Canolles: the fortunes of a partisan of '81

I. Under The Moon

On a May evening in the year 1781, just as the sun had disappeared, a man riding a powerful black horse emerged from the great morass known as the " White Oak Swamp " on the right bank of the Ohickahominy, in Virginia, and went at a long steady gallop in the direction of James River.

An hour's ride brought him in sight of a large and imposing house. This house, known time out of mind as " Chatsworth," fronted southward toward the river, from which it was separated only by a sloping lawu and a low fence, and a single glance showed that it had once been the residence of a man of great possessions. The facade was long and elegantly decorated, the portico, extending the entire length of the building, was reached by a broad flight of stone steps, and through the trees to the right and rear were seen extensive stables, outhouses and servants' quarters. Over the gateways were armorial devices in stone; the garden fell in terraces, ornamented with edgings of box; the place, it might be seen, had once been splendid. But now all things were going tQ decay. The sward was overgrown with weeds, the fences were falling, the outhouses and quarters were deserted, and some plaster had fallen from the ceiling of the porch and lay where it fell. Everywhere, in the house, the grounds, the inclosures, were the evidences of poverty and neglect.

The man coming from the "White Oak Swamp made a circuit, and halting his horse in a little clump of trees not far from the front of the house, remained-for some time looking at it in silence. He was apparently from twenty-five to twenty-eight, rather low in stature, broad-shouldered, and wore a nondescript costume, half that of a civilian, half that of a soldier. There could be little doubt, however, that the latter was his true character. From his holsters protruded a pair of horseman's pistols, and around his waist was buckled a strong leather belt, sustaining a heavy broadsword. His air above all was that of the soldier — cool, resolute and commanding. His face, not unhandsome, but bronzed by sun and wind, had a peculiarly phlegmatic expression — that of a man not likely to be surprised or daunted by anything — but with this phlegm was mingled both pride and melancholy. The motionless figure seemed to suit the scene and the hour. The last flush of sunset had faded in the west; above the tree tops glimmered faintly now a thin crescent moon slowly sailing through diaphanous clouds; the murmur of the great stream came like a lullaby through the deepening gloom, and the walls of Chatsworth looked ghostly in the dim moonlight.

UNDER THJS MOON.

" Well," muttered the horseman, " I have come on an errand which will probably result in nothing; yes, that will be the result. And yet I must hold this interview. I wonder if the fair one will insult me very grossly ? Doubtless."

He threw a keen glance around him, as though reconnoitering from habit, and touching his horse with the spur, rode up and dismounted in front of the house. An old horse-rack, leaning from age, stood near, but the man did not tie his horse there. He led the animal to an abandoned outhouse in the rear, where a door stood open, concealed him in the building, and, returning to the front of the house, went up the broad steps and knocked.

A light had just appeared in the apartment to the right, and at the sound made by the falling of the great bronze knocker, a shadow was thrown upon the tarnished lace curtain at one of the windows ; the shadow remained stationary for a moment, then it disappeared, then a step was heard in the hall, and a voice said behind the door :

"Who is that?"

" A friend," was the reply of the man.

"What friend?"

" If Miss Talbot will open she will discover," said the man. " An enemy would find little difiiculty in forcing an entrance."

There was a short silence. Then, as though the logic of the speaker had produced conviction, the door opened, and the light from the room fell upon the horseman.

"You, sir! " exclaimed the person who had opened — a young lady — " you here, sir ? "

" Myself, madam," said the stranger coolly.

" Your business ? "

" To prove myself the friend of Mrs. Talbot and her nieces."

"Indeed ! '"

She was about to add something more to this chill exclamation, but apparently changing her mind turned her back and swept with a haughty air back into the room, which was occupied by an elderlj^ lady and a young girl. The apartment had about it the same air of past splendor seen in the exterior of the mansion. The walls were heavily wainscoted in rich paneling, but the woodwork had warped and shrunk. The cornices were superb, but in ' many places had fallen. The marble mantle-piece had cracked from side to side. The gilding of the portrait frames had nearly disappeared, and the once fine carpet was in rags. Some old earved-back chairs., an antique center-table on which burned a single candle in a silver candlestick, and a rug in holes, were all the furniture.

The elderly lady, who was knitting with tremulous fingers, wore a frilled cap, a black dress, and a white handkerchief which passed around her neck was secured by an ancient breastpin in the front. Beyond these commonplace externals there was nothing to attract in her appearance. The younger persons were more striking. The one who had admitted the visitor was about twenty-five — tall, dark-haired, dressed with what might be called tarnished elegance, but undenia-

UNDER THE MOON. 7

bly a beauty. The eyes were dark and penetrating, and the complexion superb ; but the fair face was spoiled by an expression of discontent and ill-humor, which had ripened into positive scorn and anger, now as the stranger entered. Her companion was apparently about nineteen, and quite different in appearance ; her hair of a rich brown, her eyes blue, her face of a pure oval, and her figure petite and slender, Her dress was as simple as her companion's was pretentious, and the bodice, with its long waist and opening at the neck in the fashion called " Marie Stuart," distinctly outlined an exquisitely maidenly figure. In face and form there was an indefinable grace and freshness; the girl had about her that indescribable something sought to be expressed by the word feminine. She seemed made to love and be loved — to confide and be confided in. The brilliant eyes of the elder dazzled and repelled a little — the dove's eyes of the younger drew you. And these opposing characters were seen even in their positions and attitudes. The elder sat with head erect in the full blaze of light, looking coldly straight at the new comer. The younger occupied a low seat nearly in the shadow, near the mantle-piece, her head dropped a little, and she stole from beneath her long lashes a searching glance at the visitor.

He advanced into the centre of the room, bowed, and remained standing.

CANOLLES.