University of Virginia Library

12. CHAPTER XII.
THE LOVERS AND THEIR ADVENTURE.

To lovers so well prepared as ours were
by Steiney's diplomacy, to meet each
other on good terms, it must of course be
supposed, that that their interview in the
`little back parlor,' was mutually delightful.
Logan, if he had before loved only,
now worshipped. She felt, too, that she
could be happy, only with him. For two
hours they remained together, the most
part of which, she spent in trying to convert
him to protestansism.

`Will you then be mine, dear beautiful
Bertha?' he said, ardently.

`I cannot promise. I have told you
freely, that you are very dear to me. But
I cannot even think of a papist.'

`I am half a mind to become a protestant,
for your sweet sake. But, really,
believing as I do, that you are in an error,
a beautiful wandering angel. I cannot
leave the ways of truth, to pursue you
unless to bring you back to them. Dearly
as I love you.'

`Do not talk of loving me. It makes
me sad, for I feel we can never meet
again.'

`Nay, this is too dreadful an alterna
tive. Instead of trying to persuade me
to become a protestant, let me persuade
you to become a Roman.'

`No, I can never change my faith, if
it break my heart,' she said, firmly, but
sorrowfully. `I begin to regret that I
have suffered you to see me to night. I
might have forgotten you, if we had not
now met; but now I shall never forget;
and so long as we can never love, it will
be a source of unhappiness to me, to recur
to this hour of happiness. Sir, it is
best, we should now part forever.'

`No, Bertha. Why should you thus
treat me? Why call me hither to dismiss
me to wretchedness. For you I will do
every thing but forswear my faith. This
I cannot do, even for you.'

`Your promises, even in error, only
makes me esteem, nay love you more.—
Every word you utter assures me of your
worth, and how much I lose, in refusing
to see you mine.'

`Alas, that we should both be thus
firm. But I fear you do not think well
of me, Bertha. Your heart is another's.
Your father told me, you were betrothed
to a certain rich young burgomaster of
the town.'

The young maiden's pretty lip slightly

curled, with a smile of contempt.

`Mr. Logan, if you had ever seen this
favorite of my father's, you would not
charge me with giving him a thought.—
No, my heart was never moved, save by
you. But I have told you freely, all my
love. Now let us part, and forget the
one the other.'

`Never, dearest girl.'

`Will you, then, change your faith?'

`No, ask me not.'

`I can never be the wife of a papist,
Robert Logan,' she answered firmly.

`If I will change my religion?'

`I will be your wife, or never wed.'

`Give me three days, to think of this.'

`Willingly. Oh, that you would, at
the end of that time, tell me that you had
become a protestant.'

`When is the day, you were to have
married this burgomaster?'

`Two weeks hence. But fear me not.
I shall never wed any one, but thee.'

After some further conversation, in
which Logan briefly stated to her, that he
intended to remain for the present, secreted,
at the house of father Stephen,
whom he intended to consult, touching
the matter of changing his faith, he took
his leave, pressing her to his heart, and
leaving a kiss upon her brow.

In the garden, Logan resumed his fisherman's
costume, and made his way to
the water-side. He found Steiney waiting
in the skiff, a little from the land.—
He called to him, when the lad, without
moving an oar said, doubtfully,

`Are you mad with me; if you are I'm
off.'

`Mad? No, you have done me good
service,' answered Logan. `Pull into the
shore, and let me get on board.'

Steiney obeyed, quite satisfied, from
the tone of his voice, that Logan had not
discovered the affair of the recent negotiation,
he had effected with Bertha.

`I am going down to the island, to re
main with you until to-morrow evening,
and then I think of returning to the town
altogether,' said Logan, as he got into
the boat. `You did me good service
Steiney. You are a useful aid, in affairs
of love.'

I'm glad you're pleased, chappy,' answered
the boy, in the reckless cool way,
characteristic of him; and as he spoke,
he gave a cautious glance at the cuddie,
where his bag of `rocks' was stowed safely
away. He then began to sing a tune
to which he kept time with his oars.

The following morning early, Steiny
got his father off in the skiff, before Logan
was up; and then he took the opportunity
of thoroughly concealing his treasure.
During the day a fisherman stopped
at the island from town, and reported
that there was a rumor that Robert
Logan had been in town, and was getting
the catholics to rise and take the fort and
massacre every protestant. Upon hearing
this Logan, surprised at this premature
exposure of his plans, despatched Steiny
to town to learn the facts. The boy was
gone two hours, and upon his return confirmed
the statement of the fisherman,
adding that soldiers were then searching
every place in town for him, and that
five hundred dollars had been offered for
his head.

`I see that the town is no place for
me for two or three days,' said Logan,
within himself, on hearing this startling
intelligence. `I dont see how it got out
that I was in town, or how the rumor of
the conspiracy got abroad! There was a
traitor last night among us at the priest's
house!'

Logan's suspicions were correct.—
The traitor was Courtlandt; who, finding
the Roman Catholic party likely to
be in the minority, and having the same
night received a note from Bayard, who
knew his man, proposing to him to join
him in establishing a Provincial Government

in Albany, he abandoned the papist
ranks, to which he had never been a
very firm adherent; and in three hours
after the breaking up of the meeting at
Father Stephen's, he was closeted with
Colonel Bayard at his house. Courtlandt
proposed that Livingstone should
be invited to join them, and at one o'clock
in the morning he was sent for.—
When he came, and they had laid before
him the whole plan, he at once adopted
it; and the three joined hands to move a
new rebellion against Leisler's. As the
catholic party was now in their way, they
at once resolved to betray the conspiracy
to Leisler, that their hopes might be defeated.
A note was therefore sent to him
just before dawn, informing him of the
intentions of the Romans on the ensuing
Sabbath. The note bore no signature,
but Leisler saw that it bore the air of
truth, and regarded it accordingly. The
garrison was doubled, and the strictest
vigilance observed every where. Every
Roman Catholic was forbidden to appear
in the streets without an order or permission
from the Governor; and as the note
stated that Robert Logan was not only
secreted in the city, but was the leader
of the conspiracy, the reward to arrest
him was largely increased by proclamation,
and a search patrol was sent to enter
every Roman Catholic house in search
of him.

The town, throughout the whole day,
was in the greatest exbitement. Jacob
Leisler removed his daughter to the fortress,
both from fear of the catholics and
of Robert Logan. The burgomaster
also took up his abode in the fort; and
greatly did he wonder when Bertha's little
baggage was removed, what had become
of his `tousant talers;' for he took
the trouble to lift each small trunk and
box before it was carried into her room;
and he was convinced there was no `tousant
talers' in any of them. But he said
nothing; he only wondered the more.—
Once Bertha, who was quietly observing
him, discovered that he was about to
speak, but putting her fore finger on her
lip she shook her head significantly. He
was silent, but sighed, and looked amusingly
desponding.

This evenful day had not yet drawn to
a close, when a messenger brought a note
to the Governor. It was from Father
Stephen, who, having discovered to
whom his party owed its betrayal, addressed,
in retaliation, a letter to Jacob
Leisler, stating that it would become
him forthwith to arrest Colonel Bayard,
Livingstone and Courtlandt, for they
were about to leave the town for Albany,
to organise there an opposition Provincial
Gevernment.

Upon getting this intelligence, which
confirmed certain suspicions he had formed,
Leisler despatched a force to the
abodes of these gentlemen to arrest them
and defeat their object in the outset.—
But thev had already taken flight. Upon
hearing this, Leisler forbade all English
protestants from leaving the town under
pain of arrest. But this proclamation
had little effect. Before daylight nearly
every adherent of Bayard had quitted the
place.

In one respect the perplexed Governor
did not regret their departure; for he
had now but one party—the Roman Catholic—to
oppose him. Still he felt that
if Bayard should succeed in raising the
standard of William and Mary at Albany,
he might lose the Province, and this
he did not wish to do, for the merchant
Governor now begun to feel the irresistable
lust and pride of power. The authority
which he had accepted with reluctance
he now resolved to hold on to
with jealous vigilance.

Logan remained on the island still another
day and night, not at the fisherman's
cabin, but in a deserted Indian's

hut, about half a mile from it, where
Steiny visited him and provided him with
food; for Steiny had heard in town that
the Governor intended to send to the islands
in search of the escaped Secretary,
and he had informed Logan that he and
every fisherman who went to the town,
was closely questioned about him. Logan
therefore kept himself secluded until
some favorable opportunity should offer
for him to leave his retreat and return
once more to town.

On the second afternoon Steiny returned
and brought the intelligence of Bayard's
flight, and the new Government
that was to be established at Albany.

`But this is not the best news I've got
for you,' said the boy. `You see I was
no sooner ashore than a sojer takes me
by the arm and tells me I must go into
the fort and let the Governor talk with
me. I told him the Governor had axed
me yesterday about the Secretary; but
he said that was nothing, and his orders
was to take every fisherman to the fort.
I thought they'd found you out! But no,
the Governor did'nt suspect, he only axed
me if I'd seen or heard o' such a person
as you since yesterday. In course I
told him I did'nt. Well, who should I
see but Miss Bertha winking at me. So,
as I had my basket o' fish on my arm I
goes to the window where she was, and
axes her—`Buy any fishes!' She told
me to let her see em. So while she was
pretending to admire 'em, she whispers,
`Do you know where he is?'

`Sweet girl,' ejaculated Logan, impassionately.

`I winked and blinked, and she understood.
So she told me to wait a minute,
and in a little while she slipped this
bit of paper into my jacket.'

`Why did'nt you tell me before. Let
me see it.'

`I told you as soon as I could. What
a hurry.'

`Logan snatched the note and read:—

`Noble, true and good,' exclaimed Logan.
`And you saw her; and spoke
with her. How I envy you.'

`To be sure I did,' answered Steiney,
composedly.

`In the meanwhile, Bayard and his adherents
reached Albany, and raised the
standard of rebellion, against Leisler's
government. Bayard, proclaimed himself
governor, under William & Mary,
and appointed his council, and performed
all other acts of power. He seized
the fort there, and declared that he held
it, and the province, for the King and
Queen of Great Britain, and that he would
not maintain any connection with Leisler.
Thus was the Province in the hands
of two protestant parties, each party professing
allegiance to the same sovereign,
and denouncing each other as rebels.

Upon hearing of Bayard's acts at Albany,
Leisler sent a messenger to him,
demanding the surrender of the fort.—
The messenger was imprisoned for a day,
and then sent back with a similar demand,
to Leisler. Each party, now
strengthened itself by every means in its
power. The Roman catholic party, in
the meanwhile, remained quiet, feeling
that its authority and influence were passed;
and that they would be compelled to
yield allegiance to the protestant crown.
The chief difficulties, now therefore, were

between the two protestant factions,
Leisler's, however, grew the strongest;
and the second week after the establishment
of his government, a ship arrived
from England, bringing despatches addressed
to `the Governor, or such person
as for the time being, administers the affairs
of the Province.' The messenger
who brought them, after hearing a statement
of affairs, delivered the packets to
Leisler, who opened it and read it, as if
directed to himself. From this moment,
he assumed the title and state of Governor,
with confidence. Colonel Bayard,
hearing of the arrival of the ship, came,
secretly, to New York, to see the messenger,
and lay before him a statement
that should criminate Leisler, hoping he
would lay it before the King. But, the
presence of the opposition leader, being
made known to Leisler, he arrested him
on a charge of rebellion, and cast him into
prison. The convention, at Albany,
hearing of the arrest of their chief, dissolved
their government and fled for safety,
some to the colony of Massachusetts,
others into New Jersey. There was no
longer, therefore, an organized opposition
to Leisler's authority.

While Leisler was establishing himself
upon a height of power, from which
he was soon destined to fall, Logan was
by no means inactive, in carrying on a
minor conspiracy, against his authority.
For nearly two weeks, while all these important
affairs were proceeding, involving
the interests of so many, he was privately
corresponding with Bertha, by means
of Steiney, who went, nearly every day,
to the town with fish, of which Bertha,
became suddenly, as both her father and
the burgomaster thought, extravagantly
fond. The tenor of his notes to her, were
earnest entreaties for her to consent to
be his, fly from her hateful union with
Van Vow, elude her father, and meet him
at the house of the priest, where they
would be united; and thence proceed to
England. Her letters to him, were earnest
entreaties for him to become a protestant,
without which she could not think
of him, save as a friend.

At length, the morning of the day arrived,
which was set for her to be married
to the burgomaster. Although in a
note he had received the evening before,
she had said she would not consent to be
his, yet he feared that she might be prevailed
upon to yield; for she had said
that her father was firm, though she had
implored him with tears, not to sacrifice
her.

`Now, Steiney,' said Logan as the other
prepared to start to town, early in the
morning of the fatal day, `I wish you to
return by noon; for I shall probably go
up with you. Here is money; I want
you to purchase a fish woman's dress,
throughout, cap, bonnet, clogs and all,
and bring them back with you. If I go
to the city, I shall go as your mother, or
aunt.'

Steney grinned with delight, and said
he knew where he could get precisely
such a costume as he wanted. He then
hoisted his little sail, for the wind was
fair, and steered for the town.

`She shall not marry him this night, if
I have to risk my life to rescue her,' said
Logan, as he saw the boat blend with the
distant shore of the town. `She loves
me with all her heart; I will save her
from a union with this man, though mine
she may never be.'

At noon Logan was at his post looking
off towards the town. His keen eyes
soon detected the little brown sail of the
piroge, and in less than half an hour the
boat was at his feet.

`Have you seen her, Steiny?'

`Yah, master Logan; here is a note,
and in this bundle I have got your woman's
dress.'

Logan hurriedly tore open the soiled

note, Steiny was not a rose-scented lady's
page, and it smelled villainously of
fish; though the words were fragrant
with sweetest perfumes of affection.

`Money! What can the dear, sweet
child mean?' he exclaimed.

`What does she say about money?' inquired
Steiny with a guilty look, overhearing
the words.

`Do you know any thing about this?
What can she mean?'

`What does she say, chappy?'

`That she has obtained a thousand
dollars for me and she seems to think I
have got it. It is all a mystery.'

`It is very mysterious!'

`I don't know what to make of it.—
You must go at once and try and see her
again and tell her I have not the money,
but I will come myself as soon as it is
dark. Unless she has this money she
must marry Van Vow of whom she borrowed
it. But what it was for I cant tell
—I know nothing about it. If I had a
thousand dollars at hand I would send it
to her. But I have not the half of it with
me.'

`Must she Marry Van Vow if she dont
get this money?'

`So it seems.'

`Then I'm bless'd if —'

Here Steiny interrupted himself and
looked very resolute. Logan went into
his but and tried on his disguise. He
then made his appearance before Steiny
who threw himself on the beach and rolled
over and over with laughter at the
strapping figure he cut.

`No body'd ever guess you was any
body else than my grandmam!' he cried
out with delight. `Now what are you
going to do?'

`As soon as it is dark go over to the
city and do my best to save Bertha from
her fate. If it were not for this mysterious
money she talks about there would
be no fears, for Van Vow would give her
up; and we could then get off to-morrow.
But it must be done before eight,
or all is lost. Go at once back and tell
her I will meet her at the ever-green oak
outside the fort, if she can escape. Tell
her that it is impossible for me to get the
money she wishes to-night, and she must
trust to flight alone for escape.'

Steiny, after getting into his boat and

under sail, turned in shore to a wooded
rock and disappeared for about ten minutes,
when Logan saw him re-appear,
lugging something into the boat, when
he immediately set sail again.

Bertha was in her room sad and
thoughtful when she saw Steiny reappear
crossing the yard of the fort; for he had
become so well known he was, like many
others, let in and out at will during daylight;
but at dark the gates were all
closed and strictly guarded; though now
that Bayard was in its prison there was
comparative quiet in the town. She saw
the boy's fish basket seemed to be very
heavy and her heart bounded, for she
believed he brought the means to pay the
burgomaster.

`Nice fish, ma'm,' said the boy in a
loud tone. `Here's nice gold fish too,' he
added significantly.

`Has he sent it?'

`Yah, just as you gave it to me. To
tell you the truth, ma'm, he didn't never
know we axed a thousand dollars to let
him off. That was a cheat to get the
gold out o' you. He never knew of it.
He thought it was only by your influence
over us, you see. He dont know I got
a dollar, or he'd a blowed me! So when
he read your note and I found I'd got you
into a scrape, I jist goes and digs up the
bag I'd hid and brings it off to you.—
Here it is, ma'm, just as it was, and I'm
d—d sorry I flamgusted yer to get it.
Jist take it and give it to fat cheeks and
let him go cry!' With these words he
placed the bag on the floor of the gallery.

`You are a noble and honest youth.
Mr. Logan shall know this, if I ever am
so happy as to see him again, and you
shall be rewarded more than this. You
have done me a greater service than you
suppose by bringing it. Shall I see him?'
she asked eagerly.

`Yah. He says he'll be from seven
to eight o'clock at the oak out by the
wall. He says you must try and baulk
Mynheer and your dad, and meet him.'

`Happy news! Tell him I will be
there.'

`Then hadn't you better keep the
thousand?'

`No; it must be returned to him. It
will solace him. Besides, he shall have
no word to say against Bertha Leisler's
fair name!'

At a few minutes before eight o'clock
the same evening, a lad and a tall person
habited as a fisher's wife, were standing
beneath an oak that grew near the wall,
when a young man, wrapped in a cloak,
came hurriedly towards them. Logan,
half guessing who it might be, bounded
forward with Steiny.

`Bertha!' he said softly.

`Robert!' was the rapid answer. `I
should not have known you but for Steiny!
We have no time to lose! I shall
be missed in five minutes! Let us fly!'

As they went swiftly along, she told
him that all was ready for the bridal, and
she had seemed so quietly to consent that
they left her alone. Many guests had
come, and she let them continue to assemble;
and even the burgomaster she
had seen go into the room where he was
to wait for her; for Van Vow, though he
had his money again, had now no power
to act as he had pledged to, for her father
insisted that the nuptials should take
place. Thus had Steiny lost his `bag of
rocks' without benefit to Bertha, though
very much to the honer of his own generous
nature; and we trust every candid
reader will give him credit for the deed,
as much as if Bertha had been benefitted
by it.

`I waited till the last moment,' continued
Bertha to the happy and listening
Logan, `when I suddenly quitted my
room, entered the hall, and catching up
a cap and cloak, upon which I had previously
fixed my eyes, I hastened from

the door, leaving my dressing-maid to
believe that I had only stepped into the
library. Thus I got safely from the
house; and, having the countersign, I
was suffered to pass out of the gate by
the sentry without question, he doubtless
taking me for one of the guests who had
been invited to the wedding. I hurried
away from the gate and at length discovered
you. Now I am happy.'

`And I perfectly, dearest Bertha,' responded
Logan as he hastened on towards
the residence of father Stephen.