The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2, Page 2

  CHAPTER II.

  Late in the afternoon of the day succeeding the one designated in thelast chapter, towards the southwestern extremity of the beach andoutside of the palisade, a young and gentle creature, of most surpassingloveliness, moved thoughtfully along the sandy shore, every now and thencasting a wistful glance over the water, and as often heaving a gentlesigh, as a shade of girlish disappointment settled upon her bloomingface. Her dress was simple, tasteful, and exquisitely appropriate to herstyle of beauty. She had apparently scarce passed her sixteenthbirthday; and of course her figure was not yet rounded out to its fullperfection of female loveliness. So much of her neck as was visibleabove a rather high and close cut dress, was of that pure, chaste andlovely white which gives such an air of heavenly innocence to thebudding girl of that delightful age. The face although exceeding theneck in the height, variety and richness of its colouring, was notdisfigured by a single freckle, scar or blemish. The features weregenerally well proportioned and suited to each other, the lips full andgently pouting, with a margin of as luxurious tinting as that with whichnature ever adorned the first budding rose of spring, and when parted,as they often were, by the most gentle and _naive_ laughter, displayeda set of teeth beautifully white and regular. Yet one could scarcelyfasten the eye upon them for the admiration excited by the exquisiteexpression of the dimpled mouth, ever varying, and as it seemed, morelovely with each succeeding change. The motion of her eyes was so rapidthat it was difficult to ascertain their colour; but certain it is theywere soft and brilliant, the latter effect produced in no small degreeby long fair dewy lashes which rose and fell over the picture, as lightsand shadows fall from the pencil of an inspired painter.

  The fair flaxen ringlets fell beneath the small gipsey hat in shortthick curls, and were clustered around her brow, so as to form the mostnatural and appropriate shade imaginable to a forehead of polishedivory. She was about the medium height, symmetrically proportioned, withan exquisitely turned ankle and little foot, which _now_ bounded overthe beach with an impatience only surpassed by her own impetuousthoughts, as her eyes became intently riveted upon a moving speck uponthe distant waters. The wild and startled expression, excited in thefirst moment of surprise, might now be seen merging into one of perfectsatisfaction, as the distant object began to grow into distinct outlinesat every plunge of the buoyant waves; her heart heaving its own littlecurrent to her face in perfect unison with their boisterous movements.

  A beautifully painted canoe soon ran its curled and fantastic head rightunder the bank upon which she stood, and in the next moment a gallantand manly youth leaped upon the shore by her side, and taking herunresisting hand, gently removed the gipsey hat so as to bring into viewa certain crimsoning of the neck and half averted face. Nathaniel Bacon,the youth just landed, was about twenty-one, and altogether presented anappearance of the most attractive and commanding character. He wore agreen hunting jerken, buttoned close up to his throat so as to show offto the best advantage a broad and manly chest. Upon his head was a broadbrimmed unstiffened castor, falling over his shoulders behind, andlooped up in front by a curiously wrought broach.

  A small brass hunting horn swung beneath one shoulder, while to theother was suspended a short cut and thrust sword. In his hand he bore afishing rod and tackle.

  Few as evidently were his years, much painful thought had alreadyshadowed his handsome and commanding features with a somewhat precociousmaturity. It was obviously, however, not the natural temperament of theman which now shone out in his features, after the subsiding of thefirst glow of delighted feeling visible for an instant as he watched theheightened bloom on the countenance of the maiden.

  "You were not irreconcilably offended then at my rash and disrespectfulbehaviour to your father at our last meeting?"

  "Certainly not irreconcilably so, Nathaniel, if offended at all; but Iwill confess to you candidly, that I was hurt and mortified, as much onyour own, as on my father's account."

  "You are always kind, considerate and forgiving, Virginia, and itbehooves me in presence of so much gentleness, to ease my conscience insome measure by a confession. You have sometimes, but I have never,forgotten that I was thrown upon your father's hospitality an orphan andan outcast. This fact constantly dwells upon my mind, and sometimesharrows up my feelings to such a degree that I am scarcely conscious ofmy words or actions. It was so on the occasion alluded to. I forgot yourpresence, the respect due to your father and my benefactor, as well aswhat was due to myself. I had been endeavouring to revive some of thedrunken reminiscences of that eccentric fellow who sits in the canoethere, but they tended only to inflame my ardent desire to knowsomething more of myself. Certainly some allowances must be made for me,Virginia, under the mortifying circumstances in which I am placed. Ithought your father could and ought to relieve this cruel suspense!"

  "He will if he can, Nathaniel; and that he does not do so immediately,is the best evidence to my mind either that he knows nothing on thesubject, or that some powerful reason exists why he should not disclosehis knowledge at present. Come, then, return with me to our house; myfather will take no notice of your absence or its cause, unless to jestwith you upon your want of success in your fishing expedition, which itseems was the ostensible motive of your absence."

  "It was my purpose to return, but I had not so amiably settled the howand the when; indeed the objects I had in view were so urgent that Idetermined to brave even your father's continued anger in order toobtain an interview with you."

  "With me, Nathaniel!"

  "Ay, with you, Virginia! You know that there are on the island somerestless and turbulent spirits--late soldiers of the Protector. Theyhave some dangerous project brewing I am well satisfied, fromcircumstances which accidentally fell under my own observation. You knowtoo that the Recluse is said to have unbounded influence with thesedesperate men, and to be familiar with all their designs and movements.And notwithstanding your childish dread of him, you know that he lovesyou more than any living creature."

  "I know all the things you speak of, except the last, and for that Isuspect I am indebted to your imagination; but to what does all thislead?"

  "I have just returned from a visit to that strange and mysterious oldman, and as I have already hinted, hastened hither for the purpose ofseeking an interview with you, which fortune has so opportunely thrownin my way."

  "But I am yet in the dark. Why did you hasten from the Recluse to me,after discovering the things you speak of?"

  "I will tell you; but you must be cool, calm and considerate while I doso, because I have that to tell and that to propose which will astoundyou!"

  "Oh do tell it at once then, and not play upon my feelings thus."

  "Your father's and your uncle's life is in danger, Virginia! Heaven,what have I done?" he continued, as he saw his companion turn deadlypale and lean against the palisade for support. But instantly recoveringherself she asked--

  "Whence does this danger come?"

  "That I do not know exactly; but the Recluse knows, and I have beenvainly endeavouring to learn it from him; and this brings me to theproposition which I have to make. You must visit him this night! 'Ay,Virginia! start not, you must do it for your father's and your uncle'ssake!"

  "Visit the Recluse, and at night! What will my parents say to it, thinkyou?"

  "They must not know one word of it."

  "Then it is absolutely out of the question."

  "Do not say so, Virginia, till you hear me out. As I have already said,the Recluse loves you better than he does any creature in the colony. Heknows all the plots and counterplots that are going on, and if you willsurprise him with a visit to-night, he will divulge the whole affair toyou."

  "Why must it be to-night?"

  "Because there is no time to be lost. To-morrow is the anniversary ofthe Restoration. There is to be a grand celebration during the day, anda ball at night; this opportunity is to be taken advantage of in someway or other by the desperate men alluded to. If we wait till to-mor
row,and make our visit publicly, these men will all know of it, and its veryobject be counteracted by that circumstance."

  "Your reasons are plausible I confess, Nathaniel, and secret enemies areat all times dreadful, but your alternative is scarcely less so."

  "I will pledge my life for your safety. You have the keys of yourfather's house at command, you can go and return through the servants'hall when they are all asleep. No sentinels are placed on the wallssince the general peace with the confederated tribes of Indians. Mycanoe lies under the first abutment of the bridge. I will watch you fromyour father's door till you arrive there. We can then cross the creek inthe canoe, so that no one will see us at the bridge. Brian O'Reily shallwait on the opposite shore with my horse and pillion for you, andanother for himself. What then is there so much to be dreaded in thissimple nocturnal excursion to a retired old man, who, to say the worstof him, is nothing more than fanatical on religious subjects, andcertainly he is very wise and learned upon all others."

  "It is the clandestine nature of the expedition that I object to,Nathaniel; it is so hurried--at such a strange hour too. At all events Imust have a little time to consider of the propriety of the step."

  "Certainly, you shall have as much time as the nature of the case willadmit of. But see, the long shadows of the trees are already extendingacross the river and the birds are seeking their resting places for thenight."

  "Oh, happy little songsters! would to Heaven that my rest could be assweet and tranquil as theirs this night? But Nathaniel, at what hourshall I meet you at the bridge, provided I determine upon the step youpropose?"

  "As the clock from the tower of the church strikes eleven I will be atmy post." And as he stepped into his canoe, he continued, "Remember,Virginia, that it is your own peace and your father's safety that I amendeavouring to secure in the course I urge you to adopt."

  As the little vessel rose and sunk over the swelling waves in itspassage round the town, Virginia stood on the brink of the river andgazed upon the scene in a deeply meditative mood, very new to her youngand hitherto careless heart. At length when her late companion had longdisappeared from her sight, and the sombre shadows of evening were fastclosing around the ancient city, she slowly passed into the gates of thepalisade and sought her father's dwelling.