Part 29 (1/2)

Maryland troops wear red facings; the Georgia line are faced with blue, edged around by white. There goes an artilleryman; he's all blue and scarlet, with yellow on his hat; and here stroll a dozen dragoons in helmet and jack-boots and blue jackets laced, lined, and faced with white. Ah, Elsin, these same men have limped barefoot, half-naked, through snow and sun because his Excellency led them.”

”It is strange,” she said, ”how you turn grave and how a hush comes, a little pause of reverence, whenever you name--his Excellency. Do all so stand in awe of him?”

”None names him lightly, Elsin.”

”Have you ever seen him?”

”Never, child.”

”And yet you approach even his name in hushed respect.”

”Yes, even his name. I should like to see him,” I continued wistfully, ”to hear him speak once, to meet his calm eye. But I never shall. My service is of such a nature that it is inexpedient for him to receive me openly. So I never shall see him--save, perhaps, when the long war ends--G.o.d knows----”

She dropped her hand on mine and leaned lightly back against my shoulder.

”You must not fret,” she murmured. ”Remember that staff-officer said he praised you.”

”I do, I do remember!” I repeated gratefully. ”It was a reward I never dared expect--never dreamed of. His Excellency has been kind to me, indeed.”

It was now past four o'clock in the afternoon, and Elsin, who had noted the wares in the shop-windows, desired to price the few simple goods offered for sale; so we went out into the dusty village street to see what was to be seen, but the few shops we entered were full of soldiers and not overclean, and the wares offered for sale were not attractive.

I remember she bought points and some stuff for stocks, and needles and a reel of thread, and when she offered a gold piece everybody looked at us, and the shopkeeper called her ”My lady” and me ”My lord,” and gave us in change for the gold piece a great handful of paper money.

We emerged from the shop amazed, and doubtful of the paper stuff, and walked up the street and out into the country, pausing under a great maple-tree to sort this new Continental currency, of which we had enough to stuff a pillow.

Scrip by scrip I examined the legal tender of my country, Elsin, her chin on my shoulder, scrutinizing the printed slips of yellow, brown, and red in growing wonder. One slip bore three arrows on it, under which was printed:

Fifty Dollars.

Printed by H. A. L. L. and S. E. L.

1778.

Upon the other side was a pyramid in a double circle, surmounted by the legend:

PERENNIS.

And it was further decorated with the following:

”No. 16780 Fifty Dollars. This Bill ent.i.tles the Bearer to receive Fifty Spanish milled dollars or the value thereof in Gold or Silver, according to the Resolution pa.s.sed by Congress at Philadelphia, September 26th, 1788.

”J. WATKINS; I. K.”

And we had several dozen of these of equal or less denomination.

”Goodness,” exclaimed Elsin, ”was my guinea worth all these dollars?

And do you suppose that we could buy anything with these paper bills?”

”Certainly,” I said, loyal to my country's currency; ”they're just as good as silver s.h.i.+llings--if you only have enough of them.”

”But what use will they be to me in Canada?”