Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 180: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

UNTO THE FOURTH GENERATION. BY MAUD HOWARD PETERSON. A tale of our two great wars, showing how a bit of rosemary retained its meaning through the varlous vicissitudes of the epochs that marked the making of the American republic. ‘““ There's rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” HE stood a quaint, tall, slender fig- ure in white, with the parted hair, short waisted dress and high heeled slippers of old. The English ivy and Virginia creeper running around the pillars of the porch framed her in like a picture. . Far off lay the Dan and the Staunton with the sun shining on them, as they flowed nearer to form the Roanoke.: To the right lay the stretches of meadow and borne on the air was the sound of negroes’ voices singing in the tobacco fields. To the left lay the hedge of rose bushes and through the vista of holly trees gleamed the marble slabs of the graveyard. At the foot of the steps stood a man holding his horse by the bridle. In his hand, over which fell a deep lace ruffle, was his hat and riding whip. From his high boots shone silver spurs and on his knee breeches glistened rose diamond buckles. | “ Nay,” he was saying, and his dark eyes flashed scornfully, “nay, doth King George think we will submit to such tyranny as this? I wager me, he knoweth not with whom he has to deal.”’ “ Methinks you are right,” the girl answered, “but I trow King George would be astounded could he but hear Sir Peyton Ravenscroft speak thus.” The man struck his whip against his boot and looked down upon it smiling. “ Aye, verily, but methinks he would be equally astounded could he but know that Lady Jean shared in my opinion.” : “JT care not what his majesty may think. I am no subject of his; I ac- knowledge no king; I am a free wom- an and a Virginian, living in a State that will have her liberty or die!” “Sh—sh! You shouldst not speak so loudly, fair coz,” replied the man looking cautiously around, “ we are living in dangerous times when the very walls themselves have ears to tes- tify against them that speak ill of the king.” “T care not,” answered she again; “did we not throw off our English | chains three years ago and did not Vir- ginia lead?” “You wouldst make a right noble soldier’s sweetheart,” Sir Peyton an- swered, looking up at her. A faint smile crept around her lady- ship’s mouth. “Who knoweth?e Perchance, some day I may be called upon to fill the role,” she said. “Then by the powers above I -do most heartily wish that I might be the favored man.” He dropped the bridlé and ran up to where she stood. “ Think you there is hope for such as I, fair coz?” ‘“Nay, for you are more a cavalier than you are a soldier.” “Times changeth men’s positions,” he said, with shining eyes. “The day is now at hand when we gentlemen of Virginia will leave our possessions and our homes and raise our swords for I1b- erty!” “ Well said, Sir Peyton, and for that worthy speech you shall have a flower. Take your choice,” she added. “Nay, you shouldst give me one.” She took a spray of lad’s love and offered it to him. ecomicloool< eo