Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
Door and window faced the west, and the glow from the sinking sun
illumined the thousand and one features of the place. Here was the
glint of tools and weapons; there pewter shone like silver, and
brass dazzled the eyes. Bales of red cotton, blue linen, flowered
Kidderminster, scarlet serge, gold and silver drugget, all sorts of
woven stuffs from lockram to brocade, made bright the shelves. Pendent
skins of buck and doe showed like brown satin, while looking-glasses
upon the wall reflected green trees and painted clouds. In one dark
corner lurked kegs of powder and of shot; another was the haunt of
aqua vitæ and right Jamaica. Playing-cards, snuffboxes, and fringed
gloves elbowed a shelf of books, and a full-bottomed wig ogled a
lady’s headdress of ribbon and malines. Knives and hatchets and duffel
blankets for the Indian trade were not wanting.
Haward, leaning against a table laden with so singular a miscellany
that a fine saddle with crimson velvet holsters took the head of the
board, while the foot was set with blue and white china, watched the
sometime moulder of peak and islet draw out a case filled with such
small and womanish articles as pins and needles, tape and thread, and
place it before his customer. She made her choice, and the storekeeper
brought a great book, and entered against the head of the house of
Taberer so many pounds of tobacco; then, as the maiden turned to
depart, heaved a sigh so piteous and profound that no tender saint
in gray could do less than pause, half turn her head, and lift two
compassionate eyes.
“Mistress Truelove, I have read the good book that you gave me, and I
cannot deny that I am much beholden to you,” and her debtor sighed like
a furnace.
The girl’s quiet face flushed to the pink of a seashell, and her eyes
grew eager.
“Then does thee not see the error of thy ways, Angus MacLean? If it
should be given me to pluck thee as a brand from the burning! Thee will
not again brag of war and revenge, nor sing vain and ruthless songs,
nor use dice or cards, nor will thee swear any more?”
The voice was persuasion’s own. “May I be set overtide on the Lady’s
Rock, or spare a false Campbell when I meet him, or throw up my cap for
the damned Hogan Mogan that sits in Jamie’s place, if I am not entirely
convert!” cried the neophyte. “Oh, the devil! what have I said?
Mistress Truelove--Truelove”--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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