Peggy Owen at Yorktown Part 6

[Ill.u.s.tration: "THEE MUST BE JOHN PAUL JONES"]

"The very same," he answered with a profound courtesy. "The very same, at your service, ladies."

"And thou hast stopped to give us information just as though thee was an ordinary man," she said in so awed a tone that he burst out laughing.

"Well, and why not? Could I not give it as correctly as another? I am honored to be of service."

He swept them another courtesy, and a little confused by the meeting the two girls thanked him, and rode on.

On every hand the citizens demonstrated the importance of the happy occasion. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the President of Congress received congratulations. At night the evening was ushered in by an elegant display of fireworks while the gentlemen of Congress, the civil and military officers, and many of the princ.i.p.al citizens partook of a collation spread for them at the City Tavern.

The first great step toward making the union permanent was taken. There were many pitfalls awaiting the young nation ere one republic could be moulded out of thirteen sovereign states. There were concessions to be made, mistakes corrected, in later years a baptism of blood, before E Pluribus Unum could be properly the motto of the new United States. But the first step toward becoming a nation among the nations was taken when the states entered into a firm league of friendship on this day for their common defense, the security of their liberties and their mutual general welfare. A people struggling for liberty always become the favorites of heaven, and how far-reaching the links forged between the states was to become was known alone to the Ruler of all.

CHAPTER VI-A MESSAGE OF INDIGNATION

"Thou art a traitor: False to thy G.o.ds, thy brother, and thy father; Conspirant 'gainst this high ill.u.s.trous prince; And from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust beneath thy feet, A most toad-spotted traitor."

-"King Lear," Shakespeare.

"Mother, did thee know about the celebration?" asked Peggy, as the two girls entered the sitting-room where Mrs. Owen sat sewing.

"Yes. Friend Deering was here but now, and told me the cause of it. A post-rider hath come from the South, Harriet; there is a letter."

"From Lieutenant Drayton?" cried Harriet, taking the missive eagerly.

"Oh, I wonder if he hath found Clifford?"

"That were best known by reading it," suggested Peggy, as her cousin stood holding the letter without breaking the seal. "Open it quickly, Harriet. I am beset with curiosity."

Without more ado Harriet tore open the epistle. As she did so a sealed enclosure fell to the floor, but she was too intent upon what Drayton had written to notice it for the moment. The latter ran:

"Esteemed and Honored Madam: It is with great pleasure that I take up my pen to inform you that at length I have located your brother; and a lively time it gave me, too. I left Philadelphia, as you doubtless remember, on Friday, but it was not until Sunday night that I overtook the party of American horse who had your brother in charge.

"I had inquired concerning them at every inn on the highway, but they had either pa.s.sed without stopping or had just left; so that I almost despaired of ever coming up with them. By great good fortune, however, I found them at The Head of the Elk[[3]] where I purposed to stay Sunday night. Supper was over, and prisoners and captors sat about the fire in the common room of The Three Lions Tavern when I entered. There were five prisoners in all, and I looked at each one carefully, hoping to recognize your brother by your description of him.

"One, the youngest of the lot, had something strangely familiar about him, and all at once it came to me that he looked like Peggy."

"It could not have been Clifford, then," Harriet paused to remark, looking at her cousin wonderingly. "I see no resemblance to you, Peggy."

"But thee said that he looked like father," reminded Peggy. "I am like father too, save my eyes and hair, which are dark, like mother's. If thy brother looks like father 'twould be natural that John should think him like me. Read on, Harriet. Perchance 'twas not he, after all."

"I was sure then," continued Harriet, reading, "that this was your brother; so, after obtaining permission from the officer in charge, I approached him and said:

"'I cry you pardon, sir, but are you Clifford Owen, brother of Mistress Harriet Owen?'

"He looked at me queerly, it seemed to me, before he replied:

"'I am not he; but if it were my name I see not what concern it is of yours.'

"'I bear a message to one Clifford Owen,' I told him. 'If you are not he of course 'twould be of no moment to you.'

"'No,' he said, and seemed disinclined to talk. Seeing him so I left off for a time, but after some chat with the others, I turned to him again.

"'If you are agreeable, sir, I would fain know your name?'

"'You are persistent,' he cried with some heat. 'I am not the man you seek; then why should you wish my name?'

"'And why should you not tell it?' I returned. 'Unless, perchance, there are reasons for its suppression. We of these states ofttimes have to do with persons who care not for us to know their names.'

"'It is Wilson Williams, sir,' he answered, springing to his feet. 'Now will you cease your questions? I know not why you should pester me with them. Is't the fashion of Americans to annoy prisoners in such manner?'

"'Since you are not the man, I will trouble you no further, sir,' I answered with spirit. Turning my back upon him I began chatting with the others, who seemed not averse to conversation.

"I had a shrewd suspicion that he was Clifford, pa.s.sing for some reason under another name, so I led the talk to the war and its progress, gradually giving utterance to speeches that grew more and more inflammatory, hoping to make him declare himself under the heat of controversy. I saw that he writhed under the conversation, so at length I observed:

"'Even you British are coming to our way of thinking. The great Pitt, Charles Fox, and others among you know that 'tis the same spirit that animates us that stirred our common ancestors to resist the oppression of Charles First. None of you can be among us long without acknowledging this. Why, in Philadelphia, there is at this moment an English maiden who was bitter against us when she came among us, but who hath gradually been brought to our manner of belief. As a token of this she hath conferred upon me, an officer of the patriot army, a great mark for her favor.' This I said, Mistress Harriet, to stir him. You must give me your pardon in the matter, for I thought but to serve you. And when I had said this I went to my saddle-bags which had been placed in a corner of the room, and drew forth the shirt that you had given me.

"'This hath she made for me,' I said holding it up to view. 'And this,'

pointing to the inscription, Harriet Owen a loyal subject of the king, 'hath caused us much amus.e.m.e.nt.' I could not but smile as I held it up, for it came to me that you had said that if it were seen by the English you would know that I had turned my back to the foe. And here it was back to the enemy even before seeing service. The words had no sooner left my lips than here was my young man on his feet. s.n.a.t.c.hing the garment from my hands he tore it into pieces before I could prevent.

"'There, sir!' he cried, tossing the shreds into the fire. 'No Yankee shall wear a shirt of my sister's making. If you want satisfaction you shall have it.'

"He clapped his hand to his side for his rapier, but, being a prisoner, of course found it not. 'A sword!' he cried furiously. 'A sword! A sword!'

"'Sir,' I said, saluting him, 'I fight with no prisoner. And now that you have acknowledged that Mistress Harriet Owen is your sister, perchance you will permit me to give you her message. She wished you to inform her of your destination that she might exert herself to secure your release. Write her at Philadelphia, in care of Madam David Owen, who is a cousin of yours, as, I dare say, you know. I make no doubt but that your sister will be able to get you a parole.'

"'With your aid?' he fumed. 'I will rot in prison before I accept aid from a Yankee captain.'

"'A lieutenant, sir,' I corrected. 'By some oversight I have not yet the honor to be a captain. Perchance the matter will be adjusted after our next victory. I will bid you a very good-night, sir.'

"'Now by my life!' he cried, flinging himself upon me. 'You shall not leave this room until I have some satisfaction.' With that he began belaboring me with his fists. Of course 'twas not in human nature to withstand such an onslaught without a return in kind, so presently here we were on the floor, rolling over and over, and pummeling each other like two schoolboys.

"At length the officer of the troopers and some of the others pulled me off, for I was at the moment on top, having obtained the mastery.

"'Have done, lieutenant,' cried the officer. 'Do you want to kill him? I can't have my prisoner beat up.'

"I got up, rather reluctantly, I must confess, for the young gentleman had been trying and had brought it upon himself, and turned to the others to make excuses. But they all, even his fellow prisoners, were laughing. They had perceived the trick I had used to make him declare himself, and were well pleased with the bout, as no bones were broken, or blood shed. Have no fear either, mistress; save a few bruises and perchance a black eye your brother is no worse hurt than he should be.

"Your brother was sullen, and took the chaff with anything but a good grace; so, after a little, I bade them all good-night and went to my room to write you a report of the matter, which I fear will not be at all to your liking. A little later I heard him calling for inkhorn and powder,[[4]] so that if he writes in heat to you, this will inform you of the reason.

"Monday morning.-I did not finish the letter last night, but hasten to do so this morning before starting on my journey South. Early the captain of the dragoons came to me laughing:

"'Here's a kettle of fish, Drayton,' he said. 'The Englishman vows he'll have your blood. Oh, he's in a pretty temper. He is pleading for a sword, and hath promised us everything but his life for one. He hath writ to his sister too, and I am to send it. How to do it I know not. If you are in favor with her perchance you can attend to it.'

"'I can,' I replied. 'I have one of my own to send. I am leaving immediately, captain, and after I am gone tell our friend that his sister hath no more liking for me than he seems to have, and but used me for messenger, lacking a better.