Part 33 (2/2)
Slowly they walked the winding paths, stopping at times to gaze upon the clouds, silver-lined, in the bright light of the full-orbed moon.
”I shall not soon forget this quiet evening with you, Mr. Walden, nor the words you have spoken. I have thought it was my foreboding, but now I can see that there may be trying times before us,--times which will test friends.h.i.+ps.”
”I trust, Miss Newville, that I may ever be worthy to be numbered among your friends.”
”I know you will.” After a moment's hesitation she added, ”The time may come when I shall need your friends.h.i.+p.”
Her voice was tremulous. The nine o'clock bell was ringing. They were by the gate leading to the street.
”You go home to-morrow. Will it be long before we shall see you again?
I may want such strength as you can give,” she said.
”I trust that in G.o.d's good time we may meet again. How soon I may be here or what may bring me I do not foresee; but be a.s.sured, Miss Newville, I shall ever be your friend.”
”I do not doubt it. Good-by,” she said.
She heard his retreating footsteps growing fainter.
”Oh, if he had only said, 'I love you,'” the whisper on her lips.
”I could die for her; no, I'll live for her,” he said to himself, as he walked towards the Brandon home.
XV.
THE MIDNIGHT RIDE.
Abel Shrimpton, loyal to the king, hated Samuel Adams and John Hanc.o.c.k and the Sons of Liberty, holding them responsible for the troubles that had come to the people. In Mr. Shrimpton's attractive home, made beautiful by the presence of his daughter, Tom Brandon had been a welcome visitor, but the relations between Mr. Shrimpton and Tom were changing.
”The Regulation Act,” said Tom, ”which in fact makes the king the government, deprives the people of their liberties.”
”People who abuse their liberties ought to be deprived of them,” Mr.
Shrimpton replied.
”We are not allowed to select jurors. The law takes away our right to a.s.semble in town meeting, except by permission, and then we can only elect selectmen to look after town affairs,” said Tom.
”The people have shown they are not fit to govern themselves,” said Mr. Shrimpton. ”They allow the mob to run riot. It was a mob that smashed Chief Justice Hutchinson's windows. Your gatherings under the Liberty Tree are in reality nothing but mobs; you have no legal authority for a.s.sembling. It was a mob that a.s.saulted the king's troops on the 5th of March; a mob threw the tea into the harbor, and I strongly suspect that Tom Brandon had a hand in that iniquity. The king stands for law and order. The troops are here in the interest of good government, by const.i.tuted authority, to enforce the law and put down riots.”
”Just who had a hand in throwing the tea overboard no one can find out, but I am glad it was done,” said Tom.
”So you uphold lawlessness, Mr. Brandon?”
”I stand against the unrighteous acts of Parliament. We will not be slaves; we will not be deprived of our liberties. If King George and Lord North think they can starve the people of this town into submission, they will find themselves mistaken,” said Tom.
”I hope he will compel every one of you to obey the laws, and that whoever had a hand in destroying the tea will suffer for it,” Mr.
Shrimpton replied.
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