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  CHAPTER III.

  THE STRANGER'S WARNING AND THE PEDDLER'S RETURN.

  On the afternoon of the succeeding day, the party were assembled inthe parlor around the tea-table of Miss Peyton, when a change in theweather occurred. The rushing winds had ceased, the pelting of thestorm was over, and, springing to the window, Frances saw a gloriousray of sunshine lighting up the opposite wood. The foliage glitteredwith the checkered beauties of the October leaf, reflecting back fromthe moistened boughs the richest lustre of an American autumn. In aninstant, the piazza, which opened to the south, was thronged with theinmates of the cottage. The air was mild, balmy, and refreshing; inthe east, clouds, which might be likened to the retreating masses of adiscomfited[30] army, hung around the horizon in awful and increasingdarkness. At a little elevation above the cottage, the thin vapor wasstill rushing towards the east with amazing velocity; while in thewest the sun had broken forth and shed his parting radiance on thescene below, aided by the fullest richness of a clear atmosphere and afreshened herbage.

  [Footnote 30: defeated.]

  "What a magnificent scene!" said Harper, in a low tone; "how grand!how awfully sublime! May such a quiet speedily await the struggle inwhich my country is engaged, and such a glorious evening follow theday of her adversity!"

  "There can be no danger apprehended from such a man," thought Frances;"such feelings belong only to the virtuous."

  The musings of the party were now interrupted by the sudden appearanceof the peddler. "Fine evening," he said, saluting the party, withoutraising his eyes; "quite warm and agreeable for the season."

  Mr. Wharton assented to the remark, and inquired kindly after thehealth of his father. Harvey answered with a slight tremor in hisvoice:

  "He fails fast; old age and hardships will do their work." The peddlerturned his face from the view of most of the family, but Francesnoticed his glistening eyes and quivering lips, and for the secondtime Harvey rose in her estimation.

  The valley in which the residence of Mr. Wharton stood ran in adirection from northwest to southeast, and the house was placed on theside of a wall which terminated[31] its length in the formerdirection. A small opening, occasioned by the receding of the oppositehill, and the fall of the land to the level of the tide water,afforded a view of the Sound[32] over the tops of the distant woods onits margin. The surface of the water, which had so recently beenlashing the shores with boisterous fury, was already losing itsruffled darkness in the long and regular undulations[33] that succeeda tempest, while the light air from the southwest was gently touchingtheir summits, lending its feeble aid in stilling the waters. Somedark spots were now to be distinguished, occasionally rising intoview, and again sinking behind the lengthened waves which interposedthemselves to the sight. They were unnoticed by all but the peddler.He seated himself on the piazza, at a distance from Harper, andappeared to have forgotten the object of his visit. His roving eye,however, soon caught a glimpse of these new objects in the view, andspringing up with alacrity[34] gazed intently towards the water. Hechanged his place, glanced his eye with marked uneasiness on Harper,and then said with great emphasis:

  [Footnote 31: ended.]

  [Footnote 32: Long Island Sound.]

  [Footnote 33: waves.]

  [Footnote 34: readiness.]

  "The rig'lars must be out from below."

  "Why do you think so?" inquired Captain Wharton, eagerly. "God send itmay be true; I want their escort in again."

  "Them ten whaleboats would not move so fast unless they were bettermanned than common."

  "Perhaps," cried Mr. Wharton in alarm, "they are--they areContinentals returning from the island."

  "They look like rig'lars," said the peddler, with meaning.

  "Look!" repeated the captain, "there is nothing but spots to be seen."

  Harvey, disregarding his observation, said in an undertone, "They cameout before the gale--have laid on the island these two days--horse areon the road--there will soon be fighting near us." During this speech,Birch several times glanced towards Harper, with evident uneasiness,who stood in silent contemplation[35] of the view, and seemed enjoyingthe change in the air. As Birch concluded, however, Harper turned tohis host, and mentioned that his business would not admit ofunnecessary delay; he would, therefore, avail himself of the fineevening to ride a few miles on his journey. Mr. Wharton made manyprofessions of regret, but was too mindful of his duty not to speedthe parting guest, and orders were instantly given to that effect.

  [Footnote 35: thinking.]

  Every preparation being completed, Harper proceeded to take his leave.There was a mutual exchange of polite courtesy between the host andhis parting guest; but as Harper frankly offered his hand to CaptainWharton, he remarked, in a manner of great solemnity:

  "The step you have undertaken is one of much danger, and disagreeableconsequences to yourself may result from it; in such a case, I mayhave it in my power to prove the gratitude I owe your family for itskindness."

  "Surely, sir," cried the father, "you will keep secret the discoverywhich your being in my house has enabled you to make?"

  Harper turned quickly to the speaker, and answered mildly, "I havelearned nothing in your family, sir, of which I was ignorant before;but your son is safer from my knowledge of his visit than he would bewithout it."

  He bowed to the whole party, and without taking any notice of thepeddler, other than by simply thanking him for his attentions,mounting his horse, and riding steadily and gracefully through thelittle gate, was soon lost behind the hill which sheltered the valleyto the northward.

  All the members of the Wharton family laid their heads on theirpillows that night with a foreboding of some interruption to theirordinary quiet. Uneasiness kept the sisters from enjoying their usualrepose, and they rose from their beds, on the following morning,unrefreshed and almost without having closed their eyes.

  The family were already assembled around the breakfast table when thecaptain made his appearance, though the untasted coffee sufficientlyproved that by none of his relatives was his absence disregarded.

  "I think I did much better," he cried, taking a chair between hissisters, and receiving their offered salutes, "to secure a good bedand such a plentiful breakfast, instead of trusting to thehospitality[36] of that renowned corps, the Cow-Boys."

  [Footnote 36: entertaining guests without pay.]

  "If you could sleep," said Sarah, "you were more fortunate thanFrances and myself. Every murmur of the night air sounded to me likethe approach of the rebel army."

  "Why," said the captain, laughing, "I do acknowledge a littleinquietude[37] myself. But how was it with you?" turning to hisyounger and evidently favorite sister, and tapping her cheek; "did yousee banners in the clouds, and mistake Miss Peyton's AEolian[38] harpfor rebellious music?"

  [Footnote 37: disturbed condition of mind.]

  [Footnote 38: a stringed instrument that is caused to sound by the impulse of the air.]

  "Nay, Henry," rejoined the maid, "much as I love my country, theapproach of her troops just now would give me great pain."

  The brother made no reply; when Caesar exclaimed, with a face thatapproached something like the hues of a white man:

  "Run, Massa Harry, run--if he love old Caesar, run. Here come a rebelhorse."

  "Run!" repeated the British officer, gathering himself up in militarypride; "no, Mr. Caesar, running is not my trade." While speaking, hewalked deliberately to the window, where the family were alreadycollected in the greatest consternation.[39]

  [Footnote 39: fright.]