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diff --git a/old/10454-8.txt b/old/10454-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..445eec7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10454-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6826 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Young and Old, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales for Young and Old + +Author: Various + +Release Date: December 14, 2003 [EBook #10454] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR YOUNG AND OLD *** + + + + +Produced by Roy Brown + + + + +TALES +FOR +YOUNG AND OLD + + + +PREFACE. + +When the older were considerably younger, and +young in infancy, the following interesting Tales were +written. + +W. & R.C. + + + +CONTENTS. + +THE BRIDE'S JOURNEY +THE HOME-WRECK +LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT +LUCY FENNEL +BILLY EGG +THE PLEDGE REDEEMED +THE TREE AND THE FOREST +THE THREE FRIENDS +THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTER +THE BLIND MAN OF ARGENTEUIL +THE BRIDAL WREATH +THE DUKE OF NORMANDY +DUTCH ANNA +THE LOCKSMITH OF PHILADELPHIA + + + +TALES FOR YOUNG AND OLD. + + + +THE BRIDE'S JOURNEY. + +BY MRS CROWE. + +In the year 1809, when the French were in Prussia, M. Louison, an +officer in the commissariat department of the imperial army, +contracted an attachment for the beautiful Adelaide Hext, the +daughter of a respectable but not wealthy merchant. The young +Frenchman having contrived to make his attachment known, it was +imprudently reciprocated by its object; we say imprudently, for the +French were detested by her father, who declared that no daughter of +his should ever be allied to one of the invaders and occupants of his +beloved country. Thus repulsed, M. Louison had the good sense not to +press his suit, and proceeded to Vienna, where he was installed in a +lucrative office suitable to his wishes and abilities. Here, however, +he could not altogether relinquish the expectation of being one day +married to the fair Adelaide Hext, with whom he continued to +correspond. + +After the lapse of a few months, the aspect of affairs underwent a +material change. Hext lay, as he supposed, and as the doctors told +him, on his death-bed, and, pondering on the probable destitution of +his family, he repented his rash vow, and stated to Adelaide that he +should no longer oppose her wishes. M. Louison, procuring leave of +absence for a few days, was speedily on the spot, and, with as little +loss of time as possible, was united to the daughter of the seemingly +dying merchant. As, in such circumstances, it would have been cruel +for Madame Louison to leave the bedside of her aged parent, it was +arranged that she should remain till the period of his decease, and +then join her husband, who, in the meanwhile, was compelled to +return to Vienna. The old man, however, recovered as soon as his +son-in-law departed, and he now almost wished the marriage were +undone; but as that was impracticable, he, with as good a grace as +possible, saw his daughter set out on her journey to Dresden, whence +she was to be escorted to Vienna by M. de Monge, a friend of her +husband. + +Nothing occurred to interrupt the journey of Madame Louison, for the +intermediate country was tranquil, and she had the happiness of +arriving safely under the roof of her husband's friend. This person +was one of those who will act conscientiously in all situations of +life, until they encounter an irresistible temptation to error. Such +was the present occasion. Overcome with the beauty of his +unsuspicious guest, he basely attempted to divert her affections from +her husband--an attempt which the noble Friedlander repelled with +becoming scorn. To cut short a long tale, this mortification filled +De Monge with vengeful sentiments, at the same time that his fears +were awakened, as he could hardly doubt that the lady would acquaint +her husband with his treachery. He affected to pass off his overtures +as nothing more than a jocular trial of her resolutions, but secretly +suffered from the torments of fear and resentment, insomuch that he was +at length driven to the contemplation of a dreadful crime. The story is +almost too incredible for belief, yet our authority assures us that the +facts occurred as we propose to state them. + +Having detained the lady in Dresden considerably beyond the day +When she expected to set out, De Monge was at length compelled to +Allow her departure. Her escort through the partially-disturbed +country in which she was to travel, was to consist of an individual +who was well acquainted with the roads, and had frequently acted as a +the Italian frontier. Mazzuolo, as this man was called, was an Italian +by birth, and gladly undertook a commission which promised him a +rich harvest of booty. His bargain with the treacherous De Monge was, +that if he made away with the life of Madame Louison while on the +journey, and before she could communicate with her husband, he was +to be at liberty to carry off all her baggage, which contained valuable +articles to a large amount. The Italian stipulated that his wife, +dressed in male attire, and a lad on whom he could depend, should +accompany him. + +Everything being settled, the morning of departure arrived. Adelaide +had not seen her travelling companions till they with the carriage, +into which she was handed by Mazzuolo, with all the deference that +her beauty and elegant attire might naturally command. She wore a +black velvet bonnet and Chantilly veil, a crimson silk pelisse +trimmed with rich furs, a boa of Russian sable; and, over all, a +loose pelisse, lined with fur. Mazzuolo and his wife thought that +this augured well for the contents of her trunks. + +The length of the journey, the dangers of the road, and the goodness +or badness of the inns they should have to rest at, formed the +subjects of conversation for the first hour or two. The stage was +very long, and it was eleven o'clock before they reached their first +relay of horses, by which time the young traveller had decided that +she had great reason to be satisfied with her companions. The Italian +was polite and entertaining; he had travelled a great deal, and was +full of anecdote; and being naturally lively and garrulous, the +design he entertained of taking away the life of his charge did not +prevent his making himself agreeable to her in the meantime. With his +well-seared conscience, he neither felt nervous nor saturnine at the +prospect of what was before him--why should he indeed?--for the only +part of the prospect he fixed his eye upon was the gain; the little +operation by means of which it was to be acquired, he did not think +very seriously of; besides, he did not intend to perform it himself. + +When they stopped to change horses, a lad of about seventeen years of +age, named Karl, nephew of Mazzuolo's wife, came to the carriage +door: he seemed to have been waiting for them. Mazzuolo spoke to +him aside for some minutes, and when they started again, the youth +mounted in front of the carriage. The Italian said he was a lad they +had engaged to look after the luggage, and be useful on the journey. +He was, in fact, one who was hired to do any piece of work, good or +bad. He possessed no moral strength, could be easily led by the will +of his employers; in short, was a very useful ally. He had a broad, +fair, stolid German face; and from the glimpse she had of him, +Adelaide thought she had seldom seen a more unprepossessing-looking +person. His home had been a rude and unhappy one; his manners were +coarse and unpolished, and his dress shabby. + +The first day's journey passed agreeably enough. When they arrived at +their night's station, Mazzuolo having handed out the ladies, bade +them go up stairs and order supper, whilst he and Karl looked to the +putting-up of the carriage. Agostina, or Tina, as her husband +commonly called her, insisted very much on having a room for Adelaide +adjoining her own, alleging as her reason that they were answerable +for her safety. The bride thanked her for her caution, but added, +laughingly, that she did not think she had much to fear. It was some +time before the two men joined them; and then they sat down to +supper, the lad Karl acting as waiter. As he stood beside his aunt's +chair, and exactly opposite Adelaide, he appeared much affected by +her beauty; but of this, of course, the lady took no notice. When +supper was over, being fatigued, she retired to her room; and then +the party that remained closed the door, and bidding Karl sit down +and eat his supper, they held a council on her fate. + +Mazzuolo opened the conference by mentioning that he had already +given the lad a hint of what was expected of him, and Tina asked him +if he thought he was equal to the undertaking. Karl said he did not +know; whereupon they encouraged him with promises of a handsome +share of the booty, telling him also that they would stand by him, and +help him if necessary. But the question was, how was the thing to be +done, and where? Whether on the road by day, or in the night where they +stopped? In either case, there were difficulties; many parts of the +road they had to pass were extremely lonely, and fit for the purpose; +but then, how were they to get rid of the postilion? And as they had +a fresh one at every stage, there was no time to win him to their +purpose. Then, at the inns, the obstacles were also considerable, +especially as the houses were generally small Tina suggested that +whenever the bride dropped out of the party, she had only to resume +her female attire, and the people would never miss her. 'Karl can +take my place in the carriage,' she said, 'and I Madame Louison's. +Thus we shall appear to be as many as we were; and there will be no +discrepancy with the passport.' The hint was approved; but after an +hour's discussion, they found it impossible to conclude upon any +plan; the execution of their projects must be left to chance and +opportunity--all they had to do was, to be prepared to seize upon the +first that offered. + +During the progress of this conversation, Karl made no observation +whatever. He listened in silence; not without attention, but without +objection, even although, in the different plans that were proposed, +he heard himself always designated as the active agent in the murder. +When the council broke up, the parties retired to bed--their present +station being too near Dresden for their purpose. Next day they +resumed their journey; and as their way lay through a gloomy forest, +nothing but the presence of the postilion saved the young bride's +life. The night was passed at a post-house, where there were so few +rooms, that Adelaide had to sleep in the same apartment with the +daughter of the owner: so here was nothing to be done either. The +Italians began to grow impatient at these difficulties, and Mazzuolo +proposed a change in their tactics. On the previous evening, the +weather being very cold, Madame Louison had ordered a fire in her +chamber. She would doubtless do the same on the ensuing night; and +all they had to do was to fill the stove with charcoal, and her death +would follow in the most natural way in the world. They were to pass +the night at Nuremburg; and, as soon as they arrived, Karl was sent +out to procure the charcoal; but, after remaining away a long time, +he came back saying the shops were all shut, and he could not get +any; and as the inn at Nuremburg was not a fit place for any other +kind of attack, Adelaide was respited for another four-and-twenty +hours. + +On the following day, in order to avoid such another _contretemps_, +the charcoal was secured in the morning whilst they were changing +horses, and placed in a sack under the seat of the carriage. + +It happened on this day that the road was very hilly, and as the +horses slowly dragged the carriage up the ascents, Madame Louison +proposed walking to warm themselves. They all descended; but Tina, +being stout, and heavy on her feet, was soon tired, and got in again; +whilst Mazzuolo, with a view to his design against Adelaide, fell +into conversation with the driver about the different stations they +would have to stop at. He wanted to extract all the information he +could--so he walked beside the carriage, whilst Madame Louison and +Karl, who were very cold, walked on as fast as they could. + +'You look quite chilled, Karl,' said she; 'let us see who will be at +the top of the hill first--a race will warm us.' + +The youth strode on without saying anything; but as she was the more +active, she got before him; and when she reached the top, she turned +round, and playfully clapping her hands, said, 'Karl, I've beaten +you!' Karl said he had had an illness lately, and was not so strong +as he used to be; he had gone into the water when he was very warm, +and had nearly died of the consequences. This led her to observe how +thinly he was clad; and when the carriage overtook them, she proposed +that, as there was plenty of room, he should go inside; to which the +others, as they did not want him to fall ill upon their hands, +consented. With the glasses up, and the furs that the party were +wrapped in, the inside of the carriage was very different to the out; +and Karl's nose and cheeks, which had before been blue, resumed their +original hues. + +It was late when they reached their night-station, and, whilst the +ladies went up stairs to look at their rooms, Earl received his +orders, which were, that he should fill the stove with charcoal, and +set fire to it, whilst the others were at table. The lad answered +composedly that he would. 'And when you have done it,' said Mazzuolo, +'give me a wink, and I will step out and see that all is right before +she goes to her room.' + +Karl obeyed his directions to a tittle, and when all was ready, he +gave the signal, and Mazzuolo, making a pretext, quitted the table. +He found the arrangements quite satisfactory, and having taken care +to see that the window was well closed, he returned to the +supper-room. He was no sooner gone than the boy took the charcoal +from the stove and threw it into the street; and when Adelaide came +to undress, there was no fire. Cold as it was, however, she had no +alternative but to go to bed without one, for there was not a bell in +the apartment; and Mazzuolo, who had lighted her to the door, had +locked her in, under pretence of caring for her safety. Karl, having +watched this proceeding, accompanied him back to the supper-table, +where they discussed the plans for the following day. Whether would +it be better to start in the morning without inquiring for her at +all, and leave the people of the house to find her dead, when they +were far on the road, or whether make the discovery themselves? Karl +ventured to advocate the first plan; but Tina decided for the second. +It would be easy to say that the lad had put charcoal in the stove, +not being aware of its effects, and there would be an end of the +matter. If they left her behind, it would be avowing the murder. This +settled, they went to bed. + +What to do, Karl did not know. He was naturally a stupid sort of lad, +and what little sense nature had given him, had been nearly beaten +out of him by harsh treatment. He had had a miserable life of it, and +had never found himself so comfortable as he was now with his aunt +and her husband. They were kind to him, because they wanted to make +use of him. He did not want to offend them, nor to leave them; for if +he did, he must return home again, which he dreaded above all things. +Yet there was something in him that recoiled against killing the +lady. Grossly ignorant as he was, scarcely knowing right from wrong, +it was not morality or religion that deterred him from the crime; he +had a very imperfect idea of the amount of the wickedness he would be +committing in taking away the life of a fellow-creature. Obedience +was the only virtue he had been taught; and what those in authority +over him had ordered him to do, he would have done without much +question. To kill his beauteous travelling companion, who had shown +him such kindness, was, however, repugnant to feelings he could not +explain even to himself. Yet he had not sufficient grasp of intellect to +know how he was to elude the performance of the task. The only +thing he could think of in the meanwhile was to take the charcoal out +of the stove; and he did it; after which he went to sleep, and left +the results to be developed by the morning. + +He had been desired to rise early; and when he quitted his room, he +found Mazzuolo and his wife already stirring. They bade him go below +and send up breakfast, and to be careful that it was brought by the +people of the house. This was done; and when the waiter and the host +were present, Tina took the opportunity of knocking at Madame +Louison's door, and bidding her rise. To the great amazement of the +two Italians, she answered with alacrity that she was nearly dressed, +and should be with them immediately. They stared at each other; but +presently she opened the door, and appeared as fresh as ever; +observing, however, that she had been very cold, for that the fire +had gone out before she went to bed. This accounted for the whole +thing, and Karl escaped all blame. + +During the ensuing day nothing remarkable occurred: fresh charcoal +was provided; but at night it was found there were no stoves in the +bed-chambers; and as the houses on the road they were travelling were +poor and ill-furnished, all the good inns having been dismantled by +the troops, the same thing happened at several successive stations. + +This delay began to render the affair critical, for they were daily +drawing near Augsburg, where M. Louison was to meet his wife; and +Mazzuolo resolved to conclude the business by a _coup de main_. He +had learned from the postilion that the little post-house which was +to form their next night's lodging was admirably fitted for a deed of +mischief. It lay at the foot of a precipice, in a gorge of the +mountains: the district was lonely, and the people rude, not likely +to be very much disturbed, even if they did suspect the lady had come +unfairly to her end. It was not, however, probable that the charcoal +would be of any use on this occasion; the place was too poor to be +well furnished with stoves; so Karl was instructed in what he would +have to do. + +'When she is asleep,' said Mazzuolo, 'you must give her a blow on the +head that will be sufficient to stun her. Then we will complete the +job; and as we shall start early in the morning with Tina in female +attire, they will never miss her.' Karl, as usual, made no objection; +and when they arrived at night at the inn, which fully answered the +description given, and was as lonely as the worst assassins could +desire, the two men sallied forth to seek a convenient place for +disposing of the body. Neither had they much difficulty in finding +what they wanted: there was not only a mountain torrent hard by, but +there was also a deep mysterious hole in a neighbouring field, that +looked very much as if the body of the young traveller would not be +the first that had found a grave there. + +Every circumstance seemed to favour the enterprise; and all +arrangements made, the two men returned to the house. Karl thought it +was all over with him now. He was too timid to oppose Mazzuolo, and +he had nobody to consult. Tina had found a weapon apt for the +purpose, which she had already secured; and when they sat down to +supper, considering the completeness of the preparations, nobody +would have thought Adelaide's life worth six hours' purchase. +However, she was not destined to die that night. Just as they had +finished their supper, the sound of wheels was heard; then there was +a great noise and bustle below; and Karl being sent down to inquire +what was the matter, was informed that a large party of travellers +had arrived; and as there was a scarcity of apartments, it was hoped +the lady and gentlemen would accommodate the strangers by allowing +them to share theirs. Consent was inevitable; so, like the sultan's +wife in the Arabian tale, the victim was allowed to live another day. + +'Now,' said Mazzuolo, 'we have only two nights more before we reach +Augsburg, so there must be no more shilly-shallying about the matter. +If there is a stove in the room to-night, we may try that; though, if +the house be in a pretty safe situation, I should prefer more +decisive measures. The charcoal has failed once already.' + +'That was from bad management,' said Tina; 'we could be secure +against such an accident on another occasion. At the same time, if +the situation be favourable, I should prefer a _coup de main.'_ + +When they had arrived at their night's station, the absence of a +stove decided the question. It was merely a post-house, a place where +horses were furnished; the accommodation was poor, and the people +disposed to pay little attention to them. Close by ran a river, which +obviated all difficulty as to the disposal of the body. + +'The thing must be done to-night,' said Mazzuolo; and Karl said +nothing to the contrary. He also feared that it must; for he did not +see how he could avoid it. His aunt said everything necessary to +inspire him with courage and determination, and made many promises of +future benefits; whilst Mazzuolo neither doubted his obedience nor +his resolution, and spoke of the thing as so entirely within the +range of ordinary proceedings, that the boy, stupid and ignorant, and +accustomed, from the state of the country, to hear of bloodshed and +murders little less atrocious committed by the soldiery, and neither +punished nor severely condemned, felt ashamed of his own +pusillanimity--for such his instinctive pity appeared to himself. + +But as he stood opposite Madame Louison at supper, with his eyes, as +usual, fixed upon her face, his heart involuntarily quailed when he +thought that within a few hours he was to raise his hand against that +beautiful head; yet he still felt within himself no courage to +refuse, nor any fertility of expedient to elude the dilemma. + +When supper was over, Tina desired Karl to bring up two or three +pails of warm water, and several cloths, 'for,' said she 'it will do +us all good to bathe our feet;' whereupon Adelaide requested one +might be carried to her room, which was done by Karl. He was now +alone with her, and it was almost the first time he had been so, +except when they ran up the hill together, since the day they met. +When he had set down the pail by her bedside, he stood looking at her +with a strange expression of countenance. He knew that the water he +had fetched up was designed for the purpose of washing away the blood +that he was about to spill, and he longed to tell her so, and set her +on her guard; but he was afraid. He looked at her, looked at the +water, and looked at the bed. + +'Well, Karl,' she said laughing, 'good-night. When we part the day +after to-morrow, I shan't forget your services, I assure you.' The +lad's eyes still wandered from her to the water and the bed, but he +said nothing, nor stirred, till she repeated her 'good-night,' and +then he quitted the room in silence. + +'Poor stupid creature!' thought Adelaide; 'he has scarcely as much +intelligence as the horses that draw us.' + +'Now we must have no bungling to-night, Karl,' said Mazzuolo; 'we +will keep quiet till two o'clock, and then when everybody is asleep, +we'll to business.' + +'But what is it to be done with?' inquired Tina. + +'There's something in the carriage under the seat; I brought it away +the night we slept at Baireuth,' replied Mazzuolo; 'I'll step and +fetch it;' and he left the room; but presently returned, saying that +there were people about the carriage, and he was afraid they might +wonder what he was going to do with so suspicious-looking an +instrument. 'Karl can fetch it when they are gone to bed.' + +As it was yet only midnight, Tina proposed that they should all lie +down and take a little rest; and the suggestion being agreed to, she +and her husband stretched themselves on their bed, whilst Karl made +the floor his couch, and, favoured by his unexcitable temperament, +was soon asleep, in spite of what was before him. + +It was past two o'clock when he felt himself shaken by the shoulder. +'Come, be stirring,' said Mazzuolo;' we must about it without +delay--the house has been quiet for some time.' + +Karl was a heavy sleeper, and as he sat up rubbing his eyes, he could +not at first remember what he was awakened for, nor how he came to be +upon the floor. 'Come,' said Mazzuolo, 'come, she's fast asleep; I +have just been to her room to look at her. You must step down now to +the carriage and bring up the axe I left under the seat.' + +Karl began to recollect himself, and awkwardly rising from his hard +couch, shaking and stretching himself like a dog, he prepared to +obey, indifferent to everything at the moment but the annoyance of +being disturbed in his slumbers. 'If you should meet anybody,' said +Mazzuolo, 'say that your mistress is ill, and that you are going to +fetch the medicine-chest.' + +By the time he got below, the motion and the cool air had aroused the +lad, and with his recollection, revived his repugnance to the work +before him; but he saw no means of avoiding it, and with an unwilling +step he proceeded to the yard where the carriage stood, and having +found the axe, he was returning with it, when he observed hanging +against the wall, a large horn or trumpet. Now, he had seen such a +thing at several of the post-houses on the road, and he remembered to +have heard one sounded on the night they slept in the mountains, when +the travellers arrived late, and prevented the projected +assassination. Instinctively, and without pausing to reflect how he +should excuse himself--for if he had, he could not have done it--he +placed the instrument to his mouth, and lustily blew it: and then, +terrified at his temerity, and its probable consequences, rushed into +the house, and up the stairs, again to his master. + +'The travellers' horn!' said Mazzuolo frantically. The lad was too +frightened to speak, but stood still, pale and trembling. 'Wait,' +continued the Italian; 'perhaps it may only be for horses, and they +may go on again. I hear the people stirring.' + +Feet were indeed heard upon the stairs, and presently a lantern +gleamed beneath the window. 'I hear no carriage,' observed Mazzuolo. +And for some time they sat listening; but there being no appearance +of any travellers, he said he would go below and see how matters +stood. + +'Nobody is yet arrived,' said the master of the post-house in answer +to his inquiries; 'but doubtless the signal was given by the +avant-courier, who has rode on to the next station; and the carriage +will be here presently. We must be ready with the horses.' +As the travellers, however, did not arrive, but continued to be +expected, the postmaster and the postilions remained up to watch for +them; and when four o'clock came, Karl was bidden go to bed, as +nothing could be attempted under such circumstances. + +'Now,' said Mazzuolo, on the following day, 'we sleep to-night at +Meitingen, which is our last station. I know the place; it is too busy +a house for a _coup de main;_ we must try the charcoal again; but this +time we must be sure of our game.' + +Karl hoped there might be no stoves in the bed-chamber; but it was a +well-furnished house, and there were. Adelaide said how glad she +should be to have a fire again, she had suffered so much by the want +of one, and desired Karl to light hers early. It appeared, however, +that the servant of the house had already done it. Mazzuolo said: 'So +much the better. The stove will get well heated, and when you put in +the charcoal, there will be no danger of its not burning.' And Tina +suggested that that should not be done till just before Adelaide went +to bed, lest she should perceive the effects of the vapour whilst she +was undressing. + +The young traveller had never, on her journey, been in such high +spirits as to-night. Well she might; it had been so prosperously +performed, and to-morrow she was to meet her husband. She prattled +and laughed during supper with a light heart; expressed her gratitude to +the Italians for their escort; and said that, if Monsieur Louison +could be of any use to them, she knew how happy he would be to +acknowledge their kindness to her. 'Really,' she said, 'travelling at +such a period, with so many valuables, and such a large sum of money +as I have with me, was a bold undertaking!' + +Mazzuolo, during the first part of her speech, was beginning to weigh +the advantages of the commissary's favour against the dangers and +difficulties of the assassination--difficulties which had far exceeded +his expectations, and dangers which were of course augmented by the +proximity to Augsburg--but the latter part of it decided the question; +the money and valuables preponderated in the scale, and the good +opinion of the commissary kicked the beam. + +Partly from the exaltation of her spirits, and partly because the +day's journey had been a short one--for the stoppage at Meitingen was +quite unnecessary, they were within four hours of Augsburg, and might +very well have reached it--Adelaide was less fatigued and less willing +to go to bed than usual. She sat late; and it was past twelve when, +having asked for her candle, Karl received the signal to go and +prepare the stove. Mazzuolo followed him out, to see that the work was +well done, and the charcoal ignited before she went to her room. When +all was ready, her candle was put into her hand, and Mazzuolo having +conducted her to the door, took the precaution of turning the key, +which he afterwards put in his pocket. She rallied him on the +strictness of his guardianship; but he alleged gravely that the house +was a busy one, and she might perchance be disturbed if her door were +not secured. + +They listened till she was in bed, and then Mazzuolo said that they +could not do better than go to bed too; 'for,' said he, 'the earlier +we are off in the morning the better. There will be the fewer people +up, and the less chance of her being missed.' + +When Karl reached his room, he sat down on the side of his bed and +reflected. He had observed that the last thing Mazzuolo had done +before leaving Adelaide's chamber, was to see that the window was well +closed. 'If I could open it,' thought he, 'to-morrow we shall be at +Augsburg, and then I should not be told any more to kill her. I wish I +could. They'll go away in the morning before she is awake, and so I +should never be found out.' With this idea in his head, he went down +stairs, and letting himself out, he crept round to the end of the +house where her window was. + +She slept on the first floor, and the difficulty was how to reach it; +but this was soon overcome. In the stable-yard stood some high steps, +used for the convenience of passengers when they mounted the wagons +and diligences. These he carried to the spot, and having reached the +window, he was about to break some of the panes, since, as it fastened +on the inside, he could not open it, when it occurred to him that the +noise might wake her, and cause an alarm that would betray him. The +window, however, was in the lattice fashion, and he saw that by a +little contrivance, he could lift it off the hinges. He did so, and +drew aside the curtain; there lay the intended victim in a sound +sleep; so sound, that Karl thought he might safely step in without +disturbing her. There she lay in her beauty. + +He could not tell why, but, as he stood and looked at her, he felt +that he _must_ save her at all risks. The air he had let in might not +be enough; he would take the charcoal from the stove and throw it out +of the window; but what if she awoke with the noise and screamed? He +hesitated a moment; but he remembered that this would be a safer plan +than leaving the window open, as that might be observed in the morning +from below, and he would thus be betrayed. So, as quietly as possible, +he emptied the stove, and then, having sufficiently aired the room, he +hung on the window again, and retired. + +During the whole of these operations Adelaide had remained quite +still, and appeared to be sound asleep. But was she? No. The opening +of the window had awakened her: surprise and terror had at first kept +her silent--a surprise and terror that were by no means diminished +by discovering who the intruder was. Although she had always spoken +kindly to Karl, and even endeavoured, by the amenity of her manner, to +soften his rude nature, she had from the first moment disliked him +exceedingly, and felt his countenance most repulsive; so that, when +she saw him entering her room through the window, she did not doubt +that he was come for some very bad purpose, probably to rob her, +although the booty he was likely to get was small, since her trunks, +with all her valuable property, were nightly placed under Mazzuolo's +care for safety. Still, the little money she carried in her purse, +together with her rings and watch, would be a great deal to so poor a +creature; and expecting to see him possess himself of these, she +thought it more prudent to lie still and feign sleep, than to disturb +him. But when she saw that all he came for was to take the fire out +of the stove, she was beyond measure puzzled to conceive his motive. +Could it be a jest? But what a strange jest! However, he did nothing +else; he touched neither her money nor her watch, though both were +lying on the table, but went away as empty-handed as he came. + +The amazement and alarm that so extraordinary a visit necessarily +inspired, drove sleep from her eyes, and it was not till the day +dawned that she so far recovered her composure and sense of safety, as +to close them in slumber. Then, however, fatigue got the better of her +watchfulness, and she gradually sunk into a sound sleep. + +In the meantime, Karl, whose unexcitable temperament insured him his +night's rest even under the most agitating circumstances, was in a +happy state of oblivion of the whole affair, when he felt himself +shaken by the shoulder, and heard his uncle say: 'Come, come, rise, +and make haste! The sun is up, and we must get the horses out and be +off.' + +Karl was as anxious to be off as anybody: the sooner the better for +him; for if Adelaide should awake before they started, he, on the one +hand, dreaded that he might incur his uncle's suspicion, and, on the +other, that some new plot might be formed, which it would be +impossible for him to evade; so, between the exertions of one and the +other, the horses were out, the bill paid, and the carriage at the +door, very soon after the sun had shown his broad disc above the +horizon. Tina, in female attire and a veil, was handed down stairs by +Mazzuolo; the waiter stood on the steps, and bowed, for the landlord +was not yet up; they all three stepped into the carriage; the +postilion cracked his whip, and away they drove rejoicing. + +In the meantime, Monsieur Louison had become very uneasy about his +wife. He had received no intelligence since she quitted Dresden; for +although she had, in fact, written more than once, Mazzuolo had not +forwarded the letters. Day after day he had waited in impatient +expectation; till at length, unable to bear his suspense any longer, +he resolved to start on the road she was to come, in the hope of +meeting her. When he reached the gate called the Gozzinger, his +carriage was stopped by a berlin containing two men and a woman. It +was loaded with luggage; and thinking that this might be the party he +expected, he jumped down, and put his head into the window of the +berlin, to ascertain if his wife were there. She was not: so, with a +bow and an apology, he proceeded on his way. At Meitingen he stopped +to change horses; and the first question that was asked him was, if +he had seen a heavily-laden berlin, containing two men and a woman. +On answering in the affirmative, he was informed that they had gone +off with the property of a lady, whom they had left behind, and who +was then in the inn; and in a moment more the young husband pressed +his bride to his heart. But, eager to chase the thieves, they wasted +no time in embraces, but started instantly in pursuit of them. On +reaching the same gate where the berlin had been seen, the officers +described in what direction the party had driven; and the police +being immediately on the alert, the criminals were discovered and +arrested just as they were on the point of starting for Vienna. + +The ample confession of Karl disclosed the villainy of the Italians, +and made known how narrowly the commissary had escaped the loss of +his fair young bride; whilst, as he told his rude and simple tale, +without claiming any merit, or appearing to be conscious of any, +Adelaide learned that to this repulsive stupid clown she had three +times owed her life. + +The Italians were condemned to the galleys; whilst Monsieur Louison +and his wife discharged their debt of gratitude to Karl, by first +educating him, and then furnishing him with the means of earning his +living with respectability and comfort. + +De Monge was degraded from his situation, and the universal execration +that pursued him drove him ultimately to America, where, under a +feigned name, he ended his days in obscurity. + + + + +THE HOME-WRECK. + +A few years since I visited Devonshire, to make the acquaintance of +some distant relations, whom circumstances had prevented me from +before seeing. Amongst others, there was one who lived in a decayed +family mansion about six miles east of the pretty town of Dartmouth. +Before calling on her, I was prepared, by report, to behold a very +aged and a very eccentric lady. Her age no one knew, but she seemed +much older than her only servant--a hardy old dame, who, during the +very month of my visit, had completed her ninety-ninth year. + +The mistress never allowed any one to see her, save a young and +interesting cousin of mine. She seldom went out except on Sundays, +and then was carried to church in an old sedan-chair by a couple of +labourers, who did odd jobs of gardening about the house. She had +such an insuperable objection to be seen by anybody, whether at home +or abroad, that she concealed her face by a thick veil. + +These, with other particulars, were narrated to me by my cousin as we +rode towards Coote-down Hall, in which the old lady resided, and +which, with the surrounding estate, was her own property. On +approaching it, signs of past grandeur and present decay presented +themselves. The avenue leading to the house had evidently been +thickly planted; but now only a few stumps remained to mark where +noble and spreading elms once had been. Having arrived at the house, +my cousin reined up at the steps of the hall, upon which she, in a +low cautious voice, desired me to alight. Having assisted her out of +her saddle, I was about to utter some exclamation of surprise at the +extreme dilapidation of the place, when she whispered me to be +silent; adding, that I must not stir until she had returned from +within, to announce whether my visit would be accepted or not. + +During her absence, I had full leisure to look around and note the +desolate condition of Coote-down. The lawn--thickly overspread with +rank grass--could scarcely be distinguished from the fishpond, which +was completely covered with water-weeds. The shrubbery was choked +and tangled, whilst a very wide rent in the wall laid open to view an +enclosure which had once been a garden, but was now a wilderness. +For a time the sorrowful effect which all this decay produced on my +mind was increased by the extreme solitude which reigned around. +This, however, was presently relieved by a cackling sign of life +which issued from a brood-hen as it flew from the sill of a +side-parlour window. On casting my eyes further into the landscape, +I also perceived a very fat cow lazily browsing on the rich pasture +of a paddock. + +On turning round to view the house, new tokens of desolation were +visible. Its shattered casements and worm-eaten doors, with tufts of +weed growing at each corner, showed that for many years the front of +the mansion had not been inhabited or its doors opened. One evidence +of fallen grandeur was highly characteristic--over the porch the +family-arms had been carved in stone, but was now scarcely +distinguishable from dilapidation: a sparrow had established a +comfortable nest in the mouth of the helmet, and a griffin 'rampant' +had fallen from his place beside the shield, and tamely lay +overgrown with weeds. + +These observations were interrupted by the light step of my cousin, +who came to inform me that the lady of the house, after much, +persuasion, had consented to receive me. Conducting me to the back +of the mansion, my fair guide took me through a dark passage into a +sort of kitchen. A high and ample 'settle' stood, as is usual in +farmhouses, before the hearth. In one corner of this seat reclined +a figure bent with age, her face concealed by a thick veil. In the +other corner was an old cheerful-looking woman, busily knitting, and +mumbling rather than singing a quaint old ballad. + +The mistress of Coote-down made a feeble attempt to rise when my +cousin presented me; but I entreated her to keep her seat. Having +procured a chair for my fellow-visitor (for the old domestic took +not the smallest notice of us, but went on with her work as if we +were not present), I established myself beside the hostess, and +addressed to her a few common-place words of greeting. She replied +in a voice far less feeble than I had expected to hear from so +decrepit a person; but what she said was no answer to my salutation. +She went on with surprising clearness, explaining to me the degree +of relationship which we bore to each other, and traced my pedigree +till it joined her own; continued our mutual genealogy back to the +Damnonii of Cornwall, hinting that our ancestors of that period were +large mining proprietors, who sold tin to the Phoenicians! At first +she spoke with doubt and hesitation, as if she feared to make some +mistake; but the moment she got to where our branches joined--to the +trunk, as it were, of our family-tree--she went on glibly, like +child repeating a well-conned lesson. All this while the old +attendant kept up the unceasing accompaniment of her ballad, which +she must have sung through several times, for I heard the first +line-- + +'A bailie's daughter, fair was she'-- + +at least thrice. + +Though I addressed several questions to my singular relation, she +made no attempt to answer them. It seemed that what she had uttered +was all she was capable of; and this, I learned afterwards, was +partly true. Circumstances of her early life had given her a taste +for family history, particularly that of her own, and her faculties, +though otherwise impaired, still retained everything relating to +what concerned her ancestry. + +On our way back from this singular scene, my cousin remarked that it +had saddened me. 'It would sadden you more,' she continued, 'were you +to know the history of the domestic wreck we have just left behind.' + +'That is precisely what I intended to inquire of you.' + +'It is a deeply-affecting story; but'--and here the young lady +blushed and hesitated--'I think it would not be right in me to reveal +it. I believe I am the only person existing who knows the truth; and +the means by which I obtained my knowledge would be deemed scarcely +correct, though not perhaps exactly dishonourable.' + +This avowal sharpened my curiosity, and I entreated her to say at +least how she became possessed of the story. + +'To that there can be no objection,' was the reply. 'In one of my +rambles over the old house, I espied in a small escritoire a packet +of letters bound up in tape, which was sealed at the ends. The tape +had, however, been eaten by moths, and the letters liberated from it. +Female curiosity prompted me to read them, and they gave me a full +exposition of our great-aunt's early history.' + +During the rest of my stay in that part of the country, I never +failed to urge my cousin to narrate the events which had brought +Coote-down to its present melancholy plight. But it was not till I +called to take leave of her, perhaps for ever, that she complied. +On that occasion, she placed in my hands a neatly-written manuscript +in her own handwriting, which she said contained all the particulars +I required. Circumstances have since occurred that render it not +indelicate in me to publish the narrative, which I do with but +little alteration. + +In the middle of the last century the proprietor of Coote-down was +Charles James Hardman, to whom the estate lineally descended from a +long line of ancestors. He was from his youth a person of an easy +disposition, who minded very little, so that he could follow his +ordinary amusements, and could see everybody around him contented; +though his habits were too indolent to improve the condition of his +dependants by any efforts of his own. At the age of twenty-five, he +married the heiress of a baronet belonging to the northern side of +the county. She was a beauty and a belle--a lady full of +determination and spirit; consequently the very opposite to himself. +She was, moreover, two years his senior. As was predicted by those +who knew the couple intimately, the match was not productive of +happiness, and they had been married scarcely a year and a half when +they separated. It appeared that this unpleasant step was solely the +fault of the wife; and her father was so incensed at her rash +conduct, that he altered his will, and left the whole of his +property to Hardman. Meanwhile, it was given out that the lady had +brought her lord a son, and it was hoped that this event would prove +a means of reconciling the differences which existed between them. +Despite all entreaties, however, Mrs Hardman refused to return to +her husband's roof. + +Ten years passed, and she lived so completely in retirement, that +she deprived herself even of the society of her child; for when the +period of nursing was over, she sent him to Coote-down Hall, where +he was educated. At the end of that period her father died; and, to +her great disappointment, instead of finding herself uncontrolled +mistress of a large fortune, she discovered it was so left, that +unless she returned to her husband, she would be unable to benefit +by it in the smallest degree. Mutual friends again interfered, and, +after some difficulty, persuaded her to meet Hardman at her father's +funeral, which she appeared to have no objection to attend. The +happy result was that a reconciliation took place, and she resumed +her proper station as the lady of Coote-down Hall. It was, however, +observed that before she returned, the little son was sent away to +continue his education in a foreign seminary. + +Privy to all these arrangements, and in fact the chief mover in +them, was Hardman's attorney. Such was the squire's indolence of +disposition, that to this individual he confided everything; not +only the management of his estates, the receipt and payment of all +monies, but the arrangement of his most secret transactions. But, +Mr Dodbury bearing the character of a highly just and honourable +man, no suspicion ever existed that he abused the absolute unbounded +trust reposed in him in the slightest degree. Indeed, putting aside +the native honesty of his character, his position in the district +was so good, that it would have been very bad policy for him to +jeopardise it by any abuse of the confidence reposed in him. Being +the younger son of an ancient family, and a distant relation of +Hardman, he was received in the best society. Dodbury was a widower, +with an only daughter, an amiable and elegant girl. She was just +budding into womanhood, when it was announced that the heir of +Coote-down would shortly become of age, and that the event was to +be celebrated with the utmost pomp. Many strange conjectures had for +years been current to account for his being kept so long away from +home; but they were partially silenced when it was known that the +young man was on his way to his paternal roof. + +Extensive preparations were made for his reception: all the tenantry, +not only of Coote-down, but those from the maternal estate near +Ilfracombe, were invited to attend his debarkation at Dartmouth. The +lawn, paddock, and parks were strewed with tents for their +accommodation, and refreshments of the most expensive kind were +provided without limit. Several distinguished and noble friends of +both families were invited to join in the festivities; and though +every corner of Coote Hall, as well as the surrounding farmhouses, +were made available for sleeping-room, yet there was not a bed to +be had in Dartmouth a week before the day named in the invitations +'for love or money.' It appeared that the neglect which had been +shown to young Hardman for so many years was to be atoned by the +magnificence of the fête to celebrate his return. + +Dodbury's share in managing the affairs of the family had declined +every day since Mrs Hardman's resumption of her proper position as +his patron's wife. She was a woman of strong intellect, and perfectly +able to superintend what had been before so much neglected by her +husband. She had an ambitious spirit, and Dodbury doubted not that +the grand reception-fête was organised for the purpose of carrying +out some great project connected with her son. + +The day of Herbert Hardman's arrival from France proved auspicious. +It was a lovely day in the middle of June. When he landed at the +village of Kingswear, opposite to Dartmouth, the fishermen saluted +him with a discharge of all the firearms they could collect. His +parents received him at the landing-place, his mother embracing him +with every outward and public mark of affection. A long cavalcade +followed the carriage in which he was conducted to Coote-down Hall, +consisting of the tenantry, headed by the most distinguished of his +father's guests. + +At the entrance of the domain, new tokens of welcome presented +themselves. The gates were plentifully adorned with flowers, and at +a turn of the thickly-wooded avenue, an arch of garlands was thrown +across the path. The lawn was covered with lads and lasses from the +surrounding farms, who, when Herbert appeared, set up a joyous cheer, +whilst the drawing-room windows of the house were filled with ladies +waving handkerchiefs. + +The hall of the mansion was lined with servants, who obsequiously +bowed as Herbert passed them. When he made his appearance in the +drawing-room, there was almost a struggle amongst the ladies for the +earliest honours of salutation. One maiden, however, stood apart, +drinking in deeply the attestations of favour with which the heir of +the estate was received, but too timid to share in, or to add to +them. This was Miss Dodbury. The gentlemen, most of whom had +accompanied Herbert from the landing-place, now joined the ladies; +and Mr and Mrs Hardman entered the room amidst the hearty +congratulations of their guests. + +The fashionable dinner hour at that period was much earlier than at +present, and but little time elapsed ere the important meal was +announced. Mrs Hardman led forward a tall, handsome, but somewhat +haughty-looking girl, whom she introduced to her son as the Lady +Elizabeth Plympton, desiring him to lead her to the dining-room. She +attentively watched Herbert's countenance, to observe what effect +the damsel's beauty would create on him; but to her disappointment +she saw that her son received her with no more than the politeness +of a young gentleman who had been educated in France. + +Nothing occurred during the day worthy of remark. The usual toasts +and sentiments were drunk at the dinner-table, and the usual excesses +committed; for at that time it was thought a mark of low-breeding for +a man to remain sober all the evening. Out-of-doors there were +bullocks roasted whole, barrels of cider and butts of ale set +constantly flowing, with dancing, cricket, and Devonshire skittles, +and other country games and comforts for the amusement of the +peasantry. + +About a fortnight after the rejoicings had subsided, Mrs Hardman, +while conversing with her son on his future plans and prospects, +startled him by inquiring whether he had formed any attachment during +his residence in Paris? The young man hesitated for a short time, and +declared that he had not; upon which Mrs Hardman asked somewhat +abruptly, what he thought of Lady Elizabeth Plympton? + +'That,' returned Herbert, 'her ladyship is an extremely tall, +handsome, proud girl, who would evidently glory more in breaking +half-a-dozen hearts than in winning one.' + +'Take care she does not break yours!' rejoined Mrs Hardman +playfully. + +'There is little fear of that, mother.' Herbert was right. He had +seen, one of humble pretensions, but of unbounded worth, for whom he +began to feel already a more than ordinary sentiment. + +Months rolled past, and Herbert began to find his position at home +far from agreeable. His father had sunk into a mere nonentity through +his mother's superior energy. Hence, in her hands rested the +happiness or misery of all connected with the household. It soon +became evident that her grand project was to effect a marriage +between Lady Elizabeth Plympton and Herbert; and when she found no +inducement could warm her son's heart towards that lady, her conduct +altered. From being kind and indulgent, she was exacting and +imperious: an old and scarcely natural dislike of her son seemed +to be reawakened, and which she now took little pains to conceal. It +was therefore to be expected that Herbert should spend as little of +his time at home as possible. He became a frequent and welcome +visitor to the happy and well-ordered house of the Dodburys. + +The sharp eyes of the mother were not slow in detecting the +attraction which drew Herbert so frequently to the lawyer's house. +Though grievously disappointed, she was cautious. Nothing could be +done at present; for, though her son was manifestly 'entangled,' +yet no overt declaration had been made, and there was nothing to act +upon. She had the worldly foresight to know that opposition was food +and fuel to a secret attachment, and abstained from giving grounds +for the belief that so much as a suspicion lurked in her mind. In this +way months rolled on, Herbert becoming more and more captivated. +On the other hand, Miss Dodbury had striven against a passion with +which _she_ also had become inspired. Her father discouraged it, +though tenderly and indirectly. It was a delicate matter for a man to +interfere in, as no open disclosure had been made from either party; +but this embarrassment, felt equally by the proud mother of the lover, +and the considerate father of the girl, was speedily but accidentally +put an end to. + +An equestrian party had been formed to see, from Berry-head, a large +fleet which had been driven by a recent storm into Tor Bay. Mrs +Hardman had purposely invited Catherine Dodbury, that she might +observe her son's conduct towards that young lady, and extract from +it a sufficient ground for taxing him openly with a preference for +her over the belle she had chosen. It was a lovely day, and the party +was all life and gaiety, as almost all such parties are; for nothing +tends to raise the spirits so effectually as equestrian exercise. + +Herbert laughed and chatted with the rest of the ladies, and seemed +to pay no more attention to Catherine than was due to her as the +belle of the party, which she was universally acknowledged to be. +As, however, they passed over the drawbridge of the fort, built on +the terminating point of the little promontory, they were obliged to +dismount. Herbert offered Catherine his arm, and Mrs Hardman narrowly +watched them. Her son said a few words in a low tone, which caused +the colour to mount into the young lady's cheek; the listener +overheard her reply--'Mr Hardman, it can, it must never be!' and +withdrawing her arm from his, entered the fort unsupported. These +words at once pleased and displeased the ambitious mother. The girl +evidently did not encourage her son's suit--that favoured the Lady +Elizabeth project; 'but,' thought Mrs Hardman, drawing herself up to +her full height,' does a lawyer's daughter reject the heir of the +Hardmans?' + +The truth is, Hardman, the night before, had declared his love; it was +on the drawbridge that he pressed her to give him hopes; but her reply +repressed rather than encouraged them. + +The servants had brought the horses into the fort, that, mounted, the +spectators might see over the ramparts the noble scene which lay +before them to greater advantage. The fleet consisted of a number of +merchant vessels, with a convoy of king's ships, which were just +preparing to sail out of the bay. When the men-of-war had spread their +canvas and begun to move, a salute was fired, quite unexpectedly by the +visitors, from the fort. Catherine's horse immediately took fright, and +darted across the drawbridge with the speed of lightning. Herbert lost +not a moment; but spurring his own steed, galloped away, taking a +circuitous route, lest the clattering of his own horse's hoofs should +impel Catherine's to run the faster. On she sped, and as long as she +remained within sight, her friends trembled lest some frightful +catastrophe should happen. Presently she darted out of view. Herbert, +meanwhile, galloped to meet her, and at last succeeded; but, alas! When +it was too late to render any assistance. On coming up, he found both +the horse and its rider prostrate, the latter motionless and insensible. +He lifted her from the ground, and took her into a neighbouring house. +The usual restoratives were applied without effect, and it was not till +a surgeon appeared and bled the patient that any signs of animation +returned. It was discovered that the right arm and three of the ribs on +the left side were fractured. It was necessary that the utmost quiet +should be observed, lest any further and more dangerous injury might, +unknown to the medical man, have taken place. + +Though, therefore, the whole party assembled near the house, they were +not allowed to enter it. Herbert insisted upon remaining with the +father, despite Mrs Hardman's repeated strictures on the impropriety +of his doing so. + + +Scarcely a week had elapsed, after the accident already recorded, ere +it became a matter of gossiping notoriety that the young squire of +Coote-down had fallen in love with the lawyer's daughter. In truth, he +had not stirred from the vicinity of the cottage in which Catherine +lay, that he might get the earliest information from the medical +attendants concerning her condition. Prom day to day, and sometimes +from hour to hour, he watched with intense anxiety. The symptoms +improved daily; the anguish caused by the fractures having subsided, +the patient was in progress of slow, but to all appearance, certain +recovery. + +Mrs Hardman now had sufficient cause to ground a strong opposition to +the match her son was endeavouring to make. She spoke to her husband; +but he, good easy man, could not, he said, see any objection to the +alliance. She was of their kindred, and although poor, would doubtless +make an excellent wife. The imperious and disappointed lady next +applied to Dodbury. She placed before him the inequality in the +position of Herbert and his daughter, and was very vehement in her +arguments against the marriage. + +'Your fears, madam,' said Dodbury calmly, 'are at least premature. +However passionately your son may express himself in reference to my +daughter, she, I know, feels what is due to herself, as well as to Mr +and Mrs Hardman. She would never consent to become a member of a +family in which she would not be cordially received. Besides, I have +yet to learn that she reciprocates the attachment which you say Mr +Herbert evinces for her.' + +The correct light in which Dodbury thus considered the matter, induced +Mrs Hardman to change her policy. After complimenting the lawyer and +Catherine for their honourable forbearance, she went on to say that +she unhappily had but little influence over her son. 'Would _you_, +therefore, endeavour to point out to him the folly of his persistence +in following a young lady whom he can never marry?' Dodbury promised +to do so, and the lady departed so well pleased with the interview, +that she wrote to Lady Elizabeth Plympton, inviting her to spend the +ensuing month at Coote-down. + +That day, after hearing the most favourable report of Catherine's +recovery which had yet been made, Dodbury invited Herbert to dine +with him. After the cloth was removed, the subject of the morning's +conversation with Mrs Hardman was introduced. Herbert stammered and +blushed: he was not prepared to talk about it just then, and endeavoured +to change the topic more than once; but Dodbury kept to the point, till +Herbert owned, in fervent and glowing words, that Catherine had +completely won his heart, and that he would rather die than be forced +into a match with another woman. + +'All which,' replied the matter-of-fact man of parchment, 'is very +spirited and romantic, no doubt. But let us look at the affair with +calm and clear eyes. You profess to love my child with strong and +unquenchable passion?' + +'Profess! Do you doubt me?' + +'I do not doubt that you are perfectly in earnest _now_; but my +knowledge of mankind forbids my putting much faith in the endurance of +the sort of feeling with which you profess--I cannot give up the word, +you see--to be inspired. My child, so says the world, is +beautiful--very beautiful. Yours may be a mere passion for her +beauty.' + +'You wrong me,' replied the young man; 'I have known and admired her +long enough to appreciate her intrinsic worth. Her image is as dear to +me as my own life' + +Dodbury bent on his young friend a long and earnest look of inquiry. +He was a good reader of human nature. He saw that, as the lover spoke, +his eye lightened with enthusiasm, his lips quivered with emotion, +his cheeks glowed with blushes. 'I have little faith in these violent +emotions,' thought the wary man of the world, as he leaned back in his +easy-chair for a moment's reflection. 'Fierce flames burn out quickly. +This affair surrounds me with difficulties.' + +About a month after Miss Dodbury's complete recovery, her father +opened the same topic gradually and delicately to her. Catherine had +scarcely nurtured a thought which she had not confided to her father; +being her only parent, she looked up to him as the directing source +of all her actions. He was 'the king of her narrow world.' In +discussing this matter, therefore, though overwhelmed with a maiden +shame, she was not reserved. From what she said, the sorrowing father +gathered that her maiden affections _were_ twined around a man whom +her own innate propriety and pride, not to include other obstacles, +should prevent her from marrying. This disclosure gave Dodbury great +pain. He determined to use more vigilance, caution, and prudence, +than ever. His obvious course was to bring about, if possible, a +reconciliation to the match with Mrs Hardman; but he refrained. The +purity of the young lover's sentiments had yet to be tried. Time, he +determined, should put that to the test. + +Meanwhile, Lady Elizabeth had accepted Mrs Hardman's invitation. She +and Herbert Hardman were constantly thrown together; and it was +manifest, after a time, that despite the almost studied neglect with +which he treated her ladyship, she entertained a strong feeling in +his favour. This Mrs Hardman endeavoured by every means in her power +to induce Herbert to reciprocate; but in vain--the attraction of +Catherine Dodbury was too powerful. It must be owned, however, that +his vanity _was_ a little flattered by the haughty beauty +condescending to feel a sentiment for him. + +This state of things was too equivocal and uncertain to last. +Catherine strove, as long and as firmly as maiden could strive, +against her love; whilst Herbert fed his by every sort of attention +it was possible to evince. At length Dodbury felt the necessity of +some strong measure. He perceived that consent to the match was less +likely than ever, since the tender regard which Lady Plympton had +evinced. He, therefore, after a long interview with Mrs Hardman, +penned a kind note to Herbert, in which he, with every expression of +regret for the step he felt bound to take, forbade him his house, or +any further communication with his daughter. + +Though long anticipated, this was a bitter blow, Catherine strove not +to check the master-feeling which had now taken possession of her +whole thought and being, for she knew that was impossible; but, in +the purity of her heart, she felt she could love on--more tranquilly, +more calmly, now that all hope was abandoned, than when it was nursed +in suspense. Deprived of Herbert's presence, she would love him as an +imagined, ever-remembered being--an abstraction, of which, the +embodiment was dead to her for ever. With this _new said_ consolatory +sensation she determined, without a tear, never to encounter his real +presence again. She wrote him a note to that effect, and, accompanied +by her father, went immediately to London. + +Herbert was frantic. He upbraided his mother with unfilial +earnestness. He appealed to his father, who consoled him by saying he +was sorry that, as he always left these matters to his mother's +management, he could not interfere; adding, that so far as he was a +judge, the Lady Elizabeth Plympton was an uncommonly fine young +woman. + +After calm consideration, Herbert made up his mind as to what he +should do. The estate was entailed; that made him comparatively +independent; and he would endeavour, as well as his impetuous passion +would allow, to live on in the hope that at length his mother would +give her consent, and that Catherine would retract her determination. +In pursuance of this plan, he apologised to his mother for his +previous wrath, and treated Lady Elizabeth, during the remainder of +her visit, with politeness; but it was a studied, constrained, and +ironical sort of courtesy, which pained the unoffending but humbled +beauty much more than overt rudeness. When the young lady was about +to depart, he surprised his mother by the gallant offer of +accompanying her and their visitor to her father's, near Plymouth. + +These favourable symptoms Mrs Hardman reported to Dodbury, who, +seeing his daughter's perfect resignation, thought it might be not +imprudent to return home, especially as young Hardman was to remain +at the Earl of Plympton's for a few weeks. He, however, carefully +concealed the apparent attachment of Lady Elizabeth from his +daughter. Accordingly they returned to their home, Catherine +appearing but a slight degree saddened and changed in spirit. A +feverish languor, however, of which she neglected to complain or to +ask medical advice for, was making inroads on her health. + +Mrs Hardman, after staying a week at the earl's, returned, +congratulating herself on the seeming change which was gradually +creeping over her son's sentiments. She allowed him to remain a month +unquestioned; but after that time, family matters required Herbert's +presence at Coote-down, and she wrote, desiring him to come home. To +her surprise, her letter was returned unopened, franked by the earl. +Herbert must have left Plympton Court then, and would doubtless be +home in the course of the day. + +But that day passed, and another, and another, yet no tidings of +Herbert. Mr Hardman now became alarmed, and wrote. The answer was, +that his son had started for Coote-down that day-week! Inquiries were +set on foot in all directions. Every house was sent to at which the +young man was known to visit. Advertisements were circulated +throughout the country, and afterwards published in the London +newspapers, for tidings of Herbert Hardman, but without effect. The +most distressing fears were apprehended respecting his fate. His +parents were distracted; and the only conjecture which could be +formed was, that as war had just broken out with America, he had been +kidnapped by a press-gang for the sea-service. + +This was a last hope, and Hardman hung upon it as upon life. He wrote +to the Admiralty, and, starting for Plymouth, made every inquiry +likely to settle the doubt. Alas! though press-gangs had been busy at +their oppressive work, no such name as Hardman had been returned as +having been one of their victims. The conviction slowly stole over +him, that some fatal accident or rash determination had ended +Herbert's term of life. The dislike of her son, of which Mrs Hardman +had been suspected, now melted completely away into the fondest +affection for his memory. She, however, did not entirely abandon the +hope of seeing him again. + +What, however, of Catherine all this while? Alas! a misfortune had +overtaken her, in the midst of which the mysterious disappearance of +Herbert had not reached her. While in London, she, by some unknown +means, had contracted that fatal disease, then violently raging in +the metropolis--the small-pox. For months her life was despaired of, +and of course all knowledge of the absence of Herbert was kept from +her. + +Mr Hardman grieved to that excess, that he gradually sunk into the +grave. His funeral was a melancholy spectacle, for all knew the cause +of his demise. His good easy disposition made him extensively +regretted. Mrs Hardman's native strength of mind, however, kept her +up amidst her double loss. She found a great consolation in +assiduously attending Catherine's sick-bed. Misfortune had schooled +every particle of pride from her breast, and she was a prey to +remorse. She accused herself--not indeed entirely without +justice--of having caused the miseries, the effects of which she was +now suffering. 'Would,' she exclaimed to Dodbury one day, 'I could +recall the past!' + +Catherine's recovery was protracted; and, alas! when she appeared in +public, it was perceived that the disease had robbed her of her +brightest charms. Her face was covered with unsightly marks. Still, +the graceful figure, the winning smile, the fascinating manner, +remained; and few, after the first shock of the change had passed +away, missed the former loveliness of the once beautiful Catherine. +A year passed. By slow and cautious hints and foreshadowings, the +truth was revealed; but Miss Dodbury bore all with resignation. +'It is perhaps better for me,' she one day said to Mrs Hardman, 'that +it is so. Had he loved and wedded another, I dared no longer to have +cherished his image as I do. But now it is my blessed privilege to +love him in spirit as dearly as ever.' + +The hitherto proud, tearless woman of the world wept a flood when +unconsciously, innocently, Catherine spoke of the lost Herbert. On +one such occasion she threw herself on the girl's neck, exclaiming, +'Oh, what have I done! what have I done!' + +Mrs Hardman never spent a day apart from Catherine. What a change of +feeling one short year had wrought! Formerly, she looked on the girl +as a bar to her ambitious projects; now, she could not lavish love +and kindness enough to satisfy her sentiment of atonement towards the +same being. One evening they were walking in that part of the park +which overlooks the sea, when a sail appeared in the horizon, then +another, and another. The sight of ships never failed to remind the +mother of her son; for the presentiment regarding his disappearance +never forsook her. 'Dearest Catherine,' she exclaimed, 'would that +one of those sails were wafting him back to us.' The girl trembled, +and Mrs Hardman begged forgiveness for an involuntary allusion which +deeply affected her companion. 'But I _must_ be forgiven for telling +you that I cannot, will not, abandon every hope of seeing him again. +If you knew the pictures of happiness I sometimes draw, in which you +and he are the chief actors, I am sure they would please instead of +paining you. I sometimes fancy him returned; I go through in +imagination your marriage; I feel a real delight in fancying myself +placing your hand in his at the altar; I'--- Here the speaker was +interrupted. Her companion, clasping her suddenly for support, had, +overcome with emotion, fainted in her arms! + +From that day Mrs Hardman forbore all allusion to her lost son. + +That summer went by, and grief had made such inroads on Mrs Hardman's +mind, that her health gradually declined. Catherine also was weaker +than she had ever been for a continuance previous to her last +illness. Besides the disfigurement the disease had made in her +countenance, grief had paled her complexion and hollowed her cheek. +Yet she kept up her spirits, and was a source of unfailing +consolation to Mrs Hardman, who gradually weaned her from her +father's house to live entirely at Coote-down, where Dodbury also +spent every hour he could spare from business. He had recovered all +his lost influence in the family affairs, and was able, by his good +management, to avert from the estate the embarrassments with which +his fair client's former extravagances had threatened it. Mrs Hardman +was now gradually becoming a rich woman. + +Ere the winter arrived, she expressed a wish to pay a visit to her +late father's attorney, who lived at Barnstable. Dodbury offered to +accompany her; but she declined this civility. She wished to go +alone. There was something mysterious in this journey. 'What could +its object be?' asked the lawyer of his daughter.' Surely, if Mrs +Hardman require any legal business to be transacted, I am the proper +person to accomplish it.' Catherine was equally ignorant, and the +mistress of Coote-down was evidently not inclined to enlighten her. + +The journey was commenced. 'I shall return in a fortnight,' said Mrs +Hardman. 'Should anything occur requiring my presence earlier, pray +ride or send off for me.' These were her parting words. They did not +surprise Catherine, for well she knew that an irrepressible +presentiment kept possession of the mother's mind that the lost son +would one day return. There was not a morning that she rose from her +pillow, but the expectation of seeing her son before sunset existed +in her mind. + +Mrs Hardman had been away a week. Catherine had removed to her +father's house, and was preparing to sit down to sew, as was her +custom, when her father, returning from the office adjoining, brought +her a letter. 'It is very odd,' he remarked, 'but amidst my business +communications I find this epistle addressed to you. See, it is +marked "sailor's letter." I imagine it must be intended for one of +the servants.' + +Catherine made no reply; a presentiment darted into her mind. Usually +a quiet, calm girl, her nature seemed suddenly to have changed. She +snatched the letter from her father's hand, tore it open, looked at +the signature, and fell into his arms in an agony of emotion. +Absorbed by her painful struggles, Dodbury overlooked the cause of +them; and Catherine, with one intense, overwhelming thought burning +within her, placed the letter before him. She tried to speak, but the +agony of joy which she felt choked her. The father read the +signature; it was 'Herbert Hardman!' + +The reaction came, and Catherine for a time was calm. She said she +could listen to the contents of the letter; and Dodbury began to +peruse it. Hardman was alive and well; and a new tide of emotion +gushed forth from the panting listener. With the ardent impulse of a +pious heart, she sunk upon her knees, and uttered a fervent +thanksgiving to the universal Protector. It was long ere she could +hear more. There might be something behind--some dreadful +qualification to all the rapture with which her soul was flooded. +This thought was insupportable, and as Dodbury saw that his child +_must_ hear the whole, he read the epistle word for word. It was a +strange narrative. + +When Herbert left Plympton Court, he determined to stay a night at +Plymouth. Walking on a place called Britain Side, near the quay, he +was unexpectedly seized by a press-gang. They hurried him on board +the tender, lying off Cat-down; and immediately draughted him to a +small frigate, which was to sail the next morning, as part of a +convoy to some Indian ships. Accordingly, they sailed. The frigate +was commissioned to drop dispatches at Gibraltar, and arriving off +that place she was obliged to lag some miles behind, to fulfil her +orders. After having done so, and made all sail to rejoin the convoy, +she was attacked by a Barbary rover of superior strength, was beaten, +most of the crew captured, and conveyed into port. They were taken to +the market-place, and sold as slaves. Herbert described these +extraordinary events as occurring so rapidly, that it was not till he +was established with his purchaser--a man of some property, who lived +on an estate at the edge of the Sahara desert--that he had time to +reflect on them. Hoping that some of the officers or crew had +escaped, and would take means to ransom him, he worked on from day to +day for a whole year. At last an Egyptian merchant came to visit his +master, to whose servant Herbert entrusted a letter, addressed to the +British consul at Alexandria. This letter was fortunately delivered, +and after a time, his liberty was procured. The moment he got on +board ship he wrote the epistle which was now being so eagerly +devoured. + +Dodbury sent instantly to Mrs Hardman such a letter as was calculated +to break the news not too abruptly to her. _No_ time was mentioned +for Herbert's arrival, so that suspense and some degree of +uncertainty tempered the joy both father and daughter felt in making +this communication. + +Dodbury busied himself in corresponding with the navy-office to +obtain Herbert's release from the service; but to his mortification, +a reply arrived, stating, as was announced before, that no such name +was in the books. It was, however, added, that a person entered as +'H. Hard' was pressed on the identical day that Herbert was, and it +was suggested that his name may have been misspelled. That, however, +remained to be seen. + +By the time Mrs Hardman arrived at Coote-down, a second letter, +addressed to her, had come from her son. It was dated 'off Havre,' +and mentioned the probable time of his reappearance in England. The +mother's joy was intense; yet the news had not fallen like a shock +upon her, as upon Catherine. Holding fast by the daily hope that her +son _would_ some day reappear, the event was vaguely expected. Hence +she was filled with unalloyed delight. All the old gaiety and pride +of her disposition returned, and her first thoughts were expended on +plans for once more receiving her son--now, by right of inheritance, +the possessor of Coote-down--with a splendour to exceed that which +welcomed him from France on attaining his majority. _Nor_ was +Catherine for a moment forgotten. Every particular of the nuptials +was sketched out, and every preliminary prepared. Never were two +minds so filled with happiness. + +Dodbury started off a little before the time Herbert was to arrive at +Portsmouth. On arriving in London, he endeavoured to pave the way for +Herbert's discharge, by clearing up the mistake about the name. +Luckily, Lord Plympton held office, and a note from him to the proper +authorities was of great service. How eagerly were the lawyer's +letters to Coote-down looked for by its inmates! The first announced +that, thanks to Lord Plympton's influence, everything had been +arranged, and that, on producing Herbert, and proving him to be the +representative of the name 'Hard' found in the list of seamen, his +discharge would be granted. The second letter was dated Portsmouth. +Herbert had arrived! He was much browner than heretofore, but more +robust and manly. His manners had altered most: from bordering on the +polite and finical, adversity and rough usage had made them more +direct and blunt. The third communication was from London, and stated +that the Earl of Plympton had insisted on Herbert making his +lordship's house his home. Nothing could exceed the friendly warmth +with which he had been received by the whole family, especially by +the Lady Elizabeth. After some difficulty, the discharge was +obtained, and the letter concluded by actually fixing a day for +Herbert's appearance in the hall of his fathers. + +The vastness of Mrs Hardman's preparations were equal to the +greatness of her joy. The scene of the former reception was to be +enacted over again, but with additional splendour. + +The time came, and with it the long-lost son. Mrs Hardman met him on +the hall steps, and clasped him in her arms with a fondness she had +never evinced before. But he was impatient. There was another being +whom he longed to fold in his arms. Mrs Hardman conducted him, +impelled by impatience, into her dressing-room, where Catherine +waited, trembling and expectant. Herbert rushed forward and clasped +her in an embrace which seemed to pour forth an age of long-suppressed +and passionate affection. The mother looked on in silent delight. She +seemed to share in the lovers' slightest emotion. + +The first raptures having subsided, Herbert gazed upon the face of +his mistress. At the first glance he would have started back, had not +the firm affection of Catherine's embrace detained him. From the most +vivid signs of love and hope fulfilled, his countenance altered to an +expression of doubt and disappointment. 'Catherine?' he said in a +tone of inquiry--'_my_ Catherine?' + +'Yes,' replied the mother sorrowfully. 'But how changed,' replied +Herbert somewhat abruptly; 'how very much changed!' + +A mass of thought and recollection, a revulsion of feeling, passed +through Catherine's brain; but tears burst forth to relieve her. +Herbert gradually released her from his embrace, and his mother +stepped forward to support her. She gazed steadfastly at her son, and +read in his countenance a presage which she dreaded to interpret. +After a time Hardman withdrew to receive the congratulations of the +guests, amongst the foremost of whom were Lord and Lady Elizabeth +Plympton. He had scarcely closed the door, ere Mrs Hardman placed her +weeping charge gently in a chair, and sat beside Catherine, holding +her hands to her bosom. + +At this moment Dodbury entered to share his daughter's joy. But what +a reverse was here! Tears, silence, despondency. He was amazed, +disappointed; and anxiously inquired the cause. 'My son,' said Mrs +Hardman calmly, 'was a little shocked at Catherine's altered +appearance. Doubtless, when his first emotions of surprise are over, +all the happiness we anticipated will be realised.' But she +mistrusted her own thoughts: a dark presentiment had cast its shadow +over her mind. + +That night was spent in festivity, in which Catherine was too ill to +join. She retired to her chamber, not to give way to unavailing +grief, but to fortify her mind against the worst. Mrs Hardman's +duties as hostess could not be neglected, and she mixed with her +guests with the dignified affability of former years. In watching her +son's proceedings, she had frequent occasion to bewail a coarseness +and impetuosity of manner, which had doubtless been imbibed from his +recent adventures. His attentions to Lady Elizabeth were as incessant +and warm as on a similar occasion they were cold and distant. When +the guests were retiring, he asked in a careless tone, 'By the by, +mother, what has become of Catherine?' + +The answer to this question implied an accusation of cruelty in the +interview with Catherine. This brought a retort from Herbert, that +time was when Mrs Hardman pleaded another's cause. 'True,' replied +the mother, 'but since I have known Catherine's unmatched excellence, +I have grievously repented that I ever contemplated _that_ alliance. +Tell me, Herbert, at once, and honestly, have your feelings changed +towards Catherine?' + +'When I left her she was beautiful,' was the reply; 'now she is'---- + +'You need not finish the sentence,' rejoined Mrs Hardman. 'I see it +all, and will urge you no further: our household's happiness is +wrecked.' + +The sorrowing lady sought Catherine's chamber. She took her in her +arms, exclaiming, 'Catherine, we are women, but we must act like +men.' A flood of mingled tears relieved the dreadful emotions which +agitated the wretched pair. One moment's consideration showed them +the worst--a future of hopeless despair. Hardman's love _was_, then, +a mere fitful passion, lit up by Catherine's former surpassing +beauty. + +Upon her face and form, with their matchless loveliness, his fancy +had fed since his banishment; his imagination, rather than his heart, +had kept her image constantly before him. But when he beheld her in +reality, so different from the being his memory-dreams had lingered +over, his passion received a sudden check. When he beheld her pallid +cheek, there was no heart-love to tell him it was grief for him which +had hollowed and blanched her beauteous face. His lightly-based +passion all but extinguished, instead of soothing the misfortune +which the ravages of disease had brought upon her, gradually became +colder and colder. In two months after his return the final blow was +struck, and Herbert Hardman became the husband of the Lady Elizabeth +Plympton! + +From the day of the nuptials, Catherine Dodbury covered her face with +a thick black veil, and no mortal had ever seen her face, except her +faithful domestic, to the day of her death. She and Mrs Hardman +retired to a distant part of the country, to leave the bride and +bridegroom in undisturbed possession of the estate. Mrs Hardman did +not long survive her son's marriage. On her death, it was discovered +that all the property at her disposal she had left to her son--to be +enjoyed after his death by Catherine--who, the testatrix never +doubted, when she executed the will (for which purpose she made her +solitary journey to Barnstable), would, if ever he reappeared, become +Herbert's wife. + +But how fared the married pair? + +At first they lived happily enough; but, when the enthusiasm of love +was over, other excitements were sought. They removed to London. +Herbert became wildly dissipated, and his wife habitually expensive. +The estate was soon impoverished, trees cut down, and the whole +steeped in mortgages. Crime succeeded. By a legal juggle, Catherine +was deprived of her reversionary rights; and when every penny was +gone, the wretched Hardman ended his days in a debtor's prison. His +wife followed him, leaving no child to inherit the estates. + +Catherine had, during all this while, lived with her father till his +decease, which took place just before that of Herbert. She then +removed to Coote-down, which had come into her possession, failing +nearer heirs--her father having been a cousin two degrees removed +from the late Mr Hardman, senior. There she had lived on for years, +without any attempt to improve the ruined property, and in the +seclusion in which I saw her at my visit. + +Such is the history of the 'Home-wreck,' whose effects I witnessed in +my visit to Coote-down. Since then, however, things have materially +changed. A very short time ago, I received notice that the heroine of +the above events had sunk into the grave, leaving most of her +property to my cousin and fascinating cicerone, who is now happily +married. By this time the estate has resumed its former fertility, +and the house some of its past grandeur. + + + +LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. + +A TALE OF THE SIOUX INDIANS. + +BY PERCY B. ST JOHN. + +In the very centre of one of the thickest and heaviest woods of the +American continent, where now stands a busy manufacturing town, there +was, some forty years ago, an Indian camp occupied by a small band of +the wild and warlike Sioux. They were not more than fifty in number, +having visited the spot merely for the purpose of hunting, and laying +in a store of provisions for the winter. It chanced, however, that, +coming unexpectedly upon certain Assineboins, who also were outlying +in the woods, following the exciting duty of the chase, a quarrel +ensued, ending in a bloody contest, in which the Sioux were +victorious. With rude tents pitched, without order or method, in an +open glade of the forest, with horses tethered around, and little +dusky imps fighting with the lean dogs that lay lolling their tongues +lazily about, there was yet a picturesque air about the place and its +extraneous features, which would have captivated the eye of one in +search of nature's sunshiny spots. Deeply embosomed within the +autumnal tinted wood, a purling spring that burst from the green +slope of a little mound was the feature which had attracted the +Indians to the locality. Rank grass had once covered the whole +surface of this forest meadow, but this the cattle had closely +cropped, leaving a sward that would have rivalled any European lawn +in its velvety beauty, and that, falling away before the eye, became +inexpressibly soft as it sunk away in the distance. + +The setting sun, gilding and crowning the tree tops in wreathed +glory, was gradually paling behind the heavy belt of forest that +enclosed the Sioux camp; the animals, both plumed and four-footed, +that filled the woods, were seeking their accustomed rest; the squaws +were busily engaged in preparing for their expected husbands their +evening meal, just as a long line of grim and painted warriors issued +from the shelter of the trees. A loud cry from the urchins that +squatted round the purlieus of the camp, with a growl of friendly +recognition from the ragged dogs, brought the women to the entrance +of the camp. + +The Indians came in in that silent and solemn manner which they are +wont more particularly to assume after the occurrence of important +events. To the no little surprise of the squaws, a prisoner +accompanied the returning party, and all thoughts were effaced but +those in connection with the promised scene of torture and amusement. +It was a young man, faultless in form, with features which in any +land would have been remarkable for their intellectuality and +engaging expression. His round limbs, and his erect figure, well +displayed as he trod unshackled and nearly naked, were the admiration +even of his enemies. His eye was keen and piercing, his lips curled +in an expression of scorn and defiance, while his inflated nostrils +no less marked the inward struggle of his mind, as he scowled +fiercely on his captors. + +In the centre of the camp was a strong but rudely-erected log-house, +that served the purpose of a council-chamber, and in this the +prisoner, having been so bound as to render escape, unaided, a matter +of impossibility, was left, while the warriors dispersed to their +wigwams in search of refreshment and repose. A large fire burned in +front of the council-hall, which gave forth so bright a glare, that +any one leaving or entering its precincts could scarcely avoid being +seen by those around. Several maidens, too, having no hungry husbands +requiring their ministering hands, were congregated in front, +conversing upon the probable fate of the Assineboin, and even in some +measure expressing pity for his expected death, so far had his good +looks and youth gone to create sympathy in the hearts of the fair +Sioux. + +'Let us see if the warrior weeps,' at length said one of the girls +with a laugh; 'perhaps he will ask for a petticoat, and become a +squaw.' + +Curiosity induced the whole bevy to agree, and next moment they were +all within the walls of the council-chamber, the warriors smiling +grimly in their wigwams at this evidence of the universal feminine +failing. A dim and fitful glare from the fire served to reveal the +form of the luckless Indian youth seated upon a log, his eye fixed +upon vacancy. For a moment curiosity kept the whole party silent, and +then, education and habit exerting their influence, the group began +to put in practice those arts which might be expected to awaken in +the prisoner an exhibition of feeling derogatory to his dignity. + +'An Assineboin has no eyes; he is a burrowing mole,' said one +tauntingly; 'he creeps about the woods like a serpent, and falls into +the trap of the hunters: a beaver is wiser than he. He is very +cunning, but he cannot deceive a Sioux: he is very brave, but he is a +prisoner, and not a wound shows that he struggled. Go; it is a squaw +whom my people have brought in by mistake.' + +A general laugh was the reward of the speaker's wit, while the Indian +moved neither eye, limb, nor muscle. The girl, irritated, opened upon +him with all that volubility of tongue which so strongly +characterises their race. It was, however, in vain. The sun in the +heavens was not more unmoved--a marble statue would have been life +behind him--not a look or sound, not a glance, testified that he even +heard what was passing. Wearied at length with their vain efforts, +the bevy rushed forth into the open air, and, joining hands, +commenced, with loud cries and laughter, a dance round the fire. + +A deep and heavy respiration was the only sign the Indian gave of +consciousness--his quick and practised senses told him he was not +alone. + +'Son of the Evening Light,' said a low and gentle voice, addressing +him by a name which was well known in her tribe as that of their most +dreaded enemy, 'the morning will come, and it will find my brothers +thirsting for blood.' + +'The veins of Ah-kre-nay are very full,' replied the warrior calmly; +'they can all drink.' + +'The Son of the Evening Light is very brave,' said the other +hurriedly, and in tones which exhibited strong feeling; 'but life is +very sweet. Would he hunt again in the forest?--would his hand once +more strike the grizzly bear?' + +Suspecting some deep and cunning artifice of his enemies beneath this +unmistakable offer of escape on the part of the fair Peritana, the +Indian was sternly silent; though the tones which truth assumes are +so powerful and expressive, that he felt almost convinced at heart +she was sincere. The young maiden probably understood his doubts, and +therefore spoke no more, but with quick and ready hands placed a +knife before him, and, cutting the bonds, left him free. + +'My sister is very kind,' said the young warrior warmly, after giving +vent to the guttural ugh! the jocund laugh and the romping of the +dancers permitting conversation--'and Ah-kre-nay will remember her in +his dreams.' With this the Assineboin turned towards the entrance of +the wigwam. + +The Sioux girl replied not, but, pointing to the throng without, and +then passing her hand significantly round her head, folded her arms, +and stood resignedly before the youth. + +'Would the Sioux maiden leave her tribe and tread the woods with an +Assineboin?' said the warrior curiously. + +'Peritana will die if the Assineboin warrior be found to have +escaped, and Peritana would rather live in the woods than in the +happy hunting-ground.' + +The Assineboin now felt sure that his youth, his appearance, or, at +all events, his probable fate, had excited the sympathies of his +visitor, and gratitude at once created in him a desire to know more +of his fair friend. + +'Ah-kre-nay will not depart without his sister; her voice is very +sweet in his ears, sweeter than the cluck of the wild turkey to the +hungry hunter. She is very little; let her hide in the corner of the +wigwam.' + +'Peritana has a father, tall and straight--an aged hemlock--and two +brothers, bounding like the wild deer--Ah-kre-nay will not raise his +hand against them?' + +'They are safe, when Peritana has folded her white arms round them.' + +This point settled, the Indian girl handed the youth his tomahawk and +knife, and then obeyed his commands with as much alacrity as if she +had been his legal squaw. The warrior then resumed his former +position, placing the willow-withes which had bound him in such a +manner as readily to appear, by the light of the fire, as if they +were still holding him firm. + +This arrangement had scarcely been made, when a couple of grim +warriors appeared in the doorway, after listening to the report of +the girls. Peritana, closing her eyes, held her very breath, lest it +should betray her presence to her people, and thus render all her bold +efforts for him whose fame, beauty, and unfortunate position had won +her heart, of no avail. The young warrior, too, sat motionless as a +statue, his keen ear listening for the sound of the girl's breath. To +his admiration and infinite surprise, her respiration had apparently +ceased. The Sioux at this moment entered, and, glaring curiously at +their enemy, as if satisfied with the survey they had taken, turned +away and moved towards their wigwams. Silence now gradually took the +place of the activity and bustle which had previously reigned. A +sense of security lulled the Indians to rest. Every one of their +enemies, save the prisoner, had perished in the fight, or rather +surprise, by which the victors had mastered their unarmed foes. No +thought was given to treachery within the camp. + +Still, the young Assineboin knew that each moment he might be missed. +He therefore listened with deep attention for the slightest sound; +and some quarter of an hour having passed, he rose from his +half-recumbent posture, and stood perfectly erect in the very centre +of the wigwam. Peritana at the same instant stood at his side, coming +from without: she had left the wigwam with so noiseless a step, that +even the exquisite organs of the Indian had been eluded. Neither +spoke, but the girl placed in the warrior's hands a short rifle, +a powder-horn, and a shot-pouch, which he clutched with a delight +which a sense of the danger of his position alone prevented him from +manifesting openly. Slinging them in their proper places, Ah-kre-nay +moved with caution to the door of the wigwam, and next moment was +stalking firmly but noiselessly along the camp, followed by Peritana, +gazing mournfully at the habitations of her tribe. Suddenly, as they +reached the outskirts of the wigwams, and were passing one of the +largest and most conspicuous of the whole, a voice from within +growled forth a hoarse demand of who was there? + +'Peritana,' said the girl, in a voice which was choked with emotion, +'is not well; she seeks the woods, to drive away the bad spirit.' + +During this brief colloquy the young brave had stepped within the +deep shadow of the tent, his rifle ready cocked. As the girl ceased +speaking, the head of an old warrior was protruded from the wigwam +door. + +'Thy sisters have been asleep since the dance was over,' said the +aged Indian; 'why is Peritana awake?' + +The girl saw her companion level his rifle--her agitation was +intense. Her feelings were deeply moved on both sides. + +'Father,' said she, and the rifle was raised instantly, 'Peritana +goes to the woods; she will not tarry long. Her head is hot; she +cannot sleep now.' + +Satisfied with this explanation, the old Sioux retired once more +within the tent, leaving the young warrior and his sad companion to +reach the forest unmolested. Peritana was deeply moved at parting +from her parents, and, but that she knew that death would be her +portion on the discovery of her aiding the escape of Ah-kre-nay, +would gladly have returned to where, as her father had told her, her +sisters slept soundly. The die, however, was cast, and she was now in +the woods, the companion of the runaway. + +We must pass over a year of time, and take up our narrative at some +distance from the spot above described. It was a deep dell on the +banks of the upper waters of one of those streams that serve to swell +the Ontario. Perhaps a lovelier spot was never discovered by man. At +a place where the river made a bend, there rose from its bank, at +some distance from the water, a steep but not perpendicular cliff, +thickly grown with bushes, and spotted with flowers, while tall trees +crowned the crest of the eminence. Of a horseshoe form, the two ends +approached the edge of the stream, leaving, however, to the east a +narrow ledge, by which the vale could be approached. The space +between the water and the bottom of the cliff was occupied by a sward +of velvety smoothness, while beneath the rock was a dark and gloomy +natural cavern. The most prominent feature of the scene, however, was +of human formation. It was an Indian hut, which doubtless rose in +this spot for the purpose of concealment. No better place could have +been found within many miles, as the portion of the river which +flowed in sight, from its proximity to a fall, was navigable only to +the smallest canoe, and was therefore never made use of by +travelling-parties. The wigwam was of the usual dome-like shape, +roofed with skins tastefully and elegantly adjusted, while a mass of +creeping and flowering shrubs that entwined themselves around it, +showed it to be no erection of a day. It was a model of cleanliness +and neatness, while a fireplace at some distance out-of-doors, within +the cavern, showed that, at least during the summer months, the +inconvenience of smoke was dispensed with within its walls. The whole +was wrapped in deep silence, looking as if utterly abandoned by every +trace of humanity. + +The sun was at its fullest height, proclaiming midday to the tenants +of the woods and fields, when a rustling was heard at the entrance of +the little dell, and an Indian bounded headlong within its shelter. +The wild gleaming of his eye, the fresh wounds which covered his +body, the convulsive thick breathing, the fierce clutching of his +tomahawk and rifle, showed that he fled for his life, while the sound +of many voices below the crag betokened how near his pursuers were to +him. Shaking his empty powder-horn with a look of deep grief, the +Indian warrior threw aside his rifle, now more useless than a pole of +equal length, and, a fire of energy beaming from his eye, raised his +tomahawk. It was, however, but for a moment--his wounds were too +severe to allow any hope of a successful struggle, and next moment +the brave stood unarmed, leaning against the entrance of his wigwam. +On came the pursuers, with an eagerness which hatred and the desire +of revenge rendered blind, and, as they leaped headlong down through +the narrow gap between the water and the cliff, the wounded Indian +felt that, with a firm arm and a good supply of powder and lead, he +might have driven back his enemies in confusion. No sooner did the +Sioux behold their former prisoner, Ah-kre-nay, standing with +dignified calmness at the door of his own wigwam, than their +self-possession at once returned, and the whole party surrounded him +in silence, casting, meanwhile, envious but stealthy looks round his +romantic retreat. An aged warrior, after a due period of silence, +advanced and addressed the captive. + +'Ah-kre-nay is very nimble; twelve moons ago he ran like a woman from +the Sioux; to-day he ran again, but his feet forsook him.' + +'Twelve moons ago,' replied the captive with exultation flashing in +his eyes, 'Ah-kre-nay was in the midst of a nest of vultures--fifty +warriors surrounded him; but the manitou blinded all their eyes, and +the Assineboin cheated their revenge.' + +'But Ah-kre-nay was not alone?' said the old warrior, deeply moved at +his own question. + +'The flower of the hills fled to the woods with him--her tongue was +the tongue of a lying Sioux, but her heart was that of a brave +Assineboin.' + +'Where is my child?' said the old warrior, in vain endeavouring to +penetrate the mystery of the hut's contents, and dropping his +figurative language under the influence of excitement--'say, Son of +the Evening Light, where is my child?' + +The warrior gazed curiously at the old man; but folding his arms, +made no reply. + +The Sioux warrior paused a moment, and then turning to his young men, +ordered them to bind the prisoner, and commence that long list of +atrocious cruelties which ever precede the death of a victim among +the Indians. The hut was scattered to the winds in a moment, and its +wood served to commence the pile which was to play the principal part +in the scene of torture. Ah-kre-nay looked on in silence, his lip +curling scornfully, until the preparations were all made; he then +took his place at the post with sullen composure, and prepared to +suffer in silence all the horrors meditated by the Sioux. A grim +warrior now stood forward with a keen and glittering tomahawk in his +hand, which he began waving and flourishing before the eyes of his +victim, in the hope of making him show some sign of apprehension. In +vain, however, did the old Sioux try every feint; now he would aim a +blow at his feet, and as suddenly change to his face; now he would +graze his very ear; and at length, enraged at the stoicism of his +victim, he raised the gleaming hatchet, as if about to strike in +earnest. The smart crack of a rifle was simultaneous with the +attempt, and the tormentor's arm fell useless by his side. With +habitual fear of the fatal weapon, the Sioux sought cover, and gazing +upward, saw on the summit of the cliff Peritana--a babe slung in a +cradle at her back--in the act of loading her rifle. + +'Father,' cried she somewhat wildly, and pointing out how completely +she commanded the pass of the dell, 'in the green days when Peritana +walked not alone, you fed and sheltered me; warm was my wigwam, and +sweet the venison: with which my platter was ever filled. Peritana is +very grateful, but'--and she pointed to her child--' Peritana is a +mother, and she sees her husband, the father of the Little Wolf, in +the hands of his enemies. Her eyes grow dim, and her memory departs. +She cannot see her father, but she sees the enemy of her husband; she +forgets she was ever a Sioux, and remembers only she is now an +Assineboin. If his enemies kill her husband, Peritana will use her +rifle as long as her powder lasts, and then will leap into the water, +and join Ah-kre-nay in the happy hunting-ground of his people. But a +Sioux warrior will not forget he has a daughter,' continued she more +tenderly; 'give her back the father of her child, and Peritana will +bring a great warrior into the Sioux camp.' + +The Sioux saw at once the force of her proposition. Certain death +awaited many, if not the whole band, should they strive to ascend the +pass in the face of an infuriated widow; while, should she prevail +upon Ah-kre-nay to forget, for her sake, his hereditary antipathies, +and join the Sioux band, a mighty advantage would accrue. When free, +and acting with perfect freedom, it was probable that the young +Assineboin would show but little resistance to this offer. In ten +minutes after the appearance of Peritana on the cliff, her husband, +who had been an attentive listener, stood fully armed at the mouth of +the pass, free. He was just about to commence the ascent, when, +determined to win the admiration of the Sioux at once, he turned +towards them once more, and, standing in their midst, laid his arm +affectionately on the shoulder of the chief, and cried: 'Come, +Peritana; Ah-kre-nay is with his friends; let not his squaw be afraid +to join him.' + +Placing himself and wife thus completely in the power of the Sioux, +without any agreement as to treatment, was a tacit reliance on their +honour, which won upon them at once, and a loud shout of applause +proclaimed that enmity was at an end; and in a few moments more the +old Sioux warrior was gazing, with all the pride of a grandfather, +upon the offspring of his favourite daughter. A few hours of rest +ensued, during which Ah-kre-nay's wounds were bound up, after which +the whole party went on their way rejoicing, and the Sioux numbered +one great warrior more within their bosom. Thus, by the exertion of +remarkable presence of mind, Peritana preserved herself a husband, +saved the babe from orphanship, restored a daughter to her father, +and added a brave soldier to the forces of her tribe. Weeping and +wailing would have availed her nothing; undaunted courage gave her +the victory. The facts of this tale are current still among the +wandering Sioux, who often relate to their wives and young men the +famous deeds of the lovely Peritana. + + + +LUCY FENNEL: + +A TALE OF HUMBLE HEROISM. + +In a small village near the town of Honiton, in Devonshire, there +lived a widow and her son. The old woman had, till her sight failed +her, not only earned a sufficient livelihood, but had saved a little +money, by making that kind of lace for the manufacture of which +Honiton is so widely famed. When, from the infirmities of age, she +could no longer ply her vocation successfully, it happened +fortunately that her son, by his labour as a farm-servant, was able +to make up the deficiency. He was a fine spirited young fellow, who +went through his laborious occupations with a good-will and +cheerfulness which was so satisfactory to his employer that he +determined to advance, whenever opportunities offered, so assiduous +a servant and good a son. + +Some two years before our story opens, it happened that a young +woman, the daughter of a decayed farmer in the southern part of the +county, came to superintend the dairy of Luke Damerel's master. It +was not unnatural that the buxom lass and the young man should form a +mutual attachment. As they were both very well-conducted persons, +their love passages were looked upon with a favourable eye both by +Dame Damerel and by the farmer's wife, Mrs Modbury, though neither +openly sanctioned it, for prudence' sake. Luke and Lucy, however, +loved on, as they thought, in secret, determining not to reveal their +mutual affection till they should be placed in circumstances to get +married. Things remained thus for more than a year and a half, when +Farmer Modbury's wife died, and other circumstances occurred which +induced him to promote Luke to a more lucrative and responsible +situation on the farm. Shortly after the demise of his wife also, he +found it expedient to give Lucy, in addition to her dairy duties, the +sole charge of the housekeeping. + +With the rise in his fortunes, Luke's thoughts were directed to the +accomplishment of his dearest hope, and he revealed his passion to +his mother, consulting her on the propriety of the step he wished to +take; which was simply to marry Lucy, and bring her to live in the +cottage. The old dame was not surprised at the proposal, for she +expected it to be made from the day Luke's wages were increased. She +had made up her mind what to advise, and did not shrink from advising +it, although it would not be agreeable to her son. 'Luke,' she said, +'you must still wait. Your earnings are not sufficient to keep Lucy +comfortably; and she, you know, would have to give up her place, +which is now a good one. So you would not only be injuring yourself, +but her also.' + +Luke fired up at this, and unkindly hinted that his mother did not +wish to have a companion to share their home. The old dame, though +much hurt, denied that any such feeling swayed her, and advised him +to consult Lucy herself. Dame Damerel had that confidence in the +girl's good sense and prudence, that she was sure even Lucy would not +consent to marry so soon as Luke wished. + +In no very amiable mood the lover sought his mistress at the +farmhouse. He went into the kitchen, and not finding Lucy there, +inquired of one of the maids where she was. With a sly ominous +expression the girl replied 'that _Miss_ Lucy was in the best parlour +making tea for master.' This information gave poor Luke a sort of +panic. He trembled, turned pale, and hastily retreated from the +house. Discontented thoughts filled his mind. 'No doubt,' he said +almost aloud, as he walked homewards--'no doubt she'll _not_ consent +when I propose to marry her, though I can keep her. Farmer Modbury +will be a better match for her than a poor hard-working lad like me. +But I'll see about that--it shall be now or never. If she won't marry +me in a week, she never shall!' In truth, Luke had been feeling a +pang of jealousy creep over him ever since Lucy was promoted to be +Modbury's housekeeper; and that she should be admitted alone with him +into the best parlour to make his tea, confirmed what were previously +only suspicions. On entering the cottage, his wild looks almost +frightened his mother; but he was silent as to the cause, and went +sullenly to bed. + +Farmer Modbury kept up the good old Devonshire custom of dining with +all the people in his employment; and the day after, when Luke with +the rest of his companions sat at the table, he watched the actions +and countenances of Lucy and her master, to catch new causes for the +tormenting feeling which possessed him. The meal concluded, he +followed the girl to the dairy, as was his custom; for a short and +sweet interview could always be snatched at that time. The present +one was, however, the reverse. In a hard tone of voice, and with an +abrupt manner, Luke inquired if she were ready to have him? The girl +frankly answered, 'Of course I am, Luke; but what should make you ask +the question on such a sudden!' + +Luke's jealousy was a little assuaged by Lucy's open and confiding +manner, and becoming more calm, he told her his plans. 'It will never +do, Luke,' she replied.' Besides, my father, whom I must send to +about it, would not consent. No, no, we must wait.' + +'Wait! for what, I should like to know? To give master, I suppose, +a chance of--of--' + +'Of what, Luke?' + +'Why,' said Luke, worked up into a sort of frenzy by the very +thought--' why, of asking you to take poor dead-and-gone missus's +place!' + +The colour mounted to Lucy Fennel's face. She cast a reproachful look +on her lover, and seemed ready to cry; but woman's pride came to her +aid, and she left the dairy, as if afraid to hear another of Luke's +terrible words. Had the young man not gone out immediately, he might +have heard ill-suppressed sobs issuing from the room into which the +maiden had shut herself. 'She is afraid to face me,' said Luke to +himself as he crossed the courtyard. 'No, no, she can't deceive me, +though she is trying.' + +The directions Damerel gave to the workmen that afternoon were so +injudicious, that his master happening to overhear him tell a ditcher +to fill up a drain which ought to have been opened, gave him a severe +reprimand. Luke received what was said with the worst feelings, +continually repeating to himself, 'Ah, he has a spite against me now. +He did not make that girl his housekeeper for nothing. _I'm_ not +wanted here, I can see.' + +When work was over, it happened that as Luke was returning to his own +cottage he met young Larkin, a neighbouring farmer's son, who asked +him to accompany him to Honiton, where he was going to 'see the +sodgers,' a regiment being about to pass through the town on its way +to form part of Plymouth garrison. To beguile the care which +tormented him, he gladly consented, and having gone home to put on +his Sunday clothes, was soon equipped for the evening's expedition. +The two friends had to pass Modbury's parlour window, and it was +tea-time. Luke cast an inquisitive glance towards it, and trembled +when he saw the blind being slowly pulled up. Presently it revealed +the figure of Lucy, very nicely dressed with a new and handsome cap. +Something having prevented the blind from being drawn quite to the +top, Lucy mounted on the window-seat to adjust it, and when about to +descend, Luke plainly saw his master come forward, give her one hand, +while with the other he assisted her down by the waist! Damerel +grasped the tree he was resting against for support; a film came over +his eyes; but a few rough jokes from Larkin recovered him, and +hearing the military band in the distance, he endeavoured to forget +his cares, and trudged on towards Honiton. + +Meanwhile, the moment Lucy had finished her duties at the tea-table, +she hastened to Damerel's cottage, in the hope, not of seeing her +lover, but his mother, alone. The old dame, perceiving her pale and +in low spirits, thought she divined the cause, by supposing the girl +was sorrowing at the imprudence of the step Luke had proposed to her. +'Well, well,' said the kind old woman, 'things may not be so bad +after all, Lucy. And since Luke has set his heart so much upon it, +and you, I am sure, are nothing loath, we must try and manage it. +I'll tell you what I've been thinking, girl. You see the great +mischief will be your being obliged to give up your place at the +farm; now, I know a plan by which that loss may be mended. You are a +quick, handy maid; and suppose--suppose'--and here the good old woman +took Lucy's hands in hers--'suppose I teach you lace-making?' + +These words poured a light into Lucy's heart which seemed to banish +all her grief. The means of rendering herself independent of her +present situation was all she wished for. She loved Luke tenderly, +dearly, and with a fervent, virtuous desire, wished to become his +wife. This wish had grown much stronger since her painful interview +with him, not only because she wished to prove she was ready to +sacrifice everything for his sake, but for another and more +perplexing reason. Her master had paid her attentions that evening +which left no doubt on her mind that _he_ desired her for his wife. + +When Mrs Damerel heard the news, she was much distressed. 'Oh, it is +too bad!' she exclaimed, 'to think that my Luke should be the means +of preventing you from marrying so well--you who are worthy of any +man.' + +'Do not think of that; I could not be happy with one I do not love. +So now, dear mother--for I will always call you so--let me hear what +plan you propose.' + +'Well, instead of talking idly, as we always do when you come to see +us, you shall let me teach you the lace-making. Come every night, and +in a month or two I shall be able to put you in a way to earn quite +as much as you do now at Farmer Modbury's. When this is the case, we +must see about getting yourself and Luke asked in church, for surely +both your earnings put together will be enough to keep you +comfortably.' + +'But will not the farmer bear some enmity to poor Luke?' + +'I will answer for him, girl, I have known him longer than he has +known himself. I nursed him, and I can say with truth that a +better-hearted man does not live. Should he again offer you any +civilities, tell him the whole truth, and I'll warrant he will not +repeat them.' + +That evening Lucy tripped home with a light heart. When she retired +to rest, she built many an air-castle of future happiness. + +The next morning, as the home-servants of Modbury's farm were going +to their daily toil, they found a crowd round Damerel's cottage door. +On inquiring into the cause, they were told that Luke had in a fit of +despair enlisted as a soldier, and that the news had wrought so +violently on the feelings of his mother, that it was thought she +could never recover! + +The scene inside the cottage was painfully distressing. The old dame +was lying on a bed with her clothes still about her, showing that she +had not gone to rest the whole night. The village doctor was by her +side, having just bled her, whilst everything strewed about the room +indicated that the always revolting operation had but recently been +performed. The neighbours, as they crowded round the door, denounced +Luke's conduct as rash and heartless. In the midst of their +denunciations they were joined by another, to whom every word they +uttered was as a death-wound. It was Lucy. + +Whoever has had the misfortune of often seeing women placed in sudden +difficulties, or overtaken by an unforeseen misfortune, must have +remarked that they occasionally act with unexpected firmness. They +frequently show a calmness of manner and a directness of purpose, +forming quite an exception to their every-day demeanour. It is after +the danger is over, or the first crisis past, that they break down, +as it were, and show themselves to belong to the weaker sex. Thus it +was with Lucy. When she entered the cottage, she had a full knowledge +of the death-blow which had been inflicted on her hopes of future +happiness. Still, she seemed calm and collected. When she took the +basin from the surgeon to bathe Mrs Damerel's temples herself, her +hand shook not, and she performed the kindly office as neatly as if +no misfortune had befallen her. When she went to the door to entreat +the neighbours to stand away from it, that sufficient air might be +admitted into the room, her voice, though rather deeper in tone than +usual, was calm and firm. Had she not occasionally pressed her hand +tightly against her brow, as if to cool its burning agony, you would +have thought that she suffered no further anxiety than that which is +usually felt whilst attending the sick. + +It was, however, when she was left alone with the exhausted, almost +senseless mother, that the tide of grief took its full course. Lucy +wept like one distraught. Through the deep, black future which lay +before her, she could see no gleam of hope or sunlight. She unjustly +upbraided herself for having, however innocently, given Luke cause of +suspicion. The weight of blame which she took to herself was almost +insupportable. 'I have been his ruin!' she exclaimed, burying her +face in his mother's bosom. + +When the old dame had strength to speak, she whispered Lucy not to +give way, but to bear up against it. The past, she wisely said, was +incurable; 'We must keep our senses whole for the future. While we +keep heart, there is no fear of our seeing him again, yet.' + +The story reached Farmer Modbury as he was sitting down to breakfast. +He was deeply shocked even when he? knew no more than that Luke had +enlisted; but when, on visiting the cottage, the whole truth was +explained to him by Lucy, he felt both grief and disappointment. He +was, however, determined not to abandon his suit as hopeless, and +returning home, wrote to her father (he was a widower), explaining +what had happened, and giving a frank exposition of his own +honourable views as regarded Lucy. _'No_ doubt,' he concluded his +epistle, 'she will soon forget this early and unhappy attachment.' +Modbury was a shrewd man, and a clever farmer, but he knew very +little about women's hearts. + +From that day he was extremely kind and considerate to Lucy. +Perceiving how much happier the girl was when she returned from +visiting Mrs Damerel than at other times, Modbury diminished her +labours by employing another dairymaid, so that Lucy might have more +leisure, which he had no objection should be spent with the invalid. + +One morning while Lucy was preparing the household dinner, a message +arrived from the cottage. Her presence was desired there immediately. +Lucy lost no time, and was soon in her accustomed seat at the +bed-head. Mrs Damerel placed a letter in her hands. It was from her +son. With beating heart Lucy opened it, and after time sufficient to +master the emotions which the sight of Luke's handwriting caused her, +she proceeded to read it aloud. It ran thus: + +'MAIDSTONE BARRACKS, KENT. + +'MY DEAREST MOTHER--I have at last found enough courage to take up my +pen, hoping this will find you in good health, as it leaves me at +present. I hope you have forgiven me for what I have done. I send you +two pounds, part of the bounty I received for enlisting. Do not be +afraid, my dear mother, that whilst I live you shall want. + +'When I went to Honiton, I was persuaded to enlist, after the +soldiers had passed through, by a sergeant of a horse-regiment, and I +took the king's money; so I am now a private in the --th Dragoons. I +am rough-riding every day, and expect to be passed as fit for regular +duty soon, when I shall be draughted off to the Indies, where our +head-quarters are. I should be very comfortable if it was not for +thinking about home, so much. They have found out I am a good judge +of horses, and know all about their complaints, so the sergeant-major +told me yesterday I shall get on very well in the Indies, if I keep a +sharp look-out. + +'Dear mother, I shall see you again when I come back--I know I shall; +and we shall be happy together; for now I have nobody else to care +about upon the earth. I hope she will be happy, for she deserves all +this world can afford, and I have always found Mr Modbury a kind +master, so I am sure he will make her a kind husband. Dear mother, +there is Tom Larkin, who promised me, after I had listed, that he and +his sister Sarah would look in upon you sometimes, and help you. May +God bless you, my dear mother. My heart was well-nigh broken; but my +comrades have been very kind to me, and I want for nothing. Good-bye, +mother, and believe me your ever-affectionate son, + +LUKE DAMEREL. + +'P.S.--I do not know when we shall sail for the Indies; but in case, +please to direct to Private Damerel, --th Regiment, Light Dragoons, +Maidstone, or elsewhere; and the letter will be sure to come to hand. +Once more, God bless you, and may God bless _her_ too, dear mother.' + +To describe Lucy's feelings while she read this simply-worded epistle +would be impossible. All the love and tenderness which she had felt +for Luke during the time she had known him, seemed to be concentrated +within her at that moment. At first she mourned the step he had taken +as hopeless and irreparable; but, casting her eyes upon the lace-work +she had the day before been doing, a sudden thought seized her. By +means of _that_, something might be eventually accomplished. With +these thoughts she quietly folded the letter, placed it on the table +beside the bed, and resumed the lace-work, scarcely speaking a word. + +Mrs Damerel mistook this action for indifference, and in her sincere +desire for the girl's welfare, urged--not for the first time--plans +and sentiments which, though well meant, were utterly revolting to +Lucy. Luke had, she argued, no doubt behaved very ill, by rashly and +without explanation tearing himself not only from her, but from every +person to whom he was dear. On the other hand, Farmer Modbury's +advances were very flattering, and she could hardly blame a girl who +had been so cruelly treated, even by her own son, were she to accept +the good-fortune that lay before her. + +Still Lucy went on practising her lace-work, her heart beating, and +her averted eyes swimming with tears. At length she exclaimed: 'Dame, +you will break my heart if you ever talk in this way again. To you I +look for comfort and strength in loving Luke, which I shall never +cease to do. I, whether innocent or not, am the cause of depriving +you of the comfort of his company, and I am determined to restore him +to us both. You may think it impossible, but it is not. I have +thought, and thought, and reckoned up everything, and am quite sure +it can be done.' + +'I cannot make out what you mean,' said Mrs Damerel. + +'Why, that I intend, as soon as I am able to do it well enough, to +take work from the town, to leave Farmer Modbury, and come and be +with you. We can live on very little, and every spare shilling we +will put into the savings-bank, until it amounts to a sufficient sum +to buy Luke off.' She then industriously resumed her work. It was +some time before Mrs Damerel could comprehend the full intent and +meaning of the sacrifice the girl proposed. At first she thought it +was a mere flighty resolution, that would not hold long; and even +when she was made to understand that it was unshaken, she looked at +the achievement as impossible; for at that time the prices for +lace-work were falling, in consequence of the recent introduction of +machinery. + +About a week after this all her doubts vanished, for, on +Michaelmas-day, when Lucy's term of service with Farmer Modbury +expired, sure enough she brought her box, and declared she had come +to stay with her adopted mother. She had previously been to a +master-manufacturer in Honiton with a specimen of her lace, and it +was so well approved, that she obtained a commission for a large +quantity on the spot. By this time the old dame had completely +recovered from her illness, and was able to move about, so as to +attend to the little domestic concerns of the cottage; Lucy could +therefore give her undivided attention to her work. + +Her proceedings were by no means agreeable to her father or to +Modbury. The former wrote enjoining her by no means to leave the +farmer's house; but the letter came too late, for she had already +taken her departure. Modbury, however, in replying to an epistle in +which Fennel had given him free consent to marry his daughter, +expressed a thorough conviction of the firmness of the girl's +purpose, and that at present it was impossible to shake it. Though +she had left his roof he should continue to watch over her, and +hoped, by persevering kindness and attention, eventually to win her +affections. Under these circumstances, Lucy quietly established +herself in Mrs Damerel's cottage. + +At first she found it a hard matter to gain sufficient money for her +labour to recompense the dame for her board and lodging, which she +insisted upon doing every time she was paid by her employers. Still +she wrought on, although her savings were small, and at the end of +several months they bore a hopeless proportion to the large sum which +was required. But time seemed a small object to her: she looked +forward to the end, and in it she saw such a world of reward and +happiness, that no toil would be too much to arrive at it. She had +answered Luke's letter with her own hand, assuring him of her +unshaken attachment, in spite of all that had happened; but +unfortunately he had sailed for India, and it was sent thither after +him, in obedience to the vague 'elsewhere' which had been added to +the superscription according to his wish. + +Slow progress was not the only trouble Lucy had to contend with. +Modbury's attentions pained her as much as Luke's absence; the more +so because they were so full of consideration for her welfare. She +knew she never could return his kindness, and felt that she did not +deserve it. She often told Dame Damerel that a show of hostility from +the worthy farmer would not have pained her so much as his +unremitting attentions. + +Then, when the neighbours came in to gossip, they sometimes spoke +against Luke. They would tell her that a man who would suspect her on +such slight grounds, and act as he did, could never be true to her; +that he would see some other whom he would prefer, and some day send +home word that he was married; neither was it likely that he would +ever come home alive from the Indies. These poisoned arrows, which +were meant as comfort, glanced harmlessly from Lucy, who was +invulnerably shielded by trusting love and hope. She would answer: +'very likely,' or 'it may be,' or 'there is no knowing what may +happen in this world of trouble,' and still rattle about her +lace-pegs over the pillow on which it was made with the quickness of +magic. Amongst her visitors, however, there were two who invariably +offered her better consolation; these were Larkin and his sister. Tom +'stuck up,' as he expressed it, for his friend Luke, and always put +the blame of the enlistment on the wiles and arts of the +recruiting-sergeant, who regularly entrapped him into the deed. Many +a happy winter evening was spent in that humble cottage by Lucy and +her friends. Luke was never forgotten in their conversations; for +there was the lace which was being unweariedly made for his release +to remind them of him. When Modbury made his appearance (and this was +very often) the subject was of course dropped. + +A year passed away. Neither Lucy nor Modbury had made much progress +in their several aims; scarcely a tithe of the requisite sum for +Luke's discharge had been saved; neither could Modbury perceive that +his suit advanced. Lucy's conduct sorely perplexed him. She always +seemed delighted when he came in, and received him with every mark of +cordiality; but whenever he dropped the slightest plea in his own +behalf, tears would come into her eyes, and she entreated him to +desist. He began to remark also, that besides the presence of the old +dame, which was surely a sufficient safeguard against any warmth of +manner he might be betrayed into, Lucy always contrived to have Susan +Larkin with her. Should she be absent, Lucy would be telling Modbury +what a good, industrious, excellent girl she was; which, indeed, was +the truth. + +No letter came from Luke, and there was no proof that he had received +hers. Lucy began gradually to despond; for work became slack, and at +times she only got enough to employ her half the day. Not to lose +ground, however, she hired herself to the neighbouring farmers' wives +to sew during her spare time, leaving Dame Damerel to the occasional +care of Susan Larkin. While she was sitting at work during one of +these engagements, she compared her own cheerless lot with the +happiness which surrounded her. The farmer was reading the newspaper, +his wife and daughter assisting her in the work she was doing. As she +made this comparison, and thought of Luke, banished as it were from +his home, and enduring perhaps severe hardships, she could scarcely +refrain from weeping. Now and then the farmer read a paragraph from +the paper, and presently exclaimed: 'Ah, our young squire has got +safe to his regiment in India.' At these words Lucy trembled, but +went on rapidly with her work, lest her emotion should be noticed. +She had previously heard that the son of a neighbouring proprietor +had bought a commission in Luke's regiment, and this was almost like +having news of Luke himself. Presently the reader went on with the +paragraph: '"We understand there has been a fatal disease which has +carried off many of the"'------ The farmer made a pause here, and +Lucy's heart sank within her. 'Oh, I see,' the old gentleman +ejaculated; 'the corner is turned down--"has carried off +many"--yes--"many of the----horses."' + +This little incident produced such strong emotions in Lucy's frame, +that though she felt, upon the whole, much gratified by merely +hearing about Luke's regiment and its horses, yet she became too ill +to proceed with her work, and found it necessary to return to the +cottage. + +Lucy soon altered her plan of engaging herself out; for the idea +struck her, that if she were to make lace on a sort of speculation, +and keep it by her till it was wanted, she would in the end make a +greater profit. Having, when her father was in good circumstances, +been partly educated at an Exeter boarding-school, she had acquired +there some knowledge of drawing, and by exercising her pencil, she now +invented some very pretty lace-patterns. + +Lucy wrought and hoped on for another year. Still nothing was heard +from Luke. A new calamity had fallen upon Lucy. Her father, a broken +and decayed man, had come to live near her, and was now nearly +dependent on her for support. Both Modbury and Farmer Larkin gave him +little jobs to do, for which they liberally recompensed him. The +quantity of lace Lucy was employed to make was so small, that it just +sufficed to keep her and her father; while her little capital, +instead of increasing, was gradually absorbed by the purchase of +materials for the stock her industry accumulated. Susan Larkin +frequently visited her, and Modbury was seldom absent. + +No ill-fortune seemed to depress the persevering girl. Even though +she was working almost night and day, she still kept up her spirits. +Indeed, at every new misfortune, a fresh accession of firmness and +resolution seemed to nerve her. About this time her father died, +invoking blessings on her for having been so good a daughter. After +the first shock of grief had passed, she continued her task amidst +the most hopeless circumstances. The lace-trade sunk lower and +lower; still Lucy wrought on, under a strong presentiment that it +would improve. She did not relax one hour's labour, although she was +now receiving much less for it than when she began. She accumulated +so large a stock, that at last every shilling of her savings was +spent for materials. In exchange, however, she possessed a large +quantity of beautiful lace, that, even if it sold at the present low +prices, would have yielded a small profit. At last things became so +bad, that a sale seemed unavoidable, disadvantageous as it might be. +Lucy, now an object of commiseration amongst the neighbours, still +retained her cheerfulness. That so much patience, modesty, and +firmness of purpose should not meet its reward, seemed almost +impossible; and fortune smiled on Lucy when nearly every hope seemed +to have left her. + +It is well known by what trifles in the mercantile world fortunes are +lost and won. The detention of a ship, the non-arrival of a mail, has +ruined hundreds; whilst some equally unforeseen caprice of fashion or +similar accident has made as many fortunes. It happened, when Lucy +had the greatest cause for despondency, that within a short period +two members of the royal family died. Mourning lace was then much in +request, and it happened that most of Lucy's stock was of that kind. +Suddenly, commissions from Honiton flowed in, and Lucy was kept +constantly at work, at wages much higher than before--her own stock +acquiring fresh value while the price continued to rise. Young +Larkin, who was a shrewd fellow, advised her to 'hold' it till the +value increased still more. She took the advice, and at the proper +moment sold it at a price she never hoped to realise. At the end of a +week she found herself in possession of a sum which was, within a few +pounds, sufficient to procure her lover's discharge from the army! + +Poor Lucy could hardly believe her eyes when the manufacturer laid +down the bank-notes before her. She pinned them carefully into the +bosom of her frock, and hastened to tell Dame Damerel that all their +troubles were over. The old woman's eyes glistened as Lucy unpinned +her treasure and laid it on the table. It was counted, re-counted, +and wondered over. What was to be done with it till the rest was +procured? Who would take care of it? + +This delight was, however, somewhat damped when they came to consider +that, putting aside all uncertainty about his fate, it would be at +least six months before Luke's discharge could reach him; then an +additional half-year would elapse ere he could get back. It was a +long time to wait. 'Never mind, dear mother,' said Lucy, 'the time +that has passed since he left seems scarcely a year, although it is +three. It is only because the twelvemonth is to come that it appears +to be so long. Still,' she said, considering and heaving a deep sigh, +'we have not got his discharge yet, and great as this sum is, some +more must be earned to make up the rest.' + +'Leave that to me,' returned Mrs Damerel. + +Next day, when Lucy returned from the post-office, where she had +taken a letter for Luke, she found another lying on the table, in +Larkin's handwriting. On reading the superscription, she found it was +addressed to the War-Office. 'Yes,' said Mrs Damerel in answer to her +inquiring glances, 'it is all done now, Lucy; and this letter is to +be sent off to tell the great people that we can have the money ready +to buy our dear Luke off again.' + +Larkin had, in truth, gladly supplied the small sum which was +deficient. The letter was sent, and in less than a week an immense +dispatch found its way to the village, which excited universal +wonderment. It was a great oblong missive, with the words 'On His +Majesty's Service' printed at the top. It had an enormous seal, and +was directed to 'Mr Thomas Larkin.' A crowd of idlers followed the +postman with this epistolary phenomenon, in the hope of getting some +knowledge of its contents. Tom, however, when he read it, coolly put +it into his pocket, and walked to the cottage without saying a word +to anybody. + +This letter seemed like a climax to Lucy's good-fortune, and 'begged +to inform Mr Larkin that Corporal Farrier Damerel was on his way to +England to superintend the selection of troop-horses, and that his +discharge should be made out when he had arrived and performed that +duty.' + +Scarcely a month after the arrival of the official dispatch, a +corporal of dragoons was seen trespassing on Farmer Modbury's fields, +by crossing them in great haste without any regard to the footpaths. +An old ploughman roughly warned him off, threatening personal +ejection. 'What, Roger Dart!' exclaimed the soldier, 'is this the way +you welcome a man home after a long absence?' The ploughman stared, +and said he did not know him. 'Do you know,' rejoined the corporal +with a trembling voice and anxious countenance--'do you know Lucy +Fennel?' + +'Of course I do,' returned Roger; 'everybody knows her, and, if I may +make so bold, loves her too! Why, sure enough, there she is +sitting--don't you see?--there, sitting at Dame Damerel's door making +lace for the life of her.' + +The stranger flew across the field, and the ploughman saw him bound +over the hedge, take Lucy into his arms, and drag her, bewildered and +enraptured, into the cottage. 'Why, dang me if it bean't Luke +Damerel!' exclaimed the rustic, slapping the thighs of his leather +breeches; 'how main glad the folks will be to see 'un!--I know what +I'll do.' Whereupon Roger trudged across the fields towards the +church. He happened to be one of the parish-ringers, and calling his +mates from the fields, they all trudged off to the bell-tower, and +rang out as merry a peal as ever was heard. The whole country was in +a commotion; the news ran like wild-fire from lip to lip and from ear +to ear, till the cottage was beset with visitors within and without. +But Luke heard no welcome, felt no grasp, but that of Lucy and his +mother. As to Lucy, an intense happiness thrilled through her, which +absorbed all her faculties, except that of feeling the full extent of +her bliss. + +This story of patience, endurance, and faith in humble life is almost +ended. Luke's furlough only extended to a week, which he spent as an +inmate of the farm, at Modbury's earnest entreaty; for he now gave up +all hope of Lucy, and determined to help in rewarding her patience by +promoting the match with his rival. At the end of that time, Luke was +obliged to depart for Yorkshire, to meet the veterinary-surgeon and +purchase horses, in which he was found of the utmost use; but this, +together with his excellent character, operated most unfavourably for +his discharge. The authorities were unwilling to lose so good a +soldier. The interest of the 'squire,' however, whose son was a +cornet in Luke's troop, was set to work, the hard-earned money paid, +and the discharge obtained. Damerel got a farm let to him on +advantageous terms, close to his native village, and was married +amidst more noisy demonstrations by Roger and his company of ringers. +Modbury had taken to wife Lucy's friend, Susan Larkin. + +The last time I was in Devonshire I called on Mr and Mrs Damerel. +They are an interesting old couple, who have brought up a large +family in comfort and respectability. + + + +BILLY EGG. + +'Can you direct me to Mr William Egg's?' said I one morning to a +smart shopman, who was loitering at the door of a showy haberdasher +in the principal street of a town in Ireland, in which, for a few +months, I once resided. I had been told by two or three persons that +Billy Egg's was the best shop in the place; for that, he being a +general dealer on a very large scale, I should be sure to get +'everything in the world' there. Moreover, I had been instructed that +he sold good articles at a cheap rate; and being a stranger, I felt +truly glad that I had been recommended to a tradesman on whom I +could confidently rely. 'Can you direct me to Mr Egg's?' I repeated, +seeing that the smart shopman was so much occupied either in admiring +his window or his own person, that he had not at first attended to my +question. + +'I know no such person, ma'am,' he replied rather sharply; and as I +now perceived that the house bore the evidence of fresh paint and +recent alterations, it occurred to me that the smart shopkeeper might +be a new-comer, and ignorant of the old residents. Nothing daunted, I +next entered the shop of a neighbouring bookseller, and repeated my +inquiries, but with no better success. I then made my way to that of +a milliner; and though a young girl, who was busily engaged at her +needle, looked up for a moment with an arch smile, and then turned +away, as I plainly perceived, to repress a hearty laugh, her mistress +dismissed me with the expression of her opinion 'that no such person +lived in that town, nor, she believed, in any other.' I felt a little +puzzled to know what the girl had found so ludicrous in my simple +question, and wondered if my repeated disappointments had given me a +forlorn air. 'At any rate,' thought I, 'this Mr Egg is not so +generally known as I expected to find him. I had better walk up the +street and try if I can discover any outward indications of his +abode.' + +I spent a weary half-hour in this endeavour, and as it now seemed +evident to me that no considerable shop could belong to the object of +my search, I lowered my tone in addressing an old apple-woman, who +sat behind a table covered with her stores at the corner of the +street. 'Pray, can you direct me to Billy Egg's?' I asked, dropping +the Mr altogether, and adopting the familiar term which had been used +to me. + +'Och, then, to be shure I will, an' welcome, if it was a mile off; +but there it's just furnint ye--that big grand shop there, wid the +big letthers gilt wid goold over the big windees.' + +'My good woman,' I replied, 'I am afraid you must be mistaken; the +name there is William Carter.' + +'Och, don't I know that? but they call him Billy Egg, because all he +has--and half the town that's his--came out of an egg.' + +An exclamation of surprise escaped me, and the old woman +continued--'Och, but well he desarves it, for he is a dacent man, and +good to the poor; God bless him every day he rises, and make the +heavens his bed at last!' + +As I took part of her speech as a hint to myself, I gave her +sixpence, and believing there was some story worth the hearing, I +begged my new acquaintance to call on me in the evening and relate +it, instead of hindering her business and mine by listening to it at +that moment; although I suspect she would have been nothing loath to +have given me the full and particular account there and then, for she +told me she knew every circumstance 'consarning him and his.' + +I proceeded without further delay to the 'big grand shop,' where I +saw in the master the veritable Billy Egg. He was a fine portly +personage, with a good open countenance, and it was evident he could +not have acquired his nickname from bearing even the most remote +resemblance to an egg. He served me himself with zeal and civility, +and my purchases were soon completed. + +In the evening, my old apple-woman was true to her appointment, and +from her I gathered the following particulars: William Carter was a +poor boy, the eldest of a large family, who, with their mother, were +left destitute by the death of their father. Their poor neighbours +were charitable, as the poor, to their credit be it spoken, so often +are; and one took one child, and one another, until something could +be thought of and done for their subsistence. William had made the +most of the scanty schooling his father had afforded him, and could +read a little. He was, moreover, a steady, hard-working boy; yet the +only occupation he was able to obtain was that of tending a cow on +the border of a large bog. In return for this service, he was +comfortably lodged and fed, and for a time the clothes he had were +sufficient. He was in the habit of saving any scraps of printed paper +which fell in his way, and by means of these he somewhat improved in +his reading; for while the cow was munching away, little Billy had +ample time for his studies, without neglecting her either, for he +made a point of looking out for the sweetest grass, and leading her +to it. + +By his care and attention, he gave such satisfaction to his employer, +that by the time his clothes were worn out, he was allowed wages +sufficient to replenish them; and his good-behaviour gave such +confidence and respectability to his family, that a neighbouring +farmer engaged one of his younger brothers in a capacity similar to +his own. One day this farmer gave Billy a newly-laid goose's egg, +thinking it might make him a good meal, and be something of a dainty, +and as a sort of return for an act of good-nature and watchfulness on +Billy's part, he having noticed that a certain gate leading to the +kitchen-garden had been left open, took the precaution to close it, +thereby preventing the incursion of a greedy sow and her interesting +family, which would undoubtedly have played the part of the Goths in +that flourishing spot. It is very likely that Billy's first impulse +was to boil his egg and eat it; but a moment's reflection convinced +him that this would be conduct very like that of the boy in the +fable, who slaughtered the goose that laid golden eggs. But how to +hatch his egg--for this was what he thought of--became now the +question. The good woman of the house noticed that Billy was +unusually silent at supper-time, and thought at first that some +disaster must have happened. She learned, however, that the cow had +her customary bed of soft heather, which it was Billy's pride to pick +for her, and had been as carefully attended to as usual in every +particular. We ought to mention that Billy was a great favourite with +his mistress; and perhaps he had won her heart by the care and +attention he had bestowed at every spare moment on one of her little +ones, who was a very sickly, fretful child, but who, somehow or +other, was always most quickly pacified by Billy. She soon learned +the cause of his thoughtful silence, and kindly offered to remove two +or three eggs from under a duck which was then sitting, and give +their place to her cow-boy's single treasure. This was the foundation +of William Carter's fortune; and it is worthy of remark, that both +the gift of the egg, and the opportunity of hatching it, he owed to +acts of thoughtful good-nature on his own part. + +In due time the goslin appeared, and Billy fed it from his own scanty +fare, taking it with him when he was herding. By Christmas it had +become a large fat goose, and its owner was offered half-a-crown for +it. But he had a higher ambition for it than this, and he was not to +be tempted from his purpose by the prospect of present gain. The +following spring he set her on twelve eggs, which she had herself +produced, and by and by twelve goslins appeared. Our hero was now +obliged to exercise some ingenuity in finding food for so large a +family of dependents; but he accomplished his end by bartering away +three of them, in exchange for permission that the remainder should +feed in his master's yard, until they should be old enough to pick up +their subsistence in company with their mother and the cow upon the +common, and indulge in swimming there in the abundant pools. At the +proper time, he sold the young geese for the largest sum he had ever +seen in his life; for, though to have kept some of them might have +proved an additional source of profit, he knew that he had only +accommodation for one to hatch. A portion of his money he gave to his +mother, but he placed a one-pound note in the safe-keeping of his +kind mistress, and when spring again came round, he bought with it a +year-old heifer, which he sent to graze on the mountains, paying with +it a small sum, the remnant of his money, which he had reserved for +this purpose. Old goosy again presented him with young ones, the sale +of which enabled him to purchase fodder for his cow, when she was +sent home at the end of the season. And now he built a little shed +for her with fir sticks from the bog and heather sods, so that +perhaps she was better cared for than many a rich man's cow. We may +be pretty sure, however, that Billy never neglected his master's +business to attend to his own private affairs, or he and his wife +would not have encouraged him in his plans, as they evidently did. It +is not worth while to follow the fortunes of the prudent industrious +little fellow step by step, or to declare precisely how he dealt in +cows and geese. It may be enough to say, that at the end of six +years he quitted servitude a richer man than ever his father had +been; on which occasion he presented the venerable goose to his +mother, to whose necessities and comforts he had for some time +constantly contributed. So soon as he was thoroughly established in +the world, he married; but not till he had provided a neat cottage +for his parent, who had the happiness to enjoy for many years the +prosperity of her son, and who lived to see the poor cow-boy a man +among the most respected and esteemed in his native county. + +'And so, you see,' said the old apple-woman in conclusion, 'it is a +foolish thing to despise small beginnings. Thrue as I am telling it +ye, this is how Mr Carter got the name of Billy Egg, though, d'ye +see, he never was called Billy _Goose_--no, never.' + + + +THE PLEDGE REDEEMED. + +Towards the close of the reign of Louis XIV., a plant of Mocha coffee +was brought to the king's garden, which very soon increased; and the +genius of the government of that day thought that, by transplanting +into their West India colonies this shrub, an immense source of +riches might be opened to the country. The carrying out of this idea +was entrusted to Chevalier Desclieux, who, provided with a young +coffee-plant, set out from Nantes, thence to convey it to Martinique. +Imbedded in its native mould, the precious exile was placed in an +oak-wood box, impenetrable to cold, and covered with a glass frame so +formed as to catch the least ray of the sun and double its heat; and +in case the sun did not shine, a small aperture, hermetically sealed, +could admit heated air, when it was thought proper to do so. We can +imagine all the charges Desclieux received when he entered the ship +in which he was to embark: but he did not need them; he saw at a +glance all the distinction he would gain by this expedition, which +would secure to his country an inexhaustible source of riches. It was +then, with a really patriotic feeling, that he took the plant under +his care, promising to devote himself to it as he would to his +country, and to all the duties of his profession. And when the skiff, +after having quitted the vessel, returned again to renew the charge, +and to remind Desclieux once more that the plant must be watered +every day, and that copiously, he pledged his honour that, rather +than fail in this, he would himself die of thirst. + +The ship sailed; the crew was composed of about one hundred men, and +of some passengers about to settle in the Antilles, amongst whom was +an amiable family, consisting of father, mother, and their only +daughter Louisa, a beautiful and accomplished girl of eighteen. In a +vessel where people are so much thrown together, meeting constantly +for a length of time, destined perhaps to share the same death, but +little time is required to form an intimacy which often ripens into +lasting friendship; and thus it proved in the case of the parents of +Louisa and Desclieux. Scarcely had they passed the light-house of +Cordouan, glittering in the twilight of a lovely evening, when they +were already friends. Already this fresh and delicate plant, +interesting as an exile, as a flower transplanted from its own soil, +as a child torn from its mother, became a mutual object of +attraction. It was thus that Louisa pointed it out to her parents as +it lay on the deck in its glass case, exposed to the mid-day sun. She +charmed the tedium of the voyage in hourly watching the progress +which she believed visible in the feeble offset. She had felt +interested in it from the moment Desclieux had shown her all the +glory he was to gain by it for France, and then she had become +attached to it; for it is a beautiful proof of the magnanimity of +women--their love for all that is glorious. Even during the five days +they had been at sea, the little coffee-plant had evidently +increased--two small leaves of a most delicate green had appeared; +and every morning Louisa's first thought after prayer was the +cherished plant; but she could not see it till Desclieux had left his +room, for he always kept the sacred deposit with him. Every evening +he watered it abundantly, and then let hot air into the frame by +means of the tube, as he had been directed: he kept it as close as +possible to him at night, that even during sleep he might administer +heat to it. Never did bird brood over its young more fondly--never +did nurse cherish more tenderly the new-born babe. + +As soon as Desclieux appeared on deck in the morning to lay his +precious charge in the sun, Louisa immediately ran thither. She +delighted to point out to her mother its growth during the night, a +growth imperceptible to indifferent eyes; but she had become attached +to it; and as the slightest emotions are visible to us in the +features of those we love, though unperceived by strangers, so she +discovered the least change even in the thickness of the stalk or the +length of the leaves; and Desclieux, seeing the young girl thus +attaching herself to what had been confided to him, and what he so +cherished, felt touched and grateful. + +They met with a terrible assault when close to Madeira. It was about +the middle of a dark night, though not stormy; the vessel was gliding +along noiselessly; and all on board were asleep except the officer on +watch--and indeed he too perhaps slept, or he would have heard the +noise of the keel cutting the waves as a bird's wing cuts the air, +and he would have cried: 'Ship ahoy!' A ship was indeed quite close +to Desclieux's vessel, and the token it gave of its vicinity was a +cannonade which awoke up every one in a moment, both crew and +passengers. It was a pirate vessel of Tunis, a poor chebeck, but +formidable in the night--a time that magnifies every fear--and +formidable, too, from the desperate bravery of the banditti who +manned her. Believing themselves assailed by superior forces, the +ship's crew prepared for a resistance as vigorous, as desperate as +the attack. Better far to die than to be carried slaves to Africa! +All the passengers were at prayer, distracted, trembling, or half +dead. Louisa alone remained calm, for she was sustained by the +thought that to her Desclieux had entrusted his precious charge. The +fight commenced; the ship fired eight cannon on the chebeck; and it +was time, for already the captain had boarded the French ship, but +was immediately cut down by Desclieux's axe. A last discharge of guns +on each side, and the firing ceased. The pirate felt its inferiority +and retreated, while the conquerors continued their course. + +Two hours of torturing suspense had passed since the terrible +awakening, which but served to make the feeling of restored security +the more delightful, and the remainder of the night was spent in +relating the events of the rencontre. Louisa's was not the least +interesting: she had been regardless of danger during the combat, +while watching over her charge; then she took it to Desclieux, who +admired her the more--loved her the more; for courage, always +beautiful, has a still greater charm when displayed by a woman. + +It was a lovely morning, the sun was unusually bright and warm, and +Desclieux left the plant on deck, the glass frame half raised to +admit the fresh air and reviving heat, while he, with Louisa and her +parents, sat near and enjoyed seeing it expand its pretty leaves, +and, as it were, smilingly greet the sun's rays, which infused into +it such genial warmth, and seeming to thank them for their care. But +Desclieux's brow now kindled with higher thoughts. In this feeble +offset he saw the pretty little starry flowers, then the perfumed +berries, and the negroes gathering it abundantly, and then the ocean +bearing vessels to France laden, with its produce. All this he could +see in the few small leaves scarcely aboveground. Enthusiastically +did he tell these bright visions to Louisa, and as she kindled in her +turn, the coffee-plant became dearer and dearer to her, and she +lavished as tender care upon it as she would upon a newborn brother. +She seemed to have common sympathies with it, and if she felt that +the heat might be too much for its slender stem, she drew over it +little curtains of green silk which she had made expressly for it, +just as a tender mother curtains the cradle of her infant. And then +she read to Desclieux and her parents a long account of the coffee +of Mocha, and pictured vividly to their imagination the tree to grow +out of the nursling whose infancy they watched over. Sometimes the +conversation took a different turn, and the parents of Louisa spoke, +as if to an old familiar friend, of their fortune, of their family +interests, of their views for the establishment of their only +daughter; and Desclieux in return imparted to them his plans. By +degrees these communications led to projects of marriage between him +and Louisa. It was no unpleasing thought to either, and the very day +they crossed the line, a declaration was made, and an engagement +formed, and it was agreed that their union should take place +immediately on their return to France. + +We may well think that Louisa became more attached than ever to the +plant, now become a source of distinction in which she would one day +share: imagine, then, her consternation when, one morning, she beheld +it languishing. She said nothing, hoping it might revive; but the +next morning found its leaves still more withered. She did not trust +herself to speak of it to Desclieux, who also had but too plainly +seen it. At last, the thought occurred to him that whilst in the +intense heat of the tropics, the plant would require more water; and +therefore poured on it almost his whole allowance. The effect was +immediate in restoring its life and verdure, and Louisa was again +happy. The ship was still some hundreds of leagues from Martinique, +when a violent tempest arose, apparently the last of a fearful +hurricane which had raged through the Antilles. It was found that the +ship had sprung a leak; the pumps were not sufficient: they were in +imminent danger, and the necessity of lightening the vessel was so +urgent that they were forced to throw overboard almost all the +merchandise, a part of the ballast, and even several barrels of +water. This last sacrifice was an appalling one: it was with a solemn +feeling they made it, similar to that with which one hears the earth +fall upon a coffin, or gives to the departed one the ocean for its +tomb. Indeed, these casks of water carried with them the lives of +many individuals, who had now no escape from a cruel death by thirst. +Desclieux, impressed, like the others, with this idea, only thought +of his precious coffee-plant. However, they were not very far from +port, and, with a favourable wind, might get in in a few days; and in +effect the tempest being over, and the leak closed with great +difficulty, a fresh breeze sprang up, and for a day and a night they +sailed fast, and the stormy state of the atmosphere had produced on +the coffee-plant the usual effect. It might almost have been said to +have flourished the more for the tempest. Louisa and Desclieux +contemplated it with a sweet joy, as at once the emblem and the omen +of domestic happiness amid the storms of life. But, alas! the wind +suddenly lulled--not the least breath to fill the sails, not a wave +broke against the motionless vessel: an awful calm succeeded; and +what is more terrible upon this scene of continual agitation than a +calm unwonted and too often fatal? The dead heat of the tropics was +felt in all its power by the helpless voyagers; they languished and +fainted with a continual thirst; and, horrible to relate, the water +was failing, for they had thrown so much overboard, that they were +limited to a very small allowance--a cupful at most. + +If men, notwithstanding their energies, sunk under the sufferings +caused by the intense heat and burning thirst, what must have been +the state of the poor little plant which faded away before the eye! +It had its allowance also, but it was not enough; and every morning +and evening Desclieux gave it his, only for which it would have died. +Louisa was astonished to see the feeble plant yet bearing up; but +Desclieux carefully concealed from her the means he was using, lest +she also would deprive herself of water for it, and that he did not +wish--he preferred suffering alone; and a long sojourn in the hottest +parts of Arabia had in a great measure inured him to the climate, so +that he did not feel it so much as others. The calm was +uninterrupted, the remainder of the water was nearly exhausted, their +situation was become dreadful, and there was no hope, in their case, +of any relief from another vessel, for all were alike becalmed; and +it was sad to see the ocean without a sail in the horizon, or, if +there was one, it too was motionless. Their ration of water was now +reduced to one small liqueur glass. One drop only, just to moisten +his lips, and Desclieux poured the rest on the plant, now apparently +dying. + +'Alas! how you are changed!' said Louisa to him one day: 'how pale +you have become. You are suffering: this heat is killing you.' + +He knew it; but he had promised to water the plant, even though he +himself was to die of thirst; and he was faithful to his word. One +evening, when Louisa and her parents were questioning him, he thus +answered in a feeble voice, 'You are right; I die of thirst, that my +charge may live--it is my duty.' And saying these words, he laid his +parched lips upon its withered leaves, as one would kiss the hand of +an expiring friend, and continued: 'You have all promised to love me: +if I do not live, be careful of this coffee-plant, which held out to +us such brilliant prospects. I ask it of you as a favour, and +bequeath to you the distinction I hoped to have gained by it.' At the +moment they were distributing the scanty portion of water, and though +he was perishing, he threw the whole of it upon the shrub--Louisa did +the same. It was, as it were, a sacred bond between them--an +indissoluble tie. I am convinced that many of my readers have +frequently felt a lively and almost inexplicable pleasure in watering +a flower dried up by the scorching sun, and, in seeing it revive, +have felt as if benefited themselves. What pleasure, then, it must +have given to Desclieux and Louisa to see their plant raise its +sickly leaves once more! + +At length the wind began to rise lightly, and the vessel moved, +though slowly. Desclieux was ill--in a burning fever; but he +continued to share with the plant his allowance of water; and Louisa +added hers. It increased their happiness that it owed its recovery to +their mutual self-denial; and it seemed as if their household life +had begun in a common endurance of suffering. + +The breeze still freshened: and when the vessel anchored in the port +of St Pierre, there was not a single drop of water on board. But the +coffee-plant was saved; the colony enriched by it; Desclieux's pledge +redeemed; and, three months after, Louisa was his wife. + + + +THE TREE AND THE FOREST. + +A STORY WRITTEN FOR THE YOUNG, BUT WHICH MAY BE READ BY THE OLD. + +'What splendid trees!' said Monsieur D'Ambly, as he was passing by a +fine forest of oaks. + +'What a splendid fire they would make!' replied his son Eugene. +Eugene had read a few days before in a book of travels the +description of a wood on fire, and he could think of nothing else. He +was an admirer of everything that was uncommon, everything that +produced an effect or a commotion, and, like most children, he +seldom carried his ideas beyond what he saw. + +'If it would not injure any person,' said he, 'I would be very glad +this forest would take fire; it would be a glorious sight. I am sure, +papa, that its light would extend as far as the château.' + +'Would it then be such a pleasant thing to see a tree burning?' + +'Oh, a tree,' said Eugene, 'that would be hardly worth the trouble; +but a forest would be magnificent.' + +'Since we are on the subject of burning,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'I +think it would be well to cut down that young lime-tree on the lawn +opposite the château; it grows too fast; and if it should spread much +more, it would quite intercept our view; I will therefore cut it down +for fuel.' + +'Oh, papa,' exclaimed Eugene, 'that lime-tree that has grown so +beautiful since last year! I was looking at it the other day, and I +saw shoots of this year as long as my arm.' + +At this moment they came to a young poplar which had been blown down +by a storm the preceding day. Its leaves were not yet withered, but +its young shoots, though still green, began to lose their vigour; +they were soft and weak, as if drooping from want of water; but in +that case a refreshing shower would have restored it to health and +freshness, whereas now it was beyond recovery. Eugene stopped before +the poplar, and lamented it. + +'Such,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'will in two days more be the state of +our lime-tree.' + +'Ah!' cried Eugene, 'can you have the heart to say so?' + +'Why not? A lime is not more valuable than a poplar, or an oak; and +you would like to see this whole forest in a blaze.' + +'Indeed, papa, that is a very different thing.' + +'Yes; there is certainly a vast difference between a person cutting +down a tree that incommodes him, and that he would then make use of +for fuel, and fourteen or fifteen thousand that you would burn for +your pleasure.' + +'But I do not know those trees.' + +'Neither do you know this poplar that you have just been lamenting.' + +'But at least I see it.' + +'You can as easily see all those that surround it. Look at this one, +how strong and how straight it is!' + +'Oh, what a fine oak! I do not think my arms could reach round it. +See, papa, how high it is, and those three great branches which grow +from it look like large trees.' + +'It must be sixty or seventy years old: it will grow at least twenty +more.' + +'How enormous it will be then! I hope I shall see it.' + +'But if it should be burned in the meantime?' + +'I should be very sorry, now that I know it.' + +'You would, then, only spare those trees from the fire which have +come under your own particular notice: this is too common a case. +Would it give you more pleasure to see this one burning?' said +Monsieur D'Ambly, as he showed him another, divided into four +enormous trunks, which shot from the same root. + +'No, indeed. Look, it makes quite an arbour. Papa, some day when we +have more time we will come and sit here, shall we not?' + +'So, then, here are two that you would spare from the conflagration +of the forest.' + +'Oh, if I could but see it on fire, what a fine effect it would have +from the windows of the château; I should think only of my two +favourite oaks that I should be so sorry to see burning.' + +'But all those you see equally deserve to become favourites, and +those you cannot see are quite as fine; they have each in their +different forms something that would interest you as much as your two +favourite oaks, the poplar, or our lime-tree.' + +'I do believe that if I were to think of every particular tree that +composed a forest, it would take away all wish to see it burned.' + +'That shows the necessity of consideration, my son, to avoid the risk +of forming unreasonable wishes, to put them in practice, perhaps, +when you grow up. You will probably never have a forest to burn, but +you may have men to conduct: just think what might be the consequence +of your forgetting that a district, a town, a community, is composed +of individuals, as you just now forgot that a forest is composed of +trees.' + +'Ah, papa, in such a case I could not forget myself.' + +'I knew some years ago,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'a very good, but +rather obstinate man, of the name of De Marne. He had a quarrel with +the director of a hospital established in a small town on one of his +estates. The greater part of the property of the hospital was +situated on this estate, and dependent on it, as was then the +custom--that is to say, the hospital only held these lands on +condition of paying certain rents to Monsieur de Marne, and of +receiving two patients at his option. This right he held in +consequence of his ancestors having given these lands to the +hospital, and it descended to all the proprietors of the estate. The +director began to dispute with Monsieur de Marne about the payment of +the rent, and maintained that he bad no right to send more than one +patient to the hospital. Monsieur de Marne was exceedingly angry, and +a lawsuit was the consequence; and it so happened that the person +employed by Monsieur de Marne, in searching the papers which had been +sent to him to prove his right, discovered, or thought he had +discovered, that the ground which had occasioned the lawsuit belonged +to Monsieur de Marne, and not to the hospital, because, said he, the +ancestors of Monsieur de Marne only gave it for a certain time, and +on certain conditions which had not been fulfilled; so that Monsieur +de Marne ought to take possession of it. This would be the ruin of +the hospital. The day Monsieur de Marne received this intelligence he +was delighted; and the more so, as he had just learned that one of +the patients whom he had sent to the hospital had died, in +consequence of a relapse from having been discharged too soon. His +widow, who was left destitute, travelled on foot to Paris, with her +youngest child on her back, to implore the assistance of Monsieur de +Marne. She cried bitterly as she related the last words of her +husband, who said, when he was dying, "If Monsieur de Marne had been +here, he would have had me kept in the hospital, and I should have +recovered." + +'As Monsieur de Marne listened, with tears in his eyes, to this +recital, he exclaimed: "That villain of a director, I will be the +ruin of him!" He forgot that it was the hospital he would ruin, and +that he would thus put out perhaps a hundred patients, all as poor +and as sick as poor Jacques, and whose condition, had he recollected +it, would be equally grievous. + +'The lawsuit was carried on with great vigour, not by Monsieur de +Marne, who was detained by business in Paris, but by his law-agent, +who, being interested in supporting what he had advanced, pursued it +warmly; and fearing that Monsieur de Marne would relinquish his +right, took care to keep back what was said in the country, of his +folly and madness in trying to ruin a hospital which was such a +public benefit, and the daily melancholy accounts of the state to +which the patients were reduced, because the director, being obliged +to give up a great deal of time and money to the lawsuit, had not +enough for the necessary expenses of the hospital. Had Monsieur de +Marne known all these particulars, his kindly feelings would have +returned--he could not have endured the idea of causing so much evil; +but instead of that, his agent only entertained him with accounts of +the ill doings of the director, and of the designs he had against +him. Every letter he received made him more and more angry; and his +hatred of one man made him, forget the claims of a hundred others, on +whom he should have had compassion. + +'At length he gained his lawsuit. He had for some days been +endeavouring to procure admission for a poor woman, into the hospital +of incurables at Paris. "Here are two pieces of good news," said he, +as he read the letters which announced the success of each of his +undertakings; and he wrote immediately to his law-agent, expressing +his satisfaction at the manner in which he had conducted his suit, +and to the person who had procured admission for the poor woman into +the hospital of incurables, thanking him for his kindness. + +'For some time he thought no more of the matter; however, he one day +received a letter from his agent, telling him that the director had +become a bankrupt, and had fled; that no one knew where he was; and +to increase his dislike to the man, he added, that during three days +that his flight was unknown, because he said he was only going into +the country, the patients had neither bread nor broth, and that only +for some charitable individuals in the neighbourhood who had sent +them relief, most of them must have died; and that it was probable +some of them would die from the effects of their sufferings, and from +their dismay at hearing that the hospital was likely to fall to the +ground. He said it had obtained some respite, as the gentry in the +town and neighbourhood had given great assistance; but it was all +insufficient, and they were obliged to discharge the least suffering; +that they left the hospital in tears; and that several who lived in +distant villages had fallen on the road from weakness and +disappointment. All these details began to make Monsieur de Marne +very uneasy. The agent added at the end of his letter: "Every one +observed that the director had neither order nor economy: for a long +time the affairs of the hospital have been in a bad state, and the +loss of the suit has completed it." Then Monsieur de Marne felt his +conscience reproach him for what he had done: he pictured to himself +those unfortunate people leaving the hospital in tears, sinking +with weakness and grief, and perhaps calling for curses upon him. He +thought of the three days that they had been without either bread or +broth, and he fancied he saw their pale and emaciated countenances, +and began to consider each of them individually, as you just now +began to consider the trees of the forest. There was not one of them +that he would not have shed his blood to save. He could not endure +the idea of all the evil which he had caused them, and endeavoured to +throw all the blame upon the director. He wrote to his agent, +desiring him to send relief to a considerable amount, and as soon as +it was possible, he set off himself to this estate, where he had not +been for a long time. On his arrival, he repaired to the town where +the hospital had been: it was closed: the last patient had left it, +and the house was to be sold to satisfy the creditors. Monsieur de +Marne perceived that a great many people avoided him; the lawsuit had +given them a very bad opinion of him, and the friends and relations +of the director had contributed to increase it; indeed, the misery +which had been caused to so many poor people had thrown an odium over +the whole affair, and turned every person against him. The report +spread that he was come to purchase the house and the rest of the +hospital lands; and one day, as he was passing through the streets, +the children threw stones at him. He began to feel all the injury he +had done, and a thousand circumstances perpetually reminded him of +it. The son of Jacques, the poor man whose widow he had assisted, had +broken his leg, and it remained quite distorted. Monsieur de Marne +told his mother that she ought to have had it set. "That would have +been easy," she replied, "when there was an hospital here; but +now"------and she stopped. + +'He saw that the country people were neglecting to cultivate their +gardens, which he knew had been profitable to them, and inquired the +reason. "Oh," said they, "we used to sell our vegetables to the +hospital; but now"------and they stopped; and Monsieur de Marne saw +that every one's mind was filled with a subject which it would be +impossible for him ever to forget. He was about to quit the country, +and even to sell his estate, when an epidemical disease broke out in +the next village. It was prevalent there almost every year; and it +was for that reason especially that the hospital had been originally +founded by a man of wealth, who, having been attacked by the disease, +made a vow that, if he recovered, he would found an hospital, into +which all the poor of the village, and of a certain distance round +it, should be received and taken care of. "When his benevolent object +was completed, all the poor, on the first symptom of disease, +repaired to the hospital, where, from the care and attention they +received, they in most cases soon recovered; and it was also a great +means of preventing contagion. This year the disorder was +particularly severe, and the ill feeling towards Monsieur de Marne +rose to a great height. He sent large assistance to the village, and +endeavoured to mitigate the sufferings of the poor people; but he +still heard it said as he passed along: "There goes Monsieur de +Marne, who has come to restore some small part of the hospital +land." If he visited a sick person, and inquired after his health, he +would say: "I thank you, sir; it is tolerable; but I should have +recovered much sooner at the hospital." Overwhelmed with remorse, +uneasiness, and fatigue, he took the disorder and died, chiefly of +grief, for having at any time forgotten that a hospital is filled +with individuals, as you just now forgot that a forest is composed of +separate trees.' + +'Ah, papa! how melancholy that was,' said Eugene, who had listened +with the greatest attention. + +'My son,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'when you grow up, you will see even +worse consequences arise from that want of reflection which makes us +regardless of everything that does not come under our own +observation, so that when objects are too great for us to see their +details, we think nothing about them.' + +At that moment Eugene, in a musing mood, took up a stone, as was his +custom, to throw among a flight of sparrows which had alighted near +him: he paused. 'Papa,' said he, 'I will not throw a stone at those +sparrows, for I remember how sorry I feel when any person torments my +sister's canary bird, and when I see the poor little thing trying to +save itself in every corner of the cage: it seems to me as if each of +those sparrows, were I to frighten them, would feel just as my +sister's bird does.' + +'That is precisely, my son, what you ought to do if ever you are +entrusted with the interests of a number of persons at once; and that +you may be tempted to forget that the regiment you command, or the +department you have to manage, is composed of men like yourself; and +you should always put yourself, or those you love, in the place of +each of them.' + +They now reached home, and passed close by the lime-tree. + +'Ah!' said Eugene, 'I must take my leave of you.' + +'No,' said Monsieur D'Ambly smiling, 'it shall remain, provided you +promise to remember, every time you look at it, that each tree in a +forest is entitled to as much respect as your lime, and that in an +assemblage of persons, whatever may be their denomination, each +person's interest is of as much importance as your own.' + + + +THE THREE FRIENDS: AN OSAGE LEGEND. + +BY PERCY B. ST JOHN. + +The tribe known as the Osages, or Wa-saw-sees, as they denominate +themselves, wander perennially round the head waters of the Arkansas +and Neosho, or Grand Rivers, hunting, fishing, and trading with the +Americans at Fort Gibson, the outermost south-western fort on the +frontier of the United States. Tall, even gigantic in stature, they +have many qualities which excite the admiration and applause of their +white brethren. Like most Indians, they are brave and warlike; but +their peculiarity consists in rejecting the customs of the whites, +particularly the use of whisky. Wearing their wild and primitive +costume, they stalk amid the hunters, squatters, trappers, and +trampers that frequent the neighbourhood of Fort Gibson, overtopping +them in general by a head, but still more surpassing them in the +essential virtue of sobriety and temperance--a failure in the +exercise of which would doubtless soon remove them from the +pre-eminence they now enjoy. + +In a secluded valley, through which a stream that fell into the +Neosho wound its way, lay some time back one of the villages of this +nomadic tribe. The wigwams were about a hundred in number, scattered +over the narrow plain, near the mouth of the valley, and surrounded +by a rude picket. Built of bark and reeds, they were evidently +constructed simply for the necessities of the summer season, during +which the warriors chased the deer and buffalo for immediate +consumption, and to lay up in store for winter. Overlooking the +village was a grassy mound, that narrowed the mouth of the valley, +and caused the rippling stream that flowed at its feet to turn +abruptly from its course. From the summit of this hillock, the lodges +wore the appearance of a huge congregation of bee-hives, while the +eye rested pleasantly on many adjuncts to the scene, which rendered +it agreeable and picturesque. The village was alive with a busy +throng of women, few if any men being discovered; while children were +seen at every point, adding still greater animation to the picture. +The first were all actively employed. Some stood at the entrance of +their wigwams, busily engaged in cooking; others were drying and +packing the results of the hunting of the warriors; while others, +again, were laboriously occupied in cleaning fresh buffalo-skins, +preparatory to their being cured for use as robes. Not a married +woman was idle. Not so, however, the maidens. They were yet enjoying +the sweets of a liberty which, however, despite the hardships +incident to the married state in the wilds, they were no less anxious +to sacrifice than are many bright-eyed beauties nearer home. The +Osage girls--and many of them were exceedingly pretty--were +congregated near the edge of the stream, in which dozens of little +urchins were bathing. Dancing was usually their chief amusement; but +on the present occasion they were spectators of a scene which +possessed more immediate interest. + +Somewhat apart from the maidens was a group, on which the Osage girls +gazed curiously and enviously. Three Indian youths, all under twenty, +nowise related by blood, but connected only by the bonds of +friendship, stood on a rising bank in deep abstraction. +Nah-com-e-shee, Koha-tunha, and Mun-ne-pushee--for such were the +names of the young men--had at an early age contracted for one +another one of those peculiar affections which inexplicably arise +sometimes between persons of the same sex, and which often are more +sincere and durable even than love. So wedded were they to this +feeling, as to have publicly declared their intention of never +marrying, in order that their amity might suffer no division. Their +hearts, they said, were so occupied by friendship, that love could +not find the remotest corner to creep into. How many smiling faces +were clouded by this strange announcement, we cannot say; but sure we +are, if any had before suffered them to occupy their thoughts, this +resolution increased the number of their admirers manifold. Indian +girls have ways and means of setting their caps at young men, as the +phrase is, as well as more civilised damsels, and the Osage maidens +were not idle on this occasion. Besides, that many really loved the +youths, the honour of the sex was concerned. It was not to be borne +that friendship should triumph over love, and it may therefore be +readily conceived what an artillery of bright eyes was reproachfully +opened upon the three friends. They, however, remained insensible to +all the attractions of female society; they joined not in the dance, +nor told nor listened to the tale of love or war by the evening fire; +but rode together, hunted together, trapped together, and earned the +highest renown as indefatigable and bold huntsmen. + +The ambition of the three friends, however, reached to higher flights +than emulating the first hunters of their tribe. They wished to equal +in renown the greatest warriors of the Osage nation; and it was a +knowledge of the fact, that they were about to start on a marauding +expedition, which created so great a sensation in the throng of +maidens. The three youths had been deeply engaged in discussing their +plans, and were, at the moment we speak of, uttering a silent prayer +to the great Manitou for success in their undertaking. Tall, erect, +and admirably proportioned, they presented an excellent group for a +statuary. While their shaven heads were adorned with the helmet crest +and eagle plume, they bore round their necks ornaments of the gayest +kind. A magnificent cloak of buffalo-skin adorned their shoulders, +while a spear, shield, tomahawk, bow and quiver, formed their arms. +Leggings, moccasins, with wampum garters tied below the knee, +completed, with the waist-cloth, their attire. Three fine horses were +tied to an adjoining tree, showing that they were in every way ready +for the expedition. It was still morning, and many miles of ground +were to be crossed before night, the youths having signified their +intention of making an excursion into the Pawnee Pict territory. + +As soon as their silent invocation was ended, the Osage braves +stalked gravely towards their richly-caparisoned steeds, and mounting +them, rode slowly from the camp. For some miles, their course was +along a wide-spread rolling prairie; but soon the presence of trees +gave sign of their approaching a river. It was not, however, until +nightfall that they gained the banks of the Arkansas. Hitherto, their +progress had been open and bold, being within the hunting-grounds of +their own people; but now the frontier line of the Pawnee Picts lay +before them, in the shape of the dark rolling waters of the Arkansas, +and it was time to use caution and artifice. It was determined, as +their horses were somewhat fatigued, and as they depended on them for +escape in case of need, that they should seek repose upon the +friendly side of the river, and cross the Arkansas in the morning. +Their horses were accordingly tethered, a diminutive fire lighted in +a deep dell or hole, and every other needful preparation made to pass +the night. A frugal repast was consumed, and then each warrior leaned +against a tree, and, smoking his pipe, gravely conversed upon the +best mode of acquiring distinction and renown. Many opinions were +given: but nothing less than surprising a whole Pawnee village, +slaughtering the inhabitants, and returning to their homes loaded +with scalps, appeared to the heated imaginations of the youths a +sufficiently glorious enterprise to satisfy their ambition. At length +the fatigues of the day overpowered them, and the three friends fell +into a deep sleep. + +The sun had just tipped with gold the summits of the trees, the +wild-cock was crowing in the woods, the thousand choristers of the +forest were pealing in rich harmony, when the Osage warriors awoke. +They smiled grimly on one another, and then started, each man +mechanically placing his hand upon the back and crown of his head. +Their scalp locks, helmet crests, and eagles' plumes had all +disappeared. Petrified with astonishment, they started to their feet. +Who could have done so daring a deed? Not an enemy surely, or they +would have taken the lives thus placed within their power. The +friends wasted their thoughts in vain conjecture, and then, burning +with indignation, turned to seek their horses. The long sweeping +tails of these animals had also been cut off. That it was the Pawnee +Picts, they no longer doubted; and fearful was the ire of the Osages +at the contempt with which they had been treated. The trail of their +night visitors was plainly marked, and led towards a copse, where +they had evidently left their horses. It then turned to the +river-bank, and was lost. Nah-com-e-shee, however, glancing his eye +over the opposite plain, gave a cry of delight, and pointed out to +his companions the flashing of spears in the morning sun. + +To plunge into the river, to reach the other shore, and to ride madly +over the plain in chase of their audacious foes, was the work of an +instant. In vain, however, they strained their eyes to catch another +glimpse of the retreating party, until again the flashing of the +spear-heads was seen near at hand, and plunging over the next +hillock, the friends found themselves in presence of--three lances +stuck in the ground. If the Indians boiled with passion before, their +rage now knew no bounds: they vowed, with little consideration for +the possibility or probability of the matter, to exterminate every +Pawnee Pict from the face of the earth. This resolution being +unanimous, a halt was made, and a council of war held. Some ten +minutes were passed in discussion, and then away went the Osages on +the trail of their foes, just as they caught sight, in the rear, of a +perfect cloud of horsemen pouring over the plain in the distance. It +was a war-party of the Pawnee Picts, about twenty of whom came riding +fast in pursuit of the three friends. A thickly-wooded ravine lay +about a mile distant. Towards this the Osages hastened for refuge, +their souls bounding with delight at the prospect of a contest which +now opened before them. + +The ravine was soon reached. It was narrow, and on both sides thickly +wooded, while several clumps of timber lay near its mouth. The Osages +saw that the only hope of coping with a superior force was by +defending the entrance; and, accordingly, dismounting from their +steeds, turned them loose, and strung their bows. On came the Pawnee +Picts, riding furiously over the prairie. The intentions of the +Osages were too plain to be mistaken, and none of their pursuers +ventured to brave the discharge of arrows which was ready for their +reception; but, imitating the example set them, cast loose their +horses, and sought the shelter of a copse. The unequal struggle now +commenced, and loud war-whoops rung through the valley. Arrows flew +constantly from foe to foe. The Pawnees, having a great superiority +in numbers, succeeded oftenest in wounding their adversaries. Still +they gained not upon them; the Osages, though soon severely hurt, +preserving the same undaunted front, and returning their missiles +with unabated vigour. + +At length, however, their arrows were spent, and clutching their +tomahawks, the friends, casting a glance of stern but undying +affection on each other, prepared to die like men. On came the +Pawnees, yelling the fearful war-whoop, and waving their hatchets on +high. Already were a dozen of them within a few yards of the devoted +trio, when their yell was echoed from the forest, and three of their +foremost warriors lay low, slain by a flight of arrows from the top +of the ravine. Back turned the Pawnees to their shelter, while the +Osages, taking advantage of the confusion, snatched the usual trophy +of victory from their fallen foes, and then, catching their steeds, +mounted and fled. Guided by the trampling of horses, they rushed in +pursuit of those to whose timely assistance they owed their lives. In +vain, however, did they urge their steeds; their unknown assistants +were not to be overtaken. For about an hour the three friends +continued their ride, and then halted to bind up their wounds, and +conceal themselves for the rest of the day. + +The spot selected was admirably adapted for the purpose, being an +open glade in the forest, surrounded on all sides by trees. Here they +turned their horses loose once more, and lay down upon the grass, +weary and faint. To find herbs, and with them to form a kind of +poultice, fastened on with bark by means of ligatures of grass, was +their first duty, and then the inner man was considered. None of them +had tasted food since the previous night, and there was none in their +possession. Nah-com-e-shee, being the warrior who was least severely +wounded, and having picked up several Pawnee arrows, started into the +forest in search of game. With the keen perception of an Indian, he +selected that side which appeared a little inclined to descend, as it +naturally excited his suspicion that a stream lay in that direction. +This was the more probable, that a little purling spring that bubbled +up in the green open glade tended thither. Nor was the warrior's +sagacity at fault, for a smart walk brought him to the banks of a +narrow and slowly-running river. Within, sight of this Nah-com-e-shee +concealed himself, and prepared to wait even for hours the passage of +a deer or elk. His patience was not, however, put to so severe a +test, as, ere long, a rustling in the bushes opposite attracted his +attention. Raising his eyes from their fixed position, he saw the +antlers of a buck rearing themselves over a thicket of brush, and +next moment a noble deer bounded to the bank to drink. An arrow +pierced its heart from the Indian's unerring bow ere its lips had +touched the water, and Nah-com-e-shee rushed eagerly towards the +spot. Three mounted warriors were before him, and while he sought +cover, captured and bore away the prize. + +The Osage knew that it was useless to remain on the watch any longer, +and, pursuit being madness, turned back and sought his companions, who +were more indignant than ever at this new outrage. Repose was, however, +absolutely necessary, and was now sought, all trusting to the keenness +of their senses to awake ere they could be surprised. It was dark night +ere they awoke, and then the three friends groaned with rage that was +absolutely frightful. Each felt himself ornamented by a squaw's +petticoat, thrown loosely over him. Burning with passion, they grasped +one another's hands, and vowed terrible vengeance. + +At this instant a dim light was seen through the trees, blazing up at +a considerable distance in the forest. It was the fire of a camp, and +the hearts of the Osage warriors were at last glad. They had been so +often outwitted, that the utmost caution was used. Each divested +himself of every unnecessary article of clothing, while their +tomahawks were the only arms they preserved. Clutching these, they +crept stealthily, and with a serpent's tread, into the forest. As they +advanced, the glare of the fire grew brighter; and at length, when +within a couple of hundred yards, they could plainly hear the green +wood crackling in the full stillness of evening. A faint odour of +broiled venison came pleasingly to their nostrils, and then three +figures were plainly discerned round the fire. + +Between the spot occupied by the Osages and the hostile camp lay a +rough piece of ground, full of holes and natural ditches. Across this +the three friends began to crawl, holding their breath, and clutching +their deadly weapons, while their hearts beat with anxiety lest their +victims should escape. Half the distance was passed over, and still +more strongly was the cooking made evident to the hungry senses of the +creeping Osages. Still the unconscious warriors moved not, but kept +their backs turned to the approaching foe. They were evidently eating, +and holding converse at intervals. At length, as the friends came still +nearer, they appeared to finish their meal, and sunk gradually on the +leafy ground to rest. The Osages breathed more freely, and advanced +with less caution, until at length, when within half-a-dozen yards, +they rose, gave the terrific war-whoop, and leaped madly upon the camp. +It was vacant--their victims had escaped. The friends, amazed, were +about to fly from their dangerous proximity to the light, when three +distinct laughs were heard. + +The Osages stood immovable, gazing at one another with a grim, +half-angry, half-comic expression, and ere they could speak, three +maidens disguised as warriors stood meekly one before each brave, a +horse's tail in one hand, and the other trophies in the other. The +friends tried their utmost to look angry; but the countenances of the +girls were so meek, and yet so malicious, that the gravity of the +braves was overcome, and they laughed heartily at the conclusion of +their expected deadly struggle. + +The girls then explained that, for reasons of their own, disapproving +of the celibacy of the three friends, they had resolved to excite their +admiration and interest, that they had followed them immediately after +their departure, had crept on them in the night, and divested them of +their crests, &c., and played them every other trick which has been +recorded in this legend. The warriors listened, and when they narrated +how they had saved their lives in the ravine, seemed each struck with +the same sudden conviction; namely, that the lives thus preserved +belonged to the preservers, and at once made public their opinion. The +damsels laughed gaily, and promised to entertain the notion, but +recalled their lovers to a remembrance of their hungry state. Merrily +and blithely supped the three maidens and the three friends that night +beneath the greenwood tree; and when in after-years they met at +eventide, all happy husbands and wives, with dusky boys and girls +crowding round them, that it was the brightest moment of their +existence, was the oft-repeated saying of the THREE FRIENDS. + + + +THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTER: A TALE + +BY MISS ANNA MARIA SARGEANT. + +Act well thy part--there the true honour lies.--POPE. + +'I wish, papa, you would teach me to be a painter,' was the +exclamation of a fair-haired child, over whose brow eleven summers +had scarcely passed, as she sat earnestly watching a stern +middle-aged man, who was giving the last touches to the head of a +Madonna. + +'Pshaw,' pettishly returned the artist; 'go play with your doll, and +don't talk about things you can't understand.' + +'But I should like to learn, papa,' the child resumed: 'I think it +would be so pretty to paint, and, besides, it would get us some more +money, and then we could have a large house and servants, such as we +used to have, and that would make you happy again, would it not, +papa?' + +'You are a good girl, Amy, to wish to see me happy,' the father +rejoined, somewhat softened by the artless affection of his little +daughter; 'but women are never painters--that is, they are never +great painters.' The child made no further comment, but still +retained her seat, until her father's task was accomplished. + +The chamber in which this brief dialogue took place was a +meanly-furnished apartment in a small house situated in the suburbs +of Manchester. The appearance of the artist was that of a +disappointed man, who contends doggedly with adversity rather than +stems the torrent with fortitude. Habitual discontent was stamped on +his countenance, but ever and anon a glance of fierceness shot from +his full dark eyes, as the thought of the position to which his +talents ought to have raised him would flit across his brain. A +greater contrast could scarcely be conceived than existed between the +father and child: the latter added to the charms of that early period +of life a face and form of exquisite beauty. Her dazzling complexion, +rich auburn hair, and graceful attitudes, accorded ill with the rusty +black frock which was the mourning habiliment for her maternal +parent, and the expression of her features was that of natural +joyousness, tempered, but not wholly suppressed, by thoughtfulness +beyond her years. + +Leonard Beaufort had once been, as was implied by his daughter, in a +different station to that he how occupied. He was by birth and +education a gentleman; but partly owing to his own mismanagement and +extravagance, and partly from misfortunes altogether unavoidable +(though he chose to attribute his reverses wholly to the latter +cause), he found himself suddenly plunged from competence into utter +destitution. He had hitherto practised painting as an amateur, but +now he was forced to embrace it as the only means afforded him of +supporting his family, which at that time consisted of a wife and two +children. He was not without some share of talent; but unhappily for +those who depended on his exertions, he was too indolent to make much +progress in an art which requires the exercise of perseverance, no +less than the possession of genius; and after struggling for more +than three years with the bitterest poverty, his wife and youngest +child fell victims to their change of circumstances. Little Amy was +thus left motherless, and would have been friendless, but for the +care of a neighbour, who, pitying her forlorn condition, watched over +her with almost maternal regard. Mrs Lyddiard was the widow of a +merchant's clerk, who had no other provision than that which was +afforded her by her own labours in a little school; but from these +humble means she was enabled, by prudent management, to give her only +child Herbert--a boy about three years the senior of Amy--a tolerable +education, which would fit him to undertake a similar situation to +that which his father had filled. + +Towards this amiable woman and her son, the warm affections which had +been pent up in the young heart of our little heroine, since the +death of her mother and infant brother, now gushed forth in copious +streams; for, though she loved her father with a tenderness scarcely +to be expected, and certainly unmerited by one who manifested such +indifference in return, she dared not express her feelings in words +or caresses. Beaufort would usually devote a few of the morning hours +to his profession, and then, growing weary, throw aside his pencil in +disgust, and either wander about the neighbourhood in moody silence, +or spend the rest of the day in the society of a few dissolute +persons of education, with whom he had become acquainted since his +residence in Manchester. The indolence of the parent had, however, +the effect of awakening the latent energies of the daughter's mind; +and young as she was at the time we introduce her to our readers, her +thoughts were engaged upon a scheme which, if successful, would, she +deemed, reinstate them in competence. This was for her to become +possessed of a knowledge of her father's art (secretly, since he had +given a check to her plan), and she believed she could accomplish it +by watching his progress, and practising during his long absences +from home. As Mrs Lyddiard warmly approved of the proposition, it was +immediately put into execution; and Herbert, who was also made a +confidant, volunteered to purchase her colours and brushes; for she +dared not make use of her father's, for fear of discovery. + +The performances of the young artist for the first twelve months, as +might be expected, did not rise above mediocrity; but by increased +perseverance and a determination to excel, she rapidly improved. The +disposal of a few of her pictures furnished her with the means to +procure materials for others; but she still studiously concealed her +knowledge from her father, intending to do so till her skill +approximated in some degree to his. + +Eight years thus glided away, and the beautiful and artless child had +now become an elegant and lovely young woman. Her nineteenth birthday +was approaching, and she determined to prepare a specimen of her +abilities to be displayed on that occasion. She selected Lear and +Cordelia for her subject, thinking it would tacitly express the +affection which had instigated her desire to acquire a knowledge of +her father's profession. She completed her task, and the Lyddiards +were lavish in their praises of the performance. Herbert declared it +to be quite equal to any her father had done, and his approbation, it +must be acknowledged, was highly valued by the fair artist. On the +evening before the eagerly-anticipated day, Beaufort came home at an +unusually early hour, and what was of rare occurrence, in excellent +spirits. + +'I've sold that piece from Shakespeare I finished last week to a +gentleman who is, going abroad,' he said, addressing his daughter +with unwonted confidence and kindness; for it was not often that he +deigned to make her acquainted with anything connected with his +profession. + +'What, the Prospero and Miranda I admired so much, papa?' Amy asked. + +'Yes; and he wants another to pair it done within a fortnight, so I +must rise early and labour hard, for the days are short; but I was +better remunerated than commonly, which makes it worth my while to +put myself to a little inconvenience.' + +'You will like to have your coffee at six to-morrow morning, then?' +Amy observed. + +'Yes, child, not a moment later.' + +The coffee was prepared to the minute, and, contrary to the +expectation of the daughter, her father was up to partake of it; for +it was not an uncommon case for him to talk of executing a painting +in a hurry, and then be more than usually dilatory in its +performance. In this instance, however, he seemed in earnest, for, +after having hastily swallowed his breakfast, he sat down to sketch +out the piece. Amy silently withdrew from the room, not daring at +present to broach the subject which was uppermost in her thoughts, +and employed herself with her domestic duties till the time when she +deemed he would require her assistance in mixing his colours, which +was her usual task. + +'It won't do; the design is bad,' the artist petulantly exclaimed as +his daughter re-entered the apartment, and he dashed his pencil to +the ground. + +'What won't do, dear papa?' Amy gently inquired. + +'I've spent the whole night deciding on a subject, and now that I +have sketched it, see that it's not suitable,' he pettishly made +answer. + +'What is it, papa?' + +'Coriolanus and his mother.' + +'Well, in my opinion, that would be very appropriate. As the other +was a father and daughter, here is a mother and son; but if you don't +like it, what think you of Lear and Cordelia?' Amy's voice faltered, +and she dared not raise her eyes from the sketch which she affected +to be examining. + +'I'm not in a mood for painting to-day: I'll try tomorrow.' + +'But your time, you said, was short,' Amy ventured to interpose. + +'Well, if I can't get it done, he must go without it,' was his +irritable reply. 'I'm not going to be tied down to the easel, whether +disposed or not, for such a paltry sum.' + +'I thought you told me that this gentleman would remunerate you +handsomely?' + +'Handsomely!' the artist scornfully repeated; 'it is better than I am +usually paid, but not a fiftieth part of what I ought to receive. See +how some men, not possessed of half my talent, succeed! but they have +the patronage of the great to aid them.' + +'And perhaps brighter days may yet dawn on you, dear father!' pleaded +the daughter. + +'Never!' and Beaufort rose in haste to attire himself for departure. + +'Papa,' cried Amy, gently catching his arm, 'will you just stay for a +few minutes; I have something to say to you;' and a deep flush of +crimson suffused her cheek as she spoke. Beaufort turned +hesitatingly. 'It is my birthday,' she pursued--' I am this day +nineteen.' + +'That is no subject for rejoicing, girl,' he doggedly observed. + +'I have been looking forward to this period with intense anxiety, +meaning then to make you acquainted with a subject which has long +engrossed my thoughts,' she timidly said. + +'No foolish love affair, I hope?' Beaufort almost fiercely demanded, +looking sternly in his daughter's agitated and flushed countenance as +he uttered the words. 'Perhaps,' he sarcastically continued, without +giving her time to reply--'perhaps you deem yourself marriageable at +the matron-like' age of nineteen, and have selected some country boor +for my son-in-law?' + +This speech was directed at Herbert Lyddiard, and Amy felt it; but +her thoughts were at this moment occupied by another subject of +absorbing interest. 'No,' she returned with modest dignity; 'I have +at present no desire to alter _my_ condition, but I have for years +been intent upon bettering _yours_. I may be presumptuous in +supposing it possible that any effort of mine could do so; but I was +resolved to make the trial, and this shall speak for me.' As she +concluded, she drew from a closet the picture she had so anxiously +prepared, and displayed it to her parent's astonished gaze. Beaufort +could not speak, but stood for some minutes immovable, with his eyes +fixed on the piece, as if doubting the reality of what he beheld. + +'Amy,' he exclaimed, 'is it possible that this is your performance?' + +'It is, father.' + +'And you have had no teacher?' + +'Yes, you have been, my teacher. For eight long years I have been +your pupil--a silent but a most attentive pupil. I owe all my +knowledge to you.' + +'It is admirable,' he murmured, 'and the very thing I want; as like +my execution as if I myself had done it.' + +'Do you say so, my father?' Amy exultingly exclaimed. 'Do you say so? +That is praise beyond what I had ever dared to hope for;' and, for +the first time in her life, she threw herself into her parent's +embrace. + +Beaufort re-examined the work. 'Did you intend it to pair my Prospero +and Miranda?' he asked. + +'I did, though not with the idea of its ever being sold as such. I +greatly admired your father and daughter, and thought I would attempt +a similar piece. I thought, to'--she stopped for a moment, then +blushingly added--'I thought it an appropriate offering from one who +desires to be a Cordelia to you.' + +The sale of his daughter's picture was a fresh era in the life of the +artist, as it was the means of introducing him to several persons of +rank and influence, who were at the time visitors at the house of the +purchaser. Though Amy's picture was more highly finished than her +father's, no one guessed that the Lear and Cordelia, and the Prospero +and Miranda were not done by the same hand. Amy had caught her +father's bold style, but added to it a delicate softness which he, +from impatience, not want of ability, usually omitted. The calls upon +her time were now incessant; for Beaufort grew more indolent than +ever when he found that she cheerfully took so large a portion of his +labour off his hands. He would frequently sketch an outline, and then +leave it for her to finish, without regarding the inroads he was by +these means making on his daughter's health. Meanwhile, he spent the +profits of her toil in luxuries, in which she shared not; still +allowing her the miserable pittance which barely kept want from their +dwelling, and would not permit of her making, either in her home or +her person, an appearance above the humbler class of mechanics. + +'We will bid a joyful adieu to this hateful town, and settle again in +London,' the artist exclaimed, as, late one evening, he entered his +house in an excited state, after a visit to one of his new patrons. + +'Are you in earnest, papa ?' Amy asked, whilst the colour forsook her +cheek. + +'In earnest, girl?' he repeated, 'to be sure I am. I think I have +droned here long enough, and it is time that some change took place +for the better. The purchaser of my last picture is a young baronet +who has just come into possession of a princely fortune, and, by a +little flattery, I have so far got myself into his good graces, that +he has promised to provide money to enable me to make a suitable +appearance in town: he says, too, that amongst his acquaintances +alone he can procure me sufficient employment, which shall be +liberally remunerated. 'Tis true,' Beaufort laughingly added,' he has +no more taste for paintings than his valet, and perhaps not so much; +but that matters not: he thinks that he has, and it is not my place +to undeceive him; for, as he is rich and influential, he may be a +valuable friend to us.' + +Amy listened without making any reply. + +'You are silent, girl?' her father resumed; 'I thought you would be +delighted with the intelligence. Will you not be glad to exchange +this miserable hovel for a handsomely-furnished house? And you shall +have masters to instruct you in dancing, singing, and music; for I +expect that you will now have an opportunity of getting settled in +the rank of life in which you were born.' + +Still Amy replied not. + +'Well, you are the strangest girl I ever met with,' Beaufort pursued, +in tones indicative of rising wrath; 'but I see how it is. I have +suspected as much for some time. You would rather marry a beggarly +clerk. I can tell you, however, that Herbert Lyddiard is no husband +for you, and I positively forbid you to hold any further intercourse +with him or his mother.' + +'Oh, father,' cried Amy in the agony of her feelings, now finding +utterance, 'can you require me to be so base as thus to treat a +friend who has been to me like a mother?' + +'I have no personal objection to the woman, nor to her son either, +had I not reason to believe that he aspires to an alliance with you,' +he rejoined; adding: 'Now hear what I say, girl; I start for London +to-morrow, and shall send for you in a few days, during which time I +shall get a house prepared for your reception. Here are the means to +provide suitable apparel for the position we shall resume in society; +and I expect that you hold yourself in readiness to depart at an hour's +warning.' + +Amy dared not oppose her father's commands, and took the offered +purse in silence. + +As might be expected, the knowledge of Miss Beaufort's intended +departure drew from Herbert Lyddiard a full confession of his +long-cherished love; and Amy could not deny that it was reciprocal, +though she thought it right to make known to him the cruel +prohibition her father had enjoined. The mother strove to console the +young couple, by representing that it was probable that some change +might take place which would induce Mr Beaufort to withdraw his +opposition to their union, and counselled Amy for the present to +yield implicit obedience to her father's commands. 'You are yet very +young, my dear children,' she said, 'and that directing Providence +which has hitherto smiled upon your early attachment, will not, I +trust, see fit to sever you.' + +The dreaded summons came within a week, Beaufort not thinking it safe +for her to remain longer than necessity obliged in the neighbourhood +of her humble lover's residence. He received her in an elegant house +in the vicinity of Portman Square, which in this brief time he had +handsomely furnished and provided with servants. Amy entered it with +a sickening heart; and, as he led her from room to room, demanding +her approbation, she felt more disposed to weep than to rejoice. + +'Amy,' he said, when they were quite alone in the room designed for +his studio, 'you are to reign mistress here; but be careful never to +drop a hint regarding the humble manner in which you have lived for +so many years; no one must surmise that we have been in poverty, or +our ruin is certain. I intend giving an entertainment to my friends a +few nights hence, and then I shall introduce you to society; meantime +I expect that you will provide yourself with elegant and appropriate +attire for the occasion; for on you much of my success may depend.' + +'On me!' Amy exclaimed in astonishment; then recollecting herself, +she added: 'If you mean on my exertions, father, you may still depend +upon them.' + +'No, I do not mean your exertions, though at present I must avail +myself of your assistance; but I mean by the manner in which you +receive my friends. Amy,' he continued, looking steadily in his +daughter's face, 'you are possessed of uncommon beauty; you are +doubtless aware of it. Herbert Lyddiard has not failed, I daresay, to +tell you so. A beautiful young woman is at all times a powerful +attraction, and to me it is everything, to extend the circle of my +acquaintances.' + +Amy's cheek, which had been flushed by the former part of this +speech, turned deadly pale at its conclusion. How could she, who had +all her life been shut out from society, entertain her father's male +guests--she, a retiring and almost ignorant girl, without one female +friend or adviser? She did not speak; but Beaufort saw that powerful +feelings were agitating her breast, and strove to laugh away what he +termed her foolish fears. + +'A few evenings will dispel all your _mauvaise honte_,' he gaily +said. 'I will hear of no silly objections;' and, thrusting a purse +of gold into her hand, he left the room. + +Amy could scarcely realise the truth of the position in which she +stood. The events of the last few days seemed like a dream; but if +so, it was a dream from which she would have been glad to have +awakened, and to have found herself in her former humble home. She +could not but fear that all her father possessed was held upon a very +uncertain tenure, and, what was worse, that it was obtained by +dishonourable means. This idea was strengthened when the gala evening +arrived, and our heroine was introduced to her father's principal +patron, a vain and weak-minded man, who listened to his host's +extravagant adulation with evident complacency, though to every one +else it was palpably insincere. Beaufort insisted on his visiting his +studio, to give his opinion of the grouping of a historical piece he +had sketched out for Amy to fill up. The baronet, thus flattered, +suggested some alterations which would have made it absolutely +ridiculous; and the artist would actually have complied, had not his +daughter, who had been requested to be present, interposed; and her +guest gallantly acquiesced in her judgment. + +From this period a new trial awaited the unhappy girl, for Sir Philip +Rushwood now became her professed admirer. Beaufort had planned this +affair from the moment of his first introduction to the young man, +though he had warily concealed his wishes from Amy. He had contrived +to display, as if by accident, a miniature portrait he had once taken +of his daughter; and as he pretended unwillingness, to make known the +name of the original, the curiosity of the baronet was naturally +excited. On finding that the beautiful young woman he so much admired +was the artist's daughter, he became anxious to see her; but her +father was determined that a meeting should not take place until Amy +was in a situation to set off her natural charms, and was removed +from her humble lover. Little suspecting the scheme which had been +laid, she met Sir Philip with feelings of gratitude; but they were +exchanged for sentiments bordering on disgust when he became a suitor +for her hand. There was nothing vicious about the young man--he was +the dupe, not the deceiver; but to a mind like Amy's, filled, too, as +it was with the image of Herbert Lyddiard, his attentions were +intolerable. The open encouragement he now received from the father, +however, emboldened him to persevere, and he professed to look upon +her marked disapproval as nothing but maidenly diffidence, and +proceeded to address her as though a positive engagement existed +between them. + +Amy now spent her days either at the easel, or in receiving +instructions from the masters her father hired, and her evenings in +entertaining his guests. He appeared not to have an idea that +prudence required that some matronly lady should become the chaperon +of his isolated child, much less that her heart could yearn for +feminine society. To one who was naturally so sensitive and timid, +the task was exquisitely painful; yet she dared not murmur, or a +volley of abuse would have been the result. Nine months thus passed +away in splendid misery, during which period Beaufort had often +indirectly expressed his wishes that his daughter would accept the +overtures of the baronet; but on the morning of her twentieth +birthday, he called her into his studio, saying that he had a matter +of importance to consult with her upon. Poor Amy guessed too well the +subject he was about to introduce; but she was appalled when, in a +few hurried words, and with a voice almost choked by agitation, he +told her that it depended on her decision, respecting the acceptance +of Sir Philip Rushwood's suit, whether he was to give her away at the +altar as a bride, or be himself dragged to a prison. + +'But why, father, should there be so dreadful an alternative?' she +eagerly asked. + +'Because I have nothing but what I owe to him. On his credit this +house has been furnished, and his trades-people have supplied our +table. Your very apparel has been purchased from sums of money I have +from time to time borrowed from him--for I have not yet met with the +increased sale and handsome remuneration for my pictures I was led +to expect. Indeed, many of those you supposed to be ordered, were +pledged for a tenth part of their value. If, however, you become his +wife,' he proceeded, 'we shall never want; for his fortune is +immense, and he is easily persuaded to part with it; but if you +refuse, his vanity, which is his ruling passion, will be so deeply +wounded, that he will withdraw his assistance from me, and our ruin +is inevitable. I have amused him with hopes of success and assurances +that you will smile on him at last, in spite of your girlish +coquetry, till he is incensed at the delay; and he last night told me +that he would be put off no longer, but have a positive answer _from +your own lips_ this very evening.' Amy pressed her hands upon her +burning brow in unutterable anguish. 'Yes,' her father resumed, 'this +very evening you must set your seal to our destiny. It remains for +you either to open a brilliant career before me, or to shut me up in +a prison in disgrace. I ask you not to give _me_ an answer. Your bane +and antidote are both before you; but remember that on the decision +of your lips to-night our mutual welfare depends.' + +As Beaufort concluded, he rose from his seat and hurriedly left the +room, whilst poor Amy remained panic-struck, and scarcely +comprehending the extent of her wretchedness. Her energies were, +however, aroused, and directed into a fresh channel; when, a few +minutes after her father's departure, a servant placed a note in her +hand, bearing the well-known characters of Herbert Lyddiard, which +she said had been delivered at the door by a meanly-dressed young +man. She almost flew to her chamber to peruse the contents, which, +though written by Herbert, were dictated by his mother. She stated +that her son, having lost his situation in Manchester by the death of +his employer, had been induced to remove to London, with the hope of +obtaining a more lucrative one in that city; but, being disappointed +in his expectations, that they were consequently reduced to the +greatest distress. Her health, she concluded, had suffered so +severely from intense anxiety and privations, that, believing herself +to be dying, she solicited, as a last request, one brief visit from +her beloved young friend. + +Amy Beaufort possessed a mind which never sunk under difficulties +whilst there was any active duties to perform, and in less than half +an hour she was in a hackney-coach on her way to Mrs Lyddiard's +residence, bearing with her, besides a few articles of nourishment +for the invalid, a large packet containing some of the early efforts +of her pencil, which she, with prompt thoughtfulness, imagined might +be disposed of, if only for a trifle, to aid her unfortunate friends +in their present exigence. She had a few guineas left from her +father's last gift; but she now shrunk from using them even for so +sacred a purpose. The coach stopped at the door of a large but +mean-looking house in a narrow crowded street, and her inquiry if +Mrs Lyddiard lived there, was answered in the affirmative by a ragged +boy, who asked if he should carry her parcel. Amy followed him, not +without some apprehension, up three flights of dark steep stairs; but +her fears were relieved when, her gentle tap at the door to which her +guide pointed, was answered by the well-known voice of her early +friend. + +The meeting was affecting in the extreme; but Amy did not find the +invalid reduced quite so low as her imagination had pictured. Though +a few months only had elapsed since they parted, each had a long tale +of trials to tell, and that Amy had to relate was rendered doubly +distressing by the confession she was forced to make of a parent's +delinquency. At length she spoke of the decision which was expected +from her that night. + +'And how do you intend to act?' asked her companion in breathless +anxiety. 'I feel that I dare not offer you counsel. I am too deeply +interested; for it would be draining the last drop of earthly bliss +from my cup to see you wedded to any other than to my son.' + +'I never will, Mrs Lyddiard,' cried Amy energetically, rising at the +same time from her kneeling position beside the bed of the invalid. +'I feel myself justified in making this resolution. I have been an +unwilling, nay, I may say an unconscious agent in a scheme of +dishonour; but I should be culpable if, by any act of mine, I +furthered it, even though the motive should be to save a parent from +disgrace and a prison. Still, my father claims my duteous regard, and +so long as my personal exertions and self-denial can afford him aid, +I will never desert him.' + +'You have spoken nobly, my dear Amy,' Mrs Lyddiard exclaimed, her +eyes brightening, and her pale cheek flushing with pleasure. 'Your +own upright heart is your best adviser, and Heaven will aid your +filial piety.' + +As our heroine prudently wished to avoid a meeting with her lover, +she left the house earlier than she otherwise would have done, and +returned home to prepare her mind for the trial which awaited her. +She resolved to decline the baronet's suit respectfully, yet firmly, +alluding with gratitude to the services he had rendered her father; +and she hoped much, notwithstanding the anger he had evinced, from +the natural mildness of his character. She had not, however, been +long in her chamber, when she, to her surprise, received another +summons from her father, who she had imagined to be from home. The +dark frown which clouded his brow too surely indicated the state of +his feelings. 'You may spare yourself the trouble of refusing Sir +Philip Rushwood, Miss Beaufort,' he sneeringly remarked, as she +tremblingly took a seat by his side; 'you will not have the +opportunity of displaying your triumph.' + +'What do you mean, papa?' Amy interrogated, wholly at a loss to +understand the import of his words. + +'Oh, you are in utter ignorance that your vagabond suitor, Lyddiard, +left a billet for you this morning,' he resumed in the same sarcastic +strain; 'and you are quite unconscious that you were carried in a +coach to his residence; but the lynx-eye of jealousy watched you, and +you have converted a friend into a foe. It is I, however,' he +fiercely added, 'who must suffer the penalty of your disobedience and +duplicity, and either die in a prison, or become an exile from my +country. I prefer the latter, and must leave you to reap the fruits +of your own self-will.' + +'Oh, my father!' Amy almost wildly exclaimed, throwing herself at his +feet, 'had you given me time I should have explained everything to +you connected with my visit to Mrs Lyddiard; but I entreat you not to +add to the dishonour you are already involved in by flight. Surely +the debts you have contracted are not to so large an amount but they +may be liquidated in time by our mutual exertions. Let us descend to +the sphere from which we have so lately risen, if by that means we +can honourably overcome our difficulties.' + +'Talk not to me in this manner,' Beaufort angrily interposed: 'I will +not brook the disgrace your obstinacy has brought upon me; and you +have yourself alone to blame that you are not the mistress of a +princely fortune. Go to your beggarly lover, if he will receive you +when penniless and homeless--the tie between _us_ is broken,' And +with these words he rose to quit the room. + +'Do not leave me, father !' Amy shrieked forth, clinging around him +to prevent his departure. 'I will share a prison with you, if such he +the dreadful alternative. I will labour for your support; but do +not--do not leave me.' + +Beaufort shook her from him with a violence which threw her to the +ground. 'Go, wretched girl!' he vociferated as he descended the +stairs; 'you have been _my_ ruin.' It was the last words he +addressed to her--they met no more. + +Scarcely allowing herself to believe that her father would not repent +of his determination to leave the country, Amy awaited with intense +anxiety the event of the evening. The shades of twilight fell, but +he appeared not. The guests he had invited arrived; still he did not +return. She was obliged to send an apology for her absence; for she +was really ill, and felt unequal to the trial of meeting the baronet +in her present agitated state of mind. + +The morning brought a confirmation of her worst fears. A rumour of +Beaufort's sudden flight had gone abroad, owing to his absence from +his guests; and the consequence was, that creditors poured in from +all quarters. Amy met the emergency with a presence of mind she was +herself surprised at. Her first care was to have all the effects +sold, that the debts might be liquidated as far as possible; but now, +to her unspeakable concern, she discovered that her father had +carried off the principal part of the plate and small valuables. She +next met her late suitor, Sir Philip Rushwood, and after soliciting +an account of the sums due to him by her parent, declared her +intention of refunding them from the labours of her own hands. 'I may +perhaps make trial of your patience by some delay, Sir Philip,' she +said; 'but so far as my receipts will allow, no one shall be the +loser from having placed confidence in my unhappy father. Had I +accepted your addresses, you would have had reason to despise me; but +I am not so base as to form a union in which my heart has no share.' + +The baronet was astonished. He had hitherto formed a mean opinion of +the female character, having been incessantly beset by manoeuvring +mammas with marriageable daughters ever since he became possessed of +his fortune. His desire to win the beautiful young artist, who never +appeared so lovely as at this moment, increased; but he felt that he +dared not urge his suit after this declaration. + +Amy now sought the home of her early friend; and, deserted by her +only natural protector, thought herself justified in consenting to +become the wife of Herbert Lyddiard when circumstances would admit of +the union taking place. She employed herself indefatigably at the +easel; and Sir Philip Rushwood having with some difficulty discovered +the mart at which her pictures were exposed for sale, bought them up +(though with the strictest secrecy) as fast as she produced them, +paying considerably more than the price she hoped to obtain for them. +Herbert was at this period so fortunate as to obtain a situation, +which, though not very lucrative, yet afforded him the means of +providing the family with a more comfortable home; and as Mrs +Lyddiard's health rapidly amended with her improved circumstances, no +further obstacle opposed the marriage of the young couple. Amy's only +anxiety now arose from the uncertainty of her father's fate; for she +could gain no further intelligence of him than that he had fled the +kingdom, having obtained a passport under a feigned name. + +The ready and profitable sale of her paintings enabled our heroine to +set aside sums for the liquidation of her father's debts earlier than +she expected. Herbert volunteered to become the bearer of her first +payment to Sir Philip Rushwood; and as his manners and appearance +were those of a gentleman, he was shown by the footman into the +dining-parlour, to wait a few minutes till his master was at liberty. +The young man started on entering the apartment, for he, to his +astonishment, perceived it to be hung around with the pictures Amy +had executed since her residence with them. He was examining them +more minutely, that he might be certain he was not mistaken, when the +baronet appeared. + +'You are admiring those paintings, sir,' the latter observed. Herbert +bowed assent. 'They were executed by a lady who is no less +distinguished for her virtues than for her beauty and talent,' he +added, his features glowing with animation. 'And should you become a +purchaser, you will confer an obligation on me.' + +'Happily for me, sir, _I_ possess the fair artist herself,' his +visitor smilingly interposed. + +Sir Philip drew back in amazement, and Herbert proceeded to explain +the object of his mission. + +'I cannot take the money, Mr Lyddiard,' the baronet returned with +evident emotion. 'The loss of a few hundreds is of no real importance +to me; and do you think that I could suffer that noble young woman to +toil incessantly to pay the debt of an unprincipled parent? No, I am +not so mercenary. Miss Beaufort refused me as a husband, but she must +allow me the pleasure of becoming her friend. You need not be +jealous, sir, of the title I am solicitous to assume, for it was for +your sake that she rejected me; but whether as a maiden or wife, I +shall deem myself happy in being permitted to serve her.' + +'I am most grateful for your kindness, Sir Philip,' Herbert returned; +'but I cannot avail myself of it with respect to the money. Mrs +Lyddiard is, I know, too desirous to rescue, as far as possible, her +unhappy father's character from disgrace, to suffer a debt of his to +remain uncancelled.' + +Thus urged, the baronet reluctantly took the sum; determining, +however, to return it through some medium which would not compromise +the independence, or hurt the feelings, of the person he was so +anxious to serve; and he had soon an opportunity of proving the +sincerity of his professions, by using his interest in procuring +Herbert an appointment far superior to that he at present filled. + +It was nearly three years subsequent to the period at which Beaufort +quitted England, that his daughter received the sad intelligence of +his death. He had been a miserable wanderer on the continent for that +space of time, and he breathed his last in a lazaretto at Naples. It +was not till he lay upon his dying bed that he could summon courage +to address his deserted child. When all earthly hope was over, and +the awful realities of a future state presented themselves to his +appalled vision, he thought of the misery he had caused one who had +ever been an affectionate and devoted daughter to him; and as this +epistle expressed the deepest penitence for the errors of his +misspent life, Amy clung to the hope that it was sincere. + +Thus Leonard Beaufort, with genius which would have done honour to +his profession, died a miserable outcast, through its misuse; whilst +his noble-minded daughter, by industry, integrity, and perseverance, +rose by slow but sure degrees to competence, and enjoys that peace +known only to those who pursue a virtuous course. + + + +THE BLIND MAN OF ARGENTEUIL. + +A NORMAN TRADITION OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. + +At Rouen, in the antique-looking library of a vast and gloomy hotel, +sat a venerable old man, seemingly engrossed in meditation and study. +He was Laurence Bigot of Thibermesnil, king's counsel to the +parliament of Normandy, a wise magistrate, and a learned and virtuous +man. At five in the morning he was wont to commence his daily +employment, and after giving sage and just advice to the parliament, +the indefatigable old man would devote himself, as now, to other +toils, which seemed to him like amusement; namely, laying the +foundation of a rich collection of books and manuscripts, which +afterwards became celebrated, and, though now dispersed, is not +forgotten. Bigot was employed in examining an ancient manuscript +which he had lately obtained. His son, Emerie Bigot, and a young +companion, Etienne Pasquier, were reading Horace at another part of +the library. + +The studies of all three were interrupted by the sudden entrance of +a magistrate--at least his costume bespoke him so; but at this moment +his extreme paleness, changed features, and humiliated manner, made +the lieutenant of Rouen appear like one of the criminals that daily +trembled before him; for he was a severe and upright judge. + +'I have been foiled, I confess it,' cried he to Laurence Bigot. 'I am +guilty, but do not condemn me unheard.' + +The king's advocate listened calmly, while the young men, with the +curiosity of their age, paid eager attention to the lieutenant's +recital, which was as follows: + +'A citizen of Lucca, named Zambelli, went on business to England, +where he settled. His affairs prospered greatly. At fifty years old, +having made his fortune, he felt a desire to end his days at Lucca, +near a brother whom he tenderly loved. He wrote to his family, who +were delighted at the news. Soon another letter, dated Rouen, +announced his arrival there from England, and that he should reach +Lucca in about two months. This space of time was requisite for the +transaction of his business at Paris, and his journey onward. He was +daily expected at Lucca; but two, three, six months passed by, and he +arrived not; nor, what was stranger still, did any other letter from +him reach his family, whose anxiety was extreme. Cornelius, his +brother, went to Paris in search of him. He visited all the houses +whither Zambelli's commerce was likely to lead him. Many persons had +seen, or believed they had seen, Zambelli. An individual bearing that +name had claimed the payment due to bonds of a considerable amount: +the merchants showed the signature "Zambelli" at the bottom of the +receipts. "All these signatures are forged," cried Cornelius. +"Describe the person of the forger, so that I may bring him to +justice." But it was in vain; for no one could recollect precisely +the appearance of a man who had been seen so short a time. + +'It was plain that an audacious robbery had been committed--perhaps a +murder. Cornelius went from Paris to Rouen, where he visited +successively all the hotels in the place. At one of them Zambelli had +been seen. He had left it for Paris, accompanied by a valet. This +valet had been little noticed: besides, six or eight months had +passed since the departure of Zambelli; and how could one domestic +excite attention among the numbers who had inhabited this hotel, the +most frequented in Rouen? + +'It was at this time,' continued the lieutenant of police, 'that +Cornelius brought his complaint before me. Like him, I felt assured +that a great crime had been committed between Rouen and Paris; but +how could it be proved? How could the criminal be discovered? At last +a sudden thought struck me. Six or seven months since, a goldsmith, +named Martel, had opened a shop at Rouen, where he was entirely +unknown. There was something strange in his manner, and the +expression of his face: he said nothing of his parents or family; and +those who hazarded questions on the subject, received from him +evasive answers, given with ill-disguised embarrassment. Struck with +his business being the same as Zambelli's, and acting under an +involuntary presentiment, I sent a person, who, under pretence of +making purchases, entered into conversation with Martel, in which, as +if by chance, he introduced the name of Zambelli. At this name Martel +grew pale, and showed signs of inquietude, looking anxiously at his +questioner. This strengthened my suspicions: I resolved to satisfy +myself; but here, I confess, the excess of my zeal led me into error. + +'By my orders a sergeant went to Martel to demand payment of a bond +for four hundred crowns, which I had fabricated under a false name. +Martel, when he saw the bond, cried out that it was feigned, and +refused to pay it. When taken to prison by the sergeant, Martel, +following his first impulse, accompanied him with the security of a +man who is certain he owes nothing; but soon, stopping suddenly in +great agitation, he said: "I am quite easy as to the bond; it is +entirely false, and I can prove it. But is there nothing else against +me? Have you heard of anything?" The sergeant having feigned +astonishment, and protested that he knew nothing, Martel became calm, +and followed him with a firmer step to the jail, where his name was +registered among the list of prisoners. An hour afterwards, he was +brought before me. "It is now no time for pretence," said I in an +imperative tone. "Yes, the bond is false; but as you have betrayed +fear, I must tell you that there are other things against you. A +citizen of Lucca, named Zambelli, is dead, and you are his murderer. +Deny it not. I have proofs--certain proofs. But calm your fears: +Zambelli was a stranger; no one here cares to avenge his death. With +some sacrifices on your part, we can hush up this sad affair; only +you must confess all with sincerity--your life is the price of it." + +'Petrified by the assurance with which I spoke, and glad to purchase +with gold the life which hung on a thread, Martel cried out: "I +see--I see it is Heaven's doing, since that which no eye witnessed, +save my own, is revealed. I will confess all: let my fortune save my +life!" He was about to begin, when the appearance of the notary, whom +I had sent for to take down his confession, roused him as out of a +dream. He perceived the snare, and when I commanded him to begin, he +said firmly: "No, I have nothing to tell; I am innocent." + +'All my efforts to induce him to confess were vain. I sent him to +prison. But now he protests against his incarceration, declares the +falseness of the bond, and accuses publicly the sergeant and myself. + +'This is my error. You, my lord, cannot doubt the purity of my +motives; but what will the parliament say--always so severe towards +inferior officers. Must the services of thirty years be blotted out, +because I was carried away by excess of zeal? My lord advocate, you +know all; now judge me as you will,' + +'Be encouraged!' said Laurence Bigot. 'The parliament is acquainted +with all, and pardons you. The Chamber assembled to-day to judge +this matter. I have spoken for you with the warmth of a man who +esteems and respects you; but your thirty years of service and +integrity have pleaded more eloquently than I could do. The +proceedings which Martel dared to commence against you have been +stayed for three months: the suit relative to the murder of Zambelli +is brought before parliament, and Martel is transferred to the +Conciergerie. Every search shall be made to discover the body of the +murdered man; for though I firmly believe that you have discovered +the assassin, yet there are no proofs. For you, lieutenant, though +pardoned, you are not guiltless. Listen!' said the old man, turning +to his son and to Etienne Pasquier, 'you are both destined to wear +the toga of justice--you, Emerie, perhaps to succeed me; and you, +Etienne Pasquier, probably to distinguish yourself in the +judgment-seat at Paris, or some foreign court. Remember that none may +do evil that good may come! Above all, a judge should not seek to +discover the truth by means of a lie, and do himself what he punishes +in others. Such means are unworthy of a magistrate.' + +Three weeks from that time there was great excitement in the village +of Argenteuil. The inhabitants had suspended their labours, quitted +their houses, and gathered together about the door of the Hotel du +Heaume. By their earnest conversation among themselves, and their +eager questioning of those who came out of the hotel, it was clear +that something unwonted was going forward there. In short, the large +room of the hotel was for this day transformed into a justice-chamber, +where Laurence Bigot, assisted by the magistrate of Argenteuil, +questioned numerous witnesses about the murder of Zambelli. + +How many efforts had this zealous judge made since he quitted Rouen +on his search for the traces of the crime! He visited many villages, +questioned numerous officers of police; but all in vain. When he was +about to return, in despair of accomplishing his object, he was +informed that, some months before, a corpse had been discovered hid +in a vineyard near Argenteuil. Bigot hastened thither, and the state +of preservation of the remains enabled him, on viewing the body, to +decide clearly that it was that of Zambelli, according as he had +been described by Cornelius his brother. + +The magistrate began to read the evidence aloud, when he was +interrupted by a piercing cry; and a blind man, whom no one had as +yet perceived, presented himself before the assembly. It was old +Gervais, a wandering beggar, born in the neighbourhood, well known, +and much liked. When his way led through Argenteuil, he was always +admitted to the hotel, and having arrived that day, he had seated +himself unnoticed, in his usual place in the chimney-corner. He had +sprung forward with a loud cry when, in listening as the magistrate +read, he heard of a corpse being discovered among the vines. But what +could a blind man, and one so long absent from Argenteuil, have to +communicate? Laurence Bigot regarded with a kind of respect the +serene and venerable countenance of the old beggar. + +'Unfortunate man,' said he, 'what can _you_ have to tell us?' + +But after his first involuntary movement, the blind man. Appeared +embarrassed and undecided. 'Ah, my lord,' said he, 'may I speak +without danger of my life?' and he turned his white head on every +side with a terrified air. + +'Speak freely,' said Bigot; 'fear nothing.' Then the old man related +how, many months since, he was leaving Argenteuil on his usual +pilgrimage, and had gained the high ground beyond the village, when +the violent barking of his dog caused him to listen attentively. A +man's voice, feeble and suppliant, was distinctly heard. 'Monster!' +it said; 'thy master, thy benefactor--mercy! Must I die so far from +my country and my brother! Mercy, mercy!' + +Then the blind man heard a fearful cry, like that of a dying man in +his last agony, and all was silence. After a time he distinguished +the steps of one who seemed staggering under a heavy burden. +'Influenced by a sudden impulse,' said Gervais, 'I went forward, +asking what was the matter, and who had been moaning so.' + +"Nothing, nothing," said a voice in an agitated tone; "only a sick +man who is being carried home, and has fainted on the way." And the +voice added, in a lower and menacing tone: "You may thank God that +you are blind, or I would have done the same to you." I knew then +that a horrible crime had been committed, and was seized with terror. +All things conspired to overwhelm me with fear; for immediately a +dreadful storm arose, and the loud thunder seemed to pursue the +murderer. I thought the world was at an end. Trembling, I continued +my journey, resolving never to reveal what I had heard; for the +criminal may belong to these parts, and the life of a poor old blind +man is at the mercy of every one. But when the judge spoke of a +corpse being found so near to the place where I heard the voice, I +could not avoid a sudden exclamation. I have now told all; God grant +that no evil comes to me from it!' + +During this relation Laurence Bigot appeared absorbed in a deep +reverie, which lasted long after the blind man ceased to speak. Then +addressing Gervais: 'Old man,' said he, 'I wish to ask you a +question; reflect well before answering it. Do you remember exactly +the voice that you heard that day on the hill, which replied to your +questions and threatened you? Do you think that you could recognise +it again--recognise it so as not to confound it with any other?' + +'Yes, my lord advocate,' cried Gervais immediately: 'yes! even as I +should recognise the voice of my mother, if she were living still, +poor woman!' + +'But,' said the judge, 'have you considered that eight or nine months +have passed since then?' + +'It seems but a few hours ago,' answered the blind man. 'My terror +was so great, that even now I seem always to hear the voice that +cried for mercy, and that which spoke to me, and the awful thunder.' +And when Bigot still doubted, Gervais, lifting his hands to heaven, +said: 'God is good, and forsakes not the poor blind. Since I lost my +sight, I can hear wonderfully. Call the people of Argenteuil; they +will tell you how they amuse themselves with embarrassing me, and +saying, in counterfeited tones, "Who speaks to thee?" Ask them if +they have ever succeeded in deceiving me!' The people cried out that +all that the blind man said was true; his knowledge of voices was +wonderful. Some hours after, Laurence Bigot departed for Rouen, and +everything went on as usual in the village of Argenteuil. Bigot +conveyed Gervais with him to Rouen. + +In the sixteenth century, the great hall of audience of the Norman +parliament was renowned for its beauty. The ceiling was of ebony, +studded with graceful arabesques in gold, azure, and vermilion. The +tapestry worked in fleurs-de-lis, the immense fireplace, the gilded +wainscot, the violet-coloured _dais,_ and, above all, the immense +picture in which were represented Louis XII., the father of his +people, and his virtuous minister and friend, the good Cardinal +d'Amboise--all united to give the great hall an aspect at once +beautiful and imposing. The effect was increased when, on days of +judicial solemnity, a hundred and twenty magistrates were seated in +judgment there, with their long white beards and scarlet robes, +having at their head the presidents, attired in ermine mantles, above +whom was a painting depicting the legislator Moses and the four +evangelists. + +It was in this magnificent hall that the parliament assembled, by a +special convocation, on Christmas-eve, in the year 16--. But this +time they were attired in black robes, and their serious countenances +showed they had a rigorous office to perform. This secret meeting of +parliament excited great curiosity throughout the whole town. The +murder of the merchant of Lucca, the arrest of the presumed criminal, +the discovery of the body of his supposed victim, the unhoped-for +testimony given by a blind man at Argenteuil, furnished an +inexhaustible subject of discussion for the crowd that thronged the +avenues of the palace. Every one agreed that the day was come which +would liberate an innocent man, or dismiss a murderer to the +scaffold. + +The parliament, after many long debates, had decided that the blind +man of Argenteuil should be heard. Gervais appeared before them. His +frank and circumstantial deposition made a deep impression; but some +doubt still remained. It was a fearful thing to place a man's life at +the mercy of the fugitive reminiscences of a blind man, who could +only trust to his hearing. It seemed almost impossible that Gervais +should recognise faithfully a voice which he had heard but once only. +The parliament determined to prove him, and to bring before him +successively all the prisoners of the Conciergerie, Martel among the +rest. If, after having heard them speak, the blind man spontaneously, +and without once hesitating, should recognise the voice which had +struck him so powerfully, this evidence, united to others, should be +held conclusive. It was not without design that Christmas-eve was +chosen for this strange trial, unheard-of in the annals of justice. +To have brought up the prisoners together on an ordinary day, would +have awakened their suspicions, perhaps suggested to them various +stratagems, and thus left the success of this novel experiment to +chance. On Christmas-eve the order excited no surprise, as it was +customary on the eve of high festivals to bring all the prisoners of +the Conciergerie before the parliament, who sometimes, out of respect +to the day, liberated those criminals who had been imprisoned for +trifling offences. + +Above all, as it was necessary to make the blind man understand the +almost sacred importance of the judgment with which Heaven had +invested him, a solemn oath was administered by the president of the +assembly. The old man took the oath in a truthful, earnest manner, +which left no doubt of his sincerity, and the trial commenced. +Eighteen prisoners were brought up, and answered the questions +proposed to them, but the old man never moved; and they, on their +part, on perceiving the unknown man, evinced no sign of alarm. At +last the nineteenth prisoner was introduced. Who shall paint his +horror and stupefaction at the sight of Gervais! His features grew +contracted, his hair rose up, and a sudden faintness overpowered him, +so that the turnkeys were obliged to lead him to a seat. When he +recovered a little, his involuntary and convulsive movements seemed +to show the poignant remorse of a guilty and tortured soul, or +perhaps the horrible regret of not having committed a second crime, +and finished his work. + +The presidents and judges anxiously awaited the result. At the first +words that Martel uttered, in reply to the president's questions, the +blind man, who, ignorant of his presence, had hitherto remained quiet +and immovable, suddenly bent forward, listening intently; then +shrinking back with horror and fear, cried out: 'It is he!--it is the +voice that I heard on the heights of Argenteuil!' + +The jailer led away Martel more dead than alive, obeying in this the +president's order, who in a loud tone had desired him to bring out +another prisoner. But this command was accompanied by a sign which +the jailer understood, and some minutes after, he again introduced +Martel, who was interrogated under a false name. Fresh questions +elicited fresh replies; but the blind man, shaking his head with an +air of incredulity, immediately cried out: 'No, no; it is all a +feint; that is the voice which conversed with me on the heights of +Argenteuil.' + +At last the horrible mystery was cleared up. The wretched, criminal, +trembling, despairing, stammered out a confession, which was now +almost needless, since the magistrates were fully convinced of the +truth which had been wonderfully elicited by the sole witness who +could declare the crime. + +But a few hours passed, and Martel lay in a gloomy dungeon of the +Conciergerie, whilst in a public place, not far from the prison, were +made the preparations for execution; for at this period the scaffold +followed the sentence so rapidly, that a condemned man never beheld +the morrow's sun. Ere nightfall all was over. The wretched man died +penitent, confessing his crime, and denouncing the cupidity and +thirst of gold which had led him on to murder. + +In fifty years from this period, Laurence Bigot had been long dead. +Emerie his son had succeeded him in his office. Etienne Pasquier had +become a learned and reverend old man, with silver hair. He was then +composing his curious and interesting _Recherches sur la France,_ and +there related the almost miraculous discovery of a murder long since +committed--of which discovery he had in his youth been an +eye-witness. It is from his statement that this history is taken. + + + +THE BRIDAL WREATH. + +FROM THE ITALIAN OF UESIGLIO. + +'This wreath must be finished before the evening. Down with those +tiresome hands; you jumble together all my leaves; you give me one +colour instead of the other: you are spoiling all I have done. Be it +known to you, however, that I am determined you shall not leave Padua +until I have put the last leaf to our garland.' + +These pettish words, qualified by the sweetest of smiles, were +addressed by a beautiful girl of sixteen to a young man who was +sitting beside her, and taking a mischievous pleasure in disturbing +her work; now catching hold of her hands; now removing out of her +reach something that she wanted; now playing with her long and +luxuriant hair, which floated negligently on her shoulders: +affectionate interruptions, which left a doubt whether the name of +brother or lover better suited them. But the light which flashed +from, the eyes of the youth, and seemed to irradiate the countenance +of the maiden, showed that his emotions were more rapid and ardent +than those inspired by fraternal love. They were seated at a table +strewed with shreds of cloth, gummed cotton, green taffeta, little +palettes of colours, small pencils, and all the necessary apparatus +of artificial flower-making. + +'Well, then,' replied the youth, 'I will do as you wish; but what +haste with a wreath that is not to be used till Heaven knows when? +Ah! if you were to wear it tomorrow, I would then assist you with +hands, eyes, heart, mind--with my whole being.' + +'What matters it? What harm will it do these flowers to wait for us? +I promise you to keep this garland so carefully, that it shall look +quite new on the day when it shall encircle my head; and then it will +seem to all others but an ordinary wreath: but to us--to me--oh, what +charms it will have! It will have been born, as it were, and have +grown with our love; it will have remained to me in memory of you +when you were obliged to leave me for a time; it will have spoken to +me of you when absent; will have a thousand times sworn love to me +for you. I shall have consulted, and kissed it a thousand times, till +that day in which I shall be yours! Do you hear that word, Edoardo? +Yours--yours for ever! never more to leave you!--to be divided from +you only by death!' + +'That will indeed be a blessed day--the loveliest day of our life! +The desire of devoting all the powers of my mind to your happiness +will then become a right. Poor Sophia, you know not yet what +happiness is: so young, so good; you have hitherto met with thorns +only in your path. Poor Sophia, I desire no other glory in this world +than that of being able to make you feel the sweet that Providence in +pity mingles with the bitter of human existence. There is no +sweetness in the life of mortals that is not the offspring of love.' + +'Yes,' added Sophia, 'when love is united with constancy. But what +are you daubing at, Edoardo? You are actually putting red on orange +leaves. Where have you learned botany? And what does that rose +signify? Is not this a bride's wreath, and are not bridal wreaths +always made of orange flowers? Do you know what I mean to do with +those roses? Ah, you would never guess. I shall make of them a +funeral crown. Here, take these leaves, and reach me the palette. You +have positively learned nothing all the time you have been seeing me +make flowers.' + +A servant entered the room, saying, 'There is no post to Venice +either to-day or to-morrow: the Signor Edoardo cannot set out before +Friday.' + +'Friday!' exclaimed Sophia, 'vile day!' and with a clouded +countenance she silently resumed her self-imposed task. Edoardo, on +the contrary, seemed glad of the delay. + +'No matter; but,' he added, 'is not this a trick of yours--a plot +concocted by you and Luigia to prevent me from leaving Padua?' + +'You mistake, Edoardo; I would wish rather to hasten your departure.' + +'I am very much obliged to you,' replied Edoardo, half vexed. 'What +do you mean? If you do not explain your words I shall be very angry.' + +'The explanation--the explanation, Edoardo, is here in my head, but +not in my heart. The explanation, Edoardo, is that I love you too +much, and I am not pleased with myself. Yes, but there are sorrows, +Edoardo, which sadly wear away our life; but these sorrows are a +need, a duty, and to forget them is a crime. My poor sister, the only +friend I have ever had, that poor saint, the victim of love, dead +through the treachery of a man hardly two years since: on memory of +her I have lived for eighteen months; but I even forget her when I +see you, when I speak to you. Perhaps I do not bestow on my mother as +much attention as her unhappy state requires. Alas! there is no +reproach more bitter than this: "You are a bad daughter!" And this my +conscience reproaches me with being a thousand times. Thus, Edoardo, +I am wanting in my duties. I am a weak creature: a powerful, and too +sweet sentiment threatens to take entire possession of me, to the +detriment of the other sentiments that nature has implanted in our +heart. Go, then, Edoardo; I have need of calm--I have need of not +seeing you. Suffer me to fulfil my duties, that I may be more worthy +of you. When you are far away, I shall have full faith in you. But if +your father should refuse his consent to our union?' + +'Leave those sad thoughts. My father wishes only to please me, and it +will be sufficient for me to ask his consent to obtain it. Even +should he refuse it, in two years the law will permit me to dispose +of myself as I choose.' + +'May Heaven remove this sad presentiment from my mind; but it makes +me tremble. Oh! if you return with the desired consent of your +father! oh! if my mother, as the physicians gave me reason to hope, +should then be well! we shall be the happiest of mortals.' + +The sound of a silver bell, heard from a chamber close by, took away +Sophia from her occupation. She rose hastily, saving, 'My mother! oh, +my poor mother! Adieu for a while, Edoardo.' + +Edoardo Valperghi was the son of a wealthy Venetian merchant. He had +received a grave but unprofitable education, it being that which is +wholly directed to the intellect and nothing to the heart. He was +studying in one of those colleges in which the system of education is +as old as the walls of the edifice. He had been told that he had a +heart, but no one had spoken of how it was to be directed to good. He +had been told that he must resist his own passions, but no one had +shown him what arms to make use of in this moral warfare. He had been +told to love virtue and to hate vice, but no one had furnished him +with a criterion for distinguishing true virtue from its counterfeit. +The temper of Edoardo was ardent and hasty, but flexible and weak. +Nature had made him good, but society could make him very bad. He was +like a ship without a good pilot--one to become good or bad according +to circumstances. Enthusiastic, easily impressed by example, he would +be most virtuous if his first steps had moved among the virtuous; if +among the wicked, he would rush to perdition. + +A letter of recommendation to the father of Sophia, who had formerly +had some commercial dealings with the Valperghi, introduced him into +the house. His timidity made him prefer that family to richer ones +with which he was also acquainted, and amongst whom he could have +found youths, amusements, and habits similar to those he had left +behind in Venice. But Sophia, lovely, amiable, and frank, had shown +him the affection of a sister. He had soon conceived a passion for +her; declarations of love, promises, oaths, everything had thus been +impetuous and sudden with him, as his disposition prompted. The +inexperienced girl believed that a sentiment so strong, so ardent, +must be equally profound and constant, and yielded to the enchantment +of a first love. Edoardo had terminated the first year of his legal +studies, and was now preparing to return to Venice. + +Alberto Cadori, the father of Sophia, was also a merchant. He had +begun business in a small sphere; but having guided his industry +prudently, from being poor he had gradually become rich, and at +length retired from commerce with a considerable fortune. Cadori was +avaricious, harsh, exacting: he wished rather to be feared than +loved: he was not the father, but the tyrant of his family. There was +seemingly some secret cause of disagreement between him and his wife: +it was perhaps for this reason that he did not love his children; but +what it was no one could tell. His family was now limited to Sophia +and his wife. He had had another daughter, fair and amiable as +Sophia; but the sad school of the world, and the all-powerful empire +of love, had untimely laid her low. The Signora Cadori, though still +young, was already on the brink of the grave. The grief that preyed +on her life, and especially the lamentable end of her first-born, had +brought on paralysis. She could no longer move without assistance. + +One other person formed part of the family, without being connected +with it by relationship--a woman who seemed at first sight to have +reached her seventieth year, so slow and difficult were her +movements. Her words savoured a little of obscurity, and her +countenance was rather repulsive. She was a Milanese. Having come to +the baths in Padua, she had taken lodgings in Cadori's house. She +seldom spoke, and paid no attention to what was passing around her. +She always seemed unconscious of the loud and angry language of +Cadori, which was proving fatal to the neglected wife and the +oppressed daughter. She appeared to love no one; no one loved her. +However, as she paid largely for her apartments, Cadori did +everything to keep her in his house. + +Though Sophia led a melancholy life, it was much relieved by the +exercise of her accomplishments, which were numerous. No female in +Padua, for instance, could compare with her in the art of +flower-making. Her friends contended for the pleasure of adorning +themselves with one of these flowers; courteous and kind to all, she +distributed some to each. Even the mercers of the city, when they had +need of flowers of superior beauty, applied to Sophia, who willingly +acceded to their requests. + +The two days of delay to Edoardo's departure were past, and in those +two days the Signora Cadori had had a new and very violent attack, +which placed her life in danger. Edoardo came to take leave of the +family. When alone, the conversation, the adieus of the lovers, were +not long; they both wept, looked at each other, and were silent. Yet +how many things had they to say to each other, how many promises to +renew, how many hopes and fears to exchange! + +They parted; Edoardo pleased with himself, and Sophia dissatisfied +with him and herself, without knowing why. + +The heart is a true prophet: the fears of Sophia were about being +realised; the days of her mother were drawing to a close. Sophia, +sad and terrified, was never absent from her bedside. Her heart, her +heart alone, sometimes wandered after the footsteps of another +beloved, but less unhappy being. Forgive that thought of love to the +maiden; call it not a sin. Sixteen! a soul so tender! the first love! +The maternal eye saw into the inmost heart of the daughter, and felt +no jealousy at those thoughts flying to her distant love. In those +moments she silenced her own wants, lest she should disturb her in +her reveries, and humbly prayed for the happiness of her child. +Sophia, on recollecting herself, would testify the greatest sorrow, +ask pardon of her dear invalid, and redouble her attention. Neither +day nor night was she away from the pillow of her dying mother. Her +strength supported her, as if by a miracle. No one divided with her +this pious office, except the Countess Galeazzi, the mysterious guest +of that house, and she came but seldom to the chamber of suffering. + +But the last hour had struck for the Signora Cadori. With her dying +breath she spoke of Edoardo. 'You love,' she said, 'and your love may +be the source of good to you. Take this cross, which I have worn on +my heart since the day of your birth; it was the gift of your father; +take it, and wear it in memory of your poor mother. You will find in +my chest a sum of money, and some bills on the imperial bank of +Vienna. It is no great riches, but it is sufficient for the +unforeseen wants that may press upon a woman. I would never consent +to give up these sums to your father, and that was one source of our +disagreement; but it was impossible for the heart of a mother to +deprive herself of what she could one day share with her children. +And I am glad that I have not done so; for, without such aid, your +poor sister would have died of misery, as she did of grief and +despair.' + +She said more, and seemed to make other confidences to her daughter, +but her words were uttered so feebly that they were lost. She then +leaned her head on the shoulder of Sophia, never to raise it more. + +Four months after this event, the time of study returned, and Edoardo +came again to Padua. He did not bring the consent of his father to +their marriage, but only some distant hopes. Cadori, who was aware of +Sophia's inclinations, forbade Edoardo to frequent his house, until +the formal permission of his father could be procured. Thus was +Sophia deprived of the pleasure of being often near her lover, of +enjoying his society, his conversation. She could see him but seldom, +and that unknown to her father. + +But Edoardo was changed. He was no longer the frank, the loving +Edoardo of former times. A residence of five months in Venice, +without being subjected to restraint, or having means to elude it; +the company of other young men, familiar with vice and dissipation; +above all, a fatal inclination had depraved and ruined him! He had +suffered himself to be fascinated by the fierce delight which is +found in gaming; play had become his occupation, his chief need. Play +and its effects, the orgies that precede, the excesses that follow, +were the life of Edoardo. Waste and debt were the consequences; and +when he had, under a thousand pretences, extorted from his father all +the money he could, he began, on arriving in Padua, to apply to +Sophia, whom he neglected, at least did not see as often as he might, +though he still loved her. Sophia was as indulgent as he was +indiscreet. At every fatal request for money, she offered him double +the sum he had asked. When Edoardo began to tell her some feigned +story, to conceal the shameful source of his wants, and to give her +an account of how he had employed those sums, she would not listen to +him. + +'Why,' said she, 'should I demand an account of your actions? Why +should I think over and debate what you have already considered? Will +not all you have be one day mine? Shall we not be one day man and +wife?' And these words took away from Edoardo every sense of remorse: +conscience ceased to reproach him for the baseness of despoiling that +poor girl of the little she possessed. The thought that he was one +day to make her his wife, justified him in his own eyes; for by this +he thought he should have recompensed her for all her sacrifices. + +Edoardo's demands increased with his exigencies. He was making rapid +advances into the most terrible phases of the gamester's vice; and +the mania in Sophia of giving--of sacrificing all her means for +Edoardo, did not stop. All the money left her by her mother had +already disappeared; most of her valuable ornaments had been sold; +some of the bank bills had been parted with: but as this could not be +done without her father's knowledge, he had made the laws interpose, +and sequestrated the remainder. Sophia did not dare to speak or +complain. She felt in her heart that her father was probably in the +right, that her own conduct was at least unreflecting, and that +Edoardo's expenses were too great; but still she found a thousand +arguments to excuse both herself and him. She spent all the day +making flowers, and stole a great part of the night from repose to +devote it to this labour; but she, formerly so ready to make presents +of her flowers, and adorn with them the young girls of her +acquaintance, now exacted payment for them; so that every one +wondered at this new and sudden avarice. But what did she care what +was said of her? What did she care for appearing without those +ornaments which women so love, and which add so much to their charms? +What mattered it to her that she was ruining her own health by +depriving herself of rest, toiling, and weeping? One look, one smile +of Edoardo, the having satisfied one of his desires, compensated for +all. What afflicted and troubled her was, that her labour should be +so insufficient to meet his wants. Often did it occur to her mind +that he gambled, that he was ruining himself, and she thought of +reproving him for it, but had not courage to do so. Sometimes she +accused herself of aiding him to destroy himself. Then she thought +that she was mistaken; her doubts seemed to her as injuries to his +love, and she grieved for having for a moment admitted them. + +One treasure alone remained, the cross which her mother had given her +on her death-bed. It was of brilliants, and might bring a large sum. +She thought over this, and wept for a whole week. Many times she went +out with the intention of selling it, but her heart could not resolve +to do so, and she returned penitent and sorrowful. + +Meanwhile, Edoardo was involving himself more and more in debt. +Assailed by creditors on one side, and drawn to the gaming-table by +desire and necessity on the other; menaced with a prison, threatened +to be denounced to his father, stupid from want of rest, midnight +revelling, and anxiety, he one day presented himself before Sophia in +a state so different from usual, that the poor girl was terrified at +him. Whither, Edoardo, has departed the beauty, the freshness of your +youthful years?--whither your simplicity of heart? Buried, buried +amid dice and cards. Sophia no longer doubted that Edoardo gambled, +that he had given himself up to a life worthy of reprehension; but +she was disposed to pardon him, to hope that he would repent and +turn to better counsels. But what made her tremble was the hoarse and +desperate accent in which he told her that he had need of money, that +he was, hard pressed by necessity, obliged to pay ten thousand +_lire_. The glance that he directed to every corner of the apartment, +perhaps because he did not dare to look her in the face, was dark and +unsteady: some broken words, uttered in a low voice, pierced her +heart like a dagger. And without any available means, she promised +Edoardo to procure him the required sum by next day. + +When he left the house, therefore, she threw herself at her father's +feet, and begged him for a sum of money that belonged to her, but of +which she could not dispose without his signature; but Cadori refused +it. I shall not repeat their dialogue. I shall only say, that she +came out from that conference in a state of distraction. Her mind was +fraught with desolation. Hideous thoughts passed through her brain. +It was night: she found she was alone. She felt desperate. A terrible +temptation passed through her mind. Her father, she knew, had heaps +of gold lying useless in his coffers; but locks and bolts placed +their contents out of reach. She then bethought herself of the +countess's bureau, in which her own cross had been deposited, secure +from the old man's covetousness. There, too, the countess kept her +treasures. She took a light, observed whether any one saw her, or +could follow her, and repaired to the apartment of the Countess +Galeazzi, who was from home, spending the evening with an old +acquaintance. Hardly breathing, and walking on tiptoe, Sophia took a +key from under a bell-glass, and opened the bureau. Oh, how she felt +her heart throb! She was terrified; she trembled in every movement! +The noise she made in opening the money-drawer seemed to be the +footsteps of some person following to lay hands on her. The light of +the lamp, reflected in the mirrors and in the furniture, seemed to +her so many eyes that looked on and reproached her. She opened the +drawer and took out her cross. Under it were several notes of the +bank of Vienna. The temptation was strong; she laid her hands on the +papers; but a thrill of terror seemed communicated through her frame +by the touch, and, overcome by intense excitement, she fell senseless +on the floor. + +Some time afterwards the Countess Galeazzi returned home. On entering +her apartment, she beheld the wretched girl stretched on the floor +with the diamond cross in her hand. The bureau was still open. She +ran to succour Sophia, and by the application of essences recalled +her to life. The moment the latter awoke to consciousness, she threw +herself on her knees, wept desperately, tried to speak, but could +not; the only words she was at length able to articulate +were--'Forgive me! forgive me!' + +The countess used every means to pacify her, by the compassionate +expression of her countenance, by her maternal gestures, caressing +and pressing her to her bosom, with words of comfort and tenderness. + +'Calm yourself, calm yourself,' she said; 'go and take some repose; +you have need of it.' + +'Countess,' replied Sophia, then wept anew. 'Shame, shame and +desperation! Oh, wretch that I am! Oh, my poor heart!' + +'Go, go to bed, Sophia; to-morrow we will talk. Here is the light.' +Saying this, she reached her the lamp with one hand and led her by +the other, using a little affectionate violence to conduct her out of +the room, and prevent her from speaking another word. + +The next day Sophia was so overwhelmed with grief and shame, that she +took to her bed, struck down by a violent fever, which was the +commencement of a dangerous illness. The countess was her nurse. + +Edoardo, having lost the source whence he derived all his supplies, +through the illness of Sophia, could no longer prevent his father +from coming to the knowledge of his irregularities. He was +immediately recalled to Venice, and shut up in a house of correction. +Disgraced in the eyes of the companions of his debaucheries, and +forced in his solitary confinement to make painful reflections on the +consequences of his conduct, he seemed to be cured of his fatal +passion, and when released, he returned no more to Padua; but, giving +up the study of the law, he devoted himself to commerce, to which the +contagious mania of making money, of becoming rich, made him steadily +apply himself. His old inclination had changed its name; it was +'mercantile speculation;' but the substance remained the same. He had +written to Sophia that his father would not consent to his marriage, +unless it were with a lady of large fortune: unfortunately, she was +not rich enough; however, that he would wed none but her, and that +they must be resigned, and trust to time; and Sophia, living on the +few letters that Edoardo continued to write her, and grieving that +she was not as rich as Valperghi would have wished, waited and hoped. +Her illness had been long and dangerous; her youth, and the care +bestowed on her, had alone been able to save her life. She had long +been oppressed by remorse: it was long ere she dared to lift her eyes +to the countess, or address one word to her. + +The latter had sought to evade every allusion to the past; and the +poor girl, beginning to overcome her fears, ended at length in making +her her friend, her confidante. She told her everything, and was +fully forgiven everything. + +After a time, Sophia recovered. They had lived together for four +years, during which Sophia had opened her whole heart to that lady, +made her the repository of all her everyday thoughts, her hopes; but +the countess had always answered her with vague, uncertain words, or +with silence. Alas! Sophia was fated to lose every object on which +she had set her affection. After having closed the eyes of her mother +and sister, adverse fortune obliged her to witness the death of the +Countess Galeazzi. + +When her affairs were looked into, it was found that she left her +large fortune to Sophia Cadori; so that that which deprived her of so +tender, so generous a friend, should also have made her happiness +complete. Every obstacle that divided from her Edoardo, which +separated her from him she loved so ardently, had vanished. In a few +days a boundless love, a love of six years, a love she had cherished +through so many sorrows, would be crowned! In a few days she would be +Sophia Valperghi! + +She wrote a letter full of the joys and hopes soon to be realised to +her dear Edoardo; she was happy, as happy as she had desired, as +happy as she had so long dreamed of being; she made all preparations +for her marriage. Being now quite independent of him, she spoke of it +to her father--to every one; she sought garments of the colour and +taste that she knew Edoardo liked; she imagined and planned a +thousand surprises. How many times did she put the cherished wreath +on her head, consult her mirror, study every position in which those +flowers might appear to better advantage and increase her beauty! How +often did she open the box that contained it to kiss it, to look at +it, scarcely daring to touch it for fear of spoiling a leaf, of +disarranging a fibre! + +At length came the answer to her letter; an answer that to any other +person might have seemed constrained, cold, terrible; but it was, on +the contrary, to Sophia the seal of her felicity. She was only +afflicted that Edoardo should have made illness an apology, which he +said prevented him from coming immediately to Padua. To Sophia it was +as clear as the sun that expressions of affection did not abound, +because they had now at command what she and Edoardo had so long +hoped and looked for; that the letter did not dwell on particulars, +precisely because great joy is not talkative, and because the illness +of Edoardo prevented it. She made ready to set out to Venice without +delay, expecting that her father would join her there, and that the +nuptials would be celebrated in that city when the health of Edoardo +would permit. + +Arrived at Venice, she was set down at the house of the Valperghi, +and ordered the trunk which contained the few robes she had brought +with her to be brought into a room, into which she had been +introduced while the servants went to announce her arrival to Edoardo. + +After a few minutes he entered the apartment, to discover who wanted +to see him; and, on recognising Sophia, was disconcerted and abashed. +She was surprised at seeing him splendidly dressed, as if for some +extraordinary occasion. Then he was _not_ ill! She read confusion and +terror in his countenance. + +'My own Edoardo,' said she, after some moments of silence;' are you +quite recovered?' + +'It was but a slight indisposition, as I have written to you,' +replied he; 'nor was there any reason for your hasty presence in +Venice.' + +'Edoardo, Edoardo!--there was no reason!--I have written to you! +Edoardo, why do you speak so to me? Why are you disturbed? Are you no +longer my own Edoardo? Tell me, tell me what is the matter with you? + +'Nothing. But what do you think will be said of you? A young girl +alone in the house of a family she does not know!' + +'Oh, Edoardo, you kill me! Explain yourself more clearly. This a +house I do not know? Am I not to be mistress in this house? Am I not +to be your wife?' + +'But without any previous announcement of your coming, it would not +be well if my father were to find you here so unexpectedly. I think +it would be better if you were to lodge, at least for a very short +while, in an inn.' + +'Your father! But am I not rich enough for him? This is a fearful +mystery. Explain it, if you do not wish me to die.' + +This conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, +saying: 'Signor Edoardo, your bride requests you to pass into her +apartment for a moment.' + +Sophia had strength to command herself until the man was gone away. +She then threw, or rather let herself fall into a chair, covering her +face with her hands, crying: 'His bride! his bride! Is it true? Is it +not a dream? For mercy's sake, if you have the heart of a man, tell +me that it is false, that I have not heard rightly. For pity's sake +answer me--answer me or kill me.' + +'It is too true, Sophia; it was my father's will. In a little time I +am to give my hand to another woman.' + +'Oh, merciful Heaven! I have heard these words, and live. Oh, my poor +life! But it cannot be: it is not true: you are not yet married: +there is still time. Go--fly to the feet of your father, tell him you +do not love that woman--that you love me, me only; that you have +loved me for six years!' + +'Impossible, Sophia; things have already gone too far. She is a +princess--one of the first families of Florence. It breaks my heart, +but it is impossible.' + +'What matters her rank, her relatives, if you do not love her?' + +'And if I did love her?' said Edoardo, wavering, rather to see +whether it would be a means of ridding him of Sophia than expressing +the sincere feeling of his heart. + +'If you did love her? oh, then, you would he the most infamous of +men--you would he a monster. But no; you cannot have forgotten your +vows; you cannot have forgotten all your words, our life of six +years.' Then rising, and throwing herself on her knees: 'Oh! Forgive +me, Edoardo; forgive my words. I rave; I know not what I say! Tell me +that you have only wished to put my affection to the proof--that you +love no other woman--none but me alone! Oh, do not drive me from this +house, Edoardo; do not give yourself to another woman!' + +'Sophia, if I could help it, do you think I would make you weep +thus?' + +'If you could help it? What prevents you? Nothing--nothing.' + +'Honour, Sophia.' + +'Honour! Where was your honour if you have forgotten all your sacred +promises--if you have perjured yourself?' + +'Sophia, Sophia, pity me. Do not make me the talk of all Venice. I am +the most infamous of men; but I can do nothing for you. Now I will +confess to you the whole truth--a truth I had not the heart to tell +you before. That woman is already my wife; I have married her by +civil contract; and the ceremony that is about to be performed +presently is a mere formality. Sophia, forgive me if you can--forgive +me, and depart.' + +'Oh, no, no, I cannot go from this house. I will die here before your +eyes.' + +A sound of footsteps was heard. It was easy to guess that those light +steps were a woman's. Edoardo turned towards a table, as if to look +for some papers, saying to himself: 'I am lost.' And Sophia knelt +down by the trunk that contained her clothes, pretending to rummage +for something in it, while she wiped away her tears, and suppressed +her sighs. + +Edoardo's bride entered. She stood for a moment perplexed, seeing a +woman with him; then said: 'Edoardo, I sent for you that you might +yourself choose one of these wreaths. Which of them do you think will +become me best?' showing him at the same time two bridal wreaths +which she held in her hand. + +'Neither,' said Sophia, rising and presenting a third wreath to the +bride. 'The Signor Edoardo ordered me to make this some time ago for +his bride, and I trust I have not laboured in vain.' + +'In truth it is much handsomer than either of these others,' said the +bride; 'but you told me nothing of this, Edoardo?' + +'It was a surprise,' added Sophia. + +'My own Edoardo,' said the bride again; 'another kindness; a new +expression of your love. Oh, how dear this wreath will be to me!' and +she retired, taking it with her. + +Sophia looked at the door through which the lady had disappeared, and +bursting into tears, exclaimed: 'Oh my poor wreath!' + +'Sophia, Sophia, you are an angel,' said Edoardo. 'Once more I owe +you my life.' + +'Since she is yours,' replied Sophia mournfully, and sitting down +faint and exhausted on her trunk--'since she is yours, ought I to +bring death to her mind, the death that I feel already in my poor +heart? No one knows, no one can know what is suffering, but those who +suffer; oh, no woman ever endured what I endure at this moment! +Go--go, Edoardo; prepare yourself for the ceremony: they are waiting +for you. I have no more reproaches to make you--no more right to make +them. All was in that wreath, and in renouncing that, I have +renounced this. Go--I have need of not seeing you. I promise you that +when you return I will be no longer here to trouble you with my +presence.' + +Edoardo, pale, confused, penitent, bent a long last gaze on Sophia; +then left the room, saying: 'I am a villain--I am a villain.' + +Two hours after, the marriage-ceremony was performed. The gondolas +that bore the bridal cortège, on their return from the church of St +Moisè, were met by some fishing-boats that had drawn up a drowned +female. The gondolas had to stop in order to let them pass. 'A sad +omen for the bride and bridegroom,' said an old woman of the company. + +Edoardo, who had recognised that pale corpse, had thrown himself at +the bottom of his gondola, in order to conceal his emotion, and with +a convulsive motion pressed the hand of his bride, which he held +between his own. The simple girl, interpreting that squeeze as an +expression of love, said: 'Oh, my Edoardo, you will ever love me?' + +'Ever, ever,' replied Edoardo, wiping away a tear. He then muttered +to himself: 'Poor, poor Sophia!--she was an Angel, and I am a +villain.' + + + +THE DUKE OF NORMANDY. + +A ROMANCE OP REAL LIFE. + +The continental journals announced that, on the 10th of August 1845, +there died at Delft, in Holland, Charles-Louis, known as the 'Duke of +Normandy.' This individual presented one of those extraordinary +instances of doubtful identity which we find scattered over ancient +and modern biography. The mystery of his birth has not been cleared +up by his death, and continues as impenetrable as that of the +celebrated Man with the Iron Mask. + +It is well known that, in 1791, Louis XVI. of France was overtaken +during his attempted flight from France at Varennes, and afterwards +dragged to the prison of the Temple. He was accompanied by his +family, which consisted of his wife, Marie Antoinette, his sister, +daughter, and his only son, the dauphin of France. On the 21st +January 1793, the unfortunate monarch was beheaded; and his son, +still a prisoner, was partially acknowledged as Louis XVII., though +only in the ninth year of his age. This was but a mockery, for his +captivity only became the more close and cruel. He was separated from +his mother, and handed over to the custody of one Simon, a ferocious +cobbler, and his wife, who, besides practising all sorts of external +cruelties on him, tried every means to demoralise his mind. When this +ruffian was promoted to a seat in the 'Commune' (a kind of common +council), the royal prisoner's hardships increased. He was shut up in +a room, rendered totally dark both night and day. In this he was kept +for a whole year, without once being allowed to leave it; neither was +his body or bed linen changed during that time. The filth, stench, +and vermin amidst which the child dragged on his existence, at +length, it is said, terminated it. On the eve of death, his +persecutors sent the physician Dessault to see if his life could be +prolonged by better treatment; but the doctor's reply was that it was +too late: nothing could save him; and his demise was announced to +have taken place on the 8th of June 1795, at the age of ten years and +two months. The National Convention, which then managed the public +affairs, appointed a commission to verify the event, and the body was +opened by two surgeons, named Pelletan and Dumangin. In speaking of +the remains, they describe them as a corpse 'represented to us as +that of Charles-Louis.' The doctor Pelletan took out the heart, and +preserved it in spirits of wine; which he gave to the deceased's +sister when she had married the Duke d'Angoulême. The rest of the +body was huddled with other corpses into a common grave in the +cemetery of the parish of St Margaret; so that, at the restoration of +the Bourbons in 1815, when Louis XVIII. desired that the remains of +his predecessor should be disentombed, they could not be +distinguished. + +The equivocal wording of the medical report, aided by other +suspicions, caused an idea to gain extensive currency that a dead +child had been substituted for the royal infant; and that he had +escaped from his jailers by a well-laid plan, carried out by his +partisans. This notion was so prevalent, that we find, amongst the +records of the Convention, a decree dated June 14, 1795--only six +days after the date fixed as that of the young king's death--ordering +him to be sought for along all the roads of the kingdom. However, the +better-informed part of the community were firmly convinced that +Louis XVII. was dead and buried; and from that time till 1832, the +belief was never effectually disturbed. Taking advantage of the +doubt, several impostors made their appearance, claiming to be the +prince. The first of these was one Hervagaut, who, when discovered to +be a tailor's son, was condemned in 1802 to four years' imprisonment. +In 1818, Mathurin Bruneau, a shoemaker, tried the same trick; but +failing, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. In short, no +fewer than fifteen impostors have been enumerated; all of whom +pretended to be the wretched young prince, returned from exile after +escaping from the Temple. The latest claimant is the subject of the +present notice; and so startlingly do some of the circumstances of +his career coincide with the short history of the son of Louis XVI., +that many well-informed persons really believe he was the person he +represented himself to be. + +Between the termination of Charles-Louis's imprisonment by death or +otherwise, and the appearance of this individual on the scene, it may +be necessary to remind the reader that several revolutions and +counter-revolutions had swept over France. Napoleon's career had +begun and ended; the allies had seated the Bourbons on the throne in +the person of Louis XVIII., brother to Louis XVI., and uncle to his +latest predecessor; Charles X. had succeeded, and was driven from the +throne by the revolution of 1830, which seated Louis-Philippe on it +in his stead. All these events had taken place when the story of the +so-called Duke of Normandy commences. + +On an unusually hot evening for the season--an early day in the May +of 1832--a man covered with dust, and who appeared to be borne down +with fatigue, entered Paris through the Barrier d'Italie. Still, he +traversed the Boulevard de l'Hôpital with a firm step, being a fine +well-made man, apparently about forty-eight years old. On arriving at +the bridge of Austerlitz, he crossed to the toll-bar at the further +extremity, and was accosted by the keeper, an invalid soldier, who +demanded the toll. Upon this he made a sign that he did not +understand French; but, on the other pulling out a sous piece, to +intimate the nature of his demand, the stranger shook his head, +heaved a deep sigh, and, after some hesitation, drew forth a fine +handkerchief, which he threw towards the toll-keeper, and hastened +away in the direction of the Boulevard Bourbon, to Père la Chaise. He +got within the gates just before they were closed for the night, and +concealing himself amongst the tombs and bushes, escaped the notice +of the watchmen. It was thus that the stranger passed his first night +in Paris. + +The day was far advanced when he was found, too much overcome by +hunger and fatigue to rise. A gentleman accidentally passing, +observed and pitied his condition. After supplying him with some +food, he recommended him to solicit the assistance of a benevolent +lady whom he named, as she was known far and near for her readiness +to help foreigners in distress; besides, she spoke the German +language fluently, the only one the worn-out traveller understood. +Acting upon this advice, he repaired to the generous Comtesse de R.'s +residence, at No. 16 Rue Richer. She was a lady well stricken in +years, and preserved an enthusiastic veneration for the Bourbon +branch of the royal family, having been _femme de chambre_ to the son +of Louis XVI. When the wretched wayfarer presented himself to her, +she naturally inquired who he was. To which he replied in German, 'I +am Charles-Louis, Duke of Normandy, son of Louis XVI. and Marie +Antoinette.' Upon hearing this unexpected reply, the good old +countess fainted. On recovering her senses, she exclaimed, 'Good +Heavens! he is the very image of his unfortunate mother!' On calmer +reflection, however, she was but half convinced, and determined to +put the stranger's identity to another test. She had kept as a relic +a little blue robe with metal buttons, which was worn by the royal +infant when she nursed him. This she brought forth; and the stranger +no sooner saw it, than he exclaimed, 'Ah, my little coat!' After +this, Comtesse de R. declared her belief that he was her prince to be +so firm that she would have died on the scaffold rather than recant. +Without hesitation, she gave up the best apartments of her house for +his use and occupation; she even offered for his acceptance the +remains of her fortune. This, however, he at once refused, asking no +more from her than that she would send for a tailor to equip him with +habiliments more in accordance with his pretensions than the tatters +he then wore. This the countess did, and was not slow in imparting to +her royalist friends of whom she was the honoured hostess. All +acknowledged the extraordinary similarity both in person and manner +which the stranger bore to the royal family. Some were enthusiastic +believers; others, with all their _legitimist_ enthusiasm, were +sceptical. Amongst the former was a certain Monsieur S. de L., who +thought the appearance of the 'prince' a miracle in reference to that +particular time. Louis-Philippe, when he accepted the crown nearly +two years before, had done so with great apparent reluctance. 'How +happy, therefore, will he be,' said this visionary politician, 'to +remove the burden of the state from his own shoulders to those of the +rightful heir to the throne!' But before so curious a proposition was +made to the king of the French, the other royalists consulted M. de +Talleyrand. He replied, with his usual epigrammatic irony, 'There are +some people who are born with two left hands. This is poor S.'s case: +added to which, he seems to have been brought into the world without +brains.' Upon this the party wisely determined to keep the 'prince's' +presence in Paris as quiet as possible. Another of his adherents, M. +de Forbin Janson, the fiery bishop of Nancy, suggested that, as the +illustrious stranger's chance of the throne was somewhat remote, he +should enter the church, in which the highest dignities awaited him. +This was also found to be impracticable when Neündorf (the name by +which the 'prince' now declared he had hitherto been known) revealed +that he was a married man, and the father of six children. + +The more sceptical part of his adherents very naturally wished to +know--supposing his story to be true--how in his early years he +escaped from the Temple; and when the stranger had sufficiently +mastered the French language--which he took but a short time to +acquire--he gave a most circumstantial and plausible account of his +early adventures. His narrative was carefully noted down at the time, +and, translated, consists in substance as follows: 'I cannot be said +to have _escaped_ from my jailers,' he began, 'for I left the prison +in the most natural manner possible. Some time before the day of my +supposed death, a royalist committee was formed for the purpose of +saving me. One of these was M. Frotté, who, as the pupil of my +physician Dessault, was allowed free ingress and egress to the +Temple. One day he entered my cell, motioned me to be silent, seized +me, and dragged me to a cabinet under the spire of the tower. A sick +child who had been given over by the faculty was substituted in my +place, and he, dying two days after (8th June 1795), was buried as +Louis XVII. At my supposed death, there being no more prisoners in +the Temple, all the keepers and guards were withdrawn, and I was +conducted outside the walls without meeting a single official. The +ruse, however, got wind, and the decree of the 14th of June was the +consequence. To frustrate this, the royalist committee caused several +children to personate me, imparting to the impostors several +circumstances connected with my family. One they sent to Bordeaux, +another to La Vendée, a third to Germany, and so on. These are the +children who, when they became men, tried to keep up the character +which they had been previously taught to play. This explains the +incredible number of false _dauphins_ who have appeared.' He ended by +declaring that when, in 1814, the Congress of Vienna ceded the crown +of France to Louis XVIII., they knew perfectly well of his existence; +but the obligations the allies were under to 'his uncle,' overwhelmed +the scruples they felt at investing that prince with a sovereignty to +which he had no title. + +One thing appeared improbable--how the assumed prince should have +forgotten his native language. He was ten years of age at the period +of his leaving France, and spoke French as cleverly as any other boy, +if not more so. How, then, did he lose this faculty? A residence in +Germany, even for so great a length of time as thirty-seven years, +could hardly have obliterated the French language from his mind. This +does not appear to have teen explained, and, with some other +circumstances, it served to check the credulity of parties half +inclined to believe the representations of M. Neündorf. + +Further proofs were therefore required; and several were afterwards +afforded. The details of the first are somewhat singular. At this +time (July 1832) there lived in the village of Gallardon, at the +extremity of Beauce, a peasant named Martin, who had the reputation +of receiving revelations from above, which he acquired so far back as +1818, when Mathew Burneau and other spurious princes made their +appearance. One Sunday in that year, during mass, Martin saw a vision +in which he said an angel commanded him to get an interview with +Louis XVIII., the purport of which should be afterwards revealed to +him. Immediately after his return from church, Martin having taken +leave of his wife and family, commenced his journey on foot to Paris. +On the fifth day he arrived there, went straight to the palace of the +Tuileries, and demanded to be admitted to the king. In the simplicity +of his heart, he told the guards that his mission was of a celestial +nature; but they, not finding messengers from above among the list of +visitors set down in the orders of the day, handed poor Martin over +to the municipal authorities, who transferred him to the Bicêtre +lunatic asylum. Here he remained for some time, during which his +exemplary piety and touching resignation attracted the attention and +respect of the principal physician, who often made him the subject of +general conversation. At the end of two months Louis heard of the +circumstance, and actually consented to see the harmless man. At the +interview, he imparted to the king the substance of a second +revelation; which was, that his majesty's nephew, Louis XVII., was +still alive, and would return at no very distant period; and that if +the king he addressed attempted to undergo the ceremony of +coronation, the direst calamities would follow; amongst others the +dome of the cathedral (of Rheims) would fall in, and crush every soul +taking part in the rites. Whether the majesty of France took any +serious heed of this enthusiast's warning, it is impossible to say; +but one thing is certain--Louis XVIII. never _was_ formally crowned. +When Martin returned to his village, he found that the king had +bought the house which he rented, and presented it to him to live in +for the rest of his days. This, together with his interview with +royalty--of which he of course made no secret--elevated the poor +visionary to the character of a prophet amongst the population of +that part of the country; many of whom indeed formed themselves into +a sect called Martinists, and devoutly expected the re-appearance of +the son of Louis XVI. + +As these facts were notorious in 1818, they had not been forgotten in +1832, and it was not at all unnatural that the least credulous of the +Comtesse de R.'s friends should suggest that Neündorf should be shown +to the Beauce prophet. Accordingly, in September, a journey to St +Arnould, near Dourdan, was undertaken; and without saying who he was, +or pretended to be, Neündorf was there confronted with Martin. In an +instant, it is said, the prophet recognised him as the person he had +seen in his second vision as Louis XVII. His enthusiasm knew no +bounds; he embraced the 'prince' with tears of joy, and in the +evening the whole party heard mass at the modest little church of St +Arnould. + +Whatever effect this scene may have had upon Neündorf's more educated +companions, it created a prodigious sensation in that part of the +country, and one which was extremely beneficial to the 'prince.' The +honest people could not do enough to testify their delight. After his +return to Paris, they organised subscriptions, in collecting which +the village priests took the lead. Under their influence the farmers +and peasantry subscribed not only cash, but produce, a regular supply +of which was sent every Saturday to Paris, under the charge of a +farmer of St Arnould, named Noel Pequet. It was ascertained that, +during the four months succeeding his appearance at St Arnould, the +value of upwards of £16,000 sterling was remitted to him from various +parts of France! + +With these supplies, and the contributions of the Comtesse de R. and +her friends, Neündorf was able to take a house, and set up an +establishment, which he did as Duc de Normandie, the title which had +been given by Louis XVI. to his son. He began housekeeping on a scale +of regal magnificence. He bought a carriage, and collected a handsome +stud of horses. His servants' liveries were splendid, and adorned +with gilt buttons, on which was embossed a broken crown. He even went +so far as to form a court and appoint a ministry; and, that nothing +should be wanting, he actually started a newspaper to advocate his +cause. The gentleman who undertook the responsible editorship of this +journal having, however, neglected to deposit the securities required +by law with the proper authorities, was arrested, and condemned to a +long imprisonment; which he duly suffered. The unfortunate victim to +loyal sentiments was one M. Widerkeer. This was the only evidence +vouchsafed by the higher powers of their knowledge of the duke's +proceedings. That the government of Louis-Philippe did not apprehend +any very serious extent of belief in Neündorf's pretensions, must be +inferred from the immunity with which they allowed him to carry on +his proceedings, and to accept the contributions of the royalists. On +the other hand, it must be noticed that Louis-Philippe's seat on the +throne was not so firm as it afterwards became; and he may have been +afraid to disturb Neündorf, lest he should have excited the enmity of +a very powerful party. + +It must be owned that the evidence which the pretender had hitherto +produced, was only calculated to gain over persons of limited +experience and strong legitimist prejudices. A circumstance, however, +which afterwards took place, was of a nature to stagger more +obstinate sceptics: it had indeed that effect. We translate it from +the words of an individual who was present when it happened. The Duc +de Normandie was at dinner, surrounded by several friends. 'Among the +company was an old lady, who, having recently arrived from the +provinces, had never heard of the "prince," and, on being presented +to him, was extremely astonished to find herself in the presence of +so illustrious a person. After dinner, the conversation turned upon +the duke's younger days, and the lady referred to addressed him in +these words--"I, monseigneur, never saw the dauphin; but an old +friend, who was constantly near his person in his infancy, has +described to me that from the midst of his lower jaw there sprung out +two teeth. They were incisors, and as straight and pointed as the +teeth of a rabbit." Without speaking a word, he pulled open his lower +lip, and exhibited to the company such a pair of rabbits' teeth as +were described.' + +This occurrence confirmed the duke's adherents in their belief of his +identity with the victim of the first revolution, and the presence of +the rightful heir to the throne of France created some stir in Paris. +Perhaps the aspirant to royalty and his friends felt disappointed +that the government did not evince its dread by some little +persecution, over and above the imprisonment of Widerkeer. To account +for this forbearance, dark suspicions were whispered regarding the +_secret_ intentions of the ruling powers; and these were not long in +being corroborated. One day in November, the duke expressed a desire +to imitate certain other royalties by examining the streets of the +capital, and mixing with its humble citizens _incog._ To this end he +sallied forth alone, and even condescended to take his dinner at +Véfour's celebrated restaurant. The evening was unusually dark, and +while returning to his house across the open space at the back of the +Tuileries (La Place de Carousal), he felt his shoulder suddenly +grasped by a strong hand, and in another instant a poniard was +plunged more than once into his breast, with the words, 'Die, +Capet!' [*] Fortunately, the intended victim wore inside his +coat a medal of the Virgin, which had belonged, it was understood, to +Marie Antoinette, his mother; this, receiving the point of the +dagger, preserved his life, though several flesh wounds were +inflicted. The assassin fled; nor did the duke make any alarm for +fear of being obliged to appear at the municipal guardhouse, and thus +get into the power of the government. When he reached home, he was +faint from loss of blood, and kept his bed for a fortnight. + +[Footnote: _Meurs, Capet!_--Capet is the family name of the Bourbons, +as Guelph is that of the House of Brunswick.] + +The suspicions of foul-play entertained by his 'court' were +confirmed; they regarded the bravo as an emissary of the government, +and the _'Meurs, Capet!'_ as an acknowledgment of the duke's right to +the crown! There were, however, ill-natured people who went about +hinting that, as the victim was quite alone, and became the teller of +his own story, the diabolical deed _might_ have been done by himself, +to strengthen the faith of his followers. Nor were these sceptics +silenced when the gashes in the coat, the dents in the medal, and the +blood of the royal sufferer was pointed out. But upon the whole, +whether true or false, the circumstance materially strengthened the +duke's position; and, on recovery, he began to play the prince in +earnest. + +He wrote to the Duchess of Berri, and to 'his sister' the Duchess of +Angoulême. To the latter he offered to prove his identity in the +following manner: 'When in the Temple,' he said, 'our royal mother +and our aunt wrote several lines on a paper, which paper was cut in +halves. One piece was given to you, and when we meet I will produce +its fellow, which has never been out of my possession since our fatal +separation.' The truth of this was never put to the test, for no +answer was deigned to his letter. + +At length the state in which the Duke of Normandy lived, the constant +visits of his increasing partisans, and his general proceedings, +attracted the attention of the police; and the heir to the French +throne was made to understand that he stood a likely chance of being +thrown into prison, and brought up to answer for his conduct before +the Court of Assize. Upon this he determined to live less +ostentatiously, and withdrew to a hotel in the Rue St Guillaume (No. +34), with which address none but a chosen few of his devoted +partisans were made acquainted. Though formerly disappointed at +having been passed so contemptuously over by the authorities, he now +seemed in great dread of them. He never dared to appear abroad, and +instituted particular signs and modes of knocking at his door, when +those in the secret wished admittance. The proprietor of the house +entertained from these proceedings very disagreeable suspicions, and, +lest he should get into trouble himself, gave his illustrious lodger +notice to quit. Some weeks after, the claimant of the crown was +really arrested; but exile, and not imprisonment was his doom. He was +placed in the _coupe_ of a diligence between two policemen, and +conducted beyond the frontiers of France. In 1838 we find him in +England, still calling himself the Duke of Normandy. + +He took up his quarters in Camberwell Green, near London, and in +November of the above year, suffered a second attempt upon his life. +He was, it seems, returning from an outhouse in the garden, when a +man confronted him, and fired two pistols at his breast. He pushed +aside the weapons with the candlestick he happened to be carrying; +but two bullets entered his left arm. The assassin escaped over a +drain into a back-street; but having been recognised, was +subsequently captured. A surgeon was sent for, and the bullets +extracted, after having done no serious injury. The criminal turned +out to be one of his late adherents, by name Desire Rousselle; who, +on examination before the magistrates of the police-office at Union +Hall, could assign no motive for the deed; and after two more +examinations he was discharged, the duke declining to prosecute. The +next appearance of his grace of Normandy at a police-office was in +character of defendant. It seems that he had turned his attention to +the art of pyrotechnics, and his explosive experiments were so +alarming to the quiet neighbourhood of Camberwell, that he was +summoned to answer for his conduct; but on promising not to repeat +it, the complaint was dismissed. It would appear that his experiments +were not altogether useless; for at a trial of newly-invented shells +before the Board of Ordnance at Woolwich, the duke's missiles were +declared either second or third, we forget which, in point of +efficiency. Indeed he seems to have occupied himself almost +exclusively with scientific pursuits whilst in England. At Chelsea, +whither he removed, the duke constructed a set of work-shops and +laboratories, in which he, with his assistants and pupils, diligently +wrought. In what his scientific labours and experiments would have +resulted, it is impossible to say, for they were interrupted by a +third attempt on his life. While alone in one of his work-shops, late +at night, a bullet was fired at him from a hidden and still +undiscovered enemy. The shot missed him; but, afraid to remain in +this country any longer, he retired to Delft, in Holland, where it +seems he died a natural death on the 10th of August 1845. + +Whatever opinions may be formed of the truth of this individual's +story of his birth, it is certain that a great many persons in +France, whose opinions are entitled to respect, believed him to have +been Louis XVII. Amongst the notices in the French papers to which +his decease gave rise, was a note written by M. Herbert, once +director of the military posts in Italy. It appears that when in that +office, the man Neündorf was, in 1810, arrested at Rome, and +interrogated by M. Radet, chief of police in that city: the latter, +pronounced him to be in reality the son of Louis XVI. Than M. Radet, +there could not be a better judge of the matter, for he happened to +be one of the five persons who arrested Louis and his family when +they tried to quit France, and were intercepted at Varennes. Our own +impression is, notwithstanding this and all other circumstances to +the contrary, that the man was an impostor, and such we believe will +also be the impression generally among our readers. + + + +DUTCH ANNA. + +It was shortly after the outbreak of the French Revolution that the +humble heroine of this story made her appearance in my native +village. Dutch Anna (for so she was called by the country people) +was, as the name implies, a native of Holland; and at that time she +might be about twenty-five years of age. She was of the middle size, +stoutly and firmly built, with a round, good-humoured face, dark +hair, clear, honest-looking hazel eyes, and a mouth which, though +wide, was expressive of decision and firmness. Her dress, which never +varied in style, consisted of a coloured petticoat of a thick woollen +material, a short bed-gown of striped cotton, confined round the +waist by the strings of a snow-white apron, a close-fitting, modest +cap, underneath the plaited border of which appeared her glossy hair, +neatly braided over her low, broad forehead; add to this a pair of +well-knit stockings, which the shortness of her petticoats afforded +ample opportunity of admiring, with heavy wooden shoes, and you have +a complete picture of Dutch Anna's costume. At the time I speak of, +the prejudice entertained by the mass of the people against +foreigners was much greater than in the present day, when the means +of communication between different countries are so much improved, +and the general diffusion of knowledge has shown the unreasonableness +of regarding with distrust and contempt those of our fellow-creatures +who have been born in a different climate, and trained in different +customs to our own. It may therefore be readily imagined that Anna +was for a time regarded with suspicion and jealousy, for the very +reason which ought to have commanded the sympathy and good-will of +her neighbours--'that she was a stranger in the land.' Her mode of +life perhaps increased the prejudice against her. Respecting the +reason of her voluntary exile, she preserved a studied silence; +though I afterwards learned that the persecution she endured from her +own family on the subject of religion was the principal cause. Our +village adjoined a populous manufacturing district, and Anna, having +been accustomed to such occupation, soon obtained employment. Being a +person of a peculiarly reserved and serious turn of mind, she could +not endure the thought of living in lodgings; and as she was not able +to furnish or pay the rent of a cottage, she hired for a trifling sum +an old lonely barn belonging to my father, who was a small farmer, +and, with the labour of her own hands, managed to put it into a +habitable condition. The furniture of this rude dwelling was simple +enough, consisting of a bed of clean straw, a round deal table, and +two three-legged stools. The whitewashed walls were ornamented with +coloured prints on Scripture subjects, framed and glazed; and a small +looking-glass, placed in a position to secure the best light afforded +by the little window, completed the decorations. Various were the +conjectures formed by the villagers respecting this inoffensive +though singular woman; and many were the stories circulated, all +tending to keep alive the prejudice her eccentricities were +calculated to excite. + +A casual circumstance, which led to my becoming obliged to Anna, at +length enabled me to overcome the suspicion and dislike with which +our neighbour was regarded. Our acquaintance speedily ripened into +friendship; for with the reaction natural to the generous, I felt as +though I could never sufficiently compensate for my former injustice +towards her. Often in an evening I would put on my bonnet, and, +taking my work with me, go to spend a leisure hour with Dutch Anna; +and on these occasions she generally entertained me with descriptions +of her own country, and of the customs and manners of its +inhabitants; or with striking anecdotes and incidents which had come +under her own personal observation; never failing to draw some useful +moral or illustrate some important truth from what she related. She +could read well, and write a little--rare accomplishments in those +days for one in her situation in life. Her powers of observation were +extremely acute, and her memory retentive; but what struck me as her +most remarkable characteristics, were her sincere and unaffected +piety, her undeviating truthfulness, and her extraordinary decision +and fearlessness. When I have said, on bidding her good-night, 'Anna, +are you not afraid to be left alone here during the night, with no +one within call?' she has replied, 'Afraid, Miss Mary! no; how can I +feel afraid, knowing myself under the protection of One as great and +powerful as He is wise and good? I am never alone, for God is ever +present with me.' After Anna had resided some years in this country, +during which time she had, by her constant good-conduct, gained the +esteem of all who knew her, and, by her good-nature and willingness +to oblige, won the kindly feeling of even the most prejudiced, she +became anxious to pay a visit to her native land; and as the +accommodations for travelling at that period, besides being few, were +costly, she obtained letters of recommendation from her employers and +other gentlemen in the place to friends residing in different towns +on her route, and set out, intending to perform the greater part of +her land-journey on foot. At the end of several months she returned, +and quietly resumed her former mode of life. Not till fully a year +after this period did she relate to me an adventure which had +occurred to her on her journey homewards, and which I shall now +transcribe. + +It was at the close of an autumn day that Anna, who had been walking +since early morning with scarcely an interval of rest, found herself, +in spite of her great capability of enduring fatigue, somewhat +foot-sore and weary on arriving at the town of ----. As she passed +along the streets, she observed an unusual degree of bustle and +excitement; and, on inquiring the cause, found that a large +detachment of soldiers, on their way to the continent, had arrived in +the town that afternoon, and that some difficulty was experienced in +finding them accommodation. This was not very agreeable news for +Anna, tired as she was; however, she pursued her way to the house of +the clergyman, where she had, in passing that way before, been +hospitably entertained, hoping that there she might be able to +procure a lodging, however humble. But in this she was disappointed; +for though the good clergyman and his wife received her kindly, they +could not offer her shelter for the night, as they had already more +guests than they could conveniently accommodate. Anna would have been +contented and thankful for a bed of straw by the kitchen fire; but +even this they could not give, as the lower apartments were wanted by +those who had been obliged to give up their beds. + +At length, after some hesitation, the clergyman said, 'I know but of +one place where you could at this time find a lodging. You appear to +be a woman of good courage, and if you dare venture, you may occupy a +room in that house you see from this window. It is uninhabited, and +has been so for some years, as it has the reputation of being +haunted. Anna looked in the direction indicated, and saw through the +deepening twilight a large two-storied house, built of a dull red +brick, with stone copings, standing at some distance from the +high-road. The house itself occupied a considerable extent of ground, +being beautifully situated, with fronts to the south and west. The +principal entrance was by folding-doors, half of which were glass; +and the house was sheltered on the north and east by a grove of +trees, whose branches, now but thinly covered with leaves, waved +mournfully to and fro in the night wind. 'The last proprietor of that +place,' continued the clergyman, 'was a vicious and depraved man, +whose very existence was a curse to the neighbourhood in which he +dwelt. At an early age he came into possession of a large property, +which he spent in the gratification of every base and lawless +passion. His life, as far as I can learn, was one unmixed course of +cruelty, lust, and impiety, unredeemed by one noble aspiration, one +generous, unselfish action. He died suddenly, in the prime of life, +in the midst of one of his riotous midnight orgies, and the house has +ever since been deserted. It is said, and believed by our good +towns-folks, that there he still holds his revels, with fiends for +his companions; and many affirm that they have heard the sound of +their unearthly merriment, mingled with shrieks and wailings, borne +upon the night-breeze; whilst the few who have ventured within its +walls, tell of shapes seen, and sounds heard, which would cause the +stoutest heart to quail. For myself, I am no great believer in the +supernatural, and have no doubt that imagination, united to the +loneliness of the spot, and the strange freaks the wind plays through +a large uninhabited house, have originated reports which we are sure +would lose nothing in the recital; so if you are inclined to make the +trial, I will see that what is necessary is provided, and I think I +may venture to promise you an undisturbed night's rest.' + +Anna, as I have before said, was remarkable for her fearlessness; so +she thanked the gentleman for his proposal, saying 'that she had not +the least fear of spirits, good or bad; that the former, if indeed +they were ever visible to mortal eyes, could be but messengers of +mercy; and for the latter, she could not conceive that a Being +infinite in goodness would ever permit them to revisit this earth for +the sole purpose of terrifying and tormenting innocent individuals +like herself; that she far more dreaded evil men than evil spirits; +and that as, from the estimation in which the place was held, she +should feel herself secure from them, she would thankfully accept his +offer.' As soon, therefore, as the necessary preparations were made, +and Anna had partaken of the good substantial fare set before her, +she begged to be allowed to retire to rest, as she was fatigued with +her day's journey, and wished to set out again early the next +morning. Her request was immediately complied with; the good +clergyman himself insisting upon seeing her safely to her +destination; when, having ascertained that proper provision had been +made for her comfort, and told her that refreshment should be +provided for her early next morning at his house, he bade her +good-night, and left her to repose. As soon as he was gone, Anna +proceeded to take a more particular survey of her apartment. It was +a large, but not very lofty room, panelled with oak, and having two +windows looking across a wide lawn to the main road. The bright fire +in the ample fireplace illuminated the richly-carved cornice, with +its grotesque heads and fanciful scrollwork. It had evidently been a +dining-room, for some of the heavy furniture, in the fashion of the +period in which it had been last inhabited, still remained. There +were the massive table and the old-fashioned high-backed chairs, with +covers of what had once been bright embroidery, doubtless the work of +many a fair hand; but what attracted her attention most, was a +picture over the chimney-piece. It was painted on the wooden panel; +perhaps the reason it had never been removed, though evidently the +work of no mean artist. It represented a scene of wild revelry. At +the head of a table, covered with a profusion of fruits, with glasses +and decanters of various elegant forms, stood a young man; high above +his head he held a goblet filled to the brim with wine; excitement +flashed from his bright blue eyes, and flushed the rounded cheek; +light-brown hair, untouched by powder, curled round the low narrow +forehead; whilst the small sensual mouth expressed all the worst +passions of our nature. Around the table sat his admiring parasites; +young beauty and hoary age, the strength of manhood and the earliest +youth, were there, alike debased by the evidences of lawless passion. +With what a master-hand had the painter seized upon the individual +expression of each! There the glutton, and here the sot; now the eye +fell on the mean pander or the roystering boon-companion; now on the +wit, looking with a roguish leer upon his fair neighbour, or the +miserable wretch maudlin in his cups; and again on the knave +profiting by the recklessness of those around him. The bright blaze +of the fire lit up the different countenances with a vivid and +lifelike expression; and as Anna gazed, fascinated and spell-bound, +her thoughts naturally reverted to what she had heard of the life and +character of the last owner of the place. Was that youthful figure, +so evidently the master of the revel, a portrait of the unhappy man +himself who had thus unconsciously left behind him not only a +memorial, but a warning. How often had the now silent halls echoed to +the brawl of the drunkard, the song of the wanton, the jest of the +profane, the laugh of the scorner! It was here, perhaps in this very +room, that the dread hand of death had struck him; here he had been +suddenly called to account for property misused, a life misspent. +Saddened by these reflections, she turned from the picture, and +taking her Bible from her bundle, she drew aside the tarnished +curtains, and seated herself at one of the windows. The moon had by +this time risen, and was shedding her soft light on the peaceful +landscape without. The beauty of the scene soothed her excited +feelings; and as she read, her mind resumed its accustomed serenity. +Closing her book, she prepared to retire to rest, first examining +the doors, of which there were two: the one by which she had entered, +opening into the front hall, she found to be without a lock, or +indeed any fastening at all; the other, leading in an opposite +direction, she was unable to open. As, however, she was quite free +from apprehension, she felt no uneasiness from this circumstance; +and, commending herself to the care of her heavenly Father, she +composed herself to rest, and soon fell soundly asleep. + +How long she had slept she could not tell, when she was awoke by what +seemed to her the confused sounds of song and merriment. So deep had +been her sleep, that it was some time before she could rouse herself +to a recollection of her situation. When, however, she had done so, +she raised herself in bed, and listened; all was silent, save that +the night, having become rather gusty, the wind at intervals swept +moaningly round the deserted mansion. The fire was almost out, but +the candle in the lantern which stood by her bedside shed a feeble +light upon the oaken floor; and the moon, though occasionally +overcast, was still high in the heavens. Readily concluding the +disturbance to have been wholly imaginary, the result of the +impression made by her waking thoughts upon her sleeping fancies, +Anna composed herself again to sleep; but scarcely had she lain down, +when the same sounds, low at first, but gradually becoming louder and +more distinct, broke in upon the silence. The noise appeared to her +to proceed from a distant part of the house, and came with a kind of +muffled sound, as though doors of some thickness intervened. Peals of +laughter, bursts of applause, snatches of song, crashing of glass, +mingled in wild confusion. Higher and higher grew the mirth, louder +and louder swelled the tumult, until, when the uproar appeared to +have reached its height, there was a pause--a silence as profound as +it was sudden and appalling. Then there rang through the wide +deserted halls and chambers a shrill despairing shriek, whilst far +and near, above, below, around, rose mocking and insulting laughter. +Dauntless as Anna was, and firm as was her reliance on the protection +of Heaven, it would perhaps be too much to say that she felt no +quickening of the pulse, no flutterings and throbbings of the heart +as she listened. But surprise, and a strong desire to penetrate the +mystery, greatly preponderated over any feelings of alarm, and her +first impulse was immediately to endeavour to find her way to the +scene of the disturbance. But a moment's consideration showed her how +foolish and imprudent this would be, totally unacquainted as she was +with the house, and with no better light than the feeble glimmer of +her lantern. If it was the work of designing persons, such a step +would be but to expose herself to danger, whilst, if the effect of +supernatural agency, she could neither learn what they wished to +conceal, nor shun what they chose to reveal. She therefore decided +upon passively awaiting the result of her adventure. As these +thoughts passed rapidly through her mind, the noise subsided, the +laughter became fainter and fainter; until at length it died away, +seemingly lost in the distance, and silence once more reigned around. +After the lapse of a short interval, this was again broken by a noise +resembling the rattling and clanking of a chain dragged heavily +along, which seemed to approach by slow degrees towards her +apartment, and as gradually receded; then again approached, and again +receded; and so on several times, but each time coming nearer than +before; until at length it paused beside that door of her room which +Anna had been unable to open. Cautiously raising her head from the +pillow, Anna endeavoured, with fixed and strained look, to pierce the +darkness in which that part of the room was enveloped; but though she +could not distinguish anything, and though no sound was made, she +became, with a thrill more nearly approaching terror than she had +before experienced, instinctively conscious that she was no longer +alone. Resolutely determined, however, not to yield to feelings of +alarm, Anna said, in a firm, unfaltering voice: 'Whoever or whatever +you are that thus disturb my repose and intrude upon my privacy, show +yourself, and name your errand, if you want anything from me; if not, +begone, for your attempts to terrify me are vain. I fear you not.' +The only answer returned was a low laugh; and where the moonlight +streamed in through the partly-drawn window-curtain, there stood a +frightfully-grotesque figure. Its body, as well as Anna could +distinguish, resembled that of a beast, but the head, face, and +shoulders were those of a human being; the former being decorated +with a horn over each shaggy eyebrow. It stood upon all fours, but +the front legs were longer than those behind, and terminated in claws +like a bird. Round its neck an iron chain was hung, which, as it now +slowly advanced, sometimes in the light, and sometimes in the shade, +it rattled menacingly. The sight of this creature, far from +increasing Anna's alarm, considerably diminished it, and she lay +perfectly quiet, steadily watching its movements, until it came +within arm's-length of her, when, suddenly springing forward, she +seized hold of it with a firm grasp, exclaiming: 'This is no spirit, +for here is flesh and bone like myself.' + +Apparently, the ghost being composed of too solid materials to melt +in air, had no other resource than to oppose strength to strength, +for it struggled vigorously, and with some difficulty succeeded in +freeing itself from Anna's hold. No sooner was it at liberty, than it +made for the door with as much speed as its various encumbrances +would allow; and Anna, now completely roused, and forgetting all +prudential considerations in the excitement of the moment, hastily +put on a few articles of clothing, and, throwing her cloak around +her, seized her lantern and followed. The ghost had, however, gained +so much in advance of her, that it was with some difficulty she could +decide which way to turn, but, guided by the clanking of the chain, +she went boldly along a wide stone passage, and through several +rooms, opening one out of another, until, just as she was again +within sight, and almost within reach of the object of her pursuit, +it suddenly disappeared; and Anna, in her eagerness, springing +quickly forward, was herself the next moment precipitated through an +opening in the floor, in her fall breaking her lantern. Fortunately +she alighted on a heap of straw, or the consequences might have been +fatal. As it was, though bruised and stunned by her sudden descent, +she did not entirely lose consciousness, but was sensible of a +confused murmur of voices near her; and as her perceptions became +clearer, she was aware that the tones, though low, were earnest and +angry, and that she herself was the subject of conversation. + +'I tell you it is the only thing to be done; so what's the use of +talking about it, you fool,' were the first words she distinguished. + +'But,' interrupted another voice, evidently a woman's, 'would it not +be better to wait and see?' + +'Death and fury, wait and see what?' fiercely exclaimed the first +speaker. 'If she's dead, it'll do her no harm; and if she isn't, the +sooner a stopper's put in her mouth the better.' + +Completely roused from her stupor by the danger with which she was +threatened, Anna opened her eyes, and perceived that she was in a +large vaulted cellar, at one end of which was a small heated furnace. +Scattered about the floor, and on rudely-constructed work-benches, as +though the persons using them had hastily abandoned their employment, +were many curious-looking tools and machines, together with heaps of +metal of different sizes, and in different stages of manufacture, +from the merely moulded shape to the finished shilling or guinea. +Some half-dozen or eight men and women were grouped together, amongst +whom she recognised the _ghost_, not quite divested of his masquerade +dress. In a single glance Anna perceived all this, and it needed no +conjuror to tell her that she had fallen into the hands of a gang of +coiners. + +Fully sensible of the peril of her situation, her extraordinary +courage did not forsake her; for Anna, though somewhat peculiar in +her religious opinions, was perfectly sincere, and even at this awful +moment felt unshaken, confidence in the protecting care of +Providence. Though a foreigner, she possessed great command of the +English language, and her style, notwithstanding its singularity and +quaintness, was well calculated to overawe the rude and lawless band +into whose hands she had fallen. With a calm and steady gaze she met +the eye of the ruffian, who brandished his weapon before her, and +said, 'I pray you do not commit this great wickedness, nor shed the +blood of a helpless woman, who has never injured you.' + +'Oh, come,' interrupted the man in a surly tone, 'let's have none of +that gammon, for it'll be of no use. If folk will meddle in others +folk's concerns, they must take the consequences; we're not such +fools as to put the rope round our own necks, I can tell you.' + +'Nay, but hear what I have to say,' repeated Anna, eluding the man's +grasp as he endeavoured to seize hold of her; 'my coming here was no +fault of my own, and I promise not to betray you.' + +'Oh ay, a likely tale,' said the man with a brutal laugh. 'We're all +for ourselves in this world, and no mistake; so we shall just put you +where you can tell no tales, old girl.' + +'Stop; hear what she has to say: you shall; you must,' cried a young +woman who started up from a table at the further end of the cellar, +at which she had been seated, with her face buried in her hands, +during the foregoing colloquy. 'I tell you, Jack,' she continued, +advancing into the midst of the group, and laying her hand on the +man's arm, 'you shan't touch that woman: you won't; I know you won't. +Bad enough you are--we all are, God knows--but there's no blood upon +our hands yet; and,' added she, lowering her voice, 'blood will +speak, you know--_remember_.' The man's countenance fell as the girl +uttered the last words; he relaxed his hold of the knife; and Anna, +taking advantage of his indecision, and the relenting expression she +thought she read in the dark faces round her, related her simple +story, dwelling particularly upon the danger the corners would incur +were she missing, and their security in case she was allowed to +proceed on her journey, after seeing her friend the clergyman. Taking +courage from the attention of her hearers, she even ventured to +remonstrate with them upon their dangerous mode of life, and +entreated them to abandon it, and seek their subsistence honestly. + +There was a pause of some minutes after Anna ceased speaking, during +which the coiners exchanged with each other looks of mingled +admiration and astonishment. At length one of them, who appeared to +take the lead, addressing his companions, said, 'The woman has spoken +well, and there is reason in what she says. It is true enough that +murder will out; and though she is a stranger, she was known to come +here. Her disappearance might excite suspicion, suspicion would lead +to inquiries, inquiries to search, and then all would be up with us; +besides, a few weeks will see us clear of this place, if we have +luck, and I think we may trust her so long.' Then turning to Anna, he +continued, 'You have a spirit of your own, and I like you the better, +and would trust you the sooner for it; none but fools rely on the +word of a coward, but one who dare speak the honest truth, without +fear or favour, when in peril of life, is not likely to break faith, +I think; so you shall go free, on condition that you take a solemn +oath not to reveal to any one the events of this night until six +months have passed; by that time we shall have quitted not only this +neighbourhood, but the country, and,' he added with a laugh, 'the +ghost that has kept all the men in ---- quaking after dark, like a +pack of frightened children, will be laid for ever. Have I said well, +my comrades?' There was a general murmur of assent, and the man +continued: 'Recollect, then, that if you break your oath, your life +will be the forfeit: we have means to ascertain and punish treachery; +and should you attempt foul-play, you can no more escape our +vengeance than here in this lonely place you can resist our power. +Will you swear, by all you hold most dear and sacred, to keep our +secret inviolable for the time agreed?' To this proposition Anna, as +will be readily believed, joyfully assented, and being conducted by +her strange acquaintances back to her sleeping apartment, she most +gladly, when morning dawned, bade adieu to the scene of her singular +and alarming adventure. On arriving at the clergyman's house, she was +not sorry to find but few of the family stirring, as she naturally +wished to avoid much questioning. In answer to the inquiries which +were made as to how she had passed the night, she said that she had +been much annoyed and disturbed; and though she avoided entering into +particulars, she strongly advised that no one should be permitted to +try a similar experiment, assuring them that she believed few could +pass through what she had done without sustaining severe, if not +permanent injury from it. Having thus, as far as lay in her power, +acquitted her conscience, she pursued her journey. In a few days she +arrived at home; but it was not until several months over the time +specified had elapsed, that she related the adventure to me, in order +to show how little dependence is to be placed on the stories told of +ghosts and haunted houses. As Dutch Anna said: 'Evil men have +generally more to do with such stories than evil spirits, and, after +all, it is possible to give a certain gentleman and his agents more +than their due.' + + + +THE LOCKSMITH OF PHILADELPHIA. + +Some years ago, in the city of Philadelphia, there lived an ingenious +locksmith, named Amos Sparks. Skilled as a maker and repairer of +locks, he was particularly celebrated for his dexterity in opening +them, when it was necessary to do so in cases of emergency. Like many +men of talent in other departments, Amos Sparks was poor. Though a +very industrious and prudent man, with a small and frugal family, he +merely obtained a comfortable subsistence, but he never seemed to +accumulate property. Whether it was that he was not of the race of +money-makers, whose instinctive desire of accumulation forces them +to earn and hoard without a thought beyond the mere means of +acquisition--or whether the time occupied by the prosecution of new +inquiries into still undiscovered regions of his favourite pursuit, +and in conversation with those who came to inspect and admire the +fruits of his ingenuity, were the cause of his poverty, we cannot +undertake to determine--but perhaps various causes combined to keep +his finances low; and it was quite as notorious in the city that Amos +Sparks was a poor man, as that he was an ingenious mechanic. But his +business was sufficient for the supply of his wants and those of his +family, and so he studied and worked on, and was content. + +It happened that, in the autumn of 18--, a merchant in the city, +whose business was extensive, and who had been bustling about the +quay and on board his vessels all the morning, returned to his +counting-house to lodge several thousand dollars in the Philadelphia +bank, to renew some paper falling due that day; when, to his +surprise, he had either lost or mislaid the key of his iron chest. +After diligent search, with no success, he was led to conclude that, +in drawing out his handkerchief, he had dropped the key in the +street, or perhaps into the dock What was to be done? It was one +o'clock--the bank closed at three, and there was no time to advertise +the key, or to muster so large a sum of money as that required. In +his perplexity the merchant thought of the poor locksmith. He had +often heard of Amos Sparks; the case seemed one particularly adapted +to a trial of his powers, and being a desperate one, if he could not +furnish a remedy, where else were there reasonable expectations of +succour? A clerk was hurried off for Amos, and having explained the +difficulty, speedily reappeared, followed by the locksmith with his +implements in his hand. + +The job proved more difficult than had been anticipated, and, fearful +of losing credit by the delay, the merchant offered five dollars' +reward to Amos if he would open the chest in as many minutes. Amos +succeeded. The lock was picked, and the chest flew open. There the +merchant's treasures lay, but they were not yet in his possession. As +he enjoyed but a poor reputation for uprightness of dealing, Amos +could not trust to his promise of payment. Holding the lid in his +hand, he respectfully requested the sum which had been offered; and, +as he had expected, it was refused. A much less sum was meanly +proposed in its stead, on the plea that it was surely sufficient for +a few minutes' work. Amos was indignant and inexorable. The merchant +shuffled and fumed. In an instant down went the lid of the chest, +and, fastening by a spring, it was again locked as securely as +before. + +The merchant looked aghast at Amos, and then darted a glance at the +clock: the hand pointed to within twenty minutes of three, and seemed +posting over the figures with the speed of light. What was to be +done? At first he tried to bully, but it would not do. Amos told him, +if he had sustained any injury, he might sue as soon as he pleased, +for that his time was too precious just now to be wasted in trifling +affairs; and, with a face of unruffled composure, he turned on his +heel and was leaving the office. + +The merchant called him back--he had no alternative--his credit was +at stake--he was humbled by the necessity of the case; and handing +forth the five dollars, 'There, Sparks,' said he, 'take your money, +and let us have no more words.' + +'I must have ten dollars now,' replied the locksmith. 'You would have +taken advantage of a poor man; and, besides opening your strong box +there, I have a lesson to offer which is well worth a trifling sum. +You would not only have deprived me of what had been fairly earned, +but have tempted me into a lawsuit which would have ruined my family. +You will never in future presume upon your wealth in your dealings +with the poor, without thinking of the locksmith, and those five +dollars may save you much sin and much repentance.' + +This homily, besides being preached in a tone of calm determination, +which left no room to hope for any abatement, had exhausted another +minute or two of the time already so precious. The merchant hurriedly +counted out the ten dollars, which Amos deliberately inspected, to +see that they belonged to no insolvent bank, and then deposited them +in his pocket. Having thus made quite sure of his reward, he +dexterously opened the lock, and placed the merchant in possession of +his property, in time to save his credit at the bank. + +About a month after this affair, the Philadelphia bank was robbed of +coin and notes to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. The bars of a +window had been cut, and the vault entered so ingeniously, that it +was evident the burglar had possessed, besides daring courage, a good +deal of mechanical skill. The police scoured the city and country +round about, but no clue to the discovery of the robbery could be +traced. The public mind was powerfully excited. Everybody who had +anything to lose, felt that daring and ingenious felons were abroad, +who might probably pay them a visit; all were therefore interested in +the discovery and the conviction of the perpetrator of so daring a +deed. Suspicions at length began to settle on Sparks; but yet his +poverty and known integrity seemed to give them the lie. The story of +the iron chest, which the merchant had hitherto been ashamed, and +Amos too forgiving, to tell--for the latter did not care to set the +town laughing at the man who had wronged him--now began to be told. +The merchant, influenced by a vindictive spirit, had whispered it to +the directors of the bank, with sundry shrugs and innuendoes; and of +course it soon spread far and wide, with all sorts of exaggerated +variations and additions. Amos thought for several days that some of +his neighbours looked and acted rather oddly, and he missed one or +two who used to drop in and chat almost every afternoon; but not +suspecting for a moment that there was any cause for altered +behaviour, these matters made but a slight impression on his mind. +In all such cases, the person most interested is the last to hear +disagreeable news; and the first hint that the locksmith got of the +universal suspicion was from the officer of the police, who came with +a party of constables to search his premises. Astonishment and grief +were the portion of Amos and his family for that day. + +'Cheer up, my darlings,' said Amos, who was the first to recover the +sobriety of thought that usually characterised him--'cheer up--all +will yet he well; it is impossible that the unjust suspicion can long +hover about us. A life of honesty and fair-dealing will not be +without its reward. The real authors of this outrage will probably be +discovered soon, for a fraud so extensive will make all parties +vigilant; and if not, why, then, when our neighbours see us toiling +at our usual occupations, with no evidences of secret wealth or +lavish expenditure on our persons or at our board, and remember how +many years we have been so occupied and so attired, without a +suspicion of wrong-doing even in small matters attached to us, there +will be good-sense and good-feeling enough in the city to do us +justice.' + +There was sound sense and much consolation in this reasoning: the +obvious probabilities of the case were in favour of the fulfilment of +the locksmith's expectations. But a scene of trial and excitement--of +prolonged agony and hope deferred--lay before him, the extent of +which it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for him then +to have foreseen. Toiled in the search, the directors of the bank +sent one of their body to negotiate with Amos--to offer him a large +sum of money, and a guarantee from further molestation, if he would +confess, restore the property, and give up his accomplices, if any +there were. It was in vain that he protested his innocence, and +avowed his abhorrence of the crime. The banker rallied him on his +assumed composure, and threatened him with consequences; until the +locksmith, who had been unaccustomed to dialogues founded on the +presumption that he was a villain, ordered his tormentor out of his +shop, with the spirit of a man who, though poor, was resolved to +preserve his self-respect, and protect the sanctity of his dwelling +from impertinent and insulting intrusion. + +The banker retired, baffled, and threatening vengeance. A +consultation was held, and it was finally determined to arrest Sparks +and commit him to prison, in the hope that, by shutting him up, and +separating him from his family and accomplices, he would be less upon +his guard against the collection of evidence necessary to a +conviction, and perhaps be frightened into terms, or induced to make +a full confession. This was a severe blow to his family. The +privations forced upon them by the want of the locksmith's earnings +were borne without a murmur--and out of the little that could be +mustered, a portion was always reserved to buy some trifling but +unexpected comfort or luxury to carry to the prisoner. + +Some months having passed without Sparks having made any confession, +or the discovery of any new fact whereby his guilt might be +established, his prosecutors found themselves reluctantly compelled +to bring him to trial. They had not a tittle of evidence, except some +strange locks and implements found in the shop, and which proved the +talent, but not the guilt, of the mechanic. But these were so +various, and executed with such elaborate art, and such an evident +expenditure of labour, that but few, even of the judges, jury, or +spectators, could be persuaded that a man so poor would have devoted +himself so sedulously to such an employment, unless he had had some +other object in view than mere instruction or amusement. His friends +and neighbours gave him an excellent character; but on their +cross-examination, all admitted his entire devotion to his favourite +pursuit. The counsel for the banker exerted himself with considerable +ability. Calculating in some degree on the state of the public mind, +and upon the influence which vague rumours, coupled with the +evidences of the mechanic's handicraft exhibited in court, might +have on the mind of the jury, he dwelt upon every ward and +winding--on the story of the iron chest--on the evident poverty of +the locksmith, and yet his apparent waste of time--and asked if all +this work were not intended to insure success in some vast design? He +believed that a verdict would be immediately followed by a +confession, for he thought Amos guilty, and succeeded in making the +belief pretty general among his audience. Some of the jury were half +inclined to speculate on the probabilities of a confession, and, +swept away by the current of suspicion, were not indisposed to +convict without evidence, in order that the result might do credit to +their penetration; but this was impossible, even in an American court +of justice, in the good old times of which we write. Hanging persons +on suspicion, and acquitting felons because the mob think murder no +crime, are modern inventions. The charge of the judge was clear and +decisive. He admitted that there were grounds of suspicion--that +there were circumstances connected with the prisoner's peculiar mode +of life that were not reconcilable with the lowness of his finances; +but yet of direct testimony there was not a vestige, and of +circumstantial evidence there were not only links wanting in the +chain, but, in fact, there was not a single link extending beyond the +locksmith's dwelling. Sparks was accordingly acquitted; but as no +other clue was found to direct suspicion, it still lay upon him like +a cloud. The vindictive merchant and the dissatisfied bankers did not +hesitate to declare, that although the charge could not be legally +brought home, they had no doubt whatever of his guilt. This opinion +was taken up and reiterated, until thousands, who were too careless +to investigate the story, were satisfied that Amos Sparks was a +rogue. + +Amos rejoiced in his acquittal, as one who felt that the jury had +performed a solemn duty faithfully, and who was glad to find that his +present experience had strengthened rather than impaired his reliance +on the tribunals of his country. He embraced his family as one +snatched from great responsibility and peril; and yet Amos felt that +though acquitted by the jury, he was not by the town: he saw that in +the faces of some of the jury, and most of the audience, which he was +too shrewd an observer to misunderstand. He wished it were otherwise; +but he was contented to take his chance of some subsequent +revelation; and if it came not, of living down the foul suspicion. + +But Amos had never thought of how he was to live. The cold looks, +averted faces, and rude scandal of the neighbours, could be borne, +because really there was some excuse in the circumstances, and +because he hoped that there would be a joyful ending of it all at +some future day. But the loss of custom first opened his eyes to his +real situation. No work came to his shop; he made articles, but he +could not sell them; and as the little money he had saved was +necessarily exhausted in the unavoidable expense of the trial, the +family found it impossible, aided by the utmost exertion and economy, +to meet their current outlay. One article of furniture after another +was reluctantly sacrificed, or some little comfort abridged, until, +at the end of months of degradation and absolute distress, their bare +board was spread within bare walls, and it became necessary to beg, +to starve, or to remove. The latter expedient had often been +suggested in family consultations, and it is one that in America is +the common remedy for all great calamities. The Sparkses would have +removed, but they still clung to the hope that the real perpetrator +would he discovered, and the mystery cleared up; and, besides, they +thought it would he an acknowledgment of the justice of the general +suspicion if they turned their hacks and fled. They lived upon the +expectation of the renewed confidence and companionship of old +friends and neighbours, when Providence should deem it right to draw +the veil aside. At length, to live longer in Philadelphia became +impossible, and the whole family prepared to depart. Their effects +were easily transported, and as they had had no credit since the +arrest, there was nobody to prevent them from seeking a livelihood +elsewhere. + +Embarking in one of the river boats, they pushed up the Schuylkill, +and settled at Norristown. The whole family being industrious and +obliging, they soon began to gather little comforts around them; and +as these were not embittered by the cold looks and insulting sneers +of the neighbourhood, they were comparatively happy for a time. But +even here there was for them no permanent place of rest. A traveller +passing through Norristown, on his way from the capital to the Blue +Mountains, recognised Sparks, and told somebody he knew that he +wished the community joy of having added to the number of its +inhabitants the notorious locksmith of Philadelphia. The news soon +spread. The family found that they were shunned as they had formerly +been by those who had known them longer than the good people of +Norristown, and had a fair prospect of starvation opening before +them. They removed again. This time there was no inducement to +linger, for they had no local attachments to detain them. They +crossed the mountains, and, descending into the vale of the +Susquehanna, pitched their tent at Sunbury. Here the same temporary +success excited the same hopes, only to be blighted in the bud by the +breath of slander, which seemed so widely circulated as to leave them +hardly any asylum within the limits of the State. We need not +enumerate the different towns and villages in which they essayed to +gain a livelihood, and failed. They had nearly crossed the State in +its whole length, been driven from Pittsburg, and were slowly wending +their way further west, and were standing on the high ground +overlooking Middleton, as though doubtful if there was to be rest for +the soles of their feet even there. They hesitated to try a new +experiment. Sparks seated himself on a stone beneath a spreading +sycamore--his family clustered around him on the grass: they had +travelled far, and were weary, and, without speaking a word, as their +eyes met, and thinking of their prolonged sufferings and slender +hopes, they burst into a flood of tears, in which Sparks, burying his +face in the golden locks of the sweet girl who bowed her head upon +his knee, joined audibly. At length, wiping away his tears, and +checking the rising sobs that shook his manly bosom--'God's will be +done, my children,' said the locksmith; 'we cannot help weeping, but +let us not murmur. If we are to be wanderers and fugitives on the +earth, let us never lose sight of the promise which assures us of an +eternal refuge in a place where the wicked cease from troubling and +the weary are at rest. I was perhaps too proud of that skill of +mine--too apt to plume myself upon it, above others whose gifts had +been less abundant. My error has been that of wiser and greater men, +who have been made to feel that what we cherish as the means of +obtaining earthly blessings, sometimes turns out a curse.' + +To dissipate the gloom which hung over the whole party, and beguile +the half hour they intended to rest in that sweet spot, Mrs Sparks +drew out a Philadelphia newspaper which somebody had given her upon +the road, and called their attention to the deaths and marriages, +that they might see what changes were taking place in a city that +still interested them, though they were banished for ever from its +borders. She had hardly opened the paper when her eye glanced on an +article which she was too much excited to read. Amos, wondering at +the emotion displayed, gently disengaged the paper, and read: 'Bank +robber--Sparks not the man.' His own feelings were as powerfully +interested as those of his wife, but his nerves were stronger; and he +read out, to an audience whose ears devoured every syllable of the +glad tidings, an account of the conviction and execution of a wretch +in Albany, and who had confessed, among other daring and heinous +crimes, the robbery of the Philadelphia bank, accounting for the +disappearance of the property, and exonerating Sparks, whose face he +had never seen. These were tidings of great joy to the weary +wayfarers beneath the sycamore; their resolution to return to their +native city was formed at once, and before a week had passed, they +were slowly journeying to the capital of the State. + +Meanwhile, an extraordinary revulsion of feeling had taken place at +Philadelphia. Newspapers and other periodicals which had formerly +been loud in condemnation of the locksmith, now blazoned abroad the +robber's confession--wondered how any man could have been for a +moment suspected upon such evidence as was adduced on the +trial--drew pictures of the domestic felicity once enjoyed by the +Sparkses, and then painted--partly from what was known of the +reality, and partly from imagination--their sufferings, privations, +and wrongs in the pilgrimage they had performed in fleeing from an +unjust but damnatory accusation. The whole city rang with the story. +Old friends and neighbours, who had been the first to shun them, now +became the loud and vehement partisans of the family. The whole city +was anxious to know where they were. Some reported that they had +perished in the woods; others that they had been burned in a prairie, +which not a few believed; while another class averred that the +locksmith, driven to desperation, had first destroyed his family, and +then himself. All these stories of course created as much excitement +as the robbery of the bank had done before, only that this time the +tide set the other way; and when the poor locksmith and his family, +who had been driven like vagabonds from the city, approached its +suburbs, they were met, congratulated, and followed by thousands: in +fact, theirs was almost a triumphal entry. And as the public always +like to have a victim, Sparks was advised on all hands to bring an +action against the directors of the bank: large damages would, they +knew, be given, and the banker deserved to suffer for the causeless +ruin brought on a poor but industrious family. + +Sparks was reluctant to engage in any such proceeding. His character +was vindicated, his business restored. He occupied his own shop, and +his family were comfortable and content. But the current of public +opinion was too strong for him. All Philadelphia had determined that +the banker should suffer. An eminent lawyer volunteered to conduct +the suit, and make no charge if a liberal verdict were not obtained. +The locksmith pondered the matter well. His own wrongs he freely +forgave, but he thought that there had been a readiness to secure the +interests of a wealthy corporation by blasting the prospects of a +humble mechanic, which, for the good of society, ought not to pass +unrebuked. He felt that the moral effect of such a prosecution would +be salutary, teaching the rich not to presume too far upon their +affluence, and cheering the hearts of the poor while suffering +unmerited persecution. The suit was commenced, and urged to trial, +notwithstanding several attempts at compromise on the part of the +banker. The pleadings on both sides were able and ingenious; but the +counsel for the plaintiff had a theme worthy of the fine powers he +possessed. At the close of a pathetic and powerful declamation, the +audience, who had formerly condemned Amos in their hearts without +evidence, were melted to tears by the recital of his sufferings; and +when the jury returned with a verdict of ten thousand dollars damages +against the banker, the locksmith was honoured by a ride home on +their shoulders amidst a hurricane of cheers. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Young and Old, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR YOUNG AND OLD *** + +***** This file should be named 10454-8.txt or 10454-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/4/5/10454/ + +Produced by Roy Brown + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10454-8.zip b/old/10454-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..32e663a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10454-8.zip diff --git a/old/10454.txt b/old/10454.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dd8a66b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10454.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6826 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Young and Old, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales for Young and Old + +Author: Various + +Release Date: December 14, 2003 [EBook #10454] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR YOUNG AND OLD *** + + + + +Produced by Roy Brown + + + + +TALES +FOR +YOUNG AND OLD + + + +PREFACE. + +When the older were considerably younger, and +young in infancy, the following interesting Tales were +written. + +W. & R.C. + + + +CONTENTS. + +THE BRIDE'S JOURNEY +THE HOME-WRECK +LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT +LUCY FENNEL +BILLY EGG +THE PLEDGE REDEEMED +THE TREE AND THE FOREST +THE THREE FRIENDS +THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTER +THE BLIND MAN OF ARGENTEUIL +THE BRIDAL WREATH +THE DUKE OF NORMANDY +DUTCH ANNA +THE LOCKSMITH OF PHILADELPHIA + + + +TALES FOR YOUNG AND OLD. + + + +THE BRIDE'S JOURNEY. + +BY MRS CROWE. + +In the year 1809, when the French were in Prussia, M. Louison, an +officer in the commissariat department of the imperial army, +contracted an attachment for the beautiful Adelaide Hext, the +daughter of a respectable but not wealthy merchant. The young +Frenchman having contrived to make his attachment known, it was +imprudently reciprocated by its object; we say imprudently, for the +French were detested by her father, who declared that no daughter of +his should ever be allied to one of the invaders and occupants of his +beloved country. Thus repulsed, M. Louison had the good sense not to +press his suit, and proceeded to Vienna, where he was installed in a +lucrative office suitable to his wishes and abilities. Here, however, +he could not altogether relinquish the expectation of being one day +married to the fair Adelaide Hext, with whom he continued to +correspond. + +After the lapse of a few months, the aspect of affairs underwent a +material change. Hext lay, as he supposed, and as the doctors told +him, on his death-bed, and, pondering on the probable destitution of +his family, he repented his rash vow, and stated to Adelaide that he +should no longer oppose her wishes. M. Louison, procuring leave of +absence for a few days, was speedily on the spot, and, with as little +loss of time as possible, was united to the daughter of the seemingly +dying merchant. As, in such circumstances, it would have been cruel +for Madame Louison to leave the bedside of her aged parent, it was +arranged that she should remain till the period of his decease, and +then join her husband, who, in the meanwhile, was compelled to +return to Vienna. The old man, however, recovered as soon as his +son-in-law departed, and he now almost wished the marriage were +undone; but as that was impracticable, he, with as good a grace as +possible, saw his daughter set out on her journey to Dresden, whence +she was to be escorted to Vienna by M. de Monge, a friend of her +husband. + +Nothing occurred to interrupt the journey of Madame Louison, for the +intermediate country was tranquil, and she had the happiness of +arriving safely under the roof of her husband's friend. This person +was one of those who will act conscientiously in all situations of +life, until they encounter an irresistible temptation to error. Such +was the present occasion. Overcome with the beauty of his +unsuspicious guest, he basely attempted to divert her affections from +her husband--an attempt which the noble Friedlander repelled with +becoming scorn. To cut short a long tale, this mortification filled +De Monge with vengeful sentiments, at the same time that his fears +were awakened, as he could hardly doubt that the lady would acquaint +her husband with his treachery. He affected to pass off his overtures +as nothing more than a jocular trial of her resolutions, but secretly +suffered from the torments of fear and resentment, insomuch that he was +at length driven to the contemplation of a dreadful crime. The story is +almost too incredible for belief, yet our authority assures us that the +facts occurred as we propose to state them. + +Having detained the lady in Dresden considerably beyond the day +When she expected to set out, De Monge was at length compelled to +Allow her departure. Her escort through the partially-disturbed +country in which she was to travel, was to consist of an individual +who was well acquainted with the roads, and had frequently acted as a +the Italian frontier. Mazzuolo, as this man was called, was an Italian +by birth, and gladly undertook a commission which promised him a +rich harvest of booty. His bargain with the treacherous De Monge was, +that if he made away with the life of Madame Louison while on the +journey, and before she could communicate with her husband, he was +to be at liberty to carry off all her baggage, which contained valuable +articles to a large amount. The Italian stipulated that his wife, +dressed in male attire, and a lad on whom he could depend, should +accompany him. + +Everything being settled, the morning of departure arrived. Adelaide +had not seen her travelling companions till they with the carriage, +into which she was handed by Mazzuolo, with all the deference that +her beauty and elegant attire might naturally command. She wore a +black velvet bonnet and Chantilly veil, a crimson silk pelisse +trimmed with rich furs, a boa of Russian sable; and, over all, a +loose pelisse, lined with fur. Mazzuolo and his wife thought that +this augured well for the contents of her trunks. + +The length of the journey, the dangers of the road, and the goodness +or badness of the inns they should have to rest at, formed the +subjects of conversation for the first hour or two. The stage was +very long, and it was eleven o'clock before they reached their first +relay of horses, by which time the young traveller had decided that +she had great reason to be satisfied with her companions. The Italian +was polite and entertaining; he had travelled a great deal, and was +full of anecdote; and being naturally lively and garrulous, the +design he entertained of taking away the life of his charge did not +prevent his making himself agreeable to her in the meantime. With his +well-seared conscience, he neither felt nervous nor saturnine at the +prospect of what was before him--why should he indeed?--for the only +part of the prospect he fixed his eye upon was the gain; the little +operation by means of which it was to be acquired, he did not think +very seriously of; besides, he did not intend to perform it himself. + +When they stopped to change horses, a lad of about seventeen years of +age, named Karl, nephew of Mazzuolo's wife, came to the carriage +door: he seemed to have been waiting for them. Mazzuolo spoke to +him aside for some minutes, and when they started again, the youth +mounted in front of the carriage. The Italian said he was a lad they +had engaged to look after the luggage, and be useful on the journey. +He was, in fact, one who was hired to do any piece of work, good or +bad. He possessed no moral strength, could be easily led by the will +of his employers; in short, was a very useful ally. He had a broad, +fair, stolid German face; and from the glimpse she had of him, +Adelaide thought she had seldom seen a more unprepossessing-looking +person. His home had been a rude and unhappy one; his manners were +coarse and unpolished, and his dress shabby. + +The first day's journey passed agreeably enough. When they arrived at +their night's station, Mazzuolo having handed out the ladies, bade +them go up stairs and order supper, whilst he and Karl looked to the +putting-up of the carriage. Agostina, or Tina, as her husband +commonly called her, insisted very much on having a room for Adelaide +adjoining her own, alleging as her reason that they were answerable +for her safety. The bride thanked her for her caution, but added, +laughingly, that she did not think she had much to fear. It was some +time before the two men joined them; and then they sat down to +supper, the lad Karl acting as waiter. As he stood beside his aunt's +chair, and exactly opposite Adelaide, he appeared much affected by +her beauty; but of this, of course, the lady took no notice. When +supper was over, being fatigued, she retired to her room; and then +the party that remained closed the door, and bidding Karl sit down +and eat his supper, they held a council on her fate. + +Mazzuolo opened the conference by mentioning that he had already +given the lad a hint of what was expected of him, and Tina asked him +if he thought he was equal to the undertaking. Karl said he did not +know; whereupon they encouraged him with promises of a handsome +share of the booty, telling him also that they would stand by him, and +help him if necessary. But the question was, how was the thing to be +done, and where? Whether on the road by day, or in the night where they +stopped? In either case, there were difficulties; many parts of the +road they had to pass were extremely lonely, and fit for the purpose; +but then, how were they to get rid of the postilion? And as they had +a fresh one at every stage, there was no time to win him to their +purpose. Then, at the inns, the obstacles were also considerable, +especially as the houses were generally small Tina suggested that +whenever the bride dropped out of the party, she had only to resume +her female attire, and the people would never miss her. 'Karl can +take my place in the carriage,' she said, 'and I Madame Louison's. +Thus we shall appear to be as many as we were; and there will be no +discrepancy with the passport.' The hint was approved; but after an +hour's discussion, they found it impossible to conclude upon any +plan; the execution of their projects must be left to chance and +opportunity--all they had to do was, to be prepared to seize upon the +first that offered. + +During the progress of this conversation, Karl made no observation +whatever. He listened in silence; not without attention, but without +objection, even although, in the different plans that were proposed, +he heard himself always designated as the active agent in the murder. +When the council broke up, the parties retired to bed--their present +station being too near Dresden for their purpose. Next day they +resumed their journey; and as their way lay through a gloomy forest, +nothing but the presence of the postilion saved the young bride's +life. The night was passed at a post-house, where there were so few +rooms, that Adelaide had to sleep in the same apartment with the +daughter of the owner: so here was nothing to be done either. The +Italians began to grow impatient at these difficulties, and Mazzuolo +proposed a change in their tactics. On the previous evening, the +weather being very cold, Madame Louison had ordered a fire in her +chamber. She would doubtless do the same on the ensuing night; and +all they had to do was to fill the stove with charcoal, and her death +would follow in the most natural way in the world. They were to pass +the night at Nuremburg; and, as soon as they arrived, Karl was sent +out to procure the charcoal; but, after remaining away a long time, +he came back saying the shops were all shut, and he could not get +any; and as the inn at Nuremburg was not a fit place for any other +kind of attack, Adelaide was respited for another four-and-twenty +hours. + +On the following day, in order to avoid such another _contretemps_, +the charcoal was secured in the morning whilst they were changing +horses, and placed in a sack under the seat of the carriage. + +It happened on this day that the road was very hilly, and as the +horses slowly dragged the carriage up the ascents, Madame Louison +proposed walking to warm themselves. They all descended; but Tina, +being stout, and heavy on her feet, was soon tired, and got in again; +whilst Mazzuolo, with a view to his design against Adelaide, fell +into conversation with the driver about the different stations they +would have to stop at. He wanted to extract all the information he +could--so he walked beside the carriage, whilst Madame Louison and +Karl, who were very cold, walked on as fast as they could. + +'You look quite chilled, Karl,' said she; 'let us see who will be at +the top of the hill first--a race will warm us.' + +The youth strode on without saying anything; but as she was the more +active, she got before him; and when she reached the top, she turned +round, and playfully clapping her hands, said, 'Karl, I've beaten +you!' Karl said he had had an illness lately, and was not so strong +as he used to be; he had gone into the water when he was very warm, +and had nearly died of the consequences. This led her to observe how +thinly he was clad; and when the carriage overtook them, she proposed +that, as there was plenty of room, he should go inside; to which the +others, as they did not want him to fall ill upon their hands, +consented. With the glasses up, and the furs that the party were +wrapped in, the inside of the carriage was very different to the out; +and Karl's nose and cheeks, which had before been blue, resumed their +original hues. + +It was late when they reached their night-station, and, whilst the +ladies went up stairs to look at their rooms, Earl received his +orders, which were, that he should fill the stove with charcoal, and +set fire to it, whilst the others were at table. The lad answered +composedly that he would. 'And when you have done it,' said Mazzuolo, +'give me a wink, and I will step out and see that all is right before +she goes to her room.' + +Karl obeyed his directions to a tittle, and when all was ready, he +gave the signal, and Mazzuolo, making a pretext, quitted the table. +He found the arrangements quite satisfactory, and having taken care +to see that the window was well closed, he returned to the +supper-room. He was no sooner gone than the boy took the charcoal +from the stove and threw it into the street; and when Adelaide came +to undress, there was no fire. Cold as it was, however, she had no +alternative but to go to bed without one, for there was not a bell in +the apartment; and Mazzuolo, who had lighted her to the door, had +locked her in, under pretence of caring for her safety. Karl, having +watched this proceeding, accompanied him back to the supper-table, +where they discussed the plans for the following day. Whether would +it be better to start in the morning without inquiring for her at +all, and leave the people of the house to find her dead, when they +were far on the road, or whether make the discovery themselves? Karl +ventured to advocate the first plan; but Tina decided for the second. +It would be easy to say that the lad had put charcoal in the stove, +not being aware of its effects, and there would be an end of the +matter. If they left her behind, it would be avowing the murder. This +settled, they went to bed. + +What to do, Karl did not know. He was naturally a stupid sort of lad, +and what little sense nature had given him, had been nearly beaten +out of him by harsh treatment. He had had a miserable life of it, and +had never found himself so comfortable as he was now with his aunt +and her husband. They were kind to him, because they wanted to make +use of him. He did not want to offend them, nor to leave them; for if +he did, he must return home again, which he dreaded above all things. +Yet there was something in him that recoiled against killing the +lady. Grossly ignorant as he was, scarcely knowing right from wrong, +it was not morality or religion that deterred him from the crime; he +had a very imperfect idea of the amount of the wickedness he would be +committing in taking away the life of a fellow-creature. Obedience +was the only virtue he had been taught; and what those in authority +over him had ordered him to do, he would have done without much +question. To kill his beauteous travelling companion, who had shown +him such kindness, was, however, repugnant to feelings he could not +explain even to himself. Yet he had not sufficient grasp of intellect to +know how he was to elude the performance of the task. The only +thing he could think of in the meanwhile was to take the charcoal out +of the stove; and he did it; after which he went to sleep, and left +the results to be developed by the morning. + +He had been desired to rise early; and when he quitted his room, he +found Mazzuolo and his wife already stirring. They bade him go below +and send up breakfast, and to be careful that it was brought by the +people of the house. This was done; and when the waiter and the host +were present, Tina took the opportunity of knocking at Madame +Louison's door, and bidding her rise. To the great amazement of the +two Italians, she answered with alacrity that she was nearly dressed, +and should be with them immediately. They stared at each other; but +presently she opened the door, and appeared as fresh as ever; +observing, however, that she had been very cold, for that the fire +had gone out before she went to bed. This accounted for the whole +thing, and Karl escaped all blame. + +During the ensuing day nothing remarkable occurred: fresh charcoal +was provided; but at night it was found there were no stoves in the +bed-chambers; and as the houses on the road they were travelling were +poor and ill-furnished, all the good inns having been dismantled by +the troops, the same thing happened at several successive stations. + +This delay began to render the affair critical, for they were daily +drawing near Augsburg, where M. Louison was to meet his wife; and +Mazzuolo resolved to conclude the business by a _coup de main_. He +had learned from the postilion that the little post-house which was +to form their next night's lodging was admirably fitted for a deed of +mischief. It lay at the foot of a precipice, in a gorge of the +mountains: the district was lonely, and the people rude, not likely +to be very much disturbed, even if they did suspect the lady had come +unfairly to her end. It was not, however, probable that the charcoal +would be of any use on this occasion; the place was too poor to be +well furnished with stoves; so Karl was instructed in what he would +have to do. + +'When she is asleep,' said Mazzuolo, 'you must give her a blow on the +head that will be sufficient to stun her. Then we will complete the +job; and as we shall start early in the morning with Tina in female +attire, they will never miss her.' Karl, as usual, made no objection; +and when they arrived at night at the inn, which fully answered the +description given, and was as lonely as the worst assassins could +desire, the two men sallied forth to seek a convenient place for +disposing of the body. Neither had they much difficulty in finding +what they wanted: there was not only a mountain torrent hard by, but +there was also a deep mysterious hole in a neighbouring field, that +looked very much as if the body of the young traveller would not be +the first that had found a grave there. + +Every circumstance seemed to favour the enterprise; and all +arrangements made, the two men returned to the house. Karl thought it +was all over with him now. He was too timid to oppose Mazzuolo, and +he had nobody to consult. Tina had found a weapon apt for the +purpose, which she had already secured; and when they sat down to +supper, considering the completeness of the preparations, nobody +would have thought Adelaide's life worth six hours' purchase. +However, she was not destined to die that night. Just as they had +finished their supper, the sound of wheels was heard; then there was +a great noise and bustle below; and Karl being sent down to inquire +what was the matter, was informed that a large party of travellers +had arrived; and as there was a scarcity of apartments, it was hoped +the lady and gentlemen would accommodate the strangers by allowing +them to share theirs. Consent was inevitable; so, like the sultan's +wife in the Arabian tale, the victim was allowed to live another day. + +'Now,' said Mazzuolo, 'we have only two nights more before we reach +Augsburg, so there must be no more shilly-shallying about the matter. +If there is a stove in the room to-night, we may try that; though, if +the house be in a pretty safe situation, I should prefer more +decisive measures. The charcoal has failed once already.' + +'That was from bad management,' said Tina; 'we could be secure +against such an accident on another occasion. At the same time, if +the situation be favourable, I should prefer a _coup de main.'_ + +When they had arrived at their night's station, the absence of a +stove decided the question. It was merely a post-house, a place where +horses were furnished; the accommodation was poor, and the people +disposed to pay little attention to them. Close by ran a river, which +obviated all difficulty as to the disposal of the body. + +'The thing must be done to-night,' said Mazzuolo; and Karl said +nothing to the contrary. He also feared that it must; for he did not +see how he could avoid it. His aunt said everything necessary to +inspire him with courage and determination, and made many promises of +future benefits; whilst Mazzuolo neither doubted his obedience nor +his resolution, and spoke of the thing as so entirely within the +range of ordinary proceedings, that the boy, stupid and ignorant, and +accustomed, from the state of the country, to hear of bloodshed and +murders little less atrocious committed by the soldiery, and neither +punished nor severely condemned, felt ashamed of his own +pusillanimity--for such his instinctive pity appeared to himself. + +But as he stood opposite Madame Louison at supper, with his eyes, as +usual, fixed upon her face, his heart involuntarily quailed when he +thought that within a few hours he was to raise his hand against that +beautiful head; yet he still felt within himself no courage to +refuse, nor any fertility of expedient to elude the dilemma. + +When supper was over, Tina desired Karl to bring up two or three +pails of warm water, and several cloths, 'for,' said she 'it will do +us all good to bathe our feet;' whereupon Adelaide requested one +might be carried to her room, which was done by Karl. He was now +alone with her, and it was almost the first time he had been so, +except when they ran up the hill together, since the day they met. +When he had set down the pail by her bedside, he stood looking at her +with a strange expression of countenance. He knew that the water he +had fetched up was designed for the purpose of washing away the blood +that he was about to spill, and he longed to tell her so, and set her +on her guard; but he was afraid. He looked at her, looked at the +water, and looked at the bed. + +'Well, Karl,' she said laughing, 'good-night. When we part the day +after to-morrow, I shan't forget your services, I assure you.' The +lad's eyes still wandered from her to the water and the bed, but he +said nothing, nor stirred, till she repeated her 'good-night,' and +then he quitted the room in silence. + +'Poor stupid creature!' thought Adelaide; 'he has scarcely as much +intelligence as the horses that draw us.' + +'Now we must have no bungling to-night, Karl,' said Mazzuolo; 'we +will keep quiet till two o'clock, and then when everybody is asleep, +we'll to business.' + +'But what is it to be done with?' inquired Tina. + +'There's something in the carriage under the seat; I brought it away +the night we slept at Baireuth,' replied Mazzuolo; 'I'll step and +fetch it;' and he left the room; but presently returned, saying that +there were people about the carriage, and he was afraid they might +wonder what he was going to do with so suspicious-looking an +instrument. 'Karl can fetch it when they are gone to bed.' + +As it was yet only midnight, Tina proposed that they should all lie +down and take a little rest; and the suggestion being agreed to, she +and her husband stretched themselves on their bed, whilst Karl made +the floor his couch, and, favoured by his unexcitable temperament, +was soon asleep, in spite of what was before him. + +It was past two o'clock when he felt himself shaken by the shoulder. +'Come, be stirring,' said Mazzuolo;' we must about it without +delay--the house has been quiet for some time.' + +Karl was a heavy sleeper, and as he sat up rubbing his eyes, he could +not at first remember what he was awakened for, nor how he came to be +upon the floor. 'Come,' said Mazzuolo, 'come, she's fast asleep; I +have just been to her room to look at her. You must step down now to +the carriage and bring up the axe I left under the seat.' + +Karl began to recollect himself, and awkwardly rising from his hard +couch, shaking and stretching himself like a dog, he prepared to +obey, indifferent to everything at the moment but the annoyance of +being disturbed in his slumbers. 'If you should meet anybody,' said +Mazzuolo, 'say that your mistress is ill, and that you are going to +fetch the medicine-chest.' + +By the time he got below, the motion and the cool air had aroused the +lad, and with his recollection, revived his repugnance to the work +before him; but he saw no means of avoiding it, and with an unwilling +step he proceeded to the yard where the carriage stood, and having +found the axe, he was returning with it, when he observed hanging +against the wall, a large horn or trumpet. Now, he had seen such a +thing at several of the post-houses on the road, and he remembered to +have heard one sounded on the night they slept in the mountains, when +the travellers arrived late, and prevented the projected +assassination. Instinctively, and without pausing to reflect how he +should excuse himself--for if he had, he could not have done it--he +placed the instrument to his mouth, and lustily blew it: and then, +terrified at his temerity, and its probable consequences, rushed into +the house, and up the stairs, again to his master. + +'The travellers' horn!' said Mazzuolo frantically. The lad was too +frightened to speak, but stood still, pale and trembling. 'Wait,' +continued the Italian; 'perhaps it may only be for horses, and they +may go on again. I hear the people stirring.' + +Feet were indeed heard upon the stairs, and presently a lantern +gleamed beneath the window. 'I hear no carriage,' observed Mazzuolo. +And for some time they sat listening; but there being no appearance +of any travellers, he said he would go below and see how matters +stood. + +'Nobody is yet arrived,' said the master of the post-house in answer +to his inquiries; 'but doubtless the signal was given by the +avant-courier, who has rode on to the next station; and the carriage +will be here presently. We must be ready with the horses.' +As the travellers, however, did not arrive, but continued to be +expected, the postmaster and the postilions remained up to watch for +them; and when four o'clock came, Karl was bidden go to bed, as +nothing could be attempted under such circumstances. + +'Now,' said Mazzuolo, on the following day, 'we sleep to-night at +Meitingen, which is our last station. I know the place; it is too busy +a house for a _coup de main;_ we must try the charcoal again; but this +time we must be sure of our game.' + +Karl hoped there might be no stoves in the bed-chamber; but it was a +well-furnished house, and there were. Adelaide said how glad she +should be to have a fire again, she had suffered so much by the want +of one, and desired Karl to light hers early. It appeared, however, +that the servant of the house had already done it. Mazzuolo said: 'So +much the better. The stove will get well heated, and when you put in +the charcoal, there will be no danger of its not burning.' And Tina +suggested that that should not be done till just before Adelaide went +to bed, lest she should perceive the effects of the vapour whilst she +was undressing. + +The young traveller had never, on her journey, been in such high +spirits as to-night. Well she might; it had been so prosperously +performed, and to-morrow she was to meet her husband. She prattled +and laughed during supper with a light heart; expressed her gratitude to +the Italians for their escort; and said that, if Monsieur Louison +could be of any use to them, she knew how happy he would be to +acknowledge their kindness to her. 'Really,' she said, 'travelling at +such a period, with so many valuables, and such a large sum of money +as I have with me, was a bold undertaking!' + +Mazzuolo, during the first part of her speech, was beginning to weigh +the advantages of the commissary's favour against the dangers and +difficulties of the assassination--difficulties which had far exceeded +his expectations, and dangers which were of course augmented by the +proximity to Augsburg--but the latter part of it decided the question; +the money and valuables preponderated in the scale, and the good +opinion of the commissary kicked the beam. + +Partly from the exaltation of her spirits, and partly because the +day's journey had been a short one--for the stoppage at Meitingen was +quite unnecessary, they were within four hours of Augsburg, and might +very well have reached it--Adelaide was less fatigued and less willing +to go to bed than usual. She sat late; and it was past twelve when, +having asked for her candle, Karl received the signal to go and +prepare the stove. Mazzuolo followed him out, to see that the work was +well done, and the charcoal ignited before she went to her room. When +all was ready, her candle was put into her hand, and Mazzuolo having +conducted her to the door, took the precaution of turning the key, +which he afterwards put in his pocket. She rallied him on the +strictness of his guardianship; but he alleged gravely that the house +was a busy one, and she might perchance be disturbed if her door were +not secured. + +They listened till she was in bed, and then Mazzuolo said that they +could not do better than go to bed too; 'for,' said he, 'the earlier +we are off in the morning the better. There will be the fewer people +up, and the less chance of her being missed.' + +When Karl reached his room, he sat down on the side of his bed and +reflected. He had observed that the last thing Mazzuolo had done +before leaving Adelaide's chamber, was to see that the window was well +closed. 'If I could open it,' thought he, 'to-morrow we shall be at +Augsburg, and then I should not be told any more to kill her. I wish I +could. They'll go away in the morning before she is awake, and so I +should never be found out.' With this idea in his head, he went down +stairs, and letting himself out, he crept round to the end of the +house where her window was. + +She slept on the first floor, and the difficulty was how to reach it; +but this was soon overcome. In the stable-yard stood some high steps, +used for the convenience of passengers when they mounted the wagons +and diligences. These he carried to the spot, and having reached the +window, he was about to break some of the panes, since, as it fastened +on the inside, he could not open it, when it occurred to him that the +noise might wake her, and cause an alarm that would betray him. The +window, however, was in the lattice fashion, and he saw that by a +little contrivance, he could lift it off the hinges. He did so, and +drew aside the curtain; there lay the intended victim in a sound +sleep; so sound, that Karl thought he might safely step in without +disturbing her. There she lay in her beauty. + +He could not tell why, but, as he stood and looked at her, he felt +that he _must_ save her at all risks. The air he had let in might not +be enough; he would take the charcoal from the stove and throw it out +of the window; but what if she awoke with the noise and screamed? He +hesitated a moment; but he remembered that this would be a safer plan +than leaving the window open, as that might be observed in the morning +from below, and he would thus be betrayed. So, as quietly as possible, +he emptied the stove, and then, having sufficiently aired the room, he +hung on the window again, and retired. + +During the whole of these operations Adelaide had remained quite +still, and appeared to be sound asleep. But was she? No. The opening +of the window had awakened her: surprise and terror had at first kept +her silent--a surprise and terror that were by no means diminished +by discovering who the intruder was. Although she had always spoken +kindly to Karl, and even endeavoured, by the amenity of her manner, to +soften his rude nature, she had from the first moment disliked him +exceedingly, and felt his countenance most repulsive; so that, when +she saw him entering her room through the window, she did not doubt +that he was come for some very bad purpose, probably to rob her, +although the booty he was likely to get was small, since her trunks, +with all her valuable property, were nightly placed under Mazzuolo's +care for safety. Still, the little money she carried in her purse, +together with her rings and watch, would be a great deal to so poor a +creature; and expecting to see him possess himself of these, she +thought it more prudent to lie still and feign sleep, than to disturb +him. But when she saw that all he came for was to take the fire out +of the stove, she was beyond measure puzzled to conceive his motive. +Could it be a jest? But what a strange jest! However, he did nothing +else; he touched neither her money nor her watch, though both were +lying on the table, but went away as empty-handed as he came. + +The amazement and alarm that so extraordinary a visit necessarily +inspired, drove sleep from her eyes, and it was not till the day +dawned that she so far recovered her composure and sense of safety, as +to close them in slumber. Then, however, fatigue got the better of her +watchfulness, and she gradually sunk into a sound sleep. + +In the meantime, Karl, whose unexcitable temperament insured him his +night's rest even under the most agitating circumstances, was in a +happy state of oblivion of the whole affair, when he felt himself +shaken by the shoulder, and heard his uncle say: 'Come, come, rise, +and make haste! The sun is up, and we must get the horses out and be +off.' + +Karl was as anxious to be off as anybody: the sooner the better for +him; for if Adelaide should awake before they started, he, on the one +hand, dreaded that he might incur his uncle's suspicion, and, on the +other, that some new plot might be formed, which it would be +impossible for him to evade; so, between the exertions of one and the +other, the horses were out, the bill paid, and the carriage at the +door, very soon after the sun had shown his broad disc above the +horizon. Tina, in female attire and a veil, was handed down stairs by +Mazzuolo; the waiter stood on the steps, and bowed, for the landlord +was not yet up; they all three stepped into the carriage; the +postilion cracked his whip, and away they drove rejoicing. + +In the meantime, Monsieur Louison had become very uneasy about his +wife. He had received no intelligence since she quitted Dresden; for +although she had, in fact, written more than once, Mazzuolo had not +forwarded the letters. Day after day he had waited in impatient +expectation; till at length, unable to bear his suspense any longer, +he resolved to start on the road she was to come, in the hope of +meeting her. When he reached the gate called the Gozzinger, his +carriage was stopped by a berlin containing two men and a woman. It +was loaded with luggage; and thinking that this might be the party he +expected, he jumped down, and put his head into the window of the +berlin, to ascertain if his wife were there. She was not: so, with a +bow and an apology, he proceeded on his way. At Meitingen he stopped +to change horses; and the first question that was asked him was, if +he had seen a heavily-laden berlin, containing two men and a woman. +On answering in the affirmative, he was informed that they had gone +off with the property of a lady, whom they had left behind, and who +was then in the inn; and in a moment more the young husband pressed +his bride to his heart. But, eager to chase the thieves, they wasted +no time in embraces, but started instantly in pursuit of them. On +reaching the same gate where the berlin had been seen, the officers +described in what direction the party had driven; and the police +being immediately on the alert, the criminals were discovered and +arrested just as they were on the point of starting for Vienna. + +The ample confession of Karl disclosed the villainy of the Italians, +and made known how narrowly the commissary had escaped the loss of +his fair young bride; whilst, as he told his rude and simple tale, +without claiming any merit, or appearing to be conscious of any, +Adelaide learned that to this repulsive stupid clown she had three +times owed her life. + +The Italians were condemned to the galleys; whilst Monsieur Louison +and his wife discharged their debt of gratitude to Karl, by first +educating him, and then furnishing him with the means of earning his +living with respectability and comfort. + +De Monge was degraded from his situation, and the universal execration +that pursued him drove him ultimately to America, where, under a +feigned name, he ended his days in obscurity. + + + + +THE HOME-WRECK. + +A few years since I visited Devonshire, to make the acquaintance of +some distant relations, whom circumstances had prevented me from +before seeing. Amongst others, there was one who lived in a decayed +family mansion about six miles east of the pretty town of Dartmouth. +Before calling on her, I was prepared, by report, to behold a very +aged and a very eccentric lady. Her age no one knew, but she seemed +much older than her only servant--a hardy old dame, who, during the +very month of my visit, had completed her ninety-ninth year. + +The mistress never allowed any one to see her, save a young and +interesting cousin of mine. She seldom went out except on Sundays, +and then was carried to church in an old sedan-chair by a couple of +labourers, who did odd jobs of gardening about the house. She had +such an insuperable objection to be seen by anybody, whether at home +or abroad, that she concealed her face by a thick veil. + +These, with other particulars, were narrated to me by my cousin as we +rode towards Coote-down Hall, in which the old lady resided, and +which, with the surrounding estate, was her own property. On +approaching it, signs of past grandeur and present decay presented +themselves. The avenue leading to the house had evidently been +thickly planted; but now only a few stumps remained to mark where +noble and spreading elms once had been. Having arrived at the house, +my cousin reined up at the steps of the hall, upon which she, in a +low cautious voice, desired me to alight. Having assisted her out of +her saddle, I was about to utter some exclamation of surprise at the +extreme dilapidation of the place, when she whispered me to be +silent; adding, that I must not stir until she had returned from +within, to announce whether my visit would be accepted or not. + +During her absence, I had full leisure to look around and note the +desolate condition of Coote-down. The lawn--thickly overspread with +rank grass--could scarcely be distinguished from the fishpond, which +was completely covered with water-weeds. The shrubbery was choked +and tangled, whilst a very wide rent in the wall laid open to view an +enclosure which had once been a garden, but was now a wilderness. +For a time the sorrowful effect which all this decay produced on my +mind was increased by the extreme solitude which reigned around. +This, however, was presently relieved by a cackling sign of life +which issued from a brood-hen as it flew from the sill of a +side-parlour window. On casting my eyes further into the landscape, +I also perceived a very fat cow lazily browsing on the rich pasture +of a paddock. + +On turning round to view the house, new tokens of desolation were +visible. Its shattered casements and worm-eaten doors, with tufts of +weed growing at each corner, showed that for many years the front of +the mansion had not been inhabited or its doors opened. One evidence +of fallen grandeur was highly characteristic--over the porch the +family-arms had been carved in stone, but was now scarcely +distinguishable from dilapidation: a sparrow had established a +comfortable nest in the mouth of the helmet, and a griffin 'rampant' +had fallen from his place beside the shield, and tamely lay +overgrown with weeds. + +These observations were interrupted by the light step of my cousin, +who came to inform me that the lady of the house, after much, +persuasion, had consented to receive me. Conducting me to the back +of the mansion, my fair guide took me through a dark passage into a +sort of kitchen. A high and ample 'settle' stood, as is usual in +farmhouses, before the hearth. In one corner of this seat reclined +a figure bent with age, her face concealed by a thick veil. In the +other corner was an old cheerful-looking woman, busily knitting, and +mumbling rather than singing a quaint old ballad. + +The mistress of Coote-down made a feeble attempt to rise when my +cousin presented me; but I entreated her to keep her seat. Having +procured a chair for my fellow-visitor (for the old domestic took +not the smallest notice of us, but went on with her work as if we +were not present), I established myself beside the hostess, and +addressed to her a few common-place words of greeting. She replied +in a voice far less feeble than I had expected to hear from so +decrepit a person; but what she said was no answer to my salutation. +She went on with surprising clearness, explaining to me the degree +of relationship which we bore to each other, and traced my pedigree +till it joined her own; continued our mutual genealogy back to the +Damnonii of Cornwall, hinting that our ancestors of that period were +large mining proprietors, who sold tin to the Phoenicians! At first +she spoke with doubt and hesitation, as if she feared to make some +mistake; but the moment she got to where our branches joined--to the +trunk, as it were, of our family-tree--she went on glibly, like +child repeating a well-conned lesson. All this while the old +attendant kept up the unceasing accompaniment of her ballad, which +she must have sung through several times, for I heard the first +line-- + +'A bailie's daughter, fair was she'-- + +at least thrice. + +Though I addressed several questions to my singular relation, she +made no attempt to answer them. It seemed that what she had uttered +was all she was capable of; and this, I learned afterwards, was +partly true. Circumstances of her early life had given her a taste +for family history, particularly that of her own, and her faculties, +though otherwise impaired, still retained everything relating to +what concerned her ancestry. + +On our way back from this singular scene, my cousin remarked that it +had saddened me. 'It would sadden you more,' she continued, 'were you +to know the history of the domestic wreck we have just left behind.' + +'That is precisely what I intended to inquire of you.' + +'It is a deeply-affecting story; but'--and here the young lady +blushed and hesitated--'I think it would not be right in me to reveal +it. I believe I am the only person existing who knows the truth; and +the means by which I obtained my knowledge would be deemed scarcely +correct, though not perhaps exactly dishonourable.' + +This avowal sharpened my curiosity, and I entreated her to say at +least how she became possessed of the story. + +'To that there can be no objection,' was the reply. 'In one of my +rambles over the old house, I espied in a small escritoire a packet +of letters bound up in tape, which was sealed at the ends. The tape +had, however, been eaten by moths, and the letters liberated from it. +Female curiosity prompted me to read them, and they gave me a full +exposition of our great-aunt's early history.' + +During the rest of my stay in that part of the country, I never +failed to urge my cousin to narrate the events which had brought +Coote-down to its present melancholy plight. But it was not till I +called to take leave of her, perhaps for ever, that she complied. +On that occasion, she placed in my hands a neatly-written manuscript +in her own handwriting, which she said contained all the particulars +I required. Circumstances have since occurred that render it not +indelicate in me to publish the narrative, which I do with but +little alteration. + +In the middle of the last century the proprietor of Coote-down was +Charles James Hardman, to whom the estate lineally descended from a +long line of ancestors. He was from his youth a person of an easy +disposition, who minded very little, so that he could follow his +ordinary amusements, and could see everybody around him contented; +though his habits were too indolent to improve the condition of his +dependants by any efforts of his own. At the age of twenty-five, he +married the heiress of a baronet belonging to the northern side of +the county. She was a beauty and a belle--a lady full of +determination and spirit; consequently the very opposite to himself. +She was, moreover, two years his senior. As was predicted by those +who knew the couple intimately, the match was not productive of +happiness, and they had been married scarcely a year and a half when +they separated. It appeared that this unpleasant step was solely the +fault of the wife; and her father was so incensed at her rash +conduct, that he altered his will, and left the whole of his +property to Hardman. Meanwhile, it was given out that the lady had +brought her lord a son, and it was hoped that this event would prove +a means of reconciling the differences which existed between them. +Despite all entreaties, however, Mrs Hardman refused to return to +her husband's roof. + +Ten years passed, and she lived so completely in retirement, that +she deprived herself even of the society of her child; for when the +period of nursing was over, she sent him to Coote-down Hall, where +he was educated. At the end of that period her father died; and, to +her great disappointment, instead of finding herself uncontrolled +mistress of a large fortune, she discovered it was so left, that +unless she returned to her husband, she would be unable to benefit +by it in the smallest degree. Mutual friends again interfered, and, +after some difficulty, persuaded her to meet Hardman at her father's +funeral, which she appeared to have no objection to attend. The +happy result was that a reconciliation took place, and she resumed +her proper station as the lady of Coote-down Hall. It was, however, +observed that before she returned, the little son was sent away to +continue his education in a foreign seminary. + +Privy to all these arrangements, and in fact the chief mover in +them, was Hardman's attorney. Such was the squire's indolence of +disposition, that to this individual he confided everything; not +only the management of his estates, the receipt and payment of all +monies, but the arrangement of his most secret transactions. But, +Mr Dodbury bearing the character of a highly just and honourable +man, no suspicion ever existed that he abused the absolute unbounded +trust reposed in him in the slightest degree. Indeed, putting aside +the native honesty of his character, his position in the district +was so good, that it would have been very bad policy for him to +jeopardise it by any abuse of the confidence reposed in him. Being +the younger son of an ancient family, and a distant relation of +Hardman, he was received in the best society. Dodbury was a widower, +with an only daughter, an amiable and elegant girl. She was just +budding into womanhood, when it was announced that the heir of +Coote-down would shortly become of age, and that the event was to +be celebrated with the utmost pomp. Many strange conjectures had for +years been current to account for his being kept so long away from +home; but they were partially silenced when it was known that the +young man was on his way to his paternal roof. + +Extensive preparations were made for his reception: all the tenantry, +not only of Coote-down, but those from the maternal estate near +Ilfracombe, were invited to attend his debarkation at Dartmouth. The +lawn, paddock, and parks were strewed with tents for their +accommodation, and refreshments of the most expensive kind were +provided without limit. Several distinguished and noble friends of +both families were invited to join in the festivities; and though +every corner of Coote Hall, as well as the surrounding farmhouses, +were made available for sleeping-room, yet there was not a bed to +be had in Dartmouth a week before the day named in the invitations +'for love or money.' It appeared that the neglect which had been +shown to young Hardman for so many years was to be atoned by the +magnificence of the fete to celebrate his return. + +Dodbury's share in managing the affairs of the family had declined +every day since Mrs Hardman's resumption of her proper position as +his patron's wife. She was a woman of strong intellect, and perfectly +able to superintend what had been before so much neglected by her +husband. She had an ambitious spirit, and Dodbury doubted not that +the grand reception-fete was organised for the purpose of carrying +out some great project connected with her son. + +The day of Herbert Hardman's arrival from France proved auspicious. +It was a lovely day in the middle of June. When he landed at the +village of Kingswear, opposite to Dartmouth, the fishermen saluted +him with a discharge of all the firearms they could collect. His +parents received him at the landing-place, his mother embracing him +with every outward and public mark of affection. A long cavalcade +followed the carriage in which he was conducted to Coote-down Hall, +consisting of the tenantry, headed by the most distinguished of his +father's guests. + +At the entrance of the domain, new tokens of welcome presented +themselves. The gates were plentifully adorned with flowers, and at +a turn of the thickly-wooded avenue, an arch of garlands was thrown +across the path. The lawn was covered with lads and lasses from the +surrounding farms, who, when Herbert appeared, set up a joyous cheer, +whilst the drawing-room windows of the house were filled with ladies +waving handkerchiefs. + +The hall of the mansion was lined with servants, who obsequiously +bowed as Herbert passed them. When he made his appearance in the +drawing-room, there was almost a struggle amongst the ladies for the +earliest honours of salutation. One maiden, however, stood apart, +drinking in deeply the attestations of favour with which the heir of +the estate was received, but too timid to share in, or to add to +them. This was Miss Dodbury. The gentlemen, most of whom had +accompanied Herbert from the landing-place, now joined the ladies; +and Mr and Mrs Hardman entered the room amidst the hearty +congratulations of their guests. + +The fashionable dinner hour at that period was much earlier than at +present, and but little time elapsed ere the important meal was +announced. Mrs Hardman led forward a tall, handsome, but somewhat +haughty-looking girl, whom she introduced to her son as the Lady +Elizabeth Plympton, desiring him to lead her to the dining-room. She +attentively watched Herbert's countenance, to observe what effect +the damsel's beauty would create on him; but to her disappointment +she saw that her son received her with no more than the politeness +of a young gentleman who had been educated in France. + +Nothing occurred during the day worthy of remark. The usual toasts +and sentiments were drunk at the dinner-table, and the usual excesses +committed; for at that time it was thought a mark of low-breeding for +a man to remain sober all the evening. Out-of-doors there were +bullocks roasted whole, barrels of cider and butts of ale set +constantly flowing, with dancing, cricket, and Devonshire skittles, +and other country games and comforts for the amusement of the +peasantry. + +About a fortnight after the rejoicings had subsided, Mrs Hardman, +while conversing with her son on his future plans and prospects, +startled him by inquiring whether he had formed any attachment during +his residence in Paris? The young man hesitated for a short time, and +declared that he had not; upon which Mrs Hardman asked somewhat +abruptly, what he thought of Lady Elizabeth Plympton? + +'That,' returned Herbert, 'her ladyship is an extremely tall, +handsome, proud girl, who would evidently glory more in breaking +half-a-dozen hearts than in winning one.' + +'Take care she does not break yours!' rejoined Mrs Hardman +playfully. + +'There is little fear of that, mother.' Herbert was right. He had +seen, one of humble pretensions, but of unbounded worth, for whom he +began to feel already a more than ordinary sentiment. + +Months rolled past, and Herbert began to find his position at home +far from agreeable. His father had sunk into a mere nonentity through +his mother's superior energy. Hence, in her hands rested the +happiness or misery of all connected with the household. It soon +became evident that her grand project was to effect a marriage +between Lady Elizabeth Plympton and Herbert; and when she found no +inducement could warm her son's heart towards that lady, her conduct +altered. From being kind and indulgent, she was exacting and +imperious: an old and scarcely natural dislike of her son seemed +to be reawakened, and which she now took little pains to conceal. It +was therefore to be expected that Herbert should spend as little of +his time at home as possible. He became a frequent and welcome +visitor to the happy and well-ordered house of the Dodburys. + +The sharp eyes of the mother were not slow in detecting the +attraction which drew Herbert so frequently to the lawyer's house. +Though grievously disappointed, she was cautious. Nothing could be +done at present; for, though her son was manifestly 'entangled,' +yet no overt declaration had been made, and there was nothing to act +upon. She had the worldly foresight to know that opposition was food +and fuel to a secret attachment, and abstained from giving grounds +for the belief that so much as a suspicion lurked in her mind. In this +way months rolled on, Herbert becoming more and more captivated. +On the other hand, Miss Dodbury had striven against a passion with +which _she_ also had become inspired. Her father discouraged it, +though tenderly and indirectly. It was a delicate matter for a man to +interfere in, as no open disclosure had been made from either party; +but this embarrassment, felt equally by the proud mother of the lover, +and the considerate father of the girl, was speedily but accidentally +put an end to. + +An equestrian party had been formed to see, from Berry-head, a large +fleet which had been driven by a recent storm into Tor Bay. Mrs +Hardman had purposely invited Catherine Dodbury, that she might +observe her son's conduct towards that young lady, and extract from +it a sufficient ground for taxing him openly with a preference for +her over the belle she had chosen. It was a lovely day, and the party +was all life and gaiety, as almost all such parties are; for nothing +tends to raise the spirits so effectually as equestrian exercise. + +Herbert laughed and chatted with the rest of the ladies, and seemed +to pay no more attention to Catherine than was due to her as the +belle of the party, which she was universally acknowledged to be. +As, however, they passed over the drawbridge of the fort, built on +the terminating point of the little promontory, they were obliged to +dismount. Herbert offered Catherine his arm, and Mrs Hardman narrowly +watched them. Her son said a few words in a low tone, which caused +the colour to mount into the young lady's cheek; the listener +overheard her reply--'Mr Hardman, it can, it must never be!' and +withdrawing her arm from his, entered the fort unsupported. These +words at once pleased and displeased the ambitious mother. The girl +evidently did not encourage her son's suit--that favoured the Lady +Elizabeth project; 'but,' thought Mrs Hardman, drawing herself up to +her full height,' does a lawyer's daughter reject the heir of the +Hardmans?' + +The truth is, Hardman, the night before, had declared his love; it was +on the drawbridge that he pressed her to give him hopes; but her reply +repressed rather than encouraged them. + +The servants had brought the horses into the fort, that, mounted, the +spectators might see over the ramparts the noble scene which lay +before them to greater advantage. The fleet consisted of a number of +merchant vessels, with a convoy of king's ships, which were just +preparing to sail out of the bay. When the men-of-war had spread their +canvas and begun to move, a salute was fired, quite unexpectedly by the +visitors, from the fort. Catherine's horse immediately took fright, and +darted across the drawbridge with the speed of lightning. Herbert lost +not a moment; but spurring his own steed, galloped away, taking a +circuitous route, lest the clattering of his own horse's hoofs should +impel Catherine's to run the faster. On she sped, and as long as she +remained within sight, her friends trembled lest some frightful +catastrophe should happen. Presently she darted out of view. Herbert, +meanwhile, galloped to meet her, and at last succeeded; but, alas! When +it was too late to render any assistance. On coming up, he found both +the horse and its rider prostrate, the latter motionless and insensible. +He lifted her from the ground, and took her into a neighbouring house. +The usual restoratives were applied without effect, and it was not till +a surgeon appeared and bled the patient that any signs of animation +returned. It was discovered that the right arm and three of the ribs on +the left side were fractured. It was necessary that the utmost quiet +should be observed, lest any further and more dangerous injury might, +unknown to the medical man, have taken place. + +Though, therefore, the whole party assembled near the house, they were +not allowed to enter it. Herbert insisted upon remaining with the +father, despite Mrs Hardman's repeated strictures on the impropriety +of his doing so. + + +Scarcely a week had elapsed, after the accident already recorded, ere +it became a matter of gossiping notoriety that the young squire of +Coote-down had fallen in love with the lawyer's daughter. In truth, he +had not stirred from the vicinity of the cottage in which Catherine +lay, that he might get the earliest information from the medical +attendants concerning her condition. Prom day to day, and sometimes +from hour to hour, he watched with intense anxiety. The symptoms +improved daily; the anguish caused by the fractures having subsided, +the patient was in progress of slow, but to all appearance, certain +recovery. + +Mrs Hardman now had sufficient cause to ground a strong opposition to +the match her son was endeavouring to make. She spoke to her husband; +but he, good easy man, could not, he said, see any objection to the +alliance. She was of their kindred, and although poor, would doubtless +make an excellent wife. The imperious and disappointed lady next +applied to Dodbury. She placed before him the inequality in the +position of Herbert and his daughter, and was very vehement in her +arguments against the marriage. + +'Your fears, madam,' said Dodbury calmly, 'are at least premature. +However passionately your son may express himself in reference to my +daughter, she, I know, feels what is due to herself, as well as to Mr +and Mrs Hardman. She would never consent to become a member of a +family in which she would not be cordially received. Besides, I have +yet to learn that she reciprocates the attachment which you say Mr +Herbert evinces for her.' + +The correct light in which Dodbury thus considered the matter, induced +Mrs Hardman to change her policy. After complimenting the lawyer and +Catherine for their honourable forbearance, she went on to say that +she unhappily had but little influence over her son. 'Would _you_, +therefore, endeavour to point out to him the folly of his persistence +in following a young lady whom he can never marry?' Dodbury promised +to do so, and the lady departed so well pleased with the interview, +that she wrote to Lady Elizabeth Plympton, inviting her to spend the +ensuing month at Coote-down. + +That day, after hearing the most favourable report of Catherine's +recovery which had yet been made, Dodbury invited Herbert to dine +with him. After the cloth was removed, the subject of the morning's +conversation with Mrs Hardman was introduced. Herbert stammered and +blushed: he was not prepared to talk about it just then, and endeavoured +to change the topic more than once; but Dodbury kept to the point, till +Herbert owned, in fervent and glowing words, that Catherine had +completely won his heart, and that he would rather die than be forced +into a match with another woman. + +'All which,' replied the matter-of-fact man of parchment, 'is very +spirited and romantic, no doubt. But let us look at the affair with +calm and clear eyes. You profess to love my child with strong and +unquenchable passion?' + +'Profess! Do you doubt me?' + +'I do not doubt that you are perfectly in earnest _now_; but my +knowledge of mankind forbids my putting much faith in the endurance of +the sort of feeling with which you profess--I cannot give up the word, +you see--to be inspired. My child, so says the world, is +beautiful--very beautiful. Yours may be a mere passion for her +beauty.' + +'You wrong me,' replied the young man; 'I have known and admired her +long enough to appreciate her intrinsic worth. Her image is as dear to +me as my own life' + +Dodbury bent on his young friend a long and earnest look of inquiry. +He was a good reader of human nature. He saw that, as the lover spoke, +his eye lightened with enthusiasm, his lips quivered with emotion, +his cheeks glowed with blushes. 'I have little faith in these violent +emotions,' thought the wary man of the world, as he leaned back in his +easy-chair for a moment's reflection. 'Fierce flames burn out quickly. +This affair surrounds me with difficulties.' + +About a month after Miss Dodbury's complete recovery, her father +opened the same topic gradually and delicately to her. Catherine had +scarcely nurtured a thought which she had not confided to her father; +being her only parent, she looked up to him as the directing source +of all her actions. He was 'the king of her narrow world.' In +discussing this matter, therefore, though overwhelmed with a maiden +shame, she was not reserved. From what she said, the sorrowing father +gathered that her maiden affections _were_ twined around a man whom +her own innate propriety and pride, not to include other obstacles, +should prevent her from marrying. This disclosure gave Dodbury great +pain. He determined to use more vigilance, caution, and prudence, +than ever. His obvious course was to bring about, if possible, a +reconciliation to the match with Mrs Hardman; but he refrained. The +purity of the young lover's sentiments had yet to be tried. Time, he +determined, should put that to the test. + +Meanwhile, Lady Elizabeth had accepted Mrs Hardman's invitation. She +and Herbert Hardman were constantly thrown together; and it was +manifest, after a time, that despite the almost studied neglect with +which he treated her ladyship, she entertained a strong feeling in +his favour. This Mrs Hardman endeavoured by every means in her power +to induce Herbert to reciprocate; but in vain--the attraction of +Catherine Dodbury was too powerful. It must be owned, however, that +his vanity _was_ a little flattered by the haughty beauty +condescending to feel a sentiment for him. + +This state of things was too equivocal and uncertain to last. +Catherine strove, as long and as firmly as maiden could strive, +against her love; whilst Herbert fed his by every sort of attention +it was possible to evince. At length Dodbury felt the necessity of +some strong measure. He perceived that consent to the match was less +likely than ever, since the tender regard which Lady Plympton had +evinced. He, therefore, after a long interview with Mrs Hardman, +penned a kind note to Herbert, in which he, with every expression of +regret for the step he felt bound to take, forbade him his house, or +any further communication with his daughter. + +Though long anticipated, this was a bitter blow, Catherine strove not +to check the master-feeling which had now taken possession of her +whole thought and being, for she knew that was impossible; but, in +the purity of her heart, she felt she could love on--more tranquilly, +more calmly, now that all hope was abandoned, than when it was nursed +in suspense. Deprived of Herbert's presence, she would love him as an +imagined, ever-remembered being--an abstraction, of which, the +embodiment was dead to her for ever. With this _new said_ consolatory +sensation she determined, without a tear, never to encounter his real +presence again. She wrote him a note to that effect, and, accompanied +by her father, went immediately to London. + +Herbert was frantic. He upbraided his mother with unfilial +earnestness. He appealed to his father, who consoled him by saying he +was sorry that, as he always left these matters to his mother's +management, he could not interfere; adding, that so far as he was a +judge, the Lady Elizabeth Plympton was an uncommonly fine young +woman. + +After calm consideration, Herbert made up his mind as to what he +should do. The estate was entailed; that made him comparatively +independent; and he would endeavour, as well as his impetuous passion +would allow, to live on in the hope that at length his mother would +give her consent, and that Catherine would retract her determination. +In pursuance of this plan, he apologised to his mother for his +previous wrath, and treated Lady Elizabeth, during the remainder of +her visit, with politeness; but it was a studied, constrained, and +ironical sort of courtesy, which pained the unoffending but humbled +beauty much more than overt rudeness. When the young lady was about +to depart, he surprised his mother by the gallant offer of +accompanying her and their visitor to her father's, near Plymouth. + +These favourable symptoms Mrs Hardman reported to Dodbury, who, +seeing his daughter's perfect resignation, thought it might be not +imprudent to return home, especially as young Hardman was to remain +at the Earl of Plympton's for a few weeks. He, however, carefully +concealed the apparent attachment of Lady Elizabeth from his +daughter. Accordingly they returned to their home, Catherine +appearing but a slight degree saddened and changed in spirit. A +feverish languor, however, of which she neglected to complain or to +ask medical advice for, was making inroads on her health. + +Mrs Hardman, after staying a week at the earl's, returned, +congratulating herself on the seeming change which was gradually +creeping over her son's sentiments. She allowed him to remain a month +unquestioned; but after that time, family matters required Herbert's +presence at Coote-down, and she wrote, desiring him to come home. To +her surprise, her letter was returned unopened, franked by the earl. +Herbert must have left Plympton Court then, and would doubtless be +home in the course of the day. + +But that day passed, and another, and another, yet no tidings of +Herbert. Mr Hardman now became alarmed, and wrote. The answer was, +that his son had started for Coote-down that day-week! Inquiries were +set on foot in all directions. Every house was sent to at which the +young man was known to visit. Advertisements were circulated +throughout the country, and afterwards published in the London +newspapers, for tidings of Herbert Hardman, but without effect. The +most distressing fears were apprehended respecting his fate. His +parents were distracted; and the only conjecture which could be +formed was, that as war had just broken out with America, he had been +kidnapped by a press-gang for the sea-service. + +This was a last hope, and Hardman hung upon it as upon life. He wrote +to the Admiralty, and, starting for Plymouth, made every inquiry +likely to settle the doubt. Alas! though press-gangs had been busy at +their oppressive work, no such name as Hardman had been returned as +having been one of their victims. The conviction slowly stole over +him, that some fatal accident or rash determination had ended +Herbert's term of life. The dislike of her son, of which Mrs Hardman +had been suspected, now melted completely away into the fondest +affection for his memory. She, however, did not entirely abandon the +hope of seeing him again. + +What, however, of Catherine all this while? Alas! a misfortune had +overtaken her, in the midst of which the mysterious disappearance of +Herbert had not reached her. While in London, she, by some unknown +means, had contracted that fatal disease, then violently raging in +the metropolis--the small-pox. For months her life was despaired of, +and of course all knowledge of the absence of Herbert was kept from +her. + +Mr Hardman grieved to that excess, that he gradually sunk into the +grave. His funeral was a melancholy spectacle, for all knew the cause +of his demise. His good easy disposition made him extensively +regretted. Mrs Hardman's native strength of mind, however, kept her +up amidst her double loss. She found a great consolation in +assiduously attending Catherine's sick-bed. Misfortune had schooled +every particle of pride from her breast, and she was a prey to +remorse. She accused herself--not indeed entirely without +justice--of having caused the miseries, the effects of which she was +now suffering. 'Would,' she exclaimed to Dodbury one day, 'I could +recall the past!' + +Catherine's recovery was protracted; and, alas! when she appeared in +public, it was perceived that the disease had robbed her of her +brightest charms. Her face was covered with unsightly marks. Still, +the graceful figure, the winning smile, the fascinating manner, +remained; and few, after the first shock of the change had passed +away, missed the former loveliness of the once beautiful Catherine. +A year passed. By slow and cautious hints and foreshadowings, the +truth was revealed; but Miss Dodbury bore all with resignation. +'It is perhaps better for me,' she one day said to Mrs Hardman, 'that +it is so. Had he loved and wedded another, I dared no longer to have +cherished his image as I do. But now it is my blessed privilege to +love him in spirit as dearly as ever.' + +The hitherto proud, tearless woman of the world wept a flood when +unconsciously, innocently, Catherine spoke of the lost Herbert. On +one such occasion she threw herself on the girl's neck, exclaiming, +'Oh, what have I done! what have I done!' + +Mrs Hardman never spent a day apart from Catherine. What a change of +feeling one short year had wrought! Formerly, she looked on the girl +as a bar to her ambitious projects; now, she could not lavish love +and kindness enough to satisfy her sentiment of atonement towards the +same being. One evening they were walking in that part of the park +which overlooks the sea, when a sail appeared in the horizon, then +another, and another. The sight of ships never failed to remind the +mother of her son; for the presentiment regarding his disappearance +never forsook her. 'Dearest Catherine,' she exclaimed, 'would that +one of those sails were wafting him back to us.' The girl trembled, +and Mrs Hardman begged forgiveness for an involuntary allusion which +deeply affected her companion. 'But I _must_ be forgiven for telling +you that I cannot, will not, abandon every hope of seeing him again. +If you knew the pictures of happiness I sometimes draw, in which you +and he are the chief actors, I am sure they would please instead of +paining you. I sometimes fancy him returned; I go through in +imagination your marriage; I feel a real delight in fancying myself +placing your hand in his at the altar; I'--- Here the speaker was +interrupted. Her companion, clasping her suddenly for support, had, +overcome with emotion, fainted in her arms! + +From that day Mrs Hardman forbore all allusion to her lost son. + +That summer went by, and grief had made such inroads on Mrs Hardman's +mind, that her health gradually declined. Catherine also was weaker +than she had ever been for a continuance previous to her last +illness. Besides the disfigurement the disease had made in her +countenance, grief had paled her complexion and hollowed her cheek. +Yet she kept up her spirits, and was a source of unfailing +consolation to Mrs Hardman, who gradually weaned her from her +father's house to live entirely at Coote-down, where Dodbury also +spent every hour he could spare from business. He had recovered all +his lost influence in the family affairs, and was able, by his good +management, to avert from the estate the embarrassments with which +his fair client's former extravagances had threatened it. Mrs Hardman +was now gradually becoming a rich woman. + +Ere the winter arrived, she expressed a wish to pay a visit to her +late father's attorney, who lived at Barnstable. Dodbury offered to +accompany her; but she declined this civility. She wished to go +alone. There was something mysterious in this journey. 'What could +its object be?' asked the lawyer of his daughter.' Surely, if Mrs +Hardman require any legal business to be transacted, I am the proper +person to accomplish it.' Catherine was equally ignorant, and the +mistress of Coote-down was evidently not inclined to enlighten her. + +The journey was commenced. 'I shall return in a fortnight,' said Mrs +Hardman. 'Should anything occur requiring my presence earlier, pray +ride or send off for me.' These were her parting words. They did not +surprise Catherine, for well she knew that an irrepressible +presentiment kept possession of the mother's mind that the lost son +would one day return. There was not a morning that she rose from her +pillow, but the expectation of seeing her son before sunset existed +in her mind. + +Mrs Hardman had been away a week. Catherine had removed to her +father's house, and was preparing to sit down to sew, as was her +custom, when her father, returning from the office adjoining, brought +her a letter. 'It is very odd,' he remarked, 'but amidst my business +communications I find this epistle addressed to you. See, it is +marked "sailor's letter." I imagine it must be intended for one of +the servants.' + +Catherine made no reply; a presentiment darted into her mind. Usually +a quiet, calm girl, her nature seemed suddenly to have changed. She +snatched the letter from her father's hand, tore it open, looked at +the signature, and fell into his arms in an agony of emotion. +Absorbed by her painful struggles, Dodbury overlooked the cause of +them; and Catherine, with one intense, overwhelming thought burning +within her, placed the letter before him. She tried to speak, but the +agony of joy which she felt choked her. The father read the +signature; it was 'Herbert Hardman!' + +The reaction came, and Catherine for a time was calm. She said she +could listen to the contents of the letter; and Dodbury began to +peruse it. Hardman was alive and well; and a new tide of emotion +gushed forth from the panting listener. With the ardent impulse of a +pious heart, she sunk upon her knees, and uttered a fervent +thanksgiving to the universal Protector. It was long ere she could +hear more. There might be something behind--some dreadful +qualification to all the rapture with which her soul was flooded. +This thought was insupportable, and as Dodbury saw that his child +_must_ hear the whole, he read the epistle word for word. It was a +strange narrative. + +When Herbert left Plympton Court, he determined to stay a night at +Plymouth. Walking on a place called Britain Side, near the quay, he +was unexpectedly seized by a press-gang. They hurried him on board +the tender, lying off Cat-down; and immediately draughted him to a +small frigate, which was to sail the next morning, as part of a +convoy to some Indian ships. Accordingly, they sailed. The frigate +was commissioned to drop dispatches at Gibraltar, and arriving off +that place she was obliged to lag some miles behind, to fulfil her +orders. After having done so, and made all sail to rejoin the convoy, +she was attacked by a Barbary rover of superior strength, was beaten, +most of the crew captured, and conveyed into port. They were taken to +the market-place, and sold as slaves. Herbert described these +extraordinary events as occurring so rapidly, that it was not till he +was established with his purchaser--a man of some property, who lived +on an estate at the edge of the Sahara desert--that he had time to +reflect on them. Hoping that some of the officers or crew had +escaped, and would take means to ransom him, he worked on from day to +day for a whole year. At last an Egyptian merchant came to visit his +master, to whose servant Herbert entrusted a letter, addressed to the +British consul at Alexandria. This letter was fortunately delivered, +and after a time, his liberty was procured. The moment he got on +board ship he wrote the epistle which was now being so eagerly +devoured. + +Dodbury sent instantly to Mrs Hardman such a letter as was calculated +to break the news not too abruptly to her. _No_ time was mentioned +for Herbert's arrival, so that suspense and some degree of +uncertainty tempered the joy both father and daughter felt in making +this communication. + +Dodbury busied himself in corresponding with the navy-office to +obtain Herbert's release from the service; but to his mortification, +a reply arrived, stating, as was announced before, that no such name +was in the books. It was, however, added, that a person entered as +'H. Hard' was pressed on the identical day that Herbert was, and it +was suggested that his name may have been misspelled. That, however, +remained to be seen. + +By the time Mrs Hardman arrived at Coote-down, a second letter, +addressed to her, had come from her son. It was dated 'off Havre,' +and mentioned the probable time of his reappearance in England. The +mother's joy was intense; yet the news had not fallen like a shock +upon her, as upon Catherine. Holding fast by the daily hope that her +son _would_ some day reappear, the event was vaguely expected. Hence +she was filled with unalloyed delight. All the old gaiety and pride +of her disposition returned, and her first thoughts were expended on +plans for once more receiving her son--now, by right of inheritance, +the possessor of Coote-down--with a splendour to exceed that which +welcomed him from France on attaining his majority. _Nor_ was +Catherine for a moment forgotten. Every particular of the nuptials +was sketched out, and every preliminary prepared. Never were two +minds so filled with happiness. + +Dodbury started off a little before the time Herbert was to arrive at +Portsmouth. On arriving in London, he endeavoured to pave the way for +Herbert's discharge, by clearing up the mistake about the name. +Luckily, Lord Plympton held office, and a note from him to the proper +authorities was of great service. How eagerly were the lawyer's +letters to Coote-down looked for by its inmates! The first announced +that, thanks to Lord Plympton's influence, everything had been +arranged, and that, on producing Herbert, and proving him to be the +representative of the name 'Hard' found in the list of seamen, his +discharge would be granted. The second letter was dated Portsmouth. +Herbert had arrived! He was much browner than heretofore, but more +robust and manly. His manners had altered most: from bordering on the +polite and finical, adversity and rough usage had made them more +direct and blunt. The third communication was from London, and stated +that the Earl of Plympton had insisted on Herbert making his +lordship's house his home. Nothing could exceed the friendly warmth +with which he had been received by the whole family, especially by +the Lady Elizabeth. After some difficulty, the discharge was +obtained, and the letter concluded by actually fixing a day for +Herbert's appearance in the hall of his fathers. + +The vastness of Mrs Hardman's preparations were equal to the +greatness of her joy. The scene of the former reception was to be +enacted over again, but with additional splendour. + +The time came, and with it the long-lost son. Mrs Hardman met him on +the hall steps, and clasped him in her arms with a fondness she had +never evinced before. But he was impatient. There was another being +whom he longed to fold in his arms. Mrs Hardman conducted him, +impelled by impatience, into her dressing-room, where Catherine +waited, trembling and expectant. Herbert rushed forward and clasped +her in an embrace which seemed to pour forth an age of long-suppressed +and passionate affection. The mother looked on in silent delight. She +seemed to share in the lovers' slightest emotion. + +The first raptures having subsided, Herbert gazed upon the face of +his mistress. At the first glance he would have started back, had not +the firm affection of Catherine's embrace detained him. From the most +vivid signs of love and hope fulfilled, his countenance altered to an +expression of doubt and disappointment. 'Catherine?' he said in a +tone of inquiry--'_my_ Catherine?' + +'Yes,' replied the mother sorrowfully. 'But how changed,' replied +Herbert somewhat abruptly; 'how very much changed!' + +A mass of thought and recollection, a revulsion of feeling, passed +through Catherine's brain; but tears burst forth to relieve her. +Herbert gradually released her from his embrace, and his mother +stepped forward to support her. She gazed steadfastly at her son, and +read in his countenance a presage which she dreaded to interpret. +After a time Hardman withdrew to receive the congratulations of the +guests, amongst the foremost of whom were Lord and Lady Elizabeth +Plympton. He had scarcely closed the door, ere Mrs Hardman placed her +weeping charge gently in a chair, and sat beside Catherine, holding +her hands to her bosom. + +At this moment Dodbury entered to share his daughter's joy. But what +a reverse was here! Tears, silence, despondency. He was amazed, +disappointed; and anxiously inquired the cause. 'My son,' said Mrs +Hardman calmly, 'was a little shocked at Catherine's altered +appearance. Doubtless, when his first emotions of surprise are over, +all the happiness we anticipated will be realised.' But she +mistrusted her own thoughts: a dark presentiment had cast its shadow +over her mind. + +That night was spent in festivity, in which Catherine was too ill to +join. She retired to her chamber, not to give way to unavailing +grief, but to fortify her mind against the worst. Mrs Hardman's +duties as hostess could not be neglected, and she mixed with her +guests with the dignified affability of former years. In watching her +son's proceedings, she had frequent occasion to bewail a coarseness +and impetuosity of manner, which had doubtless been imbibed from his +recent adventures. His attentions to Lady Elizabeth were as incessant +and warm as on a similar occasion they were cold and distant. When +the guests were retiring, he asked in a careless tone, 'By the by, +mother, what has become of Catherine?' + +The answer to this question implied an accusation of cruelty in the +interview with Catherine. This brought a retort from Herbert, that +time was when Mrs Hardman pleaded another's cause. 'True,' replied +the mother, 'but since I have known Catherine's unmatched excellence, +I have grievously repented that I ever contemplated _that_ alliance. +Tell me, Herbert, at once, and honestly, have your feelings changed +towards Catherine?' + +'When I left her she was beautiful,' was the reply; 'now she is'---- + +'You need not finish the sentence,' rejoined Mrs Hardman. 'I see it +all, and will urge you no further: our household's happiness is +wrecked.' + +The sorrowing lady sought Catherine's chamber. She took her in her +arms, exclaiming, 'Catherine, we are women, but we must act like +men.' A flood of mingled tears relieved the dreadful emotions which +agitated the wretched pair. One moment's consideration showed them +the worst--a future of hopeless despair. Hardman's love _was_, then, +a mere fitful passion, lit up by Catherine's former surpassing +beauty. + +Upon her face and form, with their matchless loveliness, his fancy +had fed since his banishment; his imagination, rather than his heart, +had kept her image constantly before him. But when he beheld her in +reality, so different from the being his memory-dreams had lingered +over, his passion received a sudden check. When he beheld her pallid +cheek, there was no heart-love to tell him it was grief for him which +had hollowed and blanched her beauteous face. His lightly-based +passion all but extinguished, instead of soothing the misfortune +which the ravages of disease had brought upon her, gradually became +colder and colder. In two months after his return the final blow was +struck, and Herbert Hardman became the husband of the Lady Elizabeth +Plympton! + +From the day of the nuptials, Catherine Dodbury covered her face with +a thick black veil, and no mortal had ever seen her face, except her +faithful domestic, to the day of her death. She and Mrs Hardman +retired to a distant part of the country, to leave the bride and +bridegroom in undisturbed possession of the estate. Mrs Hardman did +not long survive her son's marriage. On her death, it was discovered +that all the property at her disposal she had left to her son--to be +enjoyed after his death by Catherine--who, the testatrix never +doubted, when she executed the will (for which purpose she made her +solitary journey to Barnstable), would, if ever he reappeared, become +Herbert's wife. + +But how fared the married pair? + +At first they lived happily enough; but, when the enthusiasm of love +was over, other excitements were sought. They removed to London. +Herbert became wildly dissipated, and his wife habitually expensive. +The estate was soon impoverished, trees cut down, and the whole +steeped in mortgages. Crime succeeded. By a legal juggle, Catherine +was deprived of her reversionary rights; and when every penny was +gone, the wretched Hardman ended his days in a debtor's prison. His +wife followed him, leaving no child to inherit the estates. + +Catherine had, during all this while, lived with her father till his +decease, which took place just before that of Herbert. She then +removed to Coote-down, which had come into her possession, failing +nearer heirs--her father having been a cousin two degrees removed +from the late Mr Hardman, senior. There she had lived on for years, +without any attempt to improve the ruined property, and in the +seclusion in which I saw her at my visit. + +Such is the history of the 'Home-wreck,' whose effects I witnessed in +my visit to Coote-down. Since then, however, things have materially +changed. A very short time ago, I received notice that the heroine of +the above events had sunk into the grave, leaving most of her +property to my cousin and fascinating cicerone, who is now happily +married. By this time the estate has resumed its former fertility, +and the house some of its past grandeur. + + + +LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. + +A TALE OF THE SIOUX INDIANS. + +BY PERCY B. ST JOHN. + +In the very centre of one of the thickest and heaviest woods of the +American continent, where now stands a busy manufacturing town, there +was, some forty years ago, an Indian camp occupied by a small band of +the wild and warlike Sioux. They were not more than fifty in number, +having visited the spot merely for the purpose of hunting, and laying +in a store of provisions for the winter. It chanced, however, that, +coming unexpectedly upon certain Assineboins, who also were outlying +in the woods, following the exciting duty of the chase, a quarrel +ensued, ending in a bloody contest, in which the Sioux were +victorious. With rude tents pitched, without order or method, in an +open glade of the forest, with horses tethered around, and little +dusky imps fighting with the lean dogs that lay lolling their tongues +lazily about, there was yet a picturesque air about the place and its +extraneous features, which would have captivated the eye of one in +search of nature's sunshiny spots. Deeply embosomed within the +autumnal tinted wood, a purling spring that burst from the green +slope of a little mound was the feature which had attracted the +Indians to the locality. Rank grass had once covered the whole +surface of this forest meadow, but this the cattle had closely +cropped, leaving a sward that would have rivalled any European lawn +in its velvety beauty, and that, falling away before the eye, became +inexpressibly soft as it sunk away in the distance. + +The setting sun, gilding and crowning the tree tops in wreathed +glory, was gradually paling behind the heavy belt of forest that +enclosed the Sioux camp; the animals, both plumed and four-footed, +that filled the woods, were seeking their accustomed rest; the squaws +were busily engaged in preparing for their expected husbands their +evening meal, just as a long line of grim and painted warriors issued +from the shelter of the trees. A loud cry from the urchins that +squatted round the purlieus of the camp, with a growl of friendly +recognition from the ragged dogs, brought the women to the entrance +of the camp. + +The Indians came in in that silent and solemn manner which they are +wont more particularly to assume after the occurrence of important +events. To the no little surprise of the squaws, a prisoner +accompanied the returning party, and all thoughts were effaced but +those in connection with the promised scene of torture and amusement. +It was a young man, faultless in form, with features which in any +land would have been remarkable for their intellectuality and +engaging expression. His round limbs, and his erect figure, well +displayed as he trod unshackled and nearly naked, were the admiration +even of his enemies. His eye was keen and piercing, his lips curled +in an expression of scorn and defiance, while his inflated nostrils +no less marked the inward struggle of his mind, as he scowled +fiercely on his captors. + +In the centre of the camp was a strong but rudely-erected log-house, +that served the purpose of a council-chamber, and in this the +prisoner, having been so bound as to render escape, unaided, a matter +of impossibility, was left, while the warriors dispersed to their +wigwams in search of refreshment and repose. A large fire burned in +front of the council-hall, which gave forth so bright a glare, that +any one leaving or entering its precincts could scarcely avoid being +seen by those around. Several maidens, too, having no hungry husbands +requiring their ministering hands, were congregated in front, +conversing upon the probable fate of the Assineboin, and even in some +measure expressing pity for his expected death, so far had his good +looks and youth gone to create sympathy in the hearts of the fair +Sioux. + +'Let us see if the warrior weeps,' at length said one of the girls +with a laugh; 'perhaps he will ask for a petticoat, and become a +squaw.' + +Curiosity induced the whole bevy to agree, and next moment they were +all within the walls of the council-chamber, the warriors smiling +grimly in their wigwams at this evidence of the universal feminine +failing. A dim and fitful glare from the fire served to reveal the +form of the luckless Indian youth seated upon a log, his eye fixed +upon vacancy. For a moment curiosity kept the whole party silent, and +then, education and habit exerting their influence, the group began +to put in practice those arts which might be expected to awaken in +the prisoner an exhibition of feeling derogatory to his dignity. + +'An Assineboin has no eyes; he is a burrowing mole,' said one +tauntingly; 'he creeps about the woods like a serpent, and falls into +the trap of the hunters: a beaver is wiser than he. He is very +cunning, but he cannot deceive a Sioux: he is very brave, but he is a +prisoner, and not a wound shows that he struggled. Go; it is a squaw +whom my people have brought in by mistake.' + +A general laugh was the reward of the speaker's wit, while the Indian +moved neither eye, limb, nor muscle. The girl, irritated, opened upon +him with all that volubility of tongue which so strongly +characterises their race. It was, however, in vain. The sun in the +heavens was not more unmoved--a marble statue would have been life +behind him--not a look or sound, not a glance, testified that he even +heard what was passing. Wearied at length with their vain efforts, +the bevy rushed forth into the open air, and, joining hands, +commenced, with loud cries and laughter, a dance round the fire. + +A deep and heavy respiration was the only sign the Indian gave of +consciousness--his quick and practised senses told him he was not +alone. + +'Son of the Evening Light,' said a low and gentle voice, addressing +him by a name which was well known in her tribe as that of their most +dreaded enemy, 'the morning will come, and it will find my brothers +thirsting for blood.' + +'The veins of Ah-kre-nay are very full,' replied the warrior calmly; +'they can all drink.' + +'The Son of the Evening Light is very brave,' said the other +hurriedly, and in tones which exhibited strong feeling; 'but life is +very sweet. Would he hunt again in the forest?--would his hand once +more strike the grizzly bear?' + +Suspecting some deep and cunning artifice of his enemies beneath this +unmistakable offer of escape on the part of the fair Peritana, the +Indian was sternly silent; though the tones which truth assumes are +so powerful and expressive, that he felt almost convinced at heart +she was sincere. The young maiden probably understood his doubts, and +therefore spoke no more, but with quick and ready hands placed a +knife before him, and, cutting the bonds, left him free. + +'My sister is very kind,' said the young warrior warmly, after giving +vent to the guttural ugh! the jocund laugh and the romping of the +dancers permitting conversation--'and Ah-kre-nay will remember her in +his dreams.' With this the Assineboin turned towards the entrance of +the wigwam. + +The Sioux girl replied not, but, pointing to the throng without, and +then passing her hand significantly round her head, folded her arms, +and stood resignedly before the youth. + +'Would the Sioux maiden leave her tribe and tread the woods with an +Assineboin?' said the warrior curiously. + +'Peritana will die if the Assineboin warrior be found to have +escaped, and Peritana would rather live in the woods than in the +happy hunting-ground.' + +The Assineboin now felt sure that his youth, his appearance, or, at +all events, his probable fate, had excited the sympathies of his +visitor, and gratitude at once created in him a desire to know more +of his fair friend. + +'Ah-kre-nay will not depart without his sister; her voice is very +sweet in his ears, sweeter than the cluck of the wild turkey to the +hungry hunter. She is very little; let her hide in the corner of the +wigwam.' + +'Peritana has a father, tall and straight--an aged hemlock--and two +brothers, bounding like the wild deer--Ah-kre-nay will not raise his +hand against them?' + +'They are safe, when Peritana has folded her white arms round them.' + +This point settled, the Indian girl handed the youth his tomahawk and +knife, and then obeyed his commands with as much alacrity as if she +had been his legal squaw. The warrior then resumed his former +position, placing the willow-withes which had bound him in such a +manner as readily to appear, by the light of the fire, as if they +were still holding him firm. + +This arrangement had scarcely been made, when a couple of grim +warriors appeared in the doorway, after listening to the report of +the girls. Peritana, closing her eyes, held her very breath, lest it +should betray her presence to her people, and thus render all her bold +efforts for him whose fame, beauty, and unfortunate position had won +her heart, of no avail. The young warrior, too, sat motionless as a +statue, his keen ear listening for the sound of the girl's breath. To +his admiration and infinite surprise, her respiration had apparently +ceased. The Sioux at this moment entered, and, glaring curiously at +their enemy, as if satisfied with the survey they had taken, turned +away and moved towards their wigwams. Silence now gradually took the +place of the activity and bustle which had previously reigned. A +sense of security lulled the Indians to rest. Every one of their +enemies, save the prisoner, had perished in the fight, or rather +surprise, by which the victors had mastered their unarmed foes. No +thought was given to treachery within the camp. + +Still, the young Assineboin knew that each moment he might be missed. +He therefore listened with deep attention for the slightest sound; +and some quarter of an hour having passed, he rose from his +half-recumbent posture, and stood perfectly erect in the very centre +of the wigwam. Peritana at the same instant stood at his side, coming +from without: she had left the wigwam with so noiseless a step, that +even the exquisite organs of the Indian had been eluded. Neither +spoke, but the girl placed in the warrior's hands a short rifle, +a powder-horn, and a shot-pouch, which he clutched with a delight +which a sense of the danger of his position alone prevented him from +manifesting openly. Slinging them in their proper places, Ah-kre-nay +moved with caution to the door of the wigwam, and next moment was +stalking firmly but noiselessly along the camp, followed by Peritana, +gazing mournfully at the habitations of her tribe. Suddenly, as they +reached the outskirts of the wigwams, and were passing one of the +largest and most conspicuous of the whole, a voice from within +growled forth a hoarse demand of who was there? + +'Peritana,' said the girl, in a voice which was choked with emotion, +'is not well; she seeks the woods, to drive away the bad spirit.' + +During this brief colloquy the young brave had stepped within the +deep shadow of the tent, his rifle ready cocked. As the girl ceased +speaking, the head of an old warrior was protruded from the wigwam +door. + +'Thy sisters have been asleep since the dance was over,' said the +aged Indian; 'why is Peritana awake?' + +The girl saw her companion level his rifle--her agitation was +intense. Her feelings were deeply moved on both sides. + +'Father,' said she, and the rifle was raised instantly, 'Peritana +goes to the woods; she will not tarry long. Her head is hot; she +cannot sleep now.' + +Satisfied with this explanation, the old Sioux retired once more +within the tent, leaving the young warrior and his sad companion to +reach the forest unmolested. Peritana was deeply moved at parting +from her parents, and, but that she knew that death would be her +portion on the discovery of her aiding the escape of Ah-kre-nay, +would gladly have returned to where, as her father had told her, her +sisters slept soundly. The die, however, was cast, and she was now in +the woods, the companion of the runaway. + +We must pass over a year of time, and take up our narrative at some +distance from the spot above described. It was a deep dell on the +banks of the upper waters of one of those streams that serve to swell +the Ontario. Perhaps a lovelier spot was never discovered by man. At +a place where the river made a bend, there rose from its bank, at +some distance from the water, a steep but not perpendicular cliff, +thickly grown with bushes, and spotted with flowers, while tall trees +crowned the crest of the eminence. Of a horseshoe form, the two ends +approached the edge of the stream, leaving, however, to the east a +narrow ledge, by which the vale could be approached. The space +between the water and the bottom of the cliff was occupied by a sward +of velvety smoothness, while beneath the rock was a dark and gloomy +natural cavern. The most prominent feature of the scene, however, was +of human formation. It was an Indian hut, which doubtless rose in +this spot for the purpose of concealment. No better place could have +been found within many miles, as the portion of the river which +flowed in sight, from its proximity to a fall, was navigable only to +the smallest canoe, and was therefore never made use of by +travelling-parties. The wigwam was of the usual dome-like shape, +roofed with skins tastefully and elegantly adjusted, while a mass of +creeping and flowering shrubs that entwined themselves around it, +showed it to be no erection of a day. It was a model of cleanliness +and neatness, while a fireplace at some distance out-of-doors, within +the cavern, showed that, at least during the summer months, the +inconvenience of smoke was dispensed with within its walls. The whole +was wrapped in deep silence, looking as if utterly abandoned by every +trace of humanity. + +The sun was at its fullest height, proclaiming midday to the tenants +of the woods and fields, when a rustling was heard at the entrance of +the little dell, and an Indian bounded headlong within its shelter. +The wild gleaming of his eye, the fresh wounds which covered his +body, the convulsive thick breathing, the fierce clutching of his +tomahawk and rifle, showed that he fled for his life, while the sound +of many voices below the crag betokened how near his pursuers were to +him. Shaking his empty powder-horn with a look of deep grief, the +Indian warrior threw aside his rifle, now more useless than a pole of +equal length, and, a fire of energy beaming from his eye, raised his +tomahawk. It was, however, but for a moment--his wounds were too +severe to allow any hope of a successful struggle, and next moment +the brave stood unarmed, leaning against the entrance of his wigwam. +On came the pursuers, with an eagerness which hatred and the desire +of revenge rendered blind, and, as they leaped headlong down through +the narrow gap between the water and the cliff, the wounded Indian +felt that, with a firm arm and a good supply of powder and lead, he +might have driven back his enemies in confusion. No sooner did the +Sioux behold their former prisoner, Ah-kre-nay, standing with +dignified calmness at the door of his own wigwam, than their +self-possession at once returned, and the whole party surrounded him +in silence, casting, meanwhile, envious but stealthy looks round his +romantic retreat. An aged warrior, after a due period of silence, +advanced and addressed the captive. + +'Ah-kre-nay is very nimble; twelve moons ago he ran like a woman from +the Sioux; to-day he ran again, but his feet forsook him.' + +'Twelve moons ago,' replied the captive with exultation flashing in +his eyes, 'Ah-kre-nay was in the midst of a nest of vultures--fifty +warriors surrounded him; but the manitou blinded all their eyes, and +the Assineboin cheated their revenge.' + +'But Ah-kre-nay was not alone?' said the old warrior, deeply moved at +his own question. + +'The flower of the hills fled to the woods with him--her tongue was +the tongue of a lying Sioux, but her heart was that of a brave +Assineboin.' + +'Where is my child?' said the old warrior, in vain endeavouring to +penetrate the mystery of the hut's contents, and dropping his +figurative language under the influence of excitement--'say, Son of +the Evening Light, where is my child?' + +The warrior gazed curiously at the old man; but folding his arms, +made no reply. + +The Sioux warrior paused a moment, and then turning to his young men, +ordered them to bind the prisoner, and commence that long list of +atrocious cruelties which ever precede the death of a victim among +the Indians. The hut was scattered to the winds in a moment, and its +wood served to commence the pile which was to play the principal part +in the scene of torture. Ah-kre-nay looked on in silence, his lip +curling scornfully, until the preparations were all made; he then +took his place at the post with sullen composure, and prepared to +suffer in silence all the horrors meditated by the Sioux. A grim +warrior now stood forward with a keen and glittering tomahawk in his +hand, which he began waving and flourishing before the eyes of his +victim, in the hope of making him show some sign of apprehension. In +vain, however, did the old Sioux try every feint; now he would aim a +blow at his feet, and as suddenly change to his face; now he would +graze his very ear; and at length, enraged at the stoicism of his +victim, he raised the gleaming hatchet, as if about to strike in +earnest. The smart crack of a rifle was simultaneous with the +attempt, and the tormentor's arm fell useless by his side. With +habitual fear of the fatal weapon, the Sioux sought cover, and gazing +upward, saw on the summit of the cliff Peritana--a babe slung in a +cradle at her back--in the act of loading her rifle. + +'Father,' cried she somewhat wildly, and pointing out how completely +she commanded the pass of the dell, 'in the green days when Peritana +walked not alone, you fed and sheltered me; warm was my wigwam, and +sweet the venison: with which my platter was ever filled. Peritana is +very grateful, but'--and she pointed to her child--' Peritana is a +mother, and she sees her husband, the father of the Little Wolf, in +the hands of his enemies. Her eyes grow dim, and her memory departs. +She cannot see her father, but she sees the enemy of her husband; she +forgets she was ever a Sioux, and remembers only she is now an +Assineboin. If his enemies kill her husband, Peritana will use her +rifle as long as her powder lasts, and then will leap into the water, +and join Ah-kre-nay in the happy hunting-ground of his people. But a +Sioux warrior will not forget he has a daughter,' continued she more +tenderly; 'give her back the father of her child, and Peritana will +bring a great warrior into the Sioux camp.' + +The Sioux saw at once the force of her proposition. Certain death +awaited many, if not the whole band, should they strive to ascend the +pass in the face of an infuriated widow; while, should she prevail +upon Ah-kre-nay to forget, for her sake, his hereditary antipathies, +and join the Sioux band, a mighty advantage would accrue. When free, +and acting with perfect freedom, it was probable that the young +Assineboin would show but little resistance to this offer. In ten +minutes after the appearance of Peritana on the cliff, her husband, +who had been an attentive listener, stood fully armed at the mouth of +the pass, free. He was just about to commence the ascent, when, +determined to win the admiration of the Sioux at once, he turned +towards them once more, and, standing in their midst, laid his arm +affectionately on the shoulder of the chief, and cried: 'Come, +Peritana; Ah-kre-nay is with his friends; let not his squaw be afraid +to join him.' + +Placing himself and wife thus completely in the power of the Sioux, +without any agreement as to treatment, was a tacit reliance on their +honour, which won upon them at once, and a loud shout of applause +proclaimed that enmity was at an end; and in a few moments more the +old Sioux warrior was gazing, with all the pride of a grandfather, +upon the offspring of his favourite daughter. A few hours of rest +ensued, during which Ah-kre-nay's wounds were bound up, after which +the whole party went on their way rejoicing, and the Sioux numbered +one great warrior more within their bosom. Thus, by the exertion of +remarkable presence of mind, Peritana preserved herself a husband, +saved the babe from orphanship, restored a daughter to her father, +and added a brave soldier to the forces of her tribe. Weeping and +wailing would have availed her nothing; undaunted courage gave her +the victory. The facts of this tale are current still among the +wandering Sioux, who often relate to their wives and young men the +famous deeds of the lovely Peritana. + + + +LUCY FENNEL: + +A TALE OF HUMBLE HEROISM. + +In a small village near the town of Honiton, in Devonshire, there +lived a widow and her son. The old woman had, till her sight failed +her, not only earned a sufficient livelihood, but had saved a little +money, by making that kind of lace for the manufacture of which +Honiton is so widely famed. When, from the infirmities of age, she +could no longer ply her vocation successfully, it happened +fortunately that her son, by his labour as a farm-servant, was able +to make up the deficiency. He was a fine spirited young fellow, who +went through his laborious occupations with a good-will and +cheerfulness which was so satisfactory to his employer that he +determined to advance, whenever opportunities offered, so assiduous +a servant and good a son. + +Some two years before our story opens, it happened that a young +woman, the daughter of a decayed farmer in the southern part of the +county, came to superintend the dairy of Luke Damerel's master. It +was not unnatural that the buxom lass and the young man should form a +mutual attachment. As they were both very well-conducted persons, +their love passages were looked upon with a favourable eye both by +Dame Damerel and by the farmer's wife, Mrs Modbury, though neither +openly sanctioned it, for prudence' sake. Luke and Lucy, however, +loved on, as they thought, in secret, determining not to reveal their +mutual affection till they should be placed in circumstances to get +married. Things remained thus for more than a year and a half, when +Farmer Modbury's wife died, and other circumstances occurred which +induced him to promote Luke to a more lucrative and responsible +situation on the farm. Shortly after the demise of his wife also, he +found it expedient to give Lucy, in addition to her dairy duties, the +sole charge of the housekeeping. + +With the rise in his fortunes, Luke's thoughts were directed to the +accomplishment of his dearest hope, and he revealed his passion to +his mother, consulting her on the propriety of the step he wished to +take; which was simply to marry Lucy, and bring her to live in the +cottage. The old dame was not surprised at the proposal, for she +expected it to be made from the day Luke's wages were increased. She +had made up her mind what to advise, and did not shrink from advising +it, although it would not be agreeable to her son. 'Luke,' she said, +'you must still wait. Your earnings are not sufficient to keep Lucy +comfortably; and she, you know, would have to give up her place, +which is now a good one. So you would not only be injuring yourself, +but her also.' + +Luke fired up at this, and unkindly hinted that his mother did not +wish to have a companion to share their home. The old dame, though +much hurt, denied that any such feeling swayed her, and advised him +to consult Lucy herself. Dame Damerel had that confidence in the +girl's good sense and prudence, that she was sure even Lucy would not +consent to marry so soon as Luke wished. + +In no very amiable mood the lover sought his mistress at the +farmhouse. He went into the kitchen, and not finding Lucy there, +inquired of one of the maids where she was. With a sly ominous +expression the girl replied 'that _Miss_ Lucy was in the best parlour +making tea for master.' This information gave poor Luke a sort of +panic. He trembled, turned pale, and hastily retreated from the +house. Discontented thoughts filled his mind. 'No doubt,' he said +almost aloud, as he walked homewards--'no doubt she'll _not_ consent +when I propose to marry her, though I can keep her. Farmer Modbury +will be a better match for her than a poor hard-working lad like me. +But I'll see about that--it shall be now or never. If she won't marry +me in a week, she never shall!' In truth, Luke had been feeling a +pang of jealousy creep over him ever since Lucy was promoted to be +Modbury's housekeeper; and that she should be admitted alone with him +into the best parlour to make his tea, confirmed what were previously +only suspicions. On entering the cottage, his wild looks almost +frightened his mother; but he was silent as to the cause, and went +sullenly to bed. + +Farmer Modbury kept up the good old Devonshire custom of dining with +all the people in his employment; and the day after, when Luke with +the rest of his companions sat at the table, he watched the actions +and countenances of Lucy and her master, to catch new causes for the +tormenting feeling which possessed him. The meal concluded, he +followed the girl to the dairy, as was his custom; for a short and +sweet interview could always be snatched at that time. The present +one was, however, the reverse. In a hard tone of voice, and with an +abrupt manner, Luke inquired if she were ready to have him? The girl +frankly answered, 'Of course I am, Luke; but what should make you ask +the question on such a sudden!' + +Luke's jealousy was a little assuaged by Lucy's open and confiding +manner, and becoming more calm, he told her his plans. 'It will never +do, Luke,' she replied.' Besides, my father, whom I must send to +about it, would not consent. No, no, we must wait.' + +'Wait! for what, I should like to know? To give master, I suppose, +a chance of--of--' + +'Of what, Luke?' + +'Why,' said Luke, worked up into a sort of frenzy by the very +thought--' why, of asking you to take poor dead-and-gone missus's +place!' + +The colour mounted to Lucy Fennel's face. She cast a reproachful look +on her lover, and seemed ready to cry; but woman's pride came to her +aid, and she left the dairy, as if afraid to hear another of Luke's +terrible words. Had the young man not gone out immediately, he might +have heard ill-suppressed sobs issuing from the room into which the +maiden had shut herself. 'She is afraid to face me,' said Luke to +himself as he crossed the courtyard. 'No, no, she can't deceive me, +though she is trying.' + +The directions Damerel gave to the workmen that afternoon were so +injudicious, that his master happening to overhear him tell a ditcher +to fill up a drain which ought to have been opened, gave him a severe +reprimand. Luke received what was said with the worst feelings, +continually repeating to himself, 'Ah, he has a spite against me now. +He did not make that girl his housekeeper for nothing. _I'm_ not +wanted here, I can see.' + +When work was over, it happened that as Luke was returning to his own +cottage he met young Larkin, a neighbouring farmer's son, who asked +him to accompany him to Honiton, where he was going to 'see the +sodgers,' a regiment being about to pass through the town on its way +to form part of Plymouth garrison. To beguile the care which +tormented him, he gladly consented, and having gone home to put on +his Sunday clothes, was soon equipped for the evening's expedition. +The two friends had to pass Modbury's parlour window, and it was +tea-time. Luke cast an inquisitive glance towards it, and trembled +when he saw the blind being slowly pulled up. Presently it revealed +the figure of Lucy, very nicely dressed with a new and handsome cap. +Something having prevented the blind from being drawn quite to the +top, Lucy mounted on the window-seat to adjust it, and when about to +descend, Luke plainly saw his master come forward, give her one hand, +while with the other he assisted her down by the waist! Damerel +grasped the tree he was resting against for support; a film came over +his eyes; but a few rough jokes from Larkin recovered him, and +hearing the military band in the distance, he endeavoured to forget +his cares, and trudged on towards Honiton. + +Meanwhile, the moment Lucy had finished her duties at the tea-table, +she hastened to Damerel's cottage, in the hope, not of seeing her +lover, but his mother, alone. The old dame, perceiving her pale and +in low spirits, thought she divined the cause, by supposing the girl +was sorrowing at the imprudence of the step Luke had proposed to her. +'Well, well,' said the kind old woman, 'things may not be so bad +after all, Lucy. And since Luke has set his heart so much upon it, +and you, I am sure, are nothing loath, we must try and manage it. +I'll tell you what I've been thinking, girl. You see the great +mischief will be your being obliged to give up your place at the +farm; now, I know a plan by which that loss may be mended. You are a +quick, handy maid; and suppose--suppose'--and here the good old woman +took Lucy's hands in hers--'suppose I teach you lace-making?' + +These words poured a light into Lucy's heart which seemed to banish +all her grief. The means of rendering herself independent of her +present situation was all she wished for. She loved Luke tenderly, +dearly, and with a fervent, virtuous desire, wished to become his +wife. This wish had grown much stronger since her painful interview +with him, not only because she wished to prove she was ready to +sacrifice everything for his sake, but for another and more +perplexing reason. Her master had paid her attentions that evening +which left no doubt on her mind that _he_ desired her for his wife. + +When Mrs Damerel heard the news, she was much distressed. 'Oh, it is +too bad!' she exclaimed, 'to think that my Luke should be the means +of preventing you from marrying so well--you who are worthy of any +man.' + +'Do not think of that; I could not be happy with one I do not love. +So now, dear mother--for I will always call you so--let me hear what +plan you propose.' + +'Well, instead of talking idly, as we always do when you come to see +us, you shall let me teach you the lace-making. Come every night, and +in a month or two I shall be able to put you in a way to earn quite +as much as you do now at Farmer Modbury's. When this is the case, we +must see about getting yourself and Luke asked in church, for surely +both your earnings put together will be enough to keep you +comfortably.' + +'But will not the farmer bear some enmity to poor Luke?' + +'I will answer for him, girl, I have known him longer than he has +known himself. I nursed him, and I can say with truth that a +better-hearted man does not live. Should he again offer you any +civilities, tell him the whole truth, and I'll warrant he will not +repeat them.' + +That evening Lucy tripped home with a light heart. When she retired +to rest, she built many an air-castle of future happiness. + +The next morning, as the home-servants of Modbury's farm were going +to their daily toil, they found a crowd round Damerel's cottage door. +On inquiring into the cause, they were told that Luke had in a fit of +despair enlisted as a soldier, and that the news had wrought so +violently on the feelings of his mother, that it was thought she +could never recover! + +The scene inside the cottage was painfully distressing. The old dame +was lying on a bed with her clothes still about her, showing that she +had not gone to rest the whole night. The village doctor was by her +side, having just bled her, whilst everything strewed about the room +indicated that the always revolting operation had but recently been +performed. The neighbours, as they crowded round the door, denounced +Luke's conduct as rash and heartless. In the midst of their +denunciations they were joined by another, to whom every word they +uttered was as a death-wound. It was Lucy. + +Whoever has had the misfortune of often seeing women placed in sudden +difficulties, or overtaken by an unforeseen misfortune, must have +remarked that they occasionally act with unexpected firmness. They +frequently show a calmness of manner and a directness of purpose, +forming quite an exception to their every-day demeanour. It is after +the danger is over, or the first crisis past, that they break down, +as it were, and show themselves to belong to the weaker sex. Thus it +was with Lucy. When she entered the cottage, she had a full knowledge +of the death-blow which had been inflicted on her hopes of future +happiness. Still, she seemed calm and collected. When she took the +basin from the surgeon to bathe Mrs Damerel's temples herself, her +hand shook not, and she performed the kindly office as neatly as if +no misfortune had befallen her. When she went to the door to entreat +the neighbours to stand away from it, that sufficient air might be +admitted into the room, her voice, though rather deeper in tone than +usual, was calm and firm. Had she not occasionally pressed her hand +tightly against her brow, as if to cool its burning agony, you would +have thought that she suffered no further anxiety than that which is +usually felt whilst attending the sick. + +It was, however, when she was left alone with the exhausted, almost +senseless mother, that the tide of grief took its full course. Lucy +wept like one distraught. Through the deep, black future which lay +before her, she could see no gleam of hope or sunlight. She unjustly +upbraided herself for having, however innocently, given Luke cause of +suspicion. The weight of blame which she took to herself was almost +insupportable. 'I have been his ruin!' she exclaimed, burying her +face in his mother's bosom. + +When the old dame had strength to speak, she whispered Lucy not to +give way, but to bear up against it. The past, she wisely said, was +incurable; 'We must keep our senses whole for the future. While we +keep heart, there is no fear of our seeing him again, yet.' + +The story reached Farmer Modbury as he was sitting down to breakfast. +He was deeply shocked even when he? knew no more than that Luke had +enlisted; but when, on visiting the cottage, the whole truth was +explained to him by Lucy, he felt both grief and disappointment. He +was, however, determined not to abandon his suit as hopeless, and +returning home, wrote to her father (he was a widower), explaining +what had happened, and giving a frank exposition of his own +honourable views as regarded Lucy. _'No_ doubt,' he concluded his +epistle, 'she will soon forget this early and unhappy attachment.' +Modbury was a shrewd man, and a clever farmer, but he knew very +little about women's hearts. + +From that day he was extremely kind and considerate to Lucy. +Perceiving how much happier the girl was when she returned from +visiting Mrs Damerel than at other times, Modbury diminished her +labours by employing another dairymaid, so that Lucy might have more +leisure, which he had no objection should be spent with the invalid. + +One morning while Lucy was preparing the household dinner, a message +arrived from the cottage. Her presence was desired there immediately. +Lucy lost no time, and was soon in her accustomed seat at the +bed-head. Mrs Damerel placed a letter in her hands. It was from her +son. With beating heart Lucy opened it, and after time sufficient to +master the emotions which the sight of Luke's handwriting caused her, +she proceeded to read it aloud. It ran thus: + +'MAIDSTONE BARRACKS, KENT. + +'MY DEAREST MOTHER--I have at last found enough courage to take up my +pen, hoping this will find you in good health, as it leaves me at +present. I hope you have forgiven me for what I have done. I send you +two pounds, part of the bounty I received for enlisting. Do not be +afraid, my dear mother, that whilst I live you shall want. + +'When I went to Honiton, I was persuaded to enlist, after the +soldiers had passed through, by a sergeant of a horse-regiment, and I +took the king's money; so I am now a private in the --th Dragoons. I +am rough-riding every day, and expect to be passed as fit for regular +duty soon, when I shall be draughted off to the Indies, where our +head-quarters are. I should be very comfortable if it was not for +thinking about home, so much. They have found out I am a good judge +of horses, and know all about their complaints, so the sergeant-major +told me yesterday I shall get on very well in the Indies, if I keep a +sharp look-out. + +'Dear mother, I shall see you again when I come back--I know I shall; +and we shall be happy together; for now I have nobody else to care +about upon the earth. I hope she will be happy, for she deserves all +this world can afford, and I have always found Mr Modbury a kind +master, so I am sure he will make her a kind husband. Dear mother, +there is Tom Larkin, who promised me, after I had listed, that he and +his sister Sarah would look in upon you sometimes, and help you. May +God bless you, my dear mother. My heart was well-nigh broken; but my +comrades have been very kind to me, and I want for nothing. Good-bye, +mother, and believe me your ever-affectionate son, + +LUKE DAMEREL. + +'P.S.--I do not know when we shall sail for the Indies; but in case, +please to direct to Private Damerel, --th Regiment, Light Dragoons, +Maidstone, or elsewhere; and the letter will be sure to come to hand. +Once more, God bless you, and may God bless _her_ too, dear mother.' + +To describe Lucy's feelings while she read this simply-worded epistle +would be impossible. All the love and tenderness which she had felt +for Luke during the time she had known him, seemed to be concentrated +within her at that moment. At first she mourned the step he had taken +as hopeless and irreparable; but, casting her eyes upon the lace-work +she had the day before been doing, a sudden thought seized her. By +means of _that_, something might be eventually accomplished. With +these thoughts she quietly folded the letter, placed it on the table +beside the bed, and resumed the lace-work, scarcely speaking a word. + +Mrs Damerel mistook this action for indifference, and in her sincere +desire for the girl's welfare, urged--not for the first time--plans +and sentiments which, though well meant, were utterly revolting to +Lucy. Luke had, she argued, no doubt behaved very ill, by rashly and +without explanation tearing himself not only from her, but from every +person to whom he was dear. On the other hand, Farmer Modbury's +advances were very flattering, and she could hardly blame a girl who +had been so cruelly treated, even by her own son, were she to accept +the good-fortune that lay before her. + +Still Lucy went on practising her lace-work, her heart beating, and +her averted eyes swimming with tears. At length she exclaimed: 'Dame, +you will break my heart if you ever talk in this way again. To you I +look for comfort and strength in loving Luke, which I shall never +cease to do. I, whether innocent or not, am the cause of depriving +you of the comfort of his company, and I am determined to restore him +to us both. You may think it impossible, but it is not. I have +thought, and thought, and reckoned up everything, and am quite sure +it can be done.' + +'I cannot make out what you mean,' said Mrs Damerel. + +'Why, that I intend, as soon as I am able to do it well enough, to +take work from the town, to leave Farmer Modbury, and come and be +with you. We can live on very little, and every spare shilling we +will put into the savings-bank, until it amounts to a sufficient sum +to buy Luke off.' She then industriously resumed her work. It was +some time before Mrs Damerel could comprehend the full intent and +meaning of the sacrifice the girl proposed. At first she thought it +was a mere flighty resolution, that would not hold long; and even +when she was made to understand that it was unshaken, she looked at +the achievement as impossible; for at that time the prices for +lace-work were falling, in consequence of the recent introduction of +machinery. + +About a week after this all her doubts vanished, for, on +Michaelmas-day, when Lucy's term of service with Farmer Modbury +expired, sure enough she brought her box, and declared she had come +to stay with her adopted mother. She had previously been to a +master-manufacturer in Honiton with a specimen of her lace, and it +was so well approved, that she obtained a commission for a large +quantity on the spot. By this time the old dame had completely +recovered from her illness, and was able to move about, so as to +attend to the little domestic concerns of the cottage; Lucy could +therefore give her undivided attention to her work. + +Her proceedings were by no means agreeable to her father or to +Modbury. The former wrote enjoining her by no means to leave the +farmer's house; but the letter came too late, for she had already +taken her departure. Modbury, however, in replying to an epistle in +which Fennel had given him free consent to marry his daughter, +expressed a thorough conviction of the firmness of the girl's +purpose, and that at present it was impossible to shake it. Though +she had left his roof he should continue to watch over her, and +hoped, by persevering kindness and attention, eventually to win her +affections. Under these circumstances, Lucy quietly established +herself in Mrs Damerel's cottage. + +At first she found it a hard matter to gain sufficient money for her +labour to recompense the dame for her board and lodging, which she +insisted upon doing every time she was paid by her employers. Still +she wrought on, although her savings were small, and at the end of +several months they bore a hopeless proportion to the large sum which +was required. But time seemed a small object to her: she looked +forward to the end, and in it she saw such a world of reward and +happiness, that no toil would be too much to arrive at it. She had +answered Luke's letter with her own hand, assuring him of her +unshaken attachment, in spite of all that had happened; but +unfortunately he had sailed for India, and it was sent thither after +him, in obedience to the vague 'elsewhere' which had been added to +the superscription according to his wish. + +Slow progress was not the only trouble Lucy had to contend with. +Modbury's attentions pained her as much as Luke's absence; the more +so because they were so full of consideration for her welfare. She +knew she never could return his kindness, and felt that she did not +deserve it. She often told Dame Damerel that a show of hostility from +the worthy farmer would not have pained her so much as his +unremitting attentions. + +Then, when the neighbours came in to gossip, they sometimes spoke +against Luke. They would tell her that a man who would suspect her on +such slight grounds, and act as he did, could never be true to her; +that he would see some other whom he would prefer, and some day send +home word that he was married; neither was it likely that he would +ever come home alive from the Indies. These poisoned arrows, which +were meant as comfort, glanced harmlessly from Lucy, who was +invulnerably shielded by trusting love and hope. She would answer: +'very likely,' or 'it may be,' or 'there is no knowing what may +happen in this world of trouble,' and still rattle about her +lace-pegs over the pillow on which it was made with the quickness of +magic. Amongst her visitors, however, there were two who invariably +offered her better consolation; these were Larkin and his sister. Tom +'stuck up,' as he expressed it, for his friend Luke, and always put +the blame of the enlistment on the wiles and arts of the +recruiting-sergeant, who regularly entrapped him into the deed. Many +a happy winter evening was spent in that humble cottage by Lucy and +her friends. Luke was never forgotten in their conversations; for +there was the lace which was being unweariedly made for his release +to remind them of him. When Modbury made his appearance (and this was +very often) the subject was of course dropped. + +A year passed away. Neither Lucy nor Modbury had made much progress +in their several aims; scarcely a tithe of the requisite sum for +Luke's discharge had been saved; neither could Modbury perceive that +his suit advanced. Lucy's conduct sorely perplexed him. She always +seemed delighted when he came in, and received him with every mark of +cordiality; but whenever he dropped the slightest plea in his own +behalf, tears would come into her eyes, and she entreated him to +desist. He began to remark also, that besides the presence of the old +dame, which was surely a sufficient safeguard against any warmth of +manner he might be betrayed into, Lucy always contrived to have Susan +Larkin with her. Should she be absent, Lucy would be telling Modbury +what a good, industrious, excellent girl she was; which, indeed, was +the truth. + +No letter came from Luke, and there was no proof that he had received +hers. Lucy began gradually to despond; for work became slack, and at +times she only got enough to employ her half the day. Not to lose +ground, however, she hired herself to the neighbouring farmers' wives +to sew during her spare time, leaving Dame Damerel to the occasional +care of Susan Larkin. While she was sitting at work during one of +these engagements, she compared her own cheerless lot with the +happiness which surrounded her. The farmer was reading the newspaper, +his wife and daughter assisting her in the work she was doing. As she +made this comparison, and thought of Luke, banished as it were from +his home, and enduring perhaps severe hardships, she could scarcely +refrain from weeping. Now and then the farmer read a paragraph from +the paper, and presently exclaimed: 'Ah, our young squire has got +safe to his regiment in India.' At these words Lucy trembled, but +went on rapidly with her work, lest her emotion should be noticed. +She had previously heard that the son of a neighbouring proprietor +had bought a commission in Luke's regiment, and this was almost like +having news of Luke himself. Presently the reader went on with the +paragraph: '"We understand there has been a fatal disease which has +carried off many of the"'------ The farmer made a pause here, and +Lucy's heart sank within her. 'Oh, I see,' the old gentleman +ejaculated; 'the corner is turned down--"has carried off +many"--yes--"many of the----horses."' + +This little incident produced such strong emotions in Lucy's frame, +that though she felt, upon the whole, much gratified by merely +hearing about Luke's regiment and its horses, yet she became too ill +to proceed with her work, and found it necessary to return to the +cottage. + +Lucy soon altered her plan of engaging herself out; for the idea +struck her, that if she were to make lace on a sort of speculation, +and keep it by her till it was wanted, she would in the end make a +greater profit. Having, when her father was in good circumstances, +been partly educated at an Exeter boarding-school, she had acquired +there some knowledge of drawing, and by exercising her pencil, she now +invented some very pretty lace-patterns. + +Lucy wrought and hoped on for another year. Still nothing was heard +from Luke. A new calamity had fallen upon Lucy. Her father, a broken +and decayed man, had come to live near her, and was now nearly +dependent on her for support. Both Modbury and Farmer Larkin gave him +little jobs to do, for which they liberally recompensed him. The +quantity of lace Lucy was employed to make was so small, that it just +sufficed to keep her and her father; while her little capital, +instead of increasing, was gradually absorbed by the purchase of +materials for the stock her industry accumulated. Susan Larkin +frequently visited her, and Modbury was seldom absent. + +No ill-fortune seemed to depress the persevering girl. Even though +she was working almost night and day, she still kept up her spirits. +Indeed, at every new misfortune, a fresh accession of firmness and +resolution seemed to nerve her. About this time her father died, +invoking blessings on her for having been so good a daughter. After +the first shock of grief had passed, she continued her task amidst +the most hopeless circumstances. The lace-trade sunk lower and +lower; still Lucy wrought on, under a strong presentiment that it +would improve. She did not relax one hour's labour, although she was +now receiving much less for it than when she began. She accumulated +so large a stock, that at last every shilling of her savings was +spent for materials. In exchange, however, she possessed a large +quantity of beautiful lace, that, even if it sold at the present low +prices, would have yielded a small profit. At last things became so +bad, that a sale seemed unavoidable, disadvantageous as it might be. +Lucy, now an object of commiseration amongst the neighbours, still +retained her cheerfulness. That so much patience, modesty, and +firmness of purpose should not meet its reward, seemed almost +impossible; and fortune smiled on Lucy when nearly every hope seemed +to have left her. + +It is well known by what trifles in the mercantile world fortunes are +lost and won. The detention of a ship, the non-arrival of a mail, has +ruined hundreds; whilst some equally unforeseen caprice of fashion or +similar accident has made as many fortunes. It happened, when Lucy +had the greatest cause for despondency, that within a short period +two members of the royal family died. Mourning lace was then much in +request, and it happened that most of Lucy's stock was of that kind. +Suddenly, commissions from Honiton flowed in, and Lucy was kept +constantly at work, at wages much higher than before--her own stock +acquiring fresh value while the price continued to rise. Young +Larkin, who was a shrewd fellow, advised her to 'hold' it till the +value increased still more. She took the advice, and at the proper +moment sold it at a price she never hoped to realise. At the end of a +week she found herself in possession of a sum which was, within a few +pounds, sufficient to procure her lover's discharge from the army! + +Poor Lucy could hardly believe her eyes when the manufacturer laid +down the bank-notes before her. She pinned them carefully into the +bosom of her frock, and hastened to tell Dame Damerel that all their +troubles were over. The old woman's eyes glistened as Lucy unpinned +her treasure and laid it on the table. It was counted, re-counted, +and wondered over. What was to be done with it till the rest was +procured? Who would take care of it? + +This delight was, however, somewhat damped when they came to consider +that, putting aside all uncertainty about his fate, it would be at +least six months before Luke's discharge could reach him; then an +additional half-year would elapse ere he could get back. It was a +long time to wait. 'Never mind, dear mother,' said Lucy, 'the time +that has passed since he left seems scarcely a year, although it is +three. It is only because the twelvemonth is to come that it appears +to be so long. Still,' she said, considering and heaving a deep sigh, +'we have not got his discharge yet, and great as this sum is, some +more must be earned to make up the rest.' + +'Leave that to me,' returned Mrs Damerel. + +Next day, when Lucy returned from the post-office, where she had +taken a letter for Luke, she found another lying on the table, in +Larkin's handwriting. On reading the superscription, she found it was +addressed to the War-Office. 'Yes,' said Mrs Damerel in answer to her +inquiring glances, 'it is all done now, Lucy; and this letter is to +be sent off to tell the great people that we can have the money ready +to buy our dear Luke off again.' + +Larkin had, in truth, gladly supplied the small sum which was +deficient. The letter was sent, and in less than a week an immense +dispatch found its way to the village, which excited universal +wonderment. It was a great oblong missive, with the words 'On His +Majesty's Service' printed at the top. It had an enormous seal, and +was directed to 'Mr Thomas Larkin.' A crowd of idlers followed the +postman with this epistolary phenomenon, in the hope of getting some +knowledge of its contents. Tom, however, when he read it, coolly put +it into his pocket, and walked to the cottage without saying a word +to anybody. + +This letter seemed like a climax to Lucy's good-fortune, and 'begged +to inform Mr Larkin that Corporal Farrier Damerel was on his way to +England to superintend the selection of troop-horses, and that his +discharge should be made out when he had arrived and performed that +duty.' + +Scarcely a month after the arrival of the official dispatch, a +corporal of dragoons was seen trespassing on Farmer Modbury's fields, +by crossing them in great haste without any regard to the footpaths. +An old ploughman roughly warned him off, threatening personal +ejection. 'What, Roger Dart!' exclaimed the soldier, 'is this the way +you welcome a man home after a long absence?' The ploughman stared, +and said he did not know him. 'Do you know,' rejoined the corporal +with a trembling voice and anxious countenance--'do you know Lucy +Fennel?' + +'Of course I do,' returned Roger; 'everybody knows her, and, if I may +make so bold, loves her too! Why, sure enough, there she is +sitting--don't you see?--there, sitting at Dame Damerel's door making +lace for the life of her.' + +The stranger flew across the field, and the ploughman saw him bound +over the hedge, take Lucy into his arms, and drag her, bewildered and +enraptured, into the cottage. 'Why, dang me if it bean't Luke +Damerel!' exclaimed the rustic, slapping the thighs of his leather +breeches; 'how main glad the folks will be to see 'un!--I know what +I'll do.' Whereupon Roger trudged across the fields towards the +church. He happened to be one of the parish-ringers, and calling his +mates from the fields, they all trudged off to the bell-tower, and +rang out as merry a peal as ever was heard. The whole country was in +a commotion; the news ran like wild-fire from lip to lip and from ear +to ear, till the cottage was beset with visitors within and without. +But Luke heard no welcome, felt no grasp, but that of Lucy and his +mother. As to Lucy, an intense happiness thrilled through her, which +absorbed all her faculties, except that of feeling the full extent of +her bliss. + +This story of patience, endurance, and faith in humble life is almost +ended. Luke's furlough only extended to a week, which he spent as an +inmate of the farm, at Modbury's earnest entreaty; for he now gave up +all hope of Lucy, and determined to help in rewarding her patience by +promoting the match with his rival. At the end of that time, Luke was +obliged to depart for Yorkshire, to meet the veterinary-surgeon and +purchase horses, in which he was found of the utmost use; but this, +together with his excellent character, operated most unfavourably for +his discharge. The authorities were unwilling to lose so good a +soldier. The interest of the 'squire,' however, whose son was a +cornet in Luke's troop, was set to work, the hard-earned money paid, +and the discharge obtained. Damerel got a farm let to him on +advantageous terms, close to his native village, and was married +amidst more noisy demonstrations by Roger and his company of ringers. +Modbury had taken to wife Lucy's friend, Susan Larkin. + +The last time I was in Devonshire I called on Mr and Mrs Damerel. +They are an interesting old couple, who have brought up a large +family in comfort and respectability. + + + +BILLY EGG. + +'Can you direct me to Mr William Egg's?' said I one morning to a +smart shopman, who was loitering at the door of a showy haberdasher +in the principal street of a town in Ireland, in which, for a few +months, I once resided. I had been told by two or three persons that +Billy Egg's was the best shop in the place; for that, he being a +general dealer on a very large scale, I should be sure to get +'everything in the world' there. Moreover, I had been instructed that +he sold good articles at a cheap rate; and being a stranger, I felt +truly glad that I had been recommended to a tradesman on whom I +could confidently rely. 'Can you direct me to Mr Egg's?' I repeated, +seeing that the smart shopman was so much occupied either in admiring +his window or his own person, that he had not at first attended to my +question. + +'I know no such person, ma'am,' he replied rather sharply; and as I +now perceived that the house bore the evidence of fresh paint and +recent alterations, it occurred to me that the smart shopkeeper might +be a new-comer, and ignorant of the old residents. Nothing daunted, I +next entered the shop of a neighbouring bookseller, and repeated my +inquiries, but with no better success. I then made my way to that of +a milliner; and though a young girl, who was busily engaged at her +needle, looked up for a moment with an arch smile, and then turned +away, as I plainly perceived, to repress a hearty laugh, her mistress +dismissed me with the expression of her opinion 'that no such person +lived in that town, nor, she believed, in any other.' I felt a little +puzzled to know what the girl had found so ludicrous in my simple +question, and wondered if my repeated disappointments had given me a +forlorn air. 'At any rate,' thought I, 'this Mr Egg is not so +generally known as I expected to find him. I had better walk up the +street and try if I can discover any outward indications of his +abode.' + +I spent a weary half-hour in this endeavour, and as it now seemed +evident to me that no considerable shop could belong to the object of +my search, I lowered my tone in addressing an old apple-woman, who +sat behind a table covered with her stores at the corner of the +street. 'Pray, can you direct me to Billy Egg's?' I asked, dropping +the Mr altogether, and adopting the familiar term which had been used +to me. + +'Och, then, to be shure I will, an' welcome, if it was a mile off; +but there it's just furnint ye--that big grand shop there, wid the +big letthers gilt wid goold over the big windees.' + +'My good woman,' I replied, 'I am afraid you must be mistaken; the +name there is William Carter.' + +'Och, don't I know that? but they call him Billy Egg, because all he +has--and half the town that's his--came out of an egg.' + +An exclamation of surprise escaped me, and the old woman +continued--'Och, but well he desarves it, for he is a dacent man, and +good to the poor; God bless him every day he rises, and make the +heavens his bed at last!' + +As I took part of her speech as a hint to myself, I gave her +sixpence, and believing there was some story worth the hearing, I +begged my new acquaintance to call on me in the evening and relate +it, instead of hindering her business and mine by listening to it at +that moment; although I suspect she would have been nothing loath to +have given me the full and particular account there and then, for she +told me she knew every circumstance 'consarning him and his.' + +I proceeded without further delay to the 'big grand shop,' where I +saw in the master the veritable Billy Egg. He was a fine portly +personage, with a good open countenance, and it was evident he could +not have acquired his nickname from bearing even the most remote +resemblance to an egg. He served me himself with zeal and civility, +and my purchases were soon completed. + +In the evening, my old apple-woman was true to her appointment, and +from her I gathered the following particulars: William Carter was a +poor boy, the eldest of a large family, who, with their mother, were +left destitute by the death of their father. Their poor neighbours +were charitable, as the poor, to their credit be it spoken, so often +are; and one took one child, and one another, until something could +be thought of and done for their subsistence. William had made the +most of the scanty schooling his father had afforded him, and could +read a little. He was, moreover, a steady, hard-working boy; yet the +only occupation he was able to obtain was that of tending a cow on +the border of a large bog. In return for this service, he was +comfortably lodged and fed, and for a time the clothes he had were +sufficient. He was in the habit of saving any scraps of printed paper +which fell in his way, and by means of these he somewhat improved in +his reading; for while the cow was munching away, little Billy had +ample time for his studies, without neglecting her either, for he +made a point of looking out for the sweetest grass, and leading her +to it. + +By his care and attention, he gave such satisfaction to his employer, +that by the time his clothes were worn out, he was allowed wages +sufficient to replenish them; and his good-behaviour gave such +confidence and respectability to his family, that a neighbouring +farmer engaged one of his younger brothers in a capacity similar to +his own. One day this farmer gave Billy a newly-laid goose's egg, +thinking it might make him a good meal, and be something of a dainty, +and as a sort of return for an act of good-nature and watchfulness on +Billy's part, he having noticed that a certain gate leading to the +kitchen-garden had been left open, took the precaution to close it, +thereby preventing the incursion of a greedy sow and her interesting +family, which would undoubtedly have played the part of the Goths in +that flourishing spot. It is very likely that Billy's first impulse +was to boil his egg and eat it; but a moment's reflection convinced +him that this would be conduct very like that of the boy in the +fable, who slaughtered the goose that laid golden eggs. But how to +hatch his egg--for this was what he thought of--became now the +question. The good woman of the house noticed that Billy was +unusually silent at supper-time, and thought at first that some +disaster must have happened. She learned, however, that the cow had +her customary bed of soft heather, which it was Billy's pride to pick +for her, and had been as carefully attended to as usual in every +particular. We ought to mention that Billy was a great favourite with +his mistress; and perhaps he had won her heart by the care and +attention he had bestowed at every spare moment on one of her little +ones, who was a very sickly, fretful child, but who, somehow or +other, was always most quickly pacified by Billy. She soon learned +the cause of his thoughtful silence, and kindly offered to remove two +or three eggs from under a duck which was then sitting, and give +their place to her cow-boy's single treasure. This was the foundation +of William Carter's fortune; and it is worthy of remark, that both +the gift of the egg, and the opportunity of hatching it, he owed to +acts of thoughtful good-nature on his own part. + +In due time the goslin appeared, and Billy fed it from his own scanty +fare, taking it with him when he was herding. By Christmas it had +become a large fat goose, and its owner was offered half-a-crown for +it. But he had a higher ambition for it than this, and he was not to +be tempted from his purpose by the prospect of present gain. The +following spring he set her on twelve eggs, which she had herself +produced, and by and by twelve goslins appeared. Our hero was now +obliged to exercise some ingenuity in finding food for so large a +family of dependents; but he accomplished his end by bartering away +three of them, in exchange for permission that the remainder should +feed in his master's yard, until they should be old enough to pick up +their subsistence in company with their mother and the cow upon the +common, and indulge in swimming there in the abundant pools. At the +proper time, he sold the young geese for the largest sum he had ever +seen in his life; for, though to have kept some of them might have +proved an additional source of profit, he knew that he had only +accommodation for one to hatch. A portion of his money he gave to his +mother, but he placed a one-pound note in the safe-keeping of his +kind mistress, and when spring again came round, he bought with it a +year-old heifer, which he sent to graze on the mountains, paying with +it a small sum, the remnant of his money, which he had reserved for +this purpose. Old goosy again presented him with young ones, the sale +of which enabled him to purchase fodder for his cow, when she was +sent home at the end of the season. And now he built a little shed +for her with fir sticks from the bog and heather sods, so that +perhaps she was better cared for than many a rich man's cow. We may +be pretty sure, however, that Billy never neglected his master's +business to attend to his own private affairs, or he and his wife +would not have encouraged him in his plans, as they evidently did. It +is not worth while to follow the fortunes of the prudent industrious +little fellow step by step, or to declare precisely how he dealt in +cows and geese. It may be enough to say, that at the end of six +years he quitted servitude a richer man than ever his father had +been; on which occasion he presented the venerable goose to his +mother, to whose necessities and comforts he had for some time +constantly contributed. So soon as he was thoroughly established in +the world, he married; but not till he had provided a neat cottage +for his parent, who had the happiness to enjoy for many years the +prosperity of her son, and who lived to see the poor cow-boy a man +among the most respected and esteemed in his native county. + +'And so, you see,' said the old apple-woman in conclusion, 'it is a +foolish thing to despise small beginnings. Thrue as I am telling it +ye, this is how Mr Carter got the name of Billy Egg, though, d'ye +see, he never was called Billy _Goose_--no, never.' + + + +THE PLEDGE REDEEMED. + +Towards the close of the reign of Louis XIV., a plant of Mocha coffee +was brought to the king's garden, which very soon increased; and the +genius of the government of that day thought that, by transplanting +into their West India colonies this shrub, an immense source of +riches might be opened to the country. The carrying out of this idea +was entrusted to Chevalier Desclieux, who, provided with a young +coffee-plant, set out from Nantes, thence to convey it to Martinique. +Imbedded in its native mould, the precious exile was placed in an +oak-wood box, impenetrable to cold, and covered with a glass frame so +formed as to catch the least ray of the sun and double its heat; and +in case the sun did not shine, a small aperture, hermetically sealed, +could admit heated air, when it was thought proper to do so. We can +imagine all the charges Desclieux received when he entered the ship +in which he was to embark: but he did not need them; he saw at a +glance all the distinction he would gain by this expedition, which +would secure to his country an inexhaustible source of riches. It was +then, with a really patriotic feeling, that he took the plant under +his care, promising to devote himself to it as he would to his +country, and to all the duties of his profession. And when the skiff, +after having quitted the vessel, returned again to renew the charge, +and to remind Desclieux once more that the plant must be watered +every day, and that copiously, he pledged his honour that, rather +than fail in this, he would himself die of thirst. + +The ship sailed; the crew was composed of about one hundred men, and +of some passengers about to settle in the Antilles, amongst whom was +an amiable family, consisting of father, mother, and their only +daughter Louisa, a beautiful and accomplished girl of eighteen. In a +vessel where people are so much thrown together, meeting constantly +for a length of time, destined perhaps to share the same death, but +little time is required to form an intimacy which often ripens into +lasting friendship; and thus it proved in the case of the parents of +Louisa and Desclieux. Scarcely had they passed the light-house of +Cordouan, glittering in the twilight of a lovely evening, when they +were already friends. Already this fresh and delicate plant, +interesting as an exile, as a flower transplanted from its own soil, +as a child torn from its mother, became a mutual object of +attraction. It was thus that Louisa pointed it out to her parents as +it lay on the deck in its glass case, exposed to the mid-day sun. She +charmed the tedium of the voyage in hourly watching the progress +which she believed visible in the feeble offset. She had felt +interested in it from the moment Desclieux had shown her all the +glory he was to gain by it for France, and then she had become +attached to it; for it is a beautiful proof of the magnanimity of +women--their love for all that is glorious. Even during the five days +they had been at sea, the little coffee-plant had evidently +increased--two small leaves of a most delicate green had appeared; +and every morning Louisa's first thought after prayer was the +cherished plant; but she could not see it till Desclieux had left his +room, for he always kept the sacred deposit with him. Every evening +he watered it abundantly, and then let hot air into the frame by +means of the tube, as he had been directed: he kept it as close as +possible to him at night, that even during sleep he might administer +heat to it. Never did bird brood over its young more fondly--never +did nurse cherish more tenderly the new-born babe. + +As soon as Desclieux appeared on deck in the morning to lay his +precious charge in the sun, Louisa immediately ran thither. She +delighted to point out to her mother its growth during the night, a +growth imperceptible to indifferent eyes; but she had become attached +to it; and as the slightest emotions are visible to us in the +features of those we love, though unperceived by strangers, so she +discovered the least change even in the thickness of the stalk or the +length of the leaves; and Desclieux, seeing the young girl thus +attaching herself to what had been confided to him, and what he so +cherished, felt touched and grateful. + +They met with a terrible assault when close to Madeira. It was about +the middle of a dark night, though not stormy; the vessel was gliding +along noiselessly; and all on board were asleep except the officer on +watch--and indeed he too perhaps slept, or he would have heard the +noise of the keel cutting the waves as a bird's wing cuts the air, +and he would have cried: 'Ship ahoy!' A ship was indeed quite close +to Desclieux's vessel, and the token it gave of its vicinity was a +cannonade which awoke up every one in a moment, both crew and +passengers. It was a pirate vessel of Tunis, a poor chebeck, but +formidable in the night--a time that magnifies every fear--and +formidable, too, from the desperate bravery of the banditti who +manned her. Believing themselves assailed by superior forces, the +ship's crew prepared for a resistance as vigorous, as desperate as +the attack. Better far to die than to be carried slaves to Africa! +All the passengers were at prayer, distracted, trembling, or half +dead. Louisa alone remained calm, for she was sustained by the +thought that to her Desclieux had entrusted his precious charge. The +fight commenced; the ship fired eight cannon on the chebeck; and it +was time, for already the captain had boarded the French ship, but +was immediately cut down by Desclieux's axe. A last discharge of guns +on each side, and the firing ceased. The pirate felt its inferiority +and retreated, while the conquerors continued their course. + +Two hours of torturing suspense had passed since the terrible +awakening, which but served to make the feeling of restored security +the more delightful, and the remainder of the night was spent in +relating the events of the rencontre. Louisa's was not the least +interesting: she had been regardless of danger during the combat, +while watching over her charge; then she took it to Desclieux, who +admired her the more--loved her the more; for courage, always +beautiful, has a still greater charm when displayed by a woman. + +It was a lovely morning, the sun was unusually bright and warm, and +Desclieux left the plant on deck, the glass frame half raised to +admit the fresh air and reviving heat, while he, with Louisa and her +parents, sat near and enjoyed seeing it expand its pretty leaves, +and, as it were, smilingly greet the sun's rays, which infused into +it such genial warmth, and seeming to thank them for their care. But +Desclieux's brow now kindled with higher thoughts. In this feeble +offset he saw the pretty little starry flowers, then the perfumed +berries, and the negroes gathering it abundantly, and then the ocean +bearing vessels to France laden, with its produce. All this he could +see in the few small leaves scarcely aboveground. Enthusiastically +did he tell these bright visions to Louisa, and as she kindled in her +turn, the coffee-plant became dearer and dearer to her, and she +lavished as tender care upon it as she would upon a newborn brother. +She seemed to have common sympathies with it, and if she felt that +the heat might be too much for its slender stem, she drew over it +little curtains of green silk which she had made expressly for it, +just as a tender mother curtains the cradle of her infant. And then +she read to Desclieux and her parents a long account of the coffee +of Mocha, and pictured vividly to their imagination the tree to grow +out of the nursling whose infancy they watched over. Sometimes the +conversation took a different turn, and the parents of Louisa spoke, +as if to an old familiar friend, of their fortune, of their family +interests, of their views for the establishment of their only +daughter; and Desclieux in return imparted to them his plans. By +degrees these communications led to projects of marriage between him +and Louisa. It was no unpleasing thought to either, and the very day +they crossed the line, a declaration was made, and an engagement +formed, and it was agreed that their union should take place +immediately on their return to France. + +We may well think that Louisa became more attached than ever to the +plant, now become a source of distinction in which she would one day +share: imagine, then, her consternation when, one morning, she beheld +it languishing. She said nothing, hoping it might revive; but the +next morning found its leaves still more withered. She did not trust +herself to speak of it to Desclieux, who also had but too plainly +seen it. At last, the thought occurred to him that whilst in the +intense heat of the tropics, the plant would require more water; and +therefore poured on it almost his whole allowance. The effect was +immediate in restoring its life and verdure, and Louisa was again +happy. The ship was still some hundreds of leagues from Martinique, +when a violent tempest arose, apparently the last of a fearful +hurricane which had raged through the Antilles. It was found that the +ship had sprung a leak; the pumps were not sufficient: they were in +imminent danger, and the necessity of lightening the vessel was so +urgent that they were forced to throw overboard almost all the +merchandise, a part of the ballast, and even several barrels of +water. This last sacrifice was an appalling one: it was with a solemn +feeling they made it, similar to that with which one hears the earth +fall upon a coffin, or gives to the departed one the ocean for its +tomb. Indeed, these casks of water carried with them the lives of +many individuals, who had now no escape from a cruel death by thirst. +Desclieux, impressed, like the others, with this idea, only thought +of his precious coffee-plant. However, they were not very far from +port, and, with a favourable wind, might get in in a few days; and in +effect the tempest being over, and the leak closed with great +difficulty, a fresh breeze sprang up, and for a day and a night they +sailed fast, and the stormy state of the atmosphere had produced on +the coffee-plant the usual effect. It might almost have been said to +have flourished the more for the tempest. Louisa and Desclieux +contemplated it with a sweet joy, as at once the emblem and the omen +of domestic happiness amid the storms of life. But, alas! the wind +suddenly lulled--not the least breath to fill the sails, not a wave +broke against the motionless vessel: an awful calm succeeded; and +what is more terrible upon this scene of continual agitation than a +calm unwonted and too often fatal? The dead heat of the tropics was +felt in all its power by the helpless voyagers; they languished and +fainted with a continual thirst; and, horrible to relate, the water +was failing, for they had thrown so much overboard, that they were +limited to a very small allowance--a cupful at most. + +If men, notwithstanding their energies, sunk under the sufferings +caused by the intense heat and burning thirst, what must have been +the state of the poor little plant which faded away before the eye! +It had its allowance also, but it was not enough; and every morning +and evening Desclieux gave it his, only for which it would have died. +Louisa was astonished to see the feeble plant yet bearing up; but +Desclieux carefully concealed from her the means he was using, lest +she also would deprive herself of water for it, and that he did not +wish--he preferred suffering alone; and a long sojourn in the hottest +parts of Arabia had in a great measure inured him to the climate, so +that he did not feel it so much as others. The calm was +uninterrupted, the remainder of the water was nearly exhausted, their +situation was become dreadful, and there was no hope, in their case, +of any relief from another vessel, for all were alike becalmed; and +it was sad to see the ocean without a sail in the horizon, or, if +there was one, it too was motionless. Their ration of water was now +reduced to one small liqueur glass. One drop only, just to moisten +his lips, and Desclieux poured the rest on the plant, now apparently +dying. + +'Alas! how you are changed!' said Louisa to him one day: 'how pale +you have become. You are suffering: this heat is killing you.' + +He knew it; but he had promised to water the plant, even though he +himself was to die of thirst; and he was faithful to his word. One +evening, when Louisa and her parents were questioning him, he thus +answered in a feeble voice, 'You are right; I die of thirst, that my +charge may live--it is my duty.' And saying these words, he laid his +parched lips upon its withered leaves, as one would kiss the hand of +an expiring friend, and continued: 'You have all promised to love me: +if I do not live, be careful of this coffee-plant, which held out to +us such brilliant prospects. I ask it of you as a favour, and +bequeath to you the distinction I hoped to have gained by it.' At the +moment they were distributing the scanty portion of water, and though +he was perishing, he threw the whole of it upon the shrub--Louisa did +the same. It was, as it were, a sacred bond between them--an +indissoluble tie. I am convinced that many of my readers have +frequently felt a lively and almost inexplicable pleasure in watering +a flower dried up by the scorching sun, and, in seeing it revive, +have felt as if benefited themselves. What pleasure, then, it must +have given to Desclieux and Louisa to see their plant raise its +sickly leaves once more! + +At length the wind began to rise lightly, and the vessel moved, +though slowly. Desclieux was ill--in a burning fever; but he +continued to share with the plant his allowance of water; and Louisa +added hers. It increased their happiness that it owed its recovery to +their mutual self-denial; and it seemed as if their household life +had begun in a common endurance of suffering. + +The breeze still freshened: and when the vessel anchored in the port +of St Pierre, there was not a single drop of water on board. But the +coffee-plant was saved; the colony enriched by it; Desclieux's pledge +redeemed; and, three months after, Louisa was his wife. + + + +THE TREE AND THE FOREST. + +A STORY WRITTEN FOR THE YOUNG, BUT WHICH MAY BE READ BY THE OLD. + +'What splendid trees!' said Monsieur D'Ambly, as he was passing by a +fine forest of oaks. + +'What a splendid fire they would make!' replied his son Eugene. +Eugene had read a few days before in a book of travels the +description of a wood on fire, and he could think of nothing else. He +was an admirer of everything that was uncommon, everything that +produced an effect or a commotion, and, like most children, he +seldom carried his ideas beyond what he saw. + +'If it would not injure any person,' said he, 'I would be very glad +this forest would take fire; it would be a glorious sight. I am sure, +papa, that its light would extend as far as the chateau.' + +'Would it then be such a pleasant thing to see a tree burning?' + +'Oh, a tree,' said Eugene, 'that would be hardly worth the trouble; +but a forest would be magnificent.' + +'Since we are on the subject of burning,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'I +think it would be well to cut down that young lime-tree on the lawn +opposite the chateau; it grows too fast; and if it should spread much +more, it would quite intercept our view; I will therefore cut it down +for fuel.' + +'Oh, papa,' exclaimed Eugene, 'that lime-tree that has grown so +beautiful since last year! I was looking at it the other day, and I +saw shoots of this year as long as my arm.' + +At this moment they came to a young poplar which had been blown down +by a storm the preceding day. Its leaves were not yet withered, but +its young shoots, though still green, began to lose their vigour; +they were soft and weak, as if drooping from want of water; but in +that case a refreshing shower would have restored it to health and +freshness, whereas now it was beyond recovery. Eugene stopped before +the poplar, and lamented it. + +'Such,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'will in two days more be the state of +our lime-tree.' + +'Ah!' cried Eugene, 'can you have the heart to say so?' + +'Why not? A lime is not more valuable than a poplar, or an oak; and +you would like to see this whole forest in a blaze.' + +'Indeed, papa, that is a very different thing.' + +'Yes; there is certainly a vast difference between a person cutting +down a tree that incommodes him, and that he would then make use of +for fuel, and fourteen or fifteen thousand that you would burn for +your pleasure.' + +'But I do not know those trees.' + +'Neither do you know this poplar that you have just been lamenting.' + +'But at least I see it.' + +'You can as easily see all those that surround it. Look at this one, +how strong and how straight it is!' + +'Oh, what a fine oak! I do not think my arms could reach round it. +See, papa, how high it is, and those three great branches which grow +from it look like large trees.' + +'It must be sixty or seventy years old: it will grow at least twenty +more.' + +'How enormous it will be then! I hope I shall see it.' + +'But if it should be burned in the meantime?' + +'I should be very sorry, now that I know it.' + +'You would, then, only spare those trees from the fire which have +come under your own particular notice: this is too common a case. +Would it give you more pleasure to see this one burning?' said +Monsieur D'Ambly, as he showed him another, divided into four +enormous trunks, which shot from the same root. + +'No, indeed. Look, it makes quite an arbour. Papa, some day when we +have more time we will come and sit here, shall we not?' + +'So, then, here are two that you would spare from the conflagration +of the forest.' + +'Oh, if I could but see it on fire, what a fine effect it would have +from the windows of the chateau; I should think only of my two +favourite oaks that I should be so sorry to see burning.' + +'But all those you see equally deserve to become favourites, and +those you cannot see are quite as fine; they have each in their +different forms something that would interest you as much as your two +favourite oaks, the poplar, or our lime-tree.' + +'I do believe that if I were to think of every particular tree that +composed a forest, it would take away all wish to see it burned.' + +'That shows the necessity of consideration, my son, to avoid the risk +of forming unreasonable wishes, to put them in practice, perhaps, +when you grow up. You will probably never have a forest to burn, but +you may have men to conduct: just think what might be the consequence +of your forgetting that a district, a town, a community, is composed +of individuals, as you just now forgot that a forest is composed of +trees.' + +'Ah, papa, in such a case I could not forget myself.' + +'I knew some years ago,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'a very good, but +rather obstinate man, of the name of De Marne. He had a quarrel with +the director of a hospital established in a small town on one of his +estates. The greater part of the property of the hospital was +situated on this estate, and dependent on it, as was then the +custom--that is to say, the hospital only held these lands on +condition of paying certain rents to Monsieur de Marne, and of +receiving two patients at his option. This right he held in +consequence of his ancestors having given these lands to the +hospital, and it descended to all the proprietors of the estate. The +director began to dispute with Monsieur de Marne about the payment of +the rent, and maintained that he bad no right to send more than one +patient to the hospital. Monsieur de Marne was exceedingly angry, and +a lawsuit was the consequence; and it so happened that the person +employed by Monsieur de Marne, in searching the papers which had been +sent to him to prove his right, discovered, or thought he had +discovered, that the ground which had occasioned the lawsuit belonged +to Monsieur de Marne, and not to the hospital, because, said he, the +ancestors of Monsieur de Marne only gave it for a certain time, and +on certain conditions which had not been fulfilled; so that Monsieur +de Marne ought to take possession of it. This would be the ruin of +the hospital. The day Monsieur de Marne received this intelligence he +was delighted; and the more so, as he had just learned that one of +the patients whom he had sent to the hospital had died, in +consequence of a relapse from having been discharged too soon. His +widow, who was left destitute, travelled on foot to Paris, with her +youngest child on her back, to implore the assistance of Monsieur de +Marne. She cried bitterly as she related the last words of her +husband, who said, when he was dying, "If Monsieur de Marne had been +here, he would have had me kept in the hospital, and I should have +recovered." + +'As Monsieur de Marne listened, with tears in his eyes, to this +recital, he exclaimed: "That villain of a director, I will be the +ruin of him!" He forgot that it was the hospital he would ruin, and +that he would thus put out perhaps a hundred patients, all as poor +and as sick as poor Jacques, and whose condition, had he recollected +it, would be equally grievous. + +'The lawsuit was carried on with great vigour, not by Monsieur de +Marne, who was detained by business in Paris, but by his law-agent, +who, being interested in supporting what he had advanced, pursued it +warmly; and fearing that Monsieur de Marne would relinquish his +right, took care to keep back what was said in the country, of his +folly and madness in trying to ruin a hospital which was such a +public benefit, and the daily melancholy accounts of the state to +which the patients were reduced, because the director, being obliged +to give up a great deal of time and money to the lawsuit, had not +enough for the necessary expenses of the hospital. Had Monsieur de +Marne known all these particulars, his kindly feelings would have +returned--he could not have endured the idea of causing so much evil; +but instead of that, his agent only entertained him with accounts of +the ill doings of the director, and of the designs he had against +him. Every letter he received made him more and more angry; and his +hatred of one man made him, forget the claims of a hundred others, on +whom he should have had compassion. + +'At length he gained his lawsuit. He had for some days been +endeavouring to procure admission for a poor woman, into the hospital +of incurables at Paris. "Here are two pieces of good news," said he, +as he read the letters which announced the success of each of his +undertakings; and he wrote immediately to his law-agent, expressing +his satisfaction at the manner in which he had conducted his suit, +and to the person who had procured admission for the poor woman into +the hospital of incurables, thanking him for his kindness. + +'For some time he thought no more of the matter; however, he one day +received a letter from his agent, telling him that the director had +become a bankrupt, and had fled; that no one knew where he was; and +to increase his dislike to the man, he added, that during three days +that his flight was unknown, because he said he was only going into +the country, the patients had neither bread nor broth, and that only +for some charitable individuals in the neighbourhood who had sent +them relief, most of them must have died; and that it was probable +some of them would die from the effects of their sufferings, and from +their dismay at hearing that the hospital was likely to fall to the +ground. He said it had obtained some respite, as the gentry in the +town and neighbourhood had given great assistance; but it was all +insufficient, and they were obliged to discharge the least suffering; +that they left the hospital in tears; and that several who lived in +distant villages had fallen on the road from weakness and +disappointment. All these details began to make Monsieur de Marne +very uneasy. The agent added at the end of his letter: "Every one +observed that the director had neither order nor economy: for a long +time the affairs of the hospital have been in a bad state, and the +loss of the suit has completed it." Then Monsieur de Marne felt his +conscience reproach him for what he had done: he pictured to himself +those unfortunate people leaving the hospital in tears, sinking +with weakness and grief, and perhaps calling for curses upon him. He +thought of the three days that they had been without either bread or +broth, and he fancied he saw their pale and emaciated countenances, +and began to consider each of them individually, as you just now +began to consider the trees of the forest. There was not one of them +that he would not have shed his blood to save. He could not endure +the idea of all the evil which he had caused them, and endeavoured to +throw all the blame upon the director. He wrote to his agent, +desiring him to send relief to a considerable amount, and as soon as +it was possible, he set off himself to this estate, where he had not +been for a long time. On his arrival, he repaired to the town where +the hospital had been: it was closed: the last patient had left it, +and the house was to be sold to satisfy the creditors. Monsieur de +Marne perceived that a great many people avoided him; the lawsuit had +given them a very bad opinion of him, and the friends and relations +of the director had contributed to increase it; indeed, the misery +which had been caused to so many poor people had thrown an odium over +the whole affair, and turned every person against him. The report +spread that he was come to purchase the house and the rest of the +hospital lands; and one day, as he was passing through the streets, +the children threw stones at him. He began to feel all the injury he +had done, and a thousand circumstances perpetually reminded him of +it. The son of Jacques, the poor man whose widow he had assisted, had +broken his leg, and it remained quite distorted. Monsieur de Marne +told his mother that she ought to have had it set. "That would have +been easy," she replied, "when there was an hospital here; but +now"------and she stopped. + +'He saw that the country people were neglecting to cultivate their +gardens, which he knew had been profitable to them, and inquired the +reason. "Oh," said they, "we used to sell our vegetables to the +hospital; but now"------and they stopped; and Monsieur de Marne saw +that every one's mind was filled with a subject which it would be +impossible for him ever to forget. He was about to quit the country, +and even to sell his estate, when an epidemical disease broke out in +the next village. It was prevalent there almost every year; and it +was for that reason especially that the hospital had been originally +founded by a man of wealth, who, having been attacked by the disease, +made a vow that, if he recovered, he would found an hospital, into +which all the poor of the village, and of a certain distance round +it, should be received and taken care of. "When his benevolent object +was completed, all the poor, on the first symptom of disease, +repaired to the hospital, where, from the care and attention they +received, they in most cases soon recovered; and it was also a great +means of preventing contagion. This year the disorder was +particularly severe, and the ill feeling towards Monsieur de Marne +rose to a great height. He sent large assistance to the village, and +endeavoured to mitigate the sufferings of the poor people; but he +still heard it said as he passed along: "There goes Monsieur de +Marne, who has come to restore some small part of the hospital +land." If he visited a sick person, and inquired after his health, he +would say: "I thank you, sir; it is tolerable; but I should have +recovered much sooner at the hospital." Overwhelmed with remorse, +uneasiness, and fatigue, he took the disorder and died, chiefly of +grief, for having at any time forgotten that a hospital is filled +with individuals, as you just now forgot that a forest is composed of +separate trees.' + +'Ah, papa! how melancholy that was,' said Eugene, who had listened +with the greatest attention. + +'My son,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'when you grow up, you will see even +worse consequences arise from that want of reflection which makes us +regardless of everything that does not come under our own +observation, so that when objects are too great for us to see their +details, we think nothing about them.' + +At that moment Eugene, in a musing mood, took up a stone, as was his +custom, to throw among a flight of sparrows which had alighted near +him: he paused. 'Papa,' said he, 'I will not throw a stone at those +sparrows, for I remember how sorry I feel when any person torments my +sister's canary bird, and when I see the poor little thing trying to +save itself in every corner of the cage: it seems to me as if each of +those sparrows, were I to frighten them, would feel just as my +sister's bird does.' + +'That is precisely, my son, what you ought to do if ever you are +entrusted with the interests of a number of persons at once; and that +you may be tempted to forget that the regiment you command, or the +department you have to manage, is composed of men like yourself; and +you should always put yourself, or those you love, in the place of +each of them.' + +They now reached home, and passed close by the lime-tree. + +'Ah!' said Eugene, 'I must take my leave of you.' + +'No,' said Monsieur D'Ambly smiling, 'it shall remain, provided you +promise to remember, every time you look at it, that each tree in a +forest is entitled to as much respect as your lime, and that in an +assemblage of persons, whatever may be their denomination, each +person's interest is of as much importance as your own.' + + + +THE THREE FRIENDS: AN OSAGE LEGEND. + +BY PERCY B. ST JOHN. + +The tribe known as the Osages, or Wa-saw-sees, as they denominate +themselves, wander perennially round the head waters of the Arkansas +and Neosho, or Grand Rivers, hunting, fishing, and trading with the +Americans at Fort Gibson, the outermost south-western fort on the +frontier of the United States. Tall, even gigantic in stature, they +have many qualities which excite the admiration and applause of their +white brethren. Like most Indians, they are brave and warlike; but +their peculiarity consists in rejecting the customs of the whites, +particularly the use of whisky. Wearing their wild and primitive +costume, they stalk amid the hunters, squatters, trappers, and +trampers that frequent the neighbourhood of Fort Gibson, overtopping +them in general by a head, but still more surpassing them in the +essential virtue of sobriety and temperance--a failure in the +exercise of which would doubtless soon remove them from the +pre-eminence they now enjoy. + +In a secluded valley, through which a stream that fell into the +Neosho wound its way, lay some time back one of the villages of this +nomadic tribe. The wigwams were about a hundred in number, scattered +over the narrow plain, near the mouth of the valley, and surrounded +by a rude picket. Built of bark and reeds, they were evidently +constructed simply for the necessities of the summer season, during +which the warriors chased the deer and buffalo for immediate +consumption, and to lay up in store for winter. Overlooking the +village was a grassy mound, that narrowed the mouth of the valley, +and caused the rippling stream that flowed at its feet to turn +abruptly from its course. From the summit of this hillock, the lodges +wore the appearance of a huge congregation of bee-hives, while the +eye rested pleasantly on many adjuncts to the scene, which rendered +it agreeable and picturesque. The village was alive with a busy +throng of women, few if any men being discovered; while children were +seen at every point, adding still greater animation to the picture. +The first were all actively employed. Some stood at the entrance of +their wigwams, busily engaged in cooking; others were drying and +packing the results of the hunting of the warriors; while others, +again, were laboriously occupied in cleaning fresh buffalo-skins, +preparatory to their being cured for use as robes. Not a married +woman was idle. Not so, however, the maidens. They were yet enjoying +the sweets of a liberty which, however, despite the hardships +incident to the married state in the wilds, they were no less anxious +to sacrifice than are many bright-eyed beauties nearer home. The +Osage girls--and many of them were exceedingly pretty--were +congregated near the edge of the stream, in which dozens of little +urchins were bathing. Dancing was usually their chief amusement; but +on the present occasion they were spectators of a scene which +possessed more immediate interest. + +Somewhat apart from the maidens was a group, on which the Osage girls +gazed curiously and enviously. Three Indian youths, all under twenty, +nowise related by blood, but connected only by the bonds of +friendship, stood on a rising bank in deep abstraction. +Nah-com-e-shee, Koha-tunha, and Mun-ne-pushee--for such were the +names of the young men--had at an early age contracted for one +another one of those peculiar affections which inexplicably arise +sometimes between persons of the same sex, and which often are more +sincere and durable even than love. So wedded were they to this +feeling, as to have publicly declared their intention of never +marrying, in order that their amity might suffer no division. Their +hearts, they said, were so occupied by friendship, that love could +not find the remotest corner to creep into. How many smiling faces +were clouded by this strange announcement, we cannot say; but sure we +are, if any had before suffered them to occupy their thoughts, this +resolution increased the number of their admirers manifold. Indian +girls have ways and means of setting their caps at young men, as the +phrase is, as well as more civilised damsels, and the Osage maidens +were not idle on this occasion. Besides, that many really loved the +youths, the honour of the sex was concerned. It was not to be borne +that friendship should triumph over love, and it may therefore be +readily conceived what an artillery of bright eyes was reproachfully +opened upon the three friends. They, however, remained insensible to +all the attractions of female society; they joined not in the dance, +nor told nor listened to the tale of love or war by the evening fire; +but rode together, hunted together, trapped together, and earned the +highest renown as indefatigable and bold huntsmen. + +The ambition of the three friends, however, reached to higher flights +than emulating the first hunters of their tribe. They wished to equal +in renown the greatest warriors of the Osage nation; and it was a +knowledge of the fact, that they were about to start on a marauding +expedition, which created so great a sensation in the throng of +maidens. The three youths had been deeply engaged in discussing their +plans, and were, at the moment we speak of, uttering a silent prayer +to the great Manitou for success in their undertaking. Tall, erect, +and admirably proportioned, they presented an excellent group for a +statuary. While their shaven heads were adorned with the helmet crest +and eagle plume, they bore round their necks ornaments of the gayest +kind. A magnificent cloak of buffalo-skin adorned their shoulders, +while a spear, shield, tomahawk, bow and quiver, formed their arms. +Leggings, moccasins, with wampum garters tied below the knee, +completed, with the waist-cloth, their attire. Three fine horses were +tied to an adjoining tree, showing that they were in every way ready +for the expedition. It was still morning, and many miles of ground +were to be crossed before night, the youths having signified their +intention of making an excursion into the Pawnee Pict territory. + +As soon as their silent invocation was ended, the Osage braves +stalked gravely towards their richly-caparisoned steeds, and mounting +them, rode slowly from the camp. For some miles, their course was +along a wide-spread rolling prairie; but soon the presence of trees +gave sign of their approaching a river. It was not, however, until +nightfall that they gained the banks of the Arkansas. Hitherto, their +progress had been open and bold, being within the hunting-grounds of +their own people; but now the frontier line of the Pawnee Picts lay +before them, in the shape of the dark rolling waters of the Arkansas, +and it was time to use caution and artifice. It was determined, as +their horses were somewhat fatigued, and as they depended on them for +escape in case of need, that they should seek repose upon the +friendly side of the river, and cross the Arkansas in the morning. +Their horses were accordingly tethered, a diminutive fire lighted in +a deep dell or hole, and every other needful preparation made to pass +the night. A frugal repast was consumed, and then each warrior leaned +against a tree, and, smoking his pipe, gravely conversed upon the +best mode of acquiring distinction and renown. Many opinions were +given: but nothing less than surprising a whole Pawnee village, +slaughtering the inhabitants, and returning to their homes loaded +with scalps, appeared to the heated imaginations of the youths a +sufficiently glorious enterprise to satisfy their ambition. At length +the fatigues of the day overpowered them, and the three friends fell +into a deep sleep. + +The sun had just tipped with gold the summits of the trees, the +wild-cock was crowing in the woods, the thousand choristers of the +forest were pealing in rich harmony, when the Osage warriors awoke. +They smiled grimly on one another, and then started, each man +mechanically placing his hand upon the back and crown of his head. +Their scalp locks, helmet crests, and eagles' plumes had all +disappeared. Petrified with astonishment, they started to their feet. +Who could have done so daring a deed? Not an enemy surely, or they +would have taken the lives thus placed within their power. The +friends wasted their thoughts in vain conjecture, and then, burning +with indignation, turned to seek their horses. The long sweeping +tails of these animals had also been cut off. That it was the Pawnee +Picts, they no longer doubted; and fearful was the ire of the Osages +at the contempt with which they had been treated. The trail of their +night visitors was plainly marked, and led towards a copse, where +they had evidently left their horses. It then turned to the +river-bank, and was lost. Nah-com-e-shee, however, glancing his eye +over the opposite plain, gave a cry of delight, and pointed out to +his companions the flashing of spears in the morning sun. + +To plunge into the river, to reach the other shore, and to ride madly +over the plain in chase of their audacious foes, was the work of an +instant. In vain, however, they strained their eyes to catch another +glimpse of the retreating party, until again the flashing of the +spear-heads was seen near at hand, and plunging over the next +hillock, the friends found themselves in presence of--three lances +stuck in the ground. If the Indians boiled with passion before, their +rage now knew no bounds: they vowed, with little consideration for +the possibility or probability of the matter, to exterminate every +Pawnee Pict from the face of the earth. This resolution being +unanimous, a halt was made, and a council of war held. Some ten +minutes were passed in discussion, and then away went the Osages on +the trail of their foes, just as they caught sight, in the rear, of a +perfect cloud of horsemen pouring over the plain in the distance. It +was a war-party of the Pawnee Picts, about twenty of whom came riding +fast in pursuit of the three friends. A thickly-wooded ravine lay +about a mile distant. Towards this the Osages hastened for refuge, +their souls bounding with delight at the prospect of a contest which +now opened before them. + +The ravine was soon reached. It was narrow, and on both sides thickly +wooded, while several clumps of timber lay near its mouth. The Osages +saw that the only hope of coping with a superior force was by +defending the entrance; and, accordingly, dismounting from their +steeds, turned them loose, and strung their bows. On came the Pawnee +Picts, riding furiously over the prairie. The intentions of the +Osages were too plain to be mistaken, and none of their pursuers +ventured to brave the discharge of arrows which was ready for their +reception; but, imitating the example set them, cast loose their +horses, and sought the shelter of a copse. The unequal struggle now +commenced, and loud war-whoops rung through the valley. Arrows flew +constantly from foe to foe. The Pawnees, having a great superiority +in numbers, succeeded oftenest in wounding their adversaries. Still +they gained not upon them; the Osages, though soon severely hurt, +preserving the same undaunted front, and returning their missiles +with unabated vigour. + +At length, however, their arrows were spent, and clutching their +tomahawks, the friends, casting a glance of stern but undying +affection on each other, prepared to die like men. On came the +Pawnees, yelling the fearful war-whoop, and waving their hatchets on +high. Already were a dozen of them within a few yards of the devoted +trio, when their yell was echoed from the forest, and three of their +foremost warriors lay low, slain by a flight of arrows from the top +of the ravine. Back turned the Pawnees to their shelter, while the +Osages, taking advantage of the confusion, snatched the usual trophy +of victory from their fallen foes, and then, catching their steeds, +mounted and fled. Guided by the trampling of horses, they rushed in +pursuit of those to whose timely assistance they owed their lives. In +vain, however, did they urge their steeds; their unknown assistants +were not to be overtaken. For about an hour the three friends +continued their ride, and then halted to bind up their wounds, and +conceal themselves for the rest of the day. + +The spot selected was admirably adapted for the purpose, being an +open glade in the forest, surrounded on all sides by trees. Here they +turned their horses loose once more, and lay down upon the grass, +weary and faint. To find herbs, and with them to form a kind of +poultice, fastened on with bark by means of ligatures of grass, was +their first duty, and then the inner man was considered. None of them +had tasted food since the previous night, and there was none in their +possession. Nah-com-e-shee, being the warrior who was least severely +wounded, and having picked up several Pawnee arrows, started into the +forest in search of game. With the keen perception of an Indian, he +selected that side which appeared a little inclined to descend, as it +naturally excited his suspicion that a stream lay in that direction. +This was the more probable, that a little purling spring that bubbled +up in the green open glade tended thither. Nor was the warrior's +sagacity at fault, for a smart walk brought him to the banks of a +narrow and slowly-running river. Within, sight of this Nah-com-e-shee +concealed himself, and prepared to wait even for hours the passage of +a deer or elk. His patience was not, however, put to so severe a +test, as, ere long, a rustling in the bushes opposite attracted his +attention. Raising his eyes from their fixed position, he saw the +antlers of a buck rearing themselves over a thicket of brush, and +next moment a noble deer bounded to the bank to drink. An arrow +pierced its heart from the Indian's unerring bow ere its lips had +touched the water, and Nah-com-e-shee rushed eagerly towards the +spot. Three mounted warriors were before him, and while he sought +cover, captured and bore away the prize. + +The Osage knew that it was useless to remain on the watch any longer, +and, pursuit being madness, turned back and sought his companions, who +were more indignant than ever at this new outrage. Repose was, however, +absolutely necessary, and was now sought, all trusting to the keenness +of their senses to awake ere they could be surprised. It was dark night +ere they awoke, and then the three friends groaned with rage that was +absolutely frightful. Each felt himself ornamented by a squaw's +petticoat, thrown loosely over him. Burning with passion, they grasped +one another's hands, and vowed terrible vengeance. + +At this instant a dim light was seen through the trees, blazing up at +a considerable distance in the forest. It was the fire of a camp, and +the hearts of the Osage warriors were at last glad. They had been so +often outwitted, that the utmost caution was used. Each divested +himself of every unnecessary article of clothing, while their +tomahawks were the only arms they preserved. Clutching these, they +crept stealthily, and with a serpent's tread, into the forest. As they +advanced, the glare of the fire grew brighter; and at length, when +within a couple of hundred yards, they could plainly hear the green +wood crackling in the full stillness of evening. A faint odour of +broiled venison came pleasingly to their nostrils, and then three +figures were plainly discerned round the fire. + +Between the spot occupied by the Osages and the hostile camp lay a +rough piece of ground, full of holes and natural ditches. Across this +the three friends began to crawl, holding their breath, and clutching +their deadly weapons, while their hearts beat with anxiety lest their +victims should escape. Half the distance was passed over, and still +more strongly was the cooking made evident to the hungry senses of the +creeping Osages. Still the unconscious warriors moved not, but kept +their backs turned to the approaching foe. They were evidently eating, +and holding converse at intervals. At length, as the friends came still +nearer, they appeared to finish their meal, and sunk gradually on the +leafy ground to rest. The Osages breathed more freely, and advanced +with less caution, until at length, when within half-a-dozen yards, +they rose, gave the terrific war-whoop, and leaped madly upon the camp. +It was vacant--their victims had escaped. The friends, amazed, were +about to fly from their dangerous proximity to the light, when three +distinct laughs were heard. + +The Osages stood immovable, gazing at one another with a grim, +half-angry, half-comic expression, and ere they could speak, three +maidens disguised as warriors stood meekly one before each brave, a +horse's tail in one hand, and the other trophies in the other. The +friends tried their utmost to look angry; but the countenances of the +girls were so meek, and yet so malicious, that the gravity of the +braves was overcome, and they laughed heartily at the conclusion of +their expected deadly struggle. + +The girls then explained that, for reasons of their own, disapproving +of the celibacy of the three friends, they had resolved to excite their +admiration and interest, that they had followed them immediately after +their departure, had crept on them in the night, and divested them of +their crests, &c., and played them every other trick which has been +recorded in this legend. The warriors listened, and when they narrated +how they had saved their lives in the ravine, seemed each struck with +the same sudden conviction; namely, that the lives thus preserved +belonged to the preservers, and at once made public their opinion. The +damsels laughed gaily, and promised to entertain the notion, but +recalled their lovers to a remembrance of their hungry state. Merrily +and blithely supped the three maidens and the three friends that night +beneath the greenwood tree; and when in after-years they met at +eventide, all happy husbands and wives, with dusky boys and girls +crowding round them, that it was the brightest moment of their +existence, was the oft-repeated saying of the THREE FRIENDS. + + + +THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTER: A TALE + +BY MISS ANNA MARIA SARGEANT. + +Act well thy part--there the true honour lies.--POPE. + +'I wish, papa, you would teach me to be a painter,' was the +exclamation of a fair-haired child, over whose brow eleven summers +had scarcely passed, as she sat earnestly watching a stern +middle-aged man, who was giving the last touches to the head of a +Madonna. + +'Pshaw,' pettishly returned the artist; 'go play with your doll, and +don't talk about things you can't understand.' + +'But I should like to learn, papa,' the child resumed: 'I think it +would be so pretty to paint, and, besides, it would get us some more +money, and then we could have a large house and servants, such as we +used to have, and that would make you happy again, would it not, +papa?' + +'You are a good girl, Amy, to wish to see me happy,' the father +rejoined, somewhat softened by the artless affection of his little +daughter; 'but women are never painters--that is, they are never +great painters.' The child made no further comment, but still +retained her seat, until her father's task was accomplished. + +The chamber in which this brief dialogue took place was a +meanly-furnished apartment in a small house situated in the suburbs +of Manchester. The appearance of the artist was that of a +disappointed man, who contends doggedly with adversity rather than +stems the torrent with fortitude. Habitual discontent was stamped on +his countenance, but ever and anon a glance of fierceness shot from +his full dark eyes, as the thought of the position to which his +talents ought to have raised him would flit across his brain. A +greater contrast could scarcely be conceived than existed between the +father and child: the latter added to the charms of that early period +of life a face and form of exquisite beauty. Her dazzling complexion, +rich auburn hair, and graceful attitudes, accorded ill with the rusty +black frock which was the mourning habiliment for her maternal +parent, and the expression of her features was that of natural +joyousness, tempered, but not wholly suppressed, by thoughtfulness +beyond her years. + +Leonard Beaufort had once been, as was implied by his daughter, in a +different station to that he how occupied. He was by birth and +education a gentleman; but partly owing to his own mismanagement and +extravagance, and partly from misfortunes altogether unavoidable +(though he chose to attribute his reverses wholly to the latter +cause), he found himself suddenly plunged from competence into utter +destitution. He had hitherto practised painting as an amateur, but +now he was forced to embrace it as the only means afforded him of +supporting his family, which at that time consisted of a wife and two +children. He was not without some share of talent; but unhappily for +those who depended on his exertions, he was too indolent to make much +progress in an art which requires the exercise of perseverance, no +less than the possession of genius; and after struggling for more +than three years with the bitterest poverty, his wife and youngest +child fell victims to their change of circumstances. Little Amy was +thus left motherless, and would have been friendless, but for the +care of a neighbour, who, pitying her forlorn condition, watched over +her with almost maternal regard. Mrs Lyddiard was the widow of a +merchant's clerk, who had no other provision than that which was +afforded her by her own labours in a little school; but from these +humble means she was enabled, by prudent management, to give her only +child Herbert--a boy about three years the senior of Amy--a tolerable +education, which would fit him to undertake a similar situation to +that which his father had filled. + +Towards this amiable woman and her son, the warm affections which had +been pent up in the young heart of our little heroine, since the +death of her mother and infant brother, now gushed forth in copious +streams; for, though she loved her father with a tenderness scarcely +to be expected, and certainly unmerited by one who manifested such +indifference in return, she dared not express her feelings in words +or caresses. Beaufort would usually devote a few of the morning hours +to his profession, and then, growing weary, throw aside his pencil in +disgust, and either wander about the neighbourhood in moody silence, +or spend the rest of the day in the society of a few dissolute +persons of education, with whom he had become acquainted since his +residence in Manchester. The indolence of the parent had, however, +the effect of awakening the latent energies of the daughter's mind; +and young as she was at the time we introduce her to our readers, her +thoughts were engaged upon a scheme which, if successful, would, she +deemed, reinstate them in competence. This was for her to become +possessed of a knowledge of her father's art (secretly, since he had +given a check to her plan), and she believed she could accomplish it +by watching his progress, and practising during his long absences +from home. As Mrs Lyddiard warmly approved of the proposition, it was +immediately put into execution; and Herbert, who was also made a +confidant, volunteered to purchase her colours and brushes; for she +dared not make use of her father's, for fear of discovery. + +The performances of the young artist for the first twelve months, as +might be expected, did not rise above mediocrity; but by increased +perseverance and a determination to excel, she rapidly improved. The +disposal of a few of her pictures furnished her with the means to +procure materials for others; but she still studiously concealed her +knowledge from her father, intending to do so till her skill +approximated in some degree to his. + +Eight years thus glided away, and the beautiful and artless child had +now become an elegant and lovely young woman. Her nineteenth birthday +was approaching, and she determined to prepare a specimen of her +abilities to be displayed on that occasion. She selected Lear and +Cordelia for her subject, thinking it would tacitly express the +affection which had instigated her desire to acquire a knowledge of +her father's profession. She completed her task, and the Lyddiards +were lavish in their praises of the performance. Herbert declared it +to be quite equal to any her father had done, and his approbation, it +must be acknowledged, was highly valued by the fair artist. On the +evening before the eagerly-anticipated day, Beaufort came home at an +unusually early hour, and what was of rare occurrence, in excellent +spirits. + +'I've sold that piece from Shakespeare I finished last week to a +gentleman who is, going abroad,' he said, addressing his daughter +with unwonted confidence and kindness; for it was not often that he +deigned to make her acquainted with anything connected with his +profession. + +'What, the Prospero and Miranda I admired so much, papa?' Amy asked. + +'Yes; and he wants another to pair it done within a fortnight, so I +must rise early and labour hard, for the days are short; but I was +better remunerated than commonly, which makes it worth my while to +put myself to a little inconvenience.' + +'You will like to have your coffee at six to-morrow morning, then?' +Amy observed. + +'Yes, child, not a moment later.' + +The coffee was prepared to the minute, and, contrary to the +expectation of the daughter, her father was up to partake of it; for +it was not an uncommon case for him to talk of executing a painting +in a hurry, and then be more than usually dilatory in its +performance. In this instance, however, he seemed in earnest, for, +after having hastily swallowed his breakfast, he sat down to sketch +out the piece. Amy silently withdrew from the room, not daring at +present to broach the subject which was uppermost in her thoughts, +and employed herself with her domestic duties till the time when she +deemed he would require her assistance in mixing his colours, which +was her usual task. + +'It won't do; the design is bad,' the artist petulantly exclaimed as +his daughter re-entered the apartment, and he dashed his pencil to +the ground. + +'What won't do, dear papa?' Amy gently inquired. + +'I've spent the whole night deciding on a subject, and now that I +have sketched it, see that it's not suitable,' he pettishly made +answer. + +'What is it, papa?' + +'Coriolanus and his mother.' + +'Well, in my opinion, that would be very appropriate. As the other +was a father and daughter, here is a mother and son; but if you don't +like it, what think you of Lear and Cordelia?' Amy's voice faltered, +and she dared not raise her eyes from the sketch which she affected +to be examining. + +'I'm not in a mood for painting to-day: I'll try tomorrow.' + +'But your time, you said, was short,' Amy ventured to interpose. + +'Well, if I can't get it done, he must go without it,' was his +irritable reply. 'I'm not going to be tied down to the easel, whether +disposed or not, for such a paltry sum.' + +'I thought you told me that this gentleman would remunerate you +handsomely?' + +'Handsomely!' the artist scornfully repeated; 'it is better than I am +usually paid, but not a fiftieth part of what I ought to receive. See +how some men, not possessed of half my talent, succeed! but they have +the patronage of the great to aid them.' + +'And perhaps brighter days may yet dawn on you, dear father!' pleaded +the daughter. + +'Never!' and Beaufort rose in haste to attire himself for departure. + +'Papa,' cried Amy, gently catching his arm, 'will you just stay for a +few minutes; I have something to say to you;' and a deep flush of +crimson suffused her cheek as she spoke. Beaufort turned +hesitatingly. 'It is my birthday,' she pursued--' I am this day +nineteen.' + +'That is no subject for rejoicing, girl,' he doggedly observed. + +'I have been looking forward to this period with intense anxiety, +meaning then to make you acquainted with a subject which has long +engrossed my thoughts,' she timidly said. + +'No foolish love affair, I hope?' Beaufort almost fiercely demanded, +looking sternly in his daughter's agitated and flushed countenance as +he uttered the words. 'Perhaps,' he sarcastically continued, without +giving her time to reply--'perhaps you deem yourself marriageable at +the matron-like' age of nineteen, and have selected some country boor +for my son-in-law?' + +This speech was directed at Herbert Lyddiard, and Amy felt it; but +her thoughts were at this moment occupied by another subject of +absorbing interest. 'No,' she returned with modest dignity; 'I have +at present no desire to alter _my_ condition, but I have for years +been intent upon bettering _yours_. I may be presumptuous in +supposing it possible that any effort of mine could do so; but I was +resolved to make the trial, and this shall speak for me.' As she +concluded, she drew from a closet the picture she had so anxiously +prepared, and displayed it to her parent's astonished gaze. Beaufort +could not speak, but stood for some minutes immovable, with his eyes +fixed on the piece, as if doubting the reality of what he beheld. + +'Amy,' he exclaimed, 'is it possible that this is your performance?' + +'It is, father.' + +'And you have had no teacher?' + +'Yes, you have been, my teacher. For eight long years I have been +your pupil--a silent but a most attentive pupil. I owe all my +knowledge to you.' + +'It is admirable,' he murmured, 'and the very thing I want; as like +my execution as if I myself had done it.' + +'Do you say so, my father?' Amy exultingly exclaimed. 'Do you say so? +That is praise beyond what I had ever dared to hope for;' and, for +the first time in her life, she threw herself into her parent's +embrace. + +Beaufort re-examined the work. 'Did you intend it to pair my Prospero +and Miranda?' he asked. + +'I did, though not with the idea of its ever being sold as such. I +greatly admired your father and daughter, and thought I would attempt +a similar piece. I thought, to'--she stopped for a moment, then +blushingly added--'I thought it an appropriate offering from one who +desires to be a Cordelia to you.' + +The sale of his daughter's picture was a fresh era in the life of the +artist, as it was the means of introducing him to several persons of +rank and influence, who were at the time visitors at the house of the +purchaser. Though Amy's picture was more highly finished than her +father's, no one guessed that the Lear and Cordelia, and the Prospero +and Miranda were not done by the same hand. Amy had caught her +father's bold style, but added to it a delicate softness which he, +from impatience, not want of ability, usually omitted. The calls upon +her time were now incessant; for Beaufort grew more indolent than +ever when he found that she cheerfully took so large a portion of his +labour off his hands. He would frequently sketch an outline, and then +leave it for her to finish, without regarding the inroads he was by +these means making on his daughter's health. Meanwhile, he spent the +profits of her toil in luxuries, in which she shared not; still +allowing her the miserable pittance which barely kept want from their +dwelling, and would not permit of her making, either in her home or +her person, an appearance above the humbler class of mechanics. + +'We will bid a joyful adieu to this hateful town, and settle again in +London,' the artist exclaimed, as, late one evening, he entered his +house in an excited state, after a visit to one of his new patrons. + +'Are you in earnest, papa ?' Amy asked, whilst the colour forsook her +cheek. + +'In earnest, girl?' he repeated, 'to be sure I am. I think I have +droned here long enough, and it is time that some change took place +for the better. The purchaser of my last picture is a young baronet +who has just come into possession of a princely fortune, and, by a +little flattery, I have so far got myself into his good graces, that +he has promised to provide money to enable me to make a suitable +appearance in town: he says, too, that amongst his acquaintances +alone he can procure me sufficient employment, which shall be +liberally remunerated. 'Tis true,' Beaufort laughingly added,' he has +no more taste for paintings than his valet, and perhaps not so much; +but that matters not: he thinks that he has, and it is not my place +to undeceive him; for, as he is rich and influential, he may be a +valuable friend to us.' + +Amy listened without making any reply. + +'You are silent, girl?' her father resumed; 'I thought you would be +delighted with the intelligence. Will you not be glad to exchange +this miserable hovel for a handsomely-furnished house? And you shall +have masters to instruct you in dancing, singing, and music; for I +expect that you will now have an opportunity of getting settled in +the rank of life in which you were born.' + +Still Amy replied not. + +'Well, you are the strangest girl I ever met with,' Beaufort pursued, +in tones indicative of rising wrath; 'but I see how it is. I have +suspected as much for some time. You would rather marry a beggarly +clerk. I can tell you, however, that Herbert Lyddiard is no husband +for you, and I positively forbid you to hold any further intercourse +with him or his mother.' + +'Oh, father,' cried Amy in the agony of her feelings, now finding +utterance, 'can you require me to be so base as thus to treat a +friend who has been to me like a mother?' + +'I have no personal objection to the woman, nor to her son either, +had I not reason to believe that he aspires to an alliance with you,' +he rejoined; adding: 'Now hear what I say, girl; I start for London +to-morrow, and shall send for you in a few days, during which time I +shall get a house prepared for your reception. Here are the means to +provide suitable apparel for the position we shall resume in society; +and I expect that you hold yourself in readiness to depart at an hour's +warning.' + +Amy dared not oppose her father's commands, and took the offered +purse in silence. + +As might be expected, the knowledge of Miss Beaufort's intended +departure drew from Herbert Lyddiard a full confession of his +long-cherished love; and Amy could not deny that it was reciprocal, +though she thought it right to make known to him the cruel +prohibition her father had enjoined. The mother strove to console the +young couple, by representing that it was probable that some change +might take place which would induce Mr Beaufort to withdraw his +opposition to their union, and counselled Amy for the present to +yield implicit obedience to her father's commands. 'You are yet very +young, my dear children,' she said, 'and that directing Providence +which has hitherto smiled upon your early attachment, will not, I +trust, see fit to sever you.' + +The dreaded summons came within a week, Beaufort not thinking it safe +for her to remain longer than necessity obliged in the neighbourhood +of her humble lover's residence. He received her in an elegant house +in the vicinity of Portman Square, which in this brief time he had +handsomely furnished and provided with servants. Amy entered it with +a sickening heart; and, as he led her from room to room, demanding +her approbation, she felt more disposed to weep than to rejoice. + +'Amy,' he said, when they were quite alone in the room designed for +his studio, 'you are to reign mistress here; but be careful never to +drop a hint regarding the humble manner in which you have lived for +so many years; no one must surmise that we have been in poverty, or +our ruin is certain. I intend giving an entertainment to my friends a +few nights hence, and then I shall introduce you to society; meantime +I expect that you will provide yourself with elegant and appropriate +attire for the occasion; for on you much of my success may depend.' + +'On me!' Amy exclaimed in astonishment; then recollecting herself, +she added: 'If you mean on my exertions, father, you may still depend +upon them.' + +'No, I do not mean your exertions, though at present I must avail +myself of your assistance; but I mean by the manner in which you +receive my friends. Amy,' he continued, looking steadily in his +daughter's face, 'you are possessed of uncommon beauty; you are +doubtless aware of it. Herbert Lyddiard has not failed, I daresay, to +tell you so. A beautiful young woman is at all times a powerful +attraction, and to me it is everything, to extend the circle of my +acquaintances.' + +Amy's cheek, which had been flushed by the former part of this +speech, turned deadly pale at its conclusion. How could she, who had +all her life been shut out from society, entertain her father's male +guests--she, a retiring and almost ignorant girl, without one female +friend or adviser? She did not speak; but Beaufort saw that powerful +feelings were agitating her breast, and strove to laugh away what he +termed her foolish fears. + +'A few evenings will dispel all your _mauvaise honte_,' he gaily +said. 'I will hear of no silly objections;' and, thrusting a purse +of gold into her hand, he left the room. + +Amy could scarcely realise the truth of the position in which she +stood. The events of the last few days seemed like a dream; but if +so, it was a dream from which she would have been glad to have +awakened, and to have found herself in her former humble home. She +could not but fear that all her father possessed was held upon a very +uncertain tenure, and, what was worse, that it was obtained by +dishonourable means. This idea was strengthened when the gala evening +arrived, and our heroine was introduced to her father's principal +patron, a vain and weak-minded man, who listened to his host's +extravagant adulation with evident complacency, though to every one +else it was palpably insincere. Beaufort insisted on his visiting his +studio, to give his opinion of the grouping of a historical piece he +had sketched out for Amy to fill up. The baronet, thus flattered, +suggested some alterations which would have made it absolutely +ridiculous; and the artist would actually have complied, had not his +daughter, who had been requested to be present, interposed; and her +guest gallantly acquiesced in her judgment. + +From this period a new trial awaited the unhappy girl, for Sir Philip +Rushwood now became her professed admirer. Beaufort had planned this +affair from the moment of his first introduction to the young man, +though he had warily concealed his wishes from Amy. He had contrived +to display, as if by accident, a miniature portrait he had once taken +of his daughter; and as he pretended unwillingness, to make known the +name of the original, the curiosity of the baronet was naturally +excited. On finding that the beautiful young woman he so much admired +was the artist's daughter, he became anxious to see her; but her +father was determined that a meeting should not take place until Amy +was in a situation to set off her natural charms, and was removed +from her humble lover. Little suspecting the scheme which had been +laid, she met Sir Philip with feelings of gratitude; but they were +exchanged for sentiments bordering on disgust when he became a suitor +for her hand. There was nothing vicious about the young man--he was +the dupe, not the deceiver; but to a mind like Amy's, filled, too, as +it was with the image of Herbert Lyddiard, his attentions were +intolerable. The open encouragement he now received from the father, +however, emboldened him to persevere, and he professed to look upon +her marked disapproval as nothing but maidenly diffidence, and +proceeded to address her as though a positive engagement existed +between them. + +Amy now spent her days either at the easel, or in receiving +instructions from the masters her father hired, and her evenings in +entertaining his guests. He appeared not to have an idea that +prudence required that some matronly lady should become the chaperon +of his isolated child, much less that her heart could yearn for +feminine society. To one who was naturally so sensitive and timid, +the task was exquisitely painful; yet she dared not murmur, or a +volley of abuse would have been the result. Nine months thus passed +away in splendid misery, during which period Beaufort had often +indirectly expressed his wishes that his daughter would accept the +overtures of the baronet; but on the morning of her twentieth +birthday, he called her into his studio, saying that he had a matter +of importance to consult with her upon. Poor Amy guessed too well the +subject he was about to introduce; but she was appalled when, in a +few hurried words, and with a voice almost choked by agitation, he +told her that it depended on her decision, respecting the acceptance +of Sir Philip Rushwood's suit, whether he was to give her away at the +altar as a bride, or be himself dragged to a prison. + +'But why, father, should there be so dreadful an alternative?' she +eagerly asked. + +'Because I have nothing but what I owe to him. On his credit this +house has been furnished, and his trades-people have supplied our +table. Your very apparel has been purchased from sums of money I have +from time to time borrowed from him--for I have not yet met with the +increased sale and handsome remuneration for my pictures I was led +to expect. Indeed, many of those you supposed to be ordered, were +pledged for a tenth part of their value. If, however, you become his +wife,' he proceeded, 'we shall never want; for his fortune is +immense, and he is easily persuaded to part with it; but if you +refuse, his vanity, which is his ruling passion, will be so deeply +wounded, that he will withdraw his assistance from me, and our ruin +is inevitable. I have amused him with hopes of success and assurances +that you will smile on him at last, in spite of your girlish +coquetry, till he is incensed at the delay; and he last night told me +that he would be put off no longer, but have a positive answer _from +your own lips_ this very evening.' Amy pressed her hands upon her +burning brow in unutterable anguish. 'Yes,' her father resumed, 'this +very evening you must set your seal to our destiny. It remains for +you either to open a brilliant career before me, or to shut me up in +a prison in disgrace. I ask you not to give _me_ an answer. Your bane +and antidote are both before you; but remember that on the decision +of your lips to-night our mutual welfare depends.' + +As Beaufort concluded, he rose from his seat and hurriedly left the +room, whilst poor Amy remained panic-struck, and scarcely +comprehending the extent of her wretchedness. Her energies were, +however, aroused, and directed into a fresh channel; when, a few +minutes after her father's departure, a servant placed a note in her +hand, bearing the well-known characters of Herbert Lyddiard, which +she said had been delivered at the door by a meanly-dressed young +man. She almost flew to her chamber to peruse the contents, which, +though written by Herbert, were dictated by his mother. She stated +that her son, having lost his situation in Manchester by the death of +his employer, had been induced to remove to London, with the hope of +obtaining a more lucrative one in that city; but, being disappointed +in his expectations, that they were consequently reduced to the +greatest distress. Her health, she concluded, had suffered so +severely from intense anxiety and privations, that, believing herself +to be dying, she solicited, as a last request, one brief visit from +her beloved young friend. + +Amy Beaufort possessed a mind which never sunk under difficulties +whilst there was any active duties to perform, and in less than half +an hour she was in a hackney-coach on her way to Mrs Lyddiard's +residence, bearing with her, besides a few articles of nourishment +for the invalid, a large packet containing some of the early efforts +of her pencil, which she, with prompt thoughtfulness, imagined might +be disposed of, if only for a trifle, to aid her unfortunate friends +in their present exigence. She had a few guineas left from her +father's last gift; but she now shrunk from using them even for so +sacred a purpose. The coach stopped at the door of a large but +mean-looking house in a narrow crowded street, and her inquiry if +Mrs Lyddiard lived there, was answered in the affirmative by a ragged +boy, who asked if he should carry her parcel. Amy followed him, not +without some apprehension, up three flights of dark steep stairs; but +her fears were relieved when, her gentle tap at the door to which her +guide pointed, was answered by the well-known voice of her early +friend. + +The meeting was affecting in the extreme; but Amy did not find the +invalid reduced quite so low as her imagination had pictured. Though +a few months only had elapsed since they parted, each had a long tale +of trials to tell, and that Amy had to relate was rendered doubly +distressing by the confession she was forced to make of a parent's +delinquency. At length she spoke of the decision which was expected +from her that night. + +'And how do you intend to act?' asked her companion in breathless +anxiety. 'I feel that I dare not offer you counsel. I am too deeply +interested; for it would be draining the last drop of earthly bliss +from my cup to see you wedded to any other than to my son.' + +'I never will, Mrs Lyddiard,' cried Amy energetically, rising at the +same time from her kneeling position beside the bed of the invalid. +'I feel myself justified in making this resolution. I have been an +unwilling, nay, I may say an unconscious agent in a scheme of +dishonour; but I should be culpable if, by any act of mine, I +furthered it, even though the motive should be to save a parent from +disgrace and a prison. Still, my father claims my duteous regard, and +so long as my personal exertions and self-denial can afford him aid, +I will never desert him.' + +'You have spoken nobly, my dear Amy,' Mrs Lyddiard exclaimed, her +eyes brightening, and her pale cheek flushing with pleasure. 'Your +own upright heart is your best adviser, and Heaven will aid your +filial piety.' + +As our heroine prudently wished to avoid a meeting with her lover, +she left the house earlier than she otherwise would have done, and +returned home to prepare her mind for the trial which awaited her. +She resolved to decline the baronet's suit respectfully, yet firmly, +alluding with gratitude to the services he had rendered her father; +and she hoped much, notwithstanding the anger he had evinced, from +the natural mildness of his character. She had not, however, been +long in her chamber, when she, to her surprise, received another +summons from her father, who she had imagined to be from home. The +dark frown which clouded his brow too surely indicated the state of +his feelings. 'You may spare yourself the trouble of refusing Sir +Philip Rushwood, Miss Beaufort,' he sneeringly remarked, as she +tremblingly took a seat by his side; 'you will not have the +opportunity of displaying your triumph.' + +'What do you mean, papa?' Amy interrogated, wholly at a loss to +understand the import of his words. + +'Oh, you are in utter ignorance that your vagabond suitor, Lyddiard, +left a billet for you this morning,' he resumed in the same sarcastic +strain; 'and you are quite unconscious that you were carried in a +coach to his residence; but the lynx-eye of jealousy watched you, and +you have converted a friend into a foe. It is I, however,' he +fiercely added, 'who must suffer the penalty of your disobedience and +duplicity, and either die in a prison, or become an exile from my +country. I prefer the latter, and must leave you to reap the fruits +of your own self-will.' + +'Oh, my father!' Amy almost wildly exclaimed, throwing herself at his +feet, 'had you given me time I should have explained everything to +you connected with my visit to Mrs Lyddiard; but I entreat you not to +add to the dishonour you are already involved in by flight. Surely +the debts you have contracted are not to so large an amount but they +may be liquidated in time by our mutual exertions. Let us descend to +the sphere from which we have so lately risen, if by that means we +can honourably overcome our difficulties.' + +'Talk not to me in this manner,' Beaufort angrily interposed: 'I will +not brook the disgrace your obstinacy has brought upon me; and you +have yourself alone to blame that you are not the mistress of a +princely fortune. Go to your beggarly lover, if he will receive you +when penniless and homeless--the tie between _us_ is broken,' And +with these words he rose to quit the room. + +'Do not leave me, father !' Amy shrieked forth, clinging around him +to prevent his departure. 'I will share a prison with you, if such he +the dreadful alternative. I will labour for your support; but do +not--do not leave me.' + +Beaufort shook her from him with a violence which threw her to the +ground. 'Go, wretched girl!' he vociferated as he descended the +stairs; 'you have been _my_ ruin.' It was the last words he +addressed to her--they met no more. + +Scarcely allowing herself to believe that her father would not repent +of his determination to leave the country, Amy awaited with intense +anxiety the event of the evening. The shades of twilight fell, but +he appeared not. The guests he had invited arrived; still he did not +return. She was obliged to send an apology for her absence; for she +was really ill, and felt unequal to the trial of meeting the baronet +in her present agitated state of mind. + +The morning brought a confirmation of her worst fears. A rumour of +Beaufort's sudden flight had gone abroad, owing to his absence from +his guests; and the consequence was, that creditors poured in from +all quarters. Amy met the emergency with a presence of mind she was +herself surprised at. Her first care was to have all the effects +sold, that the debts might be liquidated as far as possible; but now, +to her unspeakable concern, she discovered that her father had +carried off the principal part of the plate and small valuables. She +next met her late suitor, Sir Philip Rushwood, and after soliciting +an account of the sums due to him by her parent, declared her +intention of refunding them from the labours of her own hands. 'I may +perhaps make trial of your patience by some delay, Sir Philip,' she +said; 'but so far as my receipts will allow, no one shall be the +loser from having placed confidence in my unhappy father. Had I +accepted your addresses, you would have had reason to despise me; but +I am not so base as to form a union in which my heart has no share.' + +The baronet was astonished. He had hitherto formed a mean opinion of +the female character, having been incessantly beset by manoeuvring +mammas with marriageable daughters ever since he became possessed of +his fortune. His desire to win the beautiful young artist, who never +appeared so lovely as at this moment, increased; but he felt that he +dared not urge his suit after this declaration. + +Amy now sought the home of her early friend; and, deserted by her +only natural protector, thought herself justified in consenting to +become the wife of Herbert Lyddiard when circumstances would admit of +the union taking place. She employed herself indefatigably at the +easel; and Sir Philip Rushwood having with some difficulty discovered +the mart at which her pictures were exposed for sale, bought them up +(though with the strictest secrecy) as fast as she produced them, +paying considerably more than the price she hoped to obtain for them. +Herbert was at this period so fortunate as to obtain a situation, +which, though not very lucrative, yet afforded him the means of +providing the family with a more comfortable home; and as Mrs +Lyddiard's health rapidly amended with her improved circumstances, no +further obstacle opposed the marriage of the young couple. Amy's only +anxiety now arose from the uncertainty of her father's fate; for she +could gain no further intelligence of him than that he had fled the +kingdom, having obtained a passport under a feigned name. + +The ready and profitable sale of her paintings enabled our heroine to +set aside sums for the liquidation of her father's debts earlier than +she expected. Herbert volunteered to become the bearer of her first +payment to Sir Philip Rushwood; and as his manners and appearance +were those of a gentleman, he was shown by the footman into the +dining-parlour, to wait a few minutes till his master was at liberty. +The young man started on entering the apartment, for he, to his +astonishment, perceived it to be hung around with the pictures Amy +had executed since her residence with them. He was examining them +more minutely, that he might be certain he was not mistaken, when the +baronet appeared. + +'You are admiring those paintings, sir,' the latter observed. Herbert +bowed assent. 'They were executed by a lady who is no less +distinguished for her virtues than for her beauty and talent,' he +added, his features glowing with animation. 'And should you become a +purchaser, you will confer an obligation on me.' + +'Happily for me, sir, _I_ possess the fair artist herself,' his +visitor smilingly interposed. + +Sir Philip drew back in amazement, and Herbert proceeded to explain +the object of his mission. + +'I cannot take the money, Mr Lyddiard,' the baronet returned with +evident emotion. 'The loss of a few hundreds is of no real importance +to me; and do you think that I could suffer that noble young woman to +toil incessantly to pay the debt of an unprincipled parent? No, I am +not so mercenary. Miss Beaufort refused me as a husband, but she must +allow me the pleasure of becoming her friend. You need not be +jealous, sir, of the title I am solicitous to assume, for it was for +your sake that she rejected me; but whether as a maiden or wife, I +shall deem myself happy in being permitted to serve her.' + +'I am most grateful for your kindness, Sir Philip,' Herbert returned; +'but I cannot avail myself of it with respect to the money. Mrs +Lyddiard is, I know, too desirous to rescue, as far as possible, her +unhappy father's character from disgrace, to suffer a debt of his to +remain uncancelled.' + +Thus urged, the baronet reluctantly took the sum; determining, +however, to return it through some medium which would not compromise +the independence, or hurt the feelings, of the person he was so +anxious to serve; and he had soon an opportunity of proving the +sincerity of his professions, by using his interest in procuring +Herbert an appointment far superior to that he at present filled. + +It was nearly three years subsequent to the period at which Beaufort +quitted England, that his daughter received the sad intelligence of +his death. He had been a miserable wanderer on the continent for that +space of time, and he breathed his last in a lazaretto at Naples. It +was not till he lay upon his dying bed that he could summon courage +to address his deserted child. When all earthly hope was over, and +the awful realities of a future state presented themselves to his +appalled vision, he thought of the misery he had caused one who had +ever been an affectionate and devoted daughter to him; and as this +epistle expressed the deepest penitence for the errors of his +misspent life, Amy clung to the hope that it was sincere. + +Thus Leonard Beaufort, with genius which would have done honour to +his profession, died a miserable outcast, through its misuse; whilst +his noble-minded daughter, by industry, integrity, and perseverance, +rose by slow but sure degrees to competence, and enjoys that peace +known only to those who pursue a virtuous course. + + + +THE BLIND MAN OF ARGENTEUIL. + +A NORMAN TRADITION OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. + +At Rouen, in the antique-looking library of a vast and gloomy hotel, +sat a venerable old man, seemingly engrossed in meditation and study. +He was Laurence Bigot of Thibermesnil, king's counsel to the +parliament of Normandy, a wise magistrate, and a learned and virtuous +man. At five in the morning he was wont to commence his daily +employment, and after giving sage and just advice to the parliament, +the indefatigable old man would devote himself, as now, to other +toils, which seemed to him like amusement; namely, laying the +foundation of a rich collection of books and manuscripts, which +afterwards became celebrated, and, though now dispersed, is not +forgotten. Bigot was employed in examining an ancient manuscript +which he had lately obtained. His son, Emerie Bigot, and a young +companion, Etienne Pasquier, were reading Horace at another part of +the library. + +The studies of all three were interrupted by the sudden entrance of +a magistrate--at least his costume bespoke him so; but at this moment +his extreme paleness, changed features, and humiliated manner, made +the lieutenant of Rouen appear like one of the criminals that daily +trembled before him; for he was a severe and upright judge. + +'I have been foiled, I confess it,' cried he to Laurence Bigot. 'I am +guilty, but do not condemn me unheard.' + +The king's advocate listened calmly, while the young men, with the +curiosity of their age, paid eager attention to the lieutenant's +recital, which was as follows: + +'A citizen of Lucca, named Zambelli, went on business to England, +where he settled. His affairs prospered greatly. At fifty years old, +having made his fortune, he felt a desire to end his days at Lucca, +near a brother whom he tenderly loved. He wrote to his family, who +were delighted at the news. Soon another letter, dated Rouen, +announced his arrival there from England, and that he should reach +Lucca in about two months. This space of time was requisite for the +transaction of his business at Paris, and his journey onward. He was +daily expected at Lucca; but two, three, six months passed by, and he +arrived not; nor, what was stranger still, did any other letter from +him reach his family, whose anxiety was extreme. Cornelius, his +brother, went to Paris in search of him. He visited all the houses +whither Zambelli's commerce was likely to lead him. Many persons had +seen, or believed they had seen, Zambelli. An individual bearing that +name had claimed the payment due to bonds of a considerable amount: +the merchants showed the signature "Zambelli" at the bottom of the +receipts. "All these signatures are forged," cried Cornelius. +"Describe the person of the forger, so that I may bring him to +justice." But it was in vain; for no one could recollect precisely +the appearance of a man who had been seen so short a time. + +'It was plain that an audacious robbery had been committed--perhaps a +murder. Cornelius went from Paris to Rouen, where he visited +successively all the hotels in the place. At one of them Zambelli had +been seen. He had left it for Paris, accompanied by a valet. This +valet had been little noticed: besides, six or eight months had +passed since the departure of Zambelli; and how could one domestic +excite attention among the numbers who had inhabited this hotel, the +most frequented in Rouen? + +'It was at this time,' continued the lieutenant of police, 'that +Cornelius brought his complaint before me. Like him, I felt assured +that a great crime had been committed between Rouen and Paris; but +how could it be proved? How could the criminal be discovered? At last +a sudden thought struck me. Six or seven months since, a goldsmith, +named Martel, had opened a shop at Rouen, where he was entirely +unknown. There was something strange in his manner, and the +expression of his face: he said nothing of his parents or family; and +those who hazarded questions on the subject, received from him +evasive answers, given with ill-disguised embarrassment. Struck with +his business being the same as Zambelli's, and acting under an +involuntary presentiment, I sent a person, who, under pretence of +making purchases, entered into conversation with Martel, in which, as +if by chance, he introduced the name of Zambelli. At this name Martel +grew pale, and showed signs of inquietude, looking anxiously at his +questioner. This strengthened my suspicions: I resolved to satisfy +myself; but here, I confess, the excess of my zeal led me into error. + +'By my orders a sergeant went to Martel to demand payment of a bond +for four hundred crowns, which I had fabricated under a false name. +Martel, when he saw the bond, cried out that it was feigned, and +refused to pay it. When taken to prison by the sergeant, Martel, +following his first impulse, accompanied him with the security of a +man who is certain he owes nothing; but soon, stopping suddenly in +great agitation, he said: "I am quite easy as to the bond; it is +entirely false, and I can prove it. But is there nothing else against +me? Have you heard of anything?" The sergeant having feigned +astonishment, and protested that he knew nothing, Martel became calm, +and followed him with a firmer step to the jail, where his name was +registered among the list of prisoners. An hour afterwards, he was +brought before me. "It is now no time for pretence," said I in an +imperative tone. "Yes, the bond is false; but as you have betrayed +fear, I must tell you that there are other things against you. A +citizen of Lucca, named Zambelli, is dead, and you are his murderer. +Deny it not. I have proofs--certain proofs. But calm your fears: +Zambelli was a stranger; no one here cares to avenge his death. With +some sacrifices on your part, we can hush up this sad affair; only +you must confess all with sincerity--your life is the price of it." + +'Petrified by the assurance with which I spoke, and glad to purchase +with gold the life which hung on a thread, Martel cried out: "I +see--I see it is Heaven's doing, since that which no eye witnessed, +save my own, is revealed. I will confess all: let my fortune save my +life!" He was about to begin, when the appearance of the notary, whom +I had sent for to take down his confession, roused him as out of a +dream. He perceived the snare, and when I commanded him to begin, he +said firmly: "No, I have nothing to tell; I am innocent." + +'All my efforts to induce him to confess were vain. I sent him to +prison. But now he protests against his incarceration, declares the +falseness of the bond, and accuses publicly the sergeant and myself. + +'This is my error. You, my lord, cannot doubt the purity of my +motives; but what will the parliament say--always so severe towards +inferior officers. Must the services of thirty years be blotted out, +because I was carried away by excess of zeal? My lord advocate, you +know all; now judge me as you will,' + +'Be encouraged!' said Laurence Bigot. 'The parliament is acquainted +with all, and pardons you. The Chamber assembled to-day to judge +this matter. I have spoken for you with the warmth of a man who +esteems and respects you; but your thirty years of service and +integrity have pleaded more eloquently than I could do. The +proceedings which Martel dared to commence against you have been +stayed for three months: the suit relative to the murder of Zambelli +is brought before parliament, and Martel is transferred to the +Conciergerie. Every search shall be made to discover the body of the +murdered man; for though I firmly believe that you have discovered +the assassin, yet there are no proofs. For you, lieutenant, though +pardoned, you are not guiltless. Listen!' said the old man, turning +to his son and to Etienne Pasquier, 'you are both destined to wear +the toga of justice--you, Emerie, perhaps to succeed me; and you, +Etienne Pasquier, probably to distinguish yourself in the +judgment-seat at Paris, or some foreign court. Remember that none may +do evil that good may come! Above all, a judge should not seek to +discover the truth by means of a lie, and do himself what he punishes +in others. Such means are unworthy of a magistrate.' + +Three weeks from that time there was great excitement in the village +of Argenteuil. The inhabitants had suspended their labours, quitted +their houses, and gathered together about the door of the Hotel du +Heaume. By their earnest conversation among themselves, and their +eager questioning of those who came out of the hotel, it was clear +that something unwonted was going forward there. In short, the large +room of the hotel was for this day transformed into a justice-chamber, +where Laurence Bigot, assisted by the magistrate of Argenteuil, +questioned numerous witnesses about the murder of Zambelli. + +How many efforts had this zealous judge made since he quitted Rouen +on his search for the traces of the crime! He visited many villages, +questioned numerous officers of police; but all in vain. When he was +about to return, in despair of accomplishing his object, he was +informed that, some months before, a corpse had been discovered hid +in a vineyard near Argenteuil. Bigot hastened thither, and the state +of preservation of the remains enabled him, on viewing the body, to +decide clearly that it was that of Zambelli, according as he had +been described by Cornelius his brother. + +The magistrate began to read the evidence aloud, when he was +interrupted by a piercing cry; and a blind man, whom no one had as +yet perceived, presented himself before the assembly. It was old +Gervais, a wandering beggar, born in the neighbourhood, well known, +and much liked. When his way led through Argenteuil, he was always +admitted to the hotel, and having arrived that day, he had seated +himself unnoticed, in his usual place in the chimney-corner. He had +sprung forward with a loud cry when, in listening as the magistrate +read, he heard of a corpse being discovered among the vines. But what +could a blind man, and one so long absent from Argenteuil, have to +communicate? Laurence Bigot regarded with a kind of respect the +serene and venerable countenance of the old beggar. + +'Unfortunate man,' said he, 'what can _you_ have to tell us?' + +But after his first involuntary movement, the blind man. Appeared +embarrassed and undecided. 'Ah, my lord,' said he, 'may I speak +without danger of my life?' and he turned his white head on every +side with a terrified air. + +'Speak freely,' said Bigot; 'fear nothing.' Then the old man related +how, many months since, he was leaving Argenteuil on his usual +pilgrimage, and had gained the high ground beyond the village, when +the violent barking of his dog caused him to listen attentively. A +man's voice, feeble and suppliant, was distinctly heard. 'Monster!' +it said; 'thy master, thy benefactor--mercy! Must I die so far from +my country and my brother! Mercy, mercy!' + +Then the blind man heard a fearful cry, like that of a dying man in +his last agony, and all was silence. After a time he distinguished +the steps of one who seemed staggering under a heavy burden. +'Influenced by a sudden impulse,' said Gervais, 'I went forward, +asking what was the matter, and who had been moaning so.' + +"Nothing, nothing," said a voice in an agitated tone; "only a sick +man who is being carried home, and has fainted on the way." And the +voice added, in a lower and menacing tone: "You may thank God that +you are blind, or I would have done the same to you." I knew then +that a horrible crime had been committed, and was seized with terror. +All things conspired to overwhelm me with fear; for immediately a +dreadful storm arose, and the loud thunder seemed to pursue the +murderer. I thought the world was at an end. Trembling, I continued +my journey, resolving never to reveal what I had heard; for the +criminal may belong to these parts, and the life of a poor old blind +man is at the mercy of every one. But when the judge spoke of a +corpse being found so near to the place where I heard the voice, I +could not avoid a sudden exclamation. I have now told all; God grant +that no evil comes to me from it!' + +During this relation Laurence Bigot appeared absorbed in a deep +reverie, which lasted long after the blind man ceased to speak. Then +addressing Gervais: 'Old man,' said he, 'I wish to ask you a +question; reflect well before answering it. Do you remember exactly +the voice that you heard that day on the hill, which replied to your +questions and threatened you? Do you think that you could recognise +it again--recognise it so as not to confound it with any other?' + +'Yes, my lord advocate,' cried Gervais immediately: 'yes! even as I +should recognise the voice of my mother, if she were living still, +poor woman!' + +'But,' said the judge, 'have you considered that eight or nine months +have passed since then?' + +'It seems but a few hours ago,' answered the blind man. 'My terror +was so great, that even now I seem always to hear the voice that +cried for mercy, and that which spoke to me, and the awful thunder.' +And when Bigot still doubted, Gervais, lifting his hands to heaven, +said: 'God is good, and forsakes not the poor blind. Since I lost my +sight, I can hear wonderfully. Call the people of Argenteuil; they +will tell you how they amuse themselves with embarrassing me, and +saying, in counterfeited tones, "Who speaks to thee?" Ask them if +they have ever succeeded in deceiving me!' The people cried out that +all that the blind man said was true; his knowledge of voices was +wonderful. Some hours after, Laurence Bigot departed for Rouen, and +everything went on as usual in the village of Argenteuil. Bigot +conveyed Gervais with him to Rouen. + +In the sixteenth century, the great hall of audience of the Norman +parliament was renowned for its beauty. The ceiling was of ebony, +studded with graceful arabesques in gold, azure, and vermilion. The +tapestry worked in fleurs-de-lis, the immense fireplace, the gilded +wainscot, the violet-coloured _dais,_ and, above all, the immense +picture in which were represented Louis XII., the father of his +people, and his virtuous minister and friend, the good Cardinal +d'Amboise--all united to give the great hall an aspect at once +beautiful and imposing. The effect was increased when, on days of +judicial solemnity, a hundred and twenty magistrates were seated in +judgment there, with their long white beards and scarlet robes, +having at their head the presidents, attired in ermine mantles, above +whom was a painting depicting the legislator Moses and the four +evangelists. + +It was in this magnificent hall that the parliament assembled, by a +special convocation, on Christmas-eve, in the year 16--. But this +time they were attired in black robes, and their serious countenances +showed they had a rigorous office to perform. This secret meeting of +parliament excited great curiosity throughout the whole town. The +murder of the merchant of Lucca, the arrest of the presumed criminal, +the discovery of the body of his supposed victim, the unhoped-for +testimony given by a blind man at Argenteuil, furnished an +inexhaustible subject of discussion for the crowd that thronged the +avenues of the palace. Every one agreed that the day was come which +would liberate an innocent man, or dismiss a murderer to the +scaffold. + +The parliament, after many long debates, had decided that the blind +man of Argenteuil should be heard. Gervais appeared before them. His +frank and circumstantial deposition made a deep impression; but some +doubt still remained. It was a fearful thing to place a man's life at +the mercy of the fugitive reminiscences of a blind man, who could +only trust to his hearing. It seemed almost impossible that Gervais +should recognise faithfully a voice which he had heard but once only. +The parliament determined to prove him, and to bring before him +successively all the prisoners of the Conciergerie, Martel among the +rest. If, after having heard them speak, the blind man spontaneously, +and without once hesitating, should recognise the voice which had +struck him so powerfully, this evidence, united to others, should be +held conclusive. It was not without design that Christmas-eve was +chosen for this strange trial, unheard-of in the annals of justice. +To have brought up the prisoners together on an ordinary day, would +have awakened their suspicions, perhaps suggested to them various +stratagems, and thus left the success of this novel experiment to +chance. On Christmas-eve the order excited no surprise, as it was +customary on the eve of high festivals to bring all the prisoners of +the Conciergerie before the parliament, who sometimes, out of respect +to the day, liberated those criminals who had been imprisoned for +trifling offences. + +Above all, as it was necessary to make the blind man understand the +almost sacred importance of the judgment with which Heaven had +invested him, a solemn oath was administered by the president of the +assembly. The old man took the oath in a truthful, earnest manner, +which left no doubt of his sincerity, and the trial commenced. +Eighteen prisoners were brought up, and answered the questions +proposed to them, but the old man never moved; and they, on their +part, on perceiving the unknown man, evinced no sign of alarm. At +last the nineteenth prisoner was introduced. Who shall paint his +horror and stupefaction at the sight of Gervais! His features grew +contracted, his hair rose up, and a sudden faintness overpowered him, +so that the turnkeys were obliged to lead him to a seat. When he +recovered a little, his involuntary and convulsive movements seemed +to show the poignant remorse of a guilty and tortured soul, or +perhaps the horrible regret of not having committed a second crime, +and finished his work. + +The presidents and judges anxiously awaited the result. At the first +words that Martel uttered, in reply to the president's questions, the +blind man, who, ignorant of his presence, had hitherto remained quiet +and immovable, suddenly bent forward, listening intently; then +shrinking back with horror and fear, cried out: 'It is he!--it is the +voice that I heard on the heights of Argenteuil!' + +The jailer led away Martel more dead than alive, obeying in this the +president's order, who in a loud tone had desired him to bring out +another prisoner. But this command was accompanied by a sign which +the jailer understood, and some minutes after, he again introduced +Martel, who was interrogated under a false name. Fresh questions +elicited fresh replies; but the blind man, shaking his head with an +air of incredulity, immediately cried out: 'No, no; it is all a +feint; that is the voice which conversed with me on the heights of +Argenteuil.' + +At last the horrible mystery was cleared up. The wretched, criminal, +trembling, despairing, stammered out a confession, which was now +almost needless, since the magistrates were fully convinced of the +truth which had been wonderfully elicited by the sole witness who +could declare the crime. + +But a few hours passed, and Martel lay in a gloomy dungeon of the +Conciergerie, whilst in a public place, not far from the prison, were +made the preparations for execution; for at this period the scaffold +followed the sentence so rapidly, that a condemned man never beheld +the morrow's sun. Ere nightfall all was over. The wretched man died +penitent, confessing his crime, and denouncing the cupidity and +thirst of gold which had led him on to murder. + +In fifty years from this period, Laurence Bigot had been long dead. +Emerie his son had succeeded him in his office. Etienne Pasquier had +become a learned and reverend old man, with silver hair. He was then +composing his curious and interesting _Recherches sur la France,_ and +there related the almost miraculous discovery of a murder long since +committed--of which discovery he had in his youth been an +eye-witness. It is from his statement that this history is taken. + + + +THE BRIDAL WREATH. + +FROM THE ITALIAN OF UESIGLIO. + +'This wreath must be finished before the evening. Down with those +tiresome hands; you jumble together all my leaves; you give me one +colour instead of the other: you are spoiling all I have done. Be it +known to you, however, that I am determined you shall not leave Padua +until I have put the last leaf to our garland.' + +These pettish words, qualified by the sweetest of smiles, were +addressed by a beautiful girl of sixteen to a young man who was +sitting beside her, and taking a mischievous pleasure in disturbing +her work; now catching hold of her hands; now removing out of her +reach something that she wanted; now playing with her long and +luxuriant hair, which floated negligently on her shoulders: +affectionate interruptions, which left a doubt whether the name of +brother or lover better suited them. But the light which flashed +from, the eyes of the youth, and seemed to irradiate the countenance +of the maiden, showed that his emotions were more rapid and ardent +than those inspired by fraternal love. They were seated at a table +strewed with shreds of cloth, gummed cotton, green taffeta, little +palettes of colours, small pencils, and all the necessary apparatus +of artificial flower-making. + +'Well, then,' replied the youth, 'I will do as you wish; but what +haste with a wreath that is not to be used till Heaven knows when? +Ah! if you were to wear it tomorrow, I would then assist you with +hands, eyes, heart, mind--with my whole being.' + +'What matters it? What harm will it do these flowers to wait for us? +I promise you to keep this garland so carefully, that it shall look +quite new on the day when it shall encircle my head; and then it will +seem to all others but an ordinary wreath: but to us--to me--oh, what +charms it will have! It will have been born, as it were, and have +grown with our love; it will have remained to me in memory of you +when you were obliged to leave me for a time; it will have spoken to +me of you when absent; will have a thousand times sworn love to me +for you. I shall have consulted, and kissed it a thousand times, till +that day in which I shall be yours! Do you hear that word, Edoardo? +Yours--yours for ever! never more to leave you!--to be divided from +you only by death!' + +'That will indeed be a blessed day--the loveliest day of our life! +The desire of devoting all the powers of my mind to your happiness +will then become a right. Poor Sophia, you know not yet what +happiness is: so young, so good; you have hitherto met with thorns +only in your path. Poor Sophia, I desire no other glory in this world +than that of being able to make you feel the sweet that Providence in +pity mingles with the bitter of human existence. There is no +sweetness in the life of mortals that is not the offspring of love.' + +'Yes,' added Sophia, 'when love is united with constancy. But what +are you daubing at, Edoardo? You are actually putting red on orange +leaves. Where have you learned botany? And what does that rose +signify? Is not this a bride's wreath, and are not bridal wreaths +always made of orange flowers? Do you know what I mean to do with +those roses? Ah, you would never guess. I shall make of them a +funeral crown. Here, take these leaves, and reach me the palette. You +have positively learned nothing all the time you have been seeing me +make flowers.' + +A servant entered the room, saying, 'There is no post to Venice +either to-day or to-morrow: the Signor Edoardo cannot set out before +Friday.' + +'Friday!' exclaimed Sophia, 'vile day!' and with a clouded +countenance she silently resumed her self-imposed task. Edoardo, on +the contrary, seemed glad of the delay. + +'No matter; but,' he added, 'is not this a trick of yours--a plot +concocted by you and Luigia to prevent me from leaving Padua?' + +'You mistake, Edoardo; I would wish rather to hasten your departure.' + +'I am very much obliged to you,' replied Edoardo, half vexed. 'What +do you mean? If you do not explain your words I shall be very angry.' + +'The explanation--the explanation, Edoardo, is here in my head, but +not in my heart. The explanation, Edoardo, is that I love you too +much, and I am not pleased with myself. Yes, but there are sorrows, +Edoardo, which sadly wear away our life; but these sorrows are a +need, a duty, and to forget them is a crime. My poor sister, the only +friend I have ever had, that poor saint, the victim of love, dead +through the treachery of a man hardly two years since: on memory of +her I have lived for eighteen months; but I even forget her when I +see you, when I speak to you. Perhaps I do not bestow on my mother as +much attention as her unhappy state requires. Alas! there is no +reproach more bitter than this: "You are a bad daughter!" And this my +conscience reproaches me with being a thousand times. Thus, Edoardo, +I am wanting in my duties. I am a weak creature: a powerful, and too +sweet sentiment threatens to take entire possession of me, to the +detriment of the other sentiments that nature has implanted in our +heart. Go, then, Edoardo; I have need of calm--I have need of not +seeing you. Suffer me to fulfil my duties, that I may be more worthy +of you. When you are far away, I shall have full faith in you. But if +your father should refuse his consent to our union?' + +'Leave those sad thoughts. My father wishes only to please me, and it +will be sufficient for me to ask his consent to obtain it. Even +should he refuse it, in two years the law will permit me to dispose +of myself as I choose.' + +'May Heaven remove this sad presentiment from my mind; but it makes +me tremble. Oh! if you return with the desired consent of your +father! oh! if my mother, as the physicians gave me reason to hope, +should then be well! we shall be the happiest of mortals.' + +The sound of a silver bell, heard from a chamber close by, took away +Sophia from her occupation. She rose hastily, saving, 'My mother! oh, +my poor mother! Adieu for a while, Edoardo.' + +Edoardo Valperghi was the son of a wealthy Venetian merchant. He had +received a grave but unprofitable education, it being that which is +wholly directed to the intellect and nothing to the heart. He was +studying in one of those colleges in which the system of education is +as old as the walls of the edifice. He had been told that he had a +heart, but no one had spoken of how it was to be directed to good. He +had been told that he must resist his own passions, but no one had +shown him what arms to make use of in this moral warfare. He had been +told to love virtue and to hate vice, but no one had furnished him +with a criterion for distinguishing true virtue from its counterfeit. +The temper of Edoardo was ardent and hasty, but flexible and weak. +Nature had made him good, but society could make him very bad. He was +like a ship without a good pilot--one to become good or bad according +to circumstances. Enthusiastic, easily impressed by example, he would +be most virtuous if his first steps had moved among the virtuous; if +among the wicked, he would rush to perdition. + +A letter of recommendation to the father of Sophia, who had formerly +had some commercial dealings with the Valperghi, introduced him into +the house. His timidity made him prefer that family to richer ones +with which he was also acquainted, and amongst whom he could have +found youths, amusements, and habits similar to those he had left +behind in Venice. But Sophia, lovely, amiable, and frank, had shown +him the affection of a sister. He had soon conceived a passion for +her; declarations of love, promises, oaths, everything had thus been +impetuous and sudden with him, as his disposition prompted. The +inexperienced girl believed that a sentiment so strong, so ardent, +must be equally profound and constant, and yielded to the enchantment +of a first love. Edoardo had terminated the first year of his legal +studies, and was now preparing to return to Venice. + +Alberto Cadori, the father of Sophia, was also a merchant. He had +begun business in a small sphere; but having guided his industry +prudently, from being poor he had gradually become rich, and at +length retired from commerce with a considerable fortune. Cadori was +avaricious, harsh, exacting: he wished rather to be feared than +loved: he was not the father, but the tyrant of his family. There was +seemingly some secret cause of disagreement between him and his wife: +it was perhaps for this reason that he did not love his children; but +what it was no one could tell. His family was now limited to Sophia +and his wife. He had had another daughter, fair and amiable as +Sophia; but the sad school of the world, and the all-powerful empire +of love, had untimely laid her low. The Signora Cadori, though still +young, was already on the brink of the grave. The grief that preyed +on her life, and especially the lamentable end of her first-born, had +brought on paralysis. She could no longer move without assistance. + +One other person formed part of the family, without being connected +with it by relationship--a woman who seemed at first sight to have +reached her seventieth year, so slow and difficult were her +movements. Her words savoured a little of obscurity, and her +countenance was rather repulsive. She was a Milanese. Having come to +the baths in Padua, she had taken lodgings in Cadori's house. She +seldom spoke, and paid no attention to what was passing around her. +She always seemed unconscious of the loud and angry language of +Cadori, which was proving fatal to the neglected wife and the +oppressed daughter. She appeared to love no one; no one loved her. +However, as she paid largely for her apartments, Cadori did +everything to keep her in his house. + +Though Sophia led a melancholy life, it was much relieved by the +exercise of her accomplishments, which were numerous. No female in +Padua, for instance, could compare with her in the art of +flower-making. Her friends contended for the pleasure of adorning +themselves with one of these flowers; courteous and kind to all, she +distributed some to each. Even the mercers of the city, when they had +need of flowers of superior beauty, applied to Sophia, who willingly +acceded to their requests. + +The two days of delay to Edoardo's departure were past, and in those +two days the Signora Cadori had had a new and very violent attack, +which placed her life in danger. Edoardo came to take leave of the +family. When alone, the conversation, the adieus of the lovers, were +not long; they both wept, looked at each other, and were silent. Yet +how many things had they to say to each other, how many promises to +renew, how many hopes and fears to exchange! + +They parted; Edoardo pleased with himself, and Sophia dissatisfied +with him and herself, without knowing why. + +The heart is a true prophet: the fears of Sophia were about being +realised; the days of her mother were drawing to a close. Sophia, +sad and terrified, was never absent from her bedside. Her heart, her +heart alone, sometimes wandered after the footsteps of another +beloved, but less unhappy being. Forgive that thought of love to the +maiden; call it not a sin. Sixteen! a soul so tender! the first love! +The maternal eye saw into the inmost heart of the daughter, and felt +no jealousy at those thoughts flying to her distant love. In those +moments she silenced her own wants, lest she should disturb her in +her reveries, and humbly prayed for the happiness of her child. +Sophia, on recollecting herself, would testify the greatest sorrow, +ask pardon of her dear invalid, and redouble her attention. Neither +day nor night was she away from the pillow of her dying mother. Her +strength supported her, as if by a miracle. No one divided with her +this pious office, except the Countess Galeazzi, the mysterious guest +of that house, and she came but seldom to the chamber of suffering. + +But the last hour had struck for the Signora Cadori. With her dying +breath she spoke of Edoardo. 'You love,' she said, 'and your love may +be the source of good to you. Take this cross, which I have worn on +my heart since the day of your birth; it was the gift of your father; +take it, and wear it in memory of your poor mother. You will find in +my chest a sum of money, and some bills on the imperial bank of +Vienna. It is no great riches, but it is sufficient for the +unforeseen wants that may press upon a woman. I would never consent +to give up these sums to your father, and that was one source of our +disagreement; but it was impossible for the heart of a mother to +deprive herself of what she could one day share with her children. +And I am glad that I have not done so; for, without such aid, your +poor sister would have died of misery, as she did of grief and +despair.' + +She said more, and seemed to make other confidences to her daughter, +but her words were uttered so feebly that they were lost. She then +leaned her head on the shoulder of Sophia, never to raise it more. + +Four months after this event, the time of study returned, and Edoardo +came again to Padua. He did not bring the consent of his father to +their marriage, but only some distant hopes. Cadori, who was aware of +Sophia's inclinations, forbade Edoardo to frequent his house, until +the formal permission of his father could be procured. Thus was +Sophia deprived of the pleasure of being often near her lover, of +enjoying his society, his conversation. She could see him but seldom, +and that unknown to her father. + +But Edoardo was changed. He was no longer the frank, the loving +Edoardo of former times. A residence of five months in Venice, +without being subjected to restraint, or having means to elude it; +the company of other young men, familiar with vice and dissipation; +above all, a fatal inclination had depraved and ruined him! He had +suffered himself to be fascinated by the fierce delight which is +found in gaming; play had become his occupation, his chief need. Play +and its effects, the orgies that precede, the excesses that follow, +were the life of Edoardo. Waste and debt were the consequences; and +when he had, under a thousand pretences, extorted from his father all +the money he could, he began, on arriving in Padua, to apply to +Sophia, whom he neglected, at least did not see as often as he might, +though he still loved her. Sophia was as indulgent as he was +indiscreet. At every fatal request for money, she offered him double +the sum he had asked. When Edoardo began to tell her some feigned +story, to conceal the shameful source of his wants, and to give her +an account of how he had employed those sums, she would not listen to +him. + +'Why,' said she, 'should I demand an account of your actions? Why +should I think over and debate what you have already considered? Will +not all you have be one day mine? Shall we not be one day man and +wife?' And these words took away from Edoardo every sense of remorse: +conscience ceased to reproach him for the baseness of despoiling that +poor girl of the little she possessed. The thought that he was one +day to make her his wife, justified him in his own eyes; for by this +he thought he should have recompensed her for all her sacrifices. + +Edoardo's demands increased with his exigencies. He was making rapid +advances into the most terrible phases of the gamester's vice; and +the mania in Sophia of giving--of sacrificing all her means for +Edoardo, did not stop. All the money left her by her mother had +already disappeared; most of her valuable ornaments had been sold; +some of the bank bills had been parted with: but as this could not be +done without her father's knowledge, he had made the laws interpose, +and sequestrated the remainder. Sophia did not dare to speak or +complain. She felt in her heart that her father was probably in the +right, that her own conduct was at least unreflecting, and that +Edoardo's expenses were too great; but still she found a thousand +arguments to excuse both herself and him. She spent all the day +making flowers, and stole a great part of the night from repose to +devote it to this labour; but she, formerly so ready to make presents +of her flowers, and adorn with them the young girls of her +acquaintance, now exacted payment for them; so that every one +wondered at this new and sudden avarice. But what did she care what +was said of her? What did she care for appearing without those +ornaments which women so love, and which add so much to their charms? +What mattered it to her that she was ruining her own health by +depriving herself of rest, toiling, and weeping? One look, one smile +of Edoardo, the having satisfied one of his desires, compensated for +all. What afflicted and troubled her was, that her labour should be +so insufficient to meet his wants. Often did it occur to her mind +that he gambled, that he was ruining himself, and she thought of +reproving him for it, but had not courage to do so. Sometimes she +accused herself of aiding him to destroy himself. Then she thought +that she was mistaken; her doubts seemed to her as injuries to his +love, and she grieved for having for a moment admitted them. + +One treasure alone remained, the cross which her mother had given her +on her death-bed. It was of brilliants, and might bring a large sum. +She thought over this, and wept for a whole week. Many times she went +out with the intention of selling it, but her heart could not resolve +to do so, and she returned penitent and sorrowful. + +Meanwhile, Edoardo was involving himself more and more in debt. +Assailed by creditors on one side, and drawn to the gaming-table by +desire and necessity on the other; menaced with a prison, threatened +to be denounced to his father, stupid from want of rest, midnight +revelling, and anxiety, he one day presented himself before Sophia in +a state so different from usual, that the poor girl was terrified at +him. Whither, Edoardo, has departed the beauty, the freshness of your +youthful years?--whither your simplicity of heart? Buried, buried +amid dice and cards. Sophia no longer doubted that Edoardo gambled, +that he had given himself up to a life worthy of reprehension; but +she was disposed to pardon him, to hope that he would repent and +turn to better counsels. But what made her tremble was the hoarse and +desperate accent in which he told her that he had need of money, that +he was, hard pressed by necessity, obliged to pay ten thousand +_lire_. The glance that he directed to every corner of the apartment, +perhaps because he did not dare to look her in the face, was dark and +unsteady: some broken words, uttered in a low voice, pierced her +heart like a dagger. And without any available means, she promised +Edoardo to procure him the required sum by next day. + +When he left the house, therefore, she threw herself at her father's +feet, and begged him for a sum of money that belonged to her, but of +which she could not dispose without his signature; but Cadori refused +it. I shall not repeat their dialogue. I shall only say, that she +came out from that conference in a state of distraction. Her mind was +fraught with desolation. Hideous thoughts passed through her brain. +It was night: she found she was alone. She felt desperate. A terrible +temptation passed through her mind. Her father, she knew, had heaps +of gold lying useless in his coffers; but locks and bolts placed +their contents out of reach. She then bethought herself of the +countess's bureau, in which her own cross had been deposited, secure +from the old man's covetousness. There, too, the countess kept her +treasures. She took a light, observed whether any one saw her, or +could follow her, and repaired to the apartment of the Countess +Galeazzi, who was from home, spending the evening with an old +acquaintance. Hardly breathing, and walking on tiptoe, Sophia took a +key from under a bell-glass, and opened the bureau. Oh, how she felt +her heart throb! She was terrified; she trembled in every movement! +The noise she made in opening the money-drawer seemed to be the +footsteps of some person following to lay hands on her. The light of +the lamp, reflected in the mirrors and in the furniture, seemed to +her so many eyes that looked on and reproached her. She opened the +drawer and took out her cross. Under it were several notes of the +bank of Vienna. The temptation was strong; she laid her hands on the +papers; but a thrill of terror seemed communicated through her frame +by the touch, and, overcome by intense excitement, she fell senseless +on the floor. + +Some time afterwards the Countess Galeazzi returned home. On entering +her apartment, she beheld the wretched girl stretched on the floor +with the diamond cross in her hand. The bureau was still open. She +ran to succour Sophia, and by the application of essences recalled +her to life. The moment the latter awoke to consciousness, she threw +herself on her knees, wept desperately, tried to speak, but could +not; the only words she was at length able to articulate +were--'Forgive me! forgive me!' + +The countess used every means to pacify her, by the compassionate +expression of her countenance, by her maternal gestures, caressing +and pressing her to her bosom, with words of comfort and tenderness. + +'Calm yourself, calm yourself,' she said; 'go and take some repose; +you have need of it.' + +'Countess,' replied Sophia, then wept anew. 'Shame, shame and +desperation! Oh, wretch that I am! Oh, my poor heart!' + +'Go, go to bed, Sophia; to-morrow we will talk. Here is the light.' +Saying this, she reached her the lamp with one hand and led her by +the other, using a little affectionate violence to conduct her out of +the room, and prevent her from speaking another word. + +The next day Sophia was so overwhelmed with grief and shame, that she +took to her bed, struck down by a violent fever, which was the +commencement of a dangerous illness. The countess was her nurse. + +Edoardo, having lost the source whence he derived all his supplies, +through the illness of Sophia, could no longer prevent his father +from coming to the knowledge of his irregularities. He was +immediately recalled to Venice, and shut up in a house of correction. +Disgraced in the eyes of the companions of his debaucheries, and +forced in his solitary confinement to make painful reflections on the +consequences of his conduct, he seemed to be cured of his fatal +passion, and when released, he returned no more to Padua; but, giving +up the study of the law, he devoted himself to commerce, to which the +contagious mania of making money, of becoming rich, made him steadily +apply himself. His old inclination had changed its name; it was +'mercantile speculation;' but the substance remained the same. He had +written to Sophia that his father would not consent to his marriage, +unless it were with a lady of large fortune: unfortunately, she was +not rich enough; however, that he would wed none but her, and that +they must be resigned, and trust to time; and Sophia, living on the +few letters that Edoardo continued to write her, and grieving that +she was not as rich as Valperghi would have wished, waited and hoped. +Her illness had been long and dangerous; her youth, and the care +bestowed on her, had alone been able to save her life. She had long +been oppressed by remorse: it was long ere she dared to lift her eyes +to the countess, or address one word to her. + +The latter had sought to evade every allusion to the past; and the +poor girl, beginning to overcome her fears, ended at length in making +her her friend, her confidante. She told her everything, and was +fully forgiven everything. + +After a time, Sophia recovered. They had lived together for four +years, during which Sophia had opened her whole heart to that lady, +made her the repository of all her everyday thoughts, her hopes; but +the countess had always answered her with vague, uncertain words, or +with silence. Alas! Sophia was fated to lose every object on which +she had set her affection. After having closed the eyes of her mother +and sister, adverse fortune obliged her to witness the death of the +Countess Galeazzi. + +When her affairs were looked into, it was found that she left her +large fortune to Sophia Cadori; so that that which deprived her of so +tender, so generous a friend, should also have made her happiness +complete. Every obstacle that divided from her Edoardo, which +separated her from him she loved so ardently, had vanished. In a few +days a boundless love, a love of six years, a love she had cherished +through so many sorrows, would be crowned! In a few days she would be +Sophia Valperghi! + +She wrote a letter full of the joys and hopes soon to be realised to +her dear Edoardo; she was happy, as happy as she had desired, as +happy as she had so long dreamed of being; she made all preparations +for her marriage. Being now quite independent of him, she spoke of it +to her father--to every one; she sought garments of the colour and +taste that she knew Edoardo liked; she imagined and planned a +thousand surprises. How many times did she put the cherished wreath +on her head, consult her mirror, study every position in which those +flowers might appear to better advantage and increase her beauty! How +often did she open the box that contained it to kiss it, to look at +it, scarcely daring to touch it for fear of spoiling a leaf, of +disarranging a fibre! + +At length came the answer to her letter; an answer that to any other +person might have seemed constrained, cold, terrible; but it was, on +the contrary, to Sophia the seal of her felicity. She was only +afflicted that Edoardo should have made illness an apology, which he +said prevented him from coming immediately to Padua. To Sophia it was +as clear as the sun that expressions of affection did not abound, +because they had now at command what she and Edoardo had so long +hoped and looked for; that the letter did not dwell on particulars, +precisely because great joy is not talkative, and because the illness +of Edoardo prevented it. She made ready to set out to Venice without +delay, expecting that her father would join her there, and that the +nuptials would be celebrated in that city when the health of Edoardo +would permit. + +Arrived at Venice, she was set down at the house of the Valperghi, +and ordered the trunk which contained the few robes she had brought +with her to be brought into a room, into which she had been +introduced while the servants went to announce her arrival to Edoardo. + +After a few minutes he entered the apartment, to discover who wanted +to see him; and, on recognising Sophia, was disconcerted and abashed. +She was surprised at seeing him splendidly dressed, as if for some +extraordinary occasion. Then he was _not_ ill! She read confusion and +terror in his countenance. + +'My own Edoardo,' said she, after some moments of silence;' are you +quite recovered?' + +'It was but a slight indisposition, as I have written to you,' +replied he; 'nor was there any reason for your hasty presence in +Venice.' + +'Edoardo, Edoardo!--there was no reason!--I have written to you! +Edoardo, why do you speak so to me? Why are you disturbed? Are you no +longer my own Edoardo? Tell me, tell me what is the matter with you? + +'Nothing. But what do you think will be said of you? A young girl +alone in the house of a family she does not know!' + +'Oh, Edoardo, you kill me! Explain yourself more clearly. This a +house I do not know? Am I not to be mistress in this house? Am I not +to be your wife?' + +'But without any previous announcement of your coming, it would not +be well if my father were to find you here so unexpectedly. I think +it would be better if you were to lodge, at least for a very short +while, in an inn.' + +'Your father! But am I not rich enough for him? This is a fearful +mystery. Explain it, if you do not wish me to die.' + +This conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, +saying: 'Signor Edoardo, your bride requests you to pass into her +apartment for a moment.' + +Sophia had strength to command herself until the man was gone away. +She then threw, or rather let herself fall into a chair, covering her +face with her hands, crying: 'His bride! his bride! Is it true? Is it +not a dream? For mercy's sake, if you have the heart of a man, tell +me that it is false, that I have not heard rightly. For pity's sake +answer me--answer me or kill me.' + +'It is too true, Sophia; it was my father's will. In a little time I +am to give my hand to another woman.' + +'Oh, merciful Heaven! I have heard these words, and live. Oh, my poor +life! But it cannot be: it is not true: you are not yet married: +there is still time. Go--fly to the feet of your father, tell him you +do not love that woman--that you love me, me only; that you have +loved me for six years!' + +'Impossible, Sophia; things have already gone too far. She is a +princess--one of the first families of Florence. It breaks my heart, +but it is impossible.' + +'What matters her rank, her relatives, if you do not love her?' + +'And if I did love her?' said Edoardo, wavering, rather to see +whether it would be a means of ridding him of Sophia than expressing +the sincere feeling of his heart. + +'If you did love her? oh, then, you would he the most infamous of +men--you would he a monster. But no; you cannot have forgotten your +vows; you cannot have forgotten all your words, our life of six +years.' Then rising, and throwing herself on her knees: 'Oh! Forgive +me, Edoardo; forgive my words. I rave; I know not what I say! Tell me +that you have only wished to put my affection to the proof--that you +love no other woman--none but me alone! Oh, do not drive me from this +house, Edoardo; do not give yourself to another woman!' + +'Sophia, if I could help it, do you think I would make you weep +thus?' + +'If you could help it? What prevents you? Nothing--nothing.' + +'Honour, Sophia.' + +'Honour! Where was your honour if you have forgotten all your sacred +promises--if you have perjured yourself?' + +'Sophia, Sophia, pity me. Do not make me the talk of all Venice. I am +the most infamous of men; but I can do nothing for you. Now I will +confess to you the whole truth--a truth I had not the heart to tell +you before. That woman is already my wife; I have married her by +civil contract; and the ceremony that is about to be performed +presently is a mere formality. Sophia, forgive me if you can--forgive +me, and depart.' + +'Oh, no, no, I cannot go from this house. I will die here before your +eyes.' + +A sound of footsteps was heard. It was easy to guess that those light +steps were a woman's. Edoardo turned towards a table, as if to look +for some papers, saying to himself: 'I am lost.' And Sophia knelt +down by the trunk that contained her clothes, pretending to rummage +for something in it, while she wiped away her tears, and suppressed +her sighs. + +Edoardo's bride entered. She stood for a moment perplexed, seeing a +woman with him; then said: 'Edoardo, I sent for you that you might +yourself choose one of these wreaths. Which of them do you think will +become me best?' showing him at the same time two bridal wreaths +which she held in her hand. + +'Neither,' said Sophia, rising and presenting a third wreath to the +bride. 'The Signor Edoardo ordered me to make this some time ago for +his bride, and I trust I have not laboured in vain.' + +'In truth it is much handsomer than either of these others,' said the +bride; 'but you told me nothing of this, Edoardo?' + +'It was a surprise,' added Sophia. + +'My own Edoardo,' said the bride again; 'another kindness; a new +expression of your love. Oh, how dear this wreath will be to me!' and +she retired, taking it with her. + +Sophia looked at the door through which the lady had disappeared, and +bursting into tears, exclaimed: 'Oh my poor wreath!' + +'Sophia, Sophia, you are an angel,' said Edoardo. 'Once more I owe +you my life.' + +'Since she is yours,' replied Sophia mournfully, and sitting down +faint and exhausted on her trunk--'since she is yours, ought I to +bring death to her mind, the death that I feel already in my poor +heart? No one knows, no one can know what is suffering, but those who +suffer; oh, no woman ever endured what I endure at this moment! +Go--go, Edoardo; prepare yourself for the ceremony: they are waiting +for you. I have no more reproaches to make you--no more right to make +them. All was in that wreath, and in renouncing that, I have +renounced this. Go--I have need of not seeing you. I promise you that +when you return I will be no longer here to trouble you with my +presence.' + +Edoardo, pale, confused, penitent, bent a long last gaze on Sophia; +then left the room, saying: 'I am a villain--I am a villain.' + +Two hours after, the marriage-ceremony was performed. The gondolas +that bore the bridal cortege, on their return from the church of St +Moise, were met by some fishing-boats that had drawn up a drowned +female. The gondolas had to stop in order to let them pass. 'A sad +omen for the bride and bridegroom,' said an old woman of the company. + +Edoardo, who had recognised that pale corpse, had thrown himself at +the bottom of his gondola, in order to conceal his emotion, and with +a convulsive motion pressed the hand of his bride, which he held +between his own. The simple girl, interpreting that squeeze as an +expression of love, said: 'Oh, my Edoardo, you will ever love me?' + +'Ever, ever,' replied Edoardo, wiping away a tear. He then muttered +to himself: 'Poor, poor Sophia!--she was an Angel, and I am a +villain.' + + + +THE DUKE OF NORMANDY. + +A ROMANCE OP REAL LIFE. + +The continental journals announced that, on the 10th of August 1845, +there died at Delft, in Holland, Charles-Louis, known as the 'Duke of +Normandy.' This individual presented one of those extraordinary +instances of doubtful identity which we find scattered over ancient +and modern biography. The mystery of his birth has not been cleared +up by his death, and continues as impenetrable as that of the +celebrated Man with the Iron Mask. + +It is well known that, in 1791, Louis XVI. of France was overtaken +during his attempted flight from France at Varennes, and afterwards +dragged to the prison of the Temple. He was accompanied by his +family, which consisted of his wife, Marie Antoinette, his sister, +daughter, and his only son, the dauphin of France. On the 21st +January 1793, the unfortunate monarch was beheaded; and his son, +still a prisoner, was partially acknowledged as Louis XVII., though +only in the ninth year of his age. This was but a mockery, for his +captivity only became the more close and cruel. He was separated from +his mother, and handed over to the custody of one Simon, a ferocious +cobbler, and his wife, who, besides practising all sorts of external +cruelties on him, tried every means to demoralise his mind. When this +ruffian was promoted to a seat in the 'Commune' (a kind of common +council), the royal prisoner's hardships increased. He was shut up in +a room, rendered totally dark both night and day. In this he was kept +for a whole year, without once being allowed to leave it; neither was +his body or bed linen changed during that time. The filth, stench, +and vermin amidst which the child dragged on his existence, at +length, it is said, terminated it. On the eve of death, his +persecutors sent the physician Dessault to see if his life could be +prolonged by better treatment; but the doctor's reply was that it was +too late: nothing could save him; and his demise was announced to +have taken place on the 8th of June 1795, at the age of ten years and +two months. The National Convention, which then managed the public +affairs, appointed a commission to verify the event, and the body was +opened by two surgeons, named Pelletan and Dumangin. In speaking of +the remains, they describe them as a corpse 'represented to us as +that of Charles-Louis.' The doctor Pelletan took out the heart, and +preserved it in spirits of wine; which he gave to the deceased's +sister when she had married the Duke d'Angouleme. The rest of the +body was huddled with other corpses into a common grave in the +cemetery of the parish of St Margaret; so that, at the restoration of +the Bourbons in 1815, when Louis XVIII. desired that the remains of +his predecessor should be disentombed, they could not be +distinguished. + +The equivocal wording of the medical report, aided by other +suspicions, caused an idea to gain extensive currency that a dead +child had been substituted for the royal infant; and that he had +escaped from his jailers by a well-laid plan, carried out by his +partisans. This notion was so prevalent, that we find, amongst the +records of the Convention, a decree dated June 14, 1795--only six +days after the date fixed as that of the young king's death--ordering +him to be sought for along all the roads of the kingdom. However, the +better-informed part of the community were firmly convinced that +Louis XVII. was dead and buried; and from that time till 1832, the +belief was never effectually disturbed. Taking advantage of the +doubt, several impostors made their appearance, claiming to be the +prince. The first of these was one Hervagaut, who, when discovered to +be a tailor's son, was condemned in 1802 to four years' imprisonment. +In 1818, Mathurin Bruneau, a shoemaker, tried the same trick; but +failing, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. In short, no +fewer than fifteen impostors have been enumerated; all of whom +pretended to be the wretched young prince, returned from exile after +escaping from the Temple. The latest claimant is the subject of the +present notice; and so startlingly do some of the circumstances of +his career coincide with the short history of the son of Louis XVI., +that many well-informed persons really believe he was the person he +represented himself to be. + +Between the termination of Charles-Louis's imprisonment by death or +otherwise, and the appearance of this individual on the scene, it may +be necessary to remind the reader that several revolutions and +counter-revolutions had swept over France. Napoleon's career had +begun and ended; the allies had seated the Bourbons on the throne in +the person of Louis XVIII., brother to Louis XVI., and uncle to his +latest predecessor; Charles X. had succeeded, and was driven from the +throne by the revolution of 1830, which seated Louis-Philippe on it +in his stead. All these events had taken place when the story of the +so-called Duke of Normandy commences. + +On an unusually hot evening for the season--an early day in the May +of 1832--a man covered with dust, and who appeared to be borne down +with fatigue, entered Paris through the Barrier d'Italie. Still, he +traversed the Boulevard de l'Hopital with a firm step, being a fine +well-made man, apparently about forty-eight years old. On arriving at +the bridge of Austerlitz, he crossed to the toll-bar at the further +extremity, and was accosted by the keeper, an invalid soldier, who +demanded the toll. Upon this he made a sign that he did not +understand French; but, on the other pulling out a sous piece, to +intimate the nature of his demand, the stranger shook his head, +heaved a deep sigh, and, after some hesitation, drew forth a fine +handkerchief, which he threw towards the toll-keeper, and hastened +away in the direction of the Boulevard Bourbon, to Pere la Chaise. He +got within the gates just before they were closed for the night, and +concealing himself amongst the tombs and bushes, escaped the notice +of the watchmen. It was thus that the stranger passed his first night +in Paris. + +The day was far advanced when he was found, too much overcome by +hunger and fatigue to rise. A gentleman accidentally passing, +observed and pitied his condition. After supplying him with some +food, he recommended him to solicit the assistance of a benevolent +lady whom he named, as she was known far and near for her readiness +to help foreigners in distress; besides, she spoke the German +language fluently, the only one the worn-out traveller understood. +Acting upon this advice, he repaired to the generous Comtesse de R.'s +residence, at No. 16 Rue Richer. She was a lady well stricken in +years, and preserved an enthusiastic veneration for the Bourbon +branch of the royal family, having been _femme de chambre_ to the son +of Louis XVI. When the wretched wayfarer presented himself to her, +she naturally inquired who he was. To which he replied in German, 'I +am Charles-Louis, Duke of Normandy, son of Louis XVI. and Marie +Antoinette.' Upon hearing this unexpected reply, the good old +countess fainted. On recovering her senses, she exclaimed, 'Good +Heavens! he is the very image of his unfortunate mother!' On calmer +reflection, however, she was but half convinced, and determined to +put the stranger's identity to another test. She had kept as a relic +a little blue robe with metal buttons, which was worn by the royal +infant when she nursed him. This she brought forth; and the stranger +no sooner saw it, than he exclaimed, 'Ah, my little coat!' After +this, Comtesse de R. declared her belief that he was her prince to be +so firm that she would have died on the scaffold rather than recant. +Without hesitation, she gave up the best apartments of her house for +his use and occupation; she even offered for his acceptance the +remains of her fortune. This, however, he at once refused, asking no +more from her than that she would send for a tailor to equip him with +habiliments more in accordance with his pretensions than the tatters +he then wore. This the countess did, and was not slow in imparting to +her royalist friends of whom she was the honoured hostess. All +acknowledged the extraordinary similarity both in person and manner +which the stranger bore to the royal family. Some were enthusiastic +believers; others, with all their _legitimist_ enthusiasm, were +sceptical. Amongst the former was a certain Monsieur S. de L., who +thought the appearance of the 'prince' a miracle in reference to that +particular time. Louis-Philippe, when he accepted the crown nearly +two years before, had done so with great apparent reluctance. 'How +happy, therefore, will he be,' said this visionary politician, 'to +remove the burden of the state from his own shoulders to those of the +rightful heir to the throne!' But before so curious a proposition was +made to the king of the French, the other royalists consulted M. de +Talleyrand. He replied, with his usual epigrammatic irony, 'There are +some people who are born with two left hands. This is poor S.'s case: +added to which, he seems to have been brought into the world without +brains.' Upon this the party wisely determined to keep the 'prince's' +presence in Paris as quiet as possible. Another of his adherents, M. +de Forbin Janson, the fiery bishop of Nancy, suggested that, as the +illustrious stranger's chance of the throne was somewhat remote, he +should enter the church, in which the highest dignities awaited him. +This was also found to be impracticable when Neuendorf (the name by +which the 'prince' now declared he had hitherto been known) revealed +that he was a married man, and the father of six children. + +The more sceptical part of his adherents very naturally wished to +know--supposing his story to be true--how in his early years he +escaped from the Temple; and when the stranger had sufficiently +mastered the French language--which he took but a short time to +acquire--he gave a most circumstantial and plausible account of his +early adventures. His narrative was carefully noted down at the time, +and, translated, consists in substance as follows: 'I cannot be said +to have _escaped_ from my jailers,' he began, 'for I left the prison +in the most natural manner possible. Some time before the day of my +supposed death, a royalist committee was formed for the purpose of +saving me. One of these was M. Frotte, who, as the pupil of my +physician Dessault, was allowed free ingress and egress to the +Temple. One day he entered my cell, motioned me to be silent, seized +me, and dragged me to a cabinet under the spire of the tower. A sick +child who had been given over by the faculty was substituted in my +place, and he, dying two days after (8th June 1795), was buried as +Louis XVII. At my supposed death, there being no more prisoners in +the Temple, all the keepers and guards were withdrawn, and I was +conducted outside the walls without meeting a single official. The +ruse, however, got wind, and the decree of the 14th of June was the +consequence. To frustrate this, the royalist committee caused several +children to personate me, imparting to the impostors several +circumstances connected with my family. One they sent to Bordeaux, +another to La Vendee, a third to Germany, and so on. These are the +children who, when they became men, tried to keep up the character +which they had been previously taught to play. This explains the +incredible number of false _dauphins_ who have appeared.' He ended by +declaring that when, in 1814, the Congress of Vienna ceded the crown +of France to Louis XVIII., they knew perfectly well of his existence; +but the obligations the allies were under to 'his uncle,' overwhelmed +the scruples they felt at investing that prince with a sovereignty to +which he had no title. + +One thing appeared improbable--how the assumed prince should have +forgotten his native language. He was ten years of age at the period +of his leaving France, and spoke French as cleverly as any other boy, +if not more so. How, then, did he lose this faculty? A residence in +Germany, even for so great a length of time as thirty-seven years, +could hardly have obliterated the French language from his mind. This +does not appear to have teen explained, and, with some other +circumstances, it served to check the credulity of parties half +inclined to believe the representations of M. Neuendorf. + +Further proofs were therefore required; and several were afterwards +afforded. The details of the first are somewhat singular. At this +time (July 1832) there lived in the village of Gallardon, at the +extremity of Beauce, a peasant named Martin, who had the reputation +of receiving revelations from above, which he acquired so far back as +1818, when Mathew Burneau and other spurious princes made their +appearance. One Sunday in that year, during mass, Martin saw a vision +in which he said an angel commanded him to get an interview with +Louis XVIII., the purport of which should be afterwards revealed to +him. Immediately after his return from church, Martin having taken +leave of his wife and family, commenced his journey on foot to Paris. +On the fifth day he arrived there, went straight to the palace of the +Tuileries, and demanded to be admitted to the king. In the simplicity +of his heart, he told the guards that his mission was of a celestial +nature; but they, not finding messengers from above among the list of +visitors set down in the orders of the day, handed poor Martin over +to the municipal authorities, who transferred him to the Bicetre +lunatic asylum. Here he remained for some time, during which his +exemplary piety and touching resignation attracted the attention and +respect of the principal physician, who often made him the subject of +general conversation. At the end of two months Louis heard of the +circumstance, and actually consented to see the harmless man. At the +interview, he imparted to the king the substance of a second +revelation; which was, that his majesty's nephew, Louis XVII., was +still alive, and would return at no very distant period; and that if +the king he addressed attempted to undergo the ceremony of +coronation, the direst calamities would follow; amongst others the +dome of the cathedral (of Rheims) would fall in, and crush every soul +taking part in the rites. Whether the majesty of France took any +serious heed of this enthusiast's warning, it is impossible to say; +but one thing is certain--Louis XVIII. never _was_ formally crowned. +When Martin returned to his village, he found that the king had +bought the house which he rented, and presented it to him to live in +for the rest of his days. This, together with his interview with +royalty--of which he of course made no secret--elevated the poor +visionary to the character of a prophet amongst the population of +that part of the country; many of whom indeed formed themselves into +a sect called Martinists, and devoutly expected the re-appearance of +the son of Louis XVI. + +As these facts were notorious in 1818, they had not been forgotten in +1832, and it was not at all unnatural that the least credulous of the +Comtesse de R.'s friends should suggest that Neuendorf should be shown +to the Beauce prophet. Accordingly, in September, a journey to St +Arnould, near Dourdan, was undertaken; and without saying who he was, +or pretended to be, Neuendorf was there confronted with Martin. In an +instant, it is said, the prophet recognised him as the person he had +seen in his second vision as Louis XVII. His enthusiasm knew no +bounds; he embraced the 'prince' with tears of joy, and in the +evening the whole party heard mass at the modest little church of St +Arnould. + +Whatever effect this scene may have had upon Neuendorf's more educated +companions, it created a prodigious sensation in that part of the +country, and one which was extremely beneficial to the 'prince.' The +honest people could not do enough to testify their delight. After his +return to Paris, they organised subscriptions, in collecting which +the village priests took the lead. Under their influence the farmers +and peasantry subscribed not only cash, but produce, a regular supply +of which was sent every Saturday to Paris, under the charge of a +farmer of St Arnould, named Noel Pequet. It was ascertained that, +during the four months succeeding his appearance at St Arnould, the +value of upwards of L16,000 sterling was remitted to him from various +parts of France! + +With these supplies, and the contributions of the Comtesse de R. and +her friends, Neuendorf was able to take a house, and set up an +establishment, which he did as Duc de Normandie, the title which had +been given by Louis XVI. to his son. He began housekeeping on a scale +of regal magnificence. He bought a carriage, and collected a handsome +stud of horses. His servants' liveries were splendid, and adorned +with gilt buttons, on which was embossed a broken crown. He even went +so far as to form a court and appoint a ministry; and, that nothing +should be wanting, he actually started a newspaper to advocate his +cause. The gentleman who undertook the responsible editorship of this +journal having, however, neglected to deposit the securities required +by law with the proper authorities, was arrested, and condemned to a +long imprisonment; which he duly suffered. The unfortunate victim to +loyal sentiments was one M. Widerkeer. This was the only evidence +vouchsafed by the higher powers of their knowledge of the duke's +proceedings. That the government of Louis-Philippe did not apprehend +any very serious extent of belief in Neuendorf's pretensions, must be +inferred from the immunity with which they allowed him to carry on +his proceedings, and to accept the contributions of the royalists. On +the other hand, it must be noticed that Louis-Philippe's seat on the +throne was not so firm as it afterwards became; and he may have been +afraid to disturb Neuendorf, lest he should have excited the enmity of +a very powerful party. + +It must be owned that the evidence which the pretender had hitherto +produced, was only calculated to gain over persons of limited +experience and strong legitimist prejudices. A circumstance, however, +which afterwards took place, was of a nature to stagger more +obstinate sceptics: it had indeed that effect. We translate it from +the words of an individual who was present when it happened. The Duc +de Normandie was at dinner, surrounded by several friends. 'Among the +company was an old lady, who, having recently arrived from the +provinces, had never heard of the "prince," and, on being presented +to him, was extremely astonished to find herself in the presence of +so illustrious a person. After dinner, the conversation turned upon +the duke's younger days, and the lady referred to addressed him in +these words--"I, monseigneur, never saw the dauphin; but an old +friend, who was constantly near his person in his infancy, has +described to me that from the midst of his lower jaw there sprung out +two teeth. They were incisors, and as straight and pointed as the +teeth of a rabbit." Without speaking a word, he pulled open his lower +lip, and exhibited to the company such a pair of rabbits' teeth as +were described.' + +This occurrence confirmed the duke's adherents in their belief of his +identity with the victim of the first revolution, and the presence of +the rightful heir to the throne of France created some stir in Paris. +Perhaps the aspirant to royalty and his friends felt disappointed +that the government did not evince its dread by some little +persecution, over and above the imprisonment of Widerkeer. To account +for this forbearance, dark suspicions were whispered regarding the +_secret_ intentions of the ruling powers; and these were not long in +being corroborated. One day in November, the duke expressed a desire +to imitate certain other royalties by examining the streets of the +capital, and mixing with its humble citizens _incog._ To this end he +sallied forth alone, and even condescended to take his dinner at +Vefour's celebrated restaurant. The evening was unusually dark, and +while returning to his house across the open space at the back of the +Tuileries (La Place de Carousal), he felt his shoulder suddenly +grasped by a strong hand, and in another instant a poniard was +plunged more than once into his breast, with the words, 'Die, +Capet!' [*] Fortunately, the intended victim wore inside his +coat a medal of the Virgin, which had belonged, it was understood, to +Marie Antoinette, his mother; this, receiving the point of the +dagger, preserved his life, though several flesh wounds were +inflicted. The assassin fled; nor did the duke make any alarm for +fear of being obliged to appear at the municipal guardhouse, and thus +get into the power of the government. When he reached home, he was +faint from loss of blood, and kept his bed for a fortnight. + +[Footnote: _Meurs, Capet!_--Capet is the family name of the Bourbons, +as Guelph is that of the House of Brunswick.] + +The suspicions of foul-play entertained by his 'court' were +confirmed; they regarded the bravo as an emissary of the government, +and the _'Meurs, Capet!'_ as an acknowledgment of the duke's right to +the crown! There were, however, ill-natured people who went about +hinting that, as the victim was quite alone, and became the teller of +his own story, the diabolical deed _might_ have been done by himself, +to strengthen the faith of his followers. Nor were these sceptics +silenced when the gashes in the coat, the dents in the medal, and the +blood of the royal sufferer was pointed out. But upon the whole, +whether true or false, the circumstance materially strengthened the +duke's position; and, on recovery, he began to play the prince in +earnest. + +He wrote to the Duchess of Berri, and to 'his sister' the Duchess of +Angouleme. To the latter he offered to prove his identity in the +following manner: 'When in the Temple,' he said, 'our royal mother +and our aunt wrote several lines on a paper, which paper was cut in +halves. One piece was given to you, and when we meet I will produce +its fellow, which has never been out of my possession since our fatal +separation.' The truth of this was never put to the test, for no +answer was deigned to his letter. + +At length the state in which the Duke of Normandy lived, the constant +visits of his increasing partisans, and his general proceedings, +attracted the attention of the police; and the heir to the French +throne was made to understand that he stood a likely chance of being +thrown into prison, and brought up to answer for his conduct before +the Court of Assize. Upon this he determined to live less +ostentatiously, and withdrew to a hotel in the Rue St Guillaume (No. +34), with which address none but a chosen few of his devoted +partisans were made acquainted. Though formerly disappointed at +having been passed so contemptuously over by the authorities, he now +seemed in great dread of them. He never dared to appear abroad, and +instituted particular signs and modes of knocking at his door, when +those in the secret wished admittance. The proprietor of the house +entertained from these proceedings very disagreeable suspicions, and, +lest he should get into trouble himself, gave his illustrious lodger +notice to quit. Some weeks after, the claimant of the crown was +really arrested; but exile, and not imprisonment was his doom. He was +placed in the _coupe_ of a diligence between two policemen, and +conducted beyond the frontiers of France. In 1838 we find him in +England, still calling himself the Duke of Normandy. + +He took up his quarters in Camberwell Green, near London, and in +November of the above year, suffered a second attempt upon his life. +He was, it seems, returning from an outhouse in the garden, when a +man confronted him, and fired two pistols at his breast. He pushed +aside the weapons with the candlestick he happened to be carrying; +but two bullets entered his left arm. The assassin escaped over a +drain into a back-street; but having been recognised, was +subsequently captured. A surgeon was sent for, and the bullets +extracted, after having done no serious injury. The criminal turned +out to be one of his late adherents, by name Desire Rousselle; who, +on examination before the magistrates of the police-office at Union +Hall, could assign no motive for the deed; and after two more +examinations he was discharged, the duke declining to prosecute. The +next appearance of his grace of Normandy at a police-office was in +character of defendant. It seems that he had turned his attention to +the art of pyrotechnics, and his explosive experiments were so +alarming to the quiet neighbourhood of Camberwell, that he was +summoned to answer for his conduct; but on promising not to repeat +it, the complaint was dismissed. It would appear that his experiments +were not altogether useless; for at a trial of newly-invented shells +before the Board of Ordnance at Woolwich, the duke's missiles were +declared either second or third, we forget which, in point of +efficiency. Indeed he seems to have occupied himself almost +exclusively with scientific pursuits whilst in England. At Chelsea, +whither he removed, the duke constructed a set of work-shops and +laboratories, in which he, with his assistants and pupils, diligently +wrought. In what his scientific labours and experiments would have +resulted, it is impossible to say, for they were interrupted by a +third attempt on his life. While alone in one of his work-shops, late +at night, a bullet was fired at him from a hidden and still +undiscovered enemy. The shot missed him; but, afraid to remain in +this country any longer, he retired to Delft, in Holland, where it +seems he died a natural death on the 10th of August 1845. + +Whatever opinions may be formed of the truth of this individual's +story of his birth, it is certain that a great many persons in +France, whose opinions are entitled to respect, believed him to have +been Louis XVII. Amongst the notices in the French papers to which +his decease gave rise, was a note written by M. Herbert, once +director of the military posts in Italy. It appears that when in that +office, the man Neuendorf was, in 1810, arrested at Rome, and +interrogated by M. Radet, chief of police in that city: the latter, +pronounced him to be in reality the son of Louis XVI. Than M. Radet, +there could not be a better judge of the matter, for he happened to +be one of the five persons who arrested Louis and his family when +they tried to quit France, and were intercepted at Varennes. Our own +impression is, notwithstanding this and all other circumstances to +the contrary, that the man was an impostor, and such we believe will +also be the impression generally among our readers. + + + +DUTCH ANNA. + +It was shortly after the outbreak of the French Revolution that the +humble heroine of this story made her appearance in my native +village. Dutch Anna (for so she was called by the country people) +was, as the name implies, a native of Holland; and at that time she +might be about twenty-five years of age. She was of the middle size, +stoutly and firmly built, with a round, good-humoured face, dark +hair, clear, honest-looking hazel eyes, and a mouth which, though +wide, was expressive of decision and firmness. Her dress, which never +varied in style, consisted of a coloured petticoat of a thick woollen +material, a short bed-gown of striped cotton, confined round the +waist by the strings of a snow-white apron, a close-fitting, modest +cap, underneath the plaited border of which appeared her glossy hair, +neatly braided over her low, broad forehead; add to this a pair of +well-knit stockings, which the shortness of her petticoats afforded +ample opportunity of admiring, with heavy wooden shoes, and you have +a complete picture of Dutch Anna's costume. At the time I speak of, +the prejudice entertained by the mass of the people against +foreigners was much greater than in the present day, when the means +of communication between different countries are so much improved, +and the general diffusion of knowledge has shown the unreasonableness +of regarding with distrust and contempt those of our fellow-creatures +who have been born in a different climate, and trained in different +customs to our own. It may therefore be readily imagined that Anna +was for a time regarded with suspicion and jealousy, for the very +reason which ought to have commanded the sympathy and good-will of +her neighbours--'that she was a stranger in the land.' Her mode of +life perhaps increased the prejudice against her. Respecting the +reason of her voluntary exile, she preserved a studied silence; +though I afterwards learned that the persecution she endured from her +own family on the subject of religion was the principal cause. Our +village adjoined a populous manufacturing district, and Anna, having +been accustomed to such occupation, soon obtained employment. Being a +person of a peculiarly reserved and serious turn of mind, she could +not endure the thought of living in lodgings; and as she was not able +to furnish or pay the rent of a cottage, she hired for a trifling sum +an old lonely barn belonging to my father, who was a small farmer, +and, with the labour of her own hands, managed to put it into a +habitable condition. The furniture of this rude dwelling was simple +enough, consisting of a bed of clean straw, a round deal table, and +two three-legged stools. The whitewashed walls were ornamented with +coloured prints on Scripture subjects, framed and glazed; and a small +looking-glass, placed in a position to secure the best light afforded +by the little window, completed the decorations. Various were the +conjectures formed by the villagers respecting this inoffensive +though singular woman; and many were the stories circulated, all +tending to keep alive the prejudice her eccentricities were +calculated to excite. + +A casual circumstance, which led to my becoming obliged to Anna, at +length enabled me to overcome the suspicion and dislike with which +our neighbour was regarded. Our acquaintance speedily ripened into +friendship; for with the reaction natural to the generous, I felt as +though I could never sufficiently compensate for my former injustice +towards her. Often in an evening I would put on my bonnet, and, +taking my work with me, go to spend a leisure hour with Dutch Anna; +and on these occasions she generally entertained me with descriptions +of her own country, and of the customs and manners of its +inhabitants; or with striking anecdotes and incidents which had come +under her own personal observation; never failing to draw some useful +moral or illustrate some important truth from what she related. She +could read well, and write a little--rare accomplishments in those +days for one in her situation in life. Her powers of observation were +extremely acute, and her memory retentive; but what struck me as her +most remarkable characteristics, were her sincere and unaffected +piety, her undeviating truthfulness, and her extraordinary decision +and fearlessness. When I have said, on bidding her good-night, 'Anna, +are you not afraid to be left alone here during the night, with no +one within call?' she has replied, 'Afraid, Miss Mary! no; how can I +feel afraid, knowing myself under the protection of One as great and +powerful as He is wise and good? I am never alone, for God is ever +present with me.' After Anna had resided some years in this country, +during which time she had, by her constant good-conduct, gained the +esteem of all who knew her, and, by her good-nature and willingness +to oblige, won the kindly feeling of even the most prejudiced, she +became anxious to pay a visit to her native land; and as the +accommodations for travelling at that period, besides being few, were +costly, she obtained letters of recommendation from her employers and +other gentlemen in the place to friends residing in different towns +on her route, and set out, intending to perform the greater part of +her land-journey on foot. At the end of several months she returned, +and quietly resumed her former mode of life. Not till fully a year +after this period did she relate to me an adventure which had +occurred to her on her journey homewards, and which I shall now +transcribe. + +It was at the close of an autumn day that Anna, who had been walking +since early morning with scarcely an interval of rest, found herself, +in spite of her great capability of enduring fatigue, somewhat +foot-sore and weary on arriving at the town of ----. As she passed +along the streets, she observed an unusual degree of bustle and +excitement; and, on inquiring the cause, found that a large +detachment of soldiers, on their way to the continent, had arrived in +the town that afternoon, and that some difficulty was experienced in +finding them accommodation. This was not very agreeable news for +Anna, tired as she was; however, she pursued her way to the house of +the clergyman, where she had, in passing that way before, been +hospitably entertained, hoping that there she might be able to +procure a lodging, however humble. But in this she was disappointed; +for though the good clergyman and his wife received her kindly, they +could not offer her shelter for the night, as they had already more +guests than they could conveniently accommodate. Anna would have been +contented and thankful for a bed of straw by the kitchen fire; but +even this they could not give, as the lower apartments were wanted by +those who had been obliged to give up their beds. + +At length, after some hesitation, the clergyman said, 'I know but of +one place where you could at this time find a lodging. You appear to +be a woman of good courage, and if you dare venture, you may occupy a +room in that house you see from this window. It is uninhabited, and +has been so for some years, as it has the reputation of being +haunted. Anna looked in the direction indicated, and saw through the +deepening twilight a large two-storied house, built of a dull red +brick, with stone copings, standing at some distance from the +high-road. The house itself occupied a considerable extent of ground, +being beautifully situated, with fronts to the south and west. The +principal entrance was by folding-doors, half of which were glass; +and the house was sheltered on the north and east by a grove of +trees, whose branches, now but thinly covered with leaves, waved +mournfully to and fro in the night wind. 'The last proprietor of that +place,' continued the clergyman, 'was a vicious and depraved man, +whose very existence was a curse to the neighbourhood in which he +dwelt. At an early age he came into possession of a large property, +which he spent in the gratification of every base and lawless +passion. His life, as far as I can learn, was one unmixed course of +cruelty, lust, and impiety, unredeemed by one noble aspiration, one +generous, unselfish action. He died suddenly, in the prime of life, +in the midst of one of his riotous midnight orgies, and the house has +ever since been deserted. It is said, and believed by our good +towns-folks, that there he still holds his revels, with fiends for +his companions; and many affirm that they have heard the sound of +their unearthly merriment, mingled with shrieks and wailings, borne +upon the night-breeze; whilst the few who have ventured within its +walls, tell of shapes seen, and sounds heard, which would cause the +stoutest heart to quail. For myself, I am no great believer in the +supernatural, and have no doubt that imagination, united to the +loneliness of the spot, and the strange freaks the wind plays through +a large uninhabited house, have originated reports which we are sure +would lose nothing in the recital; so if you are inclined to make the +trial, I will see that what is necessary is provided, and I think I +may venture to promise you an undisturbed night's rest.' + +Anna, as I have before said, was remarkable for her fearlessness; so +she thanked the gentleman for his proposal, saying 'that she had not +the least fear of spirits, good or bad; that the former, if indeed +they were ever visible to mortal eyes, could be but messengers of +mercy; and for the latter, she could not conceive that a Being +infinite in goodness would ever permit them to revisit this earth for +the sole purpose of terrifying and tormenting innocent individuals +like herself; that she far more dreaded evil men than evil spirits; +and that as, from the estimation in which the place was held, she +should feel herself secure from them, she would thankfully accept his +offer.' As soon, therefore, as the necessary preparations were made, +and Anna had partaken of the good substantial fare set before her, +she begged to be allowed to retire to rest, as she was fatigued with +her day's journey, and wished to set out again early the next +morning. Her request was immediately complied with; the good +clergyman himself insisting upon seeing her safely to her +destination; when, having ascertained that proper provision had been +made for her comfort, and told her that refreshment should be +provided for her early next morning at his house, he bade her +good-night, and left her to repose. As soon as he was gone, Anna +proceeded to take a more particular survey of her apartment. It was +a large, but not very lofty room, panelled with oak, and having two +windows looking across a wide lawn to the main road. The bright fire +in the ample fireplace illuminated the richly-carved cornice, with +its grotesque heads and fanciful scrollwork. It had evidently been a +dining-room, for some of the heavy furniture, in the fashion of the +period in which it had been last inhabited, still remained. There +were the massive table and the old-fashioned high-backed chairs, with +covers of what had once been bright embroidery, doubtless the work of +many a fair hand; but what attracted her attention most, was a +picture over the chimney-piece. It was painted on the wooden panel; +perhaps the reason it had never been removed, though evidently the +work of no mean artist. It represented a scene of wild revelry. At +the head of a table, covered with a profusion of fruits, with glasses +and decanters of various elegant forms, stood a young man; high above +his head he held a goblet filled to the brim with wine; excitement +flashed from his bright blue eyes, and flushed the rounded cheek; +light-brown hair, untouched by powder, curled round the low narrow +forehead; whilst the small sensual mouth expressed all the worst +passions of our nature. Around the table sat his admiring parasites; +young beauty and hoary age, the strength of manhood and the earliest +youth, were there, alike debased by the evidences of lawless passion. +With what a master-hand had the painter seized upon the individual +expression of each! There the glutton, and here the sot; now the eye +fell on the mean pander or the roystering boon-companion; now on the +wit, looking with a roguish leer upon his fair neighbour, or the +miserable wretch maudlin in his cups; and again on the knave +profiting by the recklessness of those around him. The bright blaze +of the fire lit up the different countenances with a vivid and +lifelike expression; and as Anna gazed, fascinated and spell-bound, +her thoughts naturally reverted to what she had heard of the life and +character of the last owner of the place. Was that youthful figure, +so evidently the master of the revel, a portrait of the unhappy man +himself who had thus unconsciously left behind him not only a +memorial, but a warning. How often had the now silent halls echoed to +the brawl of the drunkard, the song of the wanton, the jest of the +profane, the laugh of the scorner! It was here, perhaps in this very +room, that the dread hand of death had struck him; here he had been +suddenly called to account for property misused, a life misspent. +Saddened by these reflections, she turned from the picture, and +taking her Bible from her bundle, she drew aside the tarnished +curtains, and seated herself at one of the windows. The moon had by +this time risen, and was shedding her soft light on the peaceful +landscape without. The beauty of the scene soothed her excited +feelings; and as she read, her mind resumed its accustomed serenity. +Closing her book, she prepared to retire to rest, first examining +the doors, of which there were two: the one by which she had entered, +opening into the front hall, she found to be without a lock, or +indeed any fastening at all; the other, leading in an opposite +direction, she was unable to open. As, however, she was quite free +from apprehension, she felt no uneasiness from this circumstance; +and, commending herself to the care of her heavenly Father, she +composed herself to rest, and soon fell soundly asleep. + +How long she had slept she could not tell, when she was awoke by what +seemed to her the confused sounds of song and merriment. So deep had +been her sleep, that it was some time before she could rouse herself +to a recollection of her situation. When, however, she had done so, +she raised herself in bed, and listened; all was silent, save that +the night, having become rather gusty, the wind at intervals swept +moaningly round the deserted mansion. The fire was almost out, but +the candle in the lantern which stood by her bedside shed a feeble +light upon the oaken floor; and the moon, though occasionally +overcast, was still high in the heavens. Readily concluding the +disturbance to have been wholly imaginary, the result of the +impression made by her waking thoughts upon her sleeping fancies, +Anna composed herself again to sleep; but scarcely had she lain down, +when the same sounds, low at first, but gradually becoming louder and +more distinct, broke in upon the silence. The noise appeared to her +to proceed from a distant part of the house, and came with a kind of +muffled sound, as though doors of some thickness intervened. Peals of +laughter, bursts of applause, snatches of song, crashing of glass, +mingled in wild confusion. Higher and higher grew the mirth, louder +and louder swelled the tumult, until, when the uproar appeared to +have reached its height, there was a pause--a silence as profound as +it was sudden and appalling. Then there rang through the wide +deserted halls and chambers a shrill despairing shriek, whilst far +and near, above, below, around, rose mocking and insulting laughter. +Dauntless as Anna was, and firm as was her reliance on the protection +of Heaven, it would perhaps be too much to say that she felt no +quickening of the pulse, no flutterings and throbbings of the heart +as she listened. But surprise, and a strong desire to penetrate the +mystery, greatly preponderated over any feelings of alarm, and her +first impulse was immediately to endeavour to find her way to the +scene of the disturbance. But a moment's consideration showed her how +foolish and imprudent this would be, totally unacquainted as she was +with the house, and with no better light than the feeble glimmer of +her lantern. If it was the work of designing persons, such a step +would be but to expose herself to danger, whilst, if the effect of +supernatural agency, she could neither learn what they wished to +conceal, nor shun what they chose to reveal. She therefore decided +upon passively awaiting the result of her adventure. As these +thoughts passed rapidly through her mind, the noise subsided, the +laughter became fainter and fainter; until at length it died away, +seemingly lost in the distance, and silence once more reigned around. +After the lapse of a short interval, this was again broken by a noise +resembling the rattling and clanking of a chain dragged heavily +along, which seemed to approach by slow degrees towards her +apartment, and as gradually receded; then again approached, and again +receded; and so on several times, but each time coming nearer than +before; until at length it paused beside that door of her room which +Anna had been unable to open. Cautiously raising her head from the +pillow, Anna endeavoured, with fixed and strained look, to pierce the +darkness in which that part of the room was enveloped; but though she +could not distinguish anything, and though no sound was made, she +became, with a thrill more nearly approaching terror than she had +before experienced, instinctively conscious that she was no longer +alone. Resolutely determined, however, not to yield to feelings of +alarm, Anna said, in a firm, unfaltering voice: 'Whoever or whatever +you are that thus disturb my repose and intrude upon my privacy, show +yourself, and name your errand, if you want anything from me; if not, +begone, for your attempts to terrify me are vain. I fear you not.' +The only answer returned was a low laugh; and where the moonlight +streamed in through the partly-drawn window-curtain, there stood a +frightfully-grotesque figure. Its body, as well as Anna could +distinguish, resembled that of a beast, but the head, face, and +shoulders were those of a human being; the former being decorated +with a horn over each shaggy eyebrow. It stood upon all fours, but +the front legs were longer than those behind, and terminated in claws +like a bird. Round its neck an iron chain was hung, which, as it now +slowly advanced, sometimes in the light, and sometimes in the shade, +it rattled menacingly. The sight of this creature, far from +increasing Anna's alarm, considerably diminished it, and she lay +perfectly quiet, steadily watching its movements, until it came +within arm's-length of her, when, suddenly springing forward, she +seized hold of it with a firm grasp, exclaiming: 'This is no spirit, +for here is flesh and bone like myself.' + +Apparently, the ghost being composed of too solid materials to melt +in air, had no other resource than to oppose strength to strength, +for it struggled vigorously, and with some difficulty succeeded in +freeing itself from Anna's hold. No sooner was it at liberty, than it +made for the door with as much speed as its various encumbrances +would allow; and Anna, now completely roused, and forgetting all +prudential considerations in the excitement of the moment, hastily +put on a few articles of clothing, and, throwing her cloak around +her, seized her lantern and followed. The ghost had, however, gained +so much in advance of her, that it was with some difficulty she could +decide which way to turn, but, guided by the clanking of the chain, +she went boldly along a wide stone passage, and through several +rooms, opening one out of another, until, just as she was again +within sight, and almost within reach of the object of her pursuit, +it suddenly disappeared; and Anna, in her eagerness, springing +quickly forward, was herself the next moment precipitated through an +opening in the floor, in her fall breaking her lantern. Fortunately +she alighted on a heap of straw, or the consequences might have been +fatal. As it was, though bruised and stunned by her sudden descent, +she did not entirely lose consciousness, but was sensible of a +confused murmur of voices near her; and as her perceptions became +clearer, she was aware that the tones, though low, were earnest and +angry, and that she herself was the subject of conversation. + +'I tell you it is the only thing to be done; so what's the use of +talking about it, you fool,' were the first words she distinguished. + +'But,' interrupted another voice, evidently a woman's, 'would it not +be better to wait and see?' + +'Death and fury, wait and see what?' fiercely exclaimed the first +speaker. 'If she's dead, it'll do her no harm; and if she isn't, the +sooner a stopper's put in her mouth the better.' + +Completely roused from her stupor by the danger with which she was +threatened, Anna opened her eyes, and perceived that she was in a +large vaulted cellar, at one end of which was a small heated furnace. +Scattered about the floor, and on rudely-constructed work-benches, as +though the persons using them had hastily abandoned their employment, +were many curious-looking tools and machines, together with heaps of +metal of different sizes, and in different stages of manufacture, +from the merely moulded shape to the finished shilling or guinea. +Some half-dozen or eight men and women were grouped together, amongst +whom she recognised the _ghost_, not quite divested of his masquerade +dress. In a single glance Anna perceived all this, and it needed no +conjuror to tell her that she had fallen into the hands of a gang of +coiners. + +Fully sensible of the peril of her situation, her extraordinary +courage did not forsake her; for Anna, though somewhat peculiar in +her religious opinions, was perfectly sincere, and even at this awful +moment felt unshaken, confidence in the protecting care of +Providence. Though a foreigner, she possessed great command of the +English language, and her style, notwithstanding its singularity and +quaintness, was well calculated to overawe the rude and lawless band +into whose hands she had fallen. With a calm and steady gaze she met +the eye of the ruffian, who brandished his weapon before her, and +said, 'I pray you do not commit this great wickedness, nor shed the +blood of a helpless woman, who has never injured you.' + +'Oh, come,' interrupted the man in a surly tone, 'let's have none of +that gammon, for it'll be of no use. If folk will meddle in others +folk's concerns, they must take the consequences; we're not such +fools as to put the rope round our own necks, I can tell you.' + +'Nay, but hear what I have to say,' repeated Anna, eluding the man's +grasp as he endeavoured to seize hold of her; 'my coming here was no +fault of my own, and I promise not to betray you.' + +'Oh ay, a likely tale,' said the man with a brutal laugh. 'We're all +for ourselves in this world, and no mistake; so we shall just put you +where you can tell no tales, old girl.' + +'Stop; hear what she has to say: you shall; you must,' cried a young +woman who started up from a table at the further end of the cellar, +at which she had been seated, with her face buried in her hands, +during the foregoing colloquy. 'I tell you, Jack,' she continued, +advancing into the midst of the group, and laying her hand on the +man's arm, 'you shan't touch that woman: you won't; I know you won't. +Bad enough you are--we all are, God knows--but there's no blood upon +our hands yet; and,' added she, lowering her voice, 'blood will +speak, you know--_remember_.' The man's countenance fell as the girl +uttered the last words; he relaxed his hold of the knife; and Anna, +taking advantage of his indecision, and the relenting expression she +thought she read in the dark faces round her, related her simple +story, dwelling particularly upon the danger the corners would incur +were she missing, and their security in case she was allowed to +proceed on her journey, after seeing her friend the clergyman. Taking +courage from the attention of her hearers, she even ventured to +remonstrate with them upon their dangerous mode of life, and +entreated them to abandon it, and seek their subsistence honestly. + +There was a pause of some minutes after Anna ceased speaking, during +which the coiners exchanged with each other looks of mingled +admiration and astonishment. At length one of them, who appeared to +take the lead, addressing his companions, said, 'The woman has spoken +well, and there is reason in what she says. It is true enough that +murder will out; and though she is a stranger, she was known to come +here. Her disappearance might excite suspicion, suspicion would lead +to inquiries, inquiries to search, and then all would be up with us; +besides, a few weeks will see us clear of this place, if we have +luck, and I think we may trust her so long.' Then turning to Anna, he +continued, 'You have a spirit of your own, and I like you the better, +and would trust you the sooner for it; none but fools rely on the +word of a coward, but one who dare speak the honest truth, without +fear or favour, when in peril of life, is not likely to break faith, +I think; so you shall go free, on condition that you take a solemn +oath not to reveal to any one the events of this night until six +months have passed; by that time we shall have quitted not only this +neighbourhood, but the country, and,' he added with a laugh, 'the +ghost that has kept all the men in ---- quaking after dark, like a +pack of frightened children, will be laid for ever. Have I said well, +my comrades?' There was a general murmur of assent, and the man +continued: 'Recollect, then, that if you break your oath, your life +will be the forfeit: we have means to ascertain and punish treachery; +and should you attempt foul-play, you can no more escape our +vengeance than here in this lonely place you can resist our power. +Will you swear, by all you hold most dear and sacred, to keep our +secret inviolable for the time agreed?' To this proposition Anna, as +will be readily believed, joyfully assented, and being conducted by +her strange acquaintances back to her sleeping apartment, she most +gladly, when morning dawned, bade adieu to the scene of her singular +and alarming adventure. On arriving at the clergyman's house, she was +not sorry to find but few of the family stirring, as she naturally +wished to avoid much questioning. In answer to the inquiries which +were made as to how she had passed the night, she said that she had +been much annoyed and disturbed; and though she avoided entering into +particulars, she strongly advised that no one should be permitted to +try a similar experiment, assuring them that she believed few could +pass through what she had done without sustaining severe, if not +permanent injury from it. Having thus, as far as lay in her power, +acquitted her conscience, she pursued her journey. In a few days she +arrived at home; but it was not until several months over the time +specified had elapsed, that she related the adventure to me, in order +to show how little dependence is to be placed on the stories told of +ghosts and haunted houses. As Dutch Anna said: 'Evil men have +generally more to do with such stories than evil spirits, and, after +all, it is possible to give a certain gentleman and his agents more +than their due.' + + + +THE LOCKSMITH OF PHILADELPHIA. + +Some years ago, in the city of Philadelphia, there lived an ingenious +locksmith, named Amos Sparks. Skilled as a maker and repairer of +locks, he was particularly celebrated for his dexterity in opening +them, when it was necessary to do so in cases of emergency. Like many +men of talent in other departments, Amos Sparks was poor. Though a +very industrious and prudent man, with a small and frugal family, he +merely obtained a comfortable subsistence, but he never seemed to +accumulate property. Whether it was that he was not of the race of +money-makers, whose instinctive desire of accumulation forces them +to earn and hoard without a thought beyond the mere means of +acquisition--or whether the time occupied by the prosecution of new +inquiries into still undiscovered regions of his favourite pursuit, +and in conversation with those who came to inspect and admire the +fruits of his ingenuity, were the cause of his poverty, we cannot +undertake to determine--but perhaps various causes combined to keep +his finances low; and it was quite as notorious in the city that Amos +Sparks was a poor man, as that he was an ingenious mechanic. But his +business was sufficient for the supply of his wants and those of his +family, and so he studied and worked on, and was content. + +It happened that, in the autumn of 18--, a merchant in the city, +whose business was extensive, and who had been bustling about the +quay and on board his vessels all the morning, returned to his +counting-house to lodge several thousand dollars in the Philadelphia +bank, to renew some paper falling due that day; when, to his +surprise, he had either lost or mislaid the key of his iron chest. +After diligent search, with no success, he was led to conclude that, +in drawing out his handkerchief, he had dropped the key in the +street, or perhaps into the dock What was to be done? It was one +o'clock--the bank closed at three, and there was no time to advertise +the key, or to muster so large a sum of money as that required. In +his perplexity the merchant thought of the poor locksmith. He had +often heard of Amos Sparks; the case seemed one particularly adapted +to a trial of his powers, and being a desperate one, if he could not +furnish a remedy, where else were there reasonable expectations of +succour? A clerk was hurried off for Amos, and having explained the +difficulty, speedily reappeared, followed by the locksmith with his +implements in his hand. + +The job proved more difficult than had been anticipated, and, fearful +of losing credit by the delay, the merchant offered five dollars' +reward to Amos if he would open the chest in as many minutes. Amos +succeeded. The lock was picked, and the chest flew open. There the +merchant's treasures lay, but they were not yet in his possession. As +he enjoyed but a poor reputation for uprightness of dealing, Amos +could not trust to his promise of payment. Holding the lid in his +hand, he respectfully requested the sum which had been offered; and, +as he had expected, it was refused. A much less sum was meanly +proposed in its stead, on the plea that it was surely sufficient for +a few minutes' work. Amos was indignant and inexorable. The merchant +shuffled and fumed. In an instant down went the lid of the chest, +and, fastening by a spring, it was again locked as securely as +before. + +The merchant looked aghast at Amos, and then darted a glance at the +clock: the hand pointed to within twenty minutes of three, and seemed +posting over the figures with the speed of light. What was to be +done? At first he tried to bully, but it would not do. Amos told him, +if he had sustained any injury, he might sue as soon as he pleased, +for that his time was too precious just now to be wasted in trifling +affairs; and, with a face of unruffled composure, he turned on his +heel and was leaving the office. + +The merchant called him back--he had no alternative--his credit was +at stake--he was humbled by the necessity of the case; and handing +forth the five dollars, 'There, Sparks,' said he, 'take your money, +and let us have no more words.' + +'I must have ten dollars now,' replied the locksmith. 'You would have +taken advantage of a poor man; and, besides opening your strong box +there, I have a lesson to offer which is well worth a trifling sum. +You would not only have deprived me of what had been fairly earned, +but have tempted me into a lawsuit which would have ruined my family. +You will never in future presume upon your wealth in your dealings +with the poor, without thinking of the locksmith, and those five +dollars may save you much sin and much repentance.' + +This homily, besides being preached in a tone of calm determination, +which left no room to hope for any abatement, had exhausted another +minute or two of the time already so precious. The merchant hurriedly +counted out the ten dollars, which Amos deliberately inspected, to +see that they belonged to no insolvent bank, and then deposited them +in his pocket. Having thus made quite sure of his reward, he +dexterously opened the lock, and placed the merchant in possession of +his property, in time to save his credit at the bank. + +About a month after this affair, the Philadelphia bank was robbed of +coin and notes to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. The bars of a +window had been cut, and the vault entered so ingeniously, that it +was evident the burglar had possessed, besides daring courage, a good +deal of mechanical skill. The police scoured the city and country +round about, but no clue to the discovery of the robbery could be +traced. The public mind was powerfully excited. Everybody who had +anything to lose, felt that daring and ingenious felons were abroad, +who might probably pay them a visit; all were therefore interested in +the discovery and the conviction of the perpetrator of so daring a +deed. Suspicions at length began to settle on Sparks; but yet his +poverty and known integrity seemed to give them the lie. The story of +the iron chest, which the merchant had hitherto been ashamed, and +Amos too forgiving, to tell--for the latter did not care to set the +town laughing at the man who had wronged him--now began to be told. +The merchant, influenced by a vindictive spirit, had whispered it to +the directors of the bank, with sundry shrugs and innuendoes; and of +course it soon spread far and wide, with all sorts of exaggerated +variations and additions. Amos thought for several days that some of +his neighbours looked and acted rather oddly, and he missed one or +two who used to drop in and chat almost every afternoon; but not +suspecting for a moment that there was any cause for altered +behaviour, these matters made but a slight impression on his mind. +In all such cases, the person most interested is the last to hear +disagreeable news; and the first hint that the locksmith got of the +universal suspicion was from the officer of the police, who came with +a party of constables to search his premises. Astonishment and grief +were the portion of Amos and his family for that day. + +'Cheer up, my darlings,' said Amos, who was the first to recover the +sobriety of thought that usually characterised him--'cheer up--all +will yet he well; it is impossible that the unjust suspicion can long +hover about us. A life of honesty and fair-dealing will not be +without its reward. The real authors of this outrage will probably be +discovered soon, for a fraud so extensive will make all parties +vigilant; and if not, why, then, when our neighbours see us toiling +at our usual occupations, with no evidences of secret wealth or +lavish expenditure on our persons or at our board, and remember how +many years we have been so occupied and so attired, without a +suspicion of wrong-doing even in small matters attached to us, there +will be good-sense and good-feeling enough in the city to do us +justice.' + +There was sound sense and much consolation in this reasoning: the +obvious probabilities of the case were in favour of the fulfilment of +the locksmith's expectations. But a scene of trial and excitement--of +prolonged agony and hope deferred--lay before him, the extent of +which it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for him then +to have foreseen. Toiled in the search, the directors of the bank +sent one of their body to negotiate with Amos--to offer him a large +sum of money, and a guarantee from further molestation, if he would +confess, restore the property, and give up his accomplices, if any +there were. It was in vain that he protested his innocence, and +avowed his abhorrence of the crime. The banker rallied him on his +assumed composure, and threatened him with consequences; until the +locksmith, who had been unaccustomed to dialogues founded on the +presumption that he was a villain, ordered his tormentor out of his +shop, with the spirit of a man who, though poor, was resolved to +preserve his self-respect, and protect the sanctity of his dwelling +from impertinent and insulting intrusion. + +The banker retired, baffled, and threatening vengeance. A +consultation was held, and it was finally determined to arrest Sparks +and commit him to prison, in the hope that, by shutting him up, and +separating him from his family and accomplices, he would be less upon +his guard against the collection of evidence necessary to a +conviction, and perhaps be frightened into terms, or induced to make +a full confession. This was a severe blow to his family. The +privations forced upon them by the want of the locksmith's earnings +were borne without a murmur--and out of the little that could be +mustered, a portion was always reserved to buy some trifling but +unexpected comfort or luxury to carry to the prisoner. + +Some months having passed without Sparks having made any confession, +or the discovery of any new fact whereby his guilt might be +established, his prosecutors found themselves reluctantly compelled +to bring him to trial. They had not a tittle of evidence, except some +strange locks and implements found in the shop, and which proved the +talent, but not the guilt, of the mechanic. But these were so +various, and executed with such elaborate art, and such an evident +expenditure of labour, that but few, even of the judges, jury, or +spectators, could be persuaded that a man so poor would have devoted +himself so sedulously to such an employment, unless he had had some +other object in view than mere instruction or amusement. His friends +and neighbours gave him an excellent character; but on their +cross-examination, all admitted his entire devotion to his favourite +pursuit. The counsel for the banker exerted himself with considerable +ability. Calculating in some degree on the state of the public mind, +and upon the influence which vague rumours, coupled with the +evidences of the mechanic's handicraft exhibited in court, might +have on the mind of the jury, he dwelt upon every ward and +winding--on the story of the iron chest--on the evident poverty of +the locksmith, and yet his apparent waste of time--and asked if all +this work were not intended to insure success in some vast design? He +believed that a verdict would be immediately followed by a +confession, for he thought Amos guilty, and succeeded in making the +belief pretty general among his audience. Some of the jury were half +inclined to speculate on the probabilities of a confession, and, +swept away by the current of suspicion, were not indisposed to +convict without evidence, in order that the result might do credit to +their penetration; but this was impossible, even in an American court +of justice, in the good old times of which we write. Hanging persons +on suspicion, and acquitting felons because the mob think murder no +crime, are modern inventions. The charge of the judge was clear and +decisive. He admitted that there were grounds of suspicion--that +there were circumstances connected with the prisoner's peculiar mode +of life that were not reconcilable with the lowness of his finances; +but yet of direct testimony there was not a vestige, and of +circumstantial evidence there were not only links wanting in the +chain, but, in fact, there was not a single link extending beyond the +locksmith's dwelling. Sparks was accordingly acquitted; but as no +other clue was found to direct suspicion, it still lay upon him like +a cloud. The vindictive merchant and the dissatisfied bankers did not +hesitate to declare, that although the charge could not be legally +brought home, they had no doubt whatever of his guilt. This opinion +was taken up and reiterated, until thousands, who were too careless +to investigate the story, were satisfied that Amos Sparks was a +rogue. + +Amos rejoiced in his acquittal, as one who felt that the jury had +performed a solemn duty faithfully, and who was glad to find that his +present experience had strengthened rather than impaired his reliance +on the tribunals of his country. He embraced his family as one +snatched from great responsibility and peril; and yet Amos felt that +though acquitted by the jury, he was not by the town: he saw that in +the faces of some of the jury, and most of the audience, which he was +too shrewd an observer to misunderstand. He wished it were otherwise; +but he was contented to take his chance of some subsequent +revelation; and if it came not, of living down the foul suspicion. + +But Amos had never thought of how he was to live. The cold looks, +averted faces, and rude scandal of the neighbours, could be borne, +because really there was some excuse in the circumstances, and +because he hoped that there would be a joyful ending of it all at +some future day. But the loss of custom first opened his eyes to his +real situation. No work came to his shop; he made articles, but he +could not sell them; and as the little money he had saved was +necessarily exhausted in the unavoidable expense of the trial, the +family found it impossible, aided by the utmost exertion and economy, +to meet their current outlay. One article of furniture after another +was reluctantly sacrificed, or some little comfort abridged, until, +at the end of months of degradation and absolute distress, their bare +board was spread within bare walls, and it became necessary to beg, +to starve, or to remove. The latter expedient had often been +suggested in family consultations, and it is one that in America is +the common remedy for all great calamities. The Sparkses would have +removed, but they still clung to the hope that the real perpetrator +would he discovered, and the mystery cleared up; and, besides, they +thought it would he an acknowledgment of the justice of the general +suspicion if they turned their hacks and fled. They lived upon the +expectation of the renewed confidence and companionship of old +friends and neighbours, when Providence should deem it right to draw +the veil aside. At length, to live longer in Philadelphia became +impossible, and the whole family prepared to depart. Their effects +were easily transported, and as they had had no credit since the +arrest, there was nobody to prevent them from seeking a livelihood +elsewhere. + +Embarking in one of the river boats, they pushed up the Schuylkill, +and settled at Norristown. The whole family being industrious and +obliging, they soon began to gather little comforts around them; and +as these were not embittered by the cold looks and insulting sneers +of the neighbourhood, they were comparatively happy for a time. But +even here there was for them no permanent place of rest. A traveller +passing through Norristown, on his way from the capital to the Blue +Mountains, recognised Sparks, and told somebody he knew that he +wished the community joy of having added to the number of its +inhabitants the notorious locksmith of Philadelphia. The news soon +spread. The family found that they were shunned as they had formerly +been by those who had known them longer than the good people of +Norristown, and had a fair prospect of starvation opening before +them. They removed again. This time there was no inducement to +linger, for they had no local attachments to detain them. They +crossed the mountains, and, descending into the vale of the +Susquehanna, pitched their tent at Sunbury. Here the same temporary +success excited the same hopes, only to be blighted in the bud by the +breath of slander, which seemed so widely circulated as to leave them +hardly any asylum within the limits of the State. We need not +enumerate the different towns and villages in which they essayed to +gain a livelihood, and failed. They had nearly crossed the State in +its whole length, been driven from Pittsburg, and were slowly wending +their way further west, and were standing on the high ground +overlooking Middleton, as though doubtful if there was to be rest for +the soles of their feet even there. They hesitated to try a new +experiment. Sparks seated himself on a stone beneath a spreading +sycamore--his family clustered around him on the grass: they had +travelled far, and were weary, and, without speaking a word, as their +eyes met, and thinking of their prolonged sufferings and slender +hopes, they burst into a flood of tears, in which Sparks, burying his +face in the golden locks of the sweet girl who bowed her head upon +his knee, joined audibly. At length, wiping away his tears, and +checking the rising sobs that shook his manly bosom--'God's will be +done, my children,' said the locksmith; 'we cannot help weeping, but +let us not murmur. If we are to be wanderers and fugitives on the +earth, let us never lose sight of the promise which assures us of an +eternal refuge in a place where the wicked cease from troubling and +the weary are at rest. I was perhaps too proud of that skill of +mine--too apt to plume myself upon it, above others whose gifts had +been less abundant. My error has been that of wiser and greater men, +who have been made to feel that what we cherish as the means of +obtaining earthly blessings, sometimes turns out a curse.' + +To dissipate the gloom which hung over the whole party, and beguile +the half hour they intended to rest in that sweet spot, Mrs Sparks +drew out a Philadelphia newspaper which somebody had given her upon +the road, and called their attention to the deaths and marriages, +that they might see what changes were taking place in a city that +still interested them, though they were banished for ever from its +borders. She had hardly opened the paper when her eye glanced on an +article which she was too much excited to read. Amos, wondering at +the emotion displayed, gently disengaged the paper, and read: 'Bank +robber--Sparks not the man.' His own feelings were as powerfully +interested as those of his wife, but his nerves were stronger; and he +read out, to an audience whose ears devoured every syllable of the +glad tidings, an account of the conviction and execution of a wretch +in Albany, and who had confessed, among other daring and heinous +crimes, the robbery of the Philadelphia bank, accounting for the +disappearance of the property, and exonerating Sparks, whose face he +had never seen. These were tidings of great joy to the weary +wayfarers beneath the sycamore; their resolution to return to their +native city was formed at once, and before a week had passed, they +were slowly journeying to the capital of the State. + +Meanwhile, an extraordinary revulsion of feeling had taken place at +Philadelphia. Newspapers and other periodicals which had formerly +been loud in condemnation of the locksmith, now blazoned abroad the +robber's confession--wondered how any man could have been for a +moment suspected upon such evidence as was adduced on the +trial--drew pictures of the domestic felicity once enjoyed by the +Sparkses, and then painted--partly from what was known of the +reality, and partly from imagination--their sufferings, privations, +and wrongs in the pilgrimage they had performed in fleeing from an +unjust but damnatory accusation. The whole city rang with the story. +Old friends and neighbours, who had been the first to shun them, now +became the loud and vehement partisans of the family. The whole city +was anxious to know where they were. Some reported that they had +perished in the woods; others that they had been burned in a prairie, +which not a few believed; while another class averred that the +locksmith, driven to desperation, had first destroyed his family, and +then himself. All these stories of course created as much excitement +as the robbery of the bank had done before, only that this time the +tide set the other way; and when the poor locksmith and his family, +who had been driven like vagabonds from the city, approached its +suburbs, they were met, congratulated, and followed by thousands: in +fact, theirs was almost a triumphal entry. And as the public always +like to have a victim, Sparks was advised on all hands to bring an +action against the directors of the bank: large damages would, they +knew, be given, and the banker deserved to suffer for the causeless +ruin brought on a poor but industrious family. + +Sparks was reluctant to engage in any such proceeding. His character +was vindicated, his business restored. He occupied his own shop, and +his family were comfortable and content. But the current of public +opinion was too strong for him. All Philadelphia had determined that +the banker should suffer. An eminent lawyer volunteered to conduct +the suit, and make no charge if a liberal verdict were not obtained. +The locksmith pondered the matter well. His own wrongs he freely +forgave, but he thought that there had been a readiness to secure the +interests of a wealthy corporation by blasting the prospects of a +humble mechanic, which, for the good of society, ought not to pass +unrebuked. He felt that the moral effect of such a prosecution would +be salutary, teaching the rich not to presume too far upon their +affluence, and cheering the hearts of the poor while suffering +unmerited persecution. The suit was commenced, and urged to trial, +notwithstanding several attempts at compromise on the part of the +banker. The pleadings on both sides were able and ingenious; but the +counsel for the plaintiff had a theme worthy of the fine powers he +possessed. At the close of a pathetic and powerful declamation, the +audience, who had formerly condemned Amos in their hearts without +evidence, were melted to tears by the recital of his sufferings; and +when the jury returned with a verdict of ten thousand dollars damages +against the banker, the locksmith was honoured by a ride home on +their shoulders amidst a hurricane of cheers. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Young and Old, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR YOUNG AND OLD *** + +***** This file should be named 10454.txt or 10454.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/4/5/10454/ + +Produced by Roy Brown + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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