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Elsie's Motherhood by Martha Finley

M >> Martha Finley >> Elsie\'s Motherhood




The gentlemen scorned to fly from the desperadoes and resign to their
despotic rule their poor dependents and the land of their love; nay they
would stay and defend both to the utmost of their power; and the wives
upheld their husbands in their determination and refused to leave them
to meet the peril alone.

Returning from the burial of Uncle Mose, Mr. Dinsmore and Horace spent
an hour at Ion before riding back to the Oaks.

The three gentlemen were in the library earnestly discussing the state
of affairs, when Elsie, coming down from seeing her little ones settled
for the night, heard the sound of wheels in the avenue, and stepping to
the door saw the Ashlands carriage just drawing up in front of it.

The vehicle had scarcely come to a standstill ere its door was thrown
hastily open and the elder Mrs. Carrington alighted.

Elsie sprang to meet her with outstretched arms, and the exclamation,
"My dear old friend!" though her heart beat quickly, her cheek
crimsoned, and tears filled her eyes.

The old lady, speechless with grief, fell upon her neck and wept there
silently for a moment; then low and gaspingly, in a voice broken with
sobs, "I--have--come to--ask about--George," she said, "can it, oh can
it be that he has done this dreadful thing?" and shuddering she hid her
face on Elsie's shoulder her slight frame shaken with the sobs she
vainly strove to suppress.

"Dear Mrs. Carrington, I am so sorry, so _very_ sorry to think it,"
Elsie said, in a voice full of tears, "my heart aches for you who love
him so; you who have been so sorely afflicted: may the Lord give you
strength to bear up under this new trial."

"He will! he does! My sister's son! oh tis sad, 'tis heart-breaking! But
the proofs: what are they?"

Elsie named them; first drawing her friend to a seat where she supported
her with her arm.

"Yes, yes, his voice, his gait are both peculiar, and--his hand. Let me
see that--that garment."

Leading her into a private room, and seating her comfortably there Elsie
had it brought and laid before her.

Mrs. Carrington gave it one glance, and motioning it away with a look
and gesture of horror, dropped her face into her hands and groaned
aloud.

Elsie kneeling by her side, clasped her arms about her and wept with
her.

"A slayer of the weak and helpless--a murderer--a midnight assassin!"
groaned the half distracted aunt.

"May there not possibly be some mistake. Let us give him the benefit of
the doubt," whispered Elsie.

"Alas there seems scarcely room for doubt!" sighed Mrs. Carrington,
then, with a determined effort to recover her composure, "But don't
think, dear Elsie, that I blame you or your husband. Can I see him? and
your father if he is here?"

"Yes, they are both here and will rejoice if they can be of any comfort
or service to you. Ah, I hear papa's voice in the hall, asking for me!"
and stepping to the door, she called to him and her husband, "Please
come in here," she said, "Mrs. Carrington wishes to see you both."

"You here and alone at this late hour, my dear madam!" Mr. Dinsmore
exclaimed, taking the old lady's hand in a cordial grasp, "your courage
surprises me."

"Ah, my good friend, they who have little to lose, need not have much to
do with fear," she answered. "That was what I told Sophie who would have
had me defer my call till to-morrow."

"My dear madam, you are surely right in thinking that no one would
molest you--a lady whom all classes unite in loving and honoring," Mr.
Travilla said, greeting her with almost filial respect and affection.

She bowed in acknowledgment. "Do not think for a moment that I have come
to upbraid you, gentlemen. Justice demands that those who break the laws
suffer the penalty, and I have nothing to say against it; though the
criminal be my own flesh and blood. But I want to hear all about this
sad affair."

They told her briefly all they knew, she listening with calm though sad
demeanor.

"Thank you," she said when they had finished. "That George is guilty, I
dare hardly doubt, and I am far from upholding him in his wickedness. As
you all know, I was strong for accession, and am no Republican now, but
I say perish the cause that can be upheld only by such measures as
these. I would have every member of this wicked, dreadful conspiracy
brought to punishment; they are ruining their country; but their deeds
are not chargeable upon the secessionists of the war time, as a class."

"That is certainly true, madam."

"We are fully convinced of that, Mrs. Carrington," the gentlemen
replied.

She rose to take leave. Mr. Travilla requested her to delay a little
till his horse could be brought to the door, and he would see her home.

"No, no, Travilla," said Mr. Dinsmore, "Horace and I will do that, if
Mrs. Carrington will accept our escort."

"Many thanks to you both, gentlemen," she said, "but I assure you I am
not in the least afraid; and it would be putting you to unnecessary
trouble."

"On the contrary, my dear madam, it would be a pleasure; and as our
horses are already at the door, we need not delay you a moment," said
Mr. Dinsmore. "It will not take us so very far out of our way, either:
and I should like to have a word with Sophie."

Upon that Mrs. Carrington gratefully accepted his offer, and the three
went away together.

Convinced of his guilt, Mrs. Carrington made no effort to obtain the
release of her nephew, but several of his confederates having perjured
themselves to prove an alibi in his favor, he was soon at large again.

He showed his face no more at the Oaks or Ion, and upon occasion of an
accidental meeting with Travilla or either of the Dinsmores, regarded
him with dark, scowling looks, sometimes adding a muttered word or two
of anger and defiance.

In the meantime damages had been repaired in the quarters at Fairview
and Ion, and the men at the latter, secretly supplied with arms; also
the rebuilding of the school-house was going rapidly forward.

A threatening notice was presently served upon Mr. Travilla, ordering
him to desist from the attempt, as the teaching of the blacks would not
be allowed by the Ku Klux.

He however paid no attention to the insolent demand, and the work went
on as before.

Mr. Leland had succeeded in keeping the affair of the coffin from his
wife thus saving her much anxiety and distress.

To leave just at this time would be a great pecuniary loss, and he
had decided to remain; but had laid his plans carefully for either
resistance or escape in case of an attack.

A couple of large, powerful, and very fine watch dogs were added to his
establishment, and a brace of loaded pistols and a bowie knife were
always within reach of his hand.

One night the family were aroused by the furious barking of the dogs.
Instantly Mr. Leland was out upon the floor hastily throwing on his
clothes, while his wife, with the frightened cry. "The Ku Klux!" ran to
the window.

"Yes it is! they are surrounding the house! O Robert, fly for your
life!" she cried in the wildest terror. "O God save my poor husband from
these cruel foes!" she added, dropping upon her knees and lifting hands
and eyes to heaven.

"He will, Mary, never fear, wife," Mr. Leland said almost cheerfully,
snatching up his weapons as he spoke. "Pray on, it's the best thing you
can do to help me."

"You must fly!" she said, "you can't fight twenty men and I think there
are at least that many."

"I'll slip out at the back door then, and make for the woods," he
answered, rushing from the room.

Children and servants were screaming with affright, the ruffians
thundering at the front door, calling loudly upon Mr. Leland to come
out, and threatening to break it down if he did not immediately appear.

Summoning all her courage, the wife went again to the window and called
to them, asking what was wanted.

"Leland. Tell him to come out here at once or it will be the worse for
him," returned the leader, in a feigned, unnatural voice.

"He is not here," she said.

"He'd better show himself at once," returned the ruffian, "he'll not
escape by refusing to do so; we'll search every corner till we find
him."

"That will be as God pleases," she said in a calm, firm tone, her
courage rising with the emergency.

She was answered with a yell of rage, and a repeated order to come down
and open the door.

"I shall do no such thing," she said; "and what is more, I shall shoot
down the first man that sets foot on the stairs."

It was a sudden resolution that had come to her. Encouraged by Mrs.
Travilla's precept and example, she had been, for months past,
industriously training herself in the use of firearms, and kept her
loaded revolver at hand; and now she would create a diversion in her
husband's favor, keeping the raiders at bay at the front of the building
while he escaped at the back; they believed him to be in the upper
story: if she could prevent it, they should not learn their mistake,
till he had had time to gain the woods and distance pursuit.

The door could not much longer withstand the heavy blows dealt it;
already there were sounds as if it were about to give way.

"Archie," she said, turning to her son and speaking very rapidly, "those
men are here to kill your father; you must help me to prevent them from
coming up to hunt him. The rest of you children stop that loud crying,
which won't do any good. Kneel down and pray, pray, _pray_ to God to
help your father to get away from them. Archie, throw this black cloak
round you. Here are two loaded pistols. I will take one, you the other;
we will station ourselves on the landing at the head of the first flight
of stairs. It is darker in the house than out of doors, and they will
not be able to see us, but as the door falls and they rush in we can see
them in their white gowns, and against the light. Come!"

They hurried to the landing.

"Now we must not be in too great haste," she whispered in his ear; "keep
cool, take sure aim, and fire low."

The words had scarcely left her lips when the door fell with a crash,
and with a yell like an Indian war whoop several disguised men rushed
into the hall and hastily advanced toward the stairway; but the instant
the foremost set foot upon it, two shots were fired from above,
evidently not without effect; for with an oath he staggered back and
fell into the arms of his comrades.

He was borne away by two of them, while the others returned the fire at
random, for they could not see their adversaries.

The balls whistled past Mrs. Leland and her son, but they stood their
ground bravely, and as two of their assailants attempted to ascend the
stairs; fired again and again driving them back for a moment.

At the same time sounds of conflict came from the rear of the
dwelling,--an exchange of shots, whoops and yells, the hurried tramp of
many feet, and the yelping, barking and howling of the dogs--and
instantly the hall was cleared, every man there hastening to join in
this new struggle, apparently satisfied that their intended victim was
endeavoring to make his escape in that direction.

Seeing this, Mrs. Leland and her son ran to a window overlooking the new
scene of contest, their hearts beating between hope and fear.

Mr. Leland had slipped cautiously out of the back door, and, revolver in
hand, stepped into the yard, but only to find himself surrounded by his
foes.

They attempted to seize him, but eluding their grasp, he fired right and
left, several shots in succession, the others returning his fire, and
following in hot pursuit.

There was no moon that night, and the darkness and a simple suit of
black, were favorable to Leland, for while the long white gowns of the
Ku Klux not only trammelled their movements, but rendered each an easy
target for his shot, they could take but uncertain aim at him, and on
gaining the woods, he was soon lost to their view in the deepened gloom
of its recesses.

But the balls had been falling about him like hailstones, and as the
sounds of pursuit grew fainter, he found himself bleeding profusely from
a wound in the leg. He dropped behind a fallen tree, and partially
stanched the wound with some leaves which he bound on with a
handkerchief, fortunately left in his coat pocket on retiring that
night.

This was scarcely accomplished, when sounds of approaching footsteps and
voices told him the danger was not yet over.

He crouched close in his hiding place, and hardly dared breathe as they
passed and repassed, some almost stepping on him. But he remained
undiscovered, and at length they abandoned the search, and returning to
the vicinity of the house, gathered up their wounded and went away.

Yet Leland felt that it was not safe for him to venture back to his
home, as they might return at any moment; but to remain where he was
with his wound undressed was almost certain death.

He resolved to accept Mr. Travilla's offered hospitality, if his
strength would carry him so far, and was rising to make the attempt,
when the cracking of a dead branch told him that some living thing was
near, and he fell back again, listening intently for the coming
footsteps.

"Robert! Robert!" called a low tremulous voice.

"O Mary, is it you?" he responded, in low but joyous accents, and the
next moment his wife's arms were about his neck, her tears warm upon his
cheek, while Archie stood sobbing beside them.

"Thank God, thank God that you are alive!" she said, "But are you
unhurt?"

"No, I am bleeding fast from a wound in my leg," Leland answered
faintly.

"I've brought lint and bandages," she said, "let me bind it up as well
as I can in the dark."

"Daren't we strike a light?" asked Archie.

"No, my son, it might bring them on us again, and we must speak low
too."

"Yes, father; but oh what will you do? you can't come back home again?"

"No; I must go to Ion at once, while I can do so under cover of the
darkness. Travilla has offered to hide me there. Archie, my brave boy,
I can trust you with this secret."

"Father, they shall kill me before I'll tell it."

"I trust you will not be tried so far," Leland said with emotion. "I
would not save my life at the sacrifice of yours. I leave your mother in
your care, my boy; be dutiful and affectionate to her, and kind to your
little brother and sisters. Mary, dear, you and Archie will have to
manage the plantation in my absence," and he went on to give some
directions.

"I will do my best," she said tearfully, "and as we have been for
months past frequent visitors at Ion, I can surely go to see you there
occasionally without exciting suspicion."

"Yes, I think so."

"Father," said Archie, "you can never walk to Ion; let me bring my pony
and help you to mount him; then I will lead him to Ion and bring him
back again."

"That is a bright thought; we will do so, if you can saddle him in the
dark and bring him here very quietly."

"I'll try, father," and the boy hastened away in the direction of the
stables.

He returned sooner than they dared hope, with the pony saddled and
bridled. Husband and wife bade a mournful adieu. Mr. Leland mounted with
his son's assistance, and silently they threaded their way through the
woods to Ion.

"Hoo! hoo! hoo!" the cry came in loud and clear through the open windows
of the bedroom of the master and mistress of Ion, and startled them both
from their slumbers.

"Hoo, hoo! hoo!" it came again, and with a light laugh, Elsie said, "Ah
it is only an owl; but to my sleeping ear it seemed like a human cry of
distress. But Edward--"

He had sprung from the bed and was hurrying on his clothes. "I doubt if
it is not, little wife," he said. "It is the signal of distress Leland
and I had agreed upon, and he may be in sore need of aid."

"Let me go with you!" she cried tremulously, hastening to don
dressing-gown and slippers. "Shall I strike a light?"

"No, not till we go down below where the shutters are closed. There is
no knowing what foe may be lurking near."

Seizing his revolvers, he left the room as he spoke, she following close
behind, a pistol in one hand, a lamp and match-box in the other.

Silently they groped their way over the stairs, through the halls and
corridors, till they reached a side door, which Mr. Travilla cautiously
unbarred.

"Who is there?" he asked scarcely above his breath.

"I, sir," and Mr. Leland stepped in and fell fainting to the floor.

Elsie had set her lamp upon a table, and laid her pistol beside it, and
while her husband carefully secured the door again, she struck a light
and brought it near.

Together they stooped over the prostrate form.

"He is not dead?" she asked with a shudder.

"No, no: only a faint; but, see, he is wounded! Your keys, wife!"

"Here," she said, taking them from her pocket, where, with rare presence
of mind, she had thrust them ere leaving her room.

They hastened to apply restoratives, and bind up the wound more
thoroughly than Mrs. Leland had been able to do it.

Restored to consciousness, Leland gave a brief account of the affair,
refreshed himself with food and drink set before him by Elsie's fair
hands, and then was conducted by Mr. Travilla to an upper room in a wing
of the building, dating back to the old days of Indian warfare. It was
distant from the apartments in use by the family, and had a large closet
entered by a concealed door in the wainscoting.

"Here I think you will be safe," remarked his host. "No one but my wife
and myself yet knows of your coming, and it shall be kept secret from
all but Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, two tried and faithful servants.
Except Dr. Barton; he is safe and will be needed to extract the ball."

"Yes; and my wife and boy and the Dinsmores," added Leland with a faint
smile. "Travilla, my good friend, I can never thank you enough for this
kindness."

"Tut, man! 'tis nothing! are we not told to lay down our lives for the
brethren? Let me help you to bed; I fear that leg will keep you there
for some days."

"I fear so indeed, but am sincerely thankful to have gotten off so
well," replied Leland, accepting the offered assistance.

"A most comfortable, nay luxurious prison cell," he remarked cheerily,
glancing about upon the elegant and tasteful furniture, "truly the lines
have fallen to me in pleasant places."

Mr. Travilla smiled. "We will do what we can to make amends for the loss
of liberty. It can not be far from daybreak now: I will remove the
light, throw open the shutters and leave you to rest. You must of course
be anxious about your family. I will ride over to Fairview and bring you
news of them within the hour."




Chapter Fifteenth.

"It gives me wonder, great is my content,
To see you here before me."
--SHAKESPEARE'S OTHELLO.

"Sir, you are very welcome to our house."
--SHAKESPEARE


Day had fully dawned when Mr. Travilla re-entered his sleeping apartment
to find Elsie in bed again, but lying there with wide open eyes.

"How very quietly you came in; careful not to disturb me I suppose, my
good, kind husband," she said greeting him with a loving look and smile,
as he drew near her couch.

"Yes," he answered, bending over her and fondly stroking her hair. "I
hoped you were taking another nap."

"No, I feel as if I should never be sleepy again. I'm thinking of poor
Mrs. Leland. How troubled, anxious and distressed she must feel."

"Yes; I shall ride over there directly."

"And take me with you?"

"Gladly, if you like to go. You will do her more good than I."

"I doubt it; but perhaps both together may be better than either one
alone. Didn't she act bravely?"

"Yes; she's a noble woman."

They spent some moments in consulting together how to make their guest
comfortable and at the same time effectually conceal his presence in the
house.

They rejoiced in the fact that no one but themselves--his own son
excepted--had been cognizant of his arrival, and Elsie agreed with her
husband that it should be kept secret from the children; servants also
save Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, whose services would be needed, and who
could be trusted not to divulge the matter.

"Mammy will manage about his meals, I know," said Elsie, "and Dr.
Barton's visits may be supposed to be paid to Violet. The darling! how
glad and thankful I am that she seems to be losing her inclination to
sleep-walking."

"And I," said her husband; "thankful to God for his blessing on the
means used, and to Barton, who is certainly an excellent physician."

Their talk ended, husband and wife separated to their different
dressing-rooms.

Elsie rang for her maid and Aunt Chloe appeared in answer to the
summons.

Aunt Chloe was no longer young, or even elderly, but had attained to a
healthy and vigorous old age and still so delighted in her old pleasant
task of busying herself about the person of her young mistress, that
she would only occasionally resign it to other hands. She was a
household dignitary, head tire-woman, and head nurse, and much looked
up to by the younger servants.

She came in quietly and dropping a courtesy said, "Good mornin', Miss
Elsie, I hope you's well, honey, but you's up so mighty early."

"Ah, mammy, I'm glad it is you, for I have something to tell you. Yes,
I'm quite well, thank you," Elsie answered, then while making a rapid
toilet, went on to relate the occurrences of the last few hours, winding
up by putting the wounded guest in charge of Aunt Chloe and her husband.

The faithful old creature accepted the trust with evident pride in the
confidence reposed in her.

"Dis chile an' Uncle Joe'll take care of him, honey, neber fear," she
said, carefully adjusting the folds of her mistress's riding habit.
"I'll nuss him to de best ob my disability, an' de good Lord'll soon
make um well, I hope."

"And you and Uncle Joe will be careful not to let any of the other
servants know that he's here?"

"Dat we will, darlin', for shuah."

The sun was just peeping above the horizon, as Mr. and Mrs. Travilla
drew rein before the main entrance to the Fairview mansion.

Mrs. Leland came out to welcome them. She was looking pale and worn,
yet met them with a smile, and words of grateful appreciation of all
their kindness, then, with the quick tears springing to her eyes, asked
anxiously after her husband's welfare.

"I think he is safe and will do well," Mr. Travilla said. "It seems to
be only a flesh wound, and will soon heal with proper treatment and good
nursing. I shall go from here to Dr. Barton's; calling for my wife on my
return. But first what can I do for you? Ah, I see your door is quite
demolished. We must have it replaced with a new and stronger one before
night."

"Yes, that is the most pressing need just now," said Mrs. Leland. "Come
in and look; there is really no other damage except a few bullet holes
in the walls, and these blood-stains on the matting," she said with a
slight shudder; "and I am truly thankful to have escaped so well."

They stepped into the hall, (their talk so far had been on the veranda,)
and gazed with interest upon the marks of the night's conflict, Mrs.
Leland meanwhile giving a graphic account of it.

A servant was diligently at work cleaning the matting, and had nearly
obliterated the stains left by the wounded Ku Klux.

"And you shot him, Mrs. Leland?" Elsie said inquiringly.

"Archie or I, or perhaps both of us," Mrs. Leland answered, leading the
way to the parlor.

They sat there a few moments, conversing still upon the same theme.

"You will hardly dare stay here at night now?" Elsie remarked.

"Yes; where else? I should feel very little safer from the Ku Klux in
the woods, and the malaria might rob us all of health and even life."

"Come to Ion," said both her visitors in a breath, "you will be most
welcome."

"A thousand thanks," she answered with emotion. "I do not doubt my
welcome; yet fear to give a clue to my husband's hiding place."

"There might be danger of that," Mr. Travilla said thoughtfully, "but
what better, my dear madam, can you do?"

"Stay here and put my trust in the Lord. He will take care of me and my
helpless little ones.

"I have been thinking of one of our noble pioneer women of the West,
whose husband was killed by the Indians, leaving her alone in the
wilderness with six small children, no white person within several
miles.

"Her friends urged her to leave the dangerous spot, but she said, 'No,
this farm is all I have for my own and my children's support, and I must
stay here. God will protect and help us.' And he did; the Indians,
though they knew she was alone, never attacked her. She lay sometimes
all night with a broadax in her hands, ready to defend her babes; but
though she could see the savages come into her yard and light their
pipes at her brushwood fire, they never approached the house?"

Elsie's eyes kindled with enthusiastic admiration, then filled with
tears. "Dear, brave Christian woman! and you will emulate her courage
and faith."

"I shall try; the hearts of the Ku Klux of to-day are no less in His
hands than those of the Indians of that day or this."

"That is certainly true and he never fails those who put their trust in
him," Mr. Travilla said, rising. "Now, wife, I will leave you here while
I go for Barton."

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