Hansford: A Tale of Bacon's Rebellion Part 29

"He has given us his holy promise," said Virginia, in a solemn, yet hopeful voice of resignation, "that though we walk through the valley and the shadow of death, he will be with us-his rod and his staff will comfort us-yea, he prepareth a table for us in the presence of our enemies, our cup runneth over."

"Well, I reckon I know that as well as you, miss; but it seems there is but little chance of having a table prepared for us here," retorted her mother, whose fears and indignation had whetted rather than allayed her appet.i.te. "But I think it is very unseemly in a young girl to be so calm under such circ.u.mstances. I know that when I was your age, the bare idea of submitting to such an exposure as this would have shocked me out of my senses."

Virginia could not help thinking, that considering the lapse of time since her mother was a young girl, there had been marvellously little change wrought in her keen sensibility to exposure; for she was already evidently "shocked out of her senses." But she refrained from expressing such a dangerous opinion, and replied, in a sad tone-

"And can you think, my dearest mother, that I do not feel in all its force our present awful condition! But, alas! what can we do. As Mrs.

Ballard truly says, our best course is to endeavour to move the coa.r.s.e sympathies of these rebels, and even if they should not relent, they will at least render our condition less fearful by their forbearance and respect. Oh, my mother! my only friend in this dark hour of peril and misfortune, think not so harshly of your daughter as to suppose that she feels less acutely the horrors of her situation, because she fails to express her fears." And so saying, the poor girl drew yet closer to her mother, and wept upon her bosom.

"I meant not to speak unkindly, dear Jeanie," said the good-hearted old lady, "but you know, my child, that when my fears get the better of me, I am not myself. It does seem to me, that I was born under some unlucky star. Ever since I was born the world has been turning upside down; and G.o.d knows, I don't know what I have done that it should be so. But first, that awful revolution in England, and then, when we came here to pa.s.s our old days in peace and quiet, this infamous rebellion. And yet I must say, I never knew any thing like this. There was at least some show of religion among the old Roundheads, and though they were firm and demure enough, and hated all kinds of amus.e.m.e.nt, and cruel enough too with all their psalm singing, to cut off their poor king's head, yet they always treated women with respect and decency. But, indeed, even the rebels of the present day are not what they used to be."

Virginia could scarcely forbear smiling, amid her tears, at this new application of her mother's favourite theory. The conversation was here interrupted by the approach of a young officer, who, bowing respectfully to the bevy of captive ladies, said politely, that he was sorry to intrude upon their presence, but that, as it was time to pursue their journey, he had come to ask if the ladies would partake of some refreshment before their ride.

"If they could share the rough fare of a soldier, it would bestow a great favour and honour upon him to attend to their wishes; and indeed, as it would be several hours before they could reach Jamestown, they would stand in need of some refreshment, ere they arrived at more comfortable quarters."

"As your unhappy prisoners, sir," said Mrs. Ballard, with great dignity, "we can scarcely object to a soldier's fare. Prisoners have no choice but to take the food which the humanity of their jailers sets before them. Your apology is therefore needless, if not insulting to our misfortunes."

"Well, madam," returned Wilford, in the same respectful tone, "I did not mean to offend you, and regret that I have done so through mistaken kindness. May I add that, in common with the rest of the army, I deplore the necessity which has compelled us to resort to such harsh means towards yourselves, in order to ensure success and safety."

"I deeply sympathize with you in your profound regret," said Mrs.

Ballard, ironically. "But pray tell me, sir, if you learned this very novel and chivalric mode of warfare from the savages with whom you have been contending, or is it the result of General Bacon's remarkable military genius?"

"It is the result of the stern necessity under which we rest, of coping with a force far superior to our own. And I trust that while your ladyships can suffer but little inconvenience from our course, you will not regret your own cares, if thereby you might prevent an effusion of blood."

"Oh, that is it," replied Mrs. Ballard, in the same tone of withering irony. "I confess that I was dull enough to believe that the self-const.i.tuted, self-styled champions of freedom had courage enough to battle for the right, and not to screen themselves from danger, as a child will seek protection behind its mother's ap.r.o.n, from the attack of an enraged cow."

"Madam, I will not engage in an encounter of wits with you. I will do you but justice when I say that few would come off victors in such a contest. But I have a message from one of our officers to this young lady, I believe, which I was instructed to reserve for her private ear."

"There is no need for a confidential communication," said Virginia Temple, "as I have no secret which I desire to conceal from my mother and these companions in misfortune. If, therefore, you have aught to say to me, you may say it here, or else leave it unexpressed."

"As you please, my fair young lady," returned Wilford. "My message concerns you alone, but if you do not care to conceal it from your companions, I will deliver it in their presence. Major Thomas Hansford desires me to say, that if you would allow him the honour of an interview of a few moments, he would gladly take the opportunity of explaining to you the painful circ.u.mstances by which you are surrounded, in a manner which he trusts may meet with your approbation."

"Say to Major Thomas Hansford," replied Virginia, proudly, "that, as I am his captive, I cannot prevent his intrusion into my presence. I cannot refuse to hear what he may have to speak. But tell him, moreover, that no explanation can justify this last base act, and that no reparation can erase it from my memory. Tell him that she who once honoured him, and loved him, as all that was n.o.ble, and generous, and chivalric, now looks back upon the past as on a troubled dream; and that, in future, if she should hear his name, she will remember him but as one who, cast in a n.o.ble mould, might have been worthy of the highest admiration, but, defaced by an indelible stain, is cast aside as worthy alike of her indignation and contempt."

As the young girl uttered the last fatal words, she sank back into her gra.s.sy seat by her mother's side, as though exhausted by the effort she had made. She had torn with violent resolution from her breast the image which had so long been enshrined there-not only as a picture to be loved, but as an idol to be worshipped-and though duty had nerved and sustained her in the effort, nothing could a.s.suage the anguish it inflicted. She did not love him then, but she had loved him; and her heart, like the gloomy chamber where death has been, seemed more desolate for the absence of that which, though hideous to gaze upon, was now gone forever.

Young Wilford was deeply impressed with the scene, and could not altogether conceal the emotion which it excited. In a hurried and agitated voice he promised to deliver her message to Hansford, and bowing again politely to the ladies, he slowly withdrew.

In a few moments one of the soldiers came with the expected refreshment, which certainly justified the description which Wilford had given. It was both coa.r.s.e and plain. Jerked venison, which had evidently been the property of a stag with a dozen branches to his horns, and some dry and moulding biscuit, completed the homely repast. Virginia, and most of her companions, declined partaking of the unsavoury viands, but Mrs. Temple, though bitterly lamenting her hard fate, in dooming her to such hard fare, worked vigorously away at the tough venison with her two remaining molars-a.s.serting the while, very positively, that no such venison as that existed in her young days, though, to confess the truth, if we may judge from the evident age of the deceased animal, it certainly did.

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

"Yet, though dull hate as duty should be taught, I know that thou wilt love me; though my name Should be shut from thee, as a spell still fraught With desolation,-and a broken claim; Though the grave closed between us, 'twere the same."

_Childe Harold._

The daylight had entirely disappeared, and the broad disc of the full September moon was just appearing above the eastern horizon, when Bacon and his followers resumed their march. Each of the captive ladies was placed upon a horse, behind one of the officers, whose heavy riding cloak was firmly girt to the horse's back, to provide a more comfortable seat. Thus advancing, at a constant, but slow pace, to accommodate the wearied soldiers, they pursued their onward course toward Jamestown. It was Bacon's object to arrive before the town as early as possible in the night, so as to secure the completion of their intrenchments and breastworks before the morning, when he intended to commence the siege.

And now, as they are lighted on their way by the soft rays of the autumnal moon, let us hear the conversation which was pa.s.sing between one of the cavaliers and his fair companion, as they rode slowly along at some distance from the rest.

We may well suppose that Thomas Hansford, forced thus reluctantly to engage in a policy from which his very soul revolted, would not commit the charge of Virginia's person to another. She, at least, should learn, that though so brutally impressed into the service of the rebel army, there was an arm there to shield her from danger and protect her from rudeness or abuse. She, at least, should learn that there was one heart there, however despised and spurned by others, which beat in its every throb for her safety and happiness.

Riding, as we have said, a little slower than the rest, so as to be a little out of hearing, he said, in a low voice, tremulous with half suppressed emotion, "Miss Temple cannot be ignorant of who her companion is?"

"Your voice a.s.sures me," replied Virginia, "that my conjecture is right, and that I am in the presence of one who was once an honoured friend.

But had your voice and form changed as entirely as your heart, I could never have recognized in the rebel who scruples not to insult a defenceless woman, the once gallant and chivalrous Hansford."

"And do you, can you believe that my heart has indeed so thoroughly changed?"

"I would fain believe so, else I am forced to the conclusion that I have, all my life, been deceived in a character which I deemed worthy of my love, while it was only the more black because it was hypocritical."

"Virginia," said Hansford, with desperation, "you shall not talk thus; you shall not think thus of me."

"As my captor and jailer," returned the brave hearted young maiden, "Mr.

Hansford may, probably, by force, control the expression of my opinions-but thank G.o.d! not even you can control my thoughts. The mind, at least, is free, though the body be enslaved."

"Nay, do not mistake my meaning, dear Virginia," said her lover. "But alas! I am the victim of misconstruction. Could you, for a moment, believe that I was capable of an act which you have justly described as unmanly and unchivalrous?"

"What other opinion can I have?" said Virginia. "I find you acting with those who are guilty of an act as cowardly as it is cruel. I find you tacitly acquiescing in their measures, and aiding in guarding and conducting their unhappy captives-and I received from you a message in which you pretend to say that you can justify that which is at once inexcusable before heaven, and in the court of man's honour. Forgive me, if I am unable to separate the innocent from the guilty, and if I fail to see that your conduct is more n.o.ble in this attempt to shift the consequences of your crime upon your confederates."

"Now, by Heaven, you wrong me!" returned Hansford. "My message to you was mistaken by Captain Wilford. I never said I could justify your capture; I charged him to tell you I could justify myself. And as for my being found with those who have committed this unmanly act, as well might you be deemed a partic.i.p.ator in their actions now, because of your presence here. I remonstrated, I protested against such a course-and when at last adopted I denounced it as unworthy of men, and far more unworthy of soldiers and freemen."

"And yet, when overwhelmed by the voices of others, you quietly acquiesce, and remain in companionship with those whose conduct you had denounced."

"What else could I do?" urged Hansford. "My feeble arm could not resist the action of two hundred-men; and it only remained for me to continue here, that I might secure the safety and kind treatment of those who were the victims of this rude violence. Alas! how little did I think that so soon you would be one of those unhappy victims, and that my heart would deplore, for its own sake, a course from which my judgment and better nature already revolted."

The scales fell from Virginia's eyes. She now saw clearly the bitter trial through which her lover had been called to pa.s.s, and recognized once more the generous, self-denying nature of Hansford. The stain upon his pure fame, to use her own figure, was but the effect of the false and deceptive lens through which she had looked, and now that she saw clearly, it was restored to its original purity and beauty.

"And is this true, indeed?" she said, in a happy voice. "Believe me, Hansford, the relief which I feel at this moment more than compensates for all that I have endured. The renewed a.s.surance of your honour atones for all. Can you forgive me for harbouring for a moment a suspicion that you were aught but the soul of honour?"

"Forgive you, dearest?" returned Hansford. "Most freely-most fully! But scarcely can I forgive those who have so wronged you. Cast in a common lot with them, and struggling for a common cause, I cannot now withdraw from their a.s.sociation; and indeed, Virginia, I will be candid, and tell you freely that I would not if I could."

"Alas!" said Virginia, "and what can be the result of your efforts.

Sooner or later aid must come from England, and crush a rebellion whose success has only been ephemeral. And what else can be expected or desired, since we have already seen how lost to honour are those by whom it is attempted. Would you wish, if you could, to subject your country to the sway of men, who, impelled only by their own reckless pa.s.sions, disregard alike the honour due from man and the respect due to woman?"

"You mistake the character of these brave men, Virginia. I believe sincerely that General Bacon was prompted to this policy by a real desire to prevent the unnecessary loss of life; and though this humanity cannot entirely screen his conduct from reprehension, yet it may cast a veil over it. Bold and reckless though he be, his powerful mind is swayed by many n.o.ble feelings; and although he may commit errors, they nearly lose their grossness in his ardent love of freedom, and his exalted contempt of danger."

"His love of freedom, I presume, is ill.u.s.trated by his forcible capture of unprotected females," returned Virginia; "and his contempt of danger, by his desire to interpose his captives between himself and the guns of his enemies."

"I have told you," said Hansford, "that this conduct is incapable of being justified, and in this I grant that Bacon has grievously erred."

"Then why continue to unite your fortunes to a man whose errors are so gross and disgraceful, and whose culpable actions endanger your own reputation with your best friends?"

"Because," said Hansford, proudly, "we are engaged in a cause, in the full accomplishment of which the faults and errors of its champion will be forgotten, and ransomed humanity will learn to bless his name, scarcely less bright for the imperfections on its disc."

"Your reasoning reminds me," said Virginia, "of the heretical sect of Cainites, of whom my father once told me, who exalted even Judas to a hero, because by his treason redemption was effected for the world."

"Well, my dear girl," replied Hansford, "you maintain your position most successfully. But since you quote from the history of the Church, I will ill.u.s.trate my position after the manner of a sage old oracle of the law.