other, nay, even fondly affectionate, the indefinite tie
seemed sufficiently substantial to bring about the
desired result. Katharine had, especially during
Talbot's absence in Europe, resisted all the importu-
nities and rejected all the proposals made to her, and
on his account refused all the hearts laid at her feet.
Since Talbot's return, however, and especially since
he refused, or hesitated rather, to cast his lot in with
her own people, his neighbors and friends, in the
Revolution, the affair had, on her part at least, as-
sumed a new phase. Still, there had been nothing
said or done to prevent this consummation so de-
voutly to be wished until the advent of Seymour.
Then, too, Talbot, calm and confident in the situa-
tion, had not noticed Seymour's infatuation, and was
entirely ignorant that the coveted prize had slipped
from his grasp. The insight of the confident lover
was not so keen as that of the watchful father.
It was believed by the principal men of Virginia
that Talbot's sympathies were with the revolted
colonies ; but the influence of his mother, to whom
he had been accustomed to defer, had hitherto proved
sufficient to prevent him from openly declaring him-
self His visit to England, and the delightful
reception he had met with there, had weakened
somewhat the ties which bound him to his native
country, and he found himself in a state of inde-
cision as humiliating as it was painful. Lord
Dunmore and Colonel Wilton had each made great
efforts to enlist his support, on account of his
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wealth and position and high personal qualities. It
was hinted by one that the ancient barony of the
Talbots would be revived by the king; and the
gratitude of a free and grateful country, with the con-
sciousness of having materially aided in acquiring
that independence which should be the birthright
of every Englishman, was eloquently portrayed by
the other. When to the last plea was added the
personal preference of Katharine Wilton, the balance
was overcome, arid the hopes of the mother were
doomed to disappointment.
For his own hopes, however, the decision had
come too late, and it may be safely presumed that
his hesitation was one of the main causes through
which the woman he loved escaped him ; for Kath-
arine's heart was given to young Seymour, after a
ten days' courtship, almost before his eyes. In any
event, a wiser man would have seen in Seymour
a possible, nay, a certain rival by no means to be
disregarded. An officer who had devoted him-
self to the cause of his country in response to the
first demand of the Congress, who had been conspic-
uously mentioned for gallantry iu general orders
and reports, who had been severely wounded while
protecting Katharine's father at the risk of his life;
as well bred and as well born as Talbot, of ample
fortune, and with a wide knowledge of men and
things acquired in his merchant voyagings as captain
of one of his own ships in many seas, — Seymour's
single-hearted devotion eminently fitted him to woo
and win Miss Katharine Wilton, as he had done.
Nevertheless, a friendship had sprung up between
Seymour and the unsuspecting Talbot which bade fair
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A FAITHFUi. SUBJECT
to ripen into intimacy ; and it may be supposed that
the stories of battles in which the older man had
participated, his attractive personality, the consid-
eration in which the young sailor was held by men/
of weight and position in the colonies, as a man from
whom much was to be expected, had large influence
in determining Talbot in the course he proposed
taking, and which he had not yet communicated to
his mother.
The evening repast had just been finished, and
the mother and son were walking slowly up and
down the long porch overlooking the river in front
of the house. There was a curious and interesting
likeness between the two, — a facial resemblance
only, for Madam Talbot was a slender, rather frail
little woman, and looked smaller by contrast as she
walked by the side of her son, who had his arm
affectionately thrown over her shoulder. She was as
straight, however, as he was himself, in spite of
her years and cares, and bore herself as proudly
erect as in the days of her youth. Her black eyes
looked out with undiminished lustre from beneath
her snowy-white hair, which needed no powder and
was covered by the mob cap she wore. She looked
every inch the lady of the manor, nor did her actions
and words belie her appearance. The subject of the
conversation was evidently a serious one. There
was a troubled expression upon her face, in spite of
her self-control, which was in marked contrast to
the hesitating and somewhat irresolute look upon
the handsome countenance of her son.
"My son, my son," she said at last, ''why will
you persist in approaching me upon this subject?
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You know my opinions. I have not hesitated to
speak frankly, and it is not my habit to change them;
in this instance they are as ^xed and as immutable
as the polar star. The traditions and customs of
four hundred years are behind me. Our family —
you know your father and I were cousins, and are
descended from the same stock — have been called
the 'loyal Talbots.' I cannot contemplate with
equanimity the possibility even of one of us in
rebellion against the king."
"Mother — I am sorry — grieved — but I must
tell you that that is a possibility I fear you must
learn to face. I have — *'
"Oh, Hilary, do not tell me you have finally
decided to join this unrighteous rebellion. Pause
before you answer, my boy — I entreat you, and it
is not my habit to entreat, as you very well know.
See, you have been the joy of my heart all my life,
the idol of my soul, — I will confess it now, — and
for you and your future I have lived and toiled and
served and loved. I have dreamed you great, high
in rank and place, serving your king, winning back
the ancient position of our family. I have shrunk
'from no sacrifice, nor would I shrink from any.
*Tis not that I do not wish you to risk your life in
war, — I am a daughter of my race, and for cen-
turies they have been soldiers, and what God sends
soldiers upon the field, that I can abide, — but
that you should go now, with all your prospects,
your ability, the opportunity presented you, and
engage yourself in this fatal cause, in this unholy
attack upon the king's majesty, connect yourself with
this beggarly rabble who have been whipped and
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A FAITHFUL SUBJECT
beaten every time they have come in contact with
the royal troops, — I cannot bear it. You are a man
now. You have grown away from your mother,
Hilary, and I can no longer command, I must en-
treat. " But she spoke very proudly, for, as she said,
entreaty was not so usual to her as command.
"Oh, mother, mother, you make it very hard for
me. You know the colonists have been badly
treated, and hardly used by king and Parliament
Our liberties have been threatened, nay, have been
abrogated, our privileges destroyed, none of our
rights respected, and unless we are to sink to the
level of mere slaves and dependants upon the mother
country, we have no other course but an appeal to
arms. "
"I know, I know all that," she interrupted impa-
tiently, with a wave of her hand. " I have heard it
all a thousand times from ill-balanced agitators and
popular orators. There may be some truth in it, of
course, I grant you ; but in my creed nothing, Hilary,
nothing, will justify a subject in turning against his
king. The king can do no wrong. All that we have
is his; let him take what he will, so he leaves us
our honor, and that, indeed, no one can take from
us. It is the principle that our ancestors have
attested on a hundred fields and in every other way,
and will you now be false to it, my boy? "
" I must be true to myself, mother, first of all, in
spite of all the kings of earth; and I feel that duty
and honor call me to the side of my friends and
the people of this commonwealth. I have hesitated
long, mother, in deference to you, but now I have
decided."
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FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
••And you turn against two mothers, Hilary, when
you take this course, — old England, the mother
country, and this one, this old mother, who stands
before you, who has given you her heart, who has
lived for you, who lives in you now, whose devotion
to you has never faltered; she now humbly asks
with outstretched arms, the arms that carried you
when you were a baby boy, that you remain trne to
your king."
"Nay, but, mamma," he said, calling her by the
sweet name of his boyhood, taking her hand and
looking down at her tenderly with tear-dimmed
eyes full of affection, "one must be true to his
idea of right and duty first of all, even at the price
of his allegiance to a king; and, after all, what is
any king beside you in my heart ? But I feel in honor
bound to go with my people. "
The irresolution was gone from his expression
now, and the two determined faces — one full of
pity, the other of apprehension — confronted each
other
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CHAPTER VII
The Loyal TalboU
•* "VT'OUR people, son? " she said after a long pause.
X " Come with me a moment." She drew him
into the brilliantly lighted hall. As they entered, he
said to the servant in waiting, —
" See that my bay horse is saddled and brought
around at once, and do you tell Dick to get another
horse ready and accompany me; he would better
take the black pony."
"Are you going out, Hilary?"
"Yes, mother, when our conversation is over, if
there is time. I thought to ride over to Colonel Wil-
ton's. The night is pleasant, and the moon will rise
shortly. What were you about to say to me ? "
She led him up to the great open fireplace, on the
andirons of which a huge log was blazing and crack-
ling cheerfully. Over the mantel was the picture of
a handsome man in the uniform of a soldier of some
twenty years back.
"Whose face is pictured there, Hilary?"
" My honored father," he answered reverently, but
in some surprise.
"And how died he?"
" On the Plains of Abraham, mother, as you well
know."
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** Fighting for his king?"
" Yes, mother."
"And who is this one?" she said, passing to an*
other picture.
"Sir James Talbot; he struck for his king at
Worcester," he volunteered.
" Yes, Hilary ; and here is his wife. Lady Caroline
Talbot, my grandmother. She kept the door against
the Roundheads while the prince escaped from her
castle, to which he had fled after the battle. And
over there is Lord Cecil Talbot, her father ; he fell
at Naseby. There in that corner is another James,
his brother, one of Prince Rupert's men, wounded at
Marston Moor. Here is Sir Hilary, slain at the Boyne ;
and this old man is Lord Philip, your great-uncle.
He was out in the '45, and was beheaded. These are
your people, Hilary," she said, standing very straight,
her head thrown back, her eyes aflame with pride
and determination, " and these struck, fought, lived,
and died for their king. I could bear to see you
dead," she laid her hand upon her heart in sudden
fear at the idea, in spite of her brave words, " but I
could not bear to see you a rebel. Think again.
You will not so decide? " She said it bravely ; it was
her final appeal, and as she made it she knew that it
was useless. The sceptre had departed out of her
hand.
He smiled sadly at her, but shook his head omi-
nously. "Mother, do you know these last fought
for Stuart pretenders against the house of Hanover?
George IIL, in your creed, has no right to the place
he holds. Do I not then follow my ancestors in
taking the field against him?"
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THE LOYAL TALBOTS
" Ah, my child, *t is an unworthy subterfuge. They
did fight for the house of Stuart, God bless it ! It
was king against king then, and at least they fought
for royalty, for a king ; but now the house of Stuart
is gone ; the new king occupies the throne undisputed,
and our allegiance is due to him. These unfortu-
nate people who are fighting here strive to create a
republic where all men shall be equal! Said the
sainted martyr Charles on the scaffold, * 'T is no con-
cern of the common people's how they are governed/
A common man equal to a Talbot ! Fight, my son,
if you must ; but oh, fight for the king, even an usurper,
before a republic, a mob in which so-called equality
stands in very unstable equilibrium, — fight for the
rightful ruler of the land, not against him."
" Mother, if I am to believe the opinions of those
whom I have been taught to respect, the rightful
rulers of this colony, of our country, of any country,
are the people who inhabit it"
" And who says that, pray, my boy?"
'' Mr. Henry.''
" And do you mean to tell me, a Talbot, that you
have been taught to look up to men of the social
stamp of Patrick Henry, or to respect their opinions? "
she said with ineffable disdain.
" Mother, the logic of events has forced all men to
do so. Had you heard his speeches before the Bur-
gesses at Williamsburg, you would have thought that
he was second to no man in the colony, or in the
world beside ; but if he be not satisfactory, there is
his excellency General Washington."
"Mr. Washington," she replied with an empha-
sis on the *'Mr." "Now there, I grant you, is a
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FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
man," she said reluctantly. "I cannot understand
the perversion of his destiny or the folly of his
course."
" And, mother, you know his family was as loyal
as our own. One of his forefathers held Worcester
for King Charles with the utmost gallantry and reso-
lution. And he had as a companion in arms in that
brave attempt Sir George Talbot, one of our ances-
tors. There is an example for you. I have often
heard you speak with the greatest respect of George
Washington."
" It is true, my son," she replied honestly, " but I
am at a loss to fathom his motive. What can it be ? "
"Mother, I am persuaded of the purity of his
motives; his actions spring from the very highest
sense of his personal obligation to the cause of
liberty."
" ' Liberty, liberty,* 't is a weak word when matched
with loyalty. But be this as it may, my son, it is
beside the question. Our family, these men and
women who look down upon us, all fought for prin-
ciples of royalty. It makes no difference whether or
no they fought for or against one or another king, so
long as it was a king they fought for. Such a thing
as a democracy never entered their heads. And if
you take this course, you will be false to every tradi-
tion of our past. In my opinion, the people are not
fit to govern, and you will find it so. In the impious
attempt that is being made to reverse what I con-
ceive to be the divinely appointed polity and law of
God, disaster must be the only end."
" Mother, I must follow my convictions in the
present rather than any examples in the past. But
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THE LOYAL TALBOTS
this is a painful discussion. Should we not best
end it? I honor your opinions, I love you, but I
must go."
There was a long silence. She broke it. " Well, my
child," she said in despair, " you have reached man's
estate, and the men of the Talbot race have ever
been accustomed to do as their judgment dictates.
If you have decided to join Washington's rabble and
take part among the rebels in this fratricidal contest,
I shall say no more. I cannot further oppose you.
I cannot give you my blessing — as I might in hap-
pier circumstances — nor can I wish success to your
cause. I too am a Talbot, and have my principles^
which I must also maintain ; but at least I can gird
your sword about you, and express the hope and
make the prayer, as I do, that you may wear and
use it honorably ; and that hope, if you are true to
the traditions of our house, will never be broken, — I
feel sure of that, at least."
The young man bent and kissed his mother, a new
light shining in his eyes. " Mother, I thank you. At
least, as far as I am concerned, I will endeavor to do
my duty honorably in every field. And now I think,
with your permission, I will go over and tell Kath-
arine that I have at last made up my mind and cast
my lot in with her — I mean with our country," he
said, blushing, but with the thoughtless disregard o(
youth as to the meaning and effect of his words.
" Go, my son, and God be with you ! " she said
solemnly.
He stepped quickly out on the porch, and, swinging
into the saddle of the horse which awaited him, with
the ease and grace of an accomplished horsemaa^
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FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
galloped off in the moonlight night followed by the
groom.
The little old woman stood rigidly in the doorway
a moment, looking after her departed son, and then
she walked quickly down to a rustic seat on the brow
of the hill and sat down heavily, following with
straining eyes and yearning heart his rapidly dis-
appearing figure. The same pang that every mother
must feel, those who have a son at least, once
in her life if no more, came to her heart; all
her prayers had been unavailing, her requests un-
heeded, her pleas and wishes disregarded. She
had an idea, not altogether warranted perhaps, but
still she had it, that the influence was not so much
the example of General Washington, nor the elo-
quence of Patrick Henry, nor the force of neighborly
example, nor rigid principle, but the influence of a
sunny head, and a pair of youthful eyes, and a merry
laugh, and a young heart, and a pleading voice.
These have always stood in the light of a mother
since the world began, and these have taken her son
from her side. All her hopes gone, her dreams
shattered, her sacrifice vain, her love wasted, she
bowed her white head upon her thin hands, and wept
quietly in the silent night. The deep waters had
gone over her soul, and the rare tears of the old
woman bespoke a breaking heart.
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CHAPTER VIII
An Untold Story
THERE were two roads which led from Fairview
Hall to the home of the Wiltons, — one by the
river, and the other over the hills farther inland.
Talbot had chosen the river-road, and was riding along
with a light heart, forgetful of his mother and those
tears which indeed she would not have shown him,
and full of pleasant anticipations as to the effect of
his decision upon Katharine.
As he rode along in the moonlight, his mind, full
of that calm repose which comes to men when they
have finally arrived at a decision upon some point
which has troubled them, felt free to range where it
would, and naturally his thoughts turned toward the
girl he loved. He was getting along in life, twenty-
four his last birthday, while Katharine was several
years his junior. It was time to settle himself; and
if he must ride away to the wars, it were well, pleasant
at least, to think that he was leaving at home a
wife over whom he had thrown the protecting aegis
of his name.
Katharine would be much happier, — his thoughts
dwelt tenderly upon her, — and the definite arrange-
ment would be better than this tacit understanding,
which of course was sufficiently binding ; though, now
he thought of it, Katharine had seemed a little diffi-
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.FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
cult of late, probably because of the indefinite char-
acter of the tie. He laughed boyishly in pleasure
at his own thought. It was another proof that she
loved him, that she resented any assumption on his
part based on hopes indulged in and plans formed
by her father and his mother. He must declare
himself at once. Poor mother ! it was hard for her ;
but she would soon get over all that, and when he
came back distinguished and honored by the people,
she would feel very differently. As for the capricious
Katharine, he would speak out that very night, never
doubting the issue, and get it done with. Of course,
that was all that was necessary.
When she knew that he was engaged heart and
soul in the cause of the Revolution, she would be
ready to yield hirii anything. Not that he had any
doubt of the result of his proposal in any case; as
soon doubt that the nature and orderly sequence of
events should be suddenly and violently interrupted,
as imagine that these cherished plans, in which
they had both acquiesced so long ago, should fall
through. And so my lord was prepared to drop the
handkerchief at the feet of my lady for her to pick
up ! It was a time, however, he might have remem-
bered, in which the old established order of events
in other fields, which men had long since conceived
of as fixed as natural laws, was being rudely broken
and destroyed. Many things which had heretofore
been habitually taken for granted, now were required
to be proved, and Talbot was destined to meet the
fate of every over-confident lover. Devotion, self-
abnegation, persistency, — these during ten days had
held the field ; and the result of the campaign had
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AN UNTOLD STORY
been that inevitable one which may always be looked
for when the opposing forces, even after years of
possession, muster under the banner of habits assur-
ance, confidence, and neglect.
So musing, the light-hearted gentleman galloped
along. The intervening distance was soon passed
over, and Talbot found himself entering the familiar
stretch of woodland which marked the beginning of
the colonel's estate. Under the trees and beneath
the high bank of the river the shadows deepened;
scarcely any light from the moon fell on the road.
It was well, therefore, that our cavalier drew rein,
and somewhat checked the pace of his horse, advanc-
ing with some caution over the familiar yet unseen
road ; for just as he came opposite the land end of
the pier which led out to the boat-house, the animal
stopped with such suddenness that a less practised
rider would have suffered a severe fall. The horse
snorted and trembled in terror, and began rearing
and backing away from the spot. Looking down in
the darkness, Talbot could barely discern a dark,
bulky object lying in the road.
" Here, Dick ! *' he called to the groom, who had
stopped and reined in his own horse, apparently as
terrified as the other, a few paces back of his master;
and tossing his bridle rein toward him, "take my
horse, while I see what stopped him.**
Lightly leaping to the ground, and stepping up
to the object before him, he bent down and laid his
hand upon it, and then started back in surprise and
horror. "It*s a man,** he exclaimed; "dead, yet
warm still. Who can it be ? " The moonlight fell
upon the pebbly beach of the river a little farther
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out; overcoming his reluctance, he half lifted, half
carried the body out where the light would fall upon
its face. Thie face, which was unknown to him, was
that of a desperate-looking ruffian, who was dressed
in a soiled and tattered uniform, the coat of which
was red ; the man's hand tightly clasped a discharged
pistol ; he had been shot in the breast, for where his
coat had fallen open might be seen a dark red stain
about a ragged hole in his soiled gray shirt; the
bullet had been fired at short range, too, for there
were powder marks all about his breast. Talbot
noticed these things rapidly, his mind working
quickly.
"Oh, Mars* HiFry — wha-wha's de mattah.^ I
kyarnt hoi* dese bosses; dey 'se sumfin wrong,
sho'ly,*' broke in the groom, his teeth chattering
with terror.
"Quiet, man! don't make so much noise. This is
the dead body of a man, a soldier ; he has been shot
too. Take the horses back beyond the old tree on
the little bend there; tie them securely, and come
back here quickly. Make no noise. Bring the
pistols from your holsters."
As the man turned to obey him, Talbot glanced
about in perplexity, and his eyes fell upon a small
sloop rapidly disappearing down the river, under
full sail in the fresh breeze which had sprung up.
She was too far away now to make out any details in
the moonlight, but the sight was somewhat unusual
and alarming, he scarcely knew why.
"I got dem tied safe, Mars' Hilary," called out
the voice of the boy from the road.
"All right, Dickl We will leave this one here.
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AN UNTOLD STORY
and try to find out what's wrong; you follow me^
and keep the pistols ready."
"Yes, Mars', I got dem." The man was brave