Frederick Forest

“ In an instant, the dreadful Past, with all its woes and sorrows, was buried in the deepest recesses of oblivion, leaving the happy Present, as it were, like an insurmountable barrier between it and the bright and promising Future, which dawned fair and beautiful upon the horizon of their happiness.
Their more intimate friends—among whom were Colonel Hall and War-Cloud—pressed around the happy couple to [95] congratulate them, while the soldiers gave three hearty cheers for their brave captain and his lady, making the woods, hills, and valleys ring with the echo of a thousand voices. ”

“ For a long time, the chief topic of conversation among the members of the Tory League, was the fearless intrepidity of their new comrade, who bore with unblushing indifference the plaudits thus bestowed upon him.
Imogene was awakened from the swoon into which she had fallen after the termination of her interview with Iron Hand, by the touch of some cold object.
As she raised herself slowly, she just succeeded in catching a view of the figure of a man—an Indian, she knew by his peculiar dress and the feathers that adorned his head—as he glided swiftly from the apartment. ”

“ The shades of night were fast approaching, wrapping the grand old forest in a somber gloom, when Imogene awakened to a sense of her lonely situation. As she pondered on her isolated condition, her mind was filled with fear and dreadful forebodings.
The thought, that she was there alone in that gloomy forest, a prey to wild beasts and starvation, almost distracted her. She almost wished that she had not effected her escape, and was about to give vent to her wild grief, when the tread of horses attracted her attention. ”

“ As the Indian stood there, calmly awaiting the pleasure of his commander, with his arms quietly folded on his breast, with the beautiful war-plumes that decorated his head drooping over his countenance so as to give a more somber shade to his finely-molded features, he looked like some brazen colossus and the beau-ideal of a true warrior.
Colonel Hall was pacing up and down the apartment, deeply absorbed in meditation. He stopped a moment and looked up. ”

“ Edgar and Imogene turned their heads simultaneously and looked behind. At the same moment each caught a glance of the face and form they had seen a few nights previous in the grove near the cottage—the face that Edgar had declared he had seen in his dream! There it stood in the middle of the road, wrapped in a white, shaggy cloak, which gave the mysterious form a frightful appearance, and the face, pale and motionless, gazing after them. ”

“ The party continued the remainder of their journey in silence. The moon had risen bright and full, when they arrived near the house in which the ruffians had left their companion to await their return.
As they emerged from the forest to cross the lawn leading to the dwelling, a slight breeze shook the tall pines—a peculiar sound reached their ears—the lengthened shadow of a human body stretched across the moonlit sward, reaching nigh to their very feet in its vacillating course.
They stopped—looked up—when, oh, horror! they beheld a spectacle sufficient to harrow up their very souls. ”

“ Another instant and she would again be within the power of her detested captor! She could almost feel his hot breath.
“Ha! ha! fair rebel,” he exclaimed with a malignant laugh, “captured at last!”
As he was on the point of laying hold of the bridle of Imogene’s steed, he felt himself seized on either side by an iron grasp, while a brace of pistols were presented at his head.
“Villains! What means this?” he cried, struggling to free himself.
“That the tables are turned, chief, and you’re our prisoner,” replied War-Cloud, raising his weapon in a threatening manner. ”

“ Imogene, you judge me too harshly. Though hated by mankind; though my name be whispered in accents of fear and loathing, yet I am not so bad as the world would have me. One thing always has sustained me when on the very verge of despair, and like a celestial guide, has directed my footsteps, and bid me hope when all around me was ingulfed in misery and darkness—it is the thought, that you might yet look upon me more kindly ”

“ Around the entrance of the garrison a large crowd of soldiers were collected, to observe the guests as they arrived, and when Edgar and Imogene passed through the men gave them a loud and hearty cheer. This seemed to awaken the couple from the lethargy into which they had fallen after beholding the apparition.
Dismounting, they hurried to the ball-room, where they found a gay assembly. The hall was brilliantly lighted and handsomely decorated. The music, which consisted of the regimental band, was playing a waltz, while a throng of dancers whirled round the room. ”

“ They were Edgar Sherwood and Imogene Lear.
“Maurice!” said Edgar in a low tone, approaching the dying man.
“Great God!” said Iron Hand. “It is he! it is he! I know that voice! Oh! oh! he will kill me, and I can not move. Let me escape—hide me, for I shot him once. I have been his evil shadow all his life!” and he struggled violently to raise himself.
“He raves,” said the surgeon; “we must get that dagger from him, or he may do some mischief.”
But just then the madman dropped the weapon upon the floor. ”

“ There is no one to whom you can appeal for assistance—none that can help you. I alone possess that power, and should you disdain to avail yourself of it, then you are irretrievably lost!” and with a demoniac laugh, the Tory rushed from the place.
Imogene gazed for a moment with a wild stare after the retreating form of her late visitor, then reeled, and sunk swooning to the floor.
The morning succeeding the arrest of Captain Sherwood dawned clear and beautiful. The bright sunbeams struggled through the narrow, grated window of Edgar’s cell, and brilliantly illuminated the apartment. ”

“ Occasionally, by the assistance of a flash of lightning, Iron Hand might have been seen sitting in his cell—the one in which his brother had been confined. His head was bowed down upon his knees, and his whole appearance was that of despair.
He finally arose, and approaching the grated window, looked out into the darkness. The storm was turning every thing into wild disorder. He seemed to experience a feeling of consolation in seeing nature partake of the tumult that reigned within his own heart. ”

“ Imogene, wrapped in a heavy military cloak, and leaning upon the arm of the garrison commander, followed by the rest of the company, moved toward her steed, which, in charge of one of the soldiers, stood outside of the gate, champing his bit and pawing the ground impatiently.
Refusing all proffered assistance, she leaped gayly into the saddle, and tried, by assuming a more genial appearance which ill-bespoke the agony that wrung her heart, to banish the thoughts that clouded the brows and dampened the feelings of all present. ”

“ Captain Sherwood advanced a few steps and listened—the low, melancholy howl of a dog broke the stillness. Then he approached the front door to knock, but finding it open, entered.
The lower rooms of the house were dark and deserted; the furniture was scattered about in great disorder. Again the captain heard the howl of a dog which seemed to come from over his head, and hastening up the stairs he entered one of the upper rooms, where a horrid spectacle met his sight. There, on the floor, lay an old man weltering in his blood—dead. ”

“ If I must die, let me leave a spotless name behind me!” unable any longer to control his feelings, he gave way to his grief.
“My life is fated!” exclaimed he, at length. “A dark shadow is cast before me; but I will show them that I can die like a man!” and with these words Captain Sherwood prepared himself to meet his doom like a hero.
He paced up and down his cell in deep abstraction. He was thinking over his whole life, and it was one that had experienced some vicissitudes. As his thoughts flew on, they gradually came back to the present.
“What could have become of his beautiful Imogene?” ”

“ Opening his eyes with a wild stare, Iron Hand glanced around upon the assembly.
“Where am I?” he asked.
[92]
“Here, in the fort,” said the surgeon.
Raising himself, he looked around him again, and then uttering a wild cry, fell backward.
“What is this strange feeling that comes over me?” he asked in a husky whisper, pressing his hands on his bloody wound. “Am I dying?”
“I fear you are,” responded the surgeon.
“What! dying did you say?” he repeated, in a hollow voice. “My God! must I die?”
“Yes; make your peace with your Maker, for you have but an hour or so longer to live.” ”

“ Do you believe these colonists will ever overcome King George?”
“Most assuredly they will!” replied Edgar Sherwood. “Why, sir, they fight like tigers, and they never will remain conquered. What arouses these men to arms is the love of liberty, their firesides, their wives and children.” ”

“ In a moment it had disappeared, and Edgar and Imogene each drew a long breath. Captain Edgar Sherwood was no coward—was a brave man, and had often stood face to face with death; but this was an apparition, something mysterious which he could not understand. His lips grew white, and the perspiration leaped into drops upon his forehead. He was about to turn his horse’s head and ride back to where the specter had stood, but Imogene was very much agitated, and urged him forward to the fort. ”

“ Then there was a desperate struggle of life and death. The bodies of the combatants seemed twined around each other; then one of them fell heavily to the ground. War-Cloud’s antagonist had fallen. But before the scout could whirl about, the other Indian—an active warrior—rushed upon him and bore him down. His knee was pressed on War-Cloud’s breast, and his arm raised on high to drive the deadly blade into his heart! but at this instant Captain Sherwood’s trusty rifle sounded on the air—the savage dropped dead, and the scout was saved. ”

“ His face was carefully concealed in the folds of an ample cloak that fell gracefully from his shoulders.
“Why this intrusion, sir?”
“No intrusion, fair lady, only a friendly visit.”
At the sound of the stranger’s voice Imogene involuntarily drew back.
“That voice—surely I have heard it before—it is so like his!” she whispered to herself. “Who are you, sir?”
“Behold!” exclaimed the stranger, throwing off his disguise.
“Great Heavens! Maurice!” and Imogene, trembling in every joint, staggered against the wall for support. ”

“ Approaching the scaffold, they went slowly up the stairs to the platform.
The vast concourse of people were now as one, silent and motionless. Nothing broke the stillness save the hanging rope, which trembled and squeaked as a slight wind swayed it back and forth.
The soldiers of the garrison were drawn up in a square around the gallows, while outside of the guard was the populace. Every elevated place was thronged with spectators. ”

“ One month has passed away since the events last related, and during this time Edgar Sherwood had become a captain in the American army, and was stationed with his regiment at Fort Ann.
It was a bright, clear morning in the month of September, and a gentle breeze caused the flag of freedom to rise and fall in graceful folds over the garrison, inspiring the heart of every loyal man with patriotic fervor as he looked up to it. ”

“ It was not to be in a gloomy church, or a fashionable drawing-room crowded to suffocation, but in a grand old forest, under the bright light of heaven.
The troops of the garrison were drawn up in a long line on [94] either side of the walk leading to the bower, and, stationed here and there along the way, were young girls dressed in white, and holding baskets of flowers to strew before the bride and groom as they passed.
Every thing was in readiness. The shrill notes of a bugle heralded the approach of Edgar and Imogene; and presently they entered the grove attended by the hymeneal retinue. ”

“ The colonel read the description over again carefully, then paused for a moment in thought.
“There is a man in the garrison,” said he, “who answers to this description, but then of course we should be mad to think it meant Captain Edgar Sherwood!”
“I thought ye’d know him!” said Putney, and his eye twinkled with satisfaction. “No madness about it, colonel. [28] He’s the man—this villain Iron Hand and our cap’n are one!”
“Why, man, it is impossible!” cried the colonel, starting to his feet, with astonishment. “What! Sherwood a British spy! No, no, no!” ”

“ For a moment Imogene was speechless.
“What! War-Cloud, you here, too!” she exclaimed, at length, with a look of amazement.
She was about to speak further, but the scout raised his finger with a significant gesture, warning her to remain quiet. In answer to her anxious, inquiring look, he related in a few hurried sentences the ruse he had practiced to enable him to join the band, and how he accidentally learned of her presence in the cave, through two Tories whose services he had enlisted in a conspiracy he had formed for the abduction of Iron Hand. ”

“ Iron Hand watched every action of the strange Indian.
“See, with what a desperate vim this fellow strikes!” he exclaimed, as he observed the Indian, heedless of danger, throw himself recklessly upon the foe. “These other rascals fight for plunder only, but he seems to battle for the hatred he bears those rebels. This is my man—I will trust him,” he murmured to himself; “he will be of valuable service to me personally, do I but play well my part.”
At the command of the chief the pursuit was discontinued, and the Tories, jubilant over their success, returned to the cave. ”

“ At the expiration of a few moments, four more horsemen arrived. They were dragoons, and with them rode a man lashed to his horse, and behind him, on a white steed, came a female.
The party halted, and awaited War-Cloud’s orders. As Edgar caught sight of the unknown lady, he gave a sudden start, and the color faded from his cheek.
“Can it be she?” he murmured to himself.
He had surmised correctly; it was in truth Imogene Lear. As she approached him their eyes met. The recognition was mutual. The next instant, shedding tears of joy, they were clasped in each other’s arms. ”