Part 52 (1/2)

”Who are you?”

”I am a lieutenant in the command of Colonel Brush.”

”I do not recognize your authority, neither that of Colonel Brush nor General Howe, who has taken his departure.”

”I shall be under the necessity of entering by force if you do not open the door.”

”You will do so at your peril.”

”Break down the door, men!”

The soldiers pounded with the b.u.t.ts of their muskets, but the panels did not yield.

”Smash a window!”

A bayonet was thrust through a pane, and the gla.s.s rattled to the ground; the b.u.t.t of a musket smashed the sash, and a pair of hands grasped the window-sill. Memory recalled a day when two soldiers a.s.saulted her; from that hour a redcoat had been hateful. She seized one of the pistols. Remembering what Pompey had said, she picked the lighted candle from its socket and thrust it into the weapon. The ruffian was astride the window-sill. There was a flash, a loud report, and he dropped with a thud to the ground.

From the balcony came a flood of boiling water upon the astonished ruffians.

”I'll give it to ye, b'ilin' hot!” shouted Phillis. The ruffians saw the muzzle of a gun pointed towards them from the window, and the stalwart form of Pompey as he raised it to take aim. The astonished villains fled, leaving Ruth, Pompey, and Phillis victors in the encounter.

Morning dawned fair and beautiful. The robins and bluebirds were singing in the garden. Ruth heard again the beating of drums, the blast of bugles. General Was.h.i.+ngton was entering the town. By his side rode Major Robert Walden.

What surprise! A white handkerchief was waving from the balcony of the Newville home. She was there, more beautiful and queenly than ever before! Not an alien, not an exile, but loyal to liberty, to him! He must leap from his saddle and clasp her in his arms! No. He must accompany his great commander in the triumphal entry. That accomplished, then the unspeakable joy.

There came an evening when the Newville home was aglow with lights, and Pompey was bowing low to General and Mrs. Was.h.i.+ngton, Generals Greene, Putnam, Thomas, to colonels, majors, captains, councilors, the selectmen of the town, Reverend Doctor Cooper, Colonel Henry and Lucy Knox, Captain and Mrs. Brandon, Berinthia, Abraham Duncan, Major Tom Brandon, Rachel Walden; young ladies in the bloom of maidenhood, matronly mothers, fathers resolute of countenance,--all rejoicing that the redcoats were gone.

Down from the chamber, pa.s.sing the old clock on the stairs, came Major Robert Walden, in bright, new uniform, and Ruth Newville in satin, white and pure.

Reverend Doctor Cooper spoke of the bravery of the bridegroom in battle, the manliness of character that fitted him for fighting the battle of life. Tears came to many eyes as he pictured the love of a maiden who rescued her beloved, swept by life's ebbing tide far out towards a sh.o.r.eless sea.

They who stood around beheld the countenance of the bride transfigured as she p.r.o.nounced the words, ”to love, to honor, and cherish him.”

Amid the general joy, one heart alone felt a momentary pang. Never might Rachel whisper such words to him whose last thought had been of her, who had given his life that liberty might live.

Once more food was to be had from the marketmen around Faneuil Hall--joints of beef, pigs, sausages, chickens, turkeys, vegetables and fruit, brought in by the farmers of Braintree, Dedham, and Roxbury. Fishermen once more could sail down the harbor, drop their lines for cod and mackerel on the fis.h.i.+ng ground beyond the Outer Brewster, and return to the town without molestation from a meddling town major.

With joyful countenance and conscious dignity, Pompey perambulated the market, inspecting what the hucksters had for sale.

”I want de juiciest j'int, de tenderest, fattest turkey, de freshest eggs right from de nest, 'cause de 'casion is to be Missus Ruth's weddin' dinner,” he said.

Many banquets had Phillis prepared, but never one like the dinner for Miss Ruth on her wedding day.

”I've roasted de turkey and sparrib for Ma.s.sa Ginerel Howe and Ma.s.sa Ginerel Clinton, but dey ain't of no 'count 'side Ma.s.sa Major Walden and Ma.s.sa Ginerel Was.h.i.+ngton, 'cause dey drive de redcoats out of Boston. Miss Ruth fired de pistil and I scaldid dem with de b'ilin'

water. He! he! he!” she laughed.

It was a pleasure to stuff the turkey, to turn the joint of beef roasting on the spit, mix the plums in the pudding, and mould the mince pies for Ruth and her friends.

”Miss Ruth told me to go free, and now she's Missus Ruth Walden. He!