CHAPTER X.
Suspicions.
So far, with the exception of the raid into the upper Chesapeake, the eastern shore of Maryland had not suffered greatly from the enemy’s depredations, but during the spring and summer of 1813, St. Mary’s County, on the western shore, was seldom safe from marauders, who plundered and burned and destroyed till the people were reduced to extreme poverty. The men compelled to perform constant military duty received no help from the government, and in consequence of the deplorable condition of affairs, many took their families and emigrated to the far West. During the summer over one thousand volunteers and recruits were sent from Maryland to the Canada border, sadly as their help was needed at home.
Many of the people of the Eastern shore, with the enemy terrorizing them, likewise abandoned their homes; for Kent Island, a point lying directlyopposite the city of Annapolis, was taken possession of by the enemy early in August, and when three thousand British troops landed, it was to find but a small remnant of the population left. From this point foraging expeditions were constantly sent out, keeping the inhabitants of the neighboring shores in a constant state of uneasiness. On August 8, three ships of the line, five frigates, three brigs, two schooners, and some smaller vessels, advanced toward Baltimore, but the prompt appearance of those who were determined to defend the city, and the visible preparations which had been made, were sufficient to ward off any attack, and the enemy moved off and threatened Annapolis which lay across the bay from their station on Kent Island. Here likewise there was no lack of preparation, and the British finally withdrew.
All this set astir those in the neighborhood of Lettice’s home. Many fled, and those who had not already buried their valuables, or had not placed them in some safe hiding, made haste to do so. Lettice and Betty had long since seen to it that the family treasures were safely hidden; but since no one knew where the next attack might be made, they declared that as far as their personalsafety went, they might as well be in one place as another.
It was on the morning of August 7, that William came hurriedly in, saying: “The British are making for our shores! I must hurry off, Betty. Don’t look so terrified, my love. I trust we shall not suffer from the attack, but the militia are ordered out, and James and I must go. Here, Lettice, take these papers and put them in safe hiding somewhere; they are valuable. I ought to see to it myself, but I shall not have time. If anything happens, get over to Uncle Tom’s as quickly as possible. I fancy Aunt Martha can hold her own, and there is strength in numbers.” And kissing his weeping wife and trembling sister, he mounted his horse and was off, accompanied by James, who made his adieux with a last whisper to Lettice, “If I fall, Lettice, give this little packet to Rhoda.”
Lettice nodded, too full of distress to speak, and the two women, holding each other closely, watched the young men as they galloped out of sight. “Oh, Lettice, Lettice,” Betty sobbed, “suppose we never see them again!”
“Don’t!” cried Lettice, sharply. “Betty, don’t say such things. Let us busy ourselves about something,or we shall not be fit to face trouble when it comes. I must hide these papers at once.” She concealed them under her apron, and stole through the orchard to the graveyard, where, dropping on her knees, she hastily dug a hole close by the leaning footstone of Theophilus Hopkins’s grave, and in the cavity she placed the box of papers. From time to time she glanced apprehensively around to be sure that no one observed her, and she was startled in the very act of covering up the place of hiding, by hearing some one say: “I knew I should find you here. Are you honoring your ancestor by planting fresh flowers upon his grave? It is rather late in the season, isn’t it?”
Lettice, looking greatly confused, stammered: “I—yes—no, I was not. It is rather late for some flowers, to be sure, but some can be planted at almost any time, you know.” As she recovered herself, she spoke with more assurance. “How long have you been watching me, Mr. Clinton?” she asked.
“Only a few moments. I saw you digging away for dear life, but I didn’t disturb you, for I liked to watch your little white hands.” He tried to take them in his, but Lettice drew them away.
“They are all covered with earth and stuff,” she said. “You came very early.”
“Yes, I came from your aunt with a message. We have heard that the British are moving in this direction, and Mrs. Hopkins thinks you will all be safer under her roof. I suppose your brothers are off at first alarm.”
“Yes, they have gone; but I am not sure what Betty will consent to do. The negroes, to be sure, are scattering off toward the woods, and our being here will scarcely keep them together. The older and more faithful ones will stay anyhow, and we could take Lutie, and Mammy, and Speery with us. Jubal has been stirring them all up with his fearsome tales, and I shouldn’t be surprised if he coaxed off a lot of the field hands. I never did trust Jubal,” she said meditatively.
“Then I will escort you over, if your sister consents.”
Lettice agreed, and they started for the house. “Do you know if it is simply a foraging party of British on the way here, or is it really a large force?” Lettice asked.
“I believe it is quite a large force; at least I was told so by some one who brought the news. A company of scouts under Captain Massey madethe discovery that the British were advancing, and there has been a skirmish. Major Nicholson and his troops are at Queenstown, which I believe is expected to be the point of attack.”
“Has it come to that? Then we may look for anything. I am sure Brother William would want to have us go to Uncle Tom’s.”
They found Betty quite willing to follow Mr. Clinton’s advice; therefore, taking the baby and three of the servants, they hastened over to Sylvia’s Ramble, to find Mrs. Hopkins somewhat nervous, but outwardly determined, while Rhoda was quietly alert, and not the least discomposed, to all appearances.
Lettice, eager and anxious, was at times so preoccupied that she scarcely heeded what Robert said to her. Once she turned on him fiercely. “If we are raided upon here, shall you fight for or against us?” she asked. “Let us know what to expect.”
“Lettice!” he exclaimed. “How can you ask such a question? I will defend you to the last drop of blood, but I hope there will arise no such emergency.”
Lettice gave him a lovely smile. “I almost wish there would,” she said.
“Why such a wish?”
“Because you would then have an opportunity of proving yourself a true American.”
He bit his lip and made no reply for a moment; then he said, “I think there is no one, whatever his views, who would not be ready to defend those he loves, should they be in danger, but I think we have no cause for alarm; non-combatants will be shown every courtesy, I am sure.”
“By whom? That pirate, that thief, that marauder, Cockburn?”
“Sh!” exclaimed Mrs. Tom Hopkins, hearing the words. “Even walls have ears. We must be discreet, Lettice.”
“Discreet!” began Lettice, passionately, but the distant sound of great guns came upon their ears, and the words died upon her lips.
It was a day of dread and great gloom which no effort could dispel. They sat waiting, they knew not for what, till at last Rhoda cried: “Here comes a messenger riding hard. Go out, Robert, and see if he brings news.”
Not only Robert, but all of them, hastened to meet the newcomer, Betty and Lettice fairly outstripping the others. It was young Birket Dean. He looked tired and travel-worn, but he cried triumphantly:“All safe, Mrs. Hopkins! Our men had to beat a retreat, but not before they had made the enemy taste of their shot. We didn’t lose a man, but there were several killed and wounded on the other side, and more than one deserted. Every one thinks that St. Michael’s is threatened, and Talbot County is up in arms. I must ride on and tell them at home of what has happened. I promised William I would stop by and tell you all how matters stood. He says you’d better stay here for the present, for he took it for granted I would find you all here together.” And he galloped off, leaving them all with a great weight removed.
The next news that came was that the little town of St. Michael’s was in danger of an attack. It was the place where nearly all the famous “Baltimore Clippers” were built, and because of this it attracted the attention of Cockburn, who intended destroying the shipyards and the vessels then in course of construction. But he met so valiant a resistance that he finally withdrew, and although the houses in the little town showed the effects of the shot, which flew like hail, not one of the militia was hurt.
The next day Lettice and Betty returned to their own home.
“You’d better not be too hasty in getting back,” warned Aunt Martha.
“I believe Aunt Martha is disappointed in not having had a visit from Admiral Cockburn,” said Lettice, laughing.
“Indeed, then, I am not!” returned the lady with some asperity; “but I’ve an older head than yours, miss, and I think I may consider that I have more discretion.”
“Maybe,” Lettice nodded; then said saucily, “If you should receive a call, send us word, and we’ll come over and help you entertain your Britishers.”
“And you’d do it well,” said Mr. Clinton in a low tone.
Lettice gave a toss of the head and sprang into her saddle. For some reason she was not pleased with this young gentleman this morning; he had been far too cautious in showing her attentions, and had been too evidently anxious that no one should discern any difference in his manner toward the two girls; and besides, Lettice resented his saying that it would be as well that they should not take Rhoda into their confidence, and yet she had several times come upon the two in close conference, and once had overheard Rhoda say, “I will see that the matter is kept a secret, but we must be very cautious.” So Lettice, with a feeling that she could not quite trust him, and that he might be playing a doublepart, was most cool toward him, and eagerly seconded her sister Betty’s proposition to go.
It was a few days later that William and James returned. They came galloping in one evening full of accounts of their skirmishes.
“It’s a great life,” said Jamie; “but I mean to join Barney. We don’t get enough service here on shore, and on sea they are always popping at each other.”
“Then I needn’t return you the packet you gave into my keeping,” Lettice said.
James smiled. “No, keep it safe, and if I want it when the war is over, I will ask you for it, and if I fall, bestow it as I directed you.”
“Lettice,” her brother William’s voice broke in, “where are those papers? Are they safely hidden?”
“Yes, I hid them with my own hands,” she replied.
“I shall want them soon.”
“To-night?”
“Hardly, I think. I will let you know if I require them; but they must be sent off the first opportunity, for there are government secrets among them.”
“Oh, really? I am glad they are out of my hands, then. Who is coming? I hear the clatter of horses on the walk.”
William arose and went down the steps, and Lettice heard him say: “Ah, General, welcome, right welcome. Good evening, Tyler. Glad to meet you, Mr. Baldwin. Come in, gentlemen, and let me present you to the ladies.” And Lettice was soon in the presence of the veteran, General Benson, Captain Dodson, her old friend, Tyler Baldwin, and, whom but the young naval officer, Ellicott Baldwin, of whom Tyler had spoken to her, and whom she well remembered.
“A fortunate circumstance it was which led me to my cousin’s this week,” said the young man, who bowed low before Lettice. “I trust you remember me, for I have never forgotten you.”
Lettice blushed and dropped her eyes. “I was very bold,” she murmured; “but I was so excited that I forgot I was speaking to a stranger.”
“Not bold,” the young man hastened to say. “It was but the charming naturalness of a child; the spontaneity of trusting youth. You cannot think I had feelings other than those of admiration for your ingenuous words, and I have ever since desired an opportunity of meeting you again. May I tell youhow I happen to be here? Shall we sit here?” He led her to a corner of the wide piazza, and seated himself by her side. “The general and Captain Dodson were coming this way to get some papers which I am to deliver at Washington, to which place I am to start by daybreak. They have been having a lively time at St. Michael’s, as you probably know.”
“Yes, we have heard of it; but those papers—they must be the ones my brother was just speaking about, and I shall have to go and get them at once, for it is I who know where they are hidden. I will have to ask James to go with me.”
“Are they within doors?”
“No, they are down yonder.” She made a movement of the hand in the direction of the graveyard.
“May I not accompany you? Your brother seems occupied at this moment.”
“I do not object, if you are willing to help with the digging.”
“Will I not be? Try me. I shall like the fun, I assure you.”
“Then we will go at once. I will get a spade as we go along. Are you afraid of haunts?”
“Not I. And it is moonlight and not midnight, so I fancy we are safe from evil charms.”
“Perhaps you have a rabbit foot.”
“No; nor any charm, except such as is possessed by my companion, whose youth and beauty should be sufficient to protect me from all malign influences.” They sauntered down the moonlit garden path. Sweet clove pinks and August lilies freighted the air with their heavy perfume. Lettice remembered that night, not so long ago, when she and Robert had felt the spell of the moonlight, and when she had almost—She drew a sigh which her companion noted. “Does anything trouble you?” he asked gently.
“No; it was only that I suddenly remembered something. See, here by this footstone is the place. The soil is light, and the box is not very deeply placed. I think we can soon reach it.” She knelt down on the grass and began to brush away some of the loose leaves and sticks.
Mr. Baldwin struck his spade into the dry soil, throwing out the earth deftly and easily. He had been digging for some minutes when Lettice exclaimed: “Surely, that should be far enough. Haven’t you struck the box yet?”
“No; I seem to come upon nothing harder than the earth.”
She peered over into the hole, resting one hand upon the footstone. Then she exclaimed in an agitatedtone, “That is much deeper than I dug, and nothing is there!”
“Are you quite sure this is the exact spot?”
“Yes, very sure—exactly on a line with the footstone, and a little to the right. Oh, no, I could not possibly be mistaken, for there is not room on the other side, you see. There is some mystery here.” She took the spade and began to feel around with it. “It is gone!” she exclaimed. “Some one has stolen it away. I am as sure as of my existence that it has been stolen away.”
“I will dig a little further, and more to the right; you may have gone deeper than you thought.” He threw out a few more spadefuls of earth, but discovered nothing. “There is no box here,” he said at last. “Who could have taken it?”
Lettice was silent a moment; then she said in a tense way, “I think I know. The deceitful wretch! The cowardly spy! I will denounce him before the world.”
At this very moment a shadow fell upon the white footstone. Lettice turned quickly—Robert Clinton stood before them. “There he is!” she cried. “That is he, the spy! No one else saw me, and I do not know how long he may have been watchingme.”
“What do you mean?” cried Robert. “Lettice, what do you mean? Of what do you accuse me? A spy? I? Is it possible—”
“It is possible that I have learned the value of fair words alone,” she returned scornfully. “I understand many things now. I understand your confidences with those who, like you, would be willing to play into the hands of our country’s enemies. Yes, I believe you are a spy.”
The young man turned to Mr. Baldwin, who, leaning upon his spade, regarded the two. “Sir,” said Robert, “will you tell me if this young lady is suddenly crazed? Can you explain this to me?”
“Oh, you are very innocent!” Lettice broke in. “Add deceit to deceit. Tell him, Mr. Baldwin, since he is so innocent of the charge. Refresh his memory.”
“Miss Hopkins secreted some valuables in this place,” Mr. Baldwin said, turning to Robert. “We came down here to unearth them, and we find them gone.”
“And you charge me with taking them! Lettice, you can do that? Great Heaven! what do I hear? Lettice, you are but joking. You do not really mean it. This is but one of your tricks.”
“I wish to Heaven it were so, sir. For my part, if you have taken the box to plague me, it is a sorry joke; but return the papers quickly, I beg of you, and I will forgive you. Have you them? This is no time for play; say quickly.”
“I have not,” he answered slowly. He was very pale, and was trembling from head to foot.
“You may not have them, but did you take them?” Mr. Baldwin asked.
Robert whirled around upon him. “You dare ask me that! And who are you, who take the right to question me? I am not answerable to you, sir, but you shall be answerable to me.” And, taking a step forward, he gave the other a slap in the face.
From Lettice came a cry of dismay, and Mr. Baldwin, with eyes flashing, said in a low, even voice: “I will meet you, sir, when and where you please, as soon as this charge made by Miss Hopkins is disproved. At present I do not forget that we are in the presence of a lady.”
“Lettice, Lettice, forgive me!” cried Robert. But she gave him not so much as a look or a word. She extended her hand to Mr. Baldwin. “Take me to my brother,” she said. “I must tell him at once of his loss.”
Mr. Baldwin hesitated, and Lettice understood that he would fain secure the man she had accused.“No, no,” she whispered, “do not arrest him. I may have been too hasty. We have no proof as yet. I beg of you, Mr. Baldwin, take no further steps till we consult my brother. He—he may be innocent, and—and—we have been friends.” Therefore, leaving Robert standing wretched and alone, they moved toward the house.