University of Virginia Library

4. CHAPTER IV.
THE MESSENGER.

`Now, my dear child,' said the merchant-governor,

taking by the hand the
beautiful girl who had manifested so much
forethought and wisdom, `now before going
away for the purpose of writing to
the King, I wish to say a few words to
you in a confidential manner.'

`Certainly, dear father,' she answered,
looking into his face with surprise at his
grave manner; and beginning directly
to think that it was some matter touching
hastening her union with the burgomaster
on account of the troubled state
of the times.

`Have you ever met with the young
secretary, Robert Logan?' He fixed his
eyes keenly upon her face as he put the
inquiry.

She colored and started a little with
evident emotion, and then dropping her
eyes to the floor upon which her little
foot, shod with a velvet slipper was drumming
as if it was in quite as much perplexity
as its fair mistress:

`Yes, sir!'

`Where was it?' he continued, not unobservant
of her embarrassment.

`At the door of the Conventicle in the
fort the first time, sir.'

`The first time! Have you met him
more than once?

`I have seen him on my way to conventicle,
sir, and he has caught my eye
during the prayer, I believe, sir; and he
has passed the house when I have been
at the window.'

`This shows more communion between
this young gentleman and you than I believed.
Has he had speech of thee
ever?'

`But once, sir,' was the still downcast
answer.

`Then he has spoken to you?'

`Yes sir, once!' she exclaimed, with
very marked emphasis upon the last word.

`Where and when?'

`It was in the conventicle, sir. He was
in the pew behind ours, and my kneeling
cushion was gone, which he seeing, bent
over and said most civilly and courteously.

`Fair maiden kneel upon this,' and
therewith, sir, cast his velvet short-cloak
down upon the floor before me.'

`And did you kneel upon it?'

`I was in the act of kneeling upon the
hard bricks of the church floor when he
did this, and I found myself pressing the
cloak before I could recover myself; and
besides, sir, it would have been quite a
discourtesy to have rejected it, so I kneeled
upon it till the prayers were over and,
then gave it to him again.'

`Did you say anything?

`I thanked him, sir.'

`And he?'

`He said that henceforth it should be
sacred to him, and though he was somewhat
worse as to his prayers he would not
fail three times a day to kneel upon the
same cloak and say them! So, sir; if I
had refused him,' she added with the least
perceptible archness sparkling beneath
the soft shadow of her down-falling lids,
`I should have missed this occasion of
doing his soul a great good.'

`Beshrew me, you are very simple or
very artful, Bertha,' said her father observing
her sternly. But he could discover
nothing in her demure sweet looks
to confirm any suspicion that had started
in his mind that she cared for the young
man a groat, or under an air of simplicity,
sought to disguise her feelings from
him; for Jacob Leisler had good reason
from the proposition made to him by Logan,
to believe that he knew more of his
daughter than he himself had ever dreamed
of. There were a few moments of
mutual silence, during which Bertha
raised her clear full blue eyes, and fixed
them calmly and openly upon his face;
yet with an air of wonder in them at this
catechising. Yet she asked no question,
knowing that her father would, if left to

himself, unfold all; while a direct inquiry
would be sure to place a seal upon his
communicativeness. At length the Governor
spoke:

`And these are all the occasions on
which this young gentleman has had
speech of you, daughter?'

`Yes, sir, I remember none other.'

`What think you of him?'

`A fair looking gentleman, sir, with a
pleasant voice and expressive eyes; and
a carriage somewhat noble and free.'

`A character more free than noble you
might also have said; for he is as gay as
a French courtier, and as fanciful in his
costume. I am sorry he has ever seen
you! You are beneath his degree, for he
is a scion of one of England's noblest
trees, and will one day become a peer of
the realm, if rumor gives it true of him —
Such a man hath no business casting his
velvet cloaks before a burgher's daughter.'

`It was done with kindness, sir!'

`I dare say. If he had kissed thy cheek
it had been done with kindness.'

`Nay, sir, that is too free, even from
thee father,' she said with wounded pride,
her eye bright with feeling and proper
resentment.

`I meant not to offend thee; I meant to
show that young maids, in their unsuspecting
innocence of wrong, look not as
they onght upon advances of young men.
There was no great harm in this matter
of the cloak, so it went no further. But
I had rather it had not happened; for he
hath presumed upon it.'

`In what way, sir? He is too noble
to think me an injury, much more do me
one.'

`There it is! You betray your pleasure
at the thoughts of him in every word
you utter. Is this beseeming in a maiden
betrothed, and whose day is but three
weeks off?'

`I am sorry, sir, if I have offended.—
I meant no harm.'

`No, but he has presumed on your
kind word, and perhaps the smile with
which you acknowledged your obligation
to him, to suppose that he can claim an
interest in your affections.'

`Indeed, sir!' exclaimed the maiden,
with a deep blush of pleasurable surprise.

`It may well amaze you, for I perceive
that he has had no color of ground
for his hopes. To-day he sent for me to
say, in private, that he was deeply enamoured
of my daughter—'

`Of me, sir?'

`Yes. You may well exclaim, child;
and your brow glow with indignation.'—
But it was not the flush of anger, but of
pleased surprise that mantled her face, as
if her cheeks had suddenly become transmuted
into roses.

`He said that he had often seen you,
and that he felt that he could not be happy
unless you became his wife; and he
furthermore said that he would surrender
the fort, if I would surrender you.'

`This was bold, sir,' she said, seeing
that she must say something, though she
would rather not have trusted her voice,
lest she should betray how happy she was
to hear what he revealed to her, unconscious
of the part he was acting in producing
in her bosom a reciprocity of sentiment
with that of the young secretary,
who, truth to tell, had long had a very
precious little corner in her heart all to
himself, a felicity of which he was altogether
ignorant, save so far as her emotion,
whenever she met him, betrayed to
him her gentle pleasure. From the first
six months before, she had caught the
fine eyes of the handsome secretary fastened
upon her in the conventicle, she
had felt both her curiosity and interest
awakened in him. Curiosity in a young
maiden to know who is the handsome

stranger who has been detected fixedly
and warmly regarding her, is sure to beget
an interest in him when this is satisfied;
and interest leads to liking, and
liking, if all circumstances move harmoniously
together, to love.

In this way had interest and kindly
feeling towards Robert Logan grown in
the young bosom of Bertha Leisler. If,
by chance, she did not see him standing
in the porch of the conventicle, to gaze
upon her as she passed in, she was disappointed;
and if he were not at service
at all, they passed heavily and unheeded.

The little act of gallantry touching the
cloak, had deepened emotions that
glances hitherto had only created and
kept alive. The sound of his low voice,
as he uttered the few words across the
railing of the pew, thrilled to her heart,
and as she moved homeward, her bosom
was filled with delight, she hardly knew
whence, save only that with it the handsome
secretary's form was blended.

But still she loved not. A maiden may
feel gratitude, interest, and deep regard
for a youth, and yet nothing beyond, save
he advances. Her heart is only prepared
to love; she does not yet love. So it was
with Bertha; circumstances only were
wanting to make that love which yet had
no name, and scarcely a being.

`What reply did you make to Mr.
—?' she asked, seeing her father some
time silent.

`That I would not accept the fort at
his hands on such conditions. That you
were already betrothed to the young burgomaster,
and were only waiting for your
birth-day to be united. He said that
Mynheer could neither love nor understand
you; and said, very insolently, that
in giving you to the burgomaster, I was
throwing a pearl before a hog. This angered
me.'

`Nay, sir, you should have let the
compliment paid to me have caused you
to overlook that to Mynheer Van Vow,'
she said, laughing.

`Methinks, daughter, you of late show
a disposition to ridicule the worthy and
virtuous young burgomaster.'

`No, sir, the ridicule is in himself.
I do but speak as his appearance irresistibly
suggests.'

`It would please me that you shoul
comport yourself before him and to hi
with more affection'

`Does Mynheer Slems make complaint
of me to you?'

`Not in the least. He invariably
speaks of you in the most satisfactory
manner. He has said nothing.'

`Then, sir, permit him to be the
judge.'

`But I wish you to appear more in
public with him, especially at conventicle.
Is it not becoming to treat your future
husband with public respect?'

`When he is my husband, sir, I will
so treat him,' she answered something
firmly. `What more said this secretary?'

`The secretary, methinks, is more
agreeable to thy thoughts than the worthy
burgomaster. I will answer thee, as I
would put thee on thy guard. When he
found that I would not consent to give
you to him, he showed much fire of resentment,
and holdly bade me look
sharply after thee, for you should be his
bride ere you should be the burgomaster's
wife.'

`Said he so much, sir!' she exclaimed
with animation and with pleasurable surprise;
and it would have been singular if
a young girl did not manifest some emotion
at such a flattering compliment to
the power of her charms over a stranger,
and he handsome, high-born und confessedly
in love with her; and from whom
when she had met with him she had been
eye-worshipped as if she had been his
divinity.

Jacob Leisler looked to see her countenance

change with alarm, but it betrayed
no fear, greatly to his amazement.

`You do not seem to apprehend that
he will carry his threat into execution.'

`Yes sir, I fear he will not.'

`You fear he will, you mean.'

`Yes, sir, I fear he will—(not.') This
last tone was uttered sotto voce.

`It becomes you to be on your guard,
and not to venture out even upon the
stoope after dark. I know not where this
young man now is! He has made his escape.
A rumor reached me that he had
been seen putting off in a boat, and a
fisherman even came to me demanding
justice, grievously complaining that his
skiff had been stolen from the shore,
where he left it. It is, therefore, likely
he has made his escape to the islands.—
He is a bold, fearless man as we have all
had evidence, since his sojourn in the
Province, and in his audacious attempt to
hold the fort. There is no question but
that he will be sufficiently enticed by your
beauty, Bertha, to attempt to do you mischief.
Therefore keep close, and by day
go not out unless the burgomaster attend
you.'

`I hear you, sir, but I pray you, if he
is to attend me, choose two good steady
men to carry his sword for him; for he
will be sure to cut off my head with it in
some of his fearful movements with it as
he goes along the streets.'

`You laugh at the young man, but he
will make you a good husband. He will
grow wiser as he grows in years, and will
be an honor to you if you honor him by
duty and obedience.'

`But sir, are you not going to dwell in
the Governor's house in the fort?' asked
Bertha, who wished, by suggesting this
to him, to be freer in her own movements
and less annoyed by the continual presence
of the burgomaster, who, if her residence
was to be made the head quarters,
would be constantly present as an attendant
upon her father.

`True; that will be necessary, as all
the public papers and officers are there;
and as I shall have much company at all
hours I will do so. Besides, it is needful
I remain in the fort for the better security
thereof and firmer clenching my
power.'

`So I should suppose, sir.'

`And with you there I need not fear
anything from this young Logan, whatever
be the character of his intrusions.'

`Indeed sir, you need not fear him, I
do not,' she answered, both archly and
seriously seeing that her plan was likely
to involve her own liberty of action.

`I shall not leave you in the town and
alone in the house, Bertha. I shall need
a house-keeper in the fort and to eat and
drink. I shall to-morrow move you and
the two servants with such things as are
needful.'

Bertha saw that she could not say any
thing to this decision, and she quietly acquiessed.
She had no definite motive
in wishing to remain in the town, other
than an undefinable idea that she might,
thereby possibly see the young secretary,
whom she felt sure of not seeing if she
was shut up in the Governor's house within
the fort; for within this defence was
located both the government mansion and
the principle protestant church in town,
which, in the various changes of dynasty
had successively been a Dutch reformed,
an English Episcopalean, and Roman
Catholic chapel, and now about to be
fully restored to its puritan worship again.
Even when a Roman chapel it was on
alternate Sabbaths used for the accommodation
of the protestants, as a `conventicle;'
which will account for Bertha's
having been there and seen the young
secretary, who, though a papist, was
drawn thither on conventicle Sundays
by the beauty of the burgher's daughter.

This mutual occupation of the same edifice
by catholics and protestants was not
unusual in the early days of the colonies
during the reign of James; though in all
other respects, singularly enough, there
was little love or courtesy.

Bertha, also, by being in the town
hoped to be out of the way of the young
burgomaster, who, ever since she had began
to think of the handsome secretary,
had become particularly distasteful to her.
She had let things flow smoothly on between
herself and him and her father without
objection; but as the time drew nigh
fixed for the marriage to take place, she
began to have certain misgivings that her
fate was sealed, and that she would have
to submit to her father's will. Nevertheless
she resolved to do her best in the
interim to make the burgomaster utterly
repent of his bargain. She had for this
purpose planned with two young friends
an ingenious and most mischevous system
of tactics expressly bearing upon the
unfortunate young wooer. This she had
intended to put into operation upon her
victim the very day the revolution broke
out.

But this attempt did not alter her determination,
which was rather confirmed
by the pleasing revelation made to her
by her father, that the gallant young secretary
was passionately enamoured with
her. This intelligence which found an
echo of joy in her heart, served to give
point and direction to her purposes touching
Slems Van Vrow. She now felt that
if she could defeat him she might yet find
a more congenial wooer in the youthful
nephew of the Governor, who had already
half her heart.

But all these thoughts were vague and
unformed in the brain of the pretty Bertha.
One thing only was formed and
settled in her mind, and this was, that
she would never marry the fat little burgomaster,
even to please her dear-loved
father. Whether she should ever marry
any body else was altogether quite an indistinct,
dreamy notion that she had hardly
dared to dwell upon, delightful as it
was.

The removal to the castle, or rather
fort, was to take place early the ensuing
morning; and her father, after taking
tea with his daughter and leaving her to
put up and send such things as would be
needful for them during their sojourn
there, took his departure to return to the
citadel and place it and the town in a
state of defence against any combination
of the Papists. Guards were posted at
different points in the town, and sentries
paced the streets with wary vigilance. A
countersign was established, and a proclamation
sent forth and published by the
tongue and bell of the town-crier, that
all citizens found out of their houses after
the bell rang nine o'clock, should be
placed under arrest.

It was full half-past nine o'clock before
Jacob Leisler got through with the
important business before him. Among
the affairs transacted was not only placing
the city under military law, but the
appointment of a committee of safety to
act with him as a council of advisement
for the immediate government of the
province; the committee being chosen
from the most influential burgesses of the
town of his party. This committee also
signed an agreement, drawn up by Jacob
Leisler, to adhere to the Prince of
Orange, and, with their lives, to support
the Protestant religion. The five captains
of the train—bands, each of them
substantial and tried citizens, formed a
part of this committee and affixed their
names to the instrument.

Jacob Leisler having settled thus happily
all these weighty matters, and thereby
shifted much of the responsibility of
the government upon the shoulders of
the council he had appointed, began to-feel

more confidence in himself and his
position. He now made known to the
committee his purpose to despatch, without
delay, an address to the King, with a
copy of the agreement they had signed,
so that any malicious communications
from their enemies, Bayard and Livingstone,
might be forestalled.

The time necessary to draw up the address
and get the co-operation of his
council, made it so late, that at ten
o'clock he despatched the burgomaster
with a message to his daughter that he
should not be able to return that night,
but that Mynheer Van Vow would act
as her protector. This message being
despatched by the little round burgomaster,
the new Governor gave himself up
to preparing his address to the King.

It was a novel position for a quiet merchant
to be all at once drawn from the
sphere of middle life and the privacy of
a simple citizen, to controul the affairs
of a province, establish a government,
provide for the preservation of the peace
and the security of his authority, forming
a council, proclaiming martial law, and
holding supreme power at his own will,
all in the same day, and then to sit down
at night to address a powerful monarch
to acknowledge his power and rule.

But Jacob Leisler, with the emergency,
found himself equal to all that was demanded
of him. His talents, though not
of a high order, were respectable, and he
possessed a certain dignity of character
and air which commanded the respect of
men who felt that they were his equals,
if not superior to him. The address
which he drew up bore evidences of experience,
wisdom, and diplomatic skill,
that was not looked for from a merchant;
and being read to his council, received
their unanimous approbation. It was
past midnight before the address and
other documents, to be forwarded to the
crown by the Boston ship, were sealed and
ready for the messenger, who, when he
made his appearance booted and spurred,
and armed to the teeth, proved to be the
brave Sergeant Graff.

As he stood before the council, the
Governor delivered to him the package,
which he placed in a pouch of deer-skin,
slung beneath his arm, and firmly secured
it.

`You will ride night and day, sergeant,
until you reach Boston, sparing neither
your horse nor yourself. Should you
find that there is a messenger from Bayard
on board, which be diligent to ascertain,
you will embark also; for you have
in this pocket-book funds sufficient to
take you to England, maintain you there
two months, if need be, and bring you
back. Your business is to get the ear of
the King, and deliver this package into
his hands before any other can approach
him from the province. Now seek your
horse and ride, and God speed you on
your way.'

The sergeant gave a brief, military
salute to the Governor and his council
and left the apartment. He passed out
of the fort and walked on across the
Green, answering challenges every few
rods. He traversed the whole length of
the town until he reached a grove full
half a mile above the Green, where he
found a horse tied a little off from the
road, and thus far out that the sound of
his hoofs might not excite suspicions in
Bayard's party. He loosed him, mounted
him, and galloped rapidly away on the
road to New England.