USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume II > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
257
THE STORY OF PERDITA
mouth. Then she heard her name pronounced in a low whisper at the cabin door, and turning, she saw Stuart there beckoning most earnestly to her. She shook her head, signed to him to withdraw, and laid her hand on the captain's shoulder. There was but one way to thwart her intentions, and Frank's was not a hesitating spirit, he sprang forward, caught her in his arms, and before the old man had rubbed his eyes fairly open, Perdita was again safe in the steerage.
Stuart's threats produced the intended effect on the mate; he was completely intimidated. He scarcely ventured out of Frank's sight lest he should incur his dangerous suspicions, and the next day the vessel, accelerated by the gale of the preceding evening, arrived at Cowes. The captain and mate immediately landed, and Stuart, no longer embarrassed by their presence, was able to take the necessary measures for Perdita. She assurred him that if once conveyed to the mainland, to Portsmouth or Southampton, she could herself take the coach to London, and there, she said, happiness or misery awaited her, which her noble protector could neither promote nor avert.
A wherry was procured. Before Perdita was transferred.to it, she took leave of all the sailors, shook hands with each of them, and expressed to them individually, her gratitude and good wishes. Her words con- veyed nothing but a sense of obligation, but there was something of condescension in her manner, and much of the grace of high station, that contrasted strikingly with the abased, fearful and shrinking air of the girl who had till then only been seen gliding like a spectre along the deck, attended by Stuart, and veiled by the shadows of night. As the wherry parted from the ship, she bowed her head, waved her hand- kerchief to Frank's shipmates, and they returned her salutation with three loud cheers.
Stuart attended her to an Inn at Portsmouth, engaged her a seat in the London coach, and then followed her to a private apartment, which he had secured, to bid her farewell.
Perdita, from the moment she had felt her emancipation from a de- grading condition, and the joy of again setting her foot on her native land, had manifested perhaps, an undue elation of spirits, an elation so opposite to Frank's feelings that to him it was a grating discord; but when she saw him for the last time, every other emotion gave place to unfeigned sorrow and inexpressible gratitude.
Stuart laid a purse on the table beside her. "My shipmates," he said, "receive their wages tomorrow, so they have been right glad to make their pockets clear of the little trash that was in them which may be of service to you, though it is of no use to them."
"Oh, Frank!" she exclaimed, "if I should ever have anything in my gift-if I could but reward you for all you have done for me!"
All the blood in Frank's heart rushed to his face, and he said in a voice almost inarticulate with offended pride, "there are services that money cannot buy, and thank God, there are feelings in a poor man's breast worth more than all the gold in the king's coffers."
"Oh, what have I said," exclaimed Perdita, "I would rather die-
258
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
rather return to the depth of misery from which you rescued me-yes, ten times told, than to speak one word that should offend you to whom I owe everything-my life-and more than life. I did not say-I did not think, that money could reward you."
"Do not speak that word again," said Frank, half ashamed of his pride, and half glorying in it. "Reward! I want none but your safety and the blessed memory of having done my duty. Money-ho! I care no more for it than for the dust I tread upon."
"I know it-I am sure of it," cried Perdita, humbled for the moment by a sense of an elevation of soul in Frank, that exalted him far above any accidents of birth or education. "Frank, you are rich in everything that is good and noble-and what am I, to talk of reward-poor-poor in everything but gratitude to you, Frank-I am not poor in that-you must not then despise me, and you will not forget me-and you will keep this ring for my sake."
Frank took the ring, and the lily hand she extended to him-his tears fell fast upon it-he struggled for a moment with his feelings, then dashed away his tears, and half articulating "God bless you!" he hur- ried out of the apartment, thus separating himself from the beautiful young creature for whom he had performed a most difficult service with religious fidelity; and of whose name even, he was forever to remain in ignorance.
The enterprising talent of Stuart ensured its appropriate reward. In one year from the memorable voyage before related, he commanded a vessel, and on the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he devoted himself to his country's cause, with the fervent zeal which characterized and consecrated that cause which made the common interest a matter of feeling-a family affair to each individual.
Stuart commanded an armed merchantman, and disputes with the noted Paul Jones the honor of having first struck down the British flag. However this may be, he was distinguished for his skill and intre- pidity, and above all (and this distinction endures when the most brilliant achievements have become insignificant), for his humanity to those whom the fortunes of war cast in his power.
While on a cruise off the West Indies, Stuart intercepted an enemy's ship bound to Antigua. His adversary was far superior to him in men and guns, but as it did not comport with Stuart's bold spirit to make any very nice calculations of an enemy's superiority, he prepared unhesitat- ingly for action. The contest was a very severe one, and the victory long doubtful, but at last the British captain struck his colours. Though we certainly are disposed to render all honour to the skill of our hero, yet we dare not claim for him the whole merit of his success, but rather solve the mystery of victory at such odds, by quoting the expression of a patriotic English boy, who said on a similar occasion, "Ah, but the Americans would not have beaten, if the Lord had not been on their side."
After the fight, the English commander requested an interview with Captain Stuart; informed him that the wife and mother of the gov- ernor of Antigua were on board his vessel and that they were almost
259
THE STORY OF PERDITA
distracted with terror; he entreated, therefore, that they might be received with the humanity which their sex demanded, and the defer- ence always due to high station, he held that all God's creatures, who feared their Creator and did their duty, were on a dead level, and as to the duties of humanity, he trusted no American captain need go further than his own heart for instructions how to perform them. The British captain was ignorant of the spirit of the times, and argu- ing nothing favourable from Stuart's republican reply, he returned with a heavy heart to the ladies to conduct them on board the cap- tor's ship. The elder lady, the mother, was a woman of rank, with all the pride and prejudice of high birth. The Americans she deemed all of that then much despised order-the common people; rebels and robbers were the best names she bestowed on them and in the honesty of her ignorance she sincerely believed that she had fallen into the hands of pirates. The younger lady, though deeply affected by their disastrous situation, endeavored to calm her mother's apprehen- sions, and assured her that she had heard there were men of distinguished humanity among the American sailors. The old lady shook her head
incredulously. "Oh, heaven help us," she groaned, "what can we expect from such horrid fellows, when they know they have Lady Strangford and the Right Honourable Mrs. Liston in their power, and your beauty, Selina! your beauty, child! is a fatal treasure to fall among thieves with, depend on't; arrange your veil so that it will hang in thick folds over your face, I will draw my hood close." The precaution on her part seemed quite superfluous, but the young lady obscured some of heaven's cunningest workmanship with her impervious veil.
The servants were ordered to deliver the ladies' baggage to the Ameri- can captain, with the request that some necessaries might be reserved. Stuart answered that he interfered with no private property, and that all the baggage of the ladies remained at their disposal.
Lady Strangford was somewhat reassured by this generosity, and attended by her captain and followed by her daughter and servants, she proceeded to Stuart's ship. Stuart advanced to meet them and offered her his hand, she proudly declined it and passed silently on. A gust of wind blew back her hood-"Faith!" exclaimed one of the sailors who observed the scrupulosity with which she replaced it, "the old lady had best show her face, for I'm sure we'll all give a good berth to such an iron bound coast as that." But as the same breeze blew aside the young lady's veil, there was a general murmur of admiration. She had at the moment graciously accepted the tender of Stuart's hand in the hope of counteracting the impression of her mother's rudeness, and when her veil was removed he had a full view of her face; conscious that many were gazing on her, she blushed deeply, and hastily readjusted it without raising her eyes. Stuart dropped her hand, smothered an exclamation, and retreated a few paces, leaving her to follow her mother alone.
One of the officers observing his emotion, said, "How is this captain? you don't wink at a broadside, and yet you start at one flash from a lady's bright face."
260
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
"I got a scratch on my right arm in the engagement," returned Stuart, evading his raillery, "and the lady's touch gave me a pang." .
He then retired to his state room, and wrote the following note, which he directed to be delivered to the young lady :- "Capt. Stuart's compli- ments to the ladies under his protection-he incloses a ring once bestowed on him in acknowledgment of honorable conduct, as a pledge to them that the hand that has worn such a badge shall never be sullied by a bad deed. Captain Stuart will proceed immediately to Antigua conveying the ladies with the least possible delay to their destined port." Such a communication to prisoners of war, might naturally excite emotion in a generous bosom, but it did not account for the excess of it manifested by the young lady. She became pale and faint, and when her mother alarmed at such a demonstration of feeling, took up the note, she caught it from her and then after a second thought relinquished it to her.
"I see nothing in this, Selina," said the old lady, after perusing and reperusing it, "to throw you into such a flurry; but you are young and are thinking no doubt of getting home to your husband and children, young people's feelings are, like soft wax, easily melted."
"There is a warmth in some kindness," rejoined the daughter earnestly, "that ought to melt the hardest substances."
"Really, I do not see anything so very striking in this man's civility. It would be of course, you know, in the British navy; politeness and all that sort of thing being inborn in an Englishman, but it may be, indeed I fancy it is quite unheard of in an American."
"Shall I write our acknowledgments, madam, to Captain Stuart?" asked the young lady with evident solicitude to stop the conversation.
"Certainly, certainly my dear Selina, always be ceremoniously polite with your inferiors."
"Madam, I think this noble Captain," she would have added, "has no superiors," but afraid of further discussion she concluded her sentence with the tame addition, "richly deserves our thanks."
She then wrote the following note :- "Mrs. Liston in behalf of her mother-in-law, Lady Strangford, and on her own part, offers her warm- est thanks to Captain Stuart, the ladies esteem it heaven's peculiar mercy that Captain Stuart is their captor. They have already had such experience of his magnanimity, as to render them perfectly tranquil in reposing their safety and happiness on his honour." The ring, without any allusion to it, was re-inclosed.
When Captain Stuart had perused the note, he inquired if the lady had not requested to speak with him. He was answered that so far from intimating such a wish, she had said to her mother that she should remain in her state-room till she was summoned to leave Captain Stuart's vessel. The Captain looked extremely chagrined, he knit his brows, and bit his lips, and gave his orders hastily, with the usual sea expletives appended to them-"a sure sign," his men said, "that something went wrong with the captain," but these signs of repressed emotion were all the expression he allowed to his offended pride, or perhaps his better feelings. The ladies were scrupulously served, and every deferential
261
THE STORY OF PERDITA
attention paid to them that Lady Strangford would have anticipated in the best disciplined ship in his majesty's service.
A few day's sail brought the schooner to the port of Antigua. She entered the harbor under a flag of truce and remained there just time enough for the disembarcation of the ladies and their suite. During this ceremony the captain remained in his berth under a pretext of a violent headache but it was observed that they were no sooner fairly off than he was on deck again moving about with an activity and even impetuosity that seemed quite incompatible with a debilitating malady.
Captain Stuart continued for some months a fortunate cruise about the West India islands. His was not the prudent maxim that "discre- tion is the better part of valour," but when valour would have been boot- less he knew how to employ the alternative and his little schooner was celebrated as the most despearate fighter and the swiftest sailer in those seas, and her captain became so formidable that the English admiral off that station gave orders that the schooner should be followed and destroyed at all hazards.
Soon after this he was pursued by a ship of the line and compelled to take refuge in the harbour of St. Kitts, a French and of course a friend- ly port to the American flag. Here he anchored his vessel, and deeming himself perfectly secure, and wearied with hard duty, he retired to his berth after setting a watch, and dismissing his crew to repose. In the middle of the night he was alarmed by an attack from the pursuing frig- ate, which had contrived to elude the vigilance of the fort that guarded the entrance of the harbour, and was already in such a position in relation to him as to cut off every possibility of escape. His spirit, far from quail- ing, was exasperated by the surprise; he fought as the most courageous animals fight at bay. To increase the horror of his situation, the commander of the fort, from some fatal mistake, opened a fire upon him. He was boarded on all sides by boats manned with eighty-four men. We are too ignorant of such matters, and too peaceably inclined to give any interest to the particulars of a sea-fight. Suffice it to say, that our hero did not surrender till he was himself disabled by wounds, his little band cut down and his schooner a wreck. When the British commander ascertained the actual force with which he had contended, his pride was stung with a consciousness that a victory so dearly bought, had all of defeat but the disgraceful name; and, incapable of that sym- pathy which a magnanimous spirit always feels with a noble captive, he arraigned Captain Stuart before him as a criminal and demanded of him how he dared against the law of nations to defend an indefensible vessel.
"Did you think," retorted Stuart with cold contempt, "that I had gunpowder and would not burn it? do you talk to me of the law of nations! I fight after the law of nature that teaches me to spend the last kernel of powder, and the last drop of blood in my country's service." His conqueror's temper heated before, was inflamed by Stuart's reply. He ordered him to be manacled and put in close confinement. This con- duct may appear extraordinary in the cammander of a British frigate,
262
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
but the English in their contest with the colonies were not always governed by these generous principles, by which they have themselves so much alleviated the miseries of war. A defeated American was treated as a lawful enemy, or a rebel, as suited the individual temper of the conqueror.
The frigate was so much injured in the fight as to render a refit neces- sary, and her commander sailed with his prize for Antigua.
Stuart well knew that his fidelity to his country rendered him ob- noxious to the severest judgment from the admiralty court and though he might plead the services he had rendered the ladies of the governor's family in mitigation of his sentence he proudly resolved never to advert to favours which he had reason to believe had been lightly estimated.
Spirits most magnanimous in prosperity are often most lofty in adversity. Frank Stuart, mutilated by wounds, dejected by the fatal calamities of his faithful crew, irritated by the indignities heaped upon him by his unworthy captor, and stung by secret thoughts of some real or fancied injury-chafed and overburthened with many griefs, received and sullenly obeyed a summons to the presence of the governor. It cannot be denied, that reluctantly as he appeared before the governor, he surveyed him at his introduction with a look of keen curiosity. He was surprised to see a man rather past his prime, though not yet declined into the vale of years. With generous allowance for the effect of a tropi- cal climate, he might not have been more than forty-five. His physiog- nomy was agreeable, and his deportment gentlemanly. He received Captain Stuart with far more courtesy than was often vouchsafed from an officer of the crown, to one who fought under the rebel banner, and remarking that he looked pale and sick, he begged him to be seated.
Stuart declined the civility, and continued resting on a crutch, which a severe wound in his leg rendered necessary.
"You are the commander of the schooner Betsy?" said the governor.
"What's left of her," returned Stuart.
"You appear to be severely wounded," continued the governor.
"Hacked to pieces," rejoined Stuart, in a manner suited to the brevity of his reply.
"Your name, I believe, is Frank Stuart?"
"I have no reason to deny the name, thank God."
"And, thank God, I have reason to bless and honour it," exclaimed the governor, advancing and grasping Frank's hand heartily. "What metal did you deem me of, my noble friend, that I should forget such favours as you have conferred on me in the persons of my wife and mother."
"I have known greater favours than those forgotten," said Frank, and the sudden illumination of his pale face, showed how deeply he felt what he uttered.
"Say you so!" exclaimed the governor, with good humored warmth, "well, but that I, am too poor to pay my own debts to you, I should count it a pleasure to assume those of all my species-but heaven grant, my friend, that you do not allude to my wife and mother. I blamed
263
THE STORY OF PERDITA
them much for not bringing you on shore with them-but my mother is somewhat over punctilious, and my wife, poor soul! her nerves are so shattered by that sea fight, that she is but now herself again. On my word, so far from wanting gratitude to you, she never hears an allusion to you without tears, the language women deal in when words are too cold for them. But come," concluded the governor, for he found that all his efforts did but add to Stuart's evident distress, "come, follow me to the drawing-room, the ladies will themselves convince you how impatient they have been to welcome you."
"Are they apprised," asked Stuart, still hesitating and holding back, "whom they are to see?"
"That they are-my mother is as much delighted as if his majesty were in waiting, and my wife is weeping with joy."
"Perhaps," said Stuart, still hesitating, "she would rather not see. me now."
"Nonsense, my good friend, come along. It is not for a brave fellow like you to shrink from a few friendly tears from a woman's eye."
Nothing more could be urged, and Stuart followed Governor Liston to the presence of the ladies. Lady Strangford rose and offered him her hand with the most condescending kindness. Mrs. Liston rose too, but did not advance till her husband said, "Come, Selina, speak your welcome to our benefactor-he may misinterpret this expression of your feelings."
"Oh, no," she said, now advancing eagerly, and fixing her eye on Stuart, while her cheeks, neck and brow were suffused with crimson, "Oh, no, Captain Stuart knows how deeply I must feel benefits, which none but he that bestowed them could forget or undervalue."
"It was a rule my mother taught me," replied Frank, with bluntness, softened however by a sudden gleam of pleasure, "that givers should not have better memories than receivers." There was a meaning in his honest phrase hidden from two of his auditors, but quite intelligible to her for whom it was designed, and to our readers, who have doubt- less already anticipated that the Honourable Mrs. Liston was none other than the fugitive Perdita. A sudden change of color showed that she felt acutely Stuart's keen though veiled reproach.
"A benefit," she replied, still speaking in a double sense, "such as I have received from you, Captain Stuart, may be too deeply felt to be acknowledged by words, now heaven has given us the opportunity of deeds, and you shall find that my gratitude is only inferior to your merit." Stuart was more accustomed to embody his feelings in actions than in speech, and he remained silent. He felt as if he were the sport of a dream, when he looked on the transformed Perdita. He knew not why, but invested as she now was, with all the power of wealth and the elegance of fashion, he felt not half the awe of her, as when in her help- lessness and dependence, "he had fenced her round with many a spelle," wrought by youthful and chivalric feeling.
He perceived, in spite of Mrs. Liston's efforts, that his presence was embarrassing to her, and he would have taken leave, but the governor
264
HISTORY OF TABLOT COUNTY
insisted peremptorily to his remaining to dine with him. Then saying, that he had indispensable business to transact, and must be absent for a half hour, he would, he said, leave the ladies to a free expression of their feelings.'
When he was gone, Mrs. Liston said to her mother, "I do not think your little favourite, Francis, is quite well today, will you have the goodness to look in upon him and give nurse some advice." The old lady went without reluctance, as most people do to give advice, and Mrs. Liston turned to Stuart and said, "I gave my boy your name, with a prayer that God would give him your spirit. Do not, oh, do not think me," she continued, her lip quivering with emotion, "the un- grateful wretch I have appeared. I am condemned to silence by the pride of another. My heart rebels, but I am bound to keep that a secret which my feelings prompt me to publish to the world." Stuart would have spoken, but she anticipated him: "Listen to me without interruption," she said, "my story is my only apology, and I have but brief space to tell it in. It was love, as you once guessed, that led me to that mad voyage to America. I had a silly passion for a young Vir- ginian, who had been sent to England for his education-he was nine- teen, I fifteen, when we promised to meet on board the ship which conveyed me to America. His purpose, but not his concert with me was discovered, and he was detained in England. You know all the events of my enterprise. I left a letter for my father, informing him that I had determined to abandon England, but I gave him not the slightest clue to my real designs. I was an only, and as you will readily believe, a spoiled child. My mother was not living, and my father, hoping that I should soon return, and wishing to veil my folly, gave out that he had sent me to a boarding-school on the continent, and himself retired to Switzerland. When I arrived in London, I obtained his address and followed him. He immediately received me to apparent favour, but never restored me to his confidence. His heart was hardened by my childish folly, and though I recounted to him all my sufferings, I never drew a tear from him; but when I spoke of you, and dwelt on the particulars of your goodness to me, his eye would moisten, and he would exclaim, 'God bless the lad.' I must be brief," she continued, casting her eye apprehensively at the door, "Mr. Liston came with his mother to Geneva, where we resided; he addressed me-my father favoured his suit, and though he is, as you perceive, much older than myself, I con- sented to marry him, but not, as I told my father, till I had unfolded my history to him. My father was incensed at what he called my folly-he treated me harshly-I was subdued, and our contest ended in my solemnly swearing never to divulge the secret, on the preservation of which he fancied the honour of his proud name to depend."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.