Part 1 (1/2)
Fort Lafayette or, Love and Secession.
by Benjamin Wood.
----”Whom they please they lay in basest bonds.”
_Venice Preserved._
”O, beauteous Peace!
Sweet union of a state! what else but thou Gives safety, strength, and glory to a people?”
_Thomson._
”Oh, Peace! thou source and soul of social life; Beneath whose calm inspiring influence, Science his views enlarges, art refines, And swelling commerce opens all her ports; Blest be the man divine, who gives us thee!”
_Thomson._
”A peace is of the nature of a conquest; For then both parties n.o.bly are subdued, And neither party loser.”
_Shakspeare._
CHAPTER I.
There is a pleasant villa on the southern bank of the James River, a few miles below the city of Richmond. The family mansion, an old fas.h.i.+oned building of white stone, surrounded by a s.p.a.cious veranda, and embowered among stately elms and grave old oaks, is sure to attract the attention of the traveller by its picturesque appearance, and the dreamy elegance and air of comfort that pervade the spot. The volumes of smoke that roll from the tall chimneys, the wide portals of the hall, flung open as if for a sign of welcome, the merry chat and cheerful faces of the sable household, lazily alternating their domestic labors with a sly romp or a lounge in some quiet nook, these and other traits of the old Virginia home, complete the picture of hospitable affluence which the stranger instinctively draws as his gaze lingers on the grateful scene. The house stands on a wooded knoll, within a bowshot of the river bank, and from the steps of the back veranda, where creeping flowers form a perfumed network of a thousand hues, the velvety lawn shelves gracefully down to the water's edge.
Toward sunset of one of the early days of April, 1861, a young girl stood leaning upon the wicket of a fence which separated the garden from the highway. She stood there dreamily gazing along the road, as if awaiting the approach of some one who would be welcome when he came. The slanting rays of the declining sun glanced through the honeysuckles and tendrils that intertwined among the white palings, and threw a subdued light upon her face. It was a face that was beautiful in repose, but that promised to be more beautiful when awakened into animation. The large, grey eyes were half veiled with their black lashes at that moment, and their expression was thoughtful and subdued; but ever as the lids were raised, when some distant sound arrested her attention, the expression changed with a sudden flash, and a gleam like an electric fire darted from the glowing orbs. Her features were small and delicately cut, the nostrils thin and firm, and the lips most exquisitely molded, but in the severe chiselling of their arched lines betraying a somewhat pa.s.sionate and haughty nature. But the rose tint was so warm upon her cheek, the raven hair cl.u.s.tered with such luxuriant grace about her brows, and the _pet.i.te_ and lithe figure was so symmetrical at every point, that the impression of haughtiness was lost in the contemplation of so many charms.
Oriana Weems, the subject of our sketch, was an orphan. Her father, a wealthy Virginian, died while his daughter was yet an infant, and her mother, who had been almost constantly an invalid, did not long survive.
Oriana and her brother, Beverly, her senior by two years, had thus been left at an early age in the charge of their mother's sister, a maiden lady of excellent heart and quiet disposition, who certainly had most conscientiously fulfilled the sacred trust. Oriana had returned but a twelvemonth before from a northern seminary, where she had gathered up more accomplishments than she would ever be likely to make use of in the old homestead; while Beverly, having graduated at Yale the preceding month, had written to his sister that she might expect him that very day, in company with his cla.s.smate and friend, Arthur Wayne.
She stood, therefore, at the wicket, gazing down the road, in expectation of catching the first glimpse of her brother and his friend, for whom horses had been sent to Richmond, to await their arrival at the depot. So much was she absorbed in revery, that she failed to observe a solitary horseman who approached from the opposite direction. He plodded leisurely along until within a few feet of the wicket, when he quietly drew rein and gazed for a moment in silence upon the unconscious girl.
He was a tall, gaunt man, with stooping shoulders, angular features, lank, black hair and a sinister expression, in which cunning and malice combined. He finally urged his horse a step nearer, and as softly as his rough voice would admit, he bade: ”Good evening, Miss Oriana.”
She started, and turned with a suddenness that caused the animal he rode to swerve. Recovering her composure as suddenly, she slightly inclined her head and turning from him, proceeded toward the house.
”Stay, Miss Oriana, if you please.”
She paused and glanced somewhat haughtily over her shoulder.
”May I speak a word with you?”
”My aunt, sir, is within; if you have business, I will inform her of your presence.”
”My business is with you, Miss Weems,” and, dismounting, he pa.s.sed through the gate and stepped quickly to her side.
”Why do you avoid me?”
Her dark eye flashed in the twilight, and she drew her slight form up till it seemed to gain a foot in height.