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8 Patrick Henry
headed straight for the forest, where they would
mingle with those of their kind.
The huge, bleeding and half drowned man was
drawn from the sea, and the escort of the young
Miss said to him, "Lige Wethersby, I'm paying
you the price you paid and a fair profit for this slave
girl. If you wish to contest such action the courts
of the Colonies may decide." So the young slave
girl became the property of the young Miss, the
daughter of the Governor of Virginia.
A few days later Doxey was seen just ~ithin the
edge of the forests. She called and Patrick and
his roan horse came to her. Much had transpired
and Doxey must tell Patrick. But Doxey was a girl,
despite her love for Patrick, and like I a girl must
abuse poor Patrick a bit. And besides Doxey want-
ed Patrick to reform. How could they marry else?
All the cruel remarks of her father were repeated,
but tempered with the love of Doxey's heart. Henry
said, "Doxey, the last time I was in Jamestown for
three days and not a drop of wine passed my lips."
"Patrick, I tell you not a drop did pass your lips."
The laughter of Patrick was his only answer. Pat-
rick could fib to Doxey, but Patrick could not lie
to Doxey, especially when he was caught. And
then when they were snuggled close together, when
their hands were clasped in mutual love and affec-
tion, Doxey pleaded with Patrick to try once more.
"True> Patrick, when you and William were at the
store, you tried so hard for a time. You studied
law at nights and passed your examination without
the help of anyone." "Yes, but, Doxey, what good
Patrick Henry 9
did it all do me? Didn't Sir John Randolph, in
presenting me with my license, point to his shelves
of learning and say 'Young man, what you don't
know about law is in those books.' True, Doxey,
he gave me a license because I was me father's son.
Now, that is a fine benediction for a budding and
ambitious young attorney. No, Doxey, the fish in
the stream, the animals of the forests understand
me and the roan. We are not much and they don't
expect much, so we get along fine." "But, Patrick,
dear, oh, I must tell you. You force me to tell you-
father is pressing me. Father is pressing me hard
to marry Lord Lester. And, true, Patrick, it is a
great honor for a tavernkeeper's daughter to be hon-
orably married to a Lord. Lord Lester came to
father yesterday and asked him for my hand.
Father called me in and told me in his presence.
Oh, Patrick dear, but it was an awful scene. I told
Lord Lester plainly I loved another. Then dear
old father, oh, Patrick, he flew into an awful rage
and said he knew who the other was, and, oh, Pat-
rick, he said such harsh things about you.· And,
Patrick dear, don't you know you are breaking my ·
heart? Don't you know that these things are nearly
all true?"
But little did Doxey know of what her Patrick
was being accused at that very moment. It was
far more than his devil-may-care ways. For at this
very moment in the private tap room of the tavern
were some dozen men, all influential men of the
times, all Tories, loyal subjects of King George IV
and some of his Hessian agents. They were there
to discuss the unmistakable tide of rebellion that