THE STRANGER'S WARNING AND THE PEDDLER'S RETURN.
On the afternoon of the succeeding day, the party were assembled in
the parlor around the tea-table of Miss Peyton, when a change in the
weather occurred. The rushing winds had ceased, the pelting of the
storm was over, and, springing to the window, Frances saw a glorious
ray of sunshine lighting up the opposite wood. The foliage glittered
with the checkered beauties of the October leaf, reflecting back from
the moistened boughs the richest lustre of an American autumn. In an
instant, the piazza, which opened to the south, was thronged with the
inmates of the cottage. The air was mild, balmy, and refreshing; in
the east, clouds, which might be likened to the retreating masses of a
discomfited[30] army, hung around the horizon in awful and increasing
darkness. At a little elevation above the cottage, the thin vapor was
still rushing towards the east with amazing velocity; while in the
west the sun had broken forth and shed his parting radiance on the
scene below, aided by the fullest richness of a clear atmosphere and a
freshened herbage.
[Footnote 30: defeated.]
"What a magnificent scene!" said Harper, in a low tone; "how grand!
how awfully sublime! May such a quiet speedily await the struggle in
which my country is engaged, and such a glorious evening follow the
day of her adversity!"
"There can be no danger apprehended from such a man," thought Frances;
"such feelings belong only to the virtuous."
The musings of the party were now interrupted by the sudden appearance
of the peddler. "Fine evening," he said, saluting the party, without
raising his eyes; "quite warm and agreeable for the season."
Mr. Wharton assented to the remark, and inquired kindly after the
health of his father. Harvey answered with a slight tremor in his
voice:
"He fails fast; old age and hardships will do their work." The peddler
turned his face from the view of most of the family, but Frances
noticed his glistening eyes and quivering lips, and for the second
time Harvey rose in her estimation.
The valley in which the residence of Mr. Wharton stood ran in a
direction from northwest to southeast, and the house was placed on the
side of a wall which terminated[31] its length in the former
direction. A small opening, occasioned by the receding of the opposite
hill, and the fall of the land to the level of the tide water,
afforded a view of the Sound[32] over the tops of the distant woods on
its margin. The surface of the water, which had so recently been
lashing the shores with boisterous fury, was already losing its
ruffled darkness in the long and regular undulations[33] that succeed
a tempest, while the light air from the southwest was gently touching
their summits, lending its feeble aid in stilling the waters. Some
dark spots were now to be distinguished, occasionally rising into
view, and again sinking behind the lengthened waves which interposed
themselves to the sight. They were unnoticed by all but the peddler.
He seated himself on the piazza, at a distance from Harper, and
appeared to have forgotten the object of his visit. His roving eye,
however, soon caught a glimpse of these new objects in the view, and
springing up with alacrity[34] gazed intently towards the water. He
changed his place, glanced his eye with marked uneasiness on Harper,
and then said with great emphasis:
[Footnote 31: ended.]
[Footnote 32: Long Island Sound.]
[Footnote 33: waves.]
[Footnote 34: readiness.]
"The rig'lars must be out from below."
"Why do you think so?" inquired Captain Wharton, eagerly. "God send it
may be true; I want their escort in again."
"Them ten whaleboats would not move so fast unless they were better
manned than common."
"Perhaps," cried Mr. Wharton in alarm, "they are--they are
Continentals returning from the island."
"They look like rig'lars," said the peddler, with meaning.
"Look!" repeated the captain, "there is nothing but spots to be seen."
Harvey, disregarding his observation, said in an undertone, "They came
out before the gale--have laid on the island these two days--horse are
on the road--there will soon be fighting near us." During this speech,
Birch several times glanced towards Harper, with evident uneasiness,
who stood in silent contemplation[35] of the view, and seemed enjoying
the change in the air. As Birch concluded, however, Harper turned to
his host, and mentioned that his business would not admit of
unnecessary delay; he would, therefore, avail himself of the fine
evening to ride a few miles on his journey. Mr. Wharton made many
professions of regret, but was too mindful of his duty not to speed
the parting guest, and orders were instantly given to that effect.
[Footnote 35: thinking.]
Every preparation being completed, Harper proceeded to take his leave.
There was a mutual exchange of polite courtesy between the host and
his parting guest; but as Harper frankly offered his hand to Captain
Wharton, he remarked, in a manner of great solemnity:
"The step you have undertaken is one of much danger, and disagreeable
consequences to yourself may result from it; in such a case, I may
have it in my power to prove the gratitude I owe your family for its
kindness."
"Surely, sir," cried the father, "you will keep secret the discovery
which your being in my house has enabled you to make?"
Harper turned quickly to the speaker, and answered mildly, "I have
learned nothing in your family, sir, of which I was ignorant before;
but your son is safer from my knowledge of his visit than he would be
without it."
He bowed to the whole party, and without taking any notice of the
peddler, other than by simply thanking him for his attentions,
mounting his horse, and riding steadily and gracefully through the
little gate, was soon lost behind the hill which sheltered the valley
to the northward.
All the members of the Wharton family laid their heads on their
pillows that night with a foreboding of some interruption to their
ordinary quiet. Uneasiness kept the sisters from enjoying their usual
repose, and they rose from their beds, on the following morning,
unrefreshed and almost without having closed their eyes.
The family were already assembled around the breakfast table when the
captain made his appearance, though the untasted coffee sufficiently
proved that by none of his relatives was his absence disregarded.
"I think I did much better," he cried, taking a chair between his
sisters, and receiving their offered salutes, "to secure a good bed
and such a plentiful breakfast, instead of trusting to the
hospitality[36] of that renowned corps, the Cow-Boys."
[Footnote 36: entertaining guests without pay.]
"If you could sleep," said Sarah, "you were more fortunate than
Frances and myself. Every murmur of the night air sounded to me like
the approach of the rebel army."
"Why," said the captain, laughing, "I do acknowledge a little
inquietude[37] myself. But how was it with you?" turning to his
younger and evidently favorite sister, and tapping her cheek; "did you
see banners in the clouds, and mistake Miss Peyton's AEolian[38] harp
for rebellious music?"
[Footnote 37: disturbed condition of mind.]
[Footnote 38: a stringed instrument that is caused to sound
by the impulse of the air.]
"Nay, Henry," rejoined the maid, "much as I love my country, the
approach of her troops just now would give me great pain."
The brother made no reply; when Caesar exclaimed, with a face that
approached something like the hues of a white man:
"Run, Massa Harry, run--if he love old Caesar, run. Here come a rebel
horse."
"Run!" repeated the British officer, gathering himself up in military
pride; "no, Mr. Caesar, running is not my trade." While speaking, he
walked deliberately to the window, where the family were already
collected in the greatest consternation.[39]
[Footnote 39: fright.]