University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.
THE MESSENGER FROM THE REBEL CAMP.

Before Neal could decide what sort
of a reply to make to the searching question
of the old Provincial Colonel, the
door of an inner room opened and Anne
Park came in. She smiled, but blushed
also as she gave her hand to Neal who
rose and approached her with ardent affection
beaming in his fine countenance.
Our hero's cheek reflected the rich hue
of her own, as he pressed her small, warm
hand in his and led her to the vacant
seat.

`You were sitting here at your embroidery,
Anne,' he said, tenderly, `and run
away when I knocked! Did you think
I was a stranger? Have you forgotten
my rap?' and he smiled in her eye, and
she looked down as she replied,

`No, but —.' Here she hesitated
and took up her work.

`But she did not think she was in
trim to see you, I suspect,' said her uncle;
for I see that she has not on the
same dress that —.'

`Dear uncle —.'

`Well, I wont expose you, child?'

`I think you have done so already,'
she answered, laughing.

`I am sorry you should make a stranger
of me more than you would of your
brother,' said Neal. `Have you heard
from him of late?'

`Not for two weeks. I am very anxious
to learn if he is well!'

`If he had been ill you would have
heard from him.'

`Perhaps not,' said Colonel Park; `besides
communication is now nearly im
possible, both sides observes such vigilance!
But I trust he is well and serving
his country faithfully.

The old gentleman then took his pipe
in his hand, as if he learned from expression,
that Neal had no ear for him
while Anne was by; and saying he believed
he would go into his bed-room and
smoke, he rose and left the lovers together.

Neal looked very well pleased, and taking
up Anne's hand he pressed it to his
lips; and then would have drawn her towards
him with his arm about her slender
waist when she reservedly drew back.

`Why, Anne! This is not usual!' he
exclaimed, hurt.

`I have been thinking, Neal —.'
And she hesitated, and in trying to take
a stitch in her work pricked her finger
with her needle.

`What have you been thinking, dear
Anne?'

`That we ought not to be so intimate.'

`Do you not love me then?'

`I will not unsay what I have said!'
she said, quietly.

`Then you do love me! If so, why
shrink from me, as you did at this moment?'

`I have thought —.'

`Thought! I wish you would let your
thoughts alone, Anne, if they are to
grieve me in this way.'

`I do not wish to grieve you, Neal, indeed,
I do not,' she said earnestly.—
`But we ought not to see each other any
more! You do not now come here to
converse with my uncle but to sit with
me!'

`And do you not like it? Does it displease
you?'

`Oh, no! But I know it will end in
making us both very unhappy.

`Why? How, dearest Anne?'

`I will deal frankly, Neal,' said the
beautiful provincial maiden elevating
her deep, blue eyes to his face beaming
with an expression full of sincerity and
devotion; `we are both very much attached
to each other. Each day will
strengthen it in both our hearts! In a
few weeks General Howe will depart or
surrender, my uncle thinks, and then we
must separate, you to go to England or
perhaps to prison, and I shall be left in
tears and —.'

Here her voice trembled and her eyes
filled with glittering drops.

`Why should we separate?' he said
with warmth. `I will not go to England!
I will not leave you! If I go to England
by and by you shall accompany me as
my bride! Nay—look not so coldly.—
Have I not before breathed to thee this
sweet word—this delightful thought?—
Why this grave look that you wear?

`It is because I can never be yours,
Neal, that I look grave—that I have said
our intimacy should cease?'

`And why shall you not be mine? I
am young—but in less than a year I
shall be of age, and inherit a fortune left
me by my aunt. You shall live with me
in England and —.'

`I can never live in the land of my
country's oppressors!' she said firmly,
yet with a cheek very pale.

Neal started with surprise. He regarded
her for a moment with looks of
sadness.

`Yes, it is the land of oppression to
you, Anne! You speak truly! England
is unjust. But there will be peace
by and by. Then your objection will
be removed.'

`I cannot be the bride of one who
now, there is war, is in arms on the side
of my country's oppressors?'

`Anne! are you in earnest?'

`Do you wish me to repeat my words,
Neal?'

`No. They are ringing now in my
ears! Is this decision the result of what
you have been thinking upon?'

`Yes'

`And you are firm?'

`Neal; strongly as my heart is linked
to you, I would break it ere I would become
your wife while you are in arms
against the land of my birth. I should
be unworthy to be called an American
woman should I forget my country in
myself, Neal.'

`It is a noble sentiment, Anne! A
cause must prosper that inspires such a
spirit throughout all classes without distinction
of age or sex as this which you
love so warmly. From this hour, Anne
I cease to serve the king!' he added,
with decision. `I will to-morrow tender
my resignation to General Howe and
also to Admiral Shuldan. I confess that
I ought not to continue in arms with the
opinions I entertain and which I have
learned from your uncle and you. I
will frankly confess to my uncle my objections
to serving longer, and then, free
as the bird that hastens from the storm
cloud to its nest, will I fly to you. I
have been offended by my uncle to-night,
and I owe him little ingratitude. Tomorrow
I will resign and come hither
and lay my sword at your feet.'

`Are you sincere! Can I believe
this, Neal?' asked the young girl with
cheeks glowing with pleasure and her
eyes sparkling with delighted hope.

`For your sake I will to-morrow cease
to sanction this war of oppression by attaching
myself to its leaders! You shall
then be mine! I will sail with you and
my mother to France and there remain
till peace is restored and then return to
England!'

`Neal, are you of England—are you
English born that you must think only of
that proud and wicked land! You as
well as I are American born. Boston is
your native town—New England your
native land. What have you to do with
England but to resist her oppression of
your country? You have not done
enough when you only resign? You
have not done what is due to yourself,
Neal, when you only cease to serve the
tyrant?'

`What could you have me do more,
Anne? Turn traitor and take up arms
against the king?'

`Is there any alternation for a brave
man who has arrived to a true knowledge
of his country's wrongs? Your reward
is due to America! Your arms, your

voice, your influence, your country most
sacredly claims! You have been a traitor,
Neal, to her not to be so to England.
Have I not heard you speak with pleasure
of your boyhood, and nay, have I not
heard you express your happiness that
you were born where I was? What is
there that attaches me to New England
that does not equally bind you? What
is their that makes an American—a patriot
that does not make you the same?
Throw off this blind prejudice, which,
like a veil obscure the true nobility of
your soul, Neal, and from this hour give
to your country your sword and, if need,
your life. You are convinced of the oppression
and tyranny of the king and of
the injustice of his cause. What more
should you do but to bear testimony to
your sense of her injustice by aiding your
oppressed countrymen to resist it. Do
not foreigners, from love of liberty and
hatred of oppression, flock to our standard!
and lay down their lives upon a
soil far from their own! What higher
motive have you who —.'

`Enough—enough, dearest Anne,' exclaimed
Neal, kneeling on one knee by
the side of the eloquent girl, who, inspired
by patriotic love for her country and
her solicitude for the honor of him whom
she so devotedly loved; `you have prevailed!
I feel as if I had just awakened
from a lethargy! You are right! I have
been a traitor to my country! I will
return from my allegiance. From this
hour I am an American.'

The ardent and joyful girl could not
restrain the tears that rushed to her eyes.
She suffered him to press her to his
heart unresistingly.

`Now, Neal, I am happy. Oh, how I
have longed to make this appeal to you;
but I have refrained, not wishing to influence
you, lest I might be actuated in
doing so, by selfish rather than by the
higher motives which ought to govern
me. But you have made me happy.—
You will now be joined hand in hand
with my noble brother instead of against
him, and —'

`And with the sister heart and hand
instead of separating from her,' continued
Neal, with a smile. `I have been, it
seems wilfully blind. I never can be too
grateful to you, Anne, for teaching me
my duty. I am an American. I will
prove myself to be one.'

At this moment the hall door softly
opened, and a man enveloped in snow
from head to foot entered, and stood gazing
upon them with an air of hesitation
and wariness, as if doubtful whether to
advance or retreat. At first his complexion
could not be made out for the
snow that lay on his cheeks, but as it was
rapidly dissolving it displayed shortly the
glossy hue of an Ethiopian.

`It is Jesse!' cried Anne, springing
from her chair and running towards him.

`Who can `Jesse' be?' thought Neal,
as he surveyed the tall, ungainly shape of
the negro.

`Jesse! bless us, is Jesse here?' cried
the old officer coming in with his pipe
in one hand and his red night cap in the
other; and hastening up to the new comner
he dragged him to the fire by one
hand, while Anne drew him along by
the other.

`Who can Jesse be?' repeated Neal,
mentally, at this demonstration of joy
and friendship.

`How have you got into the town, Jesse?'
inquired Anne, as she untied a large
muffler that enveloped `Jesse's' neck.

`And where is Frederick?' asked the
Colonel, as he pushed the old negro into
his own arm chair.

`Is he well, and why have you come,
and in such a storm? What can have
made you venture to try and see us
through so many dangers?'

`Why, Miss Anny, and master,' answered
Jesse, after having taken off his
fur cap, displaying a head as grey with
age as his coat collar was with snow,
`it a mos' unpossible for de poor nigger
answer sich a sight o' questions all at
onct. I'se glad I got here safe tho' and
bress de lord I finds you both safe and
well.'

`Where did you leave my brother?'
asked Anne. `This, Neal,' she added
observing his look of curiosity, `this is
our old servant who accompanied Frederic
in his escape from the town five
months ago when he went to join Washington.
We have not seen him since
then; and so you will not be longer surprised
at our reception of him. `Where
is Frederick? is he well and did he send
you?'

`I werry sorry, missis, but young
master ant verry well,' responded the
old man shaking his head sadly.

`Sick? my dear brother ill?'

`Is my boy hurt—is he wounded?'

`Yes, master, that is it! You see
yesterday dere was a boat full o' waluable
perwissions and arms goin' to the
merikan army from below when de wind
blow contrary and drive de boat over on
to de flat on dis side; and when de English
see it dey start a hundred red coat
from deir lines to take it. Master Frederick
he vos ridin' with about twenty
horse along the shore goin' to relieve a
post, when he sees the perdikament of
the boat and gives the command to his
men to keep the English from gettin' it.
So they galloped on for more than a mile
fast as they could spur and reaches the
boat first. But the English comed up
and attack 'em, but master Frederick
had so much fight in him be sarved 'em
so they run'd away and then he got the
boat safe; but he was shot bad in the
side and in the forehead, though he didn't
mind it till he got the boat clear. But
there was five o' the English killed and
seventeen wounded, and this was satisfaction
to me and master Edward wy he
and I was the ony one's hit on our side!'

`I heard of the exploit, but did'nt
know that the gallant cavalry officer who
executed it was my nephew,' said the old
soldier with a tone of pride while tears
glistened in his eyes. `Thank God he
was not killed.'

`Oh, tell me Jesse, is he badly hurt?'
cried Anne, pale with sisterly alarm.

`Why pretty bad, missis! He cant
set up and his head pains him werry hard!
The doctor distract one ball from his
side and a half a ball from his forehead,
coz you see that the bone split it. But
he ant in no danger! He ony told me
to try and get into the town and tell you
'xactly how he was so you mustn't be
alarmed: for he was 'fraid you might
hear he was killed out and out!'

`Then he is in no present danger,
good Jesse?' asked the Colonel.

`No, master! he ony have good deal
pain!'

`And do you say you were in the
skirmish!'

`Yes, master! I always go where
young master goes!'

`And where were you wounded? not
badly, I hope!' said the Colonel with
concern.

`Not much master. I ony got a shot
in de lef arm. Its ony a flesh wound!
Doctor sew it up and nigger good as
new!'

`Are you sure you are not much hurt,
Jesse?' inquired Anne with beautiful
solicitude, for the moment forgetting her
brother in her grateful interest in the
fate of his faithful servant.

`Not a bit! De doctor cut him bullet
out clean, and dere he is,' he added
taking the leaden missile out of his pocket
and exhibiting to them. `I keep him,
master, coz I mean to send him back
again to 'em afore a week!'

`And how did you get in so safely,
brave Jesse, with all the avenues so vigilantly
kept?' asked Neal.

Jesse surveyed the speaker a moment
and discovering the English uniform he
started back, as if he had for the first
time noticed him.

`Bress me, ant this a enemy, master?'

`No, Jesse. He is an American and
a true friend of the cause,' answered
Anne with a tone of pride.

`Has he, indeed, become one of us,
Anne?' asked Colonel Park with a glow
of pleasure.

`Yes, sir; I am now worthy of the
land of my birth,' answered Neal firmly.
`I have seen that the officer who feels
the injustice of England has something
more to do than resign and return home!
especially if he be by birth an American!
My decision is made. I resign to-morrow
and the sword I withdraw from tyranny
I consecrate to liberty!'

The old Provincial officer made no reply;
but he went up and embraced him
and called him affectionately `his son!'

`Come and kiss him, girl!' he said to
Anne. `He deserves this!'

Anne did not obey. Perhaps she
thought Neal had already taken his reward!
She blushed deeply and looked
very happy. But the next instant the
situation of her brother filled all her
thoughts.

`If this young gemman be a true
friend then I answers his question,' said
Jesse. `I lef the camp just afore dark
and made for the lines. I know'd the

snow and dark would help me, and so I
walked on fast. When I got near the
lines it was dark as pitch and the snow
as thick as feathers. So I kep' along
till I come to the first sentry. But he
didn't see me for the snow—and taking
care of his own eyes and I went by him
within two rods. In dis way I passed
'em all but de last one when I step on a
stick which crack and he look and see
me. But afore he could fire I caught
him by de froat and fling him down and
stuff his mouth full o' snow keep him
from hollerin' and dere leave him arter
I'd taken his gun. And when I lef him
I advise him to go over to the rebels for
if General Howe knew he'd lost his mus
ket he'd have him shot. He got rite
up and went strait as I advise, like a
wise man! The rest o' the way I got
here easy enuff. I stood my musket up
in the back entry coz I crept in the
house that way!'

You have done bravely, Jesse,' said
Colonel Park. Now relieve Anne's anxiety
who fears you have not told all the
truth about her brother! Is your young
master in any danger?'

`Wal, to tell the truth his situation is
pretty bad.'

`Did he not tell you to represent his
case as lightly as possible?' asked Anne.

`That is just his words, Miss Anne.'

`He must be dangerously wounded,
uncle! Oh, that I was with him. In
the camp and without proper attention
he will suffer—perhaps die! I might save
his life. Where is he, Jesse? Where
did you leave him?'

`At General Washington's own quarters
The General had him removed
there.'

`Then he must be very ill to call for
such attention. Jesse, do you intend to
return to-night?'

`Yes, misses! I mean to go rite back.'

`Then I will accompany you.'

`You, Anne!' exclaimed her uncle and
Neal in the same breath.

`I must see my brother! I must be
near him to nurse him in his illness!—
I will brave every danger. Is he not
wounded in the service of his country!
What can woman do less than devote
herself to those who bleed for this struggling
land. What can a sister do but
watch by a brother's couch. I am resolved
uncle! I will go out of the city
with Jesse! If he can risk his life for
Frederick, shall not I?'

`Nothing is impossible to resolute affection
and sacred duty.'

`The fatigue.' said Neal.

`I shall not feel it!'

`The peril—'

`Shall I fear any that I may reach my
wounded brother's side? Jesse, refresh
yourself, and in an hour I will be ready
to go with you.'

`If this is your determination, Anne,'
said Neal, `I will go also. I shall thus
prove to you the sincerity of my conversion!'