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The Bride of Fort Edward by Bacon, Delia, 1811-1859
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A word from our supporters: File extension CGI | _Helen_. Yes--yes--it does. I know it does. I will not yield to it. 'Tis folly, all. _Mrs. G_. You talk as though you were dreaming still; my child. Put on your hat, and go into the garden for a little, the air is fresh and pleasant now; or take a ramble through the orchard if you will, you might meet Annie there,--no, yon she comes, and well too. It's quite time that I were gone again. I wish that we had nothing worse than dreams on hand. Helen, I must talk with you about these fancies; you must not thus unnerve yourself for real evil. _Helen_. It were impossible,--it could not be!--how could it be?--Oh! these are wild times. Unseen powers are crossing their meshes here around us,--and, what am I--Powers?--there's but one Power, and that-- Far in the lone wood's depths, and though dark weapons And keen eyes are out, it falleth not But at his will." PART SECOND* * * * *LOVE* * * * *DIALOGUE I.SCENE. _A little glen in the woods near Fort Edward. A young British Officer appears, attended by a soldier in the American uniform; the latter with a small sealed pacquet in his hand_. _Off_. Hist! _Sol_. Well, so I did; but---- _Off_. Hist, I say! _Sol_. A squirrel it is, Sir; there he sits. _Off_. By keeping this path you avoid the picket on the hill. It will bring you out where these woods skirt the vale, and scarcely a hundred rods from the house itself. [_Calling without_.] _Sol_. Captain Andre--Sir. _Off_. It were well that the pacquet should fall into no other hands. With a little caution there is no danger. It will be twilight ere you get out of these woods-- _Sol_. I beg your pardon, Sir; but here is that young Indian guide of mine, after all, above there, beckoning me. _Off_. Stay--you will come back to the camp ere midnight? _Sol_. Unless some of these quick-eyed rebels see through my disguise. _Off_. Do not forget the lodge as you return. A little hut of logs just in the edge of the woods, but Siganaw knows it well. young officer enters the glen_.) _2nd Off_. Hillo, Maitland! These woods yield fairies,--come this way. _1st Off_. For God's sake, Andre! (_motioning silence_.) Are you mad? _Andre_. Well, who are they? _Mait_. _Who_? Have you forgotten that we are on the enemy's ground? Soldiers from the fort, no doubt. They have crossed that opening twice since we stood here. _Andre_. Well, let them cross twice more. I would run the risk of a year's captivity, at least, for one such glimpse. Nay, come, she will be gone. _Mait_. Stay,--not yet. There, again! |