While Brown was at work in the North collecting money, arms andammunition, Cook was quietly completing his work at the Ferry. Hefought the temptation to take Virginia with him on his trips and thensuccumbed.
The thing that decided it was the fact that she knew Colonel LouisWashington and had been to Bellair. She promised to introduce him.
To make sure of Brown\'s quixotic instructions about the sword andpistols he must make the trip. The drive in the snug little buggy alongthe river bank was a red letter experience in the young Westerner\'slife.
Seated beside the modest slip of a Southern girl chatting with vivacityand a happiness she couldn\'t conceal, the man forgot that he was aconspirator in a plot to deluge a nation in blood. He forgot the longnights of hiding in woods and ravines. He forgot dark deeds of sackingand robbery. He was just a boy again. The sun was shining in the gloryof a sweet spring morning in the mountains. The flowers were blooming inthe hedges. He smelled the wild cherry, blackberry and dewberry bushes.
Birds were singing. The new green of the leaves was dazzling in itssplendor. The air was pure and sweet and sent the blood bounding to thetips of his fingers.
He glanced at the soft red cheeks of the girl beside him and a greatyearning for a home and babies and peace overwhelmed him. His lipstrembled and his eyes filled with tears. He rebelled against the task towhich he had put his hand.
"Why so pensive?" she asked with a laugh.
"Am I?""You haven\'t spoken for a mile.""I\'m just so happy, I reckon," he answered seriously.
He remembered his grim task and threw off the spell. He must keep acool head and a strong hand. He remembered the strange old man to whose"Constitution" he had sworn allegiance in Canada and began to talk incommonplaces.
To the girl\'s romantic ears they had meaning. Every tone of his voicefascinated her. The mystery about him held her imagination. She was sureit was full of thrilling adventure. He would tell her some day. Shewondered why he had waited so long. He had been on the point of tellinghis love again and again and always stopped with an ugly frown. Shewondered sometimes if his life had been spoiled by some tragedy. Athousand times she asked herself the question whether he might bemarried and separated from a wife. He had lived in the North. He hadtold her many places he had seen. People were divorced sometimes in theNorth. She dismissed the thought as absurd and resigned herself again tothe charms of his companionship.
Colonel Washington was delighted to see again the daughter of an oldfriend. Her father had been his companion on many a hunting and fishingtrip.
Virginia introduced her companion.
"My friend, Mr. John Cook, Colonel Washington."The colonel extended his hand cordially.
"Glad to meet you, young man. A friend of Virginia\'s is a friend ofmine, sir.""Thank you.""Walk right in, children, sit down and make yourselves at home. I\'llfind that damned old lazy butler of mine and get you some refreshments.""Let\'s sit outside," Virginia whispered.
"No," Cook protested. "I want to see the inside of a Washington home."The Colonel waved his arm toward the house.
"With you in a minute, children. Walk right in.""Of course, if you wish it," the girl said softly.
They entered the fine old house, and sat down in the hall. Cook smiledat the easy fulfillment of his task. Directly in front of the door, setin a deep panel, was the portrait of the first President. On the rightin a smaller panel hung the sword which Frederick the Great had givenhim. On the other side, the pistols from the hands of Lafayette. A tiny,gold plate, delicately engraved, marked each treasure.
Virginia showed him these souvenirs of her country\'s history. She spokeof them with breathless awe. She laughed with girlish pride.
"Aren\'t they just grand?"Cook nodded.
He felt guilty of treachery. A betrayal of Southern hospitality inthis sweet girl\'s presence! He ground his teeth at the thought of hisweakness the next moment.
Colonel Washington appeared through the door from the dining room. Hewas followed by his ancient butler, bearing a tray filled with drinks.
The Colonel served them with his own hand. The negro grinned his welcometo the guests. At the sight of a slave, Cook was himself again. His jawclosed and his eye flashed. He was once more the disciple of the Man ofthe Blood-Feud.
Washington handed a tall glass to Virginia.
"Your lemonade, young lady. I know your taste and approve."He bowed low and gave her the drink.
He took two glasses of mint juleps, one in each hand.
"Mr. Cook, the favorite drink of these mountains, sir, as pure as itsdews, as refreshing as its air--the favorite drink of old Virginia. Toyour good hea............