University of Virginia Library

24. CHAPTER XXIV.

It was nearly noon, when Mr. Lee rose the following
morning. He found Colonel Hendrickson, and all his
guests, waiting for him to accompany them in a ride
to the house of a neighboring gentleman, where they
had engaged to dine. When he communicated the
intelligence of having seen the Harpes on the preceding
night, the gentlemen expressed great regret at not having
heard it sooner, and determined to go in a body the next
day, in pursuit of the ruffians.

The horses were soon at the door, and the gay party
began to mount, each of the young gentlemen selecting
a favorite fair one for his own special charge, as is customary
and proper in all well-regulated parties of pleasure.
Mr. Lee, who considered that he had a prescriptive right
to wait upon Miss Pendleton, was advancing to assist her
to mount her horse, when he perceived that Mr. Fennimore
had already taken her hand; and turned back,
jealous, mortified, and almost determined that he would
not join the company. The blood mounted into his
cheeks, and his brow lowered, as he stood irresolute—a
momentary paroxysm of rage struggling in his bosom,
against his native good-humor and habitual politeness.

Colonel Hendrickson saw his embarrassment, and with
ready politeness endeavored to remove it.

“Mr. Lee,” said he, “I must show you a few acres
of fine tobacco, as we ride along. I suspect you are a

good judge of such matters; your father, if I recollect,
was a famous tobacco raiser.”

George bowed, and silently walked with his host towards
their horses.

“Cousin George,” said Miss Pendleton, with one of
her sweetest smiles, as he was stalking sulkily by her
horse's head, “will you have the goodness to arrange
that rein for me?”—the cloud passed from his brow, as
he placed his hand on the bridle—“not that one George,
the other—thank you—there—that is exactly right—you
are going with us, cousin George?” and, bowing gracefully,
she rode off, escorted by Mr. Fennimore; while
George Lee, completely conciliated by this little manœuvre,
swore, internally, that she was the sweetest creature
in the world, and that Fennimore deserved to be shot.

As the gay company filed off in couples, Mr. Lee and
the Colonel lingered in the rear; the latter pointed out
his tobacco crop, his corn, and his turnips, talked of his
horses, and then turned the subject to hunting, and
told some stirring anecdotes of backwoods adventure.
George listened until he became interested, and, before
the ride was over, had recovered his usual spirits. But
still he was not satisfied. To give up Virginia was
sufficiently painful, but to see another carry off the bright
prize was more than his slender stock of philosophy
could bear.

They found a large party assembled to dinner. We
shall not stop to count the roasted pigs and turkeys, the
juicy hams, the fat haunches of venison, the bowls of
apple-toddy, and the loads of good things, on which they

were regaled. More important matters lie before us, and
urge us forward to the sequel of this history.

After dinner, when the gentlemen were strolling in the
open air, Mr. Lee whispered to Mr. Fennimore, that he
wished to converse with him in private, and led the way
to a retired place. Fennimore noticed his discontented
air, and an expression of defiance on his features, and
followed him in silence, wondering what was to be the
subject of their secret conference. When entirely out of
hearing of the rest of the company, Mr. Lee demanded,
in a haughty tone,

“I wish to know, sir, whether you intended to affront
me, by your conduct this morning?”

“Most certainly not,” replied Mr. Fennimore, in a
cheerful tone. “I am even ignorant of the circumstance
to which you allude.”

George had invited his rival to this conversation, in
the determination to quarrel with him at all events. The
conciliatory tone of Fennimore disarmed him for a moment;
but having, like most men when acting under the
influence of passion, predetermined not to be satisfied, he
returned to the charge.

“Do you say, sir, that you do not consider it an
affront, to have stepped between me and a lady that I was
about to conduct to her horse?”

“If I had done so intentionally, I should say I had
been guilty of great rudeness.”

“Then you assert that you did not do it purposely?”

“I do, sir,” replied the officer composedly; “and I
will add—”

“Well, sir?” exclaimed George, pricking up his ears,

and expecting to hear a defiance which would lead to
the result that he wished to provoke.

“I will add, with great pleasure, that if unintentionally
I was guilty of such seeming rudeness, it is due to
my own character, and to your feelings, that I should
ask your pardon.”

A soft answer turneth away wrath. George was too
much of a gentleman, and had too much native good-humor,
not to be reconciled by the politeness and good
sense of these replies. He gave his hand to Fennimore,
and then walked up and down for some time, in great
embarrassment.

“And so you won't quarrel with me?” said he, at
last.

“Not willingly, Mr. Lee,” replied Mr. Fennimore,
laughing; “I have seen such evidences of your prowess,
lately, that I would much rather fight by your side, than
against you.”

“Would you do me a favor, Mr. Fennimore?”

“With a great deal of pleasure, sir.”

“Then just insult me, if you please; say any thing
that I can ask satisfaction for; do any thing that I can
take offence at, and I will thank you as long as I live.”

“I am sorry I cannot gratify you, Mr. Lee,” replied
Fennimore, much amused; “but really I like you too
well, to feel any desire to forfeit you friendship.”

“Well, if you will do nothing else to oblige me, will
you go to the woods, and let us shoot at each other, for
amusement?”

“Excuse me, Mr. Lee,” replied Fennimore in the best
humor possible.

“Tell me one thing, if you please, sir, and I have
done—are you in love with Virginia Pendleton?”

“How shall I answer you?” replied Fennimore; “to
say I am, might argue presumption; to say I am not,
would show a want of taste.”

“Well, sir, allow me to put you on your guard. It is
useless to court her. She will not have you. I have
been courting her these ten years, and have offered myself
fifty times. It is perfectly useless, sir, to court her.
I know her well—she is determined not to marry. She
is the finest woman ever raised in Virginia—but she will
not marry any man—I have ascertained that.”

“I thank you, Mr. Lee, for your friendly warning;
and should I be unsuccessful, I shall recollect that I have
ventured contrary to a friend's advice.”

“Recollect another thing, if you please, sir—I have a
prior claim to that lady's affection, which I will maintain
at the risk of my life.”

“Nay, but, Mr. Lee—”

“Excuse me, sir,—I have made up my mind on that
point; any man who marries Virginia Pendleton must
fight me first.”

So saying, Mr. George Lee walked off, leaving Fennimore
a little provoked, and very much amused; though
upon reflection, he felt only sympathy for this amiable
young man, who, with an excellent heart, and the most
gentlemanly feelings, was betrayed by the weakness of
his intellect, and his perseverance in a hopeless passion,
into the most extravagant absurdities.