Prisoners of Hope: A Tale of Colonial Virginia

by Mary Johnston

  CHAPTER XXII

  THE TOBACCO HOUSE AGAIN

  The master of Verney Manor and his guests slept late, for the carouse ofthe night before had been deep and prolonged. The master's daughter rosewith the sun, and went down into the garden, and thence through thewicket into the mulberry grove, where she found Margery sitting on theground, tying golden-rod to her staff. "Come and walk with me, Margery,"she said.

  Margery rose with alacrity. "Where shall we go?" she asked in a whisper."To the forest? There were eyes in the forest last night, not the great,still, solemn eyes that stare at Margery every night, but eyes thatglowed like coals, and moved from bush to bush. Margery was afraid, andshe left the forest, and sat by the water side all night, listening towhat it had to say. A star shot, and Margery knew that a soul was on itsway to Paradise, where she would fain go if only she could find theway.... There are purple flowers growing by the creek between the cedarwood and the marsh. Let us go gather them, and trim Margery's staff verybravely."

  "I care not where we go," said her mistress. "There as well aselsewhere."

  "Come, then," said Margery, and took the lead.

  When they had entered the strip of cedars which lay between the widefields and the point of land on which stood the third tobacco house,Patricia stopped beneath a great tree. "We will go no further, Margery,"she said.

  Margery objected. "The purple flowers grow by the water side."

  "Do you go and gather them then," said Patricia wearily. "I will waitfor you here."

  Margery glided away, and her mistress sat down upon the dark-red earthat the foot of the tree. There was a cold and sombre stillness in thewood. The air smelt chill and dank, and the light came through the low,closely woven roof of foliage, as though it were filtered through crape,but at the end of the vista of trees shone a glory of sea and sky andgold-green marsh. Patricia gazed with dreamy eyes. "It is all fair," shesaid. "What was it that Dr. Nash read? 'My lines are fallen in pleasantplaces.' Riches and honor, and, they say, beauty, and many to loveme.--O Lord God! I wish for happiness!" She laid her cheek against thecool earth, and the splendor before her wavered into a mist of rose andazure. "Why should I weep," she said, "that my lines are laid inpleasant places?"

  Margery with her arms filled with flowers appeared at her side. "Hereare the purple flowers," she said. "Here is farewell-summer for me and apassion-flower for you." She threw the blooms upon the ground, andsitting down at her mistress's feet, began to weave them into garlands.Presently she took up the passion-flower. "This grew beside the tobaccohouse, close to the wall. Margery saw it, and ran to pluck it. The doorof the tobacco house was closed, but above the passion-flower was agreat crack between the logs." She began to laugh. "Margery heard astrange thing, while she was plucking the passion-flower. Shall she tellit to you?"

  "If you like, Margery," said Patricia indifferently.

  Margery leaned forward, and laid a cold, thin hand upon her mistress'arm.

  "There were seven men in the tobacco house. One said, 'When theMalignants are put down, what then?' and another answered, 'Surely wewill possess their lands and their houses, their silver and their gold,for is it not written, "The Lord hath given them a spoil unto theirservants."' Then the first said, 'Shall we not kill the Malignant,Verney?' Margery heard no more. She came away."

  Patricia rose to her feet, pale, with brilliant eyes.

  "You heard no more?"

  "No."

  "Margery, show me the place where you listened."

  Margery took up her staff, and led the way to the outskirts of the wood."There," she said, pointing with her staff. "There, where the eldergrows."

  Patricia laid her hand on the mad woman's shoulder. "Listen to me,Margery," she said in a low, distinct voice. "Listen very carefully. Goquickly to the great house, and to my father, or to Woodson, or to SirCharles Carew give the message I am about to give you. Do youunderstand, Margery?"

  Margery nodding emphatically, Patricia gave the message, and watched herflit away through the gloom of the cedars into the sunlight beyond; thenturned and went swiftly and noiselessly across the strip of field to thetall, dark, windowless tobacco house. As she neared it, there came toher a low and undistinguishable murmur of voices which rose intodistinctness as she entered the clump of alders.

  Within the tobacco house were assembled the Muggletonian, the manbranded upon the forehead, the youth with the hectic cheek (who acted asSecretary to the Surveyor-General), two newly purchased servants ofColonel Verney, Trail and Godfrey Landless. In the uncertain light whichstreamed from above through rents in the roof and crevices between theupper logs the interior of the tobacco house looked mysterious,sinister, threatening. Here and there tobacco still hung from the poleswhich crossed from wall to wall, and in the partial light the long,dusky masses looked wonderfully like other hanging things. The greatcasks beneath had the appearance of shadowy scaffolds, and the men,sitting or standing against them, looked larger than life. All was dusk,subdued, save where a stray sunbeam, sifting through a crack in theopposite wall, lit the ghastly face and shaven crown of theMuggletonian.

  Landless, leaning against a cask, addressed a man of a grave andresolute bearing--one of the newly acquired servants of Verney Manor.

  "Major Havisham, you are a wise and a brave man. I will gladly listen toany counsel you may have to give anent this matter."

  Havisham shook his head. "I have nothing to say. The spirit of thefather lives in the son. Skillful in planning, bold in action was WarhamLandless!"

  "I am but the tool of Robert Godwyn," said Landless. "You approve, then,of our arrangements?"

  "Entirely. It is a daring enterprise, but if it succeeds--" he drew along breath.

  "And if it fails," said Landless, "there is freedom yet."

  The other nodded. "Yes, death hath few terrors for us."

  "What is death?" cried the hectic youth. "A short, dim passage fromdarkness into light; the antechamber of the white court of God; thecurtain that we lift; the veil that we tear--and SEE! My soul longethfor death, yea, even fainteth for the courts of God! But He will notcall His servants until His work is done. Wherefore let us haste to riseup and slay, to work the Lord's work, and go from hence!"

  "Yea!" cried the Muggletonian. "I fear not death! I fear not the Throneand the Judgment seat. The Two Witnesses will speak for me! But Death isnot upon us; he passeth by the weak, and seizeth upon the strong. TheMalignants shall die, for the word of the Lord has gone out againstthem. 'Thy foot shall be dipped in the blood of thy enemies, and thetongue of thy dogs into the same! They shall fall by the sword, theyshall be a portion for foxes; as smoke is drawn away so shall theyvanish, as wax melteth before the fire so shall they perish! He thatsitteth in the heavens shall have them in derision. And the righteousshall rejoice in His vengeance!'"

  "Amen," drawled Trail through his nose. "Verily, we will fatten on thegood things of the land, we will spend our days in ease andpleasantness! The Malignants shall work for us. They shall toil in ourtobacco fields, their women shall be our handmaidens, we will drinktheir wines, and wear their rich clothing, and our pockets shall befilled with their gold and silver--"

  "Silence!" cried Landless fiercely. "Once more I tell you, mad dreamersthat you are, that there shall be no such devil's work! Major Havisham,there are not among us many of this ilk. Two thirds of our number aremen of the stamp of Robert Godwyn and yourself. These men rave."

  "I heed them not," said Havisham with a slighting gesture of the hand;then, "Let us recapitulate. Upon this appointed day we whom they callOliverians, and the great majority of the redemptioners, are to risethroughout the colony. We--"

  "Are to do no damage to property nor offer any unnecessary violence tomasters and overseers," said Landless firmly.

  "We are simply to arm ourselves, seize horses or boats, and resort tothis appointed place."

  "Yes."

  "Calling upon the slaves to follow us?"

  "Which they will do. Yes."

  "An
d when all are assembled, to oppose any force sent against us?"

  "Yes."

  "And if we conquer, then--"

  "Then the Republic,--Commonwealth,--anything you choose--at any rate,freedom."

  "It is a desperate plan."

  "We are desperate men."

  "Yes," Havisham said thoughtfully; "it is the best chance for thatescape of which we all dream, and which two of our number, I see, haveattempted in vain. I had set to-morrow night for my own attempt. Thispromises better."

  "Yea," said Porringer, "the stars in their courses fight against therefugee! Four times have I tried, to be retaken, and handled, as yousee. Twice has this man tried and failed. And the murderer of RobertGodwyn failed."

  "That remains to be seen," said Trail. "Roach has broken gaol."

  The Muggletonian exclaimed, and Landless turned upon the forger. "Howdo you know?" he asked sternly.

  "I heard," was the smooth reply.

  "I am sorry for it," said Landless grimly, and stood with a sternlythoughtful countenance.

  There was a silence in the tobacco house broken by Havisham.

  "And now--for time passes and the overseer may come and find us not atour tasks--tell me the day upon which we are to rise, and the place towhich all are to resort."

  "Both are close at hand," said Landless slowly. "The day is--" he brokeoff and leaned forward, staring through the dusk.

  "What is it?" cried Havisham.

  "My eyes met other eyes. There, behind that great crack between thelogs!"

  The Muggletonian rushed to the door, flung it open, and vanished; thebranded man followed. The remaining occupants of the tobacco housestarted to their feet, and Havisham picked from the floor a pole andbroke from it a stout cudgel. Godfrey Landless strode forward into thebroad shaft of sunshine that entered through the opened door and met theeavesdropper face to face, as, with either arm in the rude grasp of thefanatics, she crossed the threshold.

  The conspirators, recognizing the lady of the manor, were stricken dumb.In the three minutes of dead silence which ensued they saw their plansdefeated, their hopes ruined, their cause vanquished, their lives lost.The graceful figure with white scorn in the beautiful face was deathcome upon them. The shadow fell heavy and cold upon their souls, thevery air seemed to darken and grow chill around them The figure of thewoman in their midst gathered up the sunshine, became ethereal,transplendent, a triumphant white and gold Spirit of Evil.

  Landless was the first to speak. "Unhand her!" he said in a suppressedvoice.

  The men obeyed, but the Muggletonian placed himself between his prisonerand the door. She saw the movement and said scornfully, "You need notfear; I shall not run away." Upon her bare, white arms, where they hadbeen clasped too rudely, were fast darkening marks. She glanced fromthem to the scarred face of the Muggletonian. "_They_ will wear out,"she said.

  "Madam," said Landless hoarsely, "how long were you in that place?"

  She flashed upon him a look that was like a blow. "Liar! be silent!" shesaid, then turned to the row of faces that frowned upon her from out theshadow. "To you others I address myself. Traitors, rebellious servants,base plotters! I hold your lives in my hand."

  "And your own?" said Trail.

  "Cursed daughter of the mother of evil!" cried the Muggletonian, abaleful light burning in his eyes. "Scarlet woman, whose vain apparel,whose uncovered hair and bared bosom, whose light songs and laughterhave long been an offense and a stumbling-block to the righteous--thycup of iniquity is full, thy life is forfeit, thy hour is come!" He drewa knife from his bosom and with an unearthly cry flourished it above hishead, then rushed upon her, to be met by Landless, who hurled himselfupon the would-be murderer with a force that sent them both staggeringagainst the wall. A struggle ensued, which ended in Landless securingthe knife. With it in his hand he sprang to the side of the girl, whostood unflinching, a pride that was superb in her still white face andsteadfast eyes.

  "Who touches her dies," he said between his teeth.

  Havisham came to his aid. "Men, are you mad? You cannot murder adefenseless woman! Moreover such a deed would prove our utter ruin."

  "If her body were found, yes!" cried the hectic youth. "But the water isnear, and who is to know that the devil sent her hither?"

  "It is her death or ours," cried the branded man.

  The Muggletonian tossed his arms into the air.

  "The cause! the cause! Cursed be he that putteth his hand to the ploughand finisheth not the furrow! Ride on! Ride on! though it were over thebodies of a thousand painted Jezebels such as this!"

  "Time presses!" cried the branded man. "Woodson may come!"

  They closed in upon the three who stood at bay. In their dark faces werea passion and an exaltation--they saw in the woman fallen into theirhands, a sacrifice bound to the altar. Trail alone looked uneasy andheld back, muttering between his teeth.

  Landless stepped in front of Patricia and faced them with a still anddeadly eye, and with the hand that held the knife drawn back against hisbreast. Knowing them, he saw no use in any appeal; also he saw that itwas indeed her life or theirs. On the one hand, the downfall of alltheir hopes, the death or perpetual enslavement of many, and for himselfsurely the gibbet and the rope; on the other--

  He made a gesture of command. "Thou shalt do no murder!" he cried.

  "It is not murder; it is sacrifice."

  "There must be another way!" cried Havisham.

  "Find it!"

  Havisham turned to the prisoner. "Madam, will you swear to be silentconcerning what you have heard?"

  The Muggletonian laughed wildly. "Who trusts a woman's oath!"

  "You shall have no need," said the lady of the manor calmly. She pausedand her eyes went to the door in an intent and listening gaze, then cameback to the faces about her with a strange light in their depths. "Rebelservants," she said in a clear, low voice, "I defy you! And you, falseslave, stand from before me. I need not your hateful aid." In the momentof ominous silence that followed, she swayed towards the door, her handat her throat, her soul in her eyes. Suddenly she cried out, "My father!Charles! help!"

  From without came an answering cry, followed by a rush of men throughthe door, and in an instant the room was filled with struggling forms asthe two parties threw themselves upon each other. The newcomers werehalf a dozen blacks, the two overseers and Sir Charles Carew. Theoverseers had pistols and Sir Charles his sword. With it he met the rushof the youth with the hectic cheek, who came towards him in long,hound-like leaps, brandishing a piece of wood above his head, and drovethe blade deep into the chest of the fanatic. The wretched man staggeredand fell, then rose to his knees. Flinging his arms above his head, heturned his worn face towards the flood of sunshine pouring in throughthe door, and cried in a loud voice, "I see!" A stream of blood gushedfrom his lips, his arms dropped, and without a groan he fell back, dead.

  Landless, wrestling with the slave Regulus, at length succeeded inhurling the powerful figure to the ground, where it lay stunned, andturned to find himself confronted by Woodson's pistol and the point ofSir Charles's rapier. A glance showed him the remaining conspirators,overpowered, and in the act of being bound with the ropes that had lain,coiled for use in packing, in the corners of the tobacco house. Thehectic youth lay, a ghastly spectacle, in a pool of blood across thedoorway. At his feet was the branded man, a bullet through his brain,and near him the groaning figure of Havisham's mortally woundedcompanion. The woman who had brought all this to pass stood unharmed,white, with tragic, exultant eyes.

  Sir Charles, serene and debonair, lowered his point. "Your hand isplayed," he said with a fine smile. Landless's stern, despairing gazepassed him and went on to the overseer. "I surrender to you," he saidbriefly.

  Woodson chuckled grimly and stuck his pistol in his belt. He was in highgood humor, visions of reward and thanks from the Assembly dancingbefore his eyes. "I've had my eye on you for some time, young man," hesaid almost genially. "I've suspected that you were up to someth
ing, butLord! to think that a woman's wit should have trapped you at last!Haines, bring that rope over here."

  Sir Charles went over to Patricia and offered her his arm. "Dearest andbravest of women!" he said in a caressing whisper. "Come with me fromthis place, which must be dreadful to you."

  She did not answer him at once, but stood looking past him at thepicture of laughing water and waving forest framed in the doorway.

  "I thought I should never see the sunshine again," she said dreamily."Did Margery give _you_ the message?"

  "Yes, she met me under the mulberries. I would not wait to rouse yourfather, but calling the overseers and the blacks from the fields, cameat once."

  "I owe you my life," she said. "You and--"

  Her eyes left the summer outside and came back to the shadowy formswithin the tobacco house. "I will go with you directly, cousin," shesaid quietly, "but first I wish to speak to that man."

  He shot a swift glance at her face, but drew back with a bow, and shewalked with a steady step up to Landless. "Fall back a little," she saidwith an imperious wave of her hand to the men about him. They obeyedher. Landless, left standing before her, his arms bound to his sides,raised his head and looked her in the face. She met his eyes. "You liedto me," she said in a low, even voice.

  "Once, madam, and to save others," he said proudly,

  "Not once, but twice. Do you think that now I believe that tale you toldme that night, that fairy tale of persecuted innocence? When I thinkthat I ever believed it I hate myself."

  "Nevertheless, it is true, madam."

  "It is false! Yesterday I thought of you as a gallant gentleman, greatlywronged ... and I pitied you. To-day I am wiser."

  He held her eyes with his own for a moment, then let them go. "Some dayyou will know," he said.

  She turned from him and held out her hands to Sir Charles. He hurriedto her and she clung to him. "Take me away," she said in a whisper."Take me home."

  He put his arm about her. "You are faint," he said tenderly. "Come! theair will revive you."

  Supporting her on his arm, he guided her from the house. As they passedthe body stretched across the threshold, the skirt of her robe touchedthe blood in which it was lying. She saw it and shuddered.

  "Blood is upon me!" she said. "It is an omen!"

  "A good one, then," said her companion coolly, "for it is the blood of afanatic traitor. Think not of it." He turned at the threshold and cast acareless glance back into the tobacco house. "Woodson, get rid of thiscarrion, and bring these men quietly to the great house, where yourmaster will deal with them."