Peggy Owen at Yorktown

by Lucy Foster Madison

“Harriet!” Drayton’s whisper expressed the most intense astonishment. “Harriet!” And even as he spoke the name she stood beside them.

“Come,” she said. They glided after her, pausing only when they had reached a safe distance from the hut.

“We must not stop to talk,” said the English girl in peremptory tones. “Captain Drayton, you will have to depend upon yourself now.”

“Gladly,” he responded having recovered from his amazement by this time. “How can I thank you, Mistress Harriet? I——”

“You owe me no thanks,” she interrupted coldly. “I did it for Peggy. We cannot stay longer. We must get back with the key before Clifford wakes. Go!”

“Yet none the less do I thank you,” spoke the youth huskily. “’Twould have been a shameful death. I thank you both. Good-bye!” He said no more, but disappeared into the darkness.

With anxiety the girls returned to the house. All was as quiet as when they left. Without incident the key was restored to Clifford’s pocket, and, donning her own attire, Harriet went to rouse Colonel Owen. For it was near midnight.

CHAPTER XXXI—THE DAWN OF THE MORNING

“What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream; ’Tis the star-spangled banner; O long may it wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!” —Francis Scott Key. “Hurrah! the foes are moving. Hark to the mingled din Of fife, and steed, and trump, and drum, and roaring culverin! Now by the lips of those ye love, fair gentlemen of France, Charge for the golden lilies now—upon them with the lance!” —“The Battle of Ivry,” Macaulay.

Would the escape be discovered at once? The maidens asked this over and over as they crept into bed, and lay listening to every sound with feverish expectancy. But the night hours came and went, bringing with them no incident that betokened any unusual commotion in the camp. So, declaring that naught was to be learned until morning, Harriet dropped into slumber. Not so Peggy.