Lettice looked confused; then she replied, laughing, “I’ll tell you when the war is over.”
Rhoda regarded her gravely. “Robert Clinton will never desert his party,” she said; “and I think he will spare no means to forward the interests of those whose opinions he endorses.”
“Perhaps,” Lettice returned lightly; “but men are not infallible. The best of them are mistaken sometimes, and he may yet change. Rhoda, would or could any one in the world make you differ from your father in politics?”
Red grew Rhoda’s cheeks. “I don’t know,” she returned faintly.
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 directly opposite 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 personal safety 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.”