Peggy Owen and Liberty Part 7

"Truly thee would better be in haste," said Sally, making her best bow. "Thee must see that every moment adds to thy cousin's distress, and also to thy danger. I marvel that the sheriff's men have left us so long alone. Mother and I will in truth welcome thee."

"But I have no claim upon you," he expostulated. "For you to take such a risk for an Englishman----"

"As an Englishman thee hasn't a particle of claim, of course,"

interrupted Sally. "As an Englishman thee deserves anything that might happen, but as a human being in distress thee has every claim upon us.

Now hadn't thee better be moving? Where is the conserve, Peggy?"

"How do I know that I can trust you?" he said abruptly.

"Clifford!" exclaimed Peggy indignantly, but Sally laughed, and swept him a deep courtesy.

"Peggy must have told thee what an ogress I am," she said. "Know then, Friend Clifford, that I have a deep and dark dungeon where I cast all Englishmen of thy profession. If thee is afraid thee would better take thy chances with the night and storm."

"Afraid?" he echoed, a deep flush mantling his brow. "I, Clifford Owen, afraid?"

"Then thee had better put on those boots, and be about thy departure,"

said Sally calmly. "Peggy, if we don't take in those conserves the supper will be over. Hurry, friend. Keep thy cloak well about thee to hide that uniform, and on no account venture into the hall. Thee will not have to wait for me. Come, Peggy."

But before Peggy followed her she ran to Clifford and clasped his hand.

"'Tis the only way, my cousin," she whispered. "And oh, do be quick."

"I will, Peggy," he replied. "Fear nothing. I will carry out my part."

With palpitating heart Peggy went with Sally into the dining-room, and resumed her task of waiting on the table. Sally reseated herself and joined merrily in the conversation. It seemed a long time ere the great knocker on the front door sounded. In reality it was but a few moments after the girls left the kitchen. Sukey entered the hall to answer it before Peggy could reach the door. The darkey reentered the room almost immediately.

"A pusson has come fer Miss Sally," she announced. "He say he am come ter take her home."

"He?" Sheriff Will looked up with a laugh. "Come, come! that sounds interesting. Let's have him in, Miss Sally, and see what he looks like."

"Yes, my dear," spoke Mrs. Owen. "Thee has not finished thy supper.

Sit down, and thy escort shall come in, and have supper too."

Peggy's heart almost stopped beating at this, and the color forsook Sally's cheeks. Neither of them had foreseen anything of this kind, and they were rendered speechless by the untoward incident. Sally was saved the necessity of a reply by Robert Dale.

"I think I object, Mistress Owen," he said speaking with deliberation.

"Any one who is going to take Sally away from us doesn't deserve any supper. I was promising myself the pleasure of seeing her home."

"Oh, ho!" roared the sheriff. "Sits the wind in that quarter!"

"Never mind, Mrs. Owen," spoke Sally, her quick wit taking advantage of the diversion. "I will bring him to see thee when Robert isn't about. And I really must go. Mother expected me this afternoon, but so much hath happened that I overstayed my time. I dare say she is waiting supper for me. Good-night, and good-bye to all," she added.

She made a fetching little mouth at Robert as she went through the door but her eyes held a look of grat.i.tude.

Peggy accompanied her into the hall. Clifford was waiting outside on the steps, and none of the three spoke until, wrapped and bundled for the trip, Sally joined him.

"I'll never forget this, Sally," murmured Peggy, giving her friend a little squeeze. "And I'll be down to-morrow."

"Be sure to," answered Sally. "Come, friend," turning to Clifford. "We must not linger."

Full of relief and gladness Peggy reentered the dining-room.

CHAPTER VI

APPEARANCES AGAINST HER

"Who trusts himself to woman, or to waves, Should never hazard what he fears to lose."

--_Oldmixon._.

During the evening Peggy congratulated herself more than once that Clifford was well away from the house; for the sheriff, in company with her father, again went over the dwelling. Every nook that might afford a hiding-place was examined thoroughly, and, as Fairfax had foreseen, another man was sent up to search the kitchen chamber. At length, all his joviality gone, Sheriff Will sat down by the sitting-room fire in puzzled perplexity.

"I can't understand it," he said more to himself than to Mr. Owen. "We have found no track going away. His boots make an impression that could not be mistaken. Unless he hath taken wings unto himself he should be somewhere in the house."

"Nay, friend; it cannot be," replied Mr. Owen, shaking his head positively. "We have searched every place that 'twould be possible for a man to be concealed. We have even gone into places where no one, not a member of the family, would think of hiding."

"That's just it," exclaimed the officer. "Some member of the family helped him. Were it not so we could not have missed the fellow."

"In that, friend, thou art mistaken. I believe that I could give an account of the actions and whereabouts of each member, yea, I will include our guests also, since my arrival home."

"What time was that, sir?"

"About one of the clock, I should judge."

"Well, the matter is beyond me," responded the sheriff rising. "There is naught to do but to go home and think it over."

And to Peggy's great relief he left, taking his men with him. The occurrence seemed to have thrown a damper over the spirits of the party, even Betty being unusually silent, so the household soon separated for the night.

It was not until the afternoon of the next day that Peggy found an opportunity of going to Sally's. By that time, accompanied by Robert Dale, Betty had left for home; Mr. Owen had taken Fairfax with him into the city, the two ladies were deep in conversation on the mysteries of preserve making, and Peggy was at liberty. With a word of explanation to her mother the girl slipped on her wraps, and started for Sally's house.

Though still cold the day was clear and bright. The footways had not been cleared of snow, but paths had been beaten by the impact of many feet, and Peggy found walking not at all difficult. As she turned into Fourth Street she was astonished to encounter Sheriff Will. He returned her courteous greeting with an abrupt bow, and pa.s.sed on.

"I wonder if he is going to the house again," she mused, stopping to look after him. "He must be," she concluded as she saw that he turned into Chestnut Street. "He is not satisfied about not finding Clifford.

Oh, dear! what would have happened if Sally had not taken my cousin home with her? Well, I must hasten."

A brisk walk soon brought her to Sally's house on Little Dock Street.

The dwelling was of stone. It was two stories in height, with a high-pitched roof, and with a garret room lighted in front by three dormer windows, and in the rear by a dormer on each side. Sally herself came to the door in answer to the knocker.

"I have been watching for thee all day, Peggy," she cried, drawing her into the room. The front door did not open into an entry, but directly into a large room occupied as a sitting-room. "I thought thee would never come. Thy cousin hath worried lest some ill had befallen thee.

Come in, and tell me all that happened after we left. Was it not fine in Robert to speak as he did? Does thee think that he knew what we were about? And oh, Peggy! I do like thy cousin so much. Thee remembers how we used to laugh at Harriet because she was always extolling her brother at the expense of any youth she met? Well, I blame her no longer. Mother, too, is charmed with him. Well, why doesn't thee talk, and tell me all that hath occurred?"

Peggy laughed outright.

"I was just waiting for a chance, Sally," she replied. "Let me see.

About Robert first: How could he have known anything anent Clifford, yet what he said was so opportune? It hath puzzled me. I know not what we should have done had he not so spoken. I could think of naught to say, and I saw that thee was affected in the same manner. Where is my cousin? Let us go to him at once, for I must not stay long. I will tell ye both what hath occurred."