The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 2 of 2: or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old DominionCaruthers, William Alexander
History
The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 2 of 2: or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion
Caruthers, William Alexander
Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
"It was none other than General Whalley himself; he had really been shot
in the battle, but had recovered. Great God! what were my sensations,
when the gigantic warrior, pale and worn with mental and bodily
suffering, threw aside his disguise, and avowed himself to me.
Notwithstanding the embarrassing position into which his being still
alive was calculated to throw all parties, I fell upon my knees before
him, and my Maker, and fully acknowledged my participation in the
transactions which I have related. He had heard of the marriage of his
wife to Mr. Fairfax, before he sought me out, but even at this
comparatively remote period of time from her marriage, his huge frame
shook, and he became like an effeminate being while he listened to my
narrative. He told me that he was likewise about to sail for America;
not that he desired or intended to make himself known to his wife, but
because it was becoming unsafe for him to remain longer in the kingdom.
I have no doubt in my own mind, that he was unconsciously indulging his
desire to be near his still adored Emily, in his choice of a place of
refuge, which he now informed me, was the same to which she had gone
with her husband. He told me that it was his intention to live in the
greatest seclusion, and that his very name should be unknown in his new
abode. He proposed that I should follow him, after he should have
established himself, and made arrangements for my comfortable reception,
the time for which was specified. I felt myself impelled by an imperious
sense of duty to repair, as far as lay within my power, the injury which
I had helped to inflict upon him, and therefore consented to leave
country and home with my little charge, now become so dear to me.
"After furnishing me with the necessary supplies for the long and
dreaded voyage, together with particular directions as to the place of
embarkation, and the course I was to pursue after arriving in Jamestown,
General Whalley left me, and I have never seen or heard of him to the
present hour. I did not consider that surprising, however, because he
informed me that he would never more be known by the name of Whalley,
and that I must school myself carefully before my departure for America,
never to drop a hint that he had ever been more than he seemed to be in
his new abode. But to proceed with my story. He had directed that I
should sail with the boy after the lapse of one year from the time of
his own departure. The most of this interval was employed in making my
own little preparations for so long a voyage, and my final separation in
this life, from all my kindred and friends. I had promised to keep my
design as secret as possible, and every precaution was indeed taken to
keep my intended departure a secret from all but my own immediate
relations. But by some means unknown to me, my design became known to
others, as I was apprised one day, by a visit from a gentleman named
Bacon!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account