Maid Sally Part 25

Goodwife Kendall knew that Sally had returned, but so discreet a tongue had she, that not even her sisters knew that the whereabouts of the maiden who had appeared neither at the breakfast nor the dinner table were unknown either to the parson or his wife.

There was silence as Maid Sally finished her strange, brave story.

Was her best friend, the kind parson, angry at what she had done? Would he blame her sharply, or cry shame on so bold a deed?

A queer note there was in his voice when he spoke at last.

"I am proud of thee, maid, proud of thee! Thou art fit to rank with the soldiers who would put down injustice and oppression. But why aid the young son of Sir Percival Grandison, why he in particular, eh?"

For a moment it was Sally's turn to be silent. Then she said, with her steadfast eyes on the parson's face:

"I have told you, sir, what floated to my ears. It was the first case wherein I bethought me that my own courage might serve my country in a way, and serve one of her sons, too."

Parson Kendall was content with the reply.

"We worried over thee this morn," he said, "and have made quiet inquiries to-day, but all without letting any one know thou hadst really disappeared. Do not so try us again."

"I will not," said Maid Sally.

"Now get for thyself food and drink," said the parson. "I have sharp summons to attend upon Mistress Cory Ann Brace, who lieth ill at her house. I was about to set forth to visit her when thou appearedst. And after thy repast, thou hadst best go to thy bed at once. I will speak with Goodwife Kendall a moment concerning thy story. Long sleep wilt thou need after thy night's campaign."

Sally smiled at the parson's speech. Full well she knew that while an army kept the field it was in "campaign."

"Did I keep the field last night, sir?" she inquired.

"Verily I think thou hadst the field all to thyself, from set out to finish," smiled the parson. "I am proud of thee! But let us know the next time when thou goest on rescue."

"I will, sir," said Maid Sally.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE QUEER NAME

When Sally, bright as a new sixpence, appeared at breakfast the next morning, Parson Kendall regarded her with much thoughtfulness. And when he said, soberly, "I would see thee again in the library after thy meal is finished," she wondered what he might have to say.

He spoke gently, but wasted no words as he began:

"Maid Sally Dukeen, it hath pleased G.o.d to take unto himself the woman, Mistress Cory Ann Brace, who departed this life at midnight just past.

"But there was that on her mind which it beseemed her must be told before she could die in peace. And she made confession that thy father left thee suddenly when thou wert but six years of age, and being a stranger, and thinking better of Mistress Brace than I greatly fear she deserved, he left thee in her care, together with a considerable sum of money, which was to pay for board and proper schooling.

"But being tempted of the Spirit of Evil, Mistress Brace used the money as if it was her own. A large portion of it she had spent, but some yet remains. This, she also confessed with tears and with sighs, she intended to put at interest as soon as some of our present troubles were over.

"What thy treatment was with Mistress Brace we need not dwell upon."

"She was not cruel, sir," said Maid Sally, wishing in her tender young heart to speak kindly of the dead.

"Not cruel, perhaps, as to violent treatment, child," said the stern, just parson, "yet I hold it cruel, ah, very cruel, to have kept thee much as a serving-maid, and keeping back thy education as she did, and would have continued to have done, had it not been for the good blood in thy veins that cried out for better things."

"Have I good blood in my veins, sir?" cried Sally, twisting her pointed fingers in an eager, nervous way.

"Aye, the best of blood, dear child, and the will of an iron-nerved forefather. I hurried out last night for that man of the law, Sir Gaspard Culpeper, that he might witness to what the poor misguided woman had to say, and wishing G.o.d's mercy for myself as well as for all others, I have it in my heart to admit that ignorance had much to do with the great mistakes of Mistress Brace and her dealings.

"Hast thou ever seen this name before, Maid Sally? Look well upon it, and try to remember."

Sally looked at the paper the parson handed her, and the rich blood spread over her face.

"Speak truth, child," said the parson.

"I did indeed see that name once, both on a cape and in a letter that lay in a little trunk at Mistress Brace's," said Sally, "and--and--"

"Speak out without fear," said Parson Kendall, as Sally groped for words; "much depends on my having a clear understanding of all thou canst tell."

Then Sally told of the soldier who had thrust his card into her bended arm.

"It was the same queer name," said Sally.

"Dost know what language it would belong to, young maid?" and the grave parson smiled.

"The soldier I think was French," said the maiden, a droop of disappointment in her voice. "I fear me the name must be French also."

"Spell it, and then p.r.o.nounce it," said the parson.

And Sally spelled, then p.r.o.nounced:

"'D-u-q-u-e-s-n-e, Doo-_kane_.'"

"You need feel nought but pride at bearing that ancient name!" cried Parson Kendall. "No more n.o.ble officer hath the French navy ever known than the fearless, distinguished commander who once bore it. A marquis, child, a French n.o.bleman! A Protestant, who conquered Spanish, Danes, and Dutch during his splendid career.

"Hast not thou felt the will of thine ancestor, stirring thee to make the most of thyself? Hast thou not felt within thee a craving for the best things in life? Hast not thou pushed thy way up to those better things?"

"Yes, oh, yes!" burst forth Maid Sally, with a great shuddering sob. "I felt it! I almost knew it! My good Fairy felt it must be so!"

"Your good Fairy?" The parson looked amazed.

"Yes," cried Sally, for to the winds went all fear of letting the kind parson know what was in her heart, and what had been one great comfort of her poor little life.

"Yes, my good Fairy, sir. I talked with another part of myself and found help in pretending a Fairy dwelt in my soul. My poorer self was one part of me, the good Fairy the other. And the good Fairy did hearten and comfort me."

"One was Sally Dukeen," and the parson smiled most pleasantly, "the other was Sara Doo-kane. Strange how the accent of but one letter can change a name. I fancy it was Mistress Brace's incorrect way of calling it.

"But there is more for you to know. Your mother was an English lady, also of excellent birth, but on the way to this country with your father, to seek a better fortune, she died.

"Now very early this morning I sought out the soldier, Officer Duquesne, of whom you have told me and of whom I have heard. And although I know him to be a very different man from your ancestor of nearly a hundred years ago, and his also, and fighting I hold on the wrong side, he yet told me some things I was pleased to know.