University of Virginia Library

64. CHAPTER LXIV.
SECRETS WORTH KNOWING.

Sandford appeared no more on the eastern
side of the river, after betraying Fort Niagara
into the hands of the enemy. Enriched with the
price of his infamy, he felt no inclination for the
duties and privations of a military life, although
offered a lieutenant-colonel's commission in the
British service. He passed the winter at Kingston,
dividing his time between Sophia and the
gaming-table, and was so uniformly successful at
play, that in the following spring he found himself
worth eighty thousand pounds, independent

of the proceeds of his New-England estates. He
now began to think of retiring from business, and
devoting his future hours to luxurious indolence;
but to such a life, the climate of Canada was very
inauspicious; and his whole attention was, for a
long time, vainly employed in determining upon
one more congenial to his wishes.

At length, however, during an excursion to
Quebec, he fell in company and soon became
acquainted with the captain of a private armed
schooner from one of the West-India Islands, who
represented it to be an earthly Eden, and advised
Sandford to proceed thither and purchase a plantation,
when he could sink at once into the lap of
ease, and revel in a paradise of sensual delights.
This advice was so consonant to Sandford's ideas
of happiness, that he immediately determined to
adopt it; and finally purchased a share in the
privateer, and struck a bargain with the captain
to convey him to the land of promise.

While the necessary preparations were making,
Sandford and Sophia remained at Quebec,
the latter still supporting the character of Reuben.
Being one evening together in a coffee-house,
Reuben pointed out to him an article in a file of
newspapers which they were examining, commencing
in the following manner:

“Quebec, November 4, 1813.

“On Friday and Saturday last, the following
“American officers were conducted under an
“escort of major Bell's volunteer cavalry, from
“Beauport, were they were on parole, and lodged
“in the jail of this city:

“Major C. Van de Venter—Captains John
“Machesney, Henry Fleming, Alex. M`Ewen,
“&c.”

A few enquiries at the prison convinced Sandford
that the father of Catharine was there confined;
and, from that instant, he determined upon
the final execution of his long meditated scheme
of stabbing George through the bosom of Catharine.
Sophia had declined accompanying him
to the West-Indies; but, for a sufficient reward,
she engaged to furnish Catharine as a substitute!

As a preliminary step to the execution of this
contract, Reuben repaired to the prison, and with
some difficulty obtained an interview with Fleming,
to whom he announced himself as a young
drummer, who had just returned from imprisonment
in the United States, where he had become
acquainted with captain Willoughby, who had
often spoken to him of his friend Fleming's captivity.
He had, therefore, taken the first opportunity,
on his return to Quebec, to seek him out,
and exert his influence to procure his parole.
During this, and a subsequent interview, it was
found that Fleming had no hope of a speedy
restoration to liberty; that he had just received
a letter from his daughter, the substance of which
he repeated; and that those he had written to his
friends in the United States, had probably been
suppressed, as he had never heard of their reception.

With this information, Sophia was ready to
commence her operations. Captain Miller was
easily induced to become an agent in the plot,
and for this purpose proposed to proceed with his
privateer to Long-Island Sound, and there cruise
under the protection of the British blockading
squadron off New-London, while Sandford and
Reuben were to land, and execute a plan they
had digested for getting Catharine into their
power. On arriving in the Sound, however, Miller

agreed to become a still more active agent,
and with the result of his journey to Ithaca, (accompanied
by Sophia as his sister) the reader is
already acquainted. The lips of Sandford received
the kiss which Catharine intended for her
father. The too successful villain sprang from
the sofa, clasped her in his rude embrace, and
for some moments held the insensible sufferer
locked in his unhallowed arms, rifling her pallid
lips of their sweets.

It was so long before this horror-struck girl
recovered from her swoon, that her relentless
persecutor became alarmed for her existence,
fearing that death had deprived him of his untasted
prey; he therefore rung a bell so furiously
that the old lady was at his elbow in a moment.

“Monster!” exclaimed she, “what have you
done to the poor thing? Why you have frightened
her into a fit. Had you not wit enough to proceed
gently?”

“Silence! old hell-cat!” vociferated Sandford,
in a voice of thunder, “and bring me some
sal volatile, or something else to restore her
breath. Stay—she recovers—Now leave the
room!”

The old woman obeyed in silence, while Catharine
slowly opened her eyes, and threw them
wildly round the room. In a moment they rested
on Sandford, and with a dreadful shriek she
darted towards the door, but was caught by the
arm before she reached it.

“Not so fast, my lovely Hibernian,” said he,
rudely seizing her round the waist. “It is a long
time since you and I met in private, and I have
been at a damnable expense to obtain this interview.
Do not imagine then that I shall very
readily relinquish you.”

“O mercy! mercy!” exclaimed she, falling
on her knees before the inhuman monster;
“Pity a poor friendless orphan, and conduct me
to my dying father.”

“Make yourself easy on that score,” answered
he with a malicious smile; your father is alive
and well in Quebec. Now reward me for my
good news with another kind kiss.”

“By what right, sir, do you thus presume to
persecute and insult a poor unfortunate creature,
who has no one near to protect her? Why have
I been thus inveigled away from my friends and
detained against my inclination? Oh! my poor
father! why are you not permitted to protect
your child!”

“Be calm, lovely girl!” replied Sandford;
and permit me to answer your questions by proposing
a few others. Why was my hand rejected
with disdain, when I once offered to make you
my wife? Why was I banished from your presence
in disgrace, and exposed to the vengeance
of your father, for a fault which arose from an
excess of love alone? Why have you represented
me to your favored lover in a light so odious
as forever to prevent a reconciliation between
us? When you can give a satisfactory answer to
these questions, I may be able to reply to yours.”

“Your own conscience will answer for me,”
replied Catharine, “if you will but listen to its
suggestions.”

“I now repeat my former propositions,” continued
Sandford, “Consent to become my wife,
and you shall be immediately restored to your
friends, and your father shall be restored to you.”

“Detested wretch!” exclaimed Catharine,
with an energy and dignity which startled her

inhuman persecutor—“Consent to become your
wife! So help me Heaven, I will sooner perish—
sooner suffer a death of ignominy, and even accompany
my father to the scaffold, than so debase
myself!”

“Then you must be content to become my
mistress,” replied Sandford coolly. “You are
caught in my toils, and no power on earth can
rescue you. Say, proud girl! are you content to
succeed the amiable and virtuous companion of
your journey from Ithaca, and occupy these arms
which have been so long the cradle of Julia Miller,
alias Sophia Palmer? Content you may be,
for to that destiny are you fated, and this moment
shall initiate you into the delicious duties appertaining
to that honorable office.”

Sandford immediately proceeded to put his
threat in execution. Catharine shrieked loudly for
help, and struggled with a strength that astonished
her unfeeling assailant. Her voice was heard in
the street, and the house was soon beset with
watchmen, who threatened to break down the
door unless they were instantly admitted.

Sandford now perceived that not a moment
was to be lost. Catharine had swooned, and he
raised her in his arms, wrapped her in a large
cloak, and conveyed her down a private flight
of stairs into the back yard. Here he was joined
by his friend Miller, with whose assistance he
bore her down an alley which led to the river,
where a barge was in waiting.

When Catharine recovered from her fit, she
found herself in the arms of Sandford, and within
half a mile of Hurl-gate, hurried forward by a
fresh westerly breeze, and eight sturdy oarsmen.