The Loyalist. James Francis Barrett

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СКАЧАТЬ to this chair, slightly out of place, to this cup or that plate in the china-chest, to the miniature on the wall, leaning slightly to one side, or the whisk of her sweeping-brush through the silver-sand on the floor, transformed a disorderly aspect into one of neatness and taste. It was here that she spent her days, enduring their unvarying monotony, with sweet and unbroken contentment.

      As she hurriedly entered the house, she arrested the attention of her father and put a period to the conversation.

      "Oh, Father, have you heard?"

      "What news now, child!"

      "Washington has engaged the British."

      "And how fared?"

      "They were compelled to withdraw."

      "Thank God."

      "Where, Marjorie, did you come by this good news?" inquired the mother.

      "At the State House. A courier arrived from Monmouth with the tidings," answered Marjorie, still nervous to narrate the story, and forgetting to remove her hat.

      "When did this happen?" asked her father, impatiently.

      "It seems that General Washington started in pursuit of Clinton as soon as he had evacuated the city. He had decided that an attack must be made as soon as possible. When the British reached Allentown, they found the American army gaining the front and so they turned towards Monmouth. Near the Court House the British were outflanked and the Americans gained the superior ground and so the battle was won. Then General Lee ordered a retreat."

      "A retreat?" exploded Mr. Allison. "What for?"

      "I do not know, but that was the report. Lee retreated when Washington arrived on the scene," continued Marjorie.

      "And then?"

      "He rallied the troops to another front and began the attack anew, driving the British back a considerable distance. Nightfall ended the battle, and when day broke, Clinton had withdrawn."

      "And Lee ordered a retreat!" exclaimed Mr. Allison. "A damned poltroon!"

      "All say the same. The crowd was furious upon hearing the message, although some thought it too incredible. The joy of victory, however, made them forget the disgraceful part."

      "My faith in him has never faltered," quietly observed Mrs. Allison, as she prepared to resume the knitting from which she had ceased on the sudden entry of Marjorie.

      "And his pretended friends must now croak forth his praises," rejoined her husband.

      "There were shouts and cheers," continued Marjorie, "as the news was being announced. Each newcomer would add another detail to the story with beaming delight. All said that the retreat from the city and the defeat of the British augured a speedy termination of the war. The country is wholly united again under General Washington."

      "And what will become of Lee?" asked the father.

      "The traitor!" snapped Marjorie. "They ought to court-martial him. The crowd greeted his name with hisses when the details began to impress themselves upon them. I dare say, he has few friends in the city tonight, expect perhaps among the Tories. He is a disgrace to the uniform he wears."

      "Undoubtedly, the losses were heavy."

      "No one seemed to know. The minor details of the engagement are still unknown. They will come later. The consoling feature is that the enemy were compelled to withdraw, which would indicate that they were worsted. The remnants, I suppose, will concentrate at New York. There will occur the next great battle."

      "God grant that it will soon be over," exclaimed Mrs. Allison.

      "And now, daughter, have you more news?" asked her father.

      "Oh, yes! General Arnold is going to give a ball at the City Tavern on the Fourth of July to the officers of the French Army. It will be under the auspices of the American officers of Washington's command and in honor of the loyal ladies who had withheld from the Mischienza. And I have been invited to attend."

      "I should think that we have had enough of social life here during the past winter," quietly announced the father.

      "Well," replied Marjorie, "this affair is to exclude all who participated in the English Army festivities. Only Americans will be present."

      "How did you come by this report?" asked her mother.

      "Peggy Shippen. I stopped there for a short time. They told me of the proposed invitation and that I was included."

      "How came they by the news?"

      "I suppose General Arnold told them."

      "Is he acquainted with them? I wonder——"

      "Yes. They were presented to him, and he has already honored them with his visit."

      "I don't like this," said Mr. Allison, "and you can be assured that there will be little restriction as to the company who will comprise this assemblage. The Governor will take sides with the wealthy, be their sympathies what they may. Well, if he establish the precedent, I dare say, none will be so determined as to oppose him. Do you wish to go, daughter?"

      "I think I might enjoy it. The French soldiers are so gallant, I might find much pleasure there."

      "Very well, you shall attend," said her father.

III

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      And so it was decided that Marjorie would be present at the Governor's Ball. As custom did not require mothers to accompany their daughters to such functions, but allowed them to go unattended, Mrs. Allison preferred to remain at home. To what splendor and gayety the affair would lend itself was a matter of much speculation. This was the Governor's first event, and no one was aware of his prowess on the ballroom floor.

      Once the list of invitations had become public, it was understood quite generally that no distinction was made between those that had, and those that had not, attended the Mischienza. Whether the number would be surprisingly small, or whether the affair would fail of success without the Mischienza ladies, could not be foretold. Indeed such speculations were idle, since no discrimination had been made. There were a number of young French Officers in the town and one or two of General Washington's aides had remained because of the pressure of immediate business after the British evacuation. These of course would attend. All the other available young men belonged to the families who had held a more or less neutral position in the war, and who had not offered their services to the patriots nor yielded allegiance to the foe. As these neutrals were among the most prominent people of the city, their presence would, of course, be altogether desirable.

      Marjorie was invited through the efforts of Peggy Shippen, who had proposed her name to His Excellency on the occasion of his visit to her house. She would be included in their party and would be assigned a partner befitting her company. Because of the prominence of the Shippens, it was thought that the gallant young French Officers, would be assigned to them. Marjorie rejoiced at this although the Shippen girls evinced no such sentiment. Whether it СКАЧАТЬ