The Bride of Fort Edward: Founded on an Incident of the RevolutionBacon, Delia Salter
History
The Bride of Fort Edward: Founded on an Incident of the Revolution
Bacon, Delia Salter
Fort Edward (N.Y.) -- History -- Drama; New York (State) -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Drama
_Annie_. As I live, I do not know what you are talking of. Nay, look;
there is no one here, none that you need fear, most certainly.
_Helen_. I saw him, his eye was on me; there he stood, looking through
that window, smiling and beckoning me.
_George_. Saw him? Who, in Heaven's name? This is fancy-work.
_Helen_. I saw him as I see you now. He stood on that roof,--an
Indian,--I saw the crimson bars on his face, and the blanket, and the
long wild hair on his shoulders; and--and, I saw the gleaming knife in
his girdle,--Oh God! I did.
_George_. Ay, ay, 'twas that scoundrel that dogged us in our way home,
I'll lay my life it was.
_Helen_. In our way home? An _Indian_, I said.
_George_. Well, well, and I say an Indian, a rascal Indian, was watching
and following us all the way home just now.
_Helen_. George!
_George_. Then you did not see him after all. In truth, I did not mean
you should, for we could not have hurried more, but all the time we sat
in that shanty, while it rained, about as far off as that chair from me,
stood this same fellow among the bushes, watching us, or rather you. And
you saw him here t He might have crept along by that orchard wall. What
are you laughing at, Annie?--I will go and see what sort of a guard we
have.
_Annie_. If you knew as much of Helen's Indians as I do, you would
hardly be in such a hurry, George, I mean about this one that was here
just now, for there are Indians in yonder forest I suppose; but since we
were so high, I never walked in the woods with her once, but that we
encountered one, or heard his steps among the bushes at least; and if it
chanced to be as late as this, there would be half a dozen of them way
laying us in the road,--but sometimes they turned out squirrels, and
sometimes logs of wood, and sometimes mere air, air of about this color.
We want a little light, that is all. There is no weapon like that for
these fancy-people. I can slay a dozen of them with a candle's beams.
(_George goes out_.)
_Helen_. Do not laugh at me to-night, Annie.
_Annie_. But what should the Indians want of you, pry'thee; tell me
that, Helen?
_Helen_. God knows. Wait till the sun sets to-morrow, and I will laugh
with you if you are merry then.
_Annie_. Why to-morrow?--because it is our last day
here? Tuesday--Wednesday--yes; the next day we
shall be on the road to Albany.
[_Exit_.
_Helen_. I am awake now. Watched me in the glen?--followed me home?
Those woods are full of them.--But what has turned their wild eyes on
me?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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