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Page 37
At the bottom of this artificial mound, and near the
pathway, a small spud, such as is used for pruning, was
stuck into some earth, newly drawn round a splendid tiger
lily, and on the handle of the spud, were loosely thrown
a white silk jacket, a blue velvet cap, and a light pink
scarf--evidencing that no ordinary gardener had been that
day employed in bringing into new life the gorgeous
beauties of the variegated parterre.
"Little did I think," mused the young officer, as, leaving
his party at the, gate, and hastening towards the cottage,
his eye fell upon those articles of dress--"little did
I imagine when I threw off these things a few hours since,
to obey a summons to the Fort, that on my return to them,
it would be with this heavy heart, and as the bearer of
these tidings--but I must be cautious in my disclosure.
Dear girl, here she is!"
"Why, Ronayne, what in the name of Heaven is the meaning
of all this? Are you here to take the castle by storm,
with all these armed warriors? A few hours since you were
a man of peace, and now I behold in you a most approved
and valiant knight of the true American school. Sword,
cap, feather, epaulet, blue broad-cloth, and silver. Well
it must be confessed that you are not a bad imitation of
a soldier, in that garb, and it is in pity to me, I
suppose, that you do not wear it oftener. But seriously,
Harry, do satisfy my curiosity, and tell me the reason
of this unusual--manner of visit!"
The question was asked playfully, but in tones replete
with sweetness, by a tall and elegantly-formed girl, who
on turning the further circle of the walk, in her approach
to her favorite flower-bed, had for the first time, beheld
the young officer, and the party stationed at the gate.
"Nay, dear Maria," returned the youth, deeply grieved at
the thought of casting a gloom over the spirits of her
who thus rallied him. "I am sorry to say my errand is
not one of mere parade--I have come to announce that
which will give you pain; and but that I am charged with
the agreeable duty of making you a prisoner, I never
should have had the courage to be the bearer of the
intelligence."
Miss Heywood turned very pale, less at the words even
than at the manner of the young officer, who it was
evident, felt all the weight of the task he had undertaken.
"Ronayne," she said, her voice suddenly assuming a rich
melancholy of intonation, in strange contrast with her
first address, "there is more in this than you would
acquaint me with. But, tell me," and she fixed her large
dark eyes on his--"tell me all. What pain is it you fear
to occasion me, and how is it connected with my being a
prisoner? Ha!" and she grasped his arm, and betrayed deep
agitation--"surely nothing in my father's conduct--"
"No, no, Maria," returned the youth, quickly, "far from
anything of the kind, and yet it is of your father I
would speak. But have you heard nothing since I left you.
Have you seen no one?"
"I have heard nothing--seen not a soul from without,"
she answered, as he tenderly pressed the hand he had
taken--"But, Ronayne," she pursued, with melancholy
gravity--"a sudden light dawns upon me--my heart tells
me that some misfortune or other has happened, or is
about to happen--you say you would speak about my father.
You are the bearer of ill-news in regard to him. Yes, I
know it is so; tell me, Harry," and she looked imploringly
up to him, "am I not right?--my father has been attacked
by Indians, and he has fallen. Oh! you do not deny it!"
"Nay, dearest Maria, I know nothing of the kind, although
I will not conceal from you that there is danger--you
have guessed correctly as to the Indians having been at
the farm, but little certain is known as to the result
of their visit. That half idiot Ephraim Giles, has come
in with some wild story, but I daresay he exaggerates."
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