Maid Sally Part 20

A cot with a real feather bed was in one corner, a small chest of drawers with a mirror on it, a mirror in a square frame screwed into a little stand, so she could bring it forward or push it back, was at one side of the room; a small wooden rocking-chair stood by the window, and a pretty painted wash-stand, with bowl and pitcher, a soap-dish, and a saucer for brushes, was opposite the bed.

Sally looked with pleasure on the simple yet convenient things that she never had had the use of before. Then she said:

"I feel as though these things fitted me. Yes, and even finer ones might, too. Why is it I have such feelings always rising within me whenever I look upon what is fine and would seem far above me?"

"I cannot tell you," said her Fairy.

"Did you notice," asked Sally, "what slipped from Mistress Cory Ann's tongue? how she asked was I sure of being an American?"

"I noticed, surely," said the Fairy, "but many a vain and useless thing will slip from the tongue of an angry woman. I think she meant but to taunt you."

"Yet I wonder what she may know."

"It would be wiser to stop wondering," returned her Fairy.

And now it was not only a new home, but a new life that had come to the pretty maid.

Goodwife Kendall did not favor having too much time spent in arranging the hair, dressing up, and such like vanities. Yet much it did please her to see the beautiful fluff and rich curl of Sally's red-gold hair after she had used on it a good brush and comb.

And a "changeable" silk of pink and gray, making an "ashes of roses"

color, that had hung useless in the closet for a year, made so becoming a gown for the blooming maid that Goodwife Kendall feared lest the bright young head might be turned at sight of the fair vision flashed back from the little mirror into the clear, dark eyes.

And Parson Kendall had some ado in striving to keep back from her ears sundry and divers compliments and sweet sayings that began to be tossed about, bearing on the growth and beauty of the Maid Sally Dukeen.

As winter rolled away and spring came on, the threats and mutterings against the governor and king grew louder and ever louder, and spoken with less fear. Work was going on in the fields and on the plantations, but men met at the corner of the roads and at the stores, talking long and earnestly, and with stern faces and dark brows.

Sally had seen the Fairy Prince ride by a number of times, sometimes with his cousin Rosamond Earlscourt at his side. With other new feelings, Sally had begun to feel backward at thought of going again to the seat behind the hedge. She could read anything now, and in more than one language. No excuse any longer for wanting to hear another read, and something told her that slyly listening was not becoming in any person of right ideas.

One day at dinner,--always the noon meal in those days,--Parson Kendall said:

"It is now reported that Sir Percival Grandison, after much thought, feels it his duty to side with the king, and not to aid the colonists.

But he hath great todo in striving to keep down the fiery spirit of his young son. The lad thinketh himself old enough to have a mind of his own, as indeed he is, and he greatly desireth to have his name enrolled as a soldier, if fighting must be done. It is sad to have father and son divided at such serious times, and Sir Percival wishes not to deal harshly with his son. Yet the young man is with the colonists heart and soul."

"And how old is he?" asked one of the sisters.

"He is nineteen, not yet of age."

"But if there should be fighting, think you not there would be many a stripling," asked Goodwife Kendall, "of even seventeen or eighteen, who would enter the ranks on our side?"

"I have no doubt of it," answered the parson, "and it may be that very glad we shall be of the a.s.sistance of the younglings."

No one noticed how rosy grew the face of Maid Sally, or how short became her breath as the talk went on. But long ere this had she made up her mind that, should war break out, her Dream Prince would want to be in the thick of the fight, and on the right side.

The lad who stood at the edge of the lawn one night, and said, in firm, decided tones, that he meant to act as should a man, would never sit tamely down and let others struggle for the liberty he was to enjoy.

One soft evening well past mid April, Sally walked over in the direction of Ingleside. She had wearied at heart for the sound of the voice of her Fairy Prince, yet she told herself there was but little chance of hearing him, even should she go but just once more to the rocky seat.

For had she not seen him go by but a few moments before in the Ingleside coach?

No; Sally thought it was he who sat beside his sister Lucretia, but she was mistaken.

"I will see if the seat still be there," she said to herself, as, entering the hedge, she saw in a moment that the great stones were just as they had been months before.

Ah! but she had been there only a few moments when she blushed and tightly clasped her hands together at sound of a well-known voice, as quick footsteps came toward the arbor.

"Now here," said the voice of the Prince, "we can talk without danger of being overheard.

"You know, Reginald, I would not willingly do anything to disturb or to anger my sire, but I feel it my solemn duty to do all that one young man can to put down tyranny and unjust rule, which is oppression.

"How can my father allow himself to be so mistaken? Or how can he fail to see that Governor Dunmore has insulted us, and treated us like children in taking away our gunpowder, leaving us as he did with no way of defending ourselves in case of an attack?

"I reckon he found out his mistake when he was obliged to pay us for it, for he could not stand before the fury of the people when they found out what had been done."

Poor Sally had felt a twinge that hurt when Lionel Grandison said, "Now here we can talk without danger of being overheard." The nicer part of her nature asked if she ought not at once to go away from the rocks. But she could hardly have done that without herself being overheard, and sooner than risk that, she made up her mind that this time she must stay, but that in the future she must sit no more between the wall and the hedge at Ingleside.

She knew the companion of her Prince to be Reginald Bromfeld, who spoke next:

"I have but an hour ago heard from Boston, and the town is red-hot over the unlawful, daring conduct of the soldiers, and the government that has sent them over here. Mark my words!" exclaimed young Bromfeld, "it won't be long before a blow will be struck that meaneth war, and when it is, it will be near Boston town that the first sharp crack of a gun will be heard.

"And also when that blow is struck, I shall be on the ground almost before one could say 'Jack Robinson!'"

"I would I could go too," said Lionel, "running like 'Sam Hill!'"

Both young men laughed a little, then Reginald asked:

"But would that be best? It may be that Virginia's sons will need remain to defend her. You know I hail from Boston, am native there, although business affairs of my mother's have brought me here."

"I should not mean to fly from duty," said Lionel, "but wherever the first hard blow for freedom is struck there will men be needed, and for a time at least I think the conflict will be hottest near old Boston town."

There came at that moment the sound of gay voices from near the house.

"What you say may be true," Reginald hastened to reply, then he added in a sly tone, "but I thought it might be there were fair ones, I might say, _a_ fair one, it would be your first sweet duty to stay and defend."

"Oh, prithee, halt!" cried Lionel, half impatiently. "_The_ fair one I would guard and defend, at present, is my native land. All fair dames and maidens have my respect and command my service, but I can think neither of billing or cooing or wooing with sound of clanking guns being raised in our midst, and by those who call us 'rebels!'

"Now here come the ladies. And hark ye! the subject must be changed. I like not talking of war with those who think it sin to take up arms against the king."

After they had gone Sally sat for several moments lost in thought.

"It would sometimes seem that he loveth the Lady Rosamond not one whit,"

she said, dreamily.

Then she arose, shook out her pretty skirt with its simple but tasteful overskirt of flowered cloth, and began a leisurely homeward walk.

Her heart-beats quickened and she turned her head aside, when two soldiers appeared at a turn in the road. She could usually avoid meeting them, but to-night they were so near she must needs pa.s.s them.

As she hurried by, some green sprays she had held fluttered to the ground. The next instant a tall, graceful form was by her side, and a pair of curious eyes were peeping into her straw bonnet.

"Permit me, ma'selle," said a pleasant voice, and the green sprays were offered her.