marian's cheek, that came inmoments of embarrassment, as if she were still sixteen.
"But, then, you have your country's good at heart?"
"I wish the country well," and she made a pretentious courtesy, drawingup her brows.
Marian had read all the letter. It was proud and manly, but a prettygirl had inspired a part of the resolve.
"I shall take him in hand. He is ready for work--if he has a long lineof ancestors with titles."
"Yes." Annis gave a provoking laugh. "You know he does not likefighting."
There was pleasure enough to make her forget all about him, but now andthen she caught herself wondering.
Jaqueline was quite restored to health and beauty, and was a favoritewith society. Roger was certainly a rising man. The undercurrent ofpolitical feeling was that Mr. Monroe would succeed his chief, whowould be quite as glad to resign his honors and the flood of criticismsas Mr. Jefferson had been. And though the conduct of the war wascaviled at, it was admitted on all sides that it had raised the countryin the rank of nations.
So Annis flitted back and forth like a dainty bird, that did not forgetthe home nest. She did her hair high on her head and had a fringe offascinating little curls; she wore French heels to her slippers, anda train on grand occasions. She was not handsome, as the elder Masongirls had been, not tall or stately, but sweet and pretty, with justenough of the coquette to make her arch and winsome.
One night at an assembly, where naval men were out in force, someonecaught her hand in the change of partners. A young officer, a firstlieutenant, she saw by his insignia of rank.
"Oh!" he cried, "you have forgotten me, but I remember you. I sawyou across the room, but I was engaged for this dance. I was comingimmediately after. It was at the naval ball when Ensign Hamilton camein with the flag. What a night it was! And I was Midshipman Yardley,going out on my first cruise. There--the next figure is waiting."
He handed her gallantly to her new partner.
She went back to Jaqueline. "Oh, Roger!" she cried, "do you rememberthe young midshipman at the naval ball when there was such anexcitement? He is here to-night. I have just been dancing with him.There he is, coming hither."
The smiling young fellow was glad to see Mr. and Mrs. Carrington.Annis excused herself from her next partner, she was so eager to hearhim talk. Perhaps he would not have lent dignity to the position ofan admiral, for he was not tall nor imposing, but bright and eagerand full of spirit and ambition. "After all, it has been a gloriouswar," he declared. He had been in a number of victories, and quitedistinguished himself, they heard afterward; and one sad defeat,when he had been taken prisoner with some other men and made a daringescape, landing on the coast of France, and worked and begged his wayhome. Now he was stationed at Annapolis for some time.
Annis had to go and dance in the middle of the story, and then hebegged the honor. Was she staying with her sister? He should be in towna few days. Could he not call on her?
Jaqueline gave him the invitation.
Captain Ralston was eager to see him, as well. There were so manythings to talk over. Such wonderful victories, some such sad defeats,many brave men who had given their lives and left imperishable namesbehind them. How proud the young fellow was of his country!
And they had to tell the story of Washington with the _verve_ thatpeople do who have lived through an event.
They looked at the ruins, they rode up the Potomac, they went again toBladensburg. Everything was so near, so vivid.
Lieutenant Yardley decided that Annis was the most charming young girlhe had ever met.
"I am a little afraid of most women," he admitted. "You can't alwaystell just what to say, and sometimes when they praise you you feelsilly all over. And some women never rouse to patriotism. But _we_find so much to say to each other. Oh, I wish I were going to stay inWashington a month! Won't you make some of your relatives bring youover to Annapolis? You have such a splendid lot. Only, do you know,I like your own name, Annis Bouvier, better than I do Annis Mason. Itjust suits you."
She blushed a little. What a pretty way he had of saying Annis!
But alas! the delight came to an end, and for several days Annisthought Washington as dull as the plantation.
"I am afraid my poor fellow won't stand any chance," said Ralston,with a slow shake of the head. "The lieutenant is delightful, certainlyquite dangerous enough to turn any girl's brain."
The "poor fellow" reached Washington one morning, having landed at NewYork, and spent half a lifetime on the post-roads, he declared. Theywere all a little startled. It seemed as if he must have grown, he wasso tall and manly and fine-looking, and so overjoyed to see them again,so happy at the thought of being an American citizen.
"It is as I said when I was here before--the people do not understandeach other. When they come to a time that they can work side by side inanything, you will see something grand accomplished. There is a fine,free air over here that inspirits one. You can begin without beinghampered by a thousand petty restrictions. And I am going to provemyself a man."
Dr. Collaston and Patty gave him the warmest welcome, quite as cordialas that of Ralston. But it was queer that when he went there Annis hadgone to Jaqueline's; and finally Ralston asked her boldly to come totea and give Eustace Stafford a word of welcome.
"There isn't anything left for me to say," and the rosy lips poutedas if offended. "You have all been so--so extravagant--or is itexuberant?--in your demonstrations, that I shall seem tame. And whyshould I be so desperately glad? He would have killed you, Philip, oranyone else, if he hadn't been wounded at once. I'd like you to go andthank the soldier who did it."
"You are a briery little body where he is concerned, Annis. Why, peacewould never have been signed if both parties had held out as you do! Ithink it fine in him to come out so frankly and own he was on the wrongside. Even if you have no Indian blood in your veins, you might comeand smoke a figurative pipe of peace--that is, drink a cup of tea andwish him well."
"You know I don't like tea. I should thin
k they would have wanted tothrow it overboard. Another of England's tyrannies!"
"I thought you had a tender place in your heart for Marian and me."
"Oh, I can come!" she said pettishly. "I am not afraid of yourEnglishman."
"I began to think you were," teasingly.
And so she came. But when she greeted Mr. Stafford, who had nothing ofthe boy left about him, but who met her eyes steadily until hers fell,and whose voice had lost the old deprecating, beseeching tone, a suddenhalf-terror took possession of her, an indefinable fear that madeher angry and yet disarmed her. Oh, she was sure she liked LieutenantYardley a hundred times better!
Afterward she said she was tired of all the gayeties, and wanted togo home. The plantation was at its loveliest, and there would be suchrides with papa, and she was sure her mother was longing to see her.
But when bees once get a taste for the sweetest honey flowers, theyhaunt the spot. And Annis Bouvier was no longer a little girl. She feltthe strange solemn capabilities within her. Sometimes she clung to hermother, as if not daring to meet them. The mother knew what it meant,and gave her the wordless comfort mothers can give, in a kiss or aclasp of the hand, as one crosses the bridge to womanhood.
Neighboring young men began to haunt the house. The Mason girls hadalways been favorites. And then down came the young Englishman, whoresolved not to lose the prize if earnest wooing could avail. Theywere both so young. True, he had his fortune to make, but some of thenoblest Virginian families had sprung from penniless young sons who hadcome to the new countries and won not only wealth, but fame. CaptainRalston had found a place for him, and he should live in fair sight ofeverybody. If he did not make the sort of man they could approve, heshould never blame them for refusing him their treasure. All he askedfor was time and a fair field.
"He has the making of a man in him," the father conceded to himself,but aloud he said--a little weakly: "Annis is too young to decide. Inthe end it will be as she desires."
"And I can come now and then as a friend?"
"It may make trouble for Annis later on, but I could not refuse," hesaid to his wife afterward.
Annis came and sat on his knee in the soft Virginian twilight, duskysooner than that farther north. The whip-poor-wills called to eachother, the mocking bird flung out a note now and then as if he saidsaucily, "_Did_ you think I was asleep?" and the frogs in the marshwere far enough off to send a strain of quivering music. She put herarms about his neck, and her soft warm cheek touched his.
"Were you very cross and stern, papa?" in the most coaxing of tones.
"No, dear. He is a fine fellow."
"But he came to fight against us."
"Yes. It was a great crime."
"He was sent, and he didn't know any better. Some day we shall know agood deal more about each other."
"Annis, do you love him? Child, don't make a mistake! And don't triflewith him."
"No, I don't _love_ him. We quarreled dreadfully at first. I can't helpliking and admiring him. He is so strong and earnest. There are a goodmany grand men in the world, are there not? And some of them have beenpoor and have had hard times. I didn't want him to think it was becausehe was poor."
"No, dear," as she waited for some reply.
"And you know I can't help meeting him at Marian's, and Patty likes himso much, too. It would be very disagreeable to be bad friends?"
"Yes," assented the elder.
"So we are going to be _just_ friends until--well, until I am twenty,perhaps."
"Yes--if you will wait until then."
Annis kissed him.
But that was not the end of love affairs. Lieutenant Yardley insistedupon telling his story. He had carried about with him a child's sweetface, and resolved that if he should survive the deadly strife he wouldcome home and find her. He thought his claim far the best. Had he notfought for the country, _her_ country?
She liked him too. It was hard to decide. And then the lieutenant,being rather fiery, went at his rival in a fierce manner. Dueling wasstill in vogue.
Annis was alarmed. She sent for the big Englishman. It was curious, butshe knew she could make him obey her slightest behest, big and strongas he was.
"You are not to quarrel about me," she began with wonderful dignity."I do not think I shall marry either of you, or anybody. But if there_was_ a dispute, and you did anything reprehensible, I should never,_never_ see you or speak to you again. Lieutenant Yardley is one of thecountry's heroes, and you----" How should she put it?
"I am here on sufferance, until I earn the right. Yes, I understand."
She flushed scarlet.
"You are bound over to keep the peace."
"Here is my hand in token of it. I shall never do anything to make yousorry or ashamed of me."
"Papa," she said in a plaintive tone a day or two after Stafford'svisit, "should you be very sorry if I--were to--stay single--always?"
"Why, no, dear," and he smiled. "Don't you remember, when Louis andCharles used to dispute about you, I said we would marry off theothers, and you should stay here with mother and me?"
"I must be very naughty, to have people disputing about me," and shesighed in a delicious sort of manner. "But I have quite resolved thatI will not marry anybody."
They all went up to Washington to attend the wedding of the eldest son.There was only one lover present, and Annis was sincerely glad.
There was much going back and forth, as there always is when familiesbranch out and set up new homes. And presently Charles came home, quitea tall boy, but still delicate-looking, and so much improved that Annisinsensibly went back to her old regard for him. He was broader-minded,and took a livelier interest in everything.
He soon found that Annis was a great favorite with all the youngpeople. She wasn't as handsome as Jaqueline, nor as bright andoverflowing with fun as Patty; indeed, he could not decide what thecharm was. He heard about the two real lovers, and met them both.Secretly he favored Stafford and felt sorry for the lieutenant.
One day they were lounging in the old nook by the creek. He was tellingover his plans. He was not anxious now to be President, or even aminister abroad, but he was eager for all the knowledge he could grasp,for all the discoveries that were looming up on the horizon. UncleConway had advised him to enter an English university after the comingyear.
She was in the low swing, which was a tangle of vines now, and he wascurled up in the grass at her feet, as they talked over the past andthe future. Then there was a long, sweet silence, such as comes nowherebut in country nooks.
"Annis," he exclaimed regretfully, resignedly, "I do not suppose youever could marry me?"
She started in surprise. "Oh, Charles!" she cried in pain, "I thoughtthat foolishness was at an end."
"Has it been foolishness? Annis, I don't believe you could understandthat boyish passion. I don't understand it myself. You fitted into mylife. You liked my old heroes. You never laughed or teased me aboutthem. They were my life then. That was the country I always lived in.And it was very sweet to have you. How jealous I was of Louis! Some ofthe great intellectual heroes have had just such a love. Last summer Iwas half ashamed of it; I was growing out of childhood. And now I havegone back to it again."
"Oh, Charles, I am so sorry!" There was anguish in her tone. "You see,I am older, and you will have four or five years abroad, and grow anddevelop as men do----"
"Yes. I couldn't ask so much of you. And maybe, then, we wouldn't suit.Don't you know how the old slave women put pieces of gowns in theirbest quilts and cherish them because this was young missy's, and thissomeone else's? And I'd like to be the piece that you'd go back to inmemory, and think how sweet the old times were, even when you have ahusband, proud and strong, and that you loved devotedly. And how youbade me hope through all that trying time, and gave me your mother whenyou loved her so, and kept my little secret, for we never can think itwas Varina's fault."
She bent over. Their arms were about each other's necks, and both werecrying--tender, l
oving tears.
The ensuing winter in Washington was one long talked about. ThePresident removed to a place forming part of the notable "SevenBuildings," which had been fitted up for its greater spaciousness.It was the last winter of Mrs. Madison's reign, as in March ColonelMonroe was to be inaugurated. There was a great stir and intellectualactivity, a broadening of political life; and as we look back it seemsas if there were giants in those days. Thither came the hero of theBattle of New Orleans, General Jackson, with his wife, and many anotherworthy; even curious visitors from abroad, who acknowledged the graceof Mrs. Madison's brilliant hospitality.
Thenceforward it was to be a new Washington, more truly Americanperhaps, crystallizing around the points that gave strength anddignity, and proving false many an evil prophecy.
A few, very few, of the old places are left. But the Capitol is thenucleus of a great nation, and the White House reared on the oldsuperstructure holds many memories the country will always cherish.
I suppose I hardly need tell you that after a while Annis broke herresolve and married the man of her choice, living a long and happylife in the newer Washington. That when her sons were grown therewas nothing they enjoyed more than visiting the commander at FortressMonroe and listening to the stirring events of 1812. He thought therenever could be such battles and victories again. But the girls weremost fond of their delightful bachelor uncle Charles, whose pen wasmaking a name and fame in the intellectual world.
THE END.
A Little Girl in Old Washington Page 21