The Loyalist. James Francis Barrett

There will be naught said about the whole affair and it will end where it began. Forrest is no fool."

      "I have other news for you, Captain," announced Marjorie, her eyes beaming at the prospect.

      "And how long have you been preserving it for me?" asked Stephen.

      "But a few days."

      "And you made no attempt to see me?"

      "Had I not met you now, I would have done so this day," answered Marjorie.

      "You would have written?"

      "Perhaps."

      "It is my forfeiture to your reserve."

      "And made gallantly."

      "Come now! What had you to tell?"

      "This. Peggy desires the honor of your company. You will receive the invitation in a day or two. Just an informal affair, yet I sensed the possibility of your pleasure."

      "You did right. I am pleased as I am honored, but neither so much as I am elated at the hopes for the future. Of course, I shall accept, but you will have to promise to denote my path for me in the tangled maze of society, in whose company I am as yet merely a novice."

      "Lud! I ne'er heard one so illiberal of his graces."

      "Nor one more candid," Stephen rejoined as quickly. If he were good at repartee he had met with one who was equally as apt.

      "You know the Governor will be in attendance," she declared in a matter-of-fact manner.

      "How should I know that? Is it unusual for him to frequent the company of the gay?"

      "Not of late, the more especially where the presence of Peggy is concerned," added the little tale-bearer with a keen though reckless wit.

      "And why Peggy?" He was innocent enough in his question.

      "Have you not heard of His Excellency's courting? Mr. Shippen has already made public the rumor that a certain great General is laying close siege to the heart of Peggy. And I have Peggy's own word for it."

      "To Peggy?" He asked with evident surprise. "Why, she but halves his age, and he is already a widower."

      "With three sons," Marjorie gayly added. "No matter. Peggy will meet the disparity of ages by the disparity of stations. She has avowed to me that no one dares to question the social preëminence of the Military Governor, nor the fact that he is the most dashing and perhaps most successful general of the Continental Army. Position in life is of prime importance to her."

      "Is that so? I had not so judged her," was the comment.

      "She admits that herself, and makes no secret of it before any one. Did you not observe her sullen silence at the Ball upon learning of the identity of her inferior partner? And that she sat out the major portion of the dance in company with the Military Governor?"

      "It escaped my attention, for I was too deeply concerned with another matter which distracted me for the entire evening," he answered with a smile.

      She pretended to take no notice, however, and continued.

      "Well, he has been calling regularly since that evening, and this quiet and informal function has been arranged primarily in his honor, although it will not be announced as such. You will go?" she asked.

      "I shall be pleased to accept her invitation. May I accompany you?"

      "Thank you. I almost hoped you would say that. Men folks are so sadly wanting in intuition."

      "Friday, then? Adieu! The pleasure that awaits me is immeasurable."

      "Until Friday."

      She extended to him her hand, which he pressed. A moment later he was mounted.

      "My kindest to your mother. She will understand." Dolly broke into a gallop.

II

      Marjorie stood at the gate post until he was quite lost from view around the turn of the road. He did not look back, yet she thought that he might have. She slowly turned and as slowly began to walk towards the house, there to resume the duties which had suffered a pleasant interruption.

      Meanwhile, she tried to analyze this young man. He was rather deep, of few words on any given subject, but wholly non-communicative as regards himself. He perhaps was possessed of more intuition than his manner would reveal, although he gave every appearance of arriving at his conclusions by the sheer force of logic. His words and deeds never betrayed his whole mind, of that she was certain, yet he could assert himself rather forcibly when put to the test, as in the painful incident at the Coffee House. He would never suffer from soul-paralysis, thought she, for want of decision or resolution, for both were written full upon him.

      That she was strangely attracted to him she knew very well, but why and how she was unable to discover. This was but their third meeting, yet she felt as if she had known him all her life, so frank, so unreserved, so open, so secure did she feel in his presence. It seemed the most natural thing in the world for her to have waved her hand in salute to him that morning as he passed; she did it with the same unconcern as if she had known him all her life. She felt it within her, that was all, and could give no other possible interpretation to her action.

      There was something prepossessing about him. Perhaps it was his faculty for doing the unexpected. Most women desire to meet a man who is possessed of a distinctive individuality, who lends continual interest to them by his departure from the trite and commonplace. What Stephen might say or do was an entirely unknown quantity until it had actually taken place, and this attracted her on the instant, whether she was conscious of it or not. His manner, too, was affable, and gave him an air at once pleasing and good-natured. He never flattered, yet said most agreeable things, putting one perfectly at ease and inspiring sympathy and courage. He bore himself well; erect, manly, dignified, without ostentation or display. His seriousness, his evenness, his gravity, his constancy and his decision stamped him with a certain authority, a man of marked personality and character.

      So she mused as she entered the door, her thoughts in a lofty hegira to the far off land of make believe – her better self striving to marshal them to the cold realities of duty that lay before her. She had been cleaning the little addition at the rear of the dwelling proper, used as a kitchen, and her work took her into the yard. Dolly's whinny had caused her to turn her head, and the next moment cares and responsibilities and all else were forgotten. Now she wondered what she had been about! Seizing a cloth she began to dust industriously. The crash of one of the dishes on the kitchen floor brought her to her senses. Her mother heard the noise from the adjoining room.

      "What ails thee, child? Hast thou lost thy reason?"

      "I believe so, mommy. I must have been thinking of other things." And she stooped to gather the fragments.

      "Was it Captain Meagher? I saw you two at the gate."

      A guilty smile stole over the corners of her mouth.

      "He was passing while I was in the yard, and he stopped only to wish me the greetings of the day. I was right glad that he did, for I had an opportunity of extending to him the invitation from Peggy."

      "He will go, I suppose?" she queried, knowing well what the answer might be. She did not spare the time to stop for conversation, but continued with her duties.

      "He is quite pleased. And, mommy, he will call for me."

      "Be careful, now, to break no more dishes."

      "Lud! I have not lost my head yet. That was purely an accident which will not happen again."

      "That poor unfortunate Spangler made a better defense."

      "He deserved what he got. So did Lieutenant Lyons and the other officers of the Ranger who deserted to the enemy. But my sympathies go out to the old man who kept the gates under the city. These court-martials are becoming too common and I don't like them."

      "That is the horrible side of war, my dear. And until our people learn the value of patriotism, the need of abolishing all foreign ties and strongly adhering to the land that has offered them a home and a living, the necessity of these dreadful measures will never cease."

      "A little power is a dangerous weapon