Peggy Owen and Liberty Part 28

"In that thee does not agree with my cousin, friend. She doth not consider the bonnet becoming. In truth, I fear me that I did give her rather a bad quarter of an hour when I wore it."

"Harriet?" exclaimed Mrs. Owen looking out of the calash which by this time had come up to where they were. "Why, child, how came thee here?

Robert thought----"

"Yes, I know," cried Harriet. "I know what Robert thought, but 'tis as you see, madam my cousin. If I may ride with you I will explain all."

Into her voice there crept the supplicating quaver that Peggy remembered so well. Her mother responded instantly to the plea.

"Why, Harriet, thou art doubly welcome. Once for the stranger whom we thought thee, and again for thyself. Get right in with me, child, and tell me all that hath befallen thee. Why, 'tis long since I have seen thee."

"How beautiful she is," spoke Robert Dale as he and Peggy rode on after Harriet had climbed into the coach beside Mrs. Owen. "How beautiful she is!"

"Is she not?" asked Peggy eagerly. "Methinks she grows more so every time I see her. Does thee not think so too, Robert?"

"I do not know, Peggy. This is the first time I have ever seen her. When you were at Middlebrook I was with General Arnold in Philadelphia. When you were in Philadelphia I was with the army, and so you see, Peggy, this is my first glimpse of your cousin."

"Why, so it is, Robert. No wonder thee thinks her beautiful when 'tis the first time thee has seen her. Every one does. Are not her eyes dazzling?"

"They are, Peggy. Now tell me why she appeared in this garb here."

"It was to see how Clifford fared," answered Peggy. "She hath not heard from him since Yorktown, and she wished to see for herself how he was." And forthwith she related all that Harriet had told her of the matter.

"That is very brave, Peggy," he declared with admiration. "Brave and daring! What love she must bear him to risk so much to see him! I should like to know her better."

"Thee shall, Robert," she cried, warmly pleased with this whole-hearted commendation of her beautiful cousin. "Harriet rides well, and she shall ride with thee part of the way."

And so with Harriet alternating with Peggy in riding Star the rest of the journey was pa.s.sed. They came into Lancaster the next day, the tall spire of the court-house with the two faces of its clock being the first thing to be spied. The town swarmed with soldiers. It seemed to Peggy that there was one on every corner. In truth Lancaster was in fair way toward being a military camp. The Americans found much difficulty in disposing of their prisoners. They had no military posts regularly fitted for the purpose, and could suggest no better means for securing them than to place them under guard in a thickly settled part of the country, where the inhabitants were most decidedly hostile to the English. So Reading, Carlisle, and Lancaster were chosen in Pennsylvania, together with other points in Virginia and Maryland remote from the coast. In addition to the prisoners from the surrender of Saratoga, who had been hurried into Lancaster at the first invasion of Virginia, many prisoners of Lord Cornwallis's army were confined there. This required a large number of American soldiers for guards, and it was no wonder that the town seemed overrun with troops.

The streets of Lancaster were regular, and paved with brick like those of Philadelphia. It was the most important of the interior cities, and was noted for the manufacture of guns, stage-coaches, stockings, and the peculiar vehicles known as Conestoga wagons.

Peggy, who was on Star when they entered the town, was gazing about with the interested pleasure that a new place always excites, when she gave an exclamation of joy. They were pa.s.sing the Black Bear Tavern at the time, and at the entrance of the inn stood a well-known form.

"John!" she called. "John Drayton!"

Captain Drayton turned at the call, and an expression of delight swept over his face at sight of the girl. With the jaunty gesture she knew so well he took off his c.o.c.ked beaver, and came to them quickly.

"Peggy," he cried, his gladness at seeing her plain to be seen. "You are come at last. Your father told me that you were coming, and I have watched every day for a week for you. Major Dale hath all the luck, to bring you. I should like to have gone, but I could not get leave."

"And how does thee do, John?"

"Well, Peggy. Well indeed. By the way! you know, I dare say, that your Cousin Clifford is here. I am barracks' master, and the prisoners are confined in the barracks. Is it not a strange turn of the Wheel of Fortune that he should be in my charge, when a little less than a year ago I was a prisoner under him? He doth not relish it much, either. Is your mother in the coach, Peggy?"

"Yes; with Harriet," answered Peggy.

"Harriet!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed amazed. "Now what doth Harriet want? I thought we had those cousins where they would not trouble you again."

"Have you seen the lady of whom you speak, Drayton?" asked Robert Dale abruptly.

"Often, major." Drayton laughed merrily. "There is not much love lost betwixt us, either, although I owe much to her for rescuing me from an exceedingly embarra.s.sing position. She would not let me thank her because, she informed me, that what she did was for Peggy. Now what doth she want, Peggy?"

"She wants to see how Clifford fares, John. Thee is kind to him, I know."

"I do all that I can, Peggy, because he is your cousin. I'd do much more if he would allow me. You know he never liked me, and he would actually deprive himself of necessities if he had to receive them at my hands."

"Will thee let us see him, John?"

"Certainly. We are not very rigid. We keep a strict guard to prevent escape, but otherwise we give the prisoners many privileges. I will speak to your mother now, and Harriet."

A cloud came to Robert Dale's brow as he heard Mrs. Owen say:

"John, dear lad, if thee can get away from duty why not get inside with us, and go on to the house? Then we shall all be together once more."

"Thank you, madam," answered Drayton with alacrity. "I was hoping that you would ask me. I shall be pleased."

"I did not know that Captain Drayton was so well known to your family, Peggy," remarked Robert with some stiffness.

"Why, we have known him for years, Robert," replied Peggy. "Doesn't thee like him?"

"He is one of the most daring, dashing, reckless officers in the service, Peggy. Whenever there is anything of an especially dangerous nature to be done, John Drayton is the first fellow to be named in connection with its performance. I have always had a high regard for him. At least until----" He paused in some confusion.

Peggy laughed out suddenly, and a sparkle of mischief came into her eye.

"At least until thee found that we knew him well. Is that it? What unworthy people we must be that the mere knowing us would render him unfit for thy regard."

"Now, Peggy," he began protestingly, then he too laughed. "I am the unworthy one," he acknowledged humbly. "I did feel a pang that you people should know him so well, and I not know it."

"Fie, Robert! As though we had not room in our hearts for many friends. Each hath his own peculiar nook, and thou hast thine."

CHAPTER XX

A SLIGHT EMPHASIS ON "THAT"

"Of all the numerous ills that hurt our peace, That press the soul, or wring the mind with anguish, Beyond comparison, the worst are those Which to our folly or our guilt we owe."

--_John Strange Winter._

"And you will take Peggy and me to see Clifford this morning, won't you, Cousin David?" Harriet smiled brightly over the breakfast table at David Owen as she spoke. Despite the long journey the girls had awakened betimes, and appeared looking so radiant and so thoroughly wholesome that Mr. Owen had declared that they surpa.s.sed the morning itself in brightness.

"Thou wilt have to wait until about noon, Harriet," he answered smiling at her kindly. "I have some work which must be attended to first. When that is done I shall be at thy service."

"And when thee does go, Harriet, try to persuade thy brother to give his parole, that he may visit us," exclaimed Mrs. Owen. "I quite long to see the lad, and John said that there was no reason why he should not be at large, if he would but give his word not to go beyond the limits of the town."

"I'll make Clifford see reason," said Harriet confidently. "He doesn't like John Drayton, and therefore does not wish to accept any favor from him."

"But why should he dislike him, la.s.s? Drayton hath been kindness itself to him."