Peggy Owen and Liberty Part 25

And Peggy crept into her arms, feeling that no harm could come to her in such loving shelter. It was long before she was calm enough to tell all that had happened, but at length sitting by her mother's side with her head on her lap, she related what had occurred.

"The poor boy!" sighed Mrs. Owen. "It is too dreadful to think about it. And his mother! I read of it, Peggy, in the paper. Thee can imagine my feelings knowing that thou wert in the midst of such occurrences. And Sally's mother hath been well-nigh crazed. Ah, my daughter! I am thankful to hold thee in my arms again, but my heart bleeds for that other mother who will nevermore clasp her son."

"And he was such a dear fellow," said Peggy brokenly. "And so brave!

Thee should have seen how he fought the pine robbers. In just the short time that he was in Monmouth County he had made a reputation.

And he was as modest as he was brave, mother."

Mrs. Owen stooped suddenly so that she could look into her daughter's eyes.

"Was thee very fond of him, Peggy?" she asked softly.

"So fond, mother." Peggy met her mother's look frankly. "Sally and I both were. Thee would have been too had thee been with him long."

The anxious gleam which had shone for a second in Mrs. Owen's eyes faded at Peggy's answer, and she said quietly:

"I liked him very much as it was, my daughter. The matter hath created quite a stir in the city. Nothing but retaliation is talked of. Report hath it that General Washington expects a speedy adjustment of the matter when the new British commander comes. They expect him in a few days. It is a sad affair. But oh, Peggy! I am glad thee is home!"

"And I never want to leave Philadelphia again," cried Peggy. "It seems so hard to get back when I do go away. No; I never want to leave it again."

"That is unfortunate, Peggy." Her mother stroked her hair gently.

"David hath writ that he is to be stationed at Lancaster all summer, and that, as 'twas possible to get a comfortable house there, he would like for us to come to him. We might then all be together once more.

But thy experiences have been most trying, my daughter. Father would understand if thee feels that thee would rather stay here."

"Why, mother, if I am with thee and father I won't mind," spoke Peggy quickly. "Of course I love Philadelphia, for it is my own city. No other place seems quite like it to me; but, after all, home is where our loved ones are. If I can be with thee and father, I will not mind where I am."

Mrs. Owen kissed her fondly.

"I am glad that thou hast so decided, Peggy. It would have been a great disappointment to David had it been thought best not to come.

His visits home have been infrequent, and we have not been together much since the winter at Middlebrook."

"And when do we go, mother?"

"In about a week. Robert Dale hath some business with General Washington, and is at Newburgh now. He will act as our escort on his way back to Lancaster."

"Is Robert to be there all summer?"

"I believe so. He thinks we shall like Lancaster. The Congress met there while the British held this city, thee remembers?"

"Yes, mother. Oh, 'tis so good to be with thee!" Peggy laid her head down in her mother's lap with a sigh of content. "I don't believe that any other girl ever had so dear a mother as thou art."

Mrs. Owen laughed softly.

"I wonder what Sally is thinking," she said.

CHAPTER XVIII

HEROD OUT HERODED

"But what is life?

'Tis not to stalk about, and draw fresh air, From time to time, or gaze upon the sun; 'Tis to be Free. When Liberty is gone, Life grows insipid and has lost its relish."

--_Addison's "Cato."_

"Is thee nearly ready, Peggy? Robert should be here soon with the wagons."

"Yes, mother." Peggy ran to the head of the broad staircase to answer Mrs. Owen's call. "There are but few more things to pack. Sally is helping me."

"That is well, my daughter. Only----"

"Only let our fingers work while our tongues fly?" completed the girl merrily. "We will, mother dear. Does thee hear, Sally?"

"I hear," laughed Sally as Peggy reentered the chamber. "I think thee is the one to heed, miss. I am as busy as can be." She worked industriously on the portmanteau for a few moments, and then looked up to say, "I am glad that thee is going to ride Star, Peggy."

"So am I," answered Peggy as she donned her riding habit. "Father wrote that there are some excellent roads about Lancaster, and that, as he had a good mount, we might have some fine rides together. It will be quite like old times. I wish thee was going, Sally."

"Well," hesitated Sally, "I would like to be with thee, Peggy, but I should not like to leave mother again. I am glad to be home, and quite content to stay here for a time. But I shall miss thee, Peggy.

Particularly as Betty is to leave so soon."

"Betty to leave? Why, where is she going? I had not heard. She was here yesterday, and she said not a word anent going away." Peggy paused in her dressing, and regarded Sally inquiringly.

"She told me to tell thee, because she could not bear to," replied Sally, her tears beginning to fall. "Oh, Peggy, our Social Select Circle will soon be no more. Betty is going to marry her Frenchman, and go to France. She said that she would write thee all the particulars."

"Oh, Sally, Sally! How we shall miss her! Why, how can we get along without her?"

"We can't." Sally closed the portmanteau with a vicious snap. "I never did care much for the French alliance, and I think less of it than ever now."

"Sally, thee won't do anything of the kind, will thee?" asked Peggy tearfully. "I could not bear for thee to go away."

"I? Oh, I shall never leave Philadelphia, Peggy. I shall always stay right here, and be a nurse."

"Dear me! there's mother calling again," cried Peggy in dismay. "We have been talking in very truth instead of working. There is so much that I should like to hear about Betty. I think she might have told me. What a belle she hath become, and how pretty she is! So all thy plans for her and Fairfax would have gone awry, had the poor fellow lived!"

"Peggy, does thee think that he really cared for her?"

Peggy's brows contracted into a thoughtful look.

"I don't know," she responded. "He was of a truth much interested when he saw her. She was very sweet that day. It was when Clifford was here, thee remembers?"

"I remember, Peggy. If thee sees thy cousin will thee tell him all about how I came to show Sheriff Will the closet?"

"Yes, Sally. I will."

"And if thee gets into trouble, and can't get home, if thee will let me know I'll come for thee," said Sally impressively.