For Love of Country. Cyrus Townsend Brady

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СКАЧАТЬ let nothing escape my notice, sir."

      "Now, Katharine, I hope you are satisfied."

      "Yes, father; but if it is the raiders, Blodgett won't be able to stop them."

      "The raiders," laughed the colonel; and pinching his daughter's ear, he said, "I suspect the only raiders we shall see here will be those who have designs upon your heart, my bonny Kate—eh, Seymour?"

      "They would never dare to wear a British uniform in that case, father," she retorted proudly.

      "Well, Seymour, I hear, through an express from Congress to-day, that Captain Jones has been ordered to command the Ranger, and that the new flag—we will drink to it, if you please; yes, you too, Katharine; God bless every star and stripe in it—will soon be seen on the ocean."

      "It will be a rare sight there, sir," said Seymour; "but it will not be long before the exploits of the Ranger will make it known on the high seas, if rumor does not belie her captain."

      "I trust so; but do you know this Captain Jones?"

      "Not at all, sir, save by reputation; but I am told he has one requisite for a successful officer."

      "And what is that?"

      "He will fight anything, at any time, or at any place, no matter what the odds."

      Colonel Wilton smiled. "Ah, well, if it were not for men of that kind, our little navy would never have a chance."

      "No, father, nor the army, either; if we waited for equality before fighting, I am afraid we should wait forever."

      "True, Katharine. By the way, have you seen Talbot to-day?"

      "No, father."

      "I wish that we might enlist his services in the cause. I don't think there is much doubt about Talbot himself, is there?"

      "No. It is his mother, you know; she is a loyalist to the core. As were her ancestors, so is she."

      The colonel nodded gently; he had a soft spot in his heart for the subject of their discussion. "With her teaching and training, I can well understand it, Katharine. Proud, of high birth, descended from the 'loyal Talbots,' and the widow of one of them, she cannot bear the thought of rebellion against the king. I don't think she cares much for the people, or their liberties either."

      "Yes, father; with her the creed is, the king can do no wrong."

      "Ah, well," said the colonel, reflectively, "I thought so too once, and many is the blow I have struck for this same king. But liberty is above royalty, independence not a dweller in the court; so, in my old age, I find myself on a different side." He sipped his wine thoughtfully a moment, and continued—

      "Madam Talbot has certainly striven to restrain the boy, and successfully so far. He is a splendid fellow; I wish we had him. He would be of great service to the cause, with his name and influence, and the money he would bring; and then the quality of the young man himself would be of value to us. You have met him, Seymour, I believe?"

      "Yes, sir, several times; and I agree with you entirely. It is his mother who keeps him back. I have had one or two conversations with her. She is a Tory through and through."

      "Not a doubt of it, not a doubt of it," said the colonel. "Katharine, can't you do something with him?"

      "Oh, father, you know that I have talked with him, pleaded with him, and begged him to follow his inclination; but he remains by his mother."

      "Nonsense, Katharine! Don't speak of him in that way; give him time. It is a hard thing: he is her only son; she is a widow. Let us hope that something will induce him to come over to us." He said this in gentle reproof of his spirited daughter; and then—

      "Permit me to offer you a glass of wine, Seymour—you are not drinking anything; and to whom shall we drink?"

      Seymour, who had been quaffing deep draughts of Katharine's beauty, replied promptly—

      "If I might suggest, sir, I should say Mistress Wilton."

      "No, no," said Katharine. "Drink, first of all, to the success of our cause. I will give you a toast, gentlemen: Before our sweethearts, our sisters, our wives, our mothers, let us place—our country," she exclaimed, lifting her own glass.

      The colonel laughed as he drank his toast, saying, "Nothing comes before country with Katharine."

      And Seymour, while he appreciated the spirit of the maiden, felt a little pang of grief that even to a country he should be second—an astonishing change from that spirit of humility which a moment since contented itself with metaphorically kissing the ground she walked upon.

      "By the way, father, where is Philip?" asked Katharine.

      "He went up the branch fishing, with Bentley, I believe."

      "But is n't it time they returned? Do you know, I feel nervous about them; suppose those raiders—"

      "Pshaw, child! Still harping on the raiders? and nervous too! What ails you, daughter? I thought you never were nervous. We Wiltons are not accustomed to nervousness, you know, and what must our guest think?"

      "Nothing but what is altogether agreeable," replied Seymour, a little too promptly; and then, to cover his confusion, he continued: "But I think Miss Wilton need feel under no apprehension. Master Philip is with Bentley, and I would trust the prudence and courage and skill of that man in any situation. You know my father, who was a shipmaster, when he died aboard his ship in the China seas, gave me, a little boy taking a cruise with him, into Bentley's charge, and told him to make a sailor and a man of me, and from that day he has never left me. At my house, in Philadelphia, he is a privileged character. There never was a truer, better, braver man; and as for patriotism, love of country is a passion with him, colonel. He might set an example to many in higher station in that particular."

      "Yes, I have noticed that peculiarity about the man. I think Philip is safe enough with him, Katharine, even if those—Ha! what is that?" The colonel sprang to his feet, as the sound of a musket-shot rang out in the night air, followed by one or two pistol-shots and then a muffled cry.

CHAPTER IV

       Table of Contents

       Lord Dunmore's Men Pay an Evening Call

      "Oh, father, it must be the raiders! That was Blodgett's voice," cried

       Katharine, looking very pale and clasping her hands.

      "Let me go and investigate, colonel," said Seymour, leaping to his feet and seizing his sword.

      "Do so, Seymour," cried the colonel, as the sailor hastily left the room. "Phoebus," to the butler, "go tell Caesar to call the slaves to the house. You, Scipio," to one of the footmen, "go open the arm-chest. Katharine, reach me my sword. See that the doors are closed, Billy," said the colonel to the other servant, rapidly and with perfect coolness. "I think, Katharine, that perhaps you would better retire to your room;" but even as he spoke the sound of hurried footsteps and excited voices outside was heard. After СКАЧАТЬ