Hayward

“ As Branch saw the prostrate form of Hayward upon the ground, he cried:
"By heavens, it is the very man we want—it is Captain Hayward!"
"Ride over his body—trample him into the earth!" shouted one of the infuriated soldiers.
"No! no!" shrieked Branch. "If he yet lives he must be reserved for torture! It is our general's command. Let no one dare to disobey it. Ah! the fiends befriend me! There is Alibamo, and her horse has fallen!" ”

“ Hayward felt that life was full of ugliness, his soul revolted from the thought of affronting again the cynicism of examiners, and he saw something rather splendid in kicking away the ball which lay at his feet. He was also a good deal in debt: it was difficult to live in London like a gentleman on three hundred a year; and his heart yearned for the Venice and Florence which John Ruskin had so magically described. ”

“ Poor Hayward's body was brought into Gilgit, and he lies in an orchard close to the British Agency. I can quite imagine Hayward, or any man who has any appreciation of the grandeur of Nature in her wilder moods, wishing to see the sun rise once again over these tumbled masses of snow peaks and bare cliffs. The startling sensation of the immensity of these hills in comparison with man's minuteness strikes home with almost the stunning effect of a sudden blow. ”

“ Since the Paris days Hayward had immersed himself in the modern French versifiers, and, such a plethora of poets is there in France, he had several new geniuses to tell Philip about. They walked through the gallery pointing out to one another their favourite pictures; one subject led to another; they talked excitedly. The sun was shining and the air was warm.
"Let's go and sit in the Park," said Hayward. "We'll look for rooms after luncheon."
The spring was pleasant there. It was a day upon which one felt it good merely to live. The young green of the trees was exquisite against the sky ”

“ Miss Hayward did not raise her head, but reached forth her hand toward Wells, which, quickly kneeling by her side, he took, and pressed to his lips.
“Oh, heaven bless you!” he moaned. “You do not believe me capable of the dreadful crime with which I am charged?”
Miss Hayward tried to speak, but convulsive sobs choked her utterance.
“No, my ever kind and dear friend,” replied Alibamo, “she does not believe you guilty. Nor am I satisfied that Captain Hayward has been killed. I am under the impression that he was wounded and taken prisoner by some rebels, who were lurking near our camp.” ”

“ At last Captain Hayward ordered a halt, and the party dismounted. The horses were secured to the surrounding trees, and Nettleton and the negro left to guard them.
"Come with me, comrades," said Hayward, as he took his course toward the river's bank.
In a moment they were seated by the side of the rapid Osage, entirely concealed by the thick growth of underbrush by which they were surrounded.
"It is better that our servants should not hear our conversation," remarked Hayward. "And now, gentlemen, we must lay our plans. I wish every one to speak freely. You know our object, of course." ”

“ To say that Miss Mamie Hayward soon became Mrs. Wells, in the presence of the whole division—that a grand gala-day followed—is but half the truth, however; for, at the same time, another bridegroom was there in the form of the pale but happy Captain Henry Hayward, who took to be his comforter and his much-needed nurse, the woman who loved him most truly—Miss Nettie Morton. It was, indeed, a most happy consummation of a drama which promised, at one time, to end only in sorrow and broken hearts.
Not the least happy of all that throng, nor the least noted, was
Nettleton, the Captain’s Body-Guard. ”

“ Captain Hayward was greatly emaciated. Loss of blood, fever, hunger and exposure would have ended a life less tenacious than his; but, despite his suffering, the presence of friends, the rescue of his sister, the anticipated happiness of her union with the man who had proven himself so well worthy of her—all conspired to give an elasticity to his spirits more potent than the infusions of herbs prepared by the not unskilled hands of old Madge, who, from an enemy, had, “by the force of couldn’t help herself,” as Nettleton declared, become a useful instrument at a critical moment. ”

“ His sister crept close to his breast.
[Pg 35]
"Do you know the federal army are within two days march of this place?" continued Branch.
"I did not know it!" answered Hayward.
"Don't you wish they would come upon us to-night? We have only twenty-two hundred men here, and they with forty thousand might defeat us, and rescue you and your lovely sister."
Hayward made no reply.
"Oh! I will open your mouth presently. You saw the Fair-Ground as we passed? You won't speak? Well, I will. If you could only look inside the high board enclosure, you might discover a platform, surrounding a large tree. ”

“ Involuntarily, and almost unconsciously as they marked this, Mary Clifford and Captain Hayward turned to each other with a smile. The impulse with each was to see if the other had remarked it--a very simple impulse--but when their looks met, it made a more compound phrase; and the anagram of the heart might read thus:
"May we not as well make love too?"
It was a sore temptation; but the next instant Ned Hayward's countenance became exceedingly grave, and the warm healthy glow in his cheek grew a shade paler. ”

“ You are suffering still from the wound you received in the Warsaw skirmish, and it makes you low-spirited. No doubt your sister will be perfectly safe, and I know she had much rather be with you, to assist you should you need her aid, than to be safe in St. Louis, enduring the tortures of suspense.”
Hayward made no reply. At this moment, a female, delicate and fair, came tripping lightly into the tent, her face wreathed in smiles, and her eyes sparkling with delight; but, as she caught sight of Hayward, she paused, and gazed upon him for a moment, exhibiting the most intense interest ”

“ I am John Hayward"—and feeling some identification was necessary—"footman at the White House."
"Excuse me, suh," said the other, with but a very slightly overdone manner; "we don't introduce strangers to our families—specially footmen."
The father's manner was not intended to be offensive, but his answer verily exploded in Hayward's face. Thanks to the younger man's training he did not wince or change countenance, but he was so bursting full of wrath that he never knew whether any further word was spoken between them. ”

“ Hayward I can never say enough, for she was to me in all things a tender mother and loving friend. Of her virtues there was no end, and of these not the least were her gentle womanly ways. In the rude hut where she lived she was yet a queen, and this by right of her grace and the sweet serenity of her nature. Beautiful, the meed of admiration was hers, albeit her only mirror was the placid waters of the great river. Educated, who could deny her admiration, though her only book was her Bible? For such deprivations are ever the distress of poverty and life in a new country. ”

“ Alibamo was already seated in a rough cart which stood before the door. Hayward assisted his sister into it, and then entered himself, but stood erect, while the females were provided with seats. As they were driven onward, Branch rode by their side upon his horse. A crowd were following after them, and taunts and jeers were heard on every side.
"Oh! that I had a sword within my grasp, and was free from these shackles for a moment, I would teach those curs civility," cried Hayward.
"Oh! it won't matter to you long," said Branch. ”

“ But in an instant he recovered his self-possession, and said:
"I was conversing with General Price—not you, sir."
Branch bit his lips, but did not speak.
"Well, Captain Hayward, I must speak plainly, and I know you prefer I should do so. It is a pity such a man as you should die, and by the rope. I would much prefer to have met you on the battle-field, but it is too late now. The sentence of your crime is death, and but one thing can save you." ”

“ Hayward speaks again!"
"Alibamo! Alibamo!"
"Stop his mouth—tear his tongue out. He shall not speak your name."
Branch struck the fallen man across his face with his heavy iron scabbard. The blood spirted from his mouth and nostrils, but he moved not. As the soldiers applied the fluid to his wounds, Hayward showed evidence of pain, but did not speak.
"The ball has passed directly under the right arm, and must have entered the lungs. He will not live," said one of the soldiers.
"He shall live!" cried Branch. "He must [Pg 26] live. Tie him on one of the horses and let us be off." ”

“ Miss Hayward gazed a moment upon the structure, and then burst forth in the same wild strain she had sung so frequently during her boat voyage.
“It is folly for you to attempt to attract his notice by your voice. He is a close prisoner and a maniac, and nothing but your constant presence and attention will ever cause his reason to return!” ”

“ The great Hayward sat in the stalls, with her pince-nez up. 'You!' she said, pointing; 'the one in the squirrel coat!' So I went to her. 'I think you'll do,' she drawled; 'you know what the money is?' 'Twenty-five, Miss Hayward,' I said, 'isn't it?' 'No, a guinea,' she said, 'it doesn't matter to you.' 'Thank you,' I said, 'I've got to keep myself out of my salary—I haven't got a man, and a flat!' Potter, the agent, was in an awful stew—'Oh, you shouldn't have spoken to Miss Hayward like that!' 'To hell!' I said."
"Cat!" cried Rosalind. "Because you were well-dressed?" ”

“ Philip wondered what it was that made people do things which were so contrary to all their theories of life. It would have been reasonable for Hayward to stand aside and watch with a smile while the barbarians slaughtered one another. It looked as though men were puppets in the hands of an unknown force, which drove them to do this and that; and sometimes they used their reason to justify their actions; and when this was impossible they did the actions in despite of reason.
"People are very extraordinary," said Philip. "I should never have expected you to go out as a trooper." ”

“ Hayward could not reply. His feelings almost overcame him, and he did not wish his sister to discover any emotion on his part.
"You are silent. These men are not your friends, and you are a prisoner! Oh! my heart will break!" and she sobbed convulsively.
"Don't weep so, dear sister. Don't weep."
"I cannot help it. Oh! let me weep—let me rest upon your heart, brother, and weep my life away! It will be sweet to die here!"
"You must not die, Mamie, but live for me. I hope to-morrow I shall be free. I have friends who will not forsake me!"
"And you are a prisoner!" she sobbed. ”

“ In a few moments she had cleared the camp, and arrived in the center of the garden, where stood the doomed man’s prison. As she neared the door, the guard asked:
“Is that you, Miss Hayward?”
“It is!” came the low response.
“Approach and fear nothing.”
She had barely reached the threshold, when two forms, darting from beneath the hedge, threw a heavy blanket over her head, thus entirely smothering any attempt, on her part, to give the alarm. Who and what her captors were, she could not divine, or what might be their purpose. Strange to say, her reason did not forsake her. ”

“ Hayward was conscientious and diligent in obtaining information, and although his reasoning on questions of morality is often childish, his descriptions are generally graphic and vigorous. Notwithstanding his imprisonment under Elizabeth, his portrait of the qualities of the queen’s mind and person is flattering rather than detractive. ”

“ Philip was not sorry to see him off, for he was a downright person and it irritated him that anybody should not know his own mind. Though much under Hayward's influence, he would not grant that indecision pointed to a charming sensitiveness; and he resented the shadow of a sneer with which Hayward looked upon his straight ways. They corresponded. Hayward was an admirable letter-writer, and knowing his talent took pains with his letters. ”

“ He felt himself very ignorant and very humble. By the end of August, when Weeks returned from South Germany, Philip was completely under Hayward's influence. Hayward did not like Weeks. He deplored the American's black coat and pepper-and-salt trousers, and spoke with a scornful shrug of his New England conscience. Philip listened complacently to the abuse of a man who had gone out of his way to be kind to him, but when Weeks in his turn made disagreeable remarks about Hayward he lost his temper.
"Your new friend looks like a poet," said Weeks, with a thin smile on his careworn, bitter mouth. ”

“ Marian is a good girl, but she has so little sense!"
"I should think any man ought to be happy with Miss Carter," said the gentleman, warmly; "I only hope he'll make her happy. Hayward's a very good fellow, but he'll frighten that little creature to death the first time he swears at her." [Pg 81]
"Colonel Hayward is a gentleman, William; he would never swear before a lady."
"I wouldn't trust him—when she's his wife."
Nevertheless, Mrs. Robert Hayward has not yet been placed in danger of such a catastrophe, not even when her husband has been laid up with rheumatic gout. ”

“ Hayward, who was more impetuous, broke through the cordon of guardians, and caused considerable trouble and apprehension in the mind of his fellow-traveller, lest by so doing he had jeopardized their lives. ”

“ Senator Ruffin answered, "if he saw him before he employed him, which he very likely did not.
"But do you know," he went on, "I never see that nigger but I think of John Hayward of whose last speech in Congress I was telling some of you yesterday. The nigger has his figure and carriage, even the set and toss of his head, about everything save his colour. The first time I saw him get down from the Phillips' carriage I thought of John Hayward, who is dead these fifty years.
"There was a man for you, gentlemen. No more knightly spirit was ever carried in a kinglier figure of a man. ”