"Thou art a traitor:
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrous 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 passed 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, passing 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 amusement.' 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. Snatching 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.
"'I shall tell him naught, I dare not,' he said. 'Only go not near him
before you leave, lieutenant. I know not what will happen if you do.'
"'And I know that whatever happens I must have a whole skin for the
delivery of my despatches,' I answered laughing.
"Enclosed please find the letter your brother hath writ, and permit me
to thank you for the enjoyableness of this little frisk. If I have
gained an enemy, you at least have found a brother; so honors are even.
Whenever you have another service to perform you have only to call upon
him who subscribes himself
"Your humble and devoted servant,
"John Drayton.
"_To Mistress Harriet Owen_,
"_Philadelphia, Pa._"
"The wretch!" cried Harriet, throwing the letter to the floor in a pet.
"How dare he act so? Oh, I wish that Clifford had run him through.
'Twere well for John Drayton that he had no sword. How dare he flout him
in that manner?"
"Softly, softly, my child," spoke Mrs. Owen mildly, with difficulty
suppressing her smiles, while Peggy laughed outright. "Methinks both the
lads were at fault, but John wished only to satisfy himself of the
other's identity. And he did serve thee in that, Harriet. But why should
Clifford wish to conceal it?"
"I know not," answered Harriet soberly. "I suppose 'twas because he
feared father would make him withdraw from the service should he find
him."
"Mayhap he explains the matter in his letter," suggested Peggy picking
up the neglected enclosure, and handing it to Harriet.
"Oh, yes; the letter," cried Harriet tearing it open eagerly. "Why!" she
exclaimed casting her eye quickly down the page. "He's angry! Just
listen.
"'And is it true,'" began the missive without heading or beginning of
any sort, "'that Harriet Owen, my sister Harriet, hath so far forgot her
duty to her king as to labor in behalf of his rebellious subjects? And
such an one as you have chosen to favor, Harriet! Could not the daughter
of Colonel William Owen, of the Welsh Fusiliers, find a better object
than this whippersnapper of a Yankee captain?
"'Harriet! Harriet! And has it come to this? Are you a traitor to your
country and your king? To make a shirt for a rebel were infamy enough,
but to embroider your name across its shoulders that all might see that
Harriet Owen, a loyal subject of the king, was so employed surpasses
belief.
"'Harriet, if this be true, if you have forgot what is due yourself,
your brother, your father, your country and the most illustrious prince
that ever sat upon the throne--if you have forgot your duty to all these,
I say, then never more shall I call you sister. Never will I write the
name of Clifford Owen again, but go down to my grave under the one I
have chosen.
"'But, my sister, I cannot believe it of you. I cannot believe that so
short a time could change you so. Some one other than you must have made
that shirt, and this popinjay of a captain--or is it a lieutenant? no
matter!--hath stolen it to flaunt before me, and to stir me to anger.
"'Would that when I saw you in Philadelphia I had stopped, in spite of
my captors. It was not permitted, and at the time, I was content that it
should be so, for I feared that father might be with you. I dread his
displeasure when he meets me; for, as you know, he hath, in truth, great
cause to be offended with me. Should the matter have truth in it that
you have become imbued with the virus of this rebellion, it may be that
a short account of how I have been fighting for the glory of old Britain
will bring you back to a realizing sense of your duty.
"'Know then that when I left you home,--and why did you ever leave there?
This country is no place for a girl bred as you have been.--After I had
left there, I say, I obtained a commission by the help of Lord Rawdon. I
think he knew who I was; we met him once, if you remember, but he said
naught about the matter. He saw at once that I wished my identity kept
sub rosa, and the army was greatly in need of men. Of course it cost a
pretty penny, and I expect a scene with father about it. Pray that I may
distinguish myself ere we meet.
"'I came with Lord Rawdon to the colonies, and have been with him ever
since, mostly in the province of Georgia. We conquered that colony and
garrisoned Savannah, where you and father would, no doubt, have found me
had not that storm driven Sir Henry Clinton elsewhere to land. I was
sent to Charlestown after you left for Camden and was stationed there
for some months. Then his lordship sent me to New York by sea with
letters for General Clinton. I was tired of the Southern climate, and
another gladly exchanged with me, and went South while I remained in New
York.
"'There was lately some information to be procured about the rebel
forces, and volunteering for the service I was captured by some of the
enemy's scouts. There were a number of British prisoners in the rebel
camp, and, as they seem not to be any too well supplied with rations, we
prisoners are sent somewhere to the interior to be fed and kept out of
the way of mischief. I think our destination is Charlottesville, where
the Convention prisoners[[5]] are. 'Tis said that there is a regular
colony of them at that place, which is, I believe, in the province of
Virginia. There is to be a short stop at Fredericksburg before going on
to the encampment of prisoners, for what reason I know not. If you will
write immediately to that place I think I will receive it.
"'But, Harriet, dearly as I would love to hear from you, if you have
grown to sympathize with these revolted colonies in this broil against
the king, if you are false to your country, as that fellow would have me
believe, then write me not.
"'How can one sympathize with such obstinate people as these rebels are?
When one is in their company they are barely civil, and that is, as Jack
Falstaff says, by compulsion. They seem to grow stronger by every
defeat. And why do they? They seem like Antæus, of whom 'twas fabled
that being a son of the goddess Tellus, or the earth, every fall he
received from Hercules gave him more strength so that the hero was
forced to strangle him in his arms at last. Would that our minister
could send us a Hercules to conquer these rebels.
"'If you can secure my release, Harriet, do so. I am quite sure that Sir
Henry Clinton, if the matter is brought to his attention, would exert
himself regarding an exchange. As you are doubtless aware, an affair of
this kind must be kept prominently before the notice of the great ones,
else it will be shelved for some other thing that is pressed with more
persistence. And yet, if nothing can be accomplished save by the
connivance of that captain, lieutenant, or whatever he may be, I would
rather a thousand times stay as I am. Write me, if you are still my
loyal sister.
"'Wilson Williams
(Clifford Owen).'
"If ever," spoke Harriet with tears of vexation filling her lovely eyes,
"if ever I see that John Drayton again I will give him occasion to
remember it. Clifford never wrote such a dreadful letter to me before.
Peggy Owen, 'tis no laughing matter."
"No," agreed Peggy merrily. "No, 'tis not, Harriet. And yet I cannot
help but laugh. I cry thy pardon, my cousin, but, but----" Unable to
finish she gave vent to another peal of laughter.
-----
[3] Now Elkton, Maryland.
[4] Horn ink-bottle, and powder, or sand, to dry the written page.
[5] At Burgoyne's earnest solicitation General Gates consented that the
surrender at Saratoga should be styled a "convention." This was in
imitation of the famous convention of Kloster-Seven, by which the Duke
of Cumberland, twenty years before, sought to save his feelings while
losing his army, beleaguered by the French in Hanover. The soothing
phrase has been well remembered by the British, who to this day speak of
the surrender as the "Convention of Saratoga."