Part 24 (2/2)

_St. L_. We have sent out for him. No one has seen him as yet.

_Bur_. Let him be found. Look to it. We will give them an example for once. I say, at a crisis like this we might better have lost a thousand men in battle, for it will turn thousands against us, and rouse the slumbering spirit of resistance here, at the very crisis when, had it slumbered on a little longer, all was ours.

_St. L_. But this was a quarrel among the Indians, and no fault of ours.

_Bur_. No matter. You will see what Schuyler will make of it. His wordy proclamation will have its living sequel now. A young and innocent girl, seeking the protection of our camp, is inhumanly murdered by Indians in our pay. A single tale like this is enough to undo at a blow all that we have accomplished here. With ten thousand wild aggravations, it will be told in every cottage of these borders before to-morrow's sunset.

(_Another Officer enters hastily_.)

_Off_. Here is Arnold, with a thousand men, on the brow of the next hill. One of the rebel guard escaped, and the news of the ma.s.sacre here has reached their camp below.

_Bur_. Said I right?

(_The three Officers go out together_.)

_Andre_. This story is spreading fast, there will be throngs here presently. Maitland,--nay, do not let me startle you thus, but--

_Mait_. Is it you? What was it we were saying yesterday?--we should have noted it. This were a picture worth your pencilling now. Those silken vestments,--that long, golden hair,--this youthful shape,--there's that same haughty grace about it, that the smile of these thought-lit eyes would disown with every glance. Then that letter,--and the Lady Ackland here,--Weeping?--This is most strange. I know you all,--but,--as I live I can't remember how this chanced. How comes it that we all stand here?

Pearls?--and white silk?--a bridal?--Ha ha ha! (_Laughing wildly_.)

_Lady A_. Take me away. This is too terrible! lean stay here no longer.

Take me away, Andre.

[_Exeunt Andre and Lady A_.

(_An Officer enters_.)

_The Officer_. We are ordered to withdraw our detachment, Captain Maitland. The rebels are just below, some two thousand strong, and in no mood to be encountered.

_Mor_. He does not hear you. We must leave that murdered lady here, and 'tis vain to think of parting them. Come.

[_Exeunt Mortimer and Officer_.

_Mait_. They are gone at last. They are all gone. I am alone with my dead bride. I must needs smile--I could not weep when those haughty and prying eyes were upon me, but now--I am alone with my dead bride.--Helen, they are all gone,--we are alone. How still she lies,--smiling too,--on that same bank. She will speak, surely she will.

How lightly those soft lashes lie, as if a word would lift them.--Helen!--I will be calm and patient as a child. This lovely smile is deepening, it will melt to words again.--Hark! that spring,--that same curious murmur! We have checked our sweetest words to hear it, we have stood here listening to it, till we fancied, in its talk-like tones, wild histories, beautiful and sad, the secrets of the woods.--Oh G.o.d!--and have such memories no power here now? In mine ear alone doth the spring murmur now. Death! what is't?--Awake! awake,--by the love that is _stronger_ than death,--awake!--

I thought that scene would s.h.i.+ft. It had a heavy, dream-like mistiness.

_This_ is reality again. _These_ are the pine trees that I dreamed of.

See! how beautiful! With the sharp outline and the vivid hue such as our childhood's unworn sense yields, they are waving now. Look, Andre, there she sits, the young and radiant stranger,--there, in the golden sunset she is sitting still, braiding those flowers,--see, how the rich life flashes in her eye, and yet, just now I dreamed that she was dead, and--and--Oh my G.o.d!

(_A voice without_.)

Let go, who stays me?--where's my sister?

(_Captain Grey enters_.)

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