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Page 54
From that period, both by the wife of the commandant,
and by Mrs. Elmsley--the only two ladies in the garrison,
Maria Heywood was as much liked and courted, as she had
previously been disregarded. To deny that the noble girl
did in some measure exult in this change, would be to do
wrong to the commendable pride of a woman, who feels that
the unjust prejudice which had cast a false shadow over
her recent life, has at last been removed, and that the
value, of which she was modestly conscious, began to be
appreciated.
It was at this party that her acquaintance with the young
Southerner had commenced, and it is needless to trace
the gradual rise of an attachment which similarity of
tastes had engendered. Naturally of an ardent disposition,
the youth had, as we have remarked on a previous occasion,
hitherto loved to indulge in the excitement of the wild
sports of the forest and the prairie, as the only present
means of giving freedom to that spirit of enterprise, so
usually wedded to the generous and unoccupied mind; but,
from the period of his acquaintance with Maria Heywood,
a total change had come over his manner of life. The
hunt--the chase--and the cup that so often succeeded,
were now almost wholly abandoned, and his only delight
NOW in excursions was to ride with her across the prairie,
or to pull her in his light skiff either along the shores
of the Michigan, or through the various branches of the
river, contemplating the beautiful Heavens by moonlight,
and indulging in speculations, which were not more the
fruit of romantic temperament, than of the intensity of
Love. He had, moreover, four dogs trained to draw her in
a light sledge of his own device and construction, in
winter. In these rambles she was usually accompanied
either by Mrs. Headley, or by the wife of his friend and
brother subaltern, and after the invigorating exercise
of the day, his evenings, whenever he could absent himself
from the Fort, were devoted within the cottage to books,
magic, and the far more endearing interchange of the
resources of their gifted minds. In summer there were
other employments of a domestic character, for in addition
to their rides, walks, and excursions on the water, both
found ample scope for the indulgence of their partiality
for flowers, in the taste for practical horticulture
possessed by Ronayne, under whose care had grown the
luxuriant beauty which every where pervaded the little
garden, and made it to the grateful girl a paradise in
miniature.
Thus had passed nearly two years, and insensibly, without
a word of love having been breathed, each felt all the
security which a consciousness of being beloved alone
could yield, and that assurance imparted to their manner
and address when alone a confiding air, the more
endearing from the silence of their lips. But although
no word uttered by themselves proclaimed the existence
of the secret and holy compact, not only were they fully
sensible of it themselves, but it was obvious to all
--even to the least observant of the garrison, and many
were there, both among the soldiers and their wives--by
all of whom the young ensign was liked for his openness
and manliness of character--who expressed a fervent hope
that the beautiful and amiable Miss Heywood would soon
become the bride of their favorite officer. This it was,
which had led the men of the fishing-party to express in
their way, their sorrow for the young lady, when she
should hear of the events at the farm-house, even while
passing their rude encomiums on the sweetness of
disposition of her, whom they already regarded as the
wife of their young officer.
It was nearly noon, and Lieutenant Elmsley had not yet
made his appearance with the promised report. Maria
Heywood had, after passing an hour with her mother,
returned to the breakfast-room, which it will be
recollected opened immediately upon the barrack-square.
Her friend being engaged with her domestic affairs, which
every lady was at that period in a measure compelled to
superintend, she had thrown herself (still in her morning
dishabille) on a couch with a book in her hand, but with
a mind wholly distracted from the subject of its pages.
After continuing some time thus, a prey to nervous
anxiety, as much the result of Elmsley's long absence as
of her former fears, the sound of the fifes and drums
fell startlingly, she knew not wherefore, upon her ear
and drew her to the door. The men were falling in, and
in the course of a few minutes the little line was formed
a few yards to her left, with its flanks resting on
either range of building, so that the mess-room door,
then open, was distinctly visible in front. At the same
moment, Captain Headley and the lieutenant, followed by
Corporal Nixon and the other men of the fishing-party--
Green only excepted--passed out of the orderly room on
her right, moved across, and took up their position in
front of the parade.
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