THE PEDDLER.
A storm below the highlands of the Hudson, if it be introduced with
an easterly wind, seldom lasts less than two days. Accordingly, the
inmates of the Locusts assembled on the following morning around
their early breakfast, as the driving rain, seen to strike in nearly
horizontal lines against the windows of the building, forbade the idea
of exposing either man or beast to the tempest. Harper was the last to
appear; after taking a view of the state of the weather, he apologized
to Mr. Wharton for the necessity that existed for his trespassing on
his goodness for a longer time. Henry Wharton had resumed his disguise
with a reluctance amounting to disgust, but in obedience to the
commands of his parent. No communications passed between him and the
stranger after the first salutations of the morning.
While seated at the table, Caesar entered, and laying a small parcel in
silence by the side of his master, modestly retired behind his chair,
where, placing one hand on its back, he continued, in an attitude half
familiar, half respectful, a listener.
"What is this, Caesar?" inquired Mr. Wharton, turning the bundle over
to examine its envelope,[3] and eying it rather suspiciously.
[Footnote 3: wrapper.]
"The 'baccy, sir; Harvey Birch, he got home, and he bring you a little
good 'baccy from York."
"Harvey Birch!" rejoined the master, with great deliberation, stealing
a look at his guest. "I do not remember desiring him to purchase any
tobacco for me; but as he has brought it, he must be paid for his
trouble."
Sarah Wharton bade the black show Birch into the apartment; when,
suddenly recollecting herself, she turned to the traveller with an
apologizing look, and added, "If Mr. Harper will excuse the presence
of a peddler."
Harvey Birch had been a peddler from his youth; at least, so he
frequently asserted,[4] and his skill in the occupation went far to
prove the truth of the declaration. He was a native of one of the
Eastern colonies; and, from something of superior intelligence which
belonged to his father, it was thought they had known better fortune
in the land of their nativity. Harvey possessed, however, the common
manners of the country, and was in no way distinguished from men of
his class but by his acuteness,[5] and the mystery which enveloped his
movements. Ten years before, they had arrived together in the vale,
and, purchasing an humble dwelling, continued peaceful inhabitants,
but little noticed and but little known. Until age and infirmities had
prevented, the father devoted himself to the cultivation of the small
spot of ground belonging to his purchase, while the son pursued with
avidity[6] his humble barter. Their orderly quietude had soon given
them so much consideration in the neighborhood as to induce a maiden
(Katy Haynes by name) of five-and-thirty to forget the punctilio[7] of
her sex, and to accept the office of presiding over their domestic
comforts.
[Footnote 4: declared.]
[Footnote 5: sharpness.]
[Footnote 6: eagerness.]
[Footnote 7: exactness in conduct.]
Harvey was in the frequent habit of paying mysterious visits in the
depth of the night to the fire-place of the apartment that served for
both kitchen and parlor. Here he was observed by Katy; and, availing
herself of his absence and the occupation of the father, by removing
one of the hearth-stones she discovered an iron pot, glittering with
a metal that seldom fails to soften the hardest heart. Katy succeeded
in replacing the stone without discovery, and never dared to trust
herself with another visit.
In a few minutes after receiving the commands of his young mistress,
Caesar reappeared, ushering into the apartment a man above the middle
height, spare, but full of bone and muscle. At first sight his
strength seemed unequal to manage the unwieldy burden of his pack; yet
he threw it on and off with great dexterity,[8] and with as much
apparent ease as if it had been filled with feathers. His eyes were
gray, sunken, restless, and, for the flitting moments that they dwelt
on the countenance of those with whom he conversed, they seemed to
read the very soul. They possessed, however, two distinct expressions,
which in a great measure characterized the whole man. When engaged in
traffic, the intelligence of his face appeared lively, active, and
flexible, though uncommonly acute; if the conversation turned on the
ordinary transactions of life, his air became abstract and restless;
but if, by chance, the revolution and the country were the topic, his
whole system seemed altered--all his faculties were concentrated;[9]
he would listen for a great length of time without speaking, and then
would break silence by some light remark that was too much at variance
with his former manner not to be affectation. But of the war and of
his father he seldom spoke, and always from some obvious necessity. To
a superficial[10] observer, avarice[11] would seem his ruling passion.
[Footnote 8: quickness and skill.]
[Footnote 9: centred upon one thing.]
[Footnote 10: looking at the surface only.]
[Footnote 11: love of gain.]
On entering the room the peddler relieved himself from his burden,
which, as it stood on the door,[12] reached nearly to his shoulders,
and saluted the family with modest civility. To Harper he made a
silent bow, without lifting his eyes from the carpet; but the curtain
prevented any notice of the presence of Captain Wharton. At length,
Sarah, having selected several articles, observed in a cheerful voice:
[Footnote 12: a door cut into halves, upper and lower.]
"But, Harvey, you have told us no news. Has Lord Cornwallis beaten the
rebels again?"
The question seemed not to have been heard, for the peddler,
burying his body in the pack, brought forth a quantity of lace of
exquisite[13] fineness, and, holding it up to view, he required the
admiration of the young lady. Finding a reply was expected, he
answered, slowly:
[Footnote 13: extreme.]
"There is some talk, below, about Tarleton[14] having defeated General
Sumpter[15] on the Tiger River."[16]
[Footnote 14: a British colonel.]
[Footnote 15: an American general; also spelled Sumter.]
[Footnote 16: a branch of the Broad, which is a branch of
the Congaree River, South Carolina.]
"Indeed!" cried the exulting Sarah; "Sumpter--Sumpter--who is he? I'll
not buy even a pin until you tell me all the news," she continued,
laughing and throwing down a muslin she had been examining.
For a moment the peddler hesitated; his eye glanced toward Harper, who
was yet gazing at him with settled meaning, and the whole manner of
Birch was altered. Approaching the fire, he took from his mouth a
large allowance of the Virginian weed, and depositing it, with its
juices, without mercy to Miss Peyton's andirons,[17] he returned to
his goods.
[Footnote 17: irons for supporting wood in a fire-place.]
"He lives among the colored people in the south, and he has lately had
a scrimmage with this Colonel Tarleton"--
"Who defeated him, of course?" cried Sarah, with confidence.
"So say the troops at Morrisania."[18]
[Footnote 18: a village in Westchester County, north of the
Harlem River.]
"But what do _you_ say?" Mr. Wharton ventured to inquire, yet speaking
in a low tone.
"I repeat but what I hear," said Birch, offering a piece of cloth to
the inspection of Sarah, who rejected it in silence, evidently
determined to hear more before she made another purchase.
"They say, however, at the Plains,"[19] the peddler continued, first
throwing his eyes again around the room and letting them rest for an
instant on Harper, "that Sumpter and one or two more were all that
were hurt, and that the rig'lars[20] were all cut to pieces, for the
militia were fixed snugly in a log barn."
[Footnote 19: White Plains.]
[Footnote 20: regular troops, British.]
"Not very probable," said Sarah, contemptuously,[21] "though I make no
doubt the rebels got behind the logs."
[Footnote 21: with scorn.]
"I think," said the peddler, coolly, again offering the silk, "it's
quite ingenious to get a log between one and a gun, instead of getting
between a gun and a log."
The eyes of Harper dropped quietly on the pages of the volume in his
hand, while Frances, rising, came forward with a smile on her face, as
she inquired, in a tone of affability[22] that the peddler had never
witnessed from the younger sister:
[Footnote 22: readiness to converse.]
"Have you more of the lace, Mr. Birch?"
The desired article was produced, and Frances became a purchaser also.
"So it is thought that Colonel Tarleton has worsted General Sumpter?"
said Mr. Wharton.
"I believe they think so at Morrisania," said Birch, dryly.
"Have you any other news, friend?" asked Captain Wharton, venturing to
thrust his face without the curtains.
"Have you heard that Major Andre[23] has been hanged?"
[Footnote 23: British spy, captured near Tarrytown, and
hanged near Tappan.]
Captain Wharton started, and for a moment glances of great
significance[24] were exchanged between him and the trader, when he
observed, with affected indifference, "that it must have been some
weeks ago."
[Footnote 24: The glances conveyed a hidden meaning.]
"Is there any probability of movements below, my friend, that will
make travelling dangerous?" asked Harper, looking steadily at the
other in expectation of his reply.
Some bunches of ribbon fell from the hands of Birch; his countenance
changed instantly, losing its keen expression in intent meaning, as he
answered slowly: "It is some time since the rig'lar cavalry were out,
and I saw some of DeLancey's[25] men cleaning their arms as I passed
their quarters; it would be no wonder if they took the scent soon, for
the Virginia horse are low in the county."
[Footnote 25: DeLancey was a British officer in command of
the Cow-Boys (see note, p. 30).]
"Are they in much force?" asked Mr. Wharton.
"I did not count them."
Frances was the only observer of the change in the manner of Birch,
and on turning to Harper, he had resumed his book in silence. She
said, blushing with a color that suffused[26] her neck:
[Footnote 26: overspread.]
"I thought the Southern horse had marched towards the Delaware."
"It may be so," said Birch; "I passed the troop at a distance."
Caesar had now selected a piece of calico, in which the gaudy colors of
yellow and red were contrasted on a white ground, and, after admiring
it for several minutes, he laid it down with a sigh, as he exclaimed:
"Berry pretty calico."
* * * * *
The party sat in silence for many minutes after the peddler had
withdrawn, when the stranger suddenly broke it by saying:
"If any apprehensions[27] of me induce Captain Wharton to maintain his
disguise, I wish him to be undeceived; had I motives for betraying
him, they could not operate under present circumstances."
[Footnote 27: fears.]
The younger sister sank into her seat colorless and astonished. Miss
Peyton dropped the tea-tray she was lifting from the table, and Sarah
sat with her purchases unheeded in her lap, speechless with surprise.
Mr. Wharton was stupefied; but the captain, hesitating a moment from
astonishment, sprang into the middle of the room, and exclaimed, as he
tore off the instruments of disguise:
"I believe you, from my soul, and this tiresome imposition shall
continue no longer. Yet I am at a loss to conceive in what manner you
should know me."
"You really look so much better in your proper person, Captain
Wharton," said Harper, with a slight smile, "I would advise you never
to conceal it in future. There is enough to betray you, if other
sources of detection were wanting." As he spoke, he pointed to a
picture suspended over the mantelpiece, which exhibited the British
officer in his regimentals.
"I had flattered myself," cried young Wharton, with a laugh, "that I
looked better on the canvas than in a masquerade. You must be a close
observer, sir?"
"Necessity has made me one," said Harper, rising from his seat.
Frances met him as he was about to withdraw, and, taking his hand
between her own, said with earnestness, her cheeks mantling with the
richest vermilion[28]: "You cannot--you will not betray my brother!"
[Footnote 28: a bright red color.]
For an instant Harper paused in silent admiration of the lovely
pleader, and then, folding her hands on his breast, he replied
solemnly: "I cannot, and I will not." He released her hands, and
laying his own on her head, gently, continued: "If the blessing of a
stranger can profit you, receive it." He turned, and bowing low
retired, with a delicacy that was duly appreciated by those he
quitted, to his own apartment.
The whole party were deeply impressed with the ingenuous[29] and
solemn manner of the traveller, and all but the father found immediate
relief in his declaration.
[Footnote 29: open; frank.]