|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 78
"Well, I believe you are right. Be it so. Adieu, I shall
be back within a couple of hours at the latest."
"If you do, you will in all probability find me still
poring over this old Intelligencer, which is full of
rumors of approaching war with the British."
"I shall be more inclined to hug my pillow," replied the
ensign as he departed, "for I must again cross to the
cottage, and be back here before guard-mounting to-morrow."
Within ten minutes the party--two of them having borne
the empty coffin, and the corporal the necessary implements,
stood near the rose-tree in the garden. The body of Mr.
Heywood was disinterred--the bark in which it lay wound
round with many folds of a large sheet, and placed in
the coffin, which after being screwed down, was deposited
in a grave dug at least five feet under the surface. Then
commenced the burial service, which was read by the young
officer in a slow and impressive tone, and by the light
of the shaded lantern, which, falling obliquely upon the
forms of the men, discovered them standing around the
grave--one foot resting on the edge--the other drawn
back, as they awaited the signal to lower their almost
offensive burden into its last resting-place. At length
the prayers for the dead were ended, and the grave was
carefully filled up, leaving as before, no inequality,
but too deep to attract the scent of Loup Garou. Then
after having dug up a few small roots of the sweet briar,
and placed them at intervals on the newly-turned earth.
Ronayne crossed with his little party to the Fort, glad
to obtain a few hours of that repose, for which the
harassing events of the day had so much predisposed him.
CHAPTER XIII.
The fourth of July 1812, was a more than usual gala-day
in the little Fort of Chicago, for in addition to the
National Jubilee, there was to be celebrated one of a
private, yet not less interesting nature. On that evening
Ensign Ronayne was to espouse, in the very room in which
he had first been introduced to her the woman he had so
long and so ardently loved, and who, her mother having
after a severe struggle become convalescent, had conformably
to her promise, yielded a not reluctant consent to his
proposal that this day of general joy, should be that of
the commencement of their own happiness.
At that remote period, and in the absence of duly ordained
clergymen, it was customary for marriages to be performed
by the Governors of Districts and by commanding officers
of distant Forts, and these, perfectly legal, were
subsequently as inclination, or scruple of conscience
induced, celebrated in the usual manner. The early
marriages of British subjects in Canada, soon after its
conquest from the French, as well as many of those of
the colonies now known as the United States, took place
in this manner, and the custom had been continued until
increased population provided the means of securing that
spiritual comfort, which it must, of course, have been
impossible for one dressed in a red coat instead of a
black one, to impart.
But neither Maria Heywood or Ronayne stood much on this
punctilio. Provided the ceremony was legal, and according
to the customs of the country, it mattered little who
married them--the governor of a district--the commandant
of a garrison, or a Gretna Green blacksmith--had they
felt at all disposed to avail themselves of the services
of the latter.
It was a lovely day, and every thing seemed to smile upon
the denizens of that region, from the early dawn until
the setting of the sun. Officers and men were in their
brightest uniforms--the women and children in their
holiday dresses. A splendid new Star Spangled Banner--the
work of Maria Heywood's hands--floated in the dazzling
rays of the sun, upon the southern bastion of the Fort.
Joy and pride sat on every brow. They exulted at the
recollection of that hardly won freedom from injustice,
which was that day to be celebrated for the thirty-sixth
time.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|