Peggy Owen at Yorktown

  CHAPTER XXVIII--VERIFIED SUSPICIONS

  "The way is long, my children, long and rough, The moors are dreary, the woods are dark; But he that creeps from cradle on to grave, Unskil'd save in the velvet course of fortune, Hath miss'd the discipline of noble hearts."

  --Old Play.

  How could he do it? the girl asked herself as she made her way withunseeing eyes back to her cousin's dwelling. After all his years ofservice, after enduring hardships that would tax any man's soul to theutmost, to desert now. What had become of the spirit that had carriedhim through all that dreadful march through the wilderness to Quebec?Where was the enthusiasm that had sustained him through the disastrouscampaigns of South Carolina? Oh, it was past all belief!

  Many patriots, she knew, had come to consider the American causehopeless; many of the best men were weary of the long war; many also hadlost interest because of the French Alliance; but that John Drayton haddeserted because he had been sent to serve under the Marquis deLafayette she could not believe. Had he not told her with exultation atMiddlebrook that he was to be in that same Marquis's corps of lightinfantry?

  That was not the reason, she told herself miserably. It was plain to herthat he had heard from the traitor Arnold who, to add to his infamy, hadsought repeatedly to corrupt the men of his former command. UndoubtedlyDrayton had been won from his allegiance through his affection for hisold leader.

  Harriet and Clifford cantered to the gate just as she was entering thedoor of the dwelling. Harriet called to her gleefully as she dismounted:

  "You should have gone with us, Peggy. 'Twas vastly enjoyable. What thinkyou? Lord Cornwallis himself rode with us for a time. He is to dine withfather on Monday. Why! what hath happened?" she broke off at sight ofher cousin's pale cheeks and woe-filled eyes.

  "She hath seen the Yankee captain," exclaimed Clifford joining them. "Isnot that the trouble, my cousin?"

  "Yes," assented Peggy drearily. "I saw him, Clifford. Oh!" with suddenenlightenment, "was his desertion what thee was keeping from me?"

  "That was it, Peggy. I knew that you would know that he had joined ussome time, but I hoped that it could be kept from you until you werestronger."

  "Thee is very thoughtful," said Peggy her eyes filling at this kindness."Still, Clifford, 'tis as well to know it now. Time could not allay onepang caused by treachery."

  "Peggy," said her cousin abruptly, "you talked with him, did you not?"

  "Yes, Clifford."

  "And do you consider him sincere when he says that the reason for hisdesertion is that he was sent to serve under the Marquis de Lafayette?"

  "No," she returned apathetically. "No, Clifford."

  "Ah!" he cried triumphantly. "I thought so. You think with me, then, mylittle cousin, that the fellow is a spy?"

  "A spy?" A light flashed into the girl's eyes, and she looked at himeagerly. It faded as quickly as it came, however, and she shook her headsadly. "He is no spy," she said. "I would he were, so that he was trueto liberty."

  "Then I beg of you to tell me his true reason for deserting," he urged."I like him not; nay, nor do I trust him, yet if he be sincere inrenewing his allegiance to our king then I will give o'er my suspicionsregarding him."

  "I believe that 'twas caused by General Arnold," she told him. "Lastspring when he was here in Williamsburg he boasted that John would soonbe fighting with him. He hath won him from his duty through hisaffection, for John loved him greatly. I doubt not his sincerity," sheconcluded with such anguish in her tones that Harriet was touched.

  "He isn't worth a thought, Peggy," she cried. "And what else could youexpect from John Drayton?"

  "She speaks truth, my cousin," said Clifford. "Desertions occur dailyfrom both sides. Those who are guilty of them are not persons actuatedby the highest motives. I would think no more of it."

  "Don't," exclaimed the girl struggling for control. "He was my friend.Thee must not speak of him like that. Oh!" she cried with a burst oftears, "how shall I bear it?"

  "Tell her how it occurred, Cliff," suggested Harriet. "She might just aswell know all about it."

  "Yes, tell me," said Peggy looking up through her tears. "I want to knoweverything to see if aught can justify him."

  "It happened after this manner," began the youth complying with therequest with visible reluctance. "After the encounter with the rebelsthe other day when they were retiring from us under a hot fire, whatdoes this fellow do all at once but dash from among them and come towardus, crying: 'I'm going to cast in my lot with you fellows.'

  "This seemed to incense his comrades greatly. They ceased to fire at usand turned their muskets against him. 'Twas marvelous that he escapedunhurt, but he did, and was received with cheers and shouts ofadmiration by our troops. Odds life!" ejaculated the youth with grudgingapproval, "he hath pluck enough when it comes to that, but I like not aturncoat. 'Tis said that my Lord Cornwallis is much taken with him, andhath declared that he would like a regiment like him. Pray heaven thathe doth not repent it. I never liked him, you remember, and still lessdo I regard him now. I shall keep an eye on him."

  "I thank thee for telling me about it, Clifford," said Peggy. "I think Iwill go to my room. I--I am tired."

  Seeing that the girl was losing command of herself her cousins permittedher to leave them without further word, and at last Peggy could give wayto the sorrow that was overwhelming her.

  The sun shone as brightly as of yore; the birds sang sweetly in the treetops, and flowers blossomed in the meadows; all the world of Nature wenton as before. For no act of man affects the immutable laws of theuniverse, and with indifference to woe, or grief, or breach of trustthey fulfil their predestined designs though everything that makes lifedear may be slipping from one's grasp. Peggy was wondering dully at thisone morning, a few days later, as she went down to breakfast.

  "Peggy," exclaimed Harriet startled by the girl's haggard looks, "youwill make yourself ill by so much grieving. I doubt that 'tis best foryou to keep your room as you do. Remember how you made me shake off themegrims by exertion in Philadelphia? Well, I shall play the physiciannow, and make you bestir yourself. She should, shouldn't she, father?"

  Colonel Owen looked up from his place at the head of the table andregarded the maiden disapprovingly.

  "Peggy is a foolish little girl," he remarked with some sharpness."Captain Drayton hath returned to his true allegiance, and I see noreason why such a show of grief should be deemed necessary. 'Tis notonly unseemly, but vastly indelicate as well. As for action, not onlyshe but all of us will have to move whether we choose or not. The armygoes on the march again to-morrow."

  "Where, father?" asked Harriet in surprise. "Is 't not a suddendetermination on his lordship's part?"

  "Somewhat. He hath received an express from General Sir Henry Clintonwhich says that all movements of the rebel general indicate adetermination to attack New York City. Washington hath been joined bythe French troops, and the activities of the allies denote a settledpurpose which hath alarmed Sir Henry for the safety of the city.Therefore, he desires the earl to send him some troops, which will leavehis lordship too weak to hold this place. In consequence we are offto-morrow for Portsmouth across the James. Zounds!" he burst forthgrumblingly. "I don't mind campaigning in seasonable weather, but thishot climate makes a move of any sort an exertion not to be undertakensave by compulsion."

  "Must we go, father?" pouted Harriet, "Could you not get leave ofabsence, and continue here? We are so comfortable."

  "Stay here to become a prisoner of war, my dear?" questioned her fathersarcastically. "Methought you were abreast of war news sufficiently toknow that that boy general of a Frenchman hath kept within a dozen milesof us of late. The army will scarcely be out of here before he marchesin. Egad! but he needs a lesson. His lordship merely laughs when I tellhim so, and declares that the boy cannot escape him. He will attend tohim in time. Nay, Harriet; we shal
l have to go, though I confess to astrong disinclination to move."

  The occupation of Williamsburg by the army under Cornwallis lasted ninedays; that of Portsmouth was little more than thrice that time, for uponthe engineers reporting that the site was one that could not befortified the British general put his troops aboard such shipping as hecould gather and transferred them bodily to Yorktown. Here he set thearmy and the negroes who had followed them to laying out lines ofearthworks, that he might hold the post with the reduced number oftroops that would be left him after detaching the reinforcements neededby Clinton. And now ensued a pause in the daily excitements andoperations of the Virginia campaign.

  Yorktown was not much more than a village. It had been an emporium oftrade before the Revolution, while Williamsburg was the capital of thestate. The site of the town was beautiful in the extreme, stretchingfrom east to west on the south side of the noble York River, a smalldistance above where the river empties into Chesapeake Bay.

  Both Peggy and Harriet rejoiced in the change, and much of their timewas spent on the high point of land to the east of the village whichgave outlook upon Chesapeake Bay, gazing at the wide expanse of water.Upon several of these occasions Peggy encountered Drayton, but the twomerely looked at each other without speaking, the girl with eyes full ofreproach, the youth with an expression that was unfathomable. Harrietnow began to twit her unmercifully upon her change of attitude towardhim.

  "It is too amusing," she said one day after one of these chancemeetings. "You were such friends at Middlebrook, Peggy, and now you willnot speak to him. All because he hath come to the conclusion that theking hath the right of it."

  "I have already told him how I feel anent the matter," answered Peggywith a sigh. "There is no more to be said."

  "Would I had been a mouse to have heard it," laughed Harriet. "Cliffordhath not even yet learned to trust him, though father chides him for hisfeeling, and is disposed to make much of the captain. I think my brotherhath never got over the fear that he may have been in favor with me.'Tis all vastly entertaining."

  "Treachery never seems amusing to me," remarked Peggy quietly.

  "I don't think I should term taking sides with the king treachery,"retorted her cousin. "It seems to me that 'tis the other way. You, andothers with Whiggish notions, are the traitors. 'Tis an unnaturalrebellion."

  "'Tis idle to speak so, Harriet, and useless to discuss it. We shallnever agree on the subject, and therefore what purpose is served bytalking of it?"

  "Only this," rejoined Harriet mischievously, turning to note the effectof her words upon her cousin: "we were speaking of Captain Drayton, werewe not? Well, Peggy, you will have to get over your feeling toward him,for father hath invited him to dine with us to-morrow."

  "Oh, Harriet!" gasped Peggy. "Why did he?"

  "Because he thinks both you and Clifford need a lesson in politeness.Clifford, because of his suspicions, and you because you do not speak tohim."

  "Oh!" said Peggy in pained tones. "Would that he had not asked him.'Twas thoughtless in Cousin William."

  "I think father ought to have the right to ask whom he chooses to hisown house," declared Harriet, who was in one of her moods. "He says thatwhen one of these misguided rebels realizes his error and strives torectify it we should encourage him, so that others may follow hisexample. I expect rare sport when you meet."

  Peggy said no more, knowing how useless it would be to plead with eitherColonel Owen or Harriet once either had determined upon any course. So,nerving herself for the ordeal, she went down to dinner the next day inanything but a happy frame of mind.

  To her surprise only Colonel Owen and Harriet were in the drawing-room.There was no sign either of Clifford, or of John Drayton.

  "Are you disappointed, Peggy?" asked Harriet with some sarcasm, catchingthe girl's involuntary glance about the apartment. "So are we, andfather thinks it unpardonable in a guest to keep us waiting so. I alwayssaid that Captain Drayton lacked manners."

  Before Peggy could reply the door was flung open, and Clifford dashedinto the room.

  "What in the world is the matter?" queried Harriet startled by hismanner of entrance. "One would think that you had affairs of state tocommunicate that would brook no delay."

  "And so I have," cried the lad with exultation. "Do not all of youremember that I was not taken with that Yankee captain? Did I not sayfrom the beginning that he was not to be trusted? I was right, but noone would heed me. I knew after the way he boasted the day we met withthe sword in Hanover that he was an unregenerate rebel, but mysuspicions were laughed at. I was right, I say."

  "Clifford, what do you mean?" cried his sister. Peggy did not speak, butstood waiting his next words with feverish eagerness, her breath comingquickly, her eyes dilated, her hands clasped tightly.

  "Go on, my son," spoke Colonel Owen with some impatience. "We all knowyour feelings on the subject. What hath happened to verify suchsuspicions?"

  "Just this," answered he with triumph: "last night the fellow stole outand met one of the enemy. In company with another officer I followedafter him as he stole through the lines. Beyond Wormeley's Creek themeeting took place, and we apprehended him on his return. His spyingmission is over. He will do no more harm."

  "Clifford!" shrieked Peggy. "What does thee mean?"

  "That because he is a spy," cried Clifford, "he is condemned to die atsunrise."