Peggy Owen and Liberty Part 29

"You see, Cousin David," explained Harriet with a charming blush, "Clifford cannot rid himself of the idea that Captain Drayton may have been in favor with me. Once I made a shirt which I gave to the captain in sport. It seems that he twitted Clifford about it, and Clifford tore the garment up. I believe they came to blows over the matter, and there hath been bad feeling between them ever since."

"That would explain many things," spoke Mr. Owen musingly. "There is certainly strong dislike on Clifford's part. Thou art sure that thou hast given no cause for the feeling, la.s.s?"

"Why, I dislike John Drayton extremely, Cousin David. He wears his beaver in what he supposes is a jaunty fashion over his right eye, and he swaggers when he walks. How could one show him favor?"

Mr. Owen laughed.

"The lad does swagger a bit, Harriet, but 'tis not an offensive swagger. As to his hat: 'tis a standing joke of the army as to how he keeps it on in battle. The hotter the fight the further on the side it gets. I saw a letter that General Greene writ to His Excellency in which he declared that Drayton fought with it on his right ear all through the battle of Hobkirk's Hill. John was made a captain for valor shown during that engagement. General Greene says that if it ever gets an inch further down he will be a general, sure. Thee is pleased over that, Peggy?"

"Oh, Peggy is hopeless where Captain Drayton is concerned," cried Harriet. "I have never known her to do aught but stand up for him, except when she thought him a deserter at Yorktown. Even then she would not talk against him."

"Well, he is very deserving, la.s.s. All his mannerisms are those of youth. Underneath them I agree with Peggy that thee will find John Drayton of sterling worth."

"To my mind he does not compare with Major Dale," said Harriet. "He hath obtained the rank of major, and hath not found it necessary to bring his ear into service as a resting place for his hat, either."

Even Peggy joined in the laugh which this remark caused.

"Well, I must to work, to work," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr. Owen rising. "I would much prefer to stay with you, but I must get to work. Be ready at noon, girls."

"What is his work?" questioned Harriet as the door closed behind him.

"'Tis in regard to thy people, Harriet," Mrs. Owen told her. "I make no doubt but that thee knows already that there is a great deal of illicit trade carried on betwixt thy people in New York and some of our citizens. 'Tis David's duty to examine all goods that are brought into the town to see that none are contraband."

"Then would he have to examine the wagon load of stores which I came with before it could be given to our soldiers?" asked Harriet.

"Of course, child. If there is naught contraband in it thee need have no uneasiness. As soon as they are pa.s.sed upon they are turned over to Major Gordon, a paroled British officer who hath charge of the prisoners here. He distributes them according to the need of the prisoners. The table stores are divided equally."

"Oh!" uttered Harriet thoughtfully. After a moment she turned to Peggy. "And how shall we amuse ourselves, Peggy, until 'tis time to go to Clifford?"

"Let's go through the house and grounds," suggested Peggy. "Thee would like to see them, would thee not?"

"Yes," answered the girl. "Shall we go now, Peggy?"

The house was roomy enough to house the family comfortably without too much care in its ordering, having a wide piazza in front, with a kitchen, bakehouse and oven in the rear. There were large grounds,--part orchard, part garden, and part meadow-land. But the maidens were most pleased with the great number of flowering shrubs about the grounds.

"There are going to be heaps and heaps of roses, Harriet," cried Peggy delightedly. "Just see the buds! The color is already beginning to show through the green."

"I see," replied her cousin, pausing beside a lilac bush to break off a fragrant cl.u.s.ter of blossoms. "I do wish I had brought my horse, Fleetwood. Your father spoke of rides, Peggy, but I see not how I can go with you."

"Father will, no doubt, get thee a mount, Harriet. Of course 'twill not be Fleetwood, but thee won't mind that, will thee?"

"No, Peggy."

It was just noon when David Owen came for them. The prisoners confined at Lancaster were for the most part kept in barracks, but many were permitted at large on parole so that the streets swarmed with them.

The house was but a half mile from the barracks, and this distance was soon traversed.

A strong stockade with four blockhouses, one on each corner, enclosed the barracks. Captain Drayton met them just as they pa.s.sed through the stockade gates.

"This way," he said, leading them across the parade-ground where a company was drilling. "I sent for Captain Williams to be in the anteroom. He should be there waiting for you. I did not tell him who wished to see him."

Major Dale was standing at the entrance of the barracks, and the party stopped for a moment's chat with him. Presently Peggy pa.s.sed on into the anteroom. Clifford was sitting disconsolately by a table with his head resting on his hand. He was pale, and thinner than she had ever seen him, but his resemblance to her father was more marked than ever.

He cried out at sight of her.

"Peggy," he cried springing to his feet, "is this what that Yankee captain meant by sending for me? Cousin David said that he expected you, but he did not tell me that you had come."

"I just came last night, my cousin," she answered scanning his face with deep concern. "And how is thee?"

"Oh, I'm all right," he answered carelessly. "That is," he added hastily, "as right as one well can be who is a prisoner."

"Mother is here too, Clifford. She wishes to see thee so much. We want thee to be with us, my cousin, while we are here, and Captain Drayton hath said that thee might come and go at thy pleasure if thee would give thy word not to try to escape."

"Drayton is very kind," he remarked, his lip curling. "I give no word to him of any sort. Why, Harriet!" he broke off abruptly. "How did you get here?"

"Hasn't Peggy told you all about it?" cried Harriet running to him.

"Oh, Cliff, 'twas such a good joke that I played on her. I made a stricter Quakeress than she does. You see we had not heard from you for so long that 'twas quite time that some of us looked you up. Sit down, and I'll tell you about it."

"Father ought not to have permitted it," he observed, when she had finished the recital. "I don't see why he did. I like it not, my sister."

"Nonsense, Cliff! there was no danger. Peggy can tell you that there was no risk of my being thought other than I seemed."

"I like it not," he repeated. "And now, Harriet, what will you do? It doth not seem wise to me, or right for you to return to New York."

"I shall stay with Peggy for a time," she told him easily.

"We shall be pleased to have her with us, my cousin," spoke Peggy instantly, noting his troubled glance.

"But she may have to remain until peace, which may be long in coming, Peggy."

"I think not, Clifford," spoke Harriet, before Peggy could make any response. "If we enforce the new policy which Sir Guy Carleton hath inaugurated, America will be glad to have peace on any terms."

"I have heard of no new policy," he said somewhat curtly. "What is it?"

"You have scarcely been in the way of hearing new things, my brother.

Know then that the colonies are to be so hara.s.sed from all sides that they will sue for peace. On the frontiers," she exulted, seemingly unmindful of Peggy's presence, "and on the coasts."

"There hath been too much of that already," he said grimly. "It hath brought us into disfavor with the entire world. Take the death of Fairfax Johnson, for instance, which was the direct result of such a policy. 'Twas a base and ign.o.ble act to murder him; for it was murder."

"Englishmen did not do that, Clifford. 'Twas the loyalists."

"Englishmen sanction the act while they retain Lippencott, the murderer," he answered. "Have they given him up yet?"

"No, of course not," she responded. "The court-martial exonerated him.

You would not feel about the matter as you do, Cliff, if you had not known Fairfax. Sir Guy hath also another plan of which I am not at liberty to speak. And, Cliff, I wish you would have Major Gordon come in here. I have something to say to him."

"Why, Harriet, you do not know him," exclaimed Clifford, turning a startled glance upon her. "What could you possibly have to say to him?"

"I want to tell him about the goods that I brought, my brother," she made answer.

"I did not understand that you brought them," he said. "I thought you merely took advantage of the fact that they were being sent to come with them."