to carry back their plunder to Gedney's house, there was an acquaintance of Mrs. Gedney's, from Pleasant Valley, paying a visit to the family.
She was a wholesome country girl, without any great pretensions to beauty, by the name of Drake. But though not really handsome, she had a fine pair of black eyes, a pretty mouth, and was rather above the middling height. She was rather slender than gross in her form.
Burr perceived, while attending to his duties, that she frequently fixed her eyes upon him, and while she invariably applauded the generosity of his conduct towards the family, she thought him a very handsome young officer.
All this Burr, with his quick penetration, could read in her looks and manner. Without seeming to be impertinently curious, he discovered who she was, and that her father was a tory as well as Mr. Gedney. He kept his eye upon her, from day to day, until one afternoon when she had strayed farther than usual into the woods, he fastened his horse to a fence, and hastened to the spot where she was.
Burr affected to be very much surprised at finding her there.
"Miss Drake, I believe," said he.
"Caroline Drake, sir," said she, with a courtsey.
"A pretty name for a pretty girl," returned Burr.
She simpered and looked down.
"Miss Caroline, were you ever kissed?"
"Oh, sir! we never do such things up in Pleasant Valley.
"Not at the parties—not when you play pawns?"
Caroline did not like to say yes, or to tell a lie, so she remained silent, and looked roguish.
"I was going to say," continued the young soldier, "that if you had been kissed, you must have been told that you were very sweet, for you certainly look so."
"I never was told so, sir."
"Never was told what, Miss Caroline?" "What you said."
"But I am very desirous to find out whether you are so or not; for I feel pretty sure that you must be very sweet."
Burr then approached her, and very gently gave her a kiss on the lips
"It is as I thought," said he, "you are so very sweet, that I should be very thankful for another kiss."
She looked up, half chidingly, but with a pleased countenance, which made her sweeter than ever.
Burr ventured to press her to his heart, as he rained some dozen or two kisses on her mouth, neck, and cheeks. The latter became quite rosy, and as Burr retired a step from her, she stood before him drooping like a rose surcharged with dew, and not precisely knowing what to do under such peculiar circumstances.
