The Cavaliers of Virginia

y so admirably adapted to their mode of life. Two noble rivers, one on either hand, abounding with a variety of fish, and a fertile soil, yielding its treas

uthful commander soon perceived that this mode of warfare was the one exactly suited to the nature and condition of his foes, and the least adapted to the impetuous courage of his own troops. He saw too, that the savages had the double design of wearying out their invaders in the manner we have described, and of collecting and concentrating their forces, at some point where their own mode of warfare could be rendered available, without exposing themselves to the destructive discharges of artillery which they still held in superstitious terror. A very little reflection satisfied him that there would be no immediate danger in pursu

the Aborigines, in this narrow neck of land, which had so long been the scene of contention, we will retrace our st

ever, than we could describe it. Down to the time when her favourite and confidant was permitted to enter her room, the daily occurrences of her yet endangered life were sad and monotonous enough, but the paramount cravings of diseased nature once assuaged, her mental excitement once more rose in the ascendant. Not that her reason ever became deranged, except from violent febrile action during the height of the attack; however feeble her physical organization, her mental pow

been electrical, spiritual and ever sublime transmissions of mutual intelligence and exquisite pleasure, which could not exist between children of the same parents. These were some of the reasonings which first led her to doubt the infallibility of the Recluse, or rather this was something like the process by which she arrived at firm and undoubting conviction. She viewed the case in this light from the very first moment of unclouded perception, but at first it was a wild tumultuous and suffocating mixture of vague perceptions, and scarcely permitted hopes. As she gradually analyzed her feelings, and examined the reasons for her convictions, the truth dawned more and more clearly upon her view. She was one day sitting, propped up on her cou

one hand upon her shoulders, and with the other removing th

our head to-day, my dear young lady; if

he excitement of fever; or if it is, it is a dear delightful fever, which I trust in God wil

again, and the cold applicat

rd. I have now done with physic. I have a medicine here," (and she laid her hand upon her heart, while a bewitching smile played around

It was some days before the scene just related, when Harriet Harrison was admitted to her presence, and when, as the reader has already learned from that maid

spect that Harriet's feelings were engaged in another's interest, long to indulge them with an unbroken interview. Virginia barely had time to ask those questions, and whisper to her friend the tidings of

he day of the scene between the doctor and his patient, which we have just attempted to describe. She was ushered into the room of state, usually occupied by the Governor for the reception of his mos

communicate to the Governor, Sir

armed and astonished maiden, was left to con her speech to the Governor at her leisure. After a most tedious interval of half an hour, the formal representative of majesty made his appearance, with such a profusion of bows that his merry master himself would have smiled to witness them. Of course Harriet bit her

gious story, Sir William. I desired no such thing

ought proper to end the intercourse between you at once. My niece is destined soon to become the wife of my young kinsman, Beverly, and it is most prudent to keep her from the sight of such persons and things as might re

age take place with

the evidence which she so lately gave of being utterly incapable of choosing a husband calculated to secure

to accept the husband of your choice? You c

rning of his death, we talked the matter over; he freely and fully consented to the completion of the engagement, and forthwith

up her mind to the lot which awaits her. You surely will

accomplished, as you must acknowledge that he is. She has had time enough to recover her equanimity, and as soon as her health is equally restored, the ceremony shall be performed; and whether or not, it is

to see my friend for five

niece, and you may readily comprehend the reasons of your exclusion from h

t to relieve her. From the gubernatorial mansion she immediately hastened in pursuit of O'Reily, in order to despatch him with a communication for his master. But Brian was nowhere to be found; her own researches and those of the servant whom she despatc

ed to his government, began now to bring them in from all directions, and the regular soldiers stationed at the forts, which were so offensive to the citizens, were marching rapidly upon the capital from every quarter. S

to cope with the savage-it was to measure arms in deadly strife with their own countrymen and fellow-citizens. The army now assembling, was intended by the Governor to suppress what he called the rebellion, and his purpose was, as soon as his forces should all arrive, to march at on

n, than a new amalgamation took place, by which their distinctive character was lost. Then, growing out of the puerile obstinacy of Sir William Berkley, in refusing to repel the incursions of the Indians merely because he had at first maintained that there wa

the most active preparations were made to march against Bacon and his followers who were carryi

to perform those very duties which Bacon and his followers were now to be punished for assuming. The very soldiers who ought to have protected the whites against the incursions of the Indians were to be turned against the patriot band which had volunteered to perform a service no longer to be deferred with safety to the colony. It is true that the commissions of Bacon and

military preparations. Most of those remaining in the city had friends and relations in the ranks of the popular army, and though they dared not openly express their disapprobation of the

he walls of the Governor's mansion. The stout old Cavalier had fixed upon the day preceding the departure of his army, for the solemnization of the marriage between his niece and his kinsman Beverly.

af to his arguments and his threats. But the time approached with fearful rapidity, which he had appointed for the ceremony. The intended bridegroom held an important command in the expedition now preparing, and it was Sir William's intention that he should be married and set out on the succeeding morning. Notwithstanding our heroine's apparent fir

ng to bring upon his family she knew was exactly the apology he want

so natural to youth, that some fortunate occurrence, some unexpected accident would yet take place to mar the well laid plans of the Governor. But as the time approached, and the preparations moved steadily forward without any evidence of coming succour, or the fortunate event which was to release her from her dreadful situation, her heart began to misgive her-she was compelled in some measure to assume an humbler posture towards the stern old man in whose hands her destiny seemed placed. Her ingenuity had turned the

ashion, and her hands were listlessly and languidly twined into its folds, seeming, every now and then, as if her delicate fingers would pierce the yielding texture. A solitary tear seemed as if it had already departed from its p

straints of thought and internal oppression, and rapidly coursed each other down her cheeks as she spoke, "You see before you, sir, a solitary female and an orphan, bereaved suddenly and cruelly of her natural protectors-deserted or oppressed by those who should have supplied their place. Before the distracting grief for these afflictions has had time to lose its first intensity, she has been cruelly beset and importuned to become a party to a marriage, of which she had never before thought. You, sir, are the other party! I entre

ned her attitude. Having paused to catch her exhausted breath, he seized the opportunity to say, "Are y

" she exclaimed, raising her head boldly, and los

ould be blotted from the tablets of your memory

motion of the head, and a corresponding effort with both hands, which she held

end to desire for a companion through joy and wo! How base, how cowardly, to insult a helpless female, and that female your kinswoman-one who

our own feelings, and counteracting the relenting mood

believed you! We were children together, caressed by the same friends and owning a common or

upon by allusions or appeals to their family pride. Their connexions are a constituent part of the idol of their worship-self; and it is not the least remarkable feature in their characters, that such men are

of his fair kinswoman, as well on account of her many personal attractions, as of the rich inheritance of which she was the heiress; but he had not learned his own harsh defects of character, and of course could not substitute the arts of flattery for the softer eloquence of love. He felt and enjoyed

ent for the postponement of the ceremony, will y

around the gloomy precincts of her secluded apartment. She knew her uncle's determination of character. One only chance of escape appeared remaining

y hand upon the return of the present expedition, provided that nothing occurs in the mean time to free me from t

t time arrives. I expect to march him through these streets in irons on my wedding-day. Frown not-gather no storms of indignation upon your brow-it shall be even

ise you, under the co

should he consent, see that you remember your plighted faith. As for your c

rvently, raising her eyes toward heaven, "Thank God! I am now freed from the immediate apprehension of this most hated union. Oh, if he does but come within the allotted time! and come as my flattering hopes persuade me that he will-a conqueror! hailed as the deliverer of his country-the champion of her oppressed and o

the required time, he yielded his consent. I purposely concealed from him that there was any condition in the case, first, because I take no heed to it myself, and secondly, because it might have precluded his concurrence, and would

delicate attentions, from him who possesses innate benevolence and gentleness of heart? He would have studiously concealed a hundred

e, even in the smallest degree. The very servants treat me as a lost and abandoned creature. Those of my own sex that once professed love and respect for me, fly from the apartment when I speak to them, as if there were contamination in my very

house I dare not interfere-Sir William

or sends a kind word of inquiry as to my health these long sad d

ish tears almost as yourself, sin

is then one soul within the house, of my own sex and blood

r the double purpose of placing herself beyond the reach of his hand, and of concealing the rising flush of anger and contempt that glowed upon her countenance. She saw that he treated her as a child-that he imagined such conversation suited to the level of her capacity, and longed to humble his proud self-sufficiency, but da

of the rebel chief." Again she was forced to turn her head away. And the harmony of their meeting, constrained and unnatural as it was, would probably very soon hav

lated, the army under the command of Sir William Berkley t

rt and hopes followed the standard of the youthful Captain who commanded the force which these were summoned to scatter and destroy. Long after the last ensign had passed from her sight, and the music was heard only in faint and distant echoes as it swelled and died away upon the air, she stood in the same spot, her eyes apparently still occupied with passing objects. It was not so-she was endeavouring to look into futurity. She pictured in her imagination the army of the Cavaliers, under Bacon, struggling in the murderous ambuscade of the concentrated savage tribes in front, and mercilessly cut down by their own countrymen in the rear. She saw the stern and uncompromising Sir William and h