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diff --git a/old/mdcap10.txt b/old/mdcap10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dffe306 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mdcap10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12515 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Capitola The Madcap, by Emma D. E. N. Southworth +#X in our series by Emma D. E. N. Southworth + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Black Donald + XIV. Glory + XV. Cap Captivates a Craven + XVI. Cap's Rage + XVII. Capitola Caps the Climax + XVIII. Black Donald's Last Attempt + XIX. The Awful Peril of Capitola + XX. The Next Morning + XXI. A Fatal Hatred + XXII. The Court-Martial + XXIII. The Verdict + XXIV. The End of the War + XXV. The Fortunate Bath + XXVI. The Mysterious Maniac + XXVII. The Maniac's Story + XXVIII. End of the Lady's Story + XXIX. Prospects Brighten + XXX. Capitola a Capitalist + XXXI. "There shall be light at the eventide."--Holy Bible + + + + +CAPITOLA THE MADCAP + SEQUEL TO + THE HIDDEN HAND + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ORPHAN'S TRIAL + + + "We met ere yet the world had come + To wither up the springs of youth, + Amid the holy joys of home, + And in the first warm blush of youth. + We parted as they never part, + Whose tears are doomed to be forgot; + Oh, by what agony of heart. + Forget me not!--forget me not!" + + --Anonymous. + + +At nine o'clock the next morning Traverse went to the library to +keep his tryst with Colonel Le Noir. + +Seated in the doctor's leathern chair, with his head thrown back, +his nose erect and his white and jeweled hand caressing his +mustached chin, the colonel awaited the young man's communication. + +With a slight bow Traverse took a chair and drew it up to the table, +seated himself and, after a little hesitation, commenced, and in a +modest and self-respectful manner announced that he was charged with +the last verbal instructions from the doctor to the executor of his +will. + +Colonel Le Noir left off caressing his chin for an instant, and, +with a wave of his dainty hand, silently intimated that the young +man should proceed. + +Traverse then began and delivered the dying directions of the late +doctor, to the effect that his daughter Clara Day should not be +removed from the paternal mansion, but that she should be suffered +to remain there, retaining as a matronly companion her old friend +Mrs. Marah Rocke. + +"Umm! umm! very ingenious, upon my word!" commented the colonel, +still caressing his chin. + +"I have now delivered my whole message, sir, and have only to add +that I hope, for Miss Day's sake, there will be no difficulty thrown +in the way of the execution of her father's last wishes, which are +also, sir, very decidedly her own" said Traverse. + +"Umm! doubtless they are--and also yours and your worthy mother's." + +"Sir, Miss Day's will in this matter is certainly mine. Apart from +the consideration of her pleasure, my wishes need not be consulted. +As soon as I have seen Miss Day made comfortable I leave for the far +West," said Traverse, with much dignity. + +"Umm! and leave mama here to guard the golden prize until your +return, eh?" sneered the colonel. + +"Sir, I do not--wish to understand you," said Traverse with a +flushed brow. + +"Possibly not, my excellent young friend," said the colonel, +ironically; then, rising from his chair and elevating his voice, he +cried, "but I, sir, understand you and your mother and your pretty +scheme perfectly! Very ingenious invention, these 'last verbal +instructions.' Very pretty plan to entrap an heiress; but it shall +not avail you, adventurers that you are! This afternoon Sauter, the +confidential attorney of my late brother-in-law, will be here with +the will, which shall be read in the presence of the assembled +household. If these last verbal directions are also to be found +duplicated in the will, very good, they shall be obeyed; if they +not, shall be discredited." + +During this speech Traverse stood with kindling eyes and blazing +cheeks, scarcely able to master his indignation; yet, to his credit +be it spoken, he did "rule his own spirit" and replied with dignity +and calmness: + +"Colonel Le Noir, my testimony in regard to the last wishes of +Doctor Day can, if necessary, be supported by other evidence--though +I do not believe that any man who did not himself act in habitual +disregard of truth would wantonly question the veracity of another." + +"Sir! this to me!" exclaimed Le Noir, growing white with rage and +making a step toward the young man. + +"Yes, Colonel Le Noir, that to you! And this in addition; You have +presumed to charge my mother, in connection with myself, with being +an adventuress; with forming dishonorable 'schemes,' and in so +charging her, Colonel Le Noir, you utter a falsehood!" + +"Sirrah!" cried Le Noir, striding toward Traverse and raising his +hand over his head, with a fearful oath, "retract your words or--" + +Traverse calmly drew himself up, folded his arms and replied coolly: + +"I am no brawler, Colonel Le Noir; the pistol and the bowie-knife +are as strange to my hands as abusive epithets and profane language +are to my lips; nevertheless, instead of retracting my words, I +repeat and reiterate them. If you charge my mother with conspiracy +you utter a falsehood. As her son I am in duty bound to say as +much." + +"Villain!" gasped Le Noir, shaking his fist and choking with rage; +"villain! you shall repent this in every vein of your body!" + +Then, seizing his hat, he strode from the room. + +"Boaster!" said Traverse to himself, as he also left the library by +another door. + +Clara was waiting for him in the little parlor below. + +"Well, well, dear Traverse," she said, as he entered. "You have had +the explanation with my guardian, and--he makes no objection to +carrying out the last directions of my father and our own wishes--he +is willing to leave me here?" + +"My dear girl, Colonel Le Noir defers all decision until the reading +of the will, which is to take place this afternoon," said Traverse, +unwilling to add to her distress by recounting the disgraceful scene +that had just taken place in the library. + +"Oh! these delays! these delays! Heaven give me patience! Yet I do +not know why I should be so uneasy. It is only a form; of course he +will regard my father's wishes." + +"I do not see well how he can avoid doing so, especially as Doctor +Williams is another witness to them, and I shall request the +doctor's attendance here this afternoon. Dear Clara, keep up your +spirits! A few hours now and all will be well," said Traverse, as he +drew on his gloves and took his hat to go on his morning round of +calls. + +An early dinner was ordered, for the purpose of giving ample time in +the afternoon for the reading of the will. + +Owing to the kind forbearance of each member of this little family, +their meeting with their guest at the table was not so awkward as it +might have been rendered. Mrs. Rocke had concealed the insults that +had been offered her; Traverse had said nothing of the affronts put +upon him. So that each, having only their own private injuries to +resent, felt free in forbearing. Nothing but this sort of prudence +on the part of individuals rendered their meeting around one board +possible. + +While they were still at the table the attorney, Mr. Sauter, with +Doctors Williams and Dawson, arrived, and was shown into the +library. + +And very soon after the dessert was put upon the table the family +left it and, accompanied by Colonel Le Noir, adjourned to the +library. After the usual salutations they arranged themselves along +each side of an extension table, at the head of which the attorney +placed himself. + +In the midst of a profound silence the will was opened and read. It +was dated three years before. + +The bulk of his estate, after the paying a few legacies, was left to +his esteemed brother-in-law, Gabriel Le Noir, in trust for his only +daughter, Clara Day, until the latter should attain the age of +twenty-one, at which period she was to come into possession of the +property. Then followed the distribution of the legacies. Among the +rest the sum of a thousand dollars was left to his young friend +Traverse Rocke, and another thousand to his esteemed neighbor Marah +Rocke. Gabriel Le Noir was appointed sole executor of the will, +trustee of the property and guardian of the heiress. + +At the conclusion of the reading Mr. Sauter folded the document and +laid it upon the table. + +Colonel Le Noir arose and said: + +"The will of the late Doctor Day has been read in your presence. I +presume you all heard it, and that there can be no mistake as to its +purport. All that remains now is to act upon it. I shall claim the +usual privilege of twelve months before administering upon the +estate or paying the legacies. In the mean time, I shall assume the +charge of my ward's person, and convey her to my own residence, +known as the Hidden House. Mrs. Rocke," he said, turning toward the +latter, "your presence and that of your young charge is no longer +required here. Be so good as to prepare Miss Day's traveling trunks, +as we set out from this place to-morrow morning." + +Mrs. Rocke started, looked wistfully in the face of the speaker and, +seeing that he was in determined earnest, turned her appealing +glances toward Traverse and Doctor Williams. + +As for Clara, her face, previously blanched with grief, was now +flushed with indignation. In her sudden distress and perplexity she +knew not at once what to do--whether to utter a protest or continue +silent; whether to leave the room or remain. Her embarrassment was +perceived by Traverse, who, stooping, whispered to her: + +"Be calm, love; all shall be well. Doctor Williams is about to +speak." + +And at that moment, indeed, Doctor Williams arose and said: + +"I have, Colonel Le Noir to endorse a dying message from Doctor Day +entrusted to my young friend here to be delivered to you, to the +effect that it was his last desire and request that his daughter, +Miss Clara Day, should be permitted to reside during the term of her +minority in this her patrimonial home, under the care of her present +matronly friend, Mrs. Marah Rocke, Doctor Rocke and myself are here +to bear testimony to these, the last wishes of the departed, which +wishes, I believe, also express the desires of his heiress." + +"Oh, yes, yes!" said Clara, earnestly. "I do very much desire to +remain in my own home, among my old familiar friends. My dear father +only consulted my comfort and happiness when he left these +instructions." + +"There can be, therefore, no reason why Miss Day should be disturbed +in her present home," said Traverse. + +Colonel Le Noir smiled grimly, saying: + +"I am sorry, Doctor Williams, to differ with you or to distress Miss +Day. But if, as she says, her lamented father consulted her pleasure +in those last instructions, he certainly consulted nothing else--not +the proprieties of conventionalism, the opinion of the world, nor +the future welfare of his daughter. Therefore, as a man of Doctor +Day's high position and character in his sane moments never could +have made such a singular arrangement, I am forced to the conclusion +that he could not, at the time of giving those instructions, have +been in his right mind. Consequently, I cannot venture to act upon +any 'verbal instructions,' however well attested, but shall be +guided in every respect by the will, executed while yet the testator +was in sound body and mind." + +"Doctor Rocke and myself are both physicians competent to certify +that, at the time of leaving these directions, our respected friend +was perfectly sound in mind at least," said Doctor Williams. + +"That, sir, I repeat, I contest. And, acting upon the authority of +the will, I shall proceed to take charge of my ward as well as of +her estate. And as I think this house, under all the circumstances, +a very improper place for her to remain, I shall convey her without +delay to my own home. Mrs. Rocke, I believe I requested you to see +to the packing of Miss Day's trunks." + +"Oh, heaven! shall this wrong be permitted?" ejaculated Marah. + +"Mrs. Rocke, I will not go unless absolutely forced to do so by a +decree of the court. I shall get Doctor Williams to make an appeal +for me to the Orphans' Court," said Clara, by way of encouraging her +friend. + +"My dear Miss Day, that, I hope, will not be required. Colonel Le +Noir acts under a misapprehension of the circumstances. We must +enter into more explanations with him, In the mean time, my dear +young lady, it is better that you should obey him for the present, +at least so far as retiring from the room," said Doctor Williams. + +Clara immediately rose and, requesting Mrs. Rocke to accompany her, +withdrew from the library. + +Doctor Williams then said; + +"I advised the retirement of the young lady, having a communication +to make the hearing of which in a mixed company might have cost her +an innocent blush. But first I would ask you, Colonel Le Noir, what +are those circumstances to which you allude which render Miss Day's +residence here, in her patrimonial mansion, with her old and +faithful friends, so improper?" inquired Doctor Williams, +courteously. + +"The growing intimacy, sir, between herself and a very objectionable +party--this young man Rocke!" replied Colonel Le Noir. + +"Ah! and is that all?" + +"It is enough, sir," said Colonel Le Noir, loftily. + +"Then suppose I should inform you, sir, that this young man, Doctor +Rocke, was brought up and educated at Doctor Day's cost and under +his own immediate eye?" + +"Then, sir, you would only inform me that an eccentric gentleman of +fortune had done--what eccentric gentlemen of fortune will sometimes +do--educated a pauper." + +At this opprobrious epithet Traverse, with a flushed face, started +to his feet. + +"Sit down, my boy, sit down; leave me to deal with this man," said +Doctor Williams, forcing Traverse back into his seat. Then, turning +to Colonel Le Noir, he said: + +"But suppose, sir, that such was the estimation in which Doctor Day +held the moral and intellectual worth of his young protege that he +actually gave him his daughter?" + +"I cannot suppose an impossibility, Doctor Williams," replied +Colonel Le Noir, haughtily. + +"Then, sir, I have the pleasure of startling you a little by a +prodigy that you denominate an impossibility! Clara Day and Traverse +Rocke were betrothed with full knowledge and cordial approbation of +the young lady's father." + +"Impossible! preposterous! I shall countenance no such ridiculous +absurdity!" said Colonel Le Noir, growing red in the face. + +"Miss Day, Doctor Rocke, Mrs. Rocke, and myself are witnesses to +that fact." + +"The young lady, and the young man are parties immediately +concerned--they cannot be received as witnesses in their own case; +Mrs. Rocke is too much in their interest for her evidence to be +taken; you, sir, I consider the dupe of these cunning conspirators-- +mother and son," replied Colonel Le Noir, firmly. + +"Tut!" said Doctor Williams, almost out of patience. "I do not +depend upon the words of Miss Day and her friends, although I hold +their veracity to be above question; I had Doctor Day's dying words +to the same effect. And he mentioned the existing betrothal as the +very reason why Clara should remain here in the care of her future +mother-in-law." + +"Then, sir, that the doctor should have spoken and acted thus, is +only another and a stronger reason for believing him to have been +deranged in his last moments! You need give yourself no farther +trouble! I shall act upon the authority of this instrument which I +hold in my hand," replied Colonel Le Noir, haughtily. + +"Then, as the depository of the dying man's last wishes and as the +next friend of his injured daughter, I shall make an appeal to the +Orphans' Court," said Doctor Williams, coldly. + +"You can do as you please about that; but in the mean time, acting +upon the authority of the will, I shall to-morrow morning set out +with my ward for my own home." + +"There may be time to arrest that journey," said Doctor Williams, +arising and taking his hat to go. + +In the passage he met Mrs. Rocke. + +"Dear Doctor Williams," said Mrs. Rocke, earnestly, "pray come up to +poor Clara's room and speak to her, if you can possibly say anything +to comfort her; she is weeping herself into a fit of illness at the +bare thought of being, so soon after her dreadful bereavement, torn +away from her home and friends." + +"Tut! tut! no use in weeping! all will yet be right." + +"You have persuaded that man to permit her to remain here, then?" +said Marah, gladly. + +"Persuaded him! no, nor even undertaken to do so! I never saw him +before to-day, yet I would venture to say, from what I have now seen +of him, that he never was persuaded by any agent except his own +passions and interests, to any act whatever. No, I have endeavored +to show him that we have law as well as justice on our side, and +even now I am afraid I shall have to take the case before the +Orphans' Court before I can convince him. He purposes removing Clara +to-morrow morning. I will endeavor to see the Judge of the Orphans' +Court to-night, take out a habeas corpus, ordering Le Noir to bring +his ward into court, and serve it on him as he passes through +Staunton on his way home." + +"But is there no way of preventing him from taking Clara away from +the house to-morrow morning." + +"No good way. No, madam, it is best that all things should be done +decently and in order. I advise you, as I shall also advise my young +friends, Traverse and Clara, not to injure their own cause by unwise +impatience or opposition. We should go before the Orphans' Court +with the very best aspect." + +"Come, then, and talk to Clara. She has the most painful antipathy +to the man who claims the custody of her person, as well as the most +distressing reluctance to leaving her dear home and friends; and all +this, in addition to her recent heavy affliction, almost overwhelms +the poor child," said Mrs. Rocke, weeping. + +"I will go at once and do what I can to soothe her," said Doctor +Williams, following Mrs. Rocke, who led him up to Clara's room. + +They found her prostrate upon her bed, crushed with grief. + +"Come, come, my dear girl, this is too bad! It is not like the usual +noble fortitude of our Clara," said the old man, kindly taking her +hand. + +"Oh, Doctor, forgive--forgive me! but my courage must have been very +small, for I fear it is all gone. But then, indeed, everything comes +on me at once. My dear, dear father's death; then the approaching +departure and expected long absence of Traverse! All that was +grievous enough to bear; and now to be torn away from the home of my +childhood, and from the friend that has always been a mother to me, +and by a man, from whom every true, good instinct of my nature +teaches me to shrink. I, who have always had full liberty in the +house of my dear father, to be forced away against my will by this +man, as if I were his slave!" exclaimed Clara, bursting into fresh +tears of indignation and grief. + +"Clara, my dear, dear girl, this impatience and rebellion is so +unlike your gentle nature that I can scarcely recognize you for the +mild and dignified daughter of my old friend. Clara, if the saints +in heaven could grieve at anything, I should think your dear father +would be grieved to see you thus!" said the old man in gentle rebuke +that immediately took effect upon the meek and conscientious maiden. + +"Oh! I feel--I feel that I am doing very wrong, but I cannot help +it. I scarcely know myself in this agony of mingled grief, +indignation and terror--yes, terror--for every instinct of my nature +teaches me to distrust and fear that man, in whom my father must +have been greatly deceived before he could have entrusted him with +the guardianship of his only child." + +"I think that quite likely," said the old man; "yet, my dear, even +in respect to your dear father's memory, you must try to bear this +trial patiently." + +"Oh, yes, I know I must. Dear father, if you can look down and see +me now, forgive your poor Clara, her anger and her impatience. She +will try to be worthy of the rearing you have given her and to bear +even this great trial with the spirit worthy of your daughter!" said +Clara within her own heart; then, speaking up, she said: "You shall +have no more reason to reprove me, Doctor Williams." + +"That is my brave girl! That is my dear Clara Day! And now, when +your guardian directs you to prepare yourself for your journey, obey +him--go with him without making any objection. I purpose to arrest +your journey at Staunton with a habeas corpus that he dare not +resist, and which shall compel him to bring you into the Orphans' +Court. There our side shall be heard, and the decision will rest +with the judge." + +"And all will be well! Oh, say that, sir! to give me the courage to +act with becoming docility," pleaded Clara. + +"I have not a doubt in this world that it will all be right, for, +however Colonel Le Noir may choose to disregard the last wishes of +your father, as attested by myself and young Rocke, I have not the +least idea that the judge will pass them over. On the contrary, I +feel persuaded that he will confirm them by sending you back here to +your beloved home." + +"Oh, may heaven grant it!" said Clara. "You do, indeed, give me new +life." + +"Yes, yes, be cheerful, my dear; trust in Providence and expect +nothing short of the best! And now I dare not tarry longer with you, +for I must see the Judge at his house this night. Good-by, my dear; +keep up a good heart!" said the old man, cheerfully, pressing her +hand and taking his leave. + +Mrs. Rocke accompanied him to the hall door. + +"My dear madam, keep up your spirits also for the sake of your young +charge! Make her go to bed early! To-morrow, when she thinks she is +about to be torn from you forever, remind her in her ear that I +shall meet the carriage at Staunton with a power that shall turn the +horses' heads." + +And so saying, the worthy old gentleman departed. + +As Marah Rocke looked after him, she also saw with alarm that +Colonel Le Noir had mounted his horse and galloped off in the +direction of Staunton, as if impelled by the most urgent haste. + +She returned to the bedside of Clara, and left her no more that +night. As the colonel did not return to supper, they, the family +party, had their tea in Clara's room. + +Late at night Mrs. Rocke heard Colonel Le Noir come into the house +and enter his chamber. + +Poor Clara slept no more that night; anxiety, despite of all her +efforts, kept her wide awake. Yet, though anxious and wakeful, yet +by prayer and endeavor she had brought her mind into a patient and +submissive mood, so that when a servant knocked at her door in the +morning with a message from Colonel Le Noir that she should be ready +to set forth immediately after breakfast, she replied that she +should obey him, and without delay she arose and commenced her +toilet. + +All the family met for the last time around the board. The party was +constrained. The meal was a gloomy one. On rising from the table +Colonel Le Noir informed his ward that his traveling carriage was +waiting, and that her baggage was already on, and requested her to +put on her bonnet and mantle, and take leave of her servants. + +Clara turned to obey--Traverse went to her side and whispered: + +"Take courage, dear love. My horse is saddled. I shall ride in +attendance upon the carriage whether that man likes it or not; nor +lose sight of you for one moment until we meet Williams with his +habeas corpus." + +"Nor even then, dear Traverse, nor even then! You will attend me to +the court and be ready to take me back to this dear, dear home!" +murmured Clara in reply. + +"Yes, yes, dear girl! There, be cheerful," whispered the young man, +as he pressed her hand and released it. + +Colonel Le Noir had been a silent but frowning spectator of this +little scene, and now that Clara was leaving the room, attended by +Mrs. Rocke, he called the latter back, saying: + +"You will be so kind as to stop here a moment, Mrs. Rocke and you +also, young man." + +The mother and son paused to hear what he should have to say. + +"I believe it is the custom here in discharging domestics to give a +month's warning, or in lieu of that, to pay a month's wages in +advance. There, woman, is the money. You will oblige me by leaving +the house to-day, together with your son and all your other +trumpery, as the premises are put in charge of an agent, who will be +here this afternoon, clothed with authority to eject all loiterers +and intruders." + +While the colonel spoke Marah Rocke gazed at him in a panic from +which she seemed unable to rouse herself, until Traverse gravely +took her hand, saying: + +"My dear mother, let me conduct you from the presence of this man, +who does not know how to behave himself toward women. Leave me to +talk with him, and do you, dear mother, go to Miss Day, who I know +is waiting for you." + +Marah Rocke mechanically complied and allowed Traverse to lead her +from the room. + +When he returned he went up to Colonel Le Noir, and, standing before +him and looking him full and sternly in the face, said, as sternly: + +"Colonel Le Noir, my mother will remain here and abide the decision +of the Orphans' Court; until that has been pronounced, she does not +stir at your or any man's bidding!" + +"Villain, out of my way!" sneered Le Noir, endeavoring to pass him. + +Traverse prevented him, saying: + +"Sir, in consideration of your age, which should be venerable, your +position which should prove you honorable, and of this sacred house +of mourning in which you stand, I have endeavored to meet all the +insults you have offered me with forbearance. But, sir, I am here to +defend my mother's rights and to protect her from insult! And I tell +you plainly that you have affronted her for the very last time! One +more word or look of insult leveled at Marah Rocke and neither your +age, position nor this sacred roof shall protect you from personal +chastisement at the hands of her son!" + +Le Noir, who had listened in angry scorn, with many an ejaculation +of contempt, now at the conclusion which so galled his pride, broke +out furiously, with: + +"Sir, you are a bully! If you were a gentleman I would call you +out!" + +"And I should not come if you did, sir! Dueling is unchristian, +barbarous and abominable in the sight of God and all good men. For +the rest you may call me anything you please; but do not again +insult my mother, for if you do I shall hold it a Christian duty to +teach you better manners," said Traverse, coolly taking his hat and +walking from the room. He mounted his horse and stood ready to +attend Clara to Staunton. + +Colonel Le Noir ground his teeth in impotent rage, muttering; + +"Take care, young man! I shall live to be revenged upon you yet for +these affronts!" and his dastard heart burned with the fiercer +malignity that he had not dared to meet the eagle eye, or encounter +the strong arm of the upright and stalwart young man. Gnashing his +teeth with ill-suppressed fury, he strode into the hall just as Mrs. +Rocke and Clara, in her traveling dress, descended the stairs. + +Clara threw her arms around Mrs. Rocke's neck, and, weeping, said: + +"Good-by, dear, best friend--good-by! Heaven grant it may not be for +long! Oh, pray for me, that I may be sent back to you!" + +"May the Lord have you in His holy keeping, my child I shall pray +until I hear from you!" said Marah, kissing and releasing her. + +Colonel Le Noir then took her by the hand, led her out, and put her +into the carriage. + +Just before entering Clara had turned to take a last look at her old +home--all, friends and servants, noticed the sorrowful, anxious, +almost despairing look of her pale face, which seemed to ask: + +"Ah, shall I ever, ever return to you, dear old home, and dear, +familiar friends?" + +In another instant she had disappeared within the carriage, which +immediately rolled off. + +As the carriage was heavily laden, and the road was in a very bad +condition, it was a full hour before they reached the town of +Staunton. As the carriage drew up for a few moments before the door +of the principal hotel, and Colonel Le Noir was in the act of +stepping out, a sheriff's officer, accompanied by Dr. Williams, +approached, and served upon the colonel a writ of habeas corpus, +commanding him to bring his ward, Clara Day, into court. + +Colonel Le Noir laughed scornfully, saying: + +"And do any of you imagine this will serve your purposes? Ha, ha! +The most that it can do will be to delay my journey for a few hours +until the decision of the judge, which will only serve to confirm my +authority beyond all future possibility of questioning," + +"We will see to that," said Doctor Williams. + +"Drive to the Court House!" ordered Colonel Le Noir. + +And the carriage, attended by Traverse Rocke, Doctor Williams and +the Sheriff's officer, each on horseback, drove thither. + +And now, reader, I will not trouble you with a detailed account of +this trial. Clara, clothed in deep mourning, and looking pale and +terrified, was led into the court room on the arm of her guardian. +She was followed closely by her friends, Traverse Rocke and Doctor +Williams, each of whom whispered encouraging words to the orphan. + +As the court had no pressing business on its hands, the case was +immediately taken up, the will was read and attested by the attorney +who had drawn it up and the witnesses who had signed it. Then the +evidence of Doctor Williams and Doctor Rocke was taken concerning +the last verbal instruction of the deceased. The case occupied about +three hours, at the end of which the judge gave a decision in favor +of Colonel Le Noir. + +This judgment carried consternation to the heart of Clara and of all +her friends. + +Clara herself sank fainting in the arms of her old friend, the +venerable Doctor Williams. + +Traverse, in bitterness of spirit, approached and bent over her. + +Colonel Le Noir spoke to the judge. + +"I deeply thank your honor for the prompt hearing and equally prompt +decision of this case, and I will beg your honor to order the +Sheriff and his officers to see your judgment carried into effect, +as I foresee violent opposition, and wish to prevent trouble." + +"Certainly. Mr. Sheriff, you will see that Colonel Le Noir is put in +possession of his ward, and protected in that right until he shall +have placed her in security," said the judge. + +Clara, on hearing these words, lifted her head from the old man's +bosom, nerved her gentle heart, and in a clear, sweet, steady voice +said: + +"It is needless precaution, your honor; my friends are no law- +breakers, and since the court has given me into the custody of my +guardian, I do not dispute its judgment. I yield myself up to +Colonel Le Noir." + +"You do well, young lady," said the judge. + +"I am pleased, Miss Day, to see that you understand and perform your +duty; believe me, I shall do all that I can to make you happy," said +Colonel Le Noir. + +Clara replied by a gentle nod, and then, with a slight blush +mantling her pure cheeks she advanced a step and placed herself +immediately in front of the judge, saying: + +"But there is a word that I would speak to your honor." + +"Say on, young lady," said the judge. + +And as she stood there in her deep mourning dress, with her fair +hair unbound and floating softly around her pale, sweet face, every +eye in that court was spellbound by her almost unearthly beauty. +Before proceeding with what she was about to say, she turned upon +Traverse a look that brought him immediately to her side. + +"Your honor," she began, in a low, sweet, clear tone, "I owe it to +Doctor Rocke here present, who has been sadly misrepresented to you, +to say (what, under less serious circumstances, my girl's heart +would shrink from avowing so publicly) that I am his betrothed wife- +-sacredly betrothed to him by almost the last act of my dear +father's life. I hold this engagement to be so holy that no earthly +tribunal can break or disturb it. And while I bend to your honor's +decision, and yield myself to the custody of my legal guardian for +the period of my minority, I here declare to all who may be +interested, that I hold my hand and heart irrevocably pledged to +Doctor Rocke, and that, as his betrothed wife, I shall consider +myself bound to correspond with him regularly, and to receive him as +often as he shall seek my society, until my majority, when I and all +that I possess will become his own. And these words I force myself +to speak, your honor, both in justice to my dear lost father and his +friend, Traverse Rocke, and also to myself, that hereafter no one +may venture to accuse me of clandestine proceedings, or distort my +actions into improprieties, or in any manner call in question the +conduct of my father's daughter." And, with another gentle bow, +Clara retired to the side of her old friend. + +"You are likely to have a troublesome charge in your ward," said the +sheriff apart to the colonel, who shrugged his shoulders by way of +reply. + +The heart of Traverse was torn by many conflicting passions, +emotions and impulses; there was indignation at the decision of the +court; grief for the loss of Clara, and dread for her future! + +One instant he felt a temptation to denounce the guardian as a +villain and to charge the judge with being a corrupt politician, +whose decisions were swayed by party interests! + +The next moment he felt an impulse to catch Clara up in his arms, +fight his way through the crowd and carry her off! But all these +wild emotions, passions and impulses he succeeded in controlling. + +Too well he knew that to rage, do violence, or commit extravagance +as he might, the law would take its course all the same. + +While his heart was torn in this manner, Colonel Le Noir was urging +the departure of his ward. And Clara came to her lover's side and +said, gravely and sweetly: + +"The law, you see, has decided against us, dear Traverse! Let us +bend gracefully to a decree that we cannot annul! It cannot, at +least, alter our sacred relations; nor can anything on earth shake +our steadfast faith in each other; let us take comfort in that, and +in the thought that the years will surely roll round at length and +bring the time that shall reunite us." + +"Oh, my angel-girl! My angel-girl! Your patient heroism puts me to +the blush, for my heart is crushed in my bosom and my firmness quite +gone!" said Traverse, in a broken voice. + +"You will gain firmness, dear Traverse. 'Patient!' I patient! You +should have heard me last night! I was so impatient that Doctor +Williams had to lecture me. But it would be strange if one did not +learn something by suffering. I have been trying all night and day +to school my heart to submission, and I hope I have succeeded, +Traverse. Bless me and bid me good-by." + +"The Lord forever bless and keep you, my own dear angel, Clara!" +burst from the lips of Traverse. "The Lord abundantly bless you!" + +"And you," said Clara. + +"Good-by!--good-by!" + +"Good-by!" + +And thus they parted. + +Clara was hurried away and put into the carriage by her guardian. + +Ah, no one but the Lord knew how much it had-cost that poor girl to +maintain her fortitude during that trying scene. She had controlled +herself for the sake of her friends. But now, when she found herself +in the carriage, her long strained nerves gave way--she sank +exhausted and prostrated into the corner of her seat, in the utter +collapse of woe! + +But leaving the travelers to pursue their journey, we must go back +to Traverse. + +Almost broken-hearted, Traverse returned to Willow Heights to convey +the sad tidings of his disappointment to his mother's ear. + +Marah Rocke was so overwhelmed with grief at the news that she was +for several hours incapable of action. + +The arrival of the house agent was the first event that recalled her +to her senses. + +She aroused herself to action, and, assisted by Traverse, set to +work to pack up her own and his wardrobe and other personal effects. + +And the next morning Marah Rocke was re-established in her cottage. + +And the next week, having equally divided their little capital, the +mother and son parted--Traverse, by her express desire, keeping to +his original plan, set out for the far West. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OLD HURRICANE STORMS. + + + "At this sir knight flamed up with ire! + His great chest heaved! his eyes flashed fire. + The crimson that suffused his face + To deepest purple now gave place." + + +Who can describe the frenzy of Old Hurricane upon discovering the +fraud that had been practised upon him by Black Donald? + +It was told him the next morning in his tent, at his breakfast +table, in the presence of his assembled family, by the Rev Mr. +Goodwin. + +Upon first hearing it, he was incapable of anything but blank +staring, until it seemed as though his eyes must start from their +sockets! + +Then his passion, "not loud but deep," found utterance only in +emphatic thumps of his walking stick upon the ground! + +Then, as the huge emotion worked upward, it broke out in grunts, +groans and inarticulate exclamations! + +Finally it burst forth as follows: + +"Ugh! ugh! ugh! Fool! dolt! blockhead! Brute that I've been! I wish +somebody would punch my wooden head! I didn't think the demon +himself could have deceived me so! Ugh! Nobody but the demon could +have done it! and he is the demon! The very demon himself! He does +not disguise--he transforms himself! Ugh! ugh! ugh! that I should +have been such a donkey!" + +"Sir, compose yourself! We are all liable to suffer deception," said +Mr. Goodwin. + +"Sir," broke forth Old Hurricane, in fury, "that wretch has eaten at +my table! Has drunk wine with me!! Has slept in my bed!!! Ugh! ugh!! +ugh!!!" + +"Believing him to be what he seemed, sir, you extended to him the +rights of hospitality; you have nothing to blame yourself with!" + +"Demmy, sir, I did more than that! I've coddled him up with +negusses! I've pampered him up with possets and put him to sleep in +my own bed! Yes, sir--and more! Look there at Mrs. Condiment, sir! +The way in which she worshiped that villain was a sight to behold!" +said Old Hurricane, jumping up and stamping around the tent in fury. + +"Oh, Mr. Goodwin, sir, how could I help it when I thought he was +such a precious saint?" whimpered the old lady. + +"Yes, sir! when 'his reverence' would be tired with delivering a +long-winded mid-day discourse, Mrs. Condiment, sir, would take him +into her own tent--make him lie down on her own sacred cot, and set +my niece to bathing his head with cologne and her maid to fanning +him, while she herself prepared an iced sherry cobbler for his +reverence! Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Mrs. Condiment, mum!" +said Old Hurricane, suddenly stopping before the poor old woman, in +angry scorn. + +"Indeed, I'm sure if I'd known it was Black Donald, I'd no more have +suffered him inside of my tent than I would Satan!" + +"Demmy, mum, you had Satan there as well! Who but Satan could have +tempted you all to disregard me, your lawful lord and master, as you +every one of you did for that wretch's sake! Hang it, parson, I +wasn't the master of my own house, nor head of my own family! +Precious Father Gray was! Black Donald was! Oh, you shall hear!" +cried Old Hurricane, in a frenzy. + +"Pray, sir, be patient and do not blame the women for being no wiser +than you were yourself," said Mr. Goodwin. + +"Tah! tah! tah! One act of folly is a contingency to which any man +may for once in his life be liable; but folly is the women's normal +condition! You shall hear! You shall hear! Hang it, sir, everybody +had to give way to Father Gray! Everything was for Father Gray! +Precious Father Gray! Excellent Father Gray! Saintly Father Gray! It +was Father Gray here and Father Gray there, and Father Gray +everywhere and always! He ate with us all day and slept with us all +night! The coolest cot in the dryest nook of the tent at night--the +shadiest seat at the table by day--were always for his reverence! +The nicest tit-bits of the choicest dishes--the middle slices of the +fish, the breast of the young ducks, and the wings of the chickens, +the mealiest potatoes, the juiciest tomatoes, the tenderest roasting +ear, the most delicate custard, and freshest fruit always for his +reverence! I had to put up with the necks of poultry, and the tails +of fishes, watery potatoes, specked apples and scorched custards-- +and if I dared to touch anything better before his precious +reverence had eaten and was filled, Mrs. Condiment there--would look +as sour as if she had bitten an unripe lemon--and Cap would tread on +my gouty toe! Mrs. Condiment, mum, I don't know how you can look me +in the face!" said Old Hurricane, savagely. A very unnecessary +reproach, since poor Mrs. Condiment had not ventured to look any one +in the face since the discovery of the fraud of which she, as well +as others, had been an innocent victim. + +"Come, come, my dear major, there is no harm done to you or your +family; therefore, take patience!" said Mr. Goodwin. + +"Demmy, sir, I beg you pardon, parson, I won't take patience! You +don't know! Hang it, man, at last they got me to give up one-half of +my own blessed bed to his precious reverence--the best half which +the fellow always took right out of the middle, leaving me to sleep +on both sides of him, if I could! Think of it--me, Ira Warfield-- +sleeping between the sheets--night after night--with Black Donald! +Ugh! ugh! ugh! Oh, for some lethean draught that I might drink and +forget! Sir, I won't be patient! Patience would be a sin! Mrs. +Condiment, mum, I desire that you will send in your account and +supply yourself with a new situation! You and I cannot agree any +longer. You'll be putting me to bed with Beelzebub next!" exclaimed +Old Hurricane, besides himself with indignation. + +Mrs. Condiment sighed and wiped her eyes under her spectacles. + +The worthy minister, now seriously alarmed, came to him and said: + +"My dear, dear major, do not be unjust--consider. She is an old +faithful domestic, who has been in your service forty years--whom +you could not live without! I say it under advisement--whom you +could not live without!" + +"Hang it, sir, nor live with! Think of her helping to free the +prisoners! Actually taking Black Donald--precious Father Gray!--into +their cell and leaving them together to hatch their--beg you pardon- +-horrid plots!" + +"But, sir, instead of punishing the innocent victim of his +deception, let us be merciful and thank the Lord, that since those +men were delivered from prison, they were freed without bloodshed; +for remember that neither the warden nor any of his men, nor any one +else has been personally injured," + +"Hang it, sir, I wish they had cut all our throats to teach us more +discretion!" broke forth Old Hurricane. + +"I am afraid that the lesson so taught would have come too late to +be useful!" smiled the pastor. + +"Well, it hasn't come too late now! Mrs. Condiment, mum, mind what I +tell you! As soon as we return to Hurricane Hall, send in your +accounts and seek a new home! I am not going to suffer myself to be +set at naught any longer!" exclaimed Old Hurricane, bringing down +his cane with an emphatic thump. + +The sorely troubled minister was again about to interfere, when, as +the worm if trodden upon, will turn, Mrs. Condiment herself spoke +up, saying: + +"Lor, Major Warfield, sir, there were others deceived besides me, +and as for myself, I never can think of the risk I've run without +growing cold all over!" + +"Serves you right, mum, for your officiousness, and obsequiousness +and toadying to--precious Mr. Gray!--serves you doubly right for +famishing me at my own table!" + +"Uncle!" said Capitola, "'Honor bright! Fair play is a jewel! If you +and I, who have seen Black Donald before, failed to recognize that +stalwart athlete in a seemingly old and sickly man, how could you +expect Mrs. Condiment to do so, who never saw him but once in her +life, and then was so much frightened that she instantly fainted?" + +"Pah! pah! pah! Cap, hush! You, all of you, disgust me, except Black +Donald! I begin to respect him! Confound if I don't take in all the +offers I have made for his apprehension, and at the very next +convention of our party I'll nominate him to represent us in the +National Congress; for, of all the fools that ever I have met in my +life, the people of this county are the greatest! And fools should +at least be represented by one clever man--and Black Donald is the +very fellow! He is decidedly the ablest man in this congressional +district." + +"Except yourself, dear uncle!" said Capitola. + +"Except nobody, Miss Impudence!--least of all me! The experience of +the last week has convinced me that I ought to have a cap and bells +awarded me by public acclamation!" said Old Hurricane, stamping +about in fury. + +The good minister finding that he could make no sort of impression +upon the irate old man, soon took his leave, telling Mrs. Condiment +that if he could be of any service to her in her trouble she must be +sure to let him know. + +At this Capitola and Mrs. Condiment exchanged looks, and the old +lady, thanking him for his kindness, said that if it should become +necessary, she should gratefully avail herself of it. + +That day the camp meeting broke up. + +Major Warfield struck tents and with his family and baggage returned +to Hurricane Hall. + +On their arrival, each member of the party went about his or her own +particular business. + +Capitola hurried to her own room to take off her bonnet and shawl. +Pitapat, before attending her young mistress, lingered below to +astonish the housemaids with accounts of "Brack Donel, dress up like +an ole parson, an' 'ceiving everybody, even ole Marse!" + +Mrs. Condiment went to her store room to inspect the condition of +her newly put up preserves and pickles, lest any of them should have +"worked" during her absence. + +And Old Hurricane, attended by Wool, walked down to his kennels and +his stables to look after the well-being of his favorite hounds and +horses. It was while going through this interesting investigation +that Major Warfield was informed--principally by overhearing the +gossip of the grooms with Wool--of the appearance of a new inmate of +the Hidden House--a young girl, who, according to their description, +must have been the very pearl of beauty. + +Old Hurricane pricked up his ears! Anything relating to the "Hidden +House" possessed immense interest for him. + +"Who is she, John?" he inquired of the groom. + +"Deed I dunno, sir, only they say she's a bootiful young creature, +fair as any lily, and dressed in deep mourning." + +"Humph! humph! humph! another victim! Ten thousand chances to one, +another victim! who told you this, John?" + +"Why, Marse, you see Tom Griffith, the Rev. Mr. Goodwill's man, he's +very thick long of Davy Hughs, Colonel Le Noir's coachman. And Davy +he told Tom how one day last month his marse ordered the carriage, +and went two or three days' journey up the country beyant Staunton, +there he stayed a week and then came home, fetching along with him +in the carriage this lovely young lady, who was dressed in the +deepest mourning, and wept all the way. They 'spects how she's an +orphan, and has lost all her friends, by the way she takes on." + +"Another victim! My life on it--another victim! Poor child! She had +better be dead than in the power of that atrocious villain and +consummate hypocrite!" said Old Hurricane, passing on to the +examination of his favorite horses, one of which, the swiftest in +the stud, he found galled on the shoulders. Whereupon he flew into a +towering passion, abusing his unfortunate groom by every opprobrious +epithet blind fury could suggest, ordering him, as he valued whole +bones, to vacate the stable instantly, and never dare to set foot on +his premises again as he valued his life, an order which the man +meekly accepted and immediately disobeyed, muttered to himself: + +"Humph! If we took ole marse at his word, there'd never be man or +'oman left on the 'state," knowing full well that his tempestuous +old master would probably forget all about it, as soon as he got +comfortably seated at the supper table of Hurricane Hall, toward +which the old man now trotted off. + +Not a word did Major Warfield say at supper in regard to the new +inmate of the Hidden House, for he had particular reasons for +keeping Cap in ignorance of a neighbor, lest she should insist upon +exchanging visits and being "sociable." + +But it was destined that Capitola should not remain a day in +ignorance of the interesting fact. + +That night, when she retired to her chamber, Pitapat lingered +behind, but presently appeared at her young mistress's room door +with a large waiter on her head, laden with meat, pastry, jelly and +fruit, which she brought in and placed upon the work stand. + +"Why, what on the face of earth do you mean by bringing all that +load of victuals into my room to-night? Do you think I am an ostrich +or a cormorant, or that I am going to entertain a party of friends?" +asked Capitola, in astonishment, turning from the wash stand, where +she stood bathing her face. + +"'Deed I dunno, Miss, whedder you'se an ostrizant or not, but I +knows I don't 'tend for to be 'bused any more 'bout wittels, arter +findin' out how cross empty people can be! Dar dey is! You can eat +um or leab um alone, Miss Caterpillar!" said little Pitapat, firmly. + +Capitola laughed, "Patty" she said, "you are worthy to be called my +waiting maid!" + +"And Lors knows, Miss Caterpillar, if it was de wittels you was a- +frettin' arter, you ought to a-told me before! Lors knows dere's +wittels enough!" + +"Yes, I'm much obliged to you, Patty, but now I am not hungry, and I +do not like the smell of food in my bedroom,, so take the waiter out +and set it on the passage table until morning." + +Patty obeyed, and came back smiling and saying: + +"Miss Caterpillar, has you hern de news?" + +"What news, Pat?" + +"How us has got a new neighbor--a bootiful young gal--as bootiful as +a picter in a gilt-edged Christmas book--wid a snowy skin, and sky- +blue eyes and glistenin' goldy hair, like the princess you was a +readin' me about, all in deep mournin' and a weepin' and a weepin' +all alone down there in that wicked, lonesome, onlawful ole haunted +place, the Hidden House, along of old Colonel Le Noir and old Dorkey +Knight, and the ghost as draws people's curtains of a night, just +for all de worl' like dat same princess in de ogre's castle!" + +"What on earth is all this rigmarole about? Are you dreaming or +romancing?" + +"I'm a-telling on you de bressed trufe! Dere's a young lady a-livin' +at de Hidden House!" + +"Eh? Is that really true, Patty?" + +"True as preaching, miss." + +"Then, I am very glad of it! I shall certainly ride over and call on +the stranger," said Capitola, gaily. + +"Oh, Miss Cap! Oh, miss, don't you do no sich thing! Ole Marse kill +me! I heerd him t'reaten all de men and maids how if dey telled you +anything 'bout de new neighbor, how he'd skin dem alive!" + +"Won't he skin you?" asked Cap. + +"No, miss, not 'less you 'form ag'in me, 'case he 'didn't tell me +not to tell you, 'case you see he didn't think how I knowed! But, +leastways, I know from what I heard, ole marse wouldn't have you to +know nothin' about it, no, not for de whole worl'." + +"He does not want me to call at the Hidden House! That's it! Now why +doesn't he wish me to call there? I shall have to go in order to +find out, and so I will," thought Cap + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +CAP'S VISIT TO THE HIDDEN HOUSE + + + And such a night "she" took the road in + As ne'er poor sinner was abroad in. + The wind blew as 'twad blawn its last + The rattling showers rose on the blast; + The speedy gleams the darkness swallowed + Loud, deep and long the thunder bellowed; + That night a child might understand + The de'il had business on his hand. + + --BURNS. + + +A week passed before Capitola carried her resolution of calling upon +the inmate of the Hidden House into effect. It was in fact a hot, +dry, oppressive season, the last few days of August, when all +people, even the restless Capitola, preferred the coolness and +repose of indoors. But that she should stay at home more than a week +was a moral and physical impossibility. So on Thursday afternoon, +when Major Warfield set out on horseback to visit his mill, Capitola +ordered her horse saddled and brought up that she might take an +afternoon's ride. + +"Now please, my dear child, don't go far," said Mrs. Condiment, "for +besides that your uncle does not approve of your riding alone, you +must hurry back to avoid the storm." + +"Storm, Mrs. Condiment, why bless your dear old heart, there has not +been a storm these four weeks!" said Capitola, almost indignant that +such an absurd objection to a long ride should be raised. + +"The more reason, my child, that we should have a very severe one +when it does come, and I think it will be upon us before sunset; so +I advise you to hurry home." + +"Why, Mrs. Condiment, there's not a cloud in the sky." + +"So much the worse, my dear! The blackest cloud that ever gathered +is not so ominous of mischief as this dull, coppery sky and still +atmosphere! And if forty years' observation of weather signs goes +for anything, I tell you that we are going to have the awfulest +storm that ever gathered in the heavens! Why, look out of that +window--the very birds and beasts know it, and instinctively seek +shelter--look at that flock of crows flying home! See how the dumb +beasts come trooping toward their sheds! Capitola, you had better +give up going altogether, my dear! " + +"There! I thought all this talk tended to keeping me within doors, +but I can't stay, Mrs. Condiment! Good Mrs. Condiment, I can't!" + +"But, my dear, if you should be caught out in the storm!" + +"Why, I don't know but I should like it! What harm could it do? I'm +not soluble in water--rain won't melt me away! I think upon the +whole I rather prefer being caught in the storm," said Cap, +perversely. + +"Well, well, there is no need of that! You may ride as far as the +river's bank and back again in time to escape, if you choose!" said +Mrs. Condiment, who saw that her troublesome charge was bent upon +the frolic. + +And Cap, seeing her horse approach, led by one of the grooms, ran +up-stairs, donned her riding habit, hat and gloves, ran down again, +sprang into her saddle and was off, galloping away toward the river +before Mrs. Condiment could add another word of warning. + +She had been gone about an hour, when the sky suddenly darkened, the +wind rose and the thunder rolled in prelude to the storm. + +Major Warfield came skurrying home from the mill, grasping his +bridle with one hand and holding his hat on with the other. + +Meeting poor old Ezy in the shrubbery, he stormed out upon him with: + +"What are you lounging there for, you old idiot! You old sky-gazing +lunatic! Don't you see that we are going to have an awful blow! +Begone with you and see that the cattle are all under shelter! Off, +I say, or," he rode toward Bill Ezy, but the old man, exclaiming: + +"Yes, sir--yes, sir! In coorse, sir!" ducked his head and ran off in +good time. + +Major Warfield quickened his horse's steps and rode to the house, +dismounted and threw the reins to the stable boy, exclaiming: + +"My beast is dripping with perspiration--rub him down well you +knave, or I'll impale you!" + +Striding into the hall, he threw down his riding whip, pulled off +his gloves and called: + +"Wool! Wool, you scoundrel, close every door and window in the +house! Call all the servants together in the dining-room; we're +going to have one of the worst tempests that ever raised!" + +Wool flew to do his bidding. + +"Mrs. Condiment, mum," said the old man, striding into the sitting- +room, "Mrs. Condiment, mum, tell Miss Black to come down from her +room until the storm is over; the upper chambers of this old house +are not safe in a tempest. Well, mum, why don't you go, or send +Pitapat?" + +"Major Warfield, sir, I'm very sorry, but Miss Black has not come in +yet," said Mrs. Condiment, who for the last half hour had suffered +extreme anxiety upon account of Capitola. + +"Not come in yet! Demmy, mum! Do you tell me she has gone out?" +cried Old Hurricane, in a voice of thunder, gathering his brows into +a dark frown, and striking his cane angrily upon the floor. + +"Yes, sir, I am sorry to say she rode out about an hour ago and has +not returned," said Mrs. Condiment, summoning all her firmness to +meet Old Hurricane's "roused wrath." + +"Ma'am! You venture to stand there before my face and tell me +composedly that you permitted Miss Black to go off alone in the face +of such a storm as this?" roared Old Hurricane. + +"Sir, I could not help it!" said the old lady. + +"Demmy, mum! You should have helped it! A woman of your age to stand +there and tell me that she could not prevent a young creature like +Capitola from going out alone in the storm!" + +"Major Warfield, could you have done it?" + +"Me? Demmy, I should think so; but that is not the question! You--" + +He was interrupted by a blinding flash of lightning, followed +immediately by an awful peal of thunder and a sudden fall of rain. + +Old Hurricane sprang up as though he had been shot off his chair and +trotted up and down the floor exclaiming: + +"And she--she out in all this storm! Mrs. Condiment, mum, you +deserve to be ducked! Yes, mum, you do! Wool! Wool! you diabolical +villain!" + +"Yes, marse, yes, sir, here I is!" exclaimed that officer, in +trepidation, as he appeared in the doorway. "De windows and doors, +sir, is all fastened close and de maids are all in the dining-room +as you ordered, and--" + +"Hang the maids and the doors and windows, too! Who the demon cares +about them? How dared you, you knave, permit your young mistress to +ride, unattended, in the face of such a storm, too! Why didn't you +go with her, sir?" + +"'Deed, marse--" + +"Don't ''deed marse' me you atrocious villain! Saddle a horse +quickly, inquire which road your mistress took and follow and attend +her home safely--after which I intend to break every bone in your +skin, sirrah! So--" + +Again he was interrupted by a dazzling flash of lightning, +accompanied by a deafening roll of thunder, and followed by a flood +of rain. + +Wool stood appalled at the prospect of turning out in such a storm +upon such a fruitless errand. + +"Oh, you may stare and roll up your eyes, but I mean it, you varlet! +So be off with you! Go! I don't care if you should be drowned in the +rain, or blown off the horse, or struck by lightning. I hope you may +be; you knave, and I shall be rid of one villain! Off, you varlet, +or--" Old Hurricane lifted a bronze statuette to hurl at Wool's +delinquent head, but that functionary dodged and ran out in time to +escape a blow that might have put a period to his mortal career. + +But let no one suppose that honest Wool took the road that night! He +simply ran down-stairs and hid himself comfortably in the lowest +regions of the house, there to tarry until the storms, social and +atmospheric, should be over, + +Meanwhile the night deepened, the storm raged without and Old +Hurricane raged within! + +The lightning flashed, blaze upon blaze, with blinding glare! The +thunder broke, crash upon crash, with deafening roar! The wind +gathering all its force cannonaded the old walls as though it would +batter down the house! The rain fell in floods! In the midst of all +the Demon's Run, swollen to a torrent, was heard like the voice of a +"roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour!" + +Old Hurricane strode up and down the floor, groaning, swearing, +threatening, and at every fresh blast of the storm without, breaking +forth into fury! + +Mrs. Condiment sat crouched in a corner, praying fervently every +time the lightning blazed into the room, longing to go and join the +men and maids in the next apartment, yet fearful to stir from her +seat lest she should attract Old Hurricane's attention, and draw +down upon herself the more terrible thunder and lightning of his +wrath. But to escape Old Hurricane's violence was not in the power +of mortal man or woman. Soon her very stillness exasperated him and +he broke forth upon her with: + +"Mrs. Condiment, mum, I don't know how you can bear to sit there so +quietly and listen to this storm, knowing that the poor child is +exposed to it?" + +"Major Warfield, would it do any good for me to jump up and trot up +and down the floor and go on as you do, even supposing I had the +strength?" inquired the meek old lady, thoroughly provoked at his +injustice! + +"I'd like to see you show a little more feeling! You are a perfect +barbarian! Oh, Cap! my darling, where are you now? Heavens! what a +blast was that! Enough to shake the house about our ears! I wish it +would! blamed if I don't!" + +"Oh, Major! Major! don't say such awful things, nor make such awful +wishes!" said the appalled old lady--"you don't know what you might +bring down upon us!" + +"No, nor care! If the old house should tumble in, it would bury +under its ruins a precious lot of good-for-nothing people, unfit to +live! Heavens! what a flash of lightning! Oh, Cap, Cap, my darling, +where are you in this storm? Mrs. Condiment, mum! if any harm comes +to Capitola this night, I'll have you indicted for manslaughter!" + +"Major Warfield, if it is all on Miss Black's account that you are +raving and raging so, I think it is quite vain of you! for any young +woman caught out in a storm would know enough to get into shelter; +especially would Miss Black, who is a young lady of great courage +and presence of mind, as we know. She has surely gone into some +house, to remain until the storm is over," said Mrs. Condiment, +soothingly. + +This speech, so well intended, exasperated Old Hurricane more than +all the rest; stopping and striking his cane upon the floor, he +roared forth: + +"Hang it, mum! hold your foolish old tongue! You know nothing about +it! Capitola is exposed to more serious dangers than the elements! +Perils of all sorts surround her! She should never, rain or shine, +go out alone! Oh, the little villain! the little wretch! the little +demon! if ever I get her safe in this house again, won't I lock her +up and keep her on bread and water until she learns to behave +herself!" + +Here again a blinding flash of lightning, a deafening peal of +thunder, a terrific blast of wind and flood of rain suddenly +arrested his speech. + +"Oh, my Cap! my dear Cap! I needn't threaten you! I shall never have +the chance to be cruel to you again--never! You'll perish in this +terrible storm and then--and then my tough old heart will break! It +will--it will, Cap! But demmy, before it does, I'll break the necks +of every man and woman, in this house, old and young! Hear it, +heaven and earth, for I'll do it!" + +All things must have an end. So, as the hours passed on, the storm +having spent all its fury, gradually grumbled itself into silence. + +Old Hurricane also raged himself into a state of exhaustion so +complete that when the midnight hour struck he could only drop into +a chair and murmur: + +"Twelve o'clock and no news of her yet!" + +And then unwillingly he went to bed, attended by Mrs. Condiment and +Pitapat instead of Wool, who was supposed to be out in search of +Capitola, but who was, in fact, fast asleep on the floor of a dry +cellar. + +Meanwhile, where did this midnight hour find Capitola? + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HIDDEN HOLLOW. + + + On every side the aspect was the same, + All ruined, desolate, forlorn and savage, + No hand or foot within the precinct came + To rectify or ravage! + Here Echo never mocked the human tongue; + Some weighty crime that Heaven could not pardon. + A secret curse on that old Building hung + And its deserted garden! + + --Hood's Haunted House. + + +Cap was a bit of a Don Quixote! The stirring incidents of the last +few months had spoiled her; the monotony of the last few weeks had +bored her; and now she had just rode out in quest of adventures. + +The Old Hidden House, with its mysterious traditions, its gloomy +surroundings and its haunted reputation, had always possessed a +powerful attraction for one of Cap's adventurous spirit. To seek and +gaze upon the somber house, of which, and of whose inmates, such +terrible stories had been told or hinted, had always been a secret +desire and purpose of Capitola. + +And now the presence there of a beautiful girl near her own age was +the one last item that tipped the balance, making the temptation to +ride thither outweigh every other consideration of duty, prudence +and safety. And having once started on the adventure, Cap felt the +attraction drawing her toward the frightful hollow of the Hidden +House growing stronger with every step taken thitherward. + +She reached the banks of the "Demon's Run" and took the left-hand +road down the stream until she reached the left point of the Horse- +Shoe Mountain, and then going up around the point, she kept close +under the back of the range until she had got immediately in the +rear of the round bend of the "Horse Shoe," behind Hurricane Hall. + +"Well," said Cap, as she drew rein here, and looked up at the lofty +ascent of gray rocks that concealed Hurricane Hall, "to have had to +come such a circuit around the outside of the 'Horse Shoe,' to find +myself just at the back of our old house, and no farther from home +than this! There's as many doubles and twists in these mountains as +there are in a lawyer's discourse! There, Gyp, you needn't turn back +again and pull at the bridle, to tell me that there is a storm +coming up and that you want to go home! I have no more respect for +your opinion than I have for Mrs. Condiment's. Besides, you carry a +damsel-errant in quest of adventures, Gyp, and so you must on, Gyp-- +you must on!" said Capitola, forcibly pulling her horse's head +around, and then taking a survey of the downward path. + +It was a scene fascinating from its very excess of gloom and terror! + +It was a valley so deep and dark as to merit the name of the hollow, +or hole, but for its great extent and its thick growth of forest, +through which spectral-looking rocks gleamed, and moaning waters +could be heard but not seen. + +"Now, somewhere in that thick forest, in the bottom of that vale, +stands the house--well called the Hidden House, since not a chimney +of it can be seen even from this commanding height! But I suppose +this path that leads down into the valley may conduct me to the +building! Come along, Gyp! You needn't turn up your head and pull at +the bit! You've got to go! I am bound this night to see the outside +of the Hidden House, and the window of the haunted chamber at the +very least!" said Cap, throwing her eyes up defiantly toward the +darkening sky, and putting whip to her unwilling horse. + +As the path wound down into the valley the woods were found deeper, +thicker and darker. It occupied all Cap's faculties to push her way +through the overhanging and interlacing branches of the trees. + +"Good gracious," she said, as she used her left arm rather +vigorously to push aside the obstructions to her path, "one would +think this were the enchanted forest containing the castle of the +sleeping beauty, and I was the knight destined to deliver her! I'm +sure it wouldn't have been more difficult." + +Still deeper fell the path, thicker grew the forest and darker the +way. + +"Gyp, I'm under the impression that we shall have to turn back yet!" +said Cap, dolefully stopping in the midst of a thicket so dense that +it completely blockaded her farther progress in the same direction. +Just as she came to this very disagreeable conclusion she spied an +opening on her left, from which a bridle-path struck out. With an +exclamation of joy she immediately turned her horse's head and +struck into it. This path was very rocky, but in some degree clearer +than the other, and she went on quickly, singing to herself, until +gradually her voice began to be lost in the sound of many rushing +waters. + +"It must be the Devil's Punch Bowl! I am approaching!" she said to +herself, as she went on. + +She was right. The roaring of the waters grew deafening and the path +became so rugged with jagged and irregularly piled rocks, that Cap +could scarcely keep her horse upon his feet in climbing over them. +And suddenly, when she least looked for it, the great natural +curiosity--the Devil's Punch Bowl--burst upon her view! + +It was an awful abyss, scooped out as it were from the very bowels +of the earth, with its steep sides rent open in dreadful chasms, and +far down in its fearful depths a boiling whirlpool of black waters. + +Urging her reluctant steed through a thicket of stunted thorns and +over a chaos of shattered rocks, Capitola approached as near as she +safely could to the brink of this awful pit. So absorbed was she in +gazing upon this terrible phenomenon of natural scenery that she had +not noticed, in the thicket on her right, a low hut that, with its +brown-green moldering colors, fell so naturally in with the hue of +the surrounding scenery as easily to escape observation. She did not +even observe that the sky was entirely overcast, and the thunder was +muttering in the distance. She was aroused from her profound reverie +by a voice near her asking: + +"Who are you, that dares to come without a guide to the Devil's +Punch Bowl?" + +Capitola looked around and came nearer screaming than she ever had +been in her life, upon seeing the apparition that stood before her. +Was it man, woman, beast or demon? She could not tell! It was a very +tall, spare form, with a black cloth petticoat tied around the +waist, a blue coat buttoned over the breast, and a black felt hat +tied down with a red handkerchief, shading the darkest old face she +had ever seen in her life. + +"Who are you, I say, who comes to the Devil's Punch Bowl without +leave or license?" repeated the frightful creature, shifting her +cane from one hand to the other. + +"I? I am Capitola Black, from Hurricane Hall; but who, in the name +of all the fates and furies, are you?" inquired Capitola, who, in +getting over the shock, had recovered her courage. + +"I am Harriet the Seeress of Hidden Hollow!" replied the apparition, +in a melodramatic manner that would not have discredited the queen +of tragedy herself. "You have heard of me?" + +"Yes, but I always heard you called Old Hat, the Witch," said Cap. + +"The world is profane--give me your hand!" said the beldame, +reaching out her own to take that of Capitola. + +"Stop! Is your hand clean? It looks very black!" + +"Cleaner than yours will be when it is stained with blood, young +maiden!" + +"Tut! If you insist on telling my fortune, tell me a pleasant one, +and I will pay you double," laughed Capitola. + +"The fates are not to be mocked. Your destiny will be that which the +stars decree. To prove to you that I know this, I tell you that you +are not what you have been!" + +"You've hit it this time, old lady, for I was a baby once and now I +am a young girl!" said Cap, laughing. + +"You will not continue to be that which you are now!" pursued the +hag, still attentively reading the lines of her subject's hand. + +"Right again; for if I live long enough I shall be an old woman." + +"You bear a name that you will not bear long!" + +"I think that quite a safe prophecy, as I haven't the most distant +idea of being an old maid!" + +"This little hand of yours--this dainty woman's hand--will be--red +with blood!" + +"Now, do you know, I don't doubt that either? I believe it +altogether probable that I shall have to cook my husband's dinner +and kill the chickens for his soup!" + +"Girl, beware! You deride the holy stars--and already they are +adverse to you!" said the hag, with a threatening glare. + +"Ha, ha, ha! I love the beautiful stars but did not fear them I fear +only Him who made the stars!" "Poor butterfly, listen and beware! +You are destined to imbrue that little hand in the life current of +one who loves you the most of all on earth! You are destined to rise +by the destruction of one who would shed his heart's best blood for +you!" said the beldame, in an awful voice. + +Capitola's eyes flashed! She advanced her horse a step or two nearer +the witch and raised her riding whip, saying: + +"I protest! If you were only a man I should lay this ash over your +wicked shoulders until my arms ached! How dare you? Faith, I don't +wonder that in the honest old times such pests as you were cooled in +the ducking pond! Good gracious, that must have made a hissing and +spluttering in the water, though!" + +"Blasphemer, pay me and begone!" + +"Pay you? I tell you I would if you were only a man; but it would be +sinful to pay a wretched old witch in the only way you deserve to be +paid!" said Cap, flourishing her riding whip before a creature tall +enough and strong enough to have doubled up her slight form together +and hurled it into the abyss. + +"Gold! gold!" said the hag curtly, holding out black and talon-like +fingers, which she worked convulsively. + +"Gold! gold, indeed! for such a wicked fortune! Not a penny!" said +Cap. + +"Ho! you're stingy; you do not like to part with the yellow demon +that has bought the souls of all your house!" + +"Don't I? You shall see! There! If you want gold, go fish it from +the depth of the whirlpool," said Cap, taking her purse and casting +it over the precipice. + +This exasperated the crone to frenzy. + +"Away! Begone!" she cried, shaking her long arm at the girl. "Away! +Begone! The fate pursues you! The badge of blood is stamped upon +your palm!" + +"Fee--faw--fum" said Cap. + +"Scorner! Beware! The curse of the crimson hand is upon you!" + +--"'I smell the blood of an Englishman'"--continued Cap. + +"Derider of the fates, you are foredoomed to crime!" + +--"'Be he alive or be he dead, I'll have his brains to butter my +bread!'" concluded Cap. + +"Be silent!" shrieked the beldame. + +"I won't!" said Cap. "Because you see, if we are in for the +horrible, I can beat you hollow at that!" + + "'Avaunt! and quit my sight! + Let the earth hide thee! + Thy bones are marrowless! Thy blood is cold! + Thou hast no speculation in those eyes + Which thou dost glare with?'" + +"Begone! You're doomed! doomed! doomed!" shrieked the witch, +retreating into her hut. + +Cap laughed and stroked the neck of her horse, saying: + +"Gyp, my son, that was old Nick's wife, who was with us just this +instant, and now, indeed, Gyp, if we are to see the Hidden House +this afternoon, we must get on!" + +And so saying she followed the path that wound half-way around the +Punch Bowl and then along the side of a little mountain torrent +called the Spout, which, rising in an opposite mountain, leaped from +rock to rock, with many a sinuous turn, as it wound through the +thicket that immediately surrounded the Hidden House until it +finally jetted through a subterranean channel into the Devil's Punch +Bowl. + +Capitola was now, unconsciously, upon the very spot, where, +seventeen years before, the old nurse had been forcibly stopped and +compelled to attend the unknown lady. + +As Capitola pursued the path that wound lower and lower into the +dark valley the gloom of the thicket deepened. Her thoughts ran on +all the horrible traditions connected with the Hidden House and +Hollow--the murder and robbery of the poor peddler--the mysterious +assassination of Eugene Le Noir; the sudden disappearance of his +youthful widow; the strange sights and sounds reported to be heard +and seen about the mansion; the spectral light at the upper gable +window; the white form seen flitting through the chamber; the pale +lady that in the dead of night drew the curtains of a guest that +once had slept there; and above all Capitola thought of the +beautiful, strange girl, who was now an inmate of that sinful and +accursed house! And while these thoughts absorbed her mind, +suddenly, in a turning of the path, she came full upon the gloomy +building. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE HIDDEN HOUSE. + + + The very stains and fractures on the wall + Assuming features solemn and terrific, + Hinted some tragedy of that old hall + Locked up in hieroglyphic! + Prophetic hints that filled the soul with dread; + But to one gloomy window pointing mostly, + The while some secret inspiration said, + That chamber is the ghostly! + + --Hood. + + +The Hidden House was a large, irregular edifice of dark red +sandstone with its walls covered closely with the clinging ivy, that +had been clipped away only from a few of the doors and windows, and +its roof over-shadowed by the top branches of gigantic oaks and elms +that clustered around and nearly concealed the building. + +It might have been a long-forsaken house, for any sign of human +habitation that was to be seen about it. All was silent, solitary +and gloomy. + +As Capitola drew up her horse to gaze upon its somber walls she +wondered which was the window at which the spectral light and +ghostly face had been seen. She soon believed that she had found it. + +At the highest point of the building, immediately under the sharp +angle of the roof, in the gable and nearest to view, was a solitary +window. The ivy that clung tightly to the stone, covering every +portion of the wall at this end, was clipped away from that high +placed, dark and lonely window by which Capitola's eyes were +strangely fascinated. + +While thus she gazed in wonder, interest and curiosity, though +without the least degree of superstitious dread, a vision flashed +upon her sight that sent the blood from her ruddy cheek to her brave +heart, and shook the foundations of her unbelief! + +For while she gazed, suddenly that dark window was illumed by a +strange, unearthly light that streamed forth into the gloomy evening +air, and touched with blue flame the quivering leaves of every tree +in its brilliant line! In the midst of this lighted window appeared +a white female face wild with woe! And then the face suddenly +vanished and the light was swallowed up in darkness! + +Capitola remained transfixed! + +"Great heavens!" she thought, "can these things really be! Have the +ghostly traditions of this world truth in them at last? When I heard +this story of the haunted window I thought some one had surely +imagined or invented it! Now I have seen for myself; but if I were +to tell what I have seen not one in a hundred would believe me!" + +While these startling thoughts disturbed her usual well-balanced +mind, a vivid flash of lightning, accompanied by a tremendous peal +of thunder and a heavy fall of rain, roused her into renewed +activity. + +"Gyp, my boy, the storm is upon us sure enough! We shall catch it +all around, get well drowned, beaten and buffeted here and well +abused when we get home! Meantime, Gyp, which is the worst, the full +fury of the tempest or the mysterious terrors of the Haunted House!" + +Another blinding flash of lightning, a stunning crash of thunder, a +flood of rain and tornado of wind decided her. + +"We'll take the Haunted House, Gyp, my friend! That spectral lady of +the lighted window looked rather in sorrow than in anger, and who +knows but the ghosts may be hospitable? So gee up, Dobbin!" said +Capitola, and, urging her horse with one hand and holding on her cap +with the other, she went on against wind and rain until she reached +the front of the old house. + +Not a creature was to be seen; every door and window was closely +shut. Dismounting, Capitola led her horse under the shelter of a +thickly leaved oak tree, secured him, and then holding up her +saturated skirt with one hand and holding on her cap with the other, +she went up some moldering stone steps to an old stone portico and, +seizing the heavy iron knocker of a great black oak double door, she +knocked loudly enough to awaken all the mountain echoes. + +She waited a few minutes for an answer, but receiving none, she +knocked again, more loudly than before. Still there was no reply. +And growing impatient, she seized the knocker with both hands and +exerting all her strength, made the welkin ring again! + +This brought a response. The door was unlocked and angrily jerked +open by a short, squarely formed, beetle-browed, stern-looking +woman, clothed in a black stuff gown and having a stiff muslin cap +upon her head. + +"Who are you? What do you want here?" harshly demanded this woman, +whom Capitola instinctively recognized as Dorky Knight, the morose +housekeeper of the Hidden House. + +"Who am I? What do I want? Old Nick fly away with you! It's plain +enough to be seen who I am and what I want. I am a young woman +caught out in the storm and I want shelter!" said Cap, indignantly. +And her words were endorsed by a terrific burst of the tempest in +lightning, thunder, wind and rain! + +"Come in then and when you ask favors learn to keep a civil tongue +in your head!" said the woman sternly, taking the guest by the hand +and pulling her in and shutting and locking the door. + +"Favors! Plague on you for a bearess! I asked no favor! Every storm- +beaten traveler has a right to shelter under the first roof that +offers, and none but a curmudgeon would think of calling it a favor! +And as for keeping a civil tongue in my head, I'll do it when you +set me the example!" said Cap. + +"Who are you?" again demanded the woman. + +"Oh, I see you are no Arabian in your notions of hospitality! Those +pagans entertain a guest without asking him a single question; and +though he were their bitterest foe, they consider him while he rests +beneath their tent sacred from intrusion." + +"That's because they were pagans!" said Dorky. "But as I am a +Christian, I'd thank you to let me know who it is that I have +received under this roof." + +"My name," said our heroine, impatiently, "is Capitola Black! I live +with my uncle, Major Warfield, at Hurricane Hall! And now, I should +thank your ladyship to send some one to put away my horse, while you +yourself accommodate me with dry clothes." + +While our saucy little heroine spoke the whole aspect of the dark- +browed woman changed. + +"Capitola-Capitola," she muttered, gazing earnestly upon the face of +the unwelcome guest. + +"Yes, Capitola! That is my name! You never heard anything against +it, did you?" + +For all answer the woman seized her hand, and while the lightning +flashed and the thunder rolled, and the wind and rain beat down, she +drew her the whole length of the hall before a back window that +overlooked the neglected garden, and, regardless of the electric +fluid that incessantly blazed upon them, she held her there and +scrutinized her features. + +"Well, I like this! Upon my word, I do!" said Cap, composedly. + +Without replying, the strange woman seized her right hand, forcibly +opened it, gazed upon the palm and then, flinging it back with a +shudder, exclaimed: + +"Capitola, what brought you under this roof? Away! Begone! Mount +your horse and fly while there is yet time!" + +"What! expose myself again to the storm? I won't, and that's flat!" +said Cap. + +"Girl! girl! there are worse dangers in the world than any to be +feared from thunder, lightning, rain or wind!" + +"Very well, then, when I meet them it will be time enough to deal +with them! Meanwhile the stormy night and my soaked clothing are +very palpable evils, and as I see no good end to be gained by my +longer enduring them, I will just beg you to stop soothsaying--(as I +have had enough of that from another old witch)--and be as good as +to permit me to change my clothes!" + +"It is madness! You shall not stay here!" cried the woman, in a +harsh voice. + +"And I tell you I will! You are not the head of the family, and I do +not intend to be turned out by you!" + +While she spoke a servant crossed the hall and the woman, whisking +Capitola around until her back was turned and her face concealed, +went to speak to the newcomer. + +"When will your master be here?" Capitola heard her inquire. + +"Not to-night; he saw the storm rising and did not wish to expose +himself. He sent me on to say that he would not be here until +morning. I was caught, as you see! I am dripping wet," replied the +man. + +"Go, change your clothes at once then, Davy," + +"Who is that stranger?" asked the man, pointing to Capitola. + +"Some young woman of the neighborhood, who has been caught out in +the tempest. But you had better go and change your clothes than to +stand here gossiping," said the woman, harshly. + +"I say," said the man, "the young woman is a God-send to Miss Clara; +nobody has been to see her yet; nobody ever visits this house unless +they are driven to it. I don't wonder the colonel and our young +master pass as much as ten months in the year away from home, +spending all the summer at the watering places, and all the winter +in New York or Washington!" + +"Hold your tongue! What right have you to complain? You always +attend them in their travels!" + +"True, but you see for this last season they have both been staying +here, old master to watch the heiress, young master to court her, +and as I have no interest in that game, I find the time hangs heavy +on my hands," complained the man. + +"It will hang heavier if you take a long fit of illness by standing +in wet clothes," muttered the woman. + +"Why, so 'twill, missus! So here goes," assented the man, hurrying +across the hall and passing out through the door opposite that by +which he entered. + +Dorcas returned to her guest. + +Eying her closely for a while, she at length inquired: + +"Capitola, how long have you lived at Hurricane Hall?" + +"So long," replied Cap, "that you must have heard of me! I, at +least, have often heard of Mother Dorkey Knight." + +"And heard no good of her!" + +"Well, no--to be candid with you, I never did," said Cap. + +"And much harm of her?" continued the woman, keeping her stern black +eyes fixed upon those of her guest. + +"Well, yes--since you ask me, I have heard pretty considerable +harm!" answered Cap, nothing daunted. + +"Where did you live before you came to Hurricane Hall?" asked +Dorcas. + +"Where I learned to fear God, to speak the truth and to shame the +devil!" replied Cap. + +--"And to force yourself into people's houses against their will!" + +"There you are again! I tell you that when I learn from the head of +this household that I am unwelcome, then I will retreat, and not +until then! And now I demand to be presented to the master." + +"To Colonel Le Noir?" + +"Yes." + +"I cannot curse you with the 'curse of a granted prayer! Colonel Le +Noir is away." + +"Why do you talk so strangely?" inquired Capitola. + +"It is my whim. Perhaps my head is light." + +"I should think it was, excessively so! Well--as the master of the +house is away, be good enough to present me to the mistress?" + +"What mistress? There is no mistress here!" replied Dorcas, looking +around in strange trepidation. + +"I mean the young lady, Colonel Le Noir's ward. In lieu of any other +lady, she, I suppose, may be considered the mistress of the house!" + +"Humph! Well, young girl, as you are fully resolved to stand your +ground. I suppose there is nothing to do but to put up with you!" +said Dorcas. + +"And put up my horse," added Cap. + +"He shall be taken care of! But mind, you must depart early in the +morning!" said Dorcas, sternly. + +"Once more, and for the last, Mother Cerberus, I assure you I do not +acknowledge your authority to dismiss me!" retorted Capitola. "So +show me to the presence of your mistress!" + +"Perverse, like all the rest! Follow me!" said the house keeper, +leading the way from the hall toward a back parlor. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE INMATE OF THE HIDDEN HOUSE + + + There is a light around her brow, + A holiness in those dark eyes, + That show, though wandering earthward now, + Her spirit's home is in the skies. + + --MOORE. + + +Pushing open the door, Dorcas Knight exclaimed: + +"Here is a young lady, Miss Black, from Hurricane Hall, come to see +you, Miss Day." + +And having made this announcement, the woman retired and shut the +door behind her. + +And Capitola found herself in a large, dark, gloomy, wainscoted +room, whose tall, narrow windows afforded but little light, and +whose immense fireplace and blackened furniture seemed to belong to +a past century. + +The only occupant of this somber apartment was a young girl, seated +in pensive thought beside the central table. She was clothed in deep +mourning, which only served to throw into fairer relief the beauty +of her pearly skin, golden hair and violet eyes. + +The vision of her mourning robes and melancholy beauty so deeply +impressed Capitola that, almost for the first time in her life, she +hesitated from a feeling of diffidence, and said gently: + +"Indeed, I fear that this is an unwarranted intrusion on my part, +Miss Day." + +"You are very welcome," replied the sweetest voice Capitola had ever +heard, as the young girl arose and advanced to meet her. "But you +have been exposed to the storm Please come into my room and change +your clothes," continued the young hostess, as she took Cap's hand +and led her into an adjoining room. + +The storm was still raging, but these apartments being in the +central portion of the strong old house, were but little exposed to +the sight or sound of its fury. + +There was a lamp burning upon the mantelpiece, by the light of which +the young girl furnished her visitor with dry clothing and assisted +her to change, saying as she did so; + +"I think we are about the same size, and that my clothes will fit +you; but I will not offer you mourning habiliments--you shall have +this lilac silk." + +"I am very sorry to see you in mourning," said Capitola, earnestly. + +"It is for my father," replied Clara, very softly. + +As they spoke the eyes of the two young girls met. They were both +good physiognomists and intuitive judges, of character. Consequently +in the full meeting of their eyes they read, understood and +appreciated each other. + +The pure, grave, and gentle expression of Clara's countenance +touched the heart of Capitola. + +The bright, frank, honest face of Cap recommended her to Clara. + +The very opposite traits of their equally truthful characters +attracted them to each other. + +Clara conducted her guest back into the wainscoted parlor, where a +cheerful fire had been kindled to correct the dampness of the air. +And here they sat down unmindful of the storm that came much subdued +through the thickness of the walls. And, as young creatures, however +tried and sorrowful, will do, they entered into a friendly chat. And +before an hour had passed Capitola thought herself well repaid for +her sufferings from the storm and the rebuff, in having formed the +acquaintance of Clara Day. + +She resolved, let Old Hurricane rage as he might, henceforth she +would be a frequent visitor to the Hidden House. + +And Clara, for her part, felt that in Capitola she had found a +frank, spirited, faithful neighbor who might become an estimable +friend. + +While they were thus growing into each other's favor, the door +opened and admitted a gentleman of tall and thin figure and white +and emaciated face, shaded by a luxuriant growth of glossy black +hair and beard. He could not have been more than twenty-six, but, +prematurely broken by vice, he seemed forty years of age. He +advanced bowing toward the young women. + +As Capitola's eyes fell upon this newcomer it required all her +presence of mind and powers of self-control to prevent her from +staring or otherwise betraying herself--for in this stranger she +recognized the very man who had stopped her upon her night ride. She +did, however, succeed in banishing from her face every expression of +consciousness. And when Miss Day courteously presented him to her +guest, saying merely, "My cousin, Mr. Craven Le Noir, Miss Black," +Capitola arose and curtsied as composedly as if she had never set +eyes upon his face before. + +He on his part evidently remembered her, and sent one stealthy, been +and scrutinizing glance into her face; but, finding that +imperturbable, he bowed with stately politeness and seemed satisfied +that she had not identified him as her assailant. + +Craven Le Noir drew his chair to the fire, seated himself and +entered into an easy conversation with Clara and her guest. Whenever +he addressed Clara there was a deference and tenderness in his tone +and glance that seemed very displeasing to the fair girl, who +received all these delicate attentions with coldness and reserve. +These things did not escape the notice of Capitola, who mentally +concluded that Craven Le Noir was a lover of Clara Day, but a most +unacceptable lover. + +When supper was announced it was evidently hailed by Clara as a +great relief. And after the meal was over she arose and excused +herself to her cousin by saying that her guest, Miss Black, had been +exposed to the storm and was doubtless very much fatigued and that +she would show her to her chamber. + +Then, taking a night lamp, she invited Capitola to come and +conducted her to an old-fashioned upper chamber, where a cheerful +fire was burning on the hearth. Here the young girls sat down before +the fire and improved their acquaintance by an hour's conversation. +After which Clara arose, and saying, "I sleep immediately below your +room, Miss Black; if you should want anything rap on the floor and I +shall hear you and get up," she wished her guest a good night's rest +and retired from the room. + +Cap was disinclined to sleep; a strange superstitious feeling which +she could neither understand nor throw off had fallen upon her +spirits. + +She took the night lamp in her hand and got up to examine her +chamber. It was a large, dark, oak-paneled room, with a dark carpet +on the floor and dark-green curtains on the windows and the +bedstead. Over the mantelpiece hung the portrait of a most beautiful +black-haired and black-eyed girl of about fourteen years of age, but +upon whose infantile brow fell the shadow of some fearful woe. There +was something awful in the despair "on that face so young" that +bound the gazer in an irresistible and most painful spell. And +Capitola remained standing before it transfixed, until the striking +of the hall clock aroused her from her enchantment. Wondering who +the young creature could have been, what had been her history and, +above all, what had been the nature of that fearful woe that +darkened like a curse her angel brow, Capitola turned almost +sorrowfully away and began to prepare for bed. + +She undressed, put on the delicate nightclothes Clara had provided +for her use, said her evening prayers, looked under the bed--a +precaution taken ever since the night upon which she had discovered +the burglars--and, finding all right, she blew out her candle and +lay down. She could not sleep--many persons of nervous or mercurial +temperaments cannot do so the first night in a strange bed. Cap was +very mercurial, and the bed and room in which she lay were very +strange; for the first time since she had had a home to call her own +she was unexpectedly staying all night away from her friends, and +without their having any knowledge of her whereabouts. She was +conjecturing, half in fear and half in fun, how Old Hurricane was +taking her escapade and what he would say to her in the morning. She +was wondering to find herself in such an unforeseen position as that +of a night guest in the mysterious Hidden House--wondering whether +this was the guest chamber in which the ghost appeared to the +officer and these were the very curtains that the pale lady drew at +night. While her thoughts were thus running over the whole range of +circumstances around her singular position, sleep overtook Capitola +and speculation was lost in brighter visions. + +How long she had slept and dreamed she did not know, when something +gently awakened her. She opened her eyes calmly--to meet a vision +that brave as she was, nearly froze the blood in her warm veins. + +Her chamber was illumined with an intense blue flame that lighted up +every portion of the apartment with a radiance bright as day, and in +the midst of this effulgence moved a figure clothed in white--a +beautiful, pale, spectral woman, whose large, motionless black eyes, +deeply set in her death-like face, and whose long unbound black +hair, fallen upon her white raiment, were the only marks of color +about her marble form. + +Paralyzed with wonder, Capitola watched this figure as it glided +about the chamber. The apparition approached the dressing-table, +seemed to take something thence, and then gliding toward the bed, to +Capitola's inexpressible horror drew back the curtains and bent down +and gazed upon her! Capitola had no power to scream, to move or to +avert her gaze from those awful eyes that met her own, until at +length, as the spectral head bent lower, she felt the pressure of a +pair of icy lips upon her brow and closed her eyes! + +When she opened them again the vision had departed and the room was +dark and quiet. + +There was no more sleep for Capitola. She heard the clock strike +four, and was pleased to find that it was so near day. Still the +time seemed very long to her, who lay there wondering, conjecturing +and speculating on the strange adventure of the night. + +When the sun arose she left her restless bed, bathed her excited +head and proceeded to dress herself. When she had finished her +toilet, with the exception of putting on her trinkets, she suddenly +missed a ring that she prized more than she did all her possessions +put together--it was a plain gold band, bearing the inscription +Capitola-Eugene, and which she had been enjoined by her old nurse +never to part from but with life. She had, in her days of +destitution suffered the extremes of cold and hunger; had been upon +the very brink of death from starvation or freezing, but without +ever dreaming of sacrificing her ring. And now for the first time it +was missing. While she was still looking anxiously for the lost +jewel the door opened and Dorcas Knight entered the room, bearing on +her arm Capitola's riding dress, which had been well dried and +ironed. + +"Miss Capitola, here is your habit; you had better put it on at +once, as I have ordered breakfast an hour sooner than usual, so that +you may have an early start." + +"Upon my word, you are very anxious to get rid of me, but not more +so than I am to depart," said Capitola, still pursuing her search. + +"Your friends, who do not know where you are, must be very uneasy +about you. But what are you looking for?" + +"A ring, a plain gold circle, with my name and that of another +inscribed on it, and which I would not lose for the world. I hung it +on a pin in this pin-cushion last night before I went to bed. I +would swear I did, and now it is missing," answered Cap, still +pursuing her search. + +"If you lost it in this room it will certainly be found," said +Dorcas Knight putting down the habit and helping in the search. + +"I am not so sure of that. There was some one in my room last +night." + +"Some one in your room!" exclaimed Dorcas in dismay. + +"Yes; a dark-haired woman, all dressed in white!" + +Dorcas Knight gave two or three angry grunts and then harshly +exclaimed: "Nonsense! woman, indeed! there is no such woman about +the house! There are no females here except Miss Day, myself and +you--not even a waiting-maid or cook." + +"Well," said Cap, "if it was not a woman it was a ghost; for I was +wide awake, and I saw it with my own eyes!" + +"Fudge! you've heard that foolish story of the haunted room, and you +have dreamed the whole thing!" + +"I tell you I didn't! I saw it! Don't I know?" + +"I say you dreamed it! There is no such living woman here; and as +for a ghost, that is all folly. And I must beg, Miss Black, that you +will not distress Miss Day by telling her this strange dream of +yours. She has never heard the ridiculous story of the haunted room, +and, as she lives here in solitude, I would not like her to hear of +it." + +"Oh, I will say nothing to disquiet Miss Day; but it was no dream. +It was real, if there is any reality in this world." + +There was no more said. They continued to look for the ring, but in +vain. Dorcas Knight, however, assured her guest that it should be +found and returned, and that breakfast waited. Whereupon Capitola +went down to the parlor, where she found Clara awaiting her presence +to give her a kindly greeting. + +"Mr. Le Noir never gets up until very late, and so we do not wait +for him," said Dorcas Knight, as she took her seat at the head of +the table and signed to the young girls to gather around it. + +After breakfast Capitola, promising to come again soon, and inviting +Clara to return her visit, took leave of her entertainers and set +out for home. + +"Thank heaven! I have got her off in time and safety!" muttered +Dorcas Knight, in triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CAP'S RETURN. + + + Must I give way and room for your rash choler? + Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? + Go show your slaves how choleric you are! + And make your bondsmen tremble! I'll not blench! + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +It happened that about sunrise that morning Wool awoke In the +cellar, and remembered that on the night previous his master had +commanded him to sally forth in the storm end seek his young +mistress, and had forbidden him, on pain of broken bones, to return +without bringing her safe. Therefore, what did the honest soul do +but steal out to the stables, saddle and mount a horse and ride back +to the house just as Mrs. Condiment had come out into the poultry +yard to get eggs for breakfast. + +"Missus Compliment, ma'am, I'se been out all night in search of Miss +Caterpillar, without finding of her. Is she come back, ma'am?" + +"Lor', no, indeed, Wool! I'm very anxious, and the major is taking +on dreadful! But I hope she is safe in some house. But, poor Wool, +you must have had a dreadful time out all night in the storm looking +for her!" + +"Awful! Missus Compliment, ma'am, awful!" said Wool. + +"Indeed, I know you had, poor creature, come in and get some warm +breakfast," said the kind old lady. + +"I dare'nt, Missus Compliment. Old marse forbid me to show my face +to him until I fotch Miss Caterpillar home safe," said Wool, turning +his horse's head as if to go. In doing so he saw Capitola galloping +toward the house, and with an exclamation of joy pointed her out to +the old lady and rode on to meet her. + +"Oh, Miss Caterpillar, I'se so glad I've found you! I'se done been +out looking for you all night long!" exclaimed Wool, as he met her. + +Capitola pulled up her horse and surveyed the speaker with a comical +expression, saying: + +"Been out all night looking for me! Well, I must say you seem in a +fine state of preservation for a man who has been exposed to the +storm all night. You have not a wet thread on you." + +"Lor', miss, it rained till one o'clock, and then the wind riz and +blowed till six and blowed me dry," said Wool, as he sprang off his +horse and helped his young mistress to alight. + +Then, instead of taking the beasts to the stable, he tied them to +the tree and hurried into the house and upstairs to his master's +room, to apprise him of the return of the lost sheep, Capitola. + +Old Hurricane was lying awake, tossing, groaning and grumbling with +anxiety. + +On seeing Wool enter he deliberately raised up and seized a heavy +iron candlestick and held it ready to hurl at the head of that +worthy, whom he thus addressed: + +"Ah, you have come, you atrocious villain! You know the conditions. +If you have dared to show your face without bringing your young +mistress--" + +"Please, marse, I wur out looking for her all night." + +"Have you brought her?" thundered Old Hurricane, rising up. + +"Please, marse, yes, sir; I done found her and brought her home +safe." + +"Send her up to me," said Old Hurricane, sinking back with a sigh of +infinite relief. + +Wool flew to do his bidding. + +In five minutes Capitola entered her uncle's chamber. + +Now, Old Hurricane had spent a night of almost intolerable anxiety +upon his favorite's account, bewailing her danger and praying for +her safety but no sooner did he see her enter his chamber safe and +sound and smiling than indignation quite mastered him, and jumping +out of his bed in his nightgown, he made a dash straight at +Capitola. + +Now, had Capitola run there is little doubt but that, in the +blindness of his fury, he would have caught and beat her then and +there. But Cap saw him coming, drew up her tiny form, folded her +arms and looked him directly in the face. + +This stopped him; but, like a mettlesome old horse suddenly pulled +up in full career, he stamped and reared and plunged with fury, and +foamed and spluttered and stuttered before he could get words out. + +"What do you mean, you vixen, by standing there and popping your +great eyes out at me? Are you going to bite, you tigress? What do +you mean by facing me at all?" he roared, shaking his fist within an +inch of Capitola's little pug nose. + +"I am here because you sent for me, sir," was Cap's unanswerable +rejoinder. + +"Here because I sent for you! humph! humph! humph! and come dancing +and smiling into my room as if you had not kept me awake all the +live-long night--yes, driven me within an inch of brain fever! Not +that I cared for you, you limb of Old Nick! not that I cared for +you, except to wish with all my heart and soul that something or +other had happened to you, you vagrant! Where did you spend the +night, you lunatic?" + +"At the old Hidden House, where I went to make a call on my new +neighbor, Miss Day, and where I was caught in the storm." + +"I wish to heaven you had been caught in a man-trap and had all your +limbs broken, you--you--you--Oh!" ejaculated Old Hurricane, turning +short and trotting up and down the room. Presently he stopped before +Capitola and rapping his cane upon the floor, demanded: + +"Who did you see at that accursed place, you--you--infatuated +maniac?" + +"Miss Day, Mr. Le Noir, Mrs. Knight and a man servant, name +unknown," coolly replied Cap. + +"And the head demon, where was he?" + +"Uncle, if by the 'head demon' you mean Old Nick, I think it quite +likely, from present appearances, that he passed the night at +Hurricane Hall." + +"I mean--Colonel Le Noir!" exclaimed Old Hurricane, as if the name +choked him. + +"Oh! I understood that he had that day left home." + +"Umph! Oh! Ah! That accounts for it; that accounts for it," muttered +Old Hurricane to himself; then, seeing that Cap was wistfully +regarding his face and attending to his muttered phrases, he broke +out upon her with: + +"Get out of this--this--this--" He meant to say "get out of this +house," but a sure instinct warned him that if he should speak thus +Capitola, unlike the other members of his household, would take him +at his word. + +"Get out of this room, you vagabond!" he vociferated. + +And Cap, with a curtsey and a kiss of her hand, danced away. + +Old Hurricane stamped up and down the floor, gesticulating like a +demoniac and vociferating: + +"She'll get herself burked, kidnapped, murdered or what not! I'm +sure she will! I know it! I feel it! It's no use to order her not to +go; she will be sure to disobey, and go ten times as often for the +very reason that she was forbidden. What the demon shall I do? Wool! +Wool! you brimstone villain, come here!" he roared, going to the +bell-rope and pulling it until he broke it down. + +Wool ran in with his hair bristling, his teeth chattering and his +eyes starting. + +"Come here to me, you varlet! Now, listen: You are to keep a sharp +look-out after your young mistress. Whenever she rides abroad you +are to mount a horse and ride after her, and keep your eyes open, +for if you once lose sight of her, you knave, do you know what I +shall do to you, eh?" + +"N--no, marse," stammered Wool, pale with apprehension. + +"I should cut your eyelids off to improve your vision! Look to it, +sir, for I shall keep my word! And now come and help me to dress," +concluded Old Hurricane. + +Wool, with chattering teeth, shaking knees and trembling fingers, +assisted his master in his morning toilet, meditating the while +whether it were not better to avoid impending dangers by running +away. + +And, in fact, between his master and his mistress, Wool had a hot +time of it. The weather, after the storm had cleared the atmosphere, +was delightful, and Cap rode out that very day. Poor Wool kept his +eyeballs metaphorically "skinned," for fear they should be treated +literally so--held his eyes wide open, lest Old Hurricane should +keep his word and make it impossible for him ever to shut them. + +When Cap stole out, mounted her horse and rode away, in five minutes +from the moment of starting she heard a horse's hoofs behind her, +and presently saw Wool gallop to her side. + +At first Cap bore this good-humoredly enough, only saying: + +"Go home, Wool, I don't want you; I had much rather ride alone." + +To which the groom replied: + +"It is old marse's orders, miss, as I should wait on you." + +Capitola's spirit rebelled against this; and, suddenly turning upon +her attendant, she indignantly exclaimed: + +"Wool, I don't want you, sir; I insist upon being left alone, and I +order you to go home, sir!" + +Upon this Wool burst into tears and roared. + +Much surprised, Capitola inquired of him what the matter was. + +For some time Wool could only reply by sobbing, but when he was able +to articulate he blubbered forth: + +"It's nuf to make anybody go put his head under a meat-ax, so it +is!" + +"What is the matter, Wool?" again inquired Capitola. + +"How'd you like to have your eyelids cut off?" howled Wool, +indignantly. + +"What?" inquired Capitola. + +"Yes; I axes how'd you like to have your eyelids cut off? Case +that's what ole marse t'reatens to do long o' me, if I don't follow +arter you and keep you in sight. And now you forbids of me to do it, +and--and--and I'll go and put my neck right underneaf a meat-ax!" + +Now, Capitola was really kind-hearted, and, well knowing the +despotic temper of her guardian, she pitied Wool, and after a little +hesitation she said: + +"Wool, so your old master says if you don't keep your eyes on me +he'll cut your eyelids off?" + +"Ye--ye--yes, miss," sobbed Wool. + +"Did he say if you didn't listen to me he'd cut your ears off?" + +"N--n--no, miss." + +"Did he swear if you didn't talk to me he'd cut out your tongue +out?" + +"N--n--no, miss." + +"Well, now, stop howling and listen to me! Since, at the peril of +your eyelids, you are obliged to keep me in sight, I give you leave +to ride just within view of me, but no nearer, and you are never to +let me see or hear you, if you can help it for I like to be alone." + +"I'll do anything in this world for peace, Miss Caterpillar," said +poor Wool. + +And upon this basis the affair was finally settled. And no doubt +Capitola owed much of her personal safety to the fact that Wool kept +his eyes open. + +While these scenes were going on at Hurricane Hall, momentous events +were taking place elsewhere, which require another chapter for their +development. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ANOTHER MYSTERY AT THE HIDDEN HOUSE. + + + "Hark! what a shriek was that of fear intense, + Of horror and amazement! + What fearful struggle to the door and thence + With mazy doubles to the grated casement!" + + +An hour after the departure of Capitola, Colonel Le Noir returned to +the Hidden House and learned from his man David that upon the +preceding evening a young girl of whose name he was ignorant had +sought shelter from the storm and passed the night at the mansion. + +Now, Colonel Le Noir was extremely jealous of receiving strangers +under his roof, never, during his short stay at the Hidden House, +going out into company, lest he should be obliged in return to +entertain visitors. And when he learned that a strange girl had +spent the night beneath his roof, he frowningly directed that Dorcas +should be sent to him. + +When his morose manager made her appearance he harshly demanded the +name of the young woman she had dared to receive beneath his roof. + +Now, whether there is any truth in the theory of magnetism or not, +it is certain that Dorcas Knight--stern, harsh, resolute woman that +she was toward all others--became as submissive as a child in the +presence of Colonel Le Noir. + +At his command she gave him all the information he required, not +even withholding the fact of Capitola's strange story of having seen +the apparition of the pale-faced lady in her chamber, together with +the subsequent discovery of the loss of her ring. + +Colonel Le Noir sternly reprimanded his domestic manager for her +neglect of his orders and dismissed her from his presence. + +The remainder of the day was passed by him in moody thought. That +evening he summoned his son to a private conference in the parlor-- +an event that happily delivered poor Clara Day from their presence +at her fireside. + +That night Clara, dreading lest at the end of their interview they +might return to her society, retired early to her chamber where she +sat reading until a late hour, when she went to bed and found +transient forgetfulness of trouble in sleep. + +She did not know how long she had slept when she was suddenly and +terribly awakened by a woman's shriek sounding from the room +immediately overhead, in which, upon the night previous, Capitola +had slept. + +Starting up in bed, Clara listened. + +The shriek was repeated--prolonged and piercing--and was accompanied +by a muffled sound of struggling that shook the ceiling overhead. + +Instinctively springing from her bed, Clara threw on her dressing- +gown and flew to the door; but just as she turned the latch to open +it she heard a bolt slipped on the outside and found herself a +prisoner in her own chamber. + +Appalled, she stood and listened. + +Presently there came a sound of footsteps on the stairs and a heavy +muffled noise as of some dead weight being dragged down the +staircase and along the passage. Then she heard the hall door +cautiously opened and shut. And, finally, she distinguished the +sound of wheels rolling away from the house. + +Unable longer to restrain herself, she rapped and beat upon her own +door, crying aloud for deliverance. + +Presently the bolt was withdrawn, the door jerked open and Dorcas +Knight, with a face of horror, stood before her. + +"What is the matter! Who was that screaming? In the name of mercy, +what has happened?" cried Clara, shrinking in abhorrence from the +ghastly woman. + +"Hush! it is nothing! There were two tomcats screaming and fighting +in the attic, and they fought all the way downstairs, rolling over +and over each other. I've just turned them out," faltered the woman, +shivering as with an ague fit. + +"What--what was that--that went away in the carriage?" asked Clara +shuddering. + +"The colonel, gone to meet the early stage at Tip-Top, to take him +to Washington. He would have taken leave of you last night, but when +he came to your parlor you had left it." + +"But--but--there is blood upon your hand, Dorcas Knight!" cried +Clara, shaking with horror. + +"I--I know; the cats scratched me as I put them out," stammered the +stern woman, trembling almost as much as Clara herself. + +These answers failed to satisfy the young girl, who shrank in terror +and loathing from that woman's presence, and sought the privacy of +her own chamber, murmuring: + +"What has happened? What has been done? Oh, heaven! oh, heaven! have +mercy on us! some dreadful deed has been done in this house to- +night!" + +There was no more sleep for Clara. She heard the clock strike every +hour from one to six in the morning, when she arose and dressed +herself and went from her room, expecting to see upon the floor and +walls and upon the faces of the household signs of some dreadful +tragedy enacted upon the previous night. + +But all things were as usual--the same dark, gloomy and neglected +magnificence about the rooms and passages, the same reserved, sullen +and silent aspect about the persons. + +Dorcas Knight presided as usual at the head of the breakfast table, +and Craven Le Noir at the foot. Clara sat in her accustomed seat at +the side, midway between them. + +Clara shuddered in taking her cup of coffee from the hand of Dorcas, +and declined the wing of fowl that Craven Le Noir would have put +upon her plate. + +Not a word was said upon the subject of the mystery of the preceding +night until Craven Le Noir, without venturing to meet the eyes of +the young girl, said: + +"You look very pale, Clara." + +"Miss Day was frightened by the cats last night," said Dorcas. + +Clara answered never a word. The ridiculous story essayed to be +palmed off upon her credulity in explanation of the night's mystery +had not gained an instant's belief. + +She knew that the cry that had startled her from sleep had burst in +strong agony from human lips! + +That the helpless weight she had heard dragged down the stairs and +along the whole length of the passage was some dead or insensible +human form! + +That the blood she had seen upon the hand of Dorcas Knight was--oh, +heaven! her mind shrank back appalled with horror at the thought +which she dare not entertain! She could only shudder, pray and trust +in God. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +CAP FREES THE CAPTIVE. + + + Hold, daughter! I do spy a kind of hope, + Which craves as desperate an execution + As that is desperate, which we would prevent + And if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy! + Hold, then! go home, be merry, give consent + To marry Paris! Wednesday is to-morrow! + + --Shakespeare. + + + As the autumn weather was now very pleasant, Capitola continued her +rides, and, without standing on ceremony, repeated her visit to the +Hidden House. She was, as usual, followed by Wool, who kept at a +respectful distance, and who during his mistress' visit, remained +outside in attendance upon the horses. + +Capitola luckily was in no danger of encountering Colonel Le Noir, +who, since the night of the mysterious tragedy, had not returned +home, but had gone to and settled in his winter quarters in +Washington city. + +But she again met Craven Le Noir, who, contrary to his usual custom +of accompanying his father upon his annual migrations to the +metropolis, had, upon this occasion, remained home in close +attendance upon his cousin, the wealthy orphan. + +Capitola found Clara the same sweet, gentle and patient girl, with +this difference only, that her youthful brow was now overshadowed by +a heavy trouble which could not wholly be explained by her state of +orphanage or her sorrow for the dead--it was too full of anxiety, +gloom and terror to have reference to the past alone. + +Capitola saw all this and, trusting in her own powers, would have +sought the confidence of the poor girl, with the view of soothing +her sorrows and helping her out of her difficulties; but Miss Day, +candid upon all other topics, was strangely reserved upon this +subject, and Capitola, with all her eccentricity, was too delicate +to seek to intrude upon the young mourner's sanctuary of grief. + +But a crisis was fast approaching which rendered further concealment +difficult and dangerous, and which threw Clara for protection upon +the courage, presence of mind and address of Capitola. + +Since Clara Day had parted with her betrothed and had taken up her +residence beneath her guardian's roof, she had regularly written +both to Traverse at St. Louis and to his mother at Staunton. But she +had received no reply from either mother or son. And months had +passed, filling the mind of Clara with anxiety upon their account. + +She did not for one moment doubt their constancy. Alas! it required +but little perspicacity on her part to perceive that the letters on +either side must have been intercepted by the Le Noirs--father and +son. + +Her greatest anxiety was lest Mrs. Rocke and Traverse, failing to +hear from her, should imagine that she had forgotten them. She +longed to assure them that she had not; but how should she do this? +It was perfectly useless to write and send the letter to the post- +office by any servant at the Hidden House, for such a letter was +sure to find its way--not into the mail bags, but into the pocket of +Colonel Le Noir. + +Finally, Clara resolved to entrust honest Cap with so much of her +story as would engage her interest and co-operation, and then +confide to her care a letter to be placed in the post-office. Clara +had scarcely come to this resolution ere, as we said, an imminent +crisis obliged her to seek the further aid of Capitola. + +Craven Le Noir had never abated his unacceptable attentions to the +orphan heiress. Day by day, on the contrary, to Clara's unspeakable +distress, these attentions grew more pointed and alarming. + +At first she had received them coldly and repulsed them gently; but +as they grew more ardent and devoted she became colder and more +reserved, until at length, by maintaining a freezing hauteur at +variance with her usually sweet temper, she sought to repel the +declaration that was ever ready to fall from his lips. + +But, notwithstanding her evident abhorrence of his suit, Craven Le +Noir persisted in his purpose. + +And so one morning he entered the parlor and, finding Clara alone, +he closed the door, seated himself beside her, took her hand and +made a formal declaration of love and proposal of marriage, urging +his suit with all the eloquence of which he was master. + +Now, Clara Day, a Christian maiden, a recently bereaved orphan and +an affianced bride, had too profound a regard for her duties toward +God, her father's will and her betrothed husband's rights to treat +this attempted invasion of her faith in any other than the most +deliberate, serious and dignified manner. + +"I am very sorry, Mr. Le Noir, that it has at length come to this. I +thought I had conducted myself in such a manner as totally to +discourage any such purpose as this which you have just honored me +by disclosing. Now, however, that the subject may be set at rest +forever, I feel bound to announce to you that my hand is already +plighted," said Clara, gravely. + +"But, my fairest and dearest love, your little hand cannot be +plighted without the consent of your guardian, who would never +countenance the impudent pretensions which I understand to be made +by the low-born young man to whom I presume you allude. That +engagement was a very foolish affair, my dear girl, and only to be +palliated on the ground of your extreme childishness at the time of +its being made. You must forget the whole matter, my sweetest love, +and prepare yourself to listen to a suit more worthy of your social +position," said Craven Le Noir, attempting to steal his arm around +her waist. + +Clara coldly repelled him, saying: + +"I am at a loss to understand, Mr. Le Noir, what act of levity on my +part has given you the assurance to offer me this affront!" + +"Do you call it an affront, fair cousin, that I lay my hand and +heart and fortune at your feet?" + +"I have called your act, sir, by its gentlest name. Under the +circumstances I might well have called it an outrage!" + +"And what may be those circumstances that convert an act of-- +adoration--into an outrage, my sweet cousin?" + +"Sir, you know them well. I have not concealed from you or my +guardian that I am the affianced bride of Doctor Rocke, nor that our +troth was plighted with the full consent of my dear father," said +Clara, gravely. + +"Tut, tut, tut, my charming cousin, that was mere child's play--a +school-girl's romantic whim. Do not dream that your guardian will +ever permit you to throw yourself away upon that low-bred fellow." + +"Mr. Le Noir, if you permit yourself to address me in this manner, I +shall feel compelled to retire. I cannot remain here to have my +honored father's will and memory, and the rights of my betrothed, +insulted in my person!" said Clara, rising to leave the room. + +"No--stay! forgive me, Clara! pardon me, gentlest girl, if, in my +great love for you, I grow impatient of any other claim upon your +heart, especially from such an unworthy quarter. Clara, you are a +mere child, full of generous but romantic sentiments and dangerous +impulses. You require extra vigilance and firm exercise of authority +on the part of your guardian to save you from certain self- +destruction. And some day, sweet girl, you will thank us for +preserving you from the horrors of such a mesalliance," said Craven +Le Noir, gently detaining her. + +"I tell you, Mr. Le Noir, that your manner of speaking of my +betrothal is equally insulting to myself, Doctor Rocke and my dear +father, who never would have plighted our hands had he considered +our prospective marriage a mesalliance." + +"Nor do I suppose he ever did plight your hands--while in his right +senses!" + +"Oh, sir, this has been discussed before. I beg of you to let the +subject drop forever, remembering that I hold myself sacredly +betrothed to Traverse Rocke, and ready when, at my legal majority, +he shall claim me--to redeem my plighted faith by becoming his +wife." + +"Clara, this is madness! It must not be endured, nor shall not! I +have hitherto sought to win your hand by showing you the great +extent of my love; but be careful how you scorn that love or +continue to taunt me with the mention of an unworthy rival. For, +though I use gentle means, should I find them fail of their purpose, +I shall know how to avail myself of harsher ones." + +Clara disdained reply, except by permitting her clear eye to pass +over him from head to foot with an expression of consuming scorn +that scathed him to the quick. + +"I tell you to be careful, Clara Day! I come to you armed with the +authority of your legal guardian, my father, Colonel Le Noir, who +will forestall your foolish purpose of throwing yourself and your +fortune away upon a beggar, even though to do so he strain his +authority and coerce you into taking a more suitable companion," +said Craven Le Noir, rising impatiently and pacing the floor. But no +sooner had he spoken these words than he saw how greatly he had +injured his cause and repented them. Going to Clara and intercepting +her as she was about to leave the room, he gently took her hand and, +dropping his eyes to the floor with a look of humility and +penitence, he said: + +"Clara, my sweet cousin, I know not how sufficiently to express my +sorrow at having been hurried into harshness toward you--toward you +whom I love more than my own soul, and whom it is the fondest wish +of my heart to call wife. I can only excuse myself for this or any +future extravagance of manner by my excessive love for you and the +jealousy that maddens my brain at the bare mention of my rival. That +is it, sweet girl. Can you forgive one whom love and jealousy have +hurried into frenzy?" + +"Mr. Le Noir, the Bible enjoins me to forgive injuries. I shall +endeavor, when I can, to forgive you, though for the present my +heart is still burning under the sense of wrongs done toward myself +and those whom I love and esteem, and the only way in which you can +make me forget what has just passed will be--never to repeat the +offence." And with these words Clara bent her head and passed from +the room. + +Could she have seen the malignant scowl and gesture with which +Craven Le Noir followed her departure, she would scarcely have +trusted his expressions of penitence. + +Lifting his arm above his head he fiercely shook his fist after her +and exclaimed: + +"Go on, insolent girl, and imagine that you have humbled me; but the +tune shall be changed by this day month, for before that time +whatever power the law gives the husband over his wife and her +property shall be mine over you and your possessions. Then we will +see who shall be insolent; then we shall see whose proud blue eye +shall day after day dare to look up and rebuke me. Oh: to get you in +my power, my girl! Not that I love you, moon-faced creature, but I +want your possessions, which is quite as strong an incentive." + +Then he fell into thought. He had an ugly way of scowling and biting +his nails when deeply brooding over any subject, and now he walked +slowly up and down the floor with his head upon his breast, his +brows drawn over his nose and his four fingers between his teeth, +gnawing away like a wild beast, while he muttered: + +"She is not like the other one; she has more sense and strength; she +will give us more trouble. We must continue to try fair means a +little longer. It will be difficult, for I am not accustomed to +control my passions, even for a purpose--yet, penitence and love are +the only cards to be played to this insolent girl for the present. +Afterwards!--" Here his soliloquy muttered itself into silence, his +head sank deeper upon his breast, his brows gathered lower over his +nose and he walked and gnawed his nails like a hungry wolf. + +The immediate result of this cogitation was that he went into the +library and wrote off a letter to his father, telling him all that +had transpired between himself and Clara, and asking his further +counsel. + +He dispatched this letter and waited an answer. + +During the week that ensued before he could hope to hear from +Colonel Le Noir, he treated Clara with marked deference and respect. + +And Clara, on her part, did not tax his forbearance by appearing in +his presence oftener than she could possibly avoid. + +At the end of the week the expected letter came. It was short and to +the purpose. It ran thus; + + Washington, Dec. 14, 18- + + MY DEAR CRAVEN--You are losing time. Do not hope to win the +girl by the + means you propose. She is too acute to be deceived, and too +firm to be + persuaded. We must not hesitate to use the only possible means +by which we + can coerce her into compliance. I shall follow this letter by +the first + stage-coach, and before the beginning of the next month Clara +Day shall be + your wife. Your Affectionate Father, + + GABRIEL LE NOIR, + + C. LE NOIR, ESQ., Hidden +House. + +When Craven Le Noir read this letter his thin, white face and deep- +set eyes lighted up with triumph. But Craven Le Noir huzzaed before +he was out of the woods. He had not calculated upon Capitola. + +The next day Colonel Le Noir came to the Hidden House. He arrived +late in the afternoon. + +After refreshing himself with a bath, a change of clothing and a +light luncheon, he went to the library, where he passed the +remainder of the evening in a confidential conference with his son. +Their supper was ordered to be served up to them there; and for that +evening Clara had the comfort of taking her tea alone. + +The result of this conference was that the next morning, after +breakfast, Colonel Le Noir sent for Miss Day to come to him in the +library. + +When Clara, nerving her gentle heart to resist a sinful tyranny, +entered the library, Colonel Le Noir arose and courteously handed +her to a chair, and then, seating himself beside her, said: + +"My dear Clara, the responsibilities of a guardian are always very +onerous, and his duties not always very agreeable, especially when +his ward is the sole heiress of a large property and the object of +pursuit by fortune hunters and maneuverers, male and female. When +such is the case, the duties and responsibilities of the guardian +are augmented a hundredfold." + +"Sir, this cannot be so in my case, since you are perfectly aware +that my destiny is, humanly speaking, already decided," replied +Clara, with gentle firmness. + +"As--how, I pray you, my fair ward?" + +"You cannot possibly be at a loss to understand, sir. You have been +already advised that I am betrothed to Doctor Rocke, who will claim +me as his wife upon the day that I shall complete my twenty-first +year." + +"Miss Clara Day! no more of that, I beseech you! It is folly, +perversity, frenzy! But, thanks to the wisdom of legislators, the +law very properly invests the guardian with great latitude of +discretionary power of the person and property of his ward--to be +used, of course, for that ward's best interest. And thus, my dear +Clara, it is my duty, while holding this power over you, to exercise +it for preventing the possibility of your ever--either now or at any +future time, throwing yourself away upon a mere adventurer. To do +this, I must provide you with a suitable husband. My son, Mr. Craven +Le Noir, has long loved and wooed her. He is a young man of good +reputation and fair prospects. I entirely approve his suit, and as +your guardian I command you to receive him for your destined +husband." + +"Colonel Le Noir, this is no time 'for bated breath and whispered +humbleness.' I am but a simple girl of seventeen, but I understand +your purpose and that of your son just as well as though I were an +old man of the world. You are the fortune hunters and maneuverers! +It is the fortune of the wealthy heiress and friendless orphan that +you are in pursuit of! But that fortune, like my hand and heart, is +already promised to one I love; and, to speak very plainly to you, I +would die ere I would disappoint him or wed your son," said Clara, +with invincible firmness. + +"Die, girl! There are worse things than death in the world!" said +Colonel Le Noir, with a threatening glare. + +"I know it! and one of the worst things in the world would be a +union with a man I could neither esteem nor even endure!" exclaimed +Clara. + +Colonel Le Noir saw that there was no use in further disguise. +Throwing off, then, the last restraints of good breeding, he said: + +"And there are still more terrible evils for a woman than to be the +wife of one she 'can neither esteem nor endure!' " + +Clara shook her head in proud scorn. + +"There are evils to escape which such a woman would go down upon her +bended knees to be made the wife of such a man." + +Clara's gentle eyes flashed with indignation. + +"Infamous!" she cried. "You slander all womanhood in my person!" + +"The evils to which I allude are--comprised in--a life of dishonor!" +hissed Le Noir through his set teeth. + +"This to my father's daughter!" exclaimed Clara, growing white as +death at the insult. "Aye, my girl! It is time we understood each +other. You are in my power, and I intend to coerce you to my will!" + +These words, accompanied as they were by a look that left no doubt +upon her mind that he would carry out his purpose to any extremity, +so appalled the maiden's soul that she stood like one suddenly +struck with catalepsy. + +The unscrupulous wretch then approached her and said: + +"I am now going to the county seat to take out a marriage license +for you and my son. I shall have the carriage at the door by six +o'clock this evening, when I desire that you shall be ready to +accompany us to church, where a clerical friend will be in +attendance to perform the marriage ceremony. Clara Day, if you would +save your honor, look to this!" + +All this time Clara had neither moved nor spoken nor breathed. She +had stood cold, white and still as if turned to stone. + +"Let no vain hope of escape delude your mind. The doors will be kept +locked; the servants are all warned not to suffer you to leave the +house. Look to it, Clara, for the rising of another sun shall see my +purpose accomplished! " + +And with these words the atrocious wretch left the room. His +departure took off the dreadful spell that had paralyzed Clara's +life; her blood began to circulate again; breath came to her lungs +and speech to her lips. + +"Oh, Lord," she cried, "oh, Lord, who delivered the children from +the fiery furnace, deliver the poor handmaiden now from her terrible +foes!" + +While she thus prayed she saw upon the writing table before her a +small penknife. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes brightened as she +seized it. + +"This! this!" she said, "this small instrument is sufficient to save +me! Should the worst ensue, I know where to find the carotid artery, +and even such a slight puncture as my timorous hand could make would +set my spirit free! Oh, my father! oh, my father! you little thought +when you taught your Clara the mysteries of anatomy to what a +fearful use she would put your lessons! And would it be right? Oh, +would it be right? One may desire death, but can anything justify +suicide? Oh, Father in heaven, guide me! guide me!" cried Clara, +falling upon her knees and sobbing forth this prayer of agony. + +Soon approaching footsteps drew her attention. And she had only time +to rise and put back her damp, disheveled hair from her tear-stained +face before the door opened and Dorcas Knight appeared and said: + +"Here is this young woman come again." + +"I declare, Miss Day," said Cap, laughing, "you have the most +accomplished, polite and agreeable servants here that I ever met +with! Think with what a courteous welcome this woman received me--' +Here you are again!' she said. 'You'll come once too often for your +own good, and that I tell you.' I answered that every time I came it +appeared to be once too often for her liking. She rejoined, 'The +colonel has come home, and he don't like company, so I advise you to +make your call a short one.' I assured her that I should measure the +length of my visit by the breadth of my will--But good angels, +Clara! what is the matter? You look worse than death!" exclaimed +Capitola, noticing for the first time the pale, wild, despairing +face of her companion. + +Clara clasped her hands as if in prayer and raised her eyes with an +appealing gaze into Capitola's face. + +"Tell me, dear Clara, what is the matter? How can I help you? What +shall I do for you?" said our heroine. + +Before trusting herself to reply, Clara gazed wistfully into +Capitola's eyes, as though she would have read her soul. + +Cap did not blanch nor for an instant avert her own honest, gray +orbs; she let Clara gaze straight down through those clear windows +of the soul into the very soul itself, where she found only truth, +honesty and courage. + +The scrutiny seemed to be satisfactory for Clara soon took the hand +of her visitor and said: + +"Capitola, I will tell you. It is a horrid, horrid story, but you +shall know all. Come with me to my chamber." + +Cap pressed the hand that was so confidingly placed in hers and +accompanied Clara to her room, where, after the latter had taken the +precaution to lock the door, the two girls sat down for a +confidential talk. + +Clara, like the author of Robin Hood's Barn, "began at the +beginning" of her story, and told everything--her betrothal to +Traverse Rocke; the sudden death of her father; the decision of the +Orphans' Court; the departure of Traverse for the far West; her +arrival at the Hidden House; the interruption of all her epistolary +correspondence with her betrothed and his mother; the awful and +mysterious occurrences of that dreadful night when she suspected +some heinous crime had been committed; and finally of the long, +unwelcome suit of Craven Le Noir and the present attempt to force +him upon her as a husband. + +Cap listened very calmly to this story, showing very little +sympathy, for there was not a bit of sentimentality about our Cap. + +"And now," whispered Clara, while the pallor of horror overspread +her face, "by threatening me with a fate worse than death, they +would drive me to marry Craven Le Noir!" + +"Yes, I know I would!" said Cap, as if speaking to herself, but by +her tone and manner clothing these simple words in the very keenest +sarcasm. + +"What would you do, Capitola?" asked Clara, raising her tearful eyes +to the last speaker. + +"Marry Mr. Craven Le Noir and thank him, too!" said Cap. Then, +suddenly changing her tone, she exclaimed: + +"I wish--oh! how I wish it was only me in your place--that it was +only me they were trying to marry against my will!" + +"What would you do?" asked Clara, earnestly. + +"What would I do? Oh! wouldn't I make them know the difference +between their Sovereign Lady and Sam the Lackey? If I had been in +your place and that dastard Le Noir had said to me what he said to +you, I do believe I should have stricken him down with the lightning +of my eyes! But what shall you do, my poor Clara?" + +"Alas! alas! see here! this is my last resort!" replied the unhappy +girl, showing the little pen-knife. + +"Put it away from you! put it away from you!" exclaimed Capitola +earnestly; "suicide is never, never, never justifiable! God is the +Lord of life and death! He is the only judge whether a mortal's +sorrows are to be relieved by death, and when He does not Himself +release you, He means that you shall live and endure! That proves +that suicide is never right, let the Roman pagans have said and done +what they pleased. So no more of that! There are enough other ways +of escape for you!" + +"Ah! what are they? You would give me life by teaching me how to +escape!" said Clara, fervently. + +"The first and most obvious means that suggests itself to my mind," +said Cap, "is to--run away!" + +"Ah! that is impossible. The servants are warned; the doors are all +locked; I am watched!" + +"Then the next plan is equally obvious. Consent to go with them to +the church, and when you get there, denounce them and claim the +protection of the clergyman!" + +"Ah! dear girl, that is still more impracticable. The officiating +clergyman is their friend, and even if I could consent to act a +deceitful part, and should go to church as if to marry Craven and +upon getting there denounce him, instead of receiving the protection +of the clergyman I should be restored to the hands of my legal +guardian and be brought back here to meet a fate worse than death," +said Clara, in a tone of despair. + +Capitola did not at once reply, but fell into deep thought, which +lasted many minutes. Then, speaking more gravely than she had spoken +before, she said: + +"There is but one plan of escape left, your only remaining chance, +and that full of danger!" + +"Oh, why should I fear danger? What evil can befall me so great as +that which now threatens me?" said Clara. + +"This plan requires on your part great courage, self-control and +presence of mind." + +"Teach me! teach me, dear Capitola. I will be an apt pupil!" + +"I have thought it all out, and will tell you my plan. It is now +eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the carriage is to come for you +at six this evening, I believe?" + +"Yes! yes!" + +"Then you have seven hours in which to save yourself! And this is my +plan: First, Clara, you must change clothes with me, giving me your +suit of mourning and putting on my riding habit, hat and veil! Then, +leaving me here in your place, you are to pull the veil down closely +over your face and walk right out of the house! No one will speak to +you, for they never do to me. When you have reached the park, spring +upon my horse and put whip to him for the village of Tip Top. My +servant, Wool, will ride after you, but not speak to you or approach +near enough to discover your identity--for he has been ordered by +his master to keep me in sight, and he has been forbidden by his +mistress to intrude upon her privacy. You will reach Tip Top by +three o'clock, when the Staunton stage passes through. You may then +reveal yourself to Wool, give my horse into his charge, get into the +coach and start for Staunton. Upon reaching that place, put yourself +under the protection of your friends, the two old physicians, and +get them to prosecute your guardian for cruelty and flagrant abuse +of authority. Be cool, firm and alert, and all will be well!" + +Clara, who had listened to this little Napoleon in petticoats with +breathless interest, now clasped her hands in a wild ecstasy of joy +and exclaimed: + +"I will try it! Oh, Capitola I will try it! Heaven bless you for the +counsel!" + +"Be quick, then; change your dress! provide yourself with a purse of +money, and I will give you particular directions how to make a short +cut for Tip Top. Ha, ha, ha!, when they come for the bride she will +be already rolling on the turnpike between Tip Top and Staunton!" + +"But you! Oh, you, my generous deliverer?" + +"I shall dress myself in your clothes and stay here in your place to +keep you from being missed, so as to give you full time to make your +escape." + +"But--you will place yourself in the enraged lion's jaws! You will +remain in the power of two men who know neither justice nor mercy! +Who, in their love or their hate, fear neither God nor man! Oh, +Capitola! how can I take an advantage of your generosity, and leave +you here in such extreme peril? Capitola, I cannot do it!" + +"Well, then, I believe, you must be anxious to marry Craven Le +Noir!" + +"Oh, Capitola!" + +"Well, if you are not, hurry and get ready; there is no time to be +lost!" + +"But you! but you, my generous friend!" + +"Never mind me. I shall be safe enough! I am not afraid of the Le +Noirs. Bless their wigs; I should like to see them make me blanch. +On the contrary, I desire above all things to be pitted against +these two! How I shall enjoy their disappointment and rage! Oh, it +will be a rare frolic!" + +While Capitola was speaking she was also busily engaged doing. She +went softly to the door and turned the key in the lock, to prevent +any one from looking through the keyhole, murmuring as she did it: + +"I wasn't brought up among the detective policemen for nothing!" + +Then she began to take off her riding-habit. Quickly she dressed +Clara, superintending all the details of her disguise as carefully +as though she were the costumer of a new debutante. When Clara was +dressed she was so nearly of the same size and shape of Capitola +that from behind no one would have suspected her identity. + +"There, Clara! tuck your light hair out of the way; pull your cap +over your eyes; gather your veil down close; draw up your figure; +throw back your head; walk with a little springy sway and swagger, +as if you didn't care a damson for anybody, and--there! I declare no +one could tell you from me!" exclaimed Capitola in delight, as she +completed the disguise and the instructions of Clara. + +Then Capitola dressed herself in Clara's deep mourning robes. And +then the two girls sat down to compose themselves for a few minutes, +while Capitola gave new and particular directions for Clara's course +and conduct, so as to insure as far as human foresight could do it, +the safe termination of her perilous adventure. By the time they had +ended their talk the hall clock struck twelve. + +"There! it is full time you should be off! Be calm, be cool, be +firm, and God bless you, Clara! Dear girl! if I were only a young +man I would deliver you by the strength of my own arms, without +subjecting you to inconvenience or danger!" said Cap, gallantly, as +she led Clara to the chamber door and carefully gathered her thick +veil in close folds over her face, so as entirely to conceal it. + +"Oh, may the Lord in heaven bless and preserve and reward you, my +brave, my noble, my heroic Capitola!" said Clara, fervently, with +the tears rushing to her eyes. + +"Bosh!" said Cap. "If you go doing the sentimental you won't look +like me a bit, and that will spoil all. There! keep your veil close, +for it's windy, you know; throw back your head and fling yourself +along with a swagger, as if you didn't care, ahem! for anybody, and- +-there you are!" said Cap, pushing Clara out and shutting the door +behind her. + +Clara paused an instant to offer up one short, fervent prayer for +her success and Capitola's safety, and then following her +instructions, went on. + +Nearly all girls are clever imitators, and Clara readily adopted +Capitola's light, springy, swaying walk, and met old Dorcas Knight +in the hall, without exciting the slightest suspicion of her +identity. + +"Humph!" said the woman; "so you are going! I advise you not to come +back again!" + +Clara threw up her head with a swagger, and went on. + +"Very well, you may scorn my words, but if you know your own good +you'll follow my advice!" said Dorcas Knight, harshly. + +Clara flung up her head and passed out. + +Before the door Wool was waiting with the horses. Keeping her face +closely muffled, Clara went to Capitola's pony. Wool came and helped +her into the saddle, saying: + +"Yer does right, Miss Cap, to keep your face kivered; it's awful +windy, ain't it, though? I kin scarcely keep the har from blowing +offen my head." + +With an impatient jerk after the manner of Capitola, Clara signified +that she did not wish to converse. Wool dropped obediently behind, +mounted his horse and followed at a respectful distance until Clara +turned her horse's head and took the bridle-path toward Tip Top. +This move filled poor Wool with dismay. Riding toward her, he +exclaimed: + +"'Deed, Miss Cap, yer mus' scuse me for speakin' now! Whar de +muschief is yer a-goin' to?" + +For all answer Clara, feigning the temper of Capitola, suddenly +wheeled her horse, elevated her riding whip and galloped upon Wool +in a threatening manner. + +Wool dodged and backed his horse with all possible expedition, +exclaiming in consternation: + +"Dar! dar! Miss Cap, I won't go for to ax you any more questions-- +no--not if yer rides straight to Old Nick or Black Donald!" + +Whereupon, receiving this apology in good part, Clara again turned +her horse's head and rode on her way. + +Wool followed, bemoaning the destiny that kept him between the two +fierce fires of his old master's despotism and his young mistress's +caprice, and muttering: + +"I know old marse and dis young gal am goin' to be the death of me! +I knows it jes' as well as nuffin at all! I 'clare to man, if it +ain't nuff to make anybody go heave themselves right into a grist +mill and be ground up at once." Wool spoke no more until they got to +Tip Top, when Clara still closely veiled, rode up to the stage +office just as the coach, half filled with passengers, was about to +start. Springing from her horse, she went up to Wool and said: + +"Here, man, take this horse back to Hurricane Hall! Tell Major +Warfield that Miss Black remains at the Hidden House in imminent +danger! Ask him to ride there and bring her home! Tell Miss Black +when you see her that I reached Tip Top safe and in time to take the +coach. Tell her I will never cease to be grateful! And now, here is +a half eagle for your trouble! Good-by, and God bless you!" And she +put the piece in his hand and took her place in the coach, which +immediately started. + +As for Wool! From the time that Clara had thrown aside her veil and +began to speak to him he had stood staring and staring--his +consternation growing and growing--until it had seemed to have +turned him into stone--from which state of petrefaction he did not +recover until he saw the stage coach roll rapidly away, carrying +off--whom?--Capitola, Clara or the evil one?--Wool could not have +told which! He presently astounded the people about the stage office +by leaving his horses and taking to his heels after the stage coach, +vociferating: + +"Murder! murder! help! help! stop thief! stop thief! stop the coach! +stop the coach!" + +"What is the matter, man?" said a constable, trying to head him. + +But Wool incontinently ran over that officer, throwing him down and +keeping on his headlong course, hat off, coat-tail streaming and +legs and arms flying like the sails of a windmill, as he tried to +overtake the coach, crying: + +"Help! murder! head the horses! Stop the coach! Old marse told me +not to lose sight of her! Oh, for hebben's sake, good people, stop +the coach!" + +When he got to a gate, instead of taking time to open it, he rolled +himself somersault-like right over it! When he met man or woman, +instead of turning from his straight course, he knocked them over +and passed on, garments flying and legs and arms circulating with +the velocity of a wheel. + +The people whom he had successively met and overthrown in his +course, picking themselves up and getting into the village, reported +that there was a furious madman broke loose, who attacked every one +he met. + +And soon every man and boy in the village who could mount a horse +started in pursuit. Only race horses would have beaten the speed +with which Wool ran, urged on by fear. It was nine miles on the +turnpike road from Tip Top that the horsemen overtook and surrounded +Wool, who, seeing himself hopelessly environed, fell down upon the +ground and rolled and kicked, swearing that he would not be taken +alive to have his eyelids cut off! + +It was not until after a desperate resistance that he was finally +taken, bound, put in a wagon and carried back to the village, where +he was recognized as Major Warfield's man and a messenger was +despatched for his master. + +And not until he had been repeatedly assured that no harm should +befall him did Wool gain composure enough to say, amid tears of +cruel grief and fear: + +"Oh, marsers! my young missus, Miss Black, done been captured and +bewitched and turned into somebody else, right afore my own two +looking eyes and gone off in dat coach! 'deed she is! and ole marse +kill me!'deed he will, gemmen! He went and ordered me not to take my +eyes offen her, and no more I didn't! But what good that do, when +she turned to somebody else, and went off right afore my two looking +eyes? But ole marse won't listen to reason. He kill me, I know he +will! "whimpered Wool, refusing to be comforted." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +CAP IN CAPTIVITY. + + + I lingered here and rescue planned + For Clara and for me. + + --SCOTT. + + +Meanwhile how fared it with Capitola in the Hidden House? + +"I am in for it now!" said Cap, as she closed the door behind Clara; +"I am in for it now! This is a jolly imprudent adventure! What will +Wool do when he discovers that he has 'lost sight' of me? What will +uncle say when he finds out what I've done? Whe-ew! Uncle will +explode! I wonder if the walls at Hurricane Hall will be strong +enough to stand it! Wool will go mad! I doubt if he will ever do a +bit more good in this world!" + +"But above all, I wonder what the Le Noirs, father and son, will say +when they find that the heiress is flown and a 'beggar,' as uncle +flatters me by calling me, will be here in her place! Whe-ew-ew-ew! +There will be a tornado! Cap, child, they'll murder you! That's just +what they'll do! They'll kill and eat you, Cap, without any salt! or +they may lock you up in the haunted room to live with the ghost, +Cap, and that would be worse!" + +"Hush! here comes Dorcas Knight! Now I must make believe I'm Clara, +and do the sentimental up brown!" concluded Capitola, as she seated +herself near the door where she could be heard, and began to sob +softly. + +Dorcas rapped. + +Cap sobbed in response. + +"Are you coming to luncheon, Miss Day?" inquired the woman. + +"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-hee! I do not want to eat," sobbed Cap, in a low +and smothered voice. Any one would have thought she was drowned in +tears. + +"Very well; just as you like," said the woman harshly, as she went +away. + +"Well, I declare," laughed Cap, "I did that quite as well as an +actress could! But now what am I to do? How long can I keep this up? +Heigh-ho 'let the world slide!' I'll not reveal myself until I'm +driven to it, for when I do-! Cap, child, you'll get chawed right +up! " + +A little later in the day Dorcas Knight came again and rapped at the +door. + +"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-hee!" sobbed Cap. + +"Miss Day, your cousin, Craven Le Noir, wishes to speak with you +alone." + +"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-hee! I cannot see him!" sobbed Cap, in a low and +suffocating voice. + +The woman went away, and Cap suffered no other interruption until +six o'clock, when Dorcas Knight once more rapped saying: + +"Miss Day, your uncle is at the front door with the carriage, and he +wishes to know if you are ready to obey him." + +"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee--hee!-te-te-tell him yes!" sobbed Cap, as if her +heart would break. + +The woman went off with this answer, and Capitola hastily enveloped +her form in Clara's large, black shawl, put on Clara's black bonnet +and tied her thick mourning veil closely over her face. + +"A pretty bridal dress, this; but, however, I suppose these men are +no more particular about my costume than they are about their own +conduct," said Cap. + +She had just drawn on her gloves when she heard the footsteps of two +men approaching. They rapped at the door. + +"Come in," she sobbed, in a low, broken voice, that might have +belonged to any girl in deep distress, and she put a white cambric +handkerchief up to her eyes and drew her thick veil closely over her +face. + +The two Le Noirs immediately entered the room. Craven approached her +and whispered, softly: + +"You will forgive me this, my share in these proceedings after +awhile, sweet Clara! The Sabine women did not love the Roman youths +the less that they were forcibly made wives by them." + +"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-hee!" sobbed Cap, entirely concealing her white +cambric handkerchief under her impenetrable veil. + +"Come, come! we lose time!" said the elder Le Noir "Draw her arm +within yours, Craven, and lead her out." + +The young man did as he was directed and led Cap from the room. It +was now quite dark--the long, dreary passage was only dimly lighted +by a hanging lamp, so that with the care she took there was scarcely +a possibility of Capitola's being discovered. They went on, Craven +Le Noir whispering hypocritical apologies and Cap replying only by +low sobs. + +When they reached the outer door they found a close carriage drawn +up before the house. + +To this Craven Le Noir led Capitola, placed her within and took the +seat by her side. Colonel Le Noir followed and placed himself in the +front seat opposite them. And the carriage was driven rapidly off. + +An hour's ride brought the party to an obscure church in the depths +of the forest, which Capitola recognized by the cross on its top to +be a Roman Catholic chapel. + +Here the carriage drew up and the two Le Noirs got out and assisted +Capitola to alight. + +They then led her into the church, which was dimly illumined by a +pair of wax candles burning before the altar. A priest in his +sacerdotal robes was in attendance. A few country people were +scattered thinly about among the pews, at their private devotions. + +Guarded by Craven Le Noir on the right and Colonel Le Noir on the +left, Capitola was marched up the aisle and placed before the altar. + +Colonel Le Noir then went and spoke apart to the officiating priest, +saying, in a tone of dissatisfaction: + +"I told you, sir, that as our bride was an orphan, recently +bereaved, and still in deep mourning, we wished the marriage +ceremony to be strictly private, and you gave me to understand, sir, +that at this hour the chapel was most likely to be vacant. Yet, here +I find a half a score of people! How is this?" + +"Sir," replied the priest, "it is true that at this hour of the +evening the chapel is most likely to be vacant, but it is not +therefore certain to be so! nor did I promise as much! Our chapel +is, as you know, open at all hours of the day and night, that all +who please may come and pray. These people that you see are hard- +working farm laborers, who have no time to come in the day, and who +are now here to offer up their evening prayers, and also, some of +them, to examine their consciences preparatory to confession! They +can certainly be no interruption to this ceremony." + +"Egad, I don't know that!" muttered Colonel Le Noir between his +teeth. + +As for Cap, the sight of other persons present in the chapel filled +her heart with joy and exultation, inasmuch as it insured her final +safety. And so she just abandoned herself to the spirit of frolic +that possessed her, and anticipated with the keenest relish the +denouement of her strange adventure. + +"Well, what are we waiting for? Proceed, sir, proceed!" said Colonel +Le Noir as he took Cap by the shoulders and placed her on the left +side of his son, while he himself stood behind ready to "give the +bride away." + +The ceremony immediately commenced. + +The prologue beginning, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together +here," etc., etc., etc., was read. + +The solemn exhortation to the contracting parties, commencing "I +require and charge ye both, as ye shall answer in the dreadful day +of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that +if either of you know any just cause or impediment why ye may not +lawfully be joined together," etc., etc., etc., followed. + +Capitola listened to all this with the deepest attention, saying to +herself: "Well, I declare, this getting married is really awfully +interesting! If it were not for Herbert Greyson, I'd just let it go +right straight on to the end and see what would happen next!" + +While Cap was making these mental comments the priest was asking the +bridegroom: + +"Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife," etc., etc., etc., +"so long as ye both shall live?" + +To which Craven Le Noir, in a sonorous voice responded: "I will." + +"Indeed you will? We'll see that presently!" said Cap to herself. + +The priest then turning toward the bride, inquired: + +"Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, etc., etc., etc., +so long as ye both shall live?" + +To which the bride, throwing aside her veil, answered firmly: + +"No! not if he were the last man and I the last woman on the face of +the earth and the human race was about to become extinct and the +angel of Gabriel came down from above to ask it of me as a personal +favor." + +The effect of this outburst, this revelation, this explosion, may be +imagined but can never be adequately described. + +The priest dropped his book and stood with lifted hands and open +mouth and staring eyes as though he had raised a ghost! + +The two Le Noirs simultaneously sprang forward, astonishment, +disappointment and rage contending in their blanched faces. + +"Who are you, girl?" exclaimed Colonel Le Noir. + +"Capitola Black, your honor's glory!" she replied, making a deep +curtsey. + +"What the foul fiend is the meaning of all this?" in the same breath +inquired the father and son. + +Cap put her thumb on the side of her nose, and, whirling her four +fingers, replied: + +"It means, your worships' excellencies, that--you--can't come it! +it's no go!' this chicken won't fight It means that the fat's in the +fire, and the cat's out of the bag! It means confusion! distraction! +perdition! and a tearing off of our wigs! It means the game's up, +the play's over, villainy is about to be hanged and virtue about to +be married, and the curtain is going to drop and the principal +performer--that's I-is going to be called out amid the applause of +the audience!" Then, suddenly changing her mocking tone to one of +great severity, she said: + +"It means that you have been outwitted by a girl! It means that your +purposed victim has fled, and is by this time in safety! It means +that you two, precious father and son, would be a pair of knaves if +you had sense enough; but, failing in that, you are only a pair of +fools!" + +By this time the attention of the few persons in the church was +aroused. They all arose to their feet to look and listen, and some +of them left their places and approached the altar. And to these +latter Capitola now suddenly turned and said aloud: + +"Good people, I am Capitola Black, the niece and ward of Major Ira +Warfield, of Hurricane Hall, whom you all know, and now I claim your +protection while I shall tell you the meaning of my presence here!" + +"Don't listen to her. She is a maniac!" cried Colonel Le Noir. + +"Stop her mouth!" cried Craven, springing upon Capitola and holding +her tightly in the grasp of his right arm, while he covered her lips +and nostrils with his large left hand. + +Capitola struggled so fiercely to free herself that Craven had +enough to do to hold her, and so was not aware of a ringing footstep +coming up the aisle, until a stunning blow dealt from a strong arm +covered his face with blood and stretched him out at Capitola's +feet. + +Cap flushed, breathless and confused, looked up and was caught to +the bosom of Herbert Greyson, who, pale with concentrated rage, held +her closely and inquired: + +"Capitola! What violence is this which has been done you? Explain! +who is the aggresor?" + +"Wai, wai, wait until I get my breath! There! that was good! That +villain has all but strangled me to death? Oh, Herbert, I'm so +delighted you've come! How is it that you always drop right down at +the right time and on the right spot?" said Cap, while gasping for +breath. + +"I will tell you another time! Now I want an explanation." + +"Yes, Herbert, I also wish to explain--not only to you but to these +gaping, good people! Let me have a hearing!" said Cap. + +"She is mad! absolutely mad!" cried Colonel Le Noir, who was +assisting his son to rise. + +"Silence, sir!" thundered Herbert Greyson, advancing toward him with +uplifted and threatening hand. + +"Gentlemen! gentlemen! pray remember that you are within the walls +of a church!" said the distressed priest. + +"Craven, this is no place for us; let us go and pursue our fugitive +ward," whispered Colonel Le Noir to his son. + +"We might as well; for it is clear that all is over here!" replied +Craven. And the two baffled villains turned to leave the place. But +Herbert Greyson, speaking up, said: + +"Good people, prevent the escape of those men until we hear what +this young lady has to say! that we may judge whether to let them go +or to take them before a magistrate." + +The people flew to the doors and windows and secured them, and then +surrounded the two Le Noirs, who found themselves prisoners. + +"Now, Capitola, tell us how it is that you are here!" said Herbert +Greyson. + +"Well, that elder man" said Cap, "is the guardian of a young heiress +who was betrothed to a worthy young man, one Doctor Traverse Rocke." + +"My friend!" interrupted Herbert. + +"Yes, Mr. Greyson, your friend! Their engagement was approved by the +young lady's father, who gave them his dying blessing. Nevertheless, +in the face of all this, this 'guardian' here, appointed by the +Orphans' Court to take charge of the heiress and her fortune, +undertakes, for his own ends, to compel the young lady to break her +engagement and marry his own son! To drive her to this measure, he +does not hesitate to use every species of cruelty. This night he was +to have forced her to this altar! But in the interval, to-day, I +chanced to visit her at the house where she was confined. Being +informed by her of her distressing situation, and having no time to +help her in any better way, I just changed clothes with her. She +escaped unsuspected in my dress. And those two heroes there, +mistaking me for her, forced me into a carriage and dragged me +hither to be married against my will. And instead of catching an +heiress, they caught a Tartar, that's all! And now, Herbert, let the +two poor wretches go hide their mortification, and do you take me +home, for I am immensely tired of doing the sentimental, making +speeches and piling up the agonies!" + +While Cap was delivering this long oration, the two Le Noirs had +made several essays to interrupt and contradict her, but were +effectually prevented by the people, whose sympathies were all with +the speaker. Now, at Herbert Greyson's command, they released the +culprits, who, threatening loudly took their departure. + +Herbert then led Capitola out and placed her upon her own pony, Gyp, +which, to her unbounded astonishment, she found there in charge of +Wool, who was also mounted upon his own hack. + +Herbert Greyson threw himself into the saddle of a third horse, and +the three took the road to Hurricane Hall. + +"And now," said Capitola, as Herbert rode up to her side, "for mercy +sake tell me, before I go crazy with conjecture, how it happened +that you dropped down from the sky at the very moment and on the +very spot where you were needed? and where did you light upon Wool +and the horses?" + +"It is very simple when you come to understand it," said Herbert, +smiling. "In the first place, you know, I graduated at the last +commencement." + +"Yes." + +"Well, I have just received a lieutenant's commission in a regiment +that is ordered to join General Scott in Mexico." + +"Oh, Herbert, that is news, and I don't know whether to be in +despair or in ecstasy!" said Cap, ready to laugh or cry, as a +feather's weight might tip the scales in which she balanced +Herbert's new honors with his approaching perils. + +"If there's any doubt about it, I decidedly recommend the latter +emotion," said Herbert, laughing. + +"When do you go?" inquired Cap. + +"Our regiment embarks from Baltimore on the first of next month. +Meanwhile I got leave of absence to come and spend a week with my +friends at home!" + +"Oh, Herbert, I--I am in a quandary! But you haven't told me yet how +you happened to meet Wool and to come here just in the nick of +time!" + +"I am just going to do so. Well, you see Capitola, I came down in +the stage to Tip Top, which I reached about three o'clock. And there +I found Wool in the hands of the Philistines, suspected of being +mad, from the manner in which he raved about losing sight of you. +Well, of course, like a true knight, I delivered my lady's squire, +comforted and reassured him and made him mount his own horse and +take charge of yours. After which I mounted the best beast that I +had hired to convey me to Hurricane Hall, and we all set off +thither. I confess that I was excessively anxious upon your account, +for I could make nothing whatever of Wool's wild story of your +supposed metamorphosis! I thought it best to make a circuit and take +the Hidden House in our course, to make some inquiries there as to +what had really happened. I had got a little bewildered between the +dark night and the strange road, and, seeing the light in the +church, I had just ridden up to inquire my way, when to my +astonishment I saw you within, before the altar, struggling in the +grasp of that ruffian. And you know the rest! And now let us ride on +quickly, for I have a strong presentiment that Major Warfield is +suffering the tortures of a lost soul through anxiety upon your +account," concluded Herbert Greyson. + +"Please, Marse Herbert and Miss Cap, don't you tell ole marse nuffin +'tall 'bout my loosin' sight of you!" pleaded Wool. + +"We shall tell you old master all about it, Wool, for I would not +have him miss the pleasure of hearing this adventure upon any +account; but I promise to bear you harmless through it," said +Herbert, as they galloped rapidly toward home. + +They reached Hurricane Hall by eight o'clock, and in good time for +supper. They found Old Hurricane storming all over the house, and +ordering everybody off the premises in his fury of anxiety upon +Capitola's account. But when the party arrived, surprise at seeing +them in the company of Herbert Greyson quite revolutionized his +mood, and, forgetting to rage, he gave them all a hearty welcome. + +And when after supper was over and they were all gathered around the +comfortable fireside, and Herbert related the adventures and feats +of Capitola at the Hidden House, and in the forest chapel, the old +man grasped the hand of his favorite and with his stormy old eyes +full of rain said: + +"You deserve to have been a man, Cap! Indeed you do, my girl!" + +That was his highest style of praise. + +Then Herbert told his own little story of getting his commission and +being ordered to Mexico. + +"God bless you, lad, and save you in the battle and bring you home +with victory!" was old Hurricane's comment. + +Then seeing that the young people were quite worn out with fatigue, +and feeling not averse to his own comfortable couch, Old Hurricane +broke up the circle and they all retired to rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR AT MARAH'S COTTAGE. + + + "Friend wilt thou give me shelter here? + The stranger meekly saith + My life is hunted! evil men + Are following on my path." + + +Marah Rocke sat by her lonely fireside. + +The cottage was not changed in any respect since the day upon which +we first of all found her there. There was the same bright, little +wood fire; the same clean hearth and the identical faded carpet on +the floor. There was the dresser with its glistening crockery ware +on the right, and the shelves with Traverse's old school books on +the left of the fireplace. + +The widow herself had changed in nothing except that her clean black +dress was threadbare and rusty, and her patient face whiter and +thinner than before. + +And now there was no eager restlessness: no frequent listening and +looking toward the door. Alas! she could not now expect to hear her +boy's light and springing step and cheerful voice as he hurried home +at eventide from his daily work. Traverse was far away at St. Louis +undergoing the cares and trials of a friendless young physician +trying to get into practice. Six months had passed since he took +leave of her, and there was as yet no hope of his returning even, to +pay a visit. + +So Marah sat very still and sad, bending over her needlework without +ever turning her head in the direction of the door. True, he wrote +to her every week. No Wednesday ever passed without bringing her a +letter written in a strong. buoyant and encouraging strain. Still +she missed Traverse very sadly. It was dreary to rise up in the +empty house every morning; dreary to sit down to her solitary meals, +and drearier still to go to bed in her lonely room without having +received her boy's kiss and heard his cheerful good-night. And it +was her custom every night to read over Traverse's last letter +before retiring to bed. + +It was getting on toward ten o'clock when she folded up her work and +put it away and drew her boy's latest epistle from her bosom to +read. It ran as follows: + + St. Louis, Dec. 1st, 184--. + +My dearest Mother--I am very glad to hear that you continue in +good health, and that you do not work too hard, or miss me too +sadly. It is the greatest comfort of my life to hear good news +of you, sweet mother. I count the days from one letter to +another, and read every last letter over daily until I get a +new one. You insist upon my telling you how I am getting on, +and whether I am out of money. I am doing quite well, ma'am, +and have some funds left! I have quite a considerable +practice. It is true that my professional services are in +request only among the very poor, who pay me with their thanks +and good wishes. But I am very glad to be able to pay off a +small part of the great debt of gratitude I owe to the +benevolent of this world by doing all that I can in my turn +for the needy. And even if I had never myself been the object +of a good man's benevolence, I should still have desired to +serve the indigent; "for whoso giveth to the poor lendeth to +the Lord," and I "like the security." Therefore, sweet mother +of mine, be at ease; for I am getting on swimmingly--with one +exception. Still I do not hear from our Clara! Six months have +now passed, during which, despite of her seeming silence, I +have written to her every week; but not one letter or message +have I received from her in return! And now you tell me also +that you have not received a single letter from her either! I +know not what to think. Anxiety upon her account is my one +sole trouble! Not that I wrong the dear girl by one instant's +doubt of her constancy--no! my soul upon her truth! if I could +do that, I should be most unworthy of her love! No, mother, +you and I know that Clara is true! But ah, we do not know to +what sufferings she may be subjected by Le Noir, who I firmly +believe has intercepted all our letters. Mother, I am about to +ask a great, perhaps an unreasonable, favor of you! It is to +go down into the neighborhood of the Hidden House and make +inquiries and try to find out Clara's real condition. If it be +possible, put yourself into communication with her, and tell +her that I judge her heart by my own, and have the firmest +faith in her constancy, even though I have written to her +every week for six months without ever having received an +answer. I feel that I am putting you to expense and trouble, +but my great anxiety about Clara, which I am sure you share, +must be my excuse. I kiss your dear and honored hands, and +remain ever your loving son and faithful servant. + + TRAVERSE ROCKE. + +"I must try to go. It will be an awful expense, because I know no +one down there, and I shall have to board at the tavern at Tip Top +while I am making inquiries--for I dare not approach the dwelling of +Gabriel Le Noir!" said Marah Rocke, as she folded up her letter and +replaced it in her bosom. + +Just at that moment she heard the sound of wheels approach and a +vehicle of some sort draw up to the gate and some one speaking +without. + +She went to the door, and, listening, heard a girlish voice say: + +"A dollar? Yes, certainly here it is. There, you may go now." + +She recognized the voice, and with a cry of joy jerked the door open +just as the carriage rolled away. And the next instant Clara Day was +in her arms. + +"Oh, my darling! my darling! my darling! is this really you? Really, +really you, and no dream?" cried Marah Rocke, all in a flutter of +excitement, as she strained Clara to her bosom. + +"Yes, it is I, sweet friend, come to stay with you a long time, +perhaps," said Clara, softly, returning her caresses. + +"Oh, my lamb! my lamb! what a joyful surprise! I do think I shall go +crazy! Where did you come from, my pet? Who came with you? When did +you start? Did Le Noir consent to your coming? And how did it all +happen? But, dear child, how worn and weary you look! You must be +very tired! Have you had supper? Oh, my darling, come and lie down +on this soft lounge while I put away your things and get you some +refreshment," said Marah Rocke, in a delirium of joy, as she took +off Clara's hat and sack and laid her down to rest on the lounge, +which she wheeled up near the fire. + +"Oh, my sweet, we have been so anxious about you! Traverse and +myself! Traverse is still at St. Louis, love, getting on slowly. He +has written to you every week, and so, indeed have I, but we neither +of us have had so much as one letter in reply. And yet neither of us +ever doubted your true heart, my child. We knew that the letters +must have been lost, miscarried or intercepted," said Marah, as she +busied herself putting on the tea-kettle. + +"They must, indeed, since my experience in regard to letters exactly +corresponds with yours! I have written every week to both of you, +yet never received one line in reply from either," said Clara. + +"We knew it! We said so! Oh, those Le Noirs! Those Le Noirs! But, my +darling, you are perfectly exhausted, and though I have asked you a +half an hundred questions you shall not reply to one of them, nor +talk a bit more until you have rested and had refreshment. Here, my +love; here is Traverse's last letter. It will amuse you to lie and +read it while I am getting tea," said Marah, taking the paper from +her bosom and handing it to Clara, and then placing the stand with +the light near the head of her couch that she might see to read it +without rising. + +And while Clara, well pleased perused and smiled over her lover's +letter, Marah Rocke laid the cloth and spread a delicate repast of +tea, milk toast and poached eggs, of which she tenderly pressed her +visitor to partake. + +And when Clara was somewhat refreshed by food and rest, she said: + +"Now, dear mamma, you will wish to hear how it happens that I am +with you to-night." + +"Not unless you feel quite rested, dear girl." + +"I am rested sufficiently for the purpose; besides, I am anxious to +tell you. And oh, dear mamma! I could just now sit in your lap and +lay my head upon your kind, soft bosom so willingly!" + +"Come, then, Clara! Come, then, my darling." said Marah, tenderly, +holding out her arms. + +"No, no, mamma; you are too little; it would be a sin!" said Clara, +smiling; "but I will sit by you and put my hand in yours and rest my +head against your shoulder while I tell you all about it." + +"Come, then, my darling!" said Marah Rocke. + +Clara took the offered seat, and when she was fixed to her liking +she commenced and related to her friend a full history of all that +had occurred to her at the Hidden House from the moment that she had +first crossed its threshold to the hour in which, through the +courage and address of Capitola, she was delivered from imminent +peril. + +"And now," said Clara, in conclusion, "I have come hither in order +to get Doctor Williams to make one more appeal for me to the +Orphans' Court. And when it is proved what a traitor my guardian has +been to his trust I have no doubt that the judge will appoint some +one else in his place, or at least see that my father's last wish in +regard to my residence is carried into effect." + +"Heaven grant it, my child! Heaven grant it! Oh, those Le Noirs! +those Le Noirs! Were there ever in the world before such ruthless +villains and accomplished hypocrites?" said Marah Rocke, clasping +her hands in the strength of her emotions. + +A long time yet they talked together, and then they retired to bed, +and still talked until they fell asleep in each other's arms. + +The next morning the widow arose early, gazed a little while with +delight upon the sleeping daughter of her heart, pressed a kiss upon +her cheek so softly as not to disturb her rest, and then, leaving +her still in the deep, sweet sleep of wearied youth, she went down- +stairs to get a nice breakfast. + +Luckily a farmer's cart was just passing the road before the cottage +on its way to market. + +Marah took out her little purse from her pocket, hailed the driver +and expended half her little store in purchasing two young chickens, +some eggs and some dried peaches, saying to herself: + +"Dear Clara always had a good appetite, and healthy young human +nature must live substantially in spite of all its little heart- +aches." + +While Marah was preparing the chicken for the gridiron the door at +the foot of the stairs opened and Clara came in, looking, after her +night's rest, as fresh as a rosebud. + +"What! up with the sun, my darling?" said Marah, going to meet her. + +"Yes, mamma! Oh! it is so good to be here with you in this nice, +quiet place, with no one to make me shudder! But you must let me +help you, mamma! See! I will set the table and make the toast!" + +"Oh, Miss Clara--" + +"Yes, I will! I have been ill used and made miserable, and now you +must pet me, mamma, and let me have my own way and help you to cook +our little meals and to make the house tidy and afterward to work +those buttonholes in the shirts you were spoiling your gentle eyes +over last night. Oh! if they will only let me stay here with you and +be at peace, we shall be very happy together, you and I!" said +Clara, as she drew out the little table and laid the cloth. + +"My dear child, may the Lord make you as happy as your sweet +affection would make me!" said Marah. + +"We can work for our living together," continued Clara, as she gaily +flitted about from the dresser to the table, placing the cups and +saucers and plates. "You can sew the seams and do the plain hemming, +and I can work the buttonholes and stitch the bosoms, collars and +wristbands! And 'if the worst comes to the worst,' we can hang out +our little shingle before the cottage gate, inscribed with:" + + MRS. ROCKE AND DAUGHTER. + + Shirt Makers. + + Orders executed with neatness and dispatch. + +"We'd drive a thriving business, mamma, I assure you," said Clara, +as she sat down on a low stool at the hearth and began to toast the +bread. + +"I trust in heaven that it will never come to that with you, my +dear!" + +"Why? Why, mamma? Why should I not taste of toil and care as well as +others a thousand times better than myself? Why should not I work as +well as you and Traverse, mamma? I stand upon the broad platform of +human rights, and I say I have just as good a right to work as +others!" said Clara, with a pretty assumption of obstinacy, as she +placed the plate of toast upon the board. + +"Doubtless, dear Clara, you may play at work just as much as you +please; but heaven forbid you should ever have to work at work!" +replied Mrs, Rocke as she placed the coffee pot and the dish of +broiled chicken on the table. + +"Why, mamma, I do not think that is a good prayer at all! That is a +wicked, proud prayer, Mrs. Marah Rocke! Why shouldn't your daughter +really toil as well as other people's daughters, I'd like to be +informed?" said Clara, mockingly, as they both took their seats at +the table. + +"I think, dear Clara, that you must have contracted some of your +eccentric little friend Capitola's ways, from putting on her habit! +I never before saw you in such gay spirits!" said Mrs. Rocke, as she +poured out the coffee. + +"Oh, mamma; it is but the glad rebound of the freed bird! I am so +glad to have escaped from that dark prison of the Hidden House and +to be here with you. But tell me, mamma, is my old home occupied?" + +"No, my dear; no tenant has been found for it. The property is in +the hands of an agent to let, but the house remains quite vacant and +deserted." + +"Why is that?" asked Clara. + +"Why, my love, for the strangest reason! The foolish country people +say that since the doctor's death the place has been haunted!" + +"Haunted!" + +"Yes, my dear, so the foolish people say, and they get wiser ones to +believe them." + +"What exactly do they say? I hope--I hope they do not trifle with my +dear father's honored name and memory?" + +"Oh, no, my darling! no! but they say that although the house is +quite empty and deserted by the living strange sights and sounds are +heard and seen by passers-by at night. Lights appear at the upper +windows from which pale faces look out." + +"How very strange!" said Clara. + +"Yes, my dear, and these stories have gained such credence that no +one can be found to take the house." + +"So much the better, dear mamma, for if the new judge of the +Orphans' Court should give a decision in our favor, as he must, when +he hears the evidence, old and new, you and I can move right into it +and need not then enter the shirt-making line of business!" + +"Heaven grant it, my dear! But now, Clara, my love, we must lose no +time in seeing Doctor Williams, lest your guardian should pursue you +here and give you fresh trouble." + +Clara assented to this, and they immediately arose from the table, +cleared away the service, put the room in order and went up-stairs +to put on their bonnets, Mrs. Rocke lending Clara her own best +bonnet and shawl. When they were quite ready they locked up the +house and set out for the town. + +It was a bright, frosty, invigorating winter's morning, and the two +friends walked rapidly until they reached Doctor Williams' house. + +The kind old man was at home, and was much surprised and pleased to +see his visitors. He invited them into his parlor, and when he had +heard their story, he said: "This is a much more serious affair than +the other. We must employ counsel. Witnesses must be brought from +the neighborhood of the Hidden House. You are aware that the late +judge of the Orphans' Court has been appointed to a high office +under the government at Washington. The man that has taken his place +is a person of sound integrity, who will do his duty. It remains +only for us to prove the justice of our cause to his satisfaction, +and all will be well." + + "Oh, I trust in heaven that it will be," said Marah, fervently. + +"You two must stay in my house until the affair is decided. You +might possibly be safe from real injury; but you could not be free +from molestation in your unprotected condition at the cottage," said +Doctor Williams. + +Clara warmly expressed her thanks. + +"You had better go home now and pack up what you wish to bring, and +put out the fire and close up the house and come here immediately. +In the mean time I will see your dear father's solicitor and be +ready with my report by the time you get back," said Doctor +Williams, promptly taking his hat to go. + +Mrs. Rocke and Clara set out for the cottage, which they soon +reached. + +Throwing off her bonnet and shawl, Clara said: + +"Now, mamma, the very first thing I shall do will be to write to +Traverse, so that we can send the letter by to-day's mail and set +his mind at rest. I shall simply tell him that our mutual letters +have failed to reach their destination, but that I am now on a visit +to you, and that while I remain here nothing can interrupt our +correspondence. I shall not speak of the coming suit until we see +how it will end." + +Mrs. Rocke approved this plan, and placed writing materials on the +table. And while the matron employed herself in closing up the +rooms, packing up what was needful to take with them to the doctor's +and putting out the fire, Clara wrote and sealed her letter. They +then put on their bonnets, locked up the house, and set out. They +called at the post-office just in time to mail their letter, and +they reached the doctor's house just as he himself walked up to the +door, accompanied by the lawyer. The latter greeted the daughter of +his old client and her friend, and they all went into the house +together. + +In the doctor's study the whole subject of Clara's flight and its +occasion was talked over, and the lawyer agreed to commence +proceedings immediately. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +CAP "RESTS ON HER LAURELS" AND "SPOILS FOR A FIGHT" + + + 'Tis hardly in a body's power, + To keep at times frae being sour, + To see how things are shared; + How best o' chiels are whiles in want, + While coofs on countless thousands rant, + And ken na how to wear't. + + --BURNS. + + +Leaving Clara Day and Marah Rocke in a home of safety, plenty and +kindness, in the old doctor's house, we must run down to Hurricane +Hall to see what mischief Cap has been getting into since we left +her! In truth, none! Cap had had such a surfeit of adventures that +she was fain to lie by and rest upon her laurels. Besides, there +seemed just now nothing to do--no tyrants to take down, no robbers +to capture, no distressed damsels to deliver, and Cap was again in +danger of "spoiling for a fight." And then Herbert Greyson was at +the Hall--Herbert Greyson whom she vowed always did make a Miss +Nancy of her! And so Cap had to content herself for a week with +quiet mornings of needlework at her workstand, with Herbert to read +to or talk with her; sober afternoon rides, attended by Herbert and +Old Hurricane; and humdrum evenings at the chess board, with the +same Herbert, while Major Warfield dozed in a great "sleepy hollow" +of an armchair. + +One afternoon when they were out riding through the woods beyond the +Demon's Run, a Sheriff's officer rode up, and bowing to the party, +presented a suspicious-looking document to Capitola and a similar +one to Herbert Greyson. And while Old Hurricane stared his eyes half +out, the parties most interested opened the papers, which they found +to be rather pressing invitations to be present at a certain +solemnity at Staunton. In a word, they were subpoenaed to give +testimony in the case of Williams vs. Le Noir. + +"Here's a diabolical dilemma!" said Old Hurricane to himself, as +soon as he learned the purport of these documents. + +"Here I shall have to bring Cap into court face to face with that +demon to bear witness against him! Suppose losing one ward, he +should lay claim to another! Ah, but he can't, without foully +criminating himself! Well, well, we shall see!" + +While Old Hurricane was cogitating Cap was exulting. + +"Oh, won't I tell all I know! Yes, and more, too!" she exclaimed, in +triumph. + +"'More, too!' Oh, hoity-toity! Never say more, too!" said Herbert +laughing. + +"I will, for I'll tell all I suspect!" said Cap, galloping on ahead, +in her eagerness to get home and pack up for her journey. + +The next day Old Hurricane, Herbert Greyson, Capitola, Pitapat and +Wool went by stage to Staunton. They put up at the Planters' and +Farmers' Hotel, whence Herbert Greyson and Capitola soon sallied +forth to see Clara and Mrs. Rocke. They soon found the doctor's +house, and were ushered into the parlor in the presence of their +friends. + +The meeting between Capitola and Clara and between Mrs. Rocke and +Herbert was very cordial. And then Herbert introduced Capitola to +Mrs. Rocke and Cap presented Herbert to Clara. And they all entered +into conversation upon the subject of the coming lawsuit, and the +circumstances that led to it. And Clara and Capitola related to each +other all that had happened to each after their exchanging clothes +and parting. And when they had laughed over their mutual adventures +and misadventures, Herbert and Capitola took leave and returned to +their hotel. + +Herbert Greyson was the most serious of the whole family. Upon +reaching the hotel he went to his own room and fell into deep +reflection. And this was the course of his thought: + +"Ira Warfield and Marah Rocke are here in the same town--brought +hither upon the same errand--to-morrow to meet in the same court- +room! And yet not either of them suspects the presence of the other! +Mrs. Rocke does not know that in Capitola's uncle she will behold +Major Warfield! He does not foresee that in Clara's matronly friend +he will behold Marah Rocke! And Le Noir, the cause of all their +misery, will be present also! What will be the effect of this +unexpected meeting? Ought I not to warn one or the other? Let me +think--no! For were I to warn Major Warfield he would absent +himself. Should I drop a hint to Marah she would shrink from the +meeting! No, I will leave it all to Providence--perhaps the sight of +her sweet, pale face and soft, appealing eyes, so full of constancy +and truth, may touch that stern old heart! Heaven grant it may!" +concluded Herbert Greyson. + +The next day the suit came on. + +At an early hour Doctor Williams appeared, having in charge Clara +Day, who was attended by her friend Mrs. Rocke. They were +accommodated with seats immediately in front of the judge. + +Very soon afterward Major Warfield, Herbert Greyson and Capitola +entered, and took their places on the witness's bench, at the right +side of the court-room. + +Herbert watched Old Hurricane, whose eyes were spellbound to the +bench where sat Mrs. Rocke and Clara. Both were dressed in deep +mourning, with their veils down and their faces toward the judge. +But Herbert dreaded every instant that Marah Rocke should turn her +head and meet that fixed, wistful look of Old Hurricane. And he +wondered what strange instinct it could be that riveted the old +man's regards to that unrecognized woman. + +At last, to Herbert's great uneasiness, Major Warfield turned and +commenced questioning him: + +"Who is that woman in mourning?" + +"Hem--m--that one with the flaxen curls under her bonnet is Miss +Day." + +"I don't mean the girl, I mean the woman sitting by her?" + +"That is--hem--hem--that is Doctor Williams sitting--" + +Old Hurricane turned abruptly around and favored his nephew with a +severe, scrutinizing gaze, demanding: + +"Herbert, have you been drinking so early in the morning? Demmy, +sir, this is not the season for mint juleps before breakfast! Is +that great, stout, round-bodied, red-faced old Doctor Williams a +little woman? I see him sitting on the right of Miss Day. I didn't +refer to him! I referred to that still, quiet little woman sitting +on her left, who has never stirred hand or foot since she sat down +there. Who is she?" + +"That woman? Oh, she?--yes--ah, let me see--she is a--Miss Day's +companion!" faltered Herbert. + +"To the demon with you! Who does not see that? But who is she? What +is her name?" abruptly demanded Old Hurricane. + +"Her name is a--a--did you ever see her before, sir?" + +"I don't know! That is what I am trying to remember; but, sir, will +you answer my question?" + +"You seem very much interested in her." + +"You seem very much determined not to let me know who she is! Hang +it, sir, will you or will you not tell me that woman's name?" + +"Certainly," said Herbert. "Her name is"--He was about to say Marah +Rocke, but moral indignation overpowered him and he paused. + +"Well, well, her name is what?" impatiently demanded Old Hurricane. + +"Mrs. Warfield!" answered Herbert, doggedly. + +And just at that unfortunate moment Marah turned her pale face and +beseeching eyes around and met the full gaze of her husband! + +In an instant her face blanched to marble and her head sank upon the +railing before her bench. Old Hurricane was too dark to grow pale, +but his bronzed cheek turned as gray as his hair, which fairly +lifted itself on his head. Grasping his walking stick with both his +hands, he tottered to his feet, and, muttering: + +"I'll murder you for this, Herbert!" he strode out of the court- +room. + +Marah's head rested for about a minute on the railing before her and +when she lifted it again her face was as calm and patient as before. + +This little incident had passed without attracting attention from +any one except Capitola, who, sitting on the other side of Herbert +Greyson, had heard the little passage of words between him and her +uncle, and had seen the latter start up and go out, and who now, +turning to her companion, inquired: + +"What is the meaning of all this, Herbert?" + +"It means--Satan! And now attend to what is going on! Mr. Sauter has +stated the case, and now Stringfellow, the attorney for the other +side, is just telling the judge that he stands there in the place of +his client, Lieutenant-Colonel Le Noir, who, being ordered to join +General Taylor in Mexico, is upon the eve of setting out and cannot +be here in person!" + +"And is that true? Won't he be here?" + +"It seems not. I think he is ashamed to appear after what has +happened, and just takes advantage of a fair excuse to absent +himself." + +"And is he really going to Mexico?" + +"Oh, yes! I saw it officially announced in this morning's papers. +And, by the bye, I am very much afraid he is to take command of our +regiment, and be my superior officer!" + +"Oh, Herbert, I hope and pray not! I think there is wickedness +enough packed up in that man's body to sink a squadron or lose an +army!" + +"Well, Cap, such things will happen. Attention! There's Sauter, +ready to call his witnesses!" And, in truth, the next moment +Capitola Black was called to the stand. + +Cap took her place and gave her evidence con amore, and with such +vim and such expressions of indignation, that Stringfellow reminded +her she was there to give testimony, and not to plead the cause. + +Cap rejoined that she was perfectly willing to do both! And so she +continued not only to tell the acts, but to express her opinions as +to the motives of Le Noir, and give her judgment as to what should +be the decision of the court. + +Stringfellow, the attorney for Colonel Le Noir, evidently thought +that in this rash, reckless, spirited witness he had a fine subject +for sarcastic cross-examination! But he reckoned "without his host." +He did not know Cap! He, too, "caught a Tartar." And before the +cross-examination was concluded, Capitola's apt and cutting replies +had overwhelmed him with ridicule and confusion, and done more for +the cause of her friend than all her partisans put together! + +Other witnesses were called, to corroborate the testimony of +Capitola, and still others were examined to prove the last expressed +wishes of the late William Day, in regard to the disposal of his +daughter's person during the period of her minority. + +There was no effective rebutting evidence, and after some hard +arguing by the attorneys on both sides, the case was closed, and the +judge deferred his decision until the third day thereafter. + +The parties then left the court and returned to their several +lodgings. + +Old Hurricane gave no one a civil word that day. Wool was an +atrocious villain, an incendiary scoundrel, a cut-throat, and a +black demon. Cap was a beggar, a vagabond and a vixen. Herbert +Greyson was another beggar, besides being a knave, a fop and an +impudent puppy. The inn-keeper was a swindler, the waiters thieves, +the whole world was going to ruin, where it well deserved to go, and +all mankind to the demon--as he hoped and trusted they would! + +And all this tornado of passion and invective arose just because he +had unexpectedly met in the court-room the purient face and +beseeching eyes of a woman, married and forsaken, loved and lost, +long ago! + +Was it strange that Herbert, who had so resented his treatment of +Marah Rocke, should bear all his fury, injustice and abuse of +himself and others with such compassionate forbearance? But he not +only forbore to resent his own affronts, but so besought Capitola to +have patience with the old man's temper and apologised to the host +by saying that Major Warfield had been very severely tried that day, +and when calmer would be the first to regret the violence of his own +words. + +Marah Rocke returned with Clara to the old doctor's house. She was +more patient, silent and quiet than before. Her face was a little +paler, her eyes softer, and her tones lower--that was the only +visible effect of the morning's unexpected encounter. + +The next day but one all the parties concerned assembled at the +court-house to hear the decision of the judge. It was given, as had +been anticipated, in favor of Clara Day, who was permitted, in +accordance with her father's approved wishes, to reside in her +patrimonial home under the care of Mrs. Rocke. Colonel Le Noir was +to remain trustee of the property, with directions from the court +immediately to pay the legacies left by the late Doctor Day to Marah +Rocke and Traverse Rocke, and also to pay to Clara Day, in quarterly +instalments, from the revenue of her property, an annual sum of +money sufficient for her support. + +This decision filled the hearts of Clara and her friends with joy. +Forgetting time, and place, she threw herself into the arms of Marah +Rocke and wept with delight. All concerned in the trial then sought +their lodgings. + +Clara and Mrs. Rocke returned to the cottage to make preparations +for removing to Willow Heights. + +Doctor Williams went to the agent of the property to require him to +give up the keys, which he did without hesitation. + +Old Hurricane and his party packed up to be ready for the stage to +take them to Tip-Top the next day. + +But that night a series of mysterious events were said to have taken +place at the deserted house at Willow Heights that filled the whole +community with superstitious wonder. It was reported by numbers of +gardeners and farmers, who passed that road, on their way to early +market, that a perfect witches' sabbath had been held in that empty +house all night; that lights had appeared, flitting from room to +room; that strange, weird faces had looked out from the windows; and +wild screams had pierced the air! + +The next day when this report reached the ears of Clara, and she was +asked by Doctor Williams whether she would not be afraid to live +there, she laughed gaily and bade him try her. + +Cap, who had come over to take leave of Clara, joined her in her +merriment, declared that she, for her part, doted on ghosts, and +that after Herbert Greyson's departure she should come and visit +Clara and help her to entertain the specters. + +Clara replied that she should hold her to her promise. And so the +friends kissed and separated. + +That same day saw several removals. + +Clara and Mrs. Rocke took up their abode at Willow Heights and +seized an hour even of that busy time to write to Traverse and +apprise him of their good fortune. + +Old Hurricane and his party set out for their home, where they +arrived before nightfall. + +And the next day but one Herbert Greyson took leave of his friends +and departed to join his company on their road to glory. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BLACK DONALD. + + + Feared, shunned, belied ere youth had lost her force, + He hated men too much to feel remorse, + And thought the vice of wrath a sacred call, + To pay the injuries of some on all. + + There was a laughing devil in his sneer, + That caused emotions both of rage and fear: + And where his frown of hatred darkly fell, + Hope, withering fled and mercy sighed farewell! + + --BYRON. + + +Herbert Greyson had been correct in his conjecture concerning the +cause of Colonel Le Noir's conduct in absenting himself from the +trial, or appearing there only in the person of his attorney. A +proud, vain, conceited man, full of Joseph Surfacisms, he could +better have borne to be arraigned upon the charge of murder than to +face the accusation of baseness that was about to be proved upon +him. Being reasonably certain as to what was likely to be the +decision of the Orphan's Court, he was not disappointed in hearing +that judgment had been rendered in favor of his ward and her +friends. His one great disappointment had been upon discovering the +flight of Clara. For when he had ascertained that she had fled, he +knew that all was lost--and lost through Capitola, the hated girl +for whose destruction he had now another and a stronger motive-- +revenge! + +In this mood of mind three days before his departure to join his +regiment he sought the retreat of the outlaw. He chose an early hour +of the evening as that in which he should be most likely to find +Black Donald. + +It was about eight o'clock when he wrapped his large cloak around +his tall figure, pulled his hat low over his sinister brow and set +out to walk alone to the secret cavern in the side of the Demon's +Punch Bowl. + +The night was dark and the path dangerous; but his directions had +been careful, so that when he reached the brink of that awful abyss +he knew precisely where to begin his descent with the least danger +of being precipitated to the bottom. + +And by taking a strong hold upon the stunted saplings of pine and +cedar that grew down through the clefts of the ravine, and placing +his feet firmly upon the points of projecting rocks, he contrived to +descend the inside of that horrible abyss, which from the top seemed +to be fraught with certain death to any one daring enough to make +the attempt. + +When about half-way down the precipice he reached the clump of cedar +bushes growing in the deep cleft, and concealing the hole that +formed the entrance to the cavern. + +"Here he paused, and, looking through the entrance into a dark and +apparently fathomless cavern, he gave the peculiar signal whistle, +which was immediately answered from within by the well-known voice +of the outlaw chief, saying:" + +"All right, my colonel! Give us your hand! Be careful, now, the +floor of this cavern is several feet below the opening." + +Le Noir extended his hand into the darkness within and soon felt it +grasped by that of Black Donald, who, muttering; "Slowly, slowly, my +colonel!" succeeded in guiding him down the utter darkness of the +subterranean descent until they stood upon the firm bottom of the +cavern. + +They were still in the midst of a blackness that might be felt, +except that from a small opening in the side of the rock a light +gleamed. Toward this second opening Black Donald conducted his +patron. + +And stooping and passing before him, led him into an inner cavern, +well lighted and rudely fitted up. Upon a large natural platform of +rock, occupying the center of the space, were some dozen bottles of +brandy or whisky, several loaves of bread and some dried venison. +Around this rude table, seated upon fragments of rock, lugged +thither for the purpose, were some eight or ten men of the band, in +various stages of intoxication. Along the walls were piles of +bearskins, some of which served as couches for six or seven men, who +had thrown themselves down upon them in a state of exhaustion or +drunken stupor. + +"Come, boys, we have not a boundless choice of apartments here, and +I want to talk to my colonel! Suppose you take your liquor and bread +and meat into the outer cavern and give us the use of this one for +an hour," said the outlaw. + +The men sullenly obeyed and began to gather up the viands. Demon +Dick seized one of the lights to go after them. + +"Put down the glim! Satan singe your skin for you! Do you want to +bring a hue and cry upon us? Don't you know a light in the outer +cavern can be seen from the outside?" roared Black Donald. + +Dick sulkily set down the candle and followed his comrades. + +"What are you glummering about, confound you! You can see to eat and +drink well enough and find your way to your mouth, in the dark, you +brute!" thundered the captain. But as there was no answer to this +and the men had retreated and left their chief with his visitor +alone, Black Donald turned to Colonel Le Noir and said: + +"Well, my patron, what great matter is it that has caused you to +leave the company of fair Clara Day for our grim society?" + +"Ah, then, it appears you are not aware that Clara Day has fled from +us--has made a successful appeal to the Orphans' Court, and been +taken out of our hands?" angrily replied Colonel Le Noir. + +"Whe--ew! My colonel, I think I could have managed that matter +better! I think if I had had that girl in my power as you had, she +should not have escaped me! " + +"Bah! bah! bah! Stop boasting, since it was through your neglect-- +yours! yours! that I lost this girl!" + +"Mine!" exclaimed Black Donald, in astonishment. + +"Aye, yours! for if you had done your duty, performed your +engagement, kept your word, and delivered me from this fatal +Capitola, I had not lost my ward, nor my son his wealthy bride!" +exclaimed Le Noir, angrily. + +"Capitola! Capitola again! What on earth had she to do with the loss +of Clara Day?" cried Black Donald, in wonder. + +"Everything to do with it, sir! By a cunning artifice she delivered +Clara from our power--actually set her free and covered her flight +until she was in security!" + +"That girl again! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho ho, ho!" laughed +and roared Black Donald, slapping his knees. + +Le Noir ground and gnashed his teeth in rage, muttering hoarsely: + +"Yes, you may laugh, confound you, since it is granted those who win +to do so! You may laugh; for you have done me out of five thousand +dollars, and what on earth have you performed to earn it?" + +"Come, come, my colonel, fair and easy! I don't know which is +vulgarest, to betray loss of temper or love of money, and you are +doing both. However, it is between friends. But how the demon did +that girl, that capital Capitola, get Clara off from right under +your eyes?" + +"By changing clothes with her, confound you! I will tell you all +about it," replied Le Noir, who thereupon commenced and related the +whole stratagem by which Capitola freed Clara, including the manner +in which she accompanied them to the church and revealed herself at +the altar. + +Black Donald threw himself back and roared with laughter, vigorously +slapping his knees and crying: + +"That girl! that capital Capitola! I would not sell my prospect of +possessing her for double your bribe." + +"Your 'prospect!' Your prospect is about as deceptive as a fata +morgana! What have you been doing, I ask you again, toward realizing +this prospect and earning the money you have already received?" + +"Fair and easy, my colonel! Don't let temper get the better of +justice! What have I been doing toward earning the money you have +already paid me? In the first place, I lost time and risked my +liberty watching around Hurricane Hall. Then, when I had identified +the girl and the room she slept in by seeing her at the window, I +put three of my best men in jeopardy to capture her. Then, when she, +the witch, had captured them, I sacrificed all my good looks, +transmogrifying myself into a frightful old field preacher, and went +to the camp-meeting to watch, among other things, for an opportunity +of carrying her off. The sorceress! she gave me no such opportunity. +I succeeded in nothing except in fooling the wiseacres and getting +admitted to the prison of my comrades, whom I furnished with +instruments by which they made their escape. Since that time we have +had to lie low--yes, literally to lie low--to keep out of sight, to +burrow under ground; in a word, to live in this cavern." + +"And since which you have abandoned all intention of getting the +girl and earning the five thousand dollars," sneered Le Noir. + +"Earning the remaining five thousand, you mean, colonel. The first +five thousand I consider I have already earned. It was the last five +thousand that I was to get when the girl should be disposed of." + +"Well?" + +"Well, I have not given up either the intention of earning the money +or the hope of getting the girl; in truth, I had rather lose the +money than the girl. I have been on the watch almost continually; +but, though I suppose she rides out frequently, I have not yet +happened to hit upon her in any of her excursions. At last, however, +I have fixed upon a plan for getting the witch into my power. I +shall trust the execution of my plan to no one but myself. But I +must have time." + +"Time! perdition, sir! delay in this matter is fraught with danger! +Listen, sir! How Warfield got possession of this girl or the +knowledge of her history I do not know, except that it was through +the agency of that accursed hag Nancy Grewell. But that he has her +and that he knows all about her is but too certain. That he has not +at present legal proof enough to establish her identity and her +rights before a court of justice I infer from the fact of his +continuing inactive in the matter. But who can foresee how soon he +may obtain all the proof that is necessary to establish Capitola's +claims and wrest the whole of this property from me? Who can tell +whether he is not now secretly engaged in seeking and collecting +such proof? Therefore, I repeat that the girl must immediately be +got rid of! Donald, rid me of that creature and the day that you +prove to me her death I will double your fee!" + +"Agreed, my colonel, agreed! I have no objection to your doubling, +or even quadrupling, my fee. You shall find me in that, as in all +other matters, perfectly amenable to reason. Only I must have time. +Haste would ruin us. I repeat that I have a plan by which I am +certain to get the girl into my possession--a plan the execution of +which I will entrust to no other hands but my own. But I conclude as +I began--I must have time." + +"And how much time?" exclaimed Le Noir, again losing his patience. + +"Easy, my patron. That I cannot tell you. It is imprudent to make +promises, especially to you, who will take nothing into +consideration when they cannot be kept," replied Black Donald, +coolly. + +"But, sir, do you not know that I am ordered to Mexico, and must +leave within three days? I would see the end of this before I go," +angrily exclaimed Le Noir. + +"Softly, softly, my child the colonel! 'Slow and sure!' 'Fair and +easy goes far in a day!'" + +"In a word, will you do this business for me and do it promptly?" + +"Surely, surely, my patron! But I insist upon time." + +"But I go to Mexico in three days." + +"All honor go with you, my colonel. Who would keep his friend from +the path of glory?" + +"Perdition, sir, you trifle with me." + +"Perdition, certainly, colonel; there I perfectly agree with you. +But the rest of your sentence is wrong; I don't trifle with you." + +"What in the fiend's name do you mean?" + +"Nothing in the name of any absent friend of ours. I mean simply +that you may go to--Mexico!" + +"And--my business--" + +"--Can be done just as well, perhaps better, without you. Recollect, +if you please, my colonel, that when you were absent with Harrison +in the West your great business was done here without you! And done +better for that very reason! No one even suspected your agency in +that matter. The person most benefited by the death of Eugene Le +Noir was far enough from the scene of his murder." + +"Hush! Perdition seize you! Why do you speak of things so long +past?" exclaimed Le Noir, growing white to his very lips. + +"To jog your worship's memory and suggest that your honor is the +last man who ought to complain of this delay, since it will be very +well for you to be in a distant land serving your country at the +time that your brother's heiress, whose property you illegally hold, +is got out of your way." + +"There is something in that," mused Le Noir. + +"There is all in that!" + +"You have a good brain, Donald." + +"What did I tell you? I ought to have been in the cabinet--and mean +to be, too! But, colonel, as I mean to conclude my part of the +engagement, I should like, for fear of accidents, that you conclude +yours--and settle with me before you go." + +"What do you mean?" + +"That you should fork over to me the remaining five thousand." + +"I'll see you at the demon first," passionately exclaimed Le Noir. + +"No, you won't, for in that case you'd have to make way with the +girl yourself, or see Old Hurricane make way with all your fortune." + +"Wretch that you are!" + +"Come, come, colonel, don't let's quarrel. The Kingdom of Satan +divided against itself cannot stand. Do not let us lose time by +falling out. I will get rid of the girl. You, before you go, must +hand over the tin, lest you should fall in battle and your heirs +dispute the debt! Shell out, my colonel! Shell out and never fear! +Capitola shall be a wife and Black Donald a widower before many +weeks shall pass." + +"I'll do it! I have no time for disputation, as you know, and you +profit by the knowledge. I'll do it, though under protest," muttered +Le Noir, grinding his teeth. + +"That's my brave and generous patron!" said Black Donald, as he +arose to attend Le Noir from the cavern; "that's my magnificent +colonel of cavalry! The man who runs such risks for you should be +very handsomely remunerated!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +GLORY. + + + "What Alexander sighed for, + What Caesar's soul possessed, + What heroes, saints have died for, + Glory!" + + +Within three days after his settlement with Black Donald, Colonel Le +Noir left home to join his regiment, ordered to Mexico. + +He was accompanied by his son Craven Le Noir as far as Baltimore, +from which port the reinforcements were to sail for New Orleans, en +route for the seat of war. + +Here, at the last moment, when the vessel was about to weigh anchor, +Craven Le Noir took leave of his father and set out for the Hidden +House. + +And here Colonel Le Noir's regiment was joined by the company of new +recruits in which Herbert Greyson held a commission as lieutenant, +and thus the young man's worst forebodings were realized in having +for a traveling companion and superior officer the man of whom he +had been destined to make a mortal enemy, Colonel Le Noir. However, +Herbert soon marked out his course of conduct, which was to avoid Le +Noir as much as was consistent with his own official duty, and, when +compelled to meet him, to deport himself with the cold ceremony of a +subordinate to a superior officer. + +Le Noir, on his part, treated Herbert with an arrogant scorn +amounting to insult, and used every opportunity afforded him by his +position to wound and humiliate the young lieutenant. + +After a quick and prosperous voyage they reached New Orleans, where +they expected to be farther reinforced by a company of volunteers +who had come down the Mississippi river from St. Louis. These +volunteers were now being daily drilled at their quarters in the +city, and were only waiting the arrival of the vessel to be enrolled +in the regiment. + +One morning, a few days after the ship reached harbor, Herbert +Greyson went on shore to the military rendezvous to see the new +recruits exercised. While he stood within the enclosure watching +their evolutions under the orders of an officer, his attention +became concentrated upon the form of a young man of the rank and +file who was marching in a line with many others having their backs +turned toward him. That form and gait seemed familiar--the +circumstances in which he saw them again--painfully familiar. And +yet he could not identify the man. While he gazed, the recruits, at +the word of command, suddenly wheeled and faced about. And Herbert +could scarcely repress an exclamation of astonishment and regret. + +That young man in the dress of a private soldier was Clara Day's +betrothed, the widow's only son, Traverse Rocke! While Herbert +continued to gaze in surprise and grief, the young recruit raised +his eyes, recognized his friend, flushed up to his very temples and +cast his eyes down again. The rapid evolutions soon wheeled them +around, and the next order sent them into their quarters. + +Herbert's time was also up, and he returned to his duty. + +The next day Herbert went to the quarters of the new recruits and +sought out his young friend, whom he found loitering about the +grounds. Again Traverse blushed deeply as the young lieutenant +approached. But Herbert Greyson, letting none of his regret appear, +since now it would be worse than useless in only serving to give +pain to the young private, went up to him cordially and shook his +hands, saying: + +"Going to serve your country, eh, Traverse? Well, I am heartily glad +to see you, at any rate." + +"But heartily sorry to see me here, enlisted as a private in a +company of raw recruits, looking not unlike Falstaff's ragged +regiment?" + +"Nay; I did not say that, Traverse. Many a private in the ranks has +risen to be a general officer," replied Herbert, encouragingly. + +Traverse laughed good humoredly, saying: + +"It does not look much like that in my case. This dress," he said, +looking down at his coarse, ill-fitting uniform, cowhide shoes, +etc.; "this dress, this drilling, these close quarters, coarse food +and mixed company are enough to take the military ardor out of any +one!" + +"Traverse, you talk like a petit maitre, which is not at all your +character. Effeminacy is not your vice." + +"Nor any other species of weakness, do you mean? Ah, Herbert, your +aspiring hopeful, confident old friend is considerably taken down in +his ideas of himself, his success and life in general! I went to the +West with high hopes. Six months of struggling against indifference, +neglect and accumulated debts lowered them down! I carried out +letters and made friends, but their friendship began and ended in +wishing me well. While trying to get into profitable practice I got +into debt. Meanwhile I could not hear from my betrothed in all those +months. An occasional letter from her might have prevented this +step. But troubles gathered around me, debts increased and--" + +"--Creditors were cruel. It is the old story; my poor boy!" + +"No; my only creditors were my landlady and my laundress, two poor +widows who never willingly distressed me, but who occasionally asked +for 'that little amount' so piteously that my heart bled to lack it +to give them. And as victuals and clean shirts were absolute +necessaries of life, every week my debts increased. I could have +faced a prosperous male creditor, and might, perhaps, have been +provoked to bully such an one, had he been inclined to be cruel; but +I could not face poor women who, after all, I believe, are generally +the best friends a struggling young man can have; and so, not to +bore a smart young lieutenant with a poor private's antecedents--" + +"Oh, Traverse--" + +"--I will even make an end of my story. 'At last there came a weary +day when hope and faith beneath the weight gave way.' And, hearing +that a company of volunteers was being raised to go to Mexico, I +enlisted, sold my citizen's wardrobe and my little medical library, +paid my debts, made my two friends, the poor widows, some acceptable +presents, sent the small remnant of the money to my mother, telling +her that I was going farther south to try my fortune, and--here I +am." + +"You did not tell her that you had enlisted?" + +"No." + +"Oh, Traverse, how long ago was it that you left St. Louis?" + +"Just two weeks." + +"Ah! if you had only had patience for a few days longer!" burst +unaware from Herbert's bosom. In an instant he was sorry for having +spoken thus, for Traverse, with all his soul in his eyes, asked +eagerly; + +"Why--why, Herbert? What do you mean?" + +"Why, you should know that I did not come direct from West Point, +but from the neighborhood of Staunton and Hurricane Hall." + +"Did you? Oh, did you? Then you may be able to give me news of Clara +and my dear mother," exclaimed Traverse, eagerly. + +"Yes, I am--pleasant news," said Herbert, hesitating in a manner +which no one ever hesitated before in communicating good tidings. + +"Thank heaven! oh, thank heaven! What is it, Herbert? How is my dear +mother getting on? Where is my best Clara?" + +"They are both living together at Willow Heights, according to the +wishes of the late Doctor Day. A second appeal to the Orphans' Court +made in behalf of Clara by her next friend, Doctor Williams, about a +month ago, proved more successful. And if you had waited a few days +longer before enlisting and leaving St. Louis, you would have +received a letter from Clara to the same effect, and one from Doctor +Williams apprizing you that your mother had received her legacy, and +that the thousand dollars left you by Doctor Day had been paid into +the Agricultural Bank, subject to your orders." + +"Oh, heaven! had I but waited three days longer!" exclaimed +Traverse, in such acute distress that Herbert hastened to console +him by saying: + +"Do not repine, Traverse; these things go by fate. It was your +destiny--let us hope it will prove a glorious one." + +"It was my impatience!" exclaimed Traverse. "It was my impatience! +Doctor Day always faithfully warned me against it; always told me +that most of the errors, sins and miseries of this world arose from +simple impatience, which is want of faith. And now I know it! and +now I know it! What had I, who had an honorable profession, to do +with becoming a private soldier?" + +"Well, well, it is honorable at least to serve your country," said +Herbert, soothingly. + +"If a foreign foe invaded her shores, yes; but what had I to do with +invading another's country?--enlisting for a war of the rights and +wrongs of which I know no more than anybody else does? Growing +impatient because fortune did not at once empty her cornucopia upon +my head! Oh, fool!" + +"You blame yourself too severely, Traverse. Your act was natural +enough and justifiable enough, much as it is to be regretted," said +Herbert, cheerfully. + +"Come, come, sit on this plank bench beside me--if you are not +ashamed to be seen with a private who is also a donkey--and tell me +all about it. Show me the full measure of the happiness I have so +recklessly squandered away," exclaimed Traverse, desperately. + +"I will sit beside you and tell you everything you wish to know, on +condition that you stop berating yourself in a manner that fills me +with indignation," replied Herbert, as they went to a distant part +of the dusty enclosure and took their seats upon a rude bench. + +"Oh, Herbert, bear with me; I could dash my wild, impatient head +against a stone wall!" + +"That would not be likely to clear or strengthen your brains," said +Herbert, who thereupon commenced and told Traverse the whole history +of the persecution of Clara Day at the Hidden House; the +interception of her letters; the attempt made to force her into a +marriage with Craven Le Noir; her deliverance from her enemies by +the address and courage of Capitola; her flight to Staunton and +refuge with Mrs. Rocke; her appeal to the court, and finally her +success and her settlement under the charge of her matronly friend +at Willow Heights. + +Traverse had not listened patiently to this account. He heard it +with many bursts of irrepressible indignation and many involuntary +starts of wild passion. Toward the last he sprang up and walked up +and down, chafing like an angry lion in his cage. + +"And this man," he exclaimed, as Herbert concluded; "this demon! +this beast! is now our commanding officer--the colonel of our +regiment." + +"Yes," replied Herbert, "but as such you must not call him names; +military rules are despotic; and this man, who knows your person and +knows you to be the betrothed of Clara Day, whose hand and fortune +he covets for his son? will leave no power with which his command +invests him untried to ruin and destroy you! Traverse, I say these +things to you that being 'forewarned' you may be 'forearmed.' I +trust that you will remember your mother and your betrothed, and for +their dear sakes practise every sort of self-control, patience and +forbearance under the provocations you may receive from our colonel. +And in advising you to do this I only counsel that which I shall +myself practise. I, too, am under the ban of Le Noir for the part I +played in the church in succoring Capitola, as well as for happening +to be 'the nephew of my uncle,' Major Warfield, who is his mortal +enemy." + +"I? Will I not be patient, after the lesson I have just learned upon +the evils of the opposite? Be easy on my account, dear old friend, I +will be as patient as Job, meek as Moses and long-suffering as--my +own sweet mother!" said Traverse, earnestly. + +The drum was now heard beating to quarters, and Traverse, wringing +his friend's hand, left him. + +Herbert returned to his ship full of one scheme, of which he had not +spoken to Traverse lest it should prove unsuccessful. This scheme +was to procure his free discharge before they should set sail for +the Rio Grande. He had many influential friends among the officers +of his regiment, and he was resolved to tell them as much as was +delicate, proper and useful for them to know of the young recruit's +private history, in order to get their cooperation. + +Herbert spent every hour of this day and the next, when off duty, in +this service of his friend. He found his brother officers easily +interested, sympathetic and propitious. They united their efforts +with his own to procure the discharge of the young recruit, but in +vain; the power of Colonel Le Noir was opposed to their influence +and the application was peremptorily refused. + +Herbert Greyson did not sit down quietly under this disappointment, +but wrote an application embodying all the facts of the case to the +Secretary of War, got it signed by all the officers of the regiment +and despatched it by the first mail. + +Simultaneously he took another important step for the interest of +his friend. Without hinting any particular motive, he had begged +Traverse to let him have his photograph taken, and the latter, with +a laugh at the lover-like proposal, had consented. When the likeness +was finished Herbert sent it by express to Major Warfield, +accompanied by a letter describing the excellent character and +unfortunate condition of Traverse, praying the major's interest in +his behalf and concluding by saying: + +"You cannot look upon the accompanying photograph of my friend and +any longer disclaim your own express image in your son." + +How this affected the action of Old Hurricane will be seen +hereafter. + +Traverse, knowing nothing of the efforts that had been and were +still being made for his discharge, suffered neither disappointment +for failure of the first nor anxiety for the issue of the last. + +He wrote to his mother and Clara, congratulating them on their good +fortune; telling them that he, in common with many young men of St. +Louis, had volunteered for the Mexican War; that he was then in New +Orleans, en route for the Rio Grande, and that they would be pleased +to know that their mutual friend, Herbert Greyson, was an officer in +the same regiment of which he himself was at present a private, but +with strong hopes of soon winning his epaulettes. He endorsed an +order for his mother to draw the thousand dollars left him by Doctor +Day, and he advised her to re-deposit the sum in her own name for +her own use in case of need. Praying God's blessing upon them all, +and begging their prayers for himself, Traverse concluded his +letter, which he mailed the same evening. + +And the next morning the company was ordered on board and the whole +expedition set sail for the Rio Grande. + +Now, we might just as easily as not accompany our troops to Mexico +and relate the feats of arms there performed with the minuteness and +fidelity of an eye-witness, since we have sat at dinner-tables where +the heroes of that war have been honored guests, and where we have +heard them fight their battles o'er till "thrice the foe was slain +and thrice the field was won." + +We might follow the rising star of our young lieutenant, as by his +own merits and others' mishaps he ascended from rank to rank, +through all the grades of military promotion, but need not because +the feats of Lieutenant--Captain--Major and Colonel Greyson, are +they not written in the chronicles of the Mexican War? + +We prefer to look after our little domestic heroine, our brave +little Cap, who, when women have their rights, shall be a +lieutenant-colonel herself. Shall she not, gentlemen? + + * * * * * * * + +In one fortnight from this time, while Mrs. Rocke and Clara were +still living comfortably at Willow Heights and waiting anxiously to +hear from Traverse, whom they still supposed to be practising his +profession at St Louis, they received his last letter written on the +eve of his departure for the seat of war. At first the news +overwhelmed them with grief, but then they sought relief in faith, +answered his letter cheerfully and commended him to the infinite +mercy of God. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +CAP CAPTIVATES A CRAVEN. + + + "He knew himself a villain, but he deemed + The rest no better than the thing he seemed; + And scorned the best as hypocrites who hid + Those deeds the bolder spirits plainly did. + He knew himself detested, but he knew + The hearts that loathed him crouched and--dreaded, too." + + +The unregenerate human heart is, perhaps, the most inconsistent +thing in all nature; and in nothing is it more capricious than in +the manifestations of its passions; and in no passion is it so +fantastic as in that which it miscalls love, but which is really +often only appetite. + +From the earliest days of manhood Craven Le Noir had been the votary +of vice, which he called pleasure. Before reaching the age of +twenty-five he had run the full course of dissipation, and found +himself ruined in health, degraded in character and disgusted with +life. + +Yet in all this experience his heart had not been once agitated with +a single emotion that deserved the name of passion. It was colder +than the coldest. + +He had not loved Clara, though, for the sake of her money, he had +courted her so assiduously. Indeed, for the doctor's orphan girl he +had from the first conceived a strong antipathy. His evil spirit had +shrunk from her pure soul with the loathing a fiend might feel for +an angel. He had found it repugnant and difficult, almost to the +extent of impossibility, for him to pursue the courtship to which he +was only reconciled by a sense of duty to--his pocket. + +It was reserved for his meeting with Capitola at the altar of the +Forest Chapel to fire his clammy heart, stagnant blood and sated +senses with the very first passion that he had ever known. Her +image, as she stood there at the altar with flashing eyes and +flaming cheeks and scathing tongue defying him, was ever before his +mind's eye. There was something about that girl so spirited, so +piquant and original that she impressed even his apathetic nature as +no other woman had ever been able to do. But what most of all +attracted him to Capitola was her diablerie. He longed to catch that +little savage to his bosom and have her at his mercy. The aversion +she had exhibited toward him only stimulated his passion. + +Craven Le Noir, among his other graces, was gifted with inordinate +vanity. He did not in the least degree despair of over-coming all +Capitola's dislike to his person and inspiring her with a passion +equal to his own. + +He knew well that he dared not present himself at Hurricane Hall, +but he resolved to waylay her in her rides and there to press his +suit. To this he was urged by another motive almost as strong as +love--namely, avarice. + +He had gathered thus much from his father, that Capitola Black was +supposed to be Capitola Le Noir, the rightful heiress of all that +vast property in land, houses, iron and coal mines, foundries and +furnaces, railway shares, etc., and bank stocks, from which his +father drew the princely revenue that supported them both in their +lavish extravagance of living. + +As the heiress--or, rather, the rightful owner--of all this vast +fortune. Capitola was a much greater "catch" than poor Clara, with +her modest estate, had been. And Mr. Craven Le Noir was quite +willing to turn the tables on his father by running off with the +great heiress, and step from his irksome position of dependent upon +Colonel Le Noir's often ungracious bounty to that of the husband of +the heiress and the master of the property. Added to that was +another favorable circumstance--namely, whereas he had had a strong +personal antipathy to Clara he had as strong an attraction to +Capitola, which would make his course of courtship all the +pleasanter. + +In one word, he resolved to woo, win and elope with, or forcibly +abduct, Capitola Le Noir, marry her and then turn upon his father +and claim the fortune in right of his wife. The absence of Colonel +Le Noir in Mexico favored his projects, as he could not fear +interruption. + +Meanwhile our little madcap remained quite unconscious of the honors +designed her. She had cried every day of the first week of Herbert's +absence; every alternate day of the second; twice in the third; once +in the fourth; not at all in the fifth, and the sixth week she was +quite herself again, as full of fun and frolic and as ready for any +mischief or deviltry that might turn up. + +She resumed her rides, no longer followed by Wool, because Old +Hurricane, partly upon account of his misadventure in having had the +misfortune inadvertently "to lose sight of" his mistress upon that +memorable occasion of the metamorphosis of Cap into Clara and partly +because of the distant absence of Le Noir, did not consider his +favorite in danger. + +He little knew that a subtle and unscrupulous agent had been left +sworn to her destruction, and that another individual, almost +equally dangerous, had registered a secret vow to run off with her. + +Neither did poor Cap when, rejoicing to be free from the dogging +attendance of Wool, imagine the perils to which she was exposed; nor +is it even likely that if she had she would have cared for them in +any other manner than as promising piquant adventures. From +childhood she had been inured to danger, and had never suffered +harm; therefore, Cap, like the Chevalier Bayard, was "without fear +and without reproach." + +Craven Le Noir proceeded cautiously with his plans, knowing that +there was time enough and that all might be lost by haste. He did +not wish to alarm Capitola. + +The first time he took occasion to meet her in her rides he merely +bowed deeply, even to the flaps of his saddle and, with a melancholy +smile, passed on. + +"Miserable wretch! He is a mean fellow to want to marry a girl +against her will, no matter how much he might have been in love with +her, and I am very glad I balked him. Still, he looks so ill and +unhappy that I can't help pitying him," said Cap, looking +compassionately at his white cheeks and languishing eyes, and little +knowing that the illness was the effect of dissipation and that the +melancholy was assumed for the occasion. + +A few days after this Cap again met Craven Le Noir, who again, with +a deep bow and sad smile, passed her. + +"Poor fellow! he richly deserves to suffer, and I hope it may make +him better, for I am right-down sorry for him; it must be so +dreadful to lose one we love; but it was too base in him to let his +father try to compel her to have him. Suppose, now, Herbert Greyson +was to take a fancy to another girl, would I let uncle go to him and +put a pistol to his head and say, 'Cap is fond of you, you varlet! +and demmy, sir, you shall marry none but her, or receive an ounce of +lead in your stupid brains'? No, I'd scorn it; I'd forward the other +wedding; I'd make the cake and dress the bride and--then maybe I'd +break--no, I'm blamed if I would! I'd not break my heart for +anybody. Set them up with it, indeed! Neither would my dear, +darling, sweet, precious Herbert treat me so, and I'm a wretch to +think of it!" said Cap, with a rich, inimitable unction as, +rejoicing in her own happy love, she cheered Gyp and rode on. + +Now, Craven Le Noir had been conscious of the relenting and +compassionate looks of Capitola, but he did not know that they were +only the pitying regards of a noble and victorious nature over a +vanquished and suffering wrong-doer. However, he still determined to +be cautious, and not ruin his prospects by precipitate action, but +to "hasten slowly." + +So the next time he met Capitola he raised his eyes with one deep, +sad, appealing gaze to hers, and then, bowing profoundly, passed on, + +"Poor man," said Cap to herself, "he bears no malice toward me for +depriving him of his sweetheart; that's certain. And, badly as he +behaved, I suppose it was all for love, for I don't know how any one +could live in the same house with Clara and not be in love with her. +I should have been so myself if I'd been a man, I know!" + +The next time Cap met Craven and saw again that deep, sorrowful, +appealing gaze as he bowed and passed her, she glanced after him, +saying to herself: + +"Poor soul, I wonder what he means by looking at me in that piteous +manner? I can do nothing to relieve him. I'm sure if I could I +would. But 'the way of the transgressor is hard,' Mr. Le Noir, and +he who sins must suffer." + +For about three weeks their seemingly accidental meetings continued +in this silent manner, so slowly did Craven make his advances. Then, +feeling more confidence, he made a considerably long step forward. + +One day, when he guessed that Capitola would be out, instead of +meeting her as heretofore, he put himself in her road and, riding +slowly toward a five-barred gate, allowed her to overtake him. + +He opened the gate and, bowing, held it open until she had passed. + +She bowed her thanks and rode on; but presently, without the least +appearance of intruding, since she had overtaken him, he was at her +side and, speaking with downcast eyes and deferential manner, he +said: + +"I have long desired an opportunity to express the deep sorrow and +mortification I feel for having been hurried into rudeness toward an +estimable young lady at the Forest Chapel. Miss Black, will you +permit me now to assure you of my profound repentance of that act +and to implore your pardon?" + +"Oh, I have nothing against you, Mr. Le Noir. It was not I whom you +were intending to marry against my will; and as for what you said +and did to me, ha! ha! I had provoked it, you know, and I also +afterwards paid it in kind. It was a fair fight, in which I was the +victor, and victors should never be vindictive," said Cap, laughing, +for, though knowing him to have been violent and unjust, she did not +suspect him of being treacherous and deceitful, or imagine the base +designs concealed beneath his plausible manner. Her brave, honest +nature could understand a brute or a despot, but not a traitor. + +"Then, like frank enemies who have fought their fight out, yet bear +no malice toward each other, we may shake hands and be friends, I +hope," said Craven, replying in the same spirit in which she had +spoken. + +"Well, I don't know about that, Mr. Le Noir. Friendship is a very +sacred thing, and its name should not be lightly taken on our +tongues. I hope you will excuse me if I decline your proffer," said +Cap, who had a well of deep, true, earnest feeling beneath her +effervescent surface. + +"What! you will not even grant a repentant man your friendship, Miss +Black?" asked Craven, with a sorrowful smile. + +"I wish you well, Mr. Le Noir. I wish you a good and, therefore, a +happy life; but I cannot give you friendship, for that means a great +deal." + +"Oh, I see how it is! You cannot give your friendship where you +cannot give your esteem. Is it not so?" + +"Yes," said Capitola; "that is it; yet I wish you so well that I +wish you might grow worthy of higher esteem than mine." + +"You are thinking of my--yes, I will not shrink from characterizing +that conduct as it deserves--my unpardonable violence toward Clara. +Miss Black, I have mourned that sin from the day that I was hurried +into it until this. I have bewailed it from the very bottom of my +heart," said Craven, earnestly, fixing his eyes with an expression +of perfect truthfulness upon those of Capitola. + +"I am glad to hear you say so," said Cap. + +"Miss Black, please hear this in palliation--I would not presume to +say in defense--of my conduct: I was driven to frenzy by a passion +of contending love and jealousy as violent and maddening as it was +unreal and transient. But that delusive passion has subsided, and +among the unmerited mercies for which I have to be thankful is that, +in my frantic pursuit of Clara Day, I was not cursed with success! +For all the violence into which that frenzy hurried me I have deeply +repented. I can never forgive myself, but--cannot you forgive me?" + +"Mr. Le Noir, I have nothing for which to forgive you. I am glad +that you have repented toward Clara and I wish you well, and that is +really all that I can say." + +"I have deserved this and I accept it," said Craven, in a tone so +mournful that Capitola, in spite of all her instincts, could not +choose but pity him. + +He rode on, with his pale face, downcast eyes and melancholy +expression, until they reached a point at the back of Hurricane +Hall, where their paths diverged. + +Here Craven, lifting his hat and bowing profoundly, said, in a sad +tone: + +"Good evening, Miss Black," and, turning his horse's head, took the +path leading down into the Hidden Hollow. + +"Poor young fellow! he must be very unhappy down in that miserable +place; but I can't help it. I wish he would go to Mexico with the +rest," said Cap, as she pursued her way homeward. + +Not to excite her suspicion, Craven Le Noir avoided meeting Capitola +for a few days, and then threw himself in her road and, as before, +allowed her to overtake him. + +Very subtly he entered into conversation with her, and, guarding +every word and look, took care to interest without alarming her. He +said no more of friendship, but a great deal of regret for wasted +years and wasted talents in the past and good resolutions for the +future. + +And Cap listened good humoredly. Capitola, being of a brave, hard, +firm nature, had not the sensitive perceptions, fine intuitions and +true insight into character that distinguished the more refined +nature of Clara Day--or, at least, she had not these delicate +faculties in the same perfection. Thus, her undefined suspicions of +Craven's sincerity were overborne by a sort of noble benevolence +which determined her to think the best of him which circumstances +would permit. + +Craven, on his part, having had more experience, was much wiser in +the pursuit of his object. He also had the advantage of being in +earnest. His passion for Capitola was sincere, and not, as it had +been in the case of Clara, simulated. He believed, therefore, that, +when the time should be ripe for the declaration of his love, he +would have a much better prospect of success, especially as +Capitola, in her ignorance of her own great fortune, must consider +his proposal the very climax of disinterestedness. + +After three more weeks of riding and conversing with Capitola he +had, in his own estimation, advanced so far in her good opinion as +to make it perfectly safe to risk a declaration. And this he +determined to do upon the very first opportunity. + +Chance favored him. + +One afternoon Capitola, riding through the pleasant woods skirting +the back of the mountain range that sheltered Hurricane Hall, got a +fall, for which she was afterwards inclined to cuff Wool. + +It happened in this way: She had come to a steep rise in the road +and urged her pony into a hard gallop, intending as she said to +herself, to "storm the height," when suddenly, under the violent +strain, the girth, ill-fastened, flew apart and Miss Cap was on the +ground, buried under the fallen saddle. + +With many a blessing upon the carelessness of grooms, Cap picked +herself up, put the saddle on the horse, and was engaged in drawing +under the girth when Craven Le Noir rode up, sprang from his horse +and, with anxiety depicted on his countenance, ran to the spot +inquiring: + +"What is the matter? No serious accident, I hope and trust, Miss +Black?" + +"No; those wretches in uncle's stables did not half buckle the +girth, and, as I was going in a hard gallop up the steep, it flew +apart and gave me a tumble; that's all," said Cap, desisting a +moment from her occupation to take breath. + +"You were not hurt?" inquired Craven, with deep interest in his +tone. + +"Oh, no; there is no harm done, except to my riding skirt, which has +been torn and muddied by the fall," said Cap, laughing and resuming +her efforts to tighter the girth. + +"Pray permit me," said Craven, gently taking the end of the strap +from her hand; "this is no work for a lady, and, besides, is beyond +your strength." + +Capitola, thanking him, withdrew to the side of the road, and, +seating herself upon the trunk of a fallen tree, began to brush the +dirt from her habit. + +Craven adjusted and secured the saddle with great care, patted and +soothed the pony and then, approaching Capitola in the most +deferential manner, stood before her and said: "Miss Black, you will +pardon me, I hope, if I tell you that the peril I had imagined you +to be in has so agitated my mind as to make it impossible for me +longer to withhold a declaration of my sentiments--" Here his voice, +that had trembled throughout this disclosure, now really and utterly +failed him. + +Capitola looked up with surprise and interest; she had never in her +life before heard an explicit declaration of love from anybody. She +and Herbert somehow had always understood each other very well, +without ever a word of technical love-making passing between them; +so Capitola did not exactly know what was coming next. + +Craven recovered his voice, and encouraged by the favorable manner +in which she appeared to listen to him, actually threw himself at +her feet and, seizing one of her hands, with much ardor and +earnestness and much more eloquence than any one would have credited +him with, poured forth the history of his passion and his hopes. + +"Well, I declare!" said Cap, when he had finished his speech and was +waiting in breathless impatience for her answer; "this is what is +called a declaration of love and a proposal of marriage, is it? It +is downright sentimental, I suppose, if I had only sense enough to +appreciate it! It is as good as a play; pity it is lost upon me!" + +"Cruel girl! how you mock me!" cried Craven, rising from his knees +and sitting beside her. + +"No, I don't; I'm in solemn earnest. I say it is first rate. Do it +again; I like it!" + +"Sarcastic and merciless one, you glory in the pain you give! But if +you wish again to hear me say I love you, I will say it a dozen-- +yes, a hundred--times over if you will only admit that you could +love me a little in return." + +"Don't; that would be tiresome; two or three times is quite enough. +Besides, what earthly good could my saying 'I love you' do?" + +"It might persuade you to become the wife of one who will adore you +to the last hour of his life." + +"Meaning you?" + +"Meaning me; the most devoted of your admirers." + +"That isn't saying much, since I haven't got any but you." + +"Thank fortune for it! Then I am to understand, charming Capitola, +that at least your hand and your affections are free," cried Craven, +joyfully. + +"Well, now, I don't know about that! Really, I can't positively say; +but it strikes me, if I were to get married to anybody else, there's +somebody would feel queerish!" + +"No doubt there are many whose secret hopes would be blasted, for so +charming a girl could not have passed through this world without +having won many hearts who would keenly feel the loss of hope in her +marriage. But what if they do, my enchanting Capitola? You are not +responsible for any one having formed such hopes." + +"Fudge!" said Cap, "I'm no belle; never was; never can be; have +neither wealth, beauty nor coquetry enough to make me one. I have no +lovers nor admirers to break their hearts about me, one way or +another; but there is one honest fellow--hem! never mind; I feel as +if I belonged to somebody else; that's all. I am very much obliged +to you, Mr. Le Noir, for your preference, and even for the beautiful +way in which you have expressed it, but--I belong to somebody else." + +"Miss Black," said Craven, somewhat abashed but not discouraged. "I +think I understand you. I presume that you refer to the young man +who was your gallant champion in the Forest Chapel." + +"The one that made your nose bleed," said the incorrigible Cap. + +"Well, Miss Black, from your words it appears that this is by no +means an acknowledged but only an understood engagement, which +cannot be binding upon either party. Now, a young lady of your +acknowledged good sense--" + +"I never had any more good sense than I have had admirers," +interrupted Cap. + +Craven smiled. + +"I would not hear your enemy say that," he replied; then, resuming +his argument, he said: + +"You will readily understand, Miss Black, that the vague engagement +of which you speak, where there is want of fortune on both sides, is +no more prudent than it is binding. On the contrary, the position +which it is my pride to offer you is considered an enviable one; +even apart from the devoted love that goes with it. You are aware +that I am the sole heir of the Hidden House estate, which, with all +its dependencies, is considered the largest property, as my wife +would be the most important lady, in the county." + +Cap's lip curled a little; looking askance at him she answered: + +"I am really very much obliged to you Mr. Le Noir, for the +distinguished honor that you designed for me. I should highly +appreciate the magnanimity of a young gentleman, the heir of the +wealthiest estate in the neighborhood who deigns to propose marriage +to the little beggar that I acknowledge myself to be. I regret to be +obliged to refuse such dignities, but--I belong to another," said +Capitola, rising and advancing toward her horse. + +Craven would not risk his success by pushing his suit further at +this sitting. + +Very respectfully lending his assistance to put Capitola into her +saddle, he said he hoped at some future and more propitious time to +resume the subject. And then, with a deep bow, he left her, mounted +his horse and rode on his way. + +He did not believe that Capitola was more than half in earnest, or +that any girl in Capitola's circumstances would do such a mad thing +as to refuse the position he offered her. + +He did not throw himself in her way often enough to excite her +suspicion that their meetings were preconcerted on his part, and +even when he did overtake her or suffer her to overtake him, he +avoided giving her offense by pressing his suit until another good +opportunity should offer. This was not long in coming. + +One afternoon he overtook her and rode by her side for a short +distance when, finding her in unusually good spirits and temper, he +again renewed his declaration of love and offer of marriage. + +Cap turned around in her saddle and looked at him with astonishment +for a full minute before she exclaimed: "Why, Mr. Le Noir, I gave +you an answer more than a week ago. Didn't I tell you 'No'? What on +earth do you mean by repeating the question?" + +"I mean, bewitching Capitola, not to let such a treasure slip out of +my grasp if I can help it." + +"I never was in your grasp, that I know of," said Cap, whipping up +her horse and leaving him far behind. + +Days passed before Craven thought it prudent again to renew and +press his suit. He did so upon a fine September morning, when he +overtook her riding along the banks of the river. He joined her and +in the most deprecating manner besought her to listen to him once +more. Then he commenced in a strain of the most impassioned +eloquence and urged his love and his proposal. + +Capitola stopped her horse, wheeled around and faced him, looking +him full in the eyes while she said: + +"Upon my word, Mr. Le Noir, you remind me of an anecdote told of +young Sheridan. When his father advised him to take a wife and +settle, he replied by asking whose wife he should take. Will nobody +serve your purpose but somebody else's sweetheart? I have told you +that I belong to a brave young soldier who is fighting his country's +battles in a foreign land, while you are lazing here at home, trying +to undermine him. I am ashamed of you, sir, and ashamed of myself +for talking with you so many times! Never do you presume to accost +me on the highway or anywhere else again! Craven by name and Craven +by nature, you have once already felt the weight of Herbert's arm! +Do not provoke its second descent upon you! You are warned!" and +with that Capitola, with her lips curled, her eyes flashing and her +cheeks burning, put whip to her pony and galloped away. + +Craven Le Noir's thin, white face grew perfectly livid with passion. + +"I will have her yet! I have sworn it, and by fair means or by foul +I will have her yet!" he exclaimed, as he relaxed his hold upon his +bridle and let his horse go on slowly, while he sat with his brows +gathered over his thin nose, his long chin buried in his neckcloth +and his nails between his teeth, gnawing like a wild beast, as was +his custom when deeply cogitating. + +Presently he conceived a plan so diabolical that none but Satan +himself could have inspired it! This was to take advantage of his +acquaintance and casual meetings with Capitola so to malign her +character as to make it unlikely that any honest man would risk his +honor by taking her to wife; that thus the way might be left clear +for himself; and he resolved, if possible, to effect this in such a +manner--namely, by jests, innuendos and sneers--that it should never +be directly traced to a positive assertion on his part. And in the +mean time he determined to so govern himself in his deportment +toward Capitola as to arouse no suspicion, give no offense and, if +possible, win back her confidence. + +It is true that even Craven Le Noir, base as he was, shrank from the +idea of smirching the reputation of the woman whom he wished to make +a wife; but then he said to himself that in that remote neighborhood +the scandal would be of little consequence to him, who, as soon as +he should be married, would claim the estate of the Hidden House in +right of his wife, put it in charge of an overseer and then, with +his bride, start for Paris, the paradise of the epicurean, where he +designed to fix their principal residence. + +Craven Le Noir was so pleased with his plan that he immediately set +about putting it in execution. Our next chapter will show how he +succeeded. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CAP'S RAGE + + + Is he not approved to the height of a villain, who hath + slandered, scorned, dishonored thy kinswoman. Oh! that I + were a man for his sake, or had a friend who would be + one for mine! + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +Autumn brought the usual city visitors to Hurricane Hall to spend +the sporting season and shoot over Major Warfield's grounds. Old +Hurricane was in his glory, giving dinners and projecting hunts. + +Capitola also enjoyed herself rarely, enacting with much +satisfaction to herself and guests her new role of hostess, and not +unfrequently joining her uncle and his friends in their field +sports. + +Among the guests there were two who deserve particular attention, +not only because they had been for many years annual visitors of +Hurricane Hall, but more especially because there had grown up +between them and our little madcap heroine, a strong mutual +confidence and friendship. Yet no three persons could possibly be +more unlike than Capitola and the two cousins of her soul, as she +called these two friends. They were both distant relatives of Major +Warfield, and in right of this relationship invariably addressed +Capitola as "Cousin Cap." + +John Stone, the elder of the two, was a very tall, stout, squarely +built young man, with a broad, good-humored face, fair skin, blue +eyes and light hair. In temperament he was rather phlegmatic, quiet +and lazy. In character he was honest, prudent and good-tempered. In +circumstances he was a safe banker, with a notable wife and two +healthy children. The one thing that was able to excite his quiet +nerves was the chase, of which he was as fond as he could possibly +be of any amusement. The one person who agreeably stirred his rather +still spirits was our little Cap, and that was the secret of his +friendship for her. + +Edwin Percy, the other, was a young West Indian, tall and delicately +formed, with a clear olive complexion, languishing dark hazel eyes +and dark, bright chestnut hair and beard. In temperament he was +ardent as his clime. In character, indolent, careless and self- +indulgent. In condition he was the bachelor heir of a sugar +plantation of a thousand acres. He loved not the chase, nor any +other amusement requiring exertion. He doted upon swansdown sofas +with springs, French plays, cigars and chocolate. He came to the +country to find repose, good air and an appetite. He was the victim +of constitutional ennui that yielded to nothing but the exhilaration +of Capitola's company; that was the mystery of his love for her, and +doubtless the young Creole would have proposed for Cap, had he not +thought it too much trouble to get married, and dreaded the bustle +of a bridal. Certainly Edwin Percy was as opposite in character to +John Stone, as they both were to Capitola, yet great was the +relative attraction among the three. Cap impartially divided her +kind offices as hostess between them. + +John Stone joined Old Hurricane in many a hard day's hunt, and +Capitola was often of the party. + +Edwin Percy spent many hours on the luxurious lounge in the parlor, +where Cap was careful to place a stand with chocolate, cigars, wax +matches and his favorite books. + +One day Cap had had what she called "a row with the governor," that +is to say, a slight misunderstanding with Major Warfield; a very +uncommon occurrence, as the reader knows, in which that temperate +old gentleman had so freely bestowed upon his niece the names of +"beggar, foundling, brat, vagabond and vagrant," that Capitola, in +just indignation, refused to join the birding party, and taking her +game bag, powder flask, shot-horn and fowling piece, and calling her +favorite pointer, walked off, as she termed it, "to shoot herself." +But if Capitola's by no means sweet temper had been tried that +morning, it was destined to be still more severely tested before the +day was over. + +Her second provocation came in this way: John Stone, another +deserter of the birding party had that day betaken himself to Tip- +top upon some private business of his own. He dined at the Antlers +in company with some sporting gentlemen of the neighborhood, and +when the conversation naturally turned upon field sports, Mr. John +Stone spoke of the fine shooting that was to be had around Hurricane +Hall, when one of the gentlemen,, looking straight across the table +to Mr. Stone, said: + +"Ahem! That pretty little huntress of Hurricane Hall--that niece or +ward, or mysterious daughter of Old Hurricane, who engages with so +much enthusiasm in your field sports over there, is a girl of very +free and easy manners I understand--a Diana in nothing but her love +of the chase!" + +"Sir, it is a base calumny! And the man who endorses it is a +shameless slanderer! There is my card! I may be found at my present +residence, Hurricane Hall," said John Stone, throwing his pasteboard +across the table, and rising to leave it. + +"Nay, nay," said the stranger, laughing and pushing the card away. +"I do not endorse the statement--I know nothing about it! I wash my +hands of it," said the young man. And then upon Mr. Stone's +demanding the author of the calumny, he gave the name of Mr. Craven +Le Noir, who, he said, had "talked in his cups," at a dinner party +recently given by one of his friends. + +"I pronounce--publicly, in the presence of all these witnesses, as I +shall presently to Craven Le Noir himself--that he is a shameless +miscreant, who has basely slandered a noble girl! You, sir, have +declined to endorse those words; henceforth decline to repeat them! +For after this I shall call to a severe account any man who +ventures, by word, gesture or glance to hint this slander, or in any +other way deal lightly with the honorable name and fame of the lady +in question. Gentlemen, I am to be found at Hurricane Hall, and I +have the honor of wishing you a more improving subject of +conversation, and--a very good afternoon," said John Stone, bowing +and leaving the room. + +He immediately called for his horse and rode home. + +In crossing the thicket of woods between the river and the rising +ground in front of Hurricane Hall, he overtook Capitola, who, as we +have said, had been out alone with her gun and dog, and was now +returning home with her game bag well laden. + +Now, as John Stone looked at Capitola, with her reckless, free and +joyous air, he thought she was just the sort of girl, unconsciously, +to get herself and friends into trouble. And he thought it best to +give her a hint to put an abrupt period to her acquaintance, if she +had even he slightest, with the heir apparent of the Hidden House. + +While still hesitating how to begin the conversation, he came up +with the young girl, dismounted, and, leading his horse, walked by +her side, asking carelessly: + +"What have you bagged, Cap?" + +"Some partridges! Oh, you should have been out with me and +Sweetlips! We've had such sport! But, anyhow, you shall enjoy your +share of the spoils! Come home and you shall have some of these +partridges broiled for supper, with currant sauce--a dish of my own +invention for uncle's sake, you know! He's such a gourmand!" + +"Thank you, yes--I am on my way home now. Hem--m! Capitola, I +counsel you to cut the acquaintance of our neighbor, Craven Le +Noir." + +"I have already done so; but--what in the world is the matter that +you should advise me thus?" inquired Capitola, fixing her eyes +steadily upon the face of John Stone, who avoided her gaze as he +answered: + +"The man is not a proper associate for a young woman." + +"I know that, and have cut him accordingly; but, Cousin John, there +is some reason for your words, that you have not expressed; and as +they concern me, now I insist upon knowing what they are!" + +"Tut! it is nothing!" said the other evasively. + +"John Stone, I know better! And the more you look down and whip your +boot the surer I am that there is something I ought to know, and I +will know!" + +"Well, you termagant! Have your way! He has been speaking lightly of +you--that's all! Nobody minds him--his tongue is no scandal." + +"John Stone--what has he said?" asked Capitola, drawing her breath +hardly between her closed teeth. + +"Oh, now, why should you ask? It is nothing--it is not proper that I +should tell you," replied that gentleman, in embarrassment. + +"'It is nothing,' and yet 'it is not proper that you should tell +me!' How do you make that out? John Stone, leave off lashing the +harmless bushes and listen to me! I have to live in the same +neighborhood with this man, after you have gone away, and I insist +upon knowing the whole length and breadth of his baseness and +malignity, that I may know how to judge and punish him!" said +Capitola, with such grimness of resolution that Mr. Stone, provoked +at her perversity, answered: + +"Well, you wilful girl, listen!" And commencing, he mercilessly told +her all that had passed at the table. + +To have seen our Cap then! Face, neck and bosom were flushed with +the crimson tide of indignation! + +"You are sure of what you tell me, Cousin John?" + +"The man vouches for it!" + +"He shall bite the dust!" + +"What?" + +"The slanderer shall bite the dust!" + +Without more ado, down was thrown gun, game bag, powder flask and +shot-horn, and, bounding from point to point over all the +intervening space, Capitola rushed into Hurricane Hall, and without +an instant's delay ran straight into the parlor, where her epicurean +friend, the young Creole, lay slumbering upon the lounge. + +With her face now livid with concentrated rage, and her eyes +glittering with that suppressed light peculiar to intense passion, +she stood before him and said: + +"Edwin! Craven Le Noir has defamed your cousin! Get up and challenge +him!" + +"What did you say, Cap?" said Mr. Percy, slightly yawning. + +"Must I repeat it? Craven Le Noir has defamed my character-- +challenge him!" + +"That would be against the law, coz; they would indict me sure!" + +"You--you--you lie there and answer me in that way! Oh that I were a +man!" + +"Compose, yourself, sweet coz, and tell me what all this is about! +Yaw-ooo!--really I was asleep when you first spoke to me!" + +"Asleep! Had you been dead and in your grave, the words that I spoke +should have roused you like the trump of the archangel!" exclaimed +Capitola, with the blood rushing back to her cheeks. + +"Your entrance was sufficiently startling, coz, but tell me over +again--what was the occasion?" + +"That caitiff, Craven Le Noir, has slandered me! Oh, the villain! He +is a base slanderer! Percy, get up this moment and challenge Le +Noir! I cannot breathe freely until it is done!" exclaimed Capitola, +impetuously. + +"Cousin Cap, duelling is obsolete; scenes are passe; law settles +everything; and here there is scarcely ground for action for libel. +But be comforted, coz, for if this comes to Uncle Hurricane's ears, +he'll make mince-meat of him in no time, It is all in his line; +he'll chaw him right up! " + +"Percy, do you mean to say that you will not call out that man?" +asked Capitola, drawing her breath hardly. + +"Yes, coz." + +"You won't fight him?" + +"No, coz." + +"You won't?" + +"No." + +"Edwin Percy, look me straight in the face!" said Cap, between her +closed teeth. + +"Well, I am looking you straight in the face--straight in the two +blazing gray eyes, you little tempest in a teapot--what then?" + +"Do I look as though I should be in earnest in what I am about to +speak?" + +"I should judge so." + +"Then listen, and don't take your eyes off mine until I am done +speaking!" + +"Very well, don't be long, though, for it rather agitates me." + +"I will not! Hear me, then! You say that you decline to challenge Le +Noir. Very good! I, on my part, here renounce all acquaintance with +you! I will never sit down at the same table--enter the same room, +or breathe the same air with you--never speak to you--listen to you, +or recognize you in any manner, until my deep wrongs are avenged in +the punishment of my slanderer, so help me--" + +"Hush--sh! don't swear, Cap--it's profane and unwomanly; and nothing +on earth but broken oaths would be the result!" + +But Cap was off! In an instant she was down in the yard, where her +groom was holding her horse, ready in case she wished to take her +usual ride. + +"Where is Mr. John Stone?" she asked. + +"Down at the kennels, miss," answered the boy. + +She jumped into her saddle, put whip to her horse and flew over the +ground between the mansion house and the kennels. + +She pulled up before the door of the main building, sprang from her +saddle, threw the bridle to a man in attendance, and rushed into the +house and into the presence of Mr. John Stone, who was busy in +prescribing for an indisposed pointer. + +He looked up in astonishment, exclaiming: "Hilloe! All the witches! +Here's Cap! Why, where on earth did you shoot from? What's up now? +You look as if you were in a state of spontaneous combustion and +couldn't stand it another minute." + +"And I can't--and I won't! John Stone, you must call that man out!" + +"What man, Cap--what the deuce do you mean?" + +"You know well enough--you do this to provoke me! I mean the man of +whom you cautioned me this afternoon--the wretch who slandered me-- +the niece of your host!" + +"Whe--ew!" + +"Will you do it?" + +"Where's Percy?" + +"On the lounge with an ice in one hand and a novel in the other! I +suppose it is no use mincing the matter, John--he is a--mere +epicure--there is no fight in him! It is you who must vindicate your +cousin's honor!" + +"My cousin's honor cannot need vindication! It is unquestioned and +unquestionable!" + +"No smooth words, if you please, cousin John! Will you, or will you +not fight that man?" + +"Tut, Cap, no one really questions your honor--that man will get +himself knocked into a cocked hat if he goes around talking of an +honest girl!" + +"A likely thing, when her own cousins and guests take it so +quietly." + +"What would you have them do, Cap? The longer an affair of this sort +is agitated, the more offensive it becomes! Besides, chivalry is out +of date! The knights-errant are all dead." + +"The men are all dead! If any ever really lived!" cried Cap, in a +fury. "Heaven knows I am inclined to believe them to have been a +fabulous race like that of the mastodon or the centaur! I certainly +never saw a creature that deserved the name of man! The very first +of your race was the meanest fellow that ever was heard of--ate the +stolen apple and when found out laid one half of the blame on his +wife and the other on his Maker--'The woman whom thou gavest me' did +so and so--pah! I don't wonder the Lord took a dislike to the race +and sent a flood to sweep them all off the face of the earth! I will +give you one more chance to retrieve your honor--in one word, now-- +will you fight that man?" + +"My dear little cousin, I would do anything in reason to vindicate +the assailed manhood of my whole sex, but really, now--" + +"Will you fight that man? One word--yes or no?" + +"Tut, Cap! you are a very reckless young woman! You--it's your +nature--you are an incorrigible madcap! You bewitch a poor wretch +until he doesn't know his head from his heels--puts his feet into +his hat and covers his scalp with his boots! You are a will-o'-the- +wisp who lures a poor fellow on through woods, bogs and briars, +until you land him in the quicksands! You whirl him around and +around until he grows dizzy and delirious, and talks at random, and +then you'd have him called out, you blood-thirsty little vixen! I +tell you, Cousin Cap, if I were to take up all the quarrels your +hoydenism might lead me into, I should have nothing else to do!" + +"Then you won't fight!" + +"Can't, little cousin! I have a wife and family, which are powerful +checks upon a man's duelling impulses!" + +"Silence! You are no cousin of mine--no drop of your sluggish blood +stagnates in my veins--no spark of the liquid fire of my life's +current burns in your torpid arteries, else at this insult would it +set you in a flame! Never dare to call me cousin again." And so +saying, she flung herself out of the building and into her saddle, +put whip to her horse and galloped away home. + +Now, Mr. Stone had privately resolved to thrash Craven Le Noir; but +he did not deem it expedient to take Cap into his confidence. As +Capitola reached the horse block, her own groom came to take the +bridle. + +"Jem," she said, as she jumped from her saddle, "put Gyp up and then +come to my room, I have a message to send by you." + +And then, with burning cheeks and flashing eyes, she went to her own +sanctum, and after taking off her habit, did the most astounding +thing that ever a woman of the nineteenth or any former century +attempted--she wrote a challenge to Craven Le Noir--charging him +with falsehood in having maligned her honor--demanding from him "the +satisfaction of a gentleman," and requesting him as the challenged +party to name the time, place and weapons with which he would meet +her. + +By the time she had written, sealed and directed this warlike +defiance, her young groom made his appearance. + +"Jem," she asked, "do you know the way to the Hidden House?" + +"Yes, miss, sure." + +"Then take this note thither, ask for Mr. Le Noir, put it into his +hands, and say that you are directed to wait an answer. And listen! +You need not mention to any one in this house where you are going-- +nor when you return, where you have been; but bring the answer you +may get directly to this room, where you will find me." + +"Yes, miss," said the boy, who was off like a flying Mercury. + +Capitola threw herself into her chair to spend the slow hours until +the boy's return as well as her fierce impatience and forced +inaction would permit. + +At tea time she was summoned; but excused herself from going below +upon the plea of indisposition. + +"Which is perfectly true," she said to herself, "since I am utterly +indisposed to go. And besides, I have sworn never again to sit at +the same table with my cousins, until for the wrongs done me I have +received ample satisfaction." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +CAPITOLA CAPS THE CLIMAX. + + + Oh! when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd + She was a vixen when she went to school; + And though she is but little she is fierce. + + --SHAKESPEARE + + +It was quite late in the evening when Jem, her messenger, returned. + +"Have you an answer?" she impetuously demanded, rising to meet him +as he entered. + +"Yes, miss, here it is," replied the boy, handing a neatly folded, +highly perfumed little note. + +"Go," said Cap, curtly, as she received it. + +And when the boy had bowed and withdrawn, she threw herself into a +chair, and with little respect for the pretty device of the pierced +heart with which the note was sealed, she tore it open and devoured +its contents. + +Why did Capitola's cheeks and lips blanch white as death? Why did +her eyes contract and glitter like stilettoes? Why was her breath +drawn hard and laboriously through clenched teeth and livid lips? + +That note was couched in the most insulting terms. + +Capitola's first impulse was to rend the paper to atoms and grind +those atoms to powder beneath her heel. But a second inspiration +changed her purpose. + +"No--no--no! I will not destroy you, precious little note! No legal +document involving the ownership of the largest estate, no cherished +love letter filled with vows of undying affection, shall be more +carefully guarded! Next to my heart shall you lie. My shield and +buckler shall you be! My sure defense and justification! I know what +to do with you, my precious little jewel! You are the warrant for +the punishment of that man, signed by his own hand." And so saying +Capitola carefully deposited the note in her bosom. + +Then she lighted her chamber lamp, and, taking it with her, went +down-stairs to her uncle's bedroom. + +Taking advantage of the time when she knew he would be absorbed in a +game of chess with John Stone, and she would be safe from +interruption for several hours if she wished, she went to Major +Warfield's little armory in the closet adjoining his room, opened +his pistol case and took from it a pair of revolvers, closed and +locked the case, and withdrew and hid the key that they might not +chance to be missed until she should have time to replace them. + +Then she hurried back into her own chamber, locked the pistols up in +her own drawer, and, wearied out with so much excitement, prepared +to go to rest. Here a grave and unexpected obstacle met her; she had +always been accustomed to kneel and offer up to heaven her evening's +tribute of praise and thanksgiving for the mercies of the day, and +prayers for protection and blessing through the night. + +Now she knelt as usual, but thanksgiving and prayer seemed frozen on +her lips! How could she praise or pray with such a purpose as she +had in her heart? + +For the first time Capitola doubted the perfect righteousness of +that purpose which was of a character to arrest her prayers upon her +lips. + +With a start of impatience and a heavy sigh, she sprang up and +hurried into bed. + +She did not sleep, but lay tossing from side to side in feverish +excitement the whole night--having, in fact, a terrible battle +between her own fierce passions and her newly awakened conscience. + +Nevertheless, she arose by daybreak in the morning, dressed herself, +went and unlocked her drawer, took out the pistols, carefully loaded +them, and laid them down for service. + +Then she went down-stairs, where the servants were only just +beginning to stir, and sent for her groom, Jem, whom she ordered to +saddle her pony, and also to get a horse for himself, to attend her +in a morning ride. + +After which she returned up-stairs, put on her riding habit, and +buckled around her waist a morocco belt, into which she stuck the +two revolvers. She then threw around her shoulders a short circular +cape that concealed the weapons, and put on her hat and gloves and +went below. + +She found her little groom already at the door with the horses. She +sprang into her saddle, and, bidding Jem follow her, took the road +toward Tip-Top. + +She knew that Mr. Le Noir was in the habit of riding to the village +every morning, and she determined to meet him. She knew, from the +early hour of the day, that he could not possibly be ahead of her, +and she rode on slowly to give him an opportunity to overtake her. + +Probably Craven Le Noir was later that morning than usual, for +Capitola had reached the entrance of the village before she heard +the sound of his horse's feet approaching behind her. + +She did not wish that their encounter should be in the streets of +the village, so she instantly wheeled her horse and galloped back to +meet him. + +As both were riding at full speed, they soon met. + +She first drew rein, and, standing in his way, accosted him with: + +"Mr. Le Noir!" + +"Your most obedient, Miss Black!" he said, with a deep bow. + +"I happen to be without father or brother to protect me from +affront, sir, and my uncle is an invalid veteran whom I will not +trouble! I am, therefore, under the novel necessity of fighting my +own battles! Yesterday, sir, I sent you a note demanding +satisfaction for a heinous slander you circulated against me! You +replied by an insulting note. You do not escape punishment so! Here +are two pistols; both are loaded; take either one of them; for, sir, +we have met, and now we do not part until one of us falls from the +horse!" + +And so saying, she rode up to him and offered him the choice of the +pistols. + +He laughed--partly in surprise and partly in admiration, as he said, +with seeming good humor: + +"Miss Black, you are a very charming young woman, and delightfully +original and piquant in all your ideas; but you outrage all the laws +that govern the duello. You know that, as the challenged party, I +have the right to the choice of time, place and arms. I made that +choice yesterday. I renew it to-day. When you accede to the terms of +the meeting I shall endeavor to give you all the satisfaction you +demand! Good-morning, miss." + +And with a deep bow, even to the flaps of his saddle, he rode past +her. + +"That base insult again!" cried Capitola, with the blood rushing to +her face. + +Then lifting her voice, she again accosted him: "Mr. Le Noir!" + +He turned, with a smile. + +She threw one of the pistols on the ground near him, saying: "Take +that up and defend yourself." + +He waved his hand in negation, bowed, smiled, and rode on. + +"Mr. Le Noir!" she called, in a peremptory tone. + +Once more he turned. + +She raised her pistol, took deliberate aim at his white forehead, +and fired-- + +Bang! bang! bang! bang! bang! bang! + +Six times without an instant's intermission, until her revolver was +spent. + +When the smoke cleared away, a terrible vision met her eyes! + +It was Craven Le Noir with his face covered with blood, reeling in +his saddle, from which he soon dropped to the ground. + +In falling his foot remained in the hanging stirrup. The well- +trained cavalry horse stood perfectly still, though trembling in a +panic of terror, from which he might at any moment start to run, +dragging the helpless body after him. + +Capitola saw this danger, and not being cruel, she tempered justice +with mercy, threw down her spent pistol, dismounted from her horse, +went up to the fallen man, disengaged his foot from the stirrup, +and, taking hold of his shoulders, tried with all her might to drag +the still breathing form from the dusty road where it lay in danger +of being run over by wagons, to the green bank, where it might lie +in comparative safety. + +But that heavy form was too much for her single strength. And, +calling her terrified groom to assist her, they removed the body. + +Capitola then remounted her horse and galloped rapidly into the +village, and up to the "ladies' entrance" of the hotel, where, after +sending for the proprietor she said: + +"I have just been shooting Craven Le Noir for slandering me; he lies +by the roadside at the entrance of the village; you had better send +somebody to pick him up." + +"Miss!" cried the astonished inn-keeper. + +Capitola distinctly repeated her words and then, leaving the inn- +keeper, transfixed with consternation, she crossed the street and +entered a magistrate's office, where a little, old gentleman, with a +pair of green spectacles resting on his hooked nose, sat at a +writing-table, giving some directions to a constable, who was +standing hat in hand before him. + +Capitola waited until this functionary had his orders and a written +paper, and had left the office, and the magistrate was alone, before +she walked up to the desk and stood before him. + +"Well, well, young woman! Well, well, what do you want?" inquired +the old gentleman, impatiently looking up from folding his papers. + +"I have come to give myself up for shooting Craven Le Noir, who +slandered me," answered Capitola, quietly. + +The old man let fall his hands full of papers, raised his head and +stared at her over the tops of his green spectacles. + +"What did you say, young woman?" he asked, in the tone of one who +doubted his own ears. + +"I say that I have forestalled an arrest by coming here to give +myself up for the shooting of a dastard who slandered, insulted and +refused to give me satisfaction," answered Capitola, very +distinctly. + +"Am I awake? Do I hear aright? Do you mean to say that you have +killed a man?" asked the dismayed magistrate. + +"Oh, I can't say as to the killing! I shot him off his horse and +then sent Mr. Merry and his men to pick him up, while I came here to +answer for myself!" + +"Unfortunate girl! And how can you answer for such a dreadful deed?" +exclaimed the utterly confounded magistrate. + +"Oh, as to the dreadfulness of the deed, that depends on +circumstances," said Cap, "and I can answer for it very well! He +made addresses to me. I refused him. He slandered me. I challenged +him. He insulted me. I shot him!" + +"Miserable young woman, if this be proved true, I shall have to +commit you!" + +"Just as you please," said Cap, "but bless your soul, that won't +help Craven Le Noir a single bit!" + +As she spoke several persons entered the office in a state of high +excitement--all talking at once, saying: + +"That is the girl!" + +"Yes, that is her!" + +"She is Miss Black, old Warfield's niece." + +"Yes, he said she was," etc., etc., etc. + +"What is all this, neighbors, what is all this?" inquired the +troubled magistrate, rising in his place. + +"Why, sir, there's been a gentleman, Mr. Craven Le Noir, shot. He +has been taken to the Antlers, where he lies in articulus mortis, +and we wish him to be confronted with Miss Capitola Black, the young +woman here present, that he may identify her, whom he accuses of +having shot six charges into him, before his death. She needn't deny +it, because he is ready to swear to her!" said Mr. Merry, who +constituted himself spokesman. + +"She accuses herself," said the magistrate, in dismay. + +"Then, sir, had she not better be taken at once to the presence of +Mr. Le Noir, who may not have many minutes to live?" + +"Yes, come along," said Cap. "I only gave myself up to wait for +this; and as he is already at hand, let's go and have it all over, +for I have been riding about in this frosty morning air for three +hours, and I have got a good appetite, and I want to go home to +breakfast." + +"I am afraid, young woman, you will scarcely get home to breakfast +this morning," said Mr. Merry. + +"We'll see that presently," answered Cap, composedly, as they all +left the office, and crossed the street to the Antlers. + +They were conducted by the landlord to a chamber on the first floor, +where upon a bed lay stretched, almost without breath or motion, the +form of Craven Le Noir. His face was still covered with blood, that +the bystanders had scrupulously refused to wash off until the +arrival of the magistrate. His complexion, as far as it could be +seen, was very pale. He was thoroughly prostrated, if not actually +dying. + +Around his bed were gathered the village doctor, the landlady and +several maid-servants. + +"The squire has come, sir; are you able to speak to him?" asked the +landlord, approaching the bed. + +"Yes, let him swear me," feebly replied the wounded man, "and then +send for a clergyman." + +The landlady immediately left to send for Mr. Goodwin, and the +magistrate approached the head of the bed, and, speaking solemnly, +exhorted the wounded man, as he expected soon to give an account of +the works done in his body, to speak the truth, the whole truth, and +nothing but the truth, without reserve, malice or exaggeration, both +as to the deed and its provocation. + +"I will I will--for I have sent for a minister and I intend to try +to make my peace with heaven," replied Le Noir. + +The magistrate then directed Capitola to come and take her stand at +the foot of the bed, where the wounded man, who was lying on his +back, could see her without turning. + +Cap came as she was commanded and stood there with some +irrepressible and incomprehensible mischief gleaming out from under +her long eye-lashes and from the corners of her dimpled lips. + +The magistrate then administered the oath to Craven Le Noir, and +bade him look upon Capitola and give his evidence. + +He did so, and under the terrors of a guilty conscience and of +expected death, his evidence partook more of the nature of a +confession than an accusation. He testified that he had addressed +Capitola, and had been rejected by her; then, under the influence of +evil motives, he had circulated insinuations against her honor, +which were utterly unjustifiable by fact; she, seeming to have heard +of them, took the strange course of challenging him--just as if she +had been a man. He could not, of course, meet a lady in a duel, but +he had taken advantage of the technical phraseology of the +challenged party, as to time, place and weapons, to offer her a deep +insult; then she had waylaid him on the highway, offered him his +choice of a pair of revolvers, and told him that, having met, they +should not part until one or the other fell from the horse; he had +again laughingly refused the encounter except upon the insulting +terms he had before proposed. She had then thrown him one of the +pistols, bidding him defend himself. He had laughingly passed her +when she called him by name, he had turned and she fired--six times +in succession, and he fell. He knew no more until he was brought to +his present room. He said in conclusion he did not wish that the +girl should be prosecuted, as she had only avenged her own honor; +and that he hoped his death would be taken by her and her friends as +a sufficient expiation of his offenses against her; and, lastly he +requested that he might be left alone with the minister. + +"Bring that unhappy young woman over to my office, Ketchum," said +the magistrate, addressing himself to a constable. Then turning to +the landlord, he said: + +"Sir, it would be a charity in you to put a messenger on horseback +and send him to Hurricane Hall for Major Warfield, who will have to +enter into a recognizance for Miss Black's appearance at court." + +"Stop," said Cap, "don't be too certain of that! 'Be always sure +you're right--then go ahead!' Is not any one here cool enough to +reflect that if I had fired six bullets at that man's forehead and +every one had struck, I should have blown his head to the sky? Will +not somebody at once wash his face and see how deep the wounds are?" + +The doctor who had been restrained by others now took a sponge and +water and cleaned the face of Le Noir, which was found to be well +peppered with split peas! + +Cap looked around, and seeing the astonished looks of the good +people, bust into an irrepressible fit of laughter, saying, as soon +as she had got breath enough: + +"Upon my word, neighbors, you look more shocked, if not actually +more disappointed, to find that, after all he is not killed, and +there'll be no spectacle, than you did at first when you thought +murder had been done." + +"Will you be good enough to explain this, young woman?" said the +magistrate, severely. + +"Certainly, for your worship seems as much disappointed as others!" +said Cap. Then turning toward the group around the bed, she said: + +"You have heard Mr. Le Noir's 'last dying speech and confession,' as +he supposed it to be; and you know the maddening provocations that +inflamed my temper against him. Last night, after having received +his insulting answer to my challenge, there was evil in my heart, I +do assure you! I possessed myself of my uncle's revolvers and +resolved to waylay him this morning and force him to give me +satisfaction, or if he refused--well, no matter! I tell you, there +was danger in me! But, before retiring to bed at night, it is my +habit to say my prayers; now the practice of prayer and the purpose +of 'red-handed violence' cannot exist in the same person at the same +time! I wouldn't sleep without praying, and I couldn't pray without +giving up my thoughts of fatal vengeance upon Craven Le Noir. So at +last I made up my mind to spare his life, and teach him a lesson. +The next morning I drew the charges of the revolvers and reloaded +them with poor powder and dried peas! Everything else has happened +just as he has told you! He has received no harm, except in being +terribly frightened, and in having his beauty spoiled! And as for +that, didn't I offer him one of the pistols, and expose my own face +to similar damage? For I'd scorn to take advantage of any one!" said +Cap, laughing. + +Craven Le Noir had now raised himself up in a sitting posture, and +was looking around with an expression of countenance which was a +strange blending of relief at this unexpected respite from the +grave, and intense mortification at finding himself in the +ridiculous position which the address of Capitola and his own weak +nerves, cowardice and credulity had placed him. + +Cap went up to him and said, in a consoling voice: + +"Come, thank heaven that you are not going to die this bout! I'm +glad you repented and told the truth; and I hope you may live long +enough to offer heaven a truer repentance than that which is the +mere effect of fright! For I tell you plainly that if it had not +been for the grace of the Lord, acting upon my heart last night, +your soul might have been in Hades now!" + +Craven Le Noir shut his eyes, groaned and fell back overpowered by +the reflection. + +"Now, please your worship, may I go home?" asked Cap, demurely, +popping down a mock courtesy to the magistrate. + +"Yes--go! go! go! go! go!" said that officer, with an expression as +though he considered our Cap an individual of the animal kingdom +whom neither Buffon nor any other natural philosopher had ever +classified, and who, as a creature of unknown habits, might +sometimes be dangerous. + +Cap immediately availed herself of the permission, and went out to +look for her servant and horses. + +But Jem, the first moment he had found himself unwatched, had put +out as fast as he could fly to Hurricane Hall, to inform Major +Warfield of what had occurred. + +And Capitola, after losing a great deal of time in looking for him, +mounted her horse and was just about to start, when who should ride +up in hot haste but Old Hurricane, attended by Wool. + +"Stop there!" he shouted, as he saw Cap. + +She obeyed, and he sprang from his horse with the agility of youth, +and helped her to descend from hers. + +Then drawing her arm within his own, he led her into the parlor, +and, putting an unusual restraint upon himself, he ordered her to +tell him all about the affair. + +Cap sat down and gave him the whole history from beginning to end. + +Old Hurricane could not sit still to hear. He strode up and down the +room, striking his stick upon the floor, and uttering inarticulate +sounds of rage and defiance. + +When Cap had finished her story he suddenly stopped before her, +brought down the point of his stick with a resounding thump upon the +floor and exclaimed: + +"Demmy, you New York newsboy! Will you never be a woman? Why the +demon didn't you tell me, sirrah? I would have called the fellow out +and chastised him to your heart's content! Hang it, miss, answer me +and say!" + +"Because you are on the invalid list and I am in sound condition and +capable of taking my own part!" said Cap. + +"Then, answer me this, while you were taking your own part, why the +foul fiend didn't you pepper him with something sharper than dried +peas?" + +"I think he is quite as severely punished in suffering from extreme +terror and intense mortification and public ridicule," said Cap. + +"And now, uncle, I have not eaten a single blessed mouthful this +morning, and I am hungry enough to eat up Gyp, or to satisfy Patty." + +Old Hurricane, permitting his excitement to subside in a few +expiring grunts, rang the bell and gave orders for breakfast to be +served. + +And after that meal was over he set out with his niece for Hurricane +Hall. + +And upon arriving at home he addressed a letter to Mr. Le Noir, to +the effect that as soon as the latter should have recovered from the +effect of his fright and mortification, he, Major Warfield, should +demand and expect satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +BLACK DONALD'S LAST ATTEMPT. + + + Who can express the horror of that night, + When darkness lent his robes to monster fear? + And heaven's black mantle, banishing the light, + Made everything in fearful form appear. + + --BRANDON. + + +Let it not be supposed that Black Donald had forgotten his promise +to Colonel Le Noir, or was indifferent to its performance. + +But many perilous failures had taught him caution. + +He had watched and waylaid Capitola in her rides. But the girl +seemed to bear a charmed safety; for never once had he caught sight +of her except in company with her groom and with Craven Le Noir. And +very soon by eavesdropping on these occasions, he learned the secret +design of the son to forestall the father, and run off with the +heiress. + +And as Black Donald did not foresee what success Craven Le Noir +might have with Capitola, he felt the more urgent necessity for +prompt action on his own part. + +He might, indeed, have brought his men and attacked and overcome +Capitola's attendants, in open day; but the enterprise must needs +have been attended with great bloodshed and loss of life, which +would have made a sensation in the neighborhood that Black Donald, +in the present state of his fortunes, was by no means ambitious of +daring. + +In a word, had such an act of unparalleled violence been attempted, +the better it succeeded the greater would have been the indignation +of the people, and the whole country would probably have risen and +armed themselves and hunted the outlaws, as so many wild beasts, +with horses and hounds. + +Therefore, Black Donald preferred quietly to abduct his victim, so +as to leave no trace of her "taking off," but to allow it to be +supposed that she had eloped. + +He resolved to undertake this adventure alone, though to himself +personally this plan was even more dangerous than the other. + +He determined to gain access to her chamber, secrete himself +anywhere in the room (except under the bed, where his instincts +informed him that Capitola every night looked), and when the +household should be buried in repose, steal out upon her, overpower, +gag and carry her off, in the silence of the night, leaving no trace +of his own presence behind. + +By means of one of his men, who went about unsuspected among the +negroes, buying up mats and baskets, that the latter were in the +habit of making for sale, he learned that Capitola occupied the same +remote chamber, in the oldest part of the house; but that a guest +slept in the room next, and another in the one opposite hers. And +that the house was besides full of visitors from the city, who had +come down to spend the sporting season, and that they were hunting +all day and carousing all night from one week's end to another. + +On hearing this, Black Donald quickly comprehended that it was no +time to attempt the abduction of the maiden, with the least +probability of success. All would be risked and most probably lost +in the endeavor. + +He resolved, therefore, to wait until the house should be clear of +company, and the household fallen into their accustomed carelessness +and monotony. + +He had to wait much longer than he had reckoned upon--through +October and through November, when he first heard of and laughed +over Cap's "duel" with Craven Le Noir, and congratulated himself +upon the fact that that rival was no longer to be feared. He had +also to wait through two-thirds of the month of December, because a +party had come down to enjoy a short season of fox-hunting. They +went away just before Christmas. + +And then at last came Black Donald's opportunity! And a fine +opportunity it was! Had Satan himself engaged to furnish him with +one to order, it could not have been better! + +The reader must know that throughout Virginia the Christmas week, +from the day after Christmas until the day after New-year, is the +negroes' saturnalia! There are usually eight days of incessant +dancing, feasting and frolicking from quarter to quarter, and from +barn to barn. Then the banjo, the fiddle and the "bones" are heard +from morning until night, and from night until morning. + +And nowhere was this annual octave of festivity held more sacred +than at Hurricane Hall. It was the will of Major Warfield that they +should have their full satisfaction out of their seven days' +carnival. He usually gave a dinner party on Christmas day, after +which his people were free until the third of January. + +"Demmy, mum!" he would say to Mrs. Condiment, "they wait on us +fifty-one weeks in the year, and it's hard if we can't wait on +ourselves the fifty-second!" + +Small thanks to Old Hurricane for his self-denial! He did nothing +for himself or others, and Mrs. Condiment and Capitola had a hot +time of it in serving him. Mrs. Condiment had to do all the cooking +and housework. And Cap had to perform most of the duties of Major +Warfield's valet. And that was the way in which Old Hurricane waited +on himself. + +It happened, therefore, that about the middle of the Christmas week, +being Wednesday, the twenty-eighth of December, all the house- +servants and farm laborers from Hurricane. Hall went off in a body +to a banjo break-down given at a farm five miles across the country. + +And Major Warfield, Mrs. Condiment and Capitola were the only living +beings left in the old house that night. + +Black Donald, who had been prowling about the premises evening after +evening, watching his opportunity to effect his nefarious object, +soon discovered the outward bound stampede of the negroes, and the +unprotected state in which the old house, for that night only, would +be left. And he determined to take advantage of the circumstance to +consummate his wicked purpose. + +In its then defenceless condition he could easily have mustered his +force and carried off his prize without immediate personal risk. +But, as we said before, he eschewed violence, as being likely to +provoke after effects of a too fatal character. + +He resolved rather at once to risk his own personal safety in the +quieter plan of abduction which he had formed. + +He determined that as soon as it should be dark he would watch his +opportunity to enter the house, steal to Cap's chamber, secrete +himself in a closet, and when all should be quiet, "in the dead +waste and middle of the night," he would come out, master her, stop +her mouth and carry her off. + +When it became quite dark he approached the house, and hid himself +under the steps beneath the back door leading from the hall into the +garden, to watch his opportunity of entering. He soon found that his +enterprise required great patience as well as courage. He had to +wait more than two hours before he heard the door unlocked and +opened. + +He then peered out from his hiding-place and saw old Hurricane +taking his way out towards the garden. + +Now was his time to slip unperceived into the house. He stealthily +came out from his hiding-place, crept up the portico stairs to the +back door, noiselessly turned the latch, entered and closed it +behind him. He had just time to open a side door on his right hand +and conceal himself in a wood closet under the stairs, when he heard +the footsteps of Old Hurricane returning. + +The old man came in and Black Donald laughed to himself to hear with +what caution he locked, bolted and barred the doors to keep out +house-breakers! + +"Ah, old fellow, you are fastening the stable after the horse has +been stolen!" said Black Donald to himself. + +As soon as old Hurricane had passed by the closet in which the +outlaw was concealed, and had gone into the parlor, Black Donald +determined to risk the ascent into Capitola's chamber. From the +description given by his men, who had once succeeded in finding +their way thither, he knew very well where to go. + +Noiselessly, therefore, he left his place of concealment and crept +out to reconnoitre the hall, which he found deserted. + +Old Hurricane's shawl, hat and walking stick were deposited in one +corner. In case of being met on the way, he put the hat on his head, +wrapped the shawl around his shoulders, and took the stick in his +hand. + +His forethought proved to be serviceable. He went through the hall +and up the first flight of stairs without interruption; but on going +along the hall of the second story he met Mrs. Condiment coming out +of Old Hurricane's room. + +"Your slippers are on the hearth, your gown is at the fire and the +kettle is boiling to make your punch, Major Warfield," said the old +lady in passing. + +"Umph! umph! umph!" grunted Black Donald in reply. + +The housekeeper then bade him good-night, saying that she was going +at once to her room. + +"Umph!" assented Black Donald. And so they parted and this peril was +passed. + +Black Donald went up the second flight of stairs and then down a +back passage and a narrow staircase and along a corridor and through +several untenanted rooms, and into another passage, and finally +through a side door leading into Capitola's chamber. + +Here he looked around for a safe hiding-place--there was a high +bedstead curtained; two deep windows also curtained; two closets, a +dressing bureau, workstand, washstand and two arm chairs. The +forethought of little Pitapat had caused her to kindle a fire on the +hearth and place a waiter of refreshments on the workstand, so as to +make all comfortable before she had left with the other negroes to +go to the banjo breakdown. + +Among the edibles Pitapat had been careful to leave a small bottle +of brandy, a pitcher of cream, a few eggs and some spice, saying to +herself, "Long as it was Christmas time Miss Caterpillar might want +a sup of egg nog quiet to herself, jes' as much as old marse did his +whiskey punch"--and never fancying that her young mistress would +require a more delicate lunch than her old master. + +Black Donald laughed as he saw this outlay, and remarking that the +young occupant of the chamber must have an appetite of her own, he +put the neck of the brandy bottle to his lips and took what he +called "a heavy swig." + +Then vowing that old Hurricane knew what good liquor was, he +replaced the bottle and looked around to find the best place for his +concealment. + +He soon determined to hide himself behind the thick folds of the +window curtain, nearest the door, so that immediately after the +entrance of Capitola he could glide to the door, lock it, withdraw +the key and have the girl at once in his power. + +He took a second "swig" at the brandy bottle and then went into his +place of concealment to wait events. + +That same hour Capitola was her uncle's partner in a prolonged game +of chess. It was near eleven o'clock before Cap, heartily tired of +the battle, permitted herself to be beaten in order to get to bed. + +With a satisfied chuckle, Old Hurricane arose from his seat, lighted +two bed-chamber lamps, gave one to Capitola, took the other himself, +and started off for his room, followed by Cap as far as the head of +the first flight of stairs, where she bade him good night. + +She waited until she saw him enter his room, heard him lock his door +on the inside and throw himself down heavily into his arm chair, and +then she went on her own way. + +She hurried up the second flight of stairs and along the narrow +passages, empty rooms, and steep steps and dreary halls, until she +reached the door of her own dormitory. + +She turned the latch and entered the room. + +The first thing that met her sight was the waiter of provisions upon +the stand. And at this fresh instance of her little maid's +forethought, she burst into a uncontrollable fit of laughter. + +She did not see a dark figure glide from behind the window curtains, +steal to the door, turn the lock and withdraw the key! + +But still retaining her prejudice against the presence of food in +her bed-chamber, she lifted up the waiter in both hands to cany it +out into the passage, turned and stood face to face with--Black +Donald! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE AWFUL PERIL OF CAPITOLA. + + + Out of this nettle, danger, + I'll pluck the flower, safety! + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +Capitola's blood seemed turned to ice, and her form to stone by the +sight! Her first impulse was to scream and let fall the waiter! She +controlled herself and repressed the scream though she was very near +dropping the waiter. + +Black Donald looked at her and laughed aloud at her consternation, +saying with a chuckle: + +"You did not expect to see me here to-night, did you now, my dear?" + +She gazed at him in a silent panic for a moment. + +Then her faculties, that had been suddenly dispersed by the shock, +as suddenly rallied to her rescue. + +In one moment she understood her real position. + +Black Donald had locked her in with himself and held the key--so she +could not hope to get out. + +The loudest scream that she might utter would never reach the +distant chamber of Major Warfield, or the still more remote +apartment of Mrs. Condiment; so she could not hope to bring any one +to her assistance. + +She was, therefore, entirely in the power of Black Donald. She fully +comprehended this, and said to herself: + +"Now, my dear Cap, if you don't look sharp your hour is come! +Nothing on earth will save you, Cap, but your own wits! For if ever +I saw mischief in any one's face, it is in that fellow's that is +eating you up with his great eyes at the same time that he is +laughing at you with his big mouth! Now, Cap, my little man, be a +woman! Don't you stick at trifles! Think of Jael and Sisera! Think +of Judith and Holofernes! And the devil and Doctor Faust, if +necessary, and don't you blanch! All stratagems are fair in love and +war--especially in war, and most especially in such a war as this is +likely to be--a contest in close quarters for dear life!" + +All this passed through her mind in one moment, and in the next her +plan was formed. + +Setting her waiter down upon the table and throwing herself into one +of the armchairs, she said: + +"Well, upon my word! I think a gentleman might let a lady know when +he means to pay her a domiciliary visit at midnight!" + +"Upon my word, I think you are very cool!" replied Black Donald, +throwing himself into the second armchair on the other side of the +stand of refreshments. + +"People are likely to be cool on a December night, with the +thermometer at zero, and the ground three feet under the snow," said +Cap, nothing daunted. + +"Capitola, I admire you! You are a cucumber! That's what you are, a +cucumber!" + +"A pickled one?" asked Cap. + +"Yes, and as pickled cucumbers are good to give one an appetite, I +think I shall fall to and eat." + +"Do so," said Cap, "for heaven forbid that I should fail in +hospitality!" + +"Why, really, this looks as though you had expected a visitor-- +doesn't it?" asked Black Donald, helping himself to a huge slice of +ham, and stretching his feet out toward the fire. + +"Well, yes, rather; though, to say the truth, it was not your +reverence I expected," said Cap. + +"Ah! somebody else's reverence, eh? Well, let them come! I'll be +ready for them!" said the outlaw, pouring out and quaffing a large +glass of brandy. He drank it, set down the glass, and turning to our +little heroine, inquired: + +"Capitola did you ever have Craven Le Noir here to supper with you?" + +"You insult me! I scorn to reply!" said Cap. + +"Whe--ew! What long whiskers our Grimalkin's got! You scorn to +reply! Then you really are not afraid of me?" asked the robber, +rolling a great piece of cheese in his mouth. + +"Afraid of you? No, I guess not!" replied Cap, with a toss of her +head. + +"Yet, I might do you some harm." + +"But, you won't!" + +"Why won't I?" + +"Because it won't pay!" + +"Why wouldn't it?" + +"Because you couldn't do me any harm, unless you were to kill me, +and you would gain nothing by my death, except a few trinkets that +you may have without." + +"Then, you are really not afraid of me?" he asked, taking another +deep draught of brandy. + +"Not a bit of it--I rather like you!" + +"Come, now, you're running a rig upon a fellow," said the outlaw, +winking and depositing a huge chunk of bread in his capacious jaws. + +"No, indeed! I liked you, long before I ever saw you! I always did +like people that make other people's hair stand on end! Don't you +remember when you first came here disguised as a peddler, though I +did not know who you were, when we were talking of Black Donald, and +everybody was abusing him, except myself? I took his part and said +that for my part I liked Black Donald and wanted to see him." + +"Sure enough, my jewel, so you did! And didn't I bravely risk my +life by throwing off my disguise to gratify your laudable wish?" + +"So you did, my hero!" + +"Ah, but well as you liked me, the moment you thought me in your +power didn't you leap upon my shoulders like a catamount and cling +there, shouting to all the world to come and help you, for you had +caught Black Donald and would die before you would give him up? Ah! +you little vampire, how you thirsted for my blood! And you pretended +to like me!" said Black Donald, eying her from head to foot, with a +sly leer. + +Cap returned the look with interest. Dropping her head on one side, +she glanced upward from the corner of her eye, with an expression of +"infinite" mischief and roguery, saying: + +"Lor, didn't you know why I did that?" + +"Because you wanted me captured, I suppose." + +"No, indeed, but, because--" + +"Well, what?" + +"Because I wanted you to carry me off!" + +"Well, I declare! I never thought of that!" said the outlaw, +dropping his bread and cheese, and staring at the young girl. + +"Well, you might have thought of it then! I was tired of hum-drum +life, and I wanted to see adventures!" said Cap. + +Black Donald looked at the mad girl from head to foot and then said, +coolly: + +"Miss Black, I am afraid you are not good." + +"Yes I am--before folks!" said Cap. + +"And so you really wished me to carry you off?" + +"I should think so! Didn't I stick to you until you dropped me?" + +"Certainly! And now if you really like me as well as you say you do, +come give me a kiss." + +"I won't!" said Cap, "until you have done your supper and washed +your face! Your beard is full of crumbs!" + +"Very well, I can wait awhile! Meantime just brew me a bowl of egg- +nog, by way of a night-cap, will you?" said the outlaw, drawing off +his boots and stretching his feet to the fire. + +"Agreed, but it takes two to make egg-nog; you'll have to whisk up +the whites of the eggs into a froth, while I beat the yellows, and +mix the other ingredients," said Cap. + +"Just so," assented the outlaw, standing up and taking off his coat +and flinging it upon the floor. + +Cap shuddered, but went on calmly with her preparations. There were +two little white bowls setting one within the other upon the table. +Cap took them apart and set them side by side and began to break the +eggs, letting the whites slip into one bowl and dropping the yellows +into the other. + +Black Donald sat down in his shirt sleeves, took one of the bowls +from Capitola and began to whisk up the whites with all his might +and main. + +Capitola beat up the yellows, gradually mixing the sugar with it. In +the course of her work she complained that the heat of the fire +scorched her face, and she drew her chair farther to-wards the +corner of the chimney, and pulled the stand after her. + +"Oh, you are trying to get away from me," said Black Donald, +hitching his own chair in the same direction, close to the stand, so +that he sat immediately in front of the fireplace. + +Cap smiled and went on beating her eggs and sugar together. Then she +stirred in the brandy and poured in the milk and took the bowl from +Black Donald and laid on the foam. Finally, she filled a goblet with +the rich compound and handed it to her uncanny guest. + +Black Donald untied his neck cloth, threw it upon the floor and +sipped his egg-nog, all the while looking over the top of the glass +at Capitola. + +"Miss Black," he said, "it must be past twelve o'clock." + +"I suppose it is," said Cap. + +"Then it must be long past your usual hour of retiring." + +"Of course it is," said Cap. + +"Then what are you waiting for?" + +"For my company to go home," replied Cap. + +"Meaning me?" + +"Meaning you." + +"Oh, don't mind me, my dear." + +"Very well," said Cap, "I shall not trouble myself about you," and +her tones were steady, though her heart seemed turned into a ball of +ice, through terror. + +Black Donald went on slowly sipping his egg-nog, filling up his +goblet when it was empty, and looking at Capitola over the top of +his glass. At last he said: + +"I have been watching you, Miss Black." + +"Little need to tell me that," said Cap. + +"And I have been reading you." + +"Well, I hope the page was entertaining." + +"Well, yes, my dear, it was, rather so. But why don't you proceed?" + +"Proceed--with what?" + +"With what you are thinking of, my darling." + +"I don't understand you!" + +"Why don't you offer to go down-stairs and bring up some lemons?" + +"Oh, I'll go in a moment," said Cap, "if you wish." + +"Ha--ha--ha--ha--ha! Of course you will, my darling! And you'd +deliver me into the hands of the Philistines, just as you did my +poor men when you fooled them about the victuals! I know your tricks +and all your acting has no other effect on me than to make me admire +your wonderful coolness and courage; so, my dear, stop puzzling your +little head with schemes to baffle me! You are like the caged +starling! You can't--get--out!" chuckled Black Donald, hitching his +chair nearer to hers. He was now right upon the center of the rug. + +Capitola turned very pale, but not with fear, though Black Donald +thought she did, and roared with laughter. + +"Have you done your supper?" she asked, with a sort of awful +calmness. + +"Yes my duck," replied the outlaw, pouring the last of the egg-nog +into his goblet, drinking it at a draught and chuckling as he set +down the glass. + +Capitola then lifted the stand with the refreshments to remove it to +its usual place. + +"What are you going to do, my dear?" asked Black Donald. + +"Clear away the things and set the room in order," said Capitola, in +the same awfully calm tone. + +"A nice little housewife you'll make, my duck!" said Black Donald. + +Capitola set the stand in its corner and then removed her own +armchair to its place before the dressing bureau. + +Nothing now remained upon the rug except Black Donald seated in the +armchair! + +Capitola paused; her blood seemed freezing in her veins; her heart +beat thickly; her throat was choked; her head full nearly to +bursting, and her eyes were veiled by a blinding film. + +"Come--come--my duck--make haste; it is late; haven't you done +setting the room in order yet?" said Black Donald, impatiently. + +"In one moment," said Capitola, coming behind his chair and leaning +upon the back of it. + +"Donald," she said, with dreadful calmness, "I will not now call you +Black Donald! I will call you as your poor mother did, when your +young soul was as white as your skin, before she ever dreamed her +boy would grow black with crime! I will call you simply Donald, and +entreat you to hear me for a few minutes." + +"Talk on, then, but talk fast, and leave my mother alone! Let the +dead rest!" exclaimed the outlaw, with a violent convulsion of his +bearded chin and lip that did not escape the notice of Capitola, who +hoped some good of this betrayal of feeling. + +"Donald," she said, "men call you a man of blood; they say that your +hand is red and your soul black with crime!" + +"They may say what they like--I care not!" laughed the outlaw. + +"But I do not believe all this of you! I believe that there is good +in all, and much good in you; that there is hope for all, and strong +hope for you!" + +"Bosh! Stop talking poetry! 'Tain't in my line, nor yours either!" +laughed Black Donald. + +"But truth is in all our lines. Donald, I repeat it, men call you a +man of blood! They say that your hands are red and your soul black +with sin. Black Donald, they call you! But, Donald, you have never +yet stained your soul with a crime as black as that which you think +of perpetrating to-night!" + +"It must be one o'clock, and I'm tired," replied the outlaw, with a +yawn. + +"All your former acts," continued Capitola, in the same voice of +awful calmness, "have been those of a bold, bad man. This act would +be that of a base one!" + +"Take care, girl--no bad names! You are in my power--at my mercy!" + +"I know my position, but I must continue. Hitherto you have robbed +mail coaches and broken into rich men's houses. In doing thus you +have always boldly risked your life, often at such fearful odds that +men have trembled at their firesides to hear of it. And even women, +while deploring your crimes, have admired your courage." + +"I thank 'em kindly for it! Women always like men with a spice of +the devil in them!" laughed the outlaw. + +"No, they do not!" said Capitola, gravely. "They like men of +strength, courage and spirit--but those qualities do not come from +the Evil One, but from the Lord, who is the giver of all good. Your +Creator, Donald, gave you the strength, courage and spirit that all +men and women so much admire; but He did not give you these great +powers that you might use them in the service of his enemy, the +devil!" + +"I declare there is really something in that! I never thought of +that before." + +"Nor ever thought, perhaps, that however misguided you may have +been, there is really something great and good in yourself that +might yet be used for the good of man and the glory of God!" said +Capitola, solemnly. + +"Ha, ha, ha! Oh, you flatterer! Come, have you done? I tell you it +is after one o'clock, and I am tired to death!" + +"Donald, in all your former acts of lawlessness your antagonists +were strong men; and as you boldly risked your life in your +depredations, your acts, though bad, were not base! But now your +antagonist is a feeble girl, who has been unfortunate from her very +birth; to destroy her would be an act of baseness to which you never +yet descended." + +"Bosh! Who talks of destruction? I am tired of all this nonsense! I +mean to carry you off and there's an end of it!" said the outlaw, +doggedly, rising from his seat. + +"Stop!" said Capitola, turning ashen pale. "Stop--sit down and hear +me for just five minutes--I will not tax your patience longer." + +The robber, with a loud laugh, sank again into his chair, saying: + +"Very well, talk on for just five minutes, and not a single second +longer; but if you think in that time to persuade me to leave this +room to-night without you, you are widely out of your reckoning, my +duck, that's all." + +"Donald, do not sink your soul to perdition by a crime that heaven +cannot pardon! Listen to me! I have jewels here worth several +thousand dollars! If you will consent to go I will give them all to +you and let you quietly out of the front door and never say one word +to mortal of what has passed here to-night." + +"Ha, ha, ha! Why, my dear, how green you must think me! What hinders +me from possessing myself of your jewels, as well as of yourself!" +said Black Donald, impatiently rising. + +"Sit still! The five minutes' grace are not half out yet," said +Capitola, in a breathless voice. + +"So they are not! I will keep my promise," replied Black Donald, +laughing, and again dropping into his seat. + +"Donald, Uncle pays me a quarterly sum for pocket money, which is at +least five times as much as I can spend in this quiet country place. +It has been accumulating for years until now. I have several +thousand dollars all of my own. You shall have it if you will only +go quietly away and leave me in peace!" prayed Capitola. + +"My dear, I intend to take that anyhow--take it as your bridal +dower, you know! For I'm going to carry you off and make an honest +wife of you!" + +"Donald, give up this heinous purpose!" cried Capitola, in an agony +of supplication, as she leaned over the back of the outlaw's chair. + +"Yes, you know I will--ha--ha--ha!" laughed the robber. + +"Man, for your own sake give it up!" + +"Ha, ha, ha! for my sake!" + +"Yes, for yours! Black Donald, have you ever reflected on death?" +asked Capitola, in a low and terrible voice. + +"I have risked it often enough; but as to reflecting upon it--it +will be time enough to do that when it comes! I am a powerful man, +in the prime and pride of life," said the athlete, stretching +himself exultingly. + +"Yet it might come--death might come with sudden overwhelming power, +and hurl you to destruction! What a terrible thing for this +magnificent frame of yours, this glorious handiwork of the Creator, +to be hurled to swift destruction, and for the soul that animates it +to be cast into hell!" + +"Bosh again! That is a subject for the pulpit, not for a pretty +girl's room. If you really think me such a handsome man, why don't +you go with me at once and say no more about it," roared the outlaw +laughing. + +"Black Donald--will you leave my room?" cried Capitola, in an agony +of prayer. + +"No!" answered the outlaw, mocking her tone. + +"Is there no inducement that I can hold out to you to leave me?" + +"None!" + +Capitola raised herself from her leaning posture, took a step +backward, so that she stood entirely free from the trap-door, then +slipping her foot under the rug, she placed it lightly on the +spring-bolt, which she was careful not to press; the ample fall of +her dress concealed the position of her foot. + +Capitola was now paler than a corpse, for hers was the pallor of a +living horror! Her heart beat violently, her head throbbed, her +voice was broken as she said: + +"Man, I will give you one more chance! Oh, man, pity yourself as I +pity you, and consent to leave me!" + +"Ha, ha, ha! It is quite likely that I will! Isn't it, now? No, my +duck, I haven't watched and planned for this chance for this long +time past to give it up, now that you are in my power! A likely +story indeed! And now the five minutes' grace are quite up!" + +"Stop! Don't move yet! Before you stir, say: 'Lord, have mercy on +me!" said Capitola, solemnly. + +"Ha, ha, ha! That's a pretty idea! Why should I say that?" + +"Say it to please me! Only say it, Black Donald!" + +"But why to please you?" + +"Because I wish not to kill both your body and soul--because I would +not send you prayerless into the presence of your Creator! For, +Black Donald, within a few seconds your body will be hurled to swift +destruction, and your soul will stand before the bar of God!" said +Capitola, with her foot upon the spring of the concealed trap. + +She had scarcely ceased speaking before he bounded to his feet, +whirled around and confronted her, like a lion at bay, roaring +forth: + +"You have a revolver there, girl--move a finger and I shall throw +myself upon you like an avalanche?" + +"I have no revolver--watch my hands as I take them forth, and see!" +said Capitola, stretching her arms out toward him. + +"What do you mean, then, by your talk of sudden destruction?" +inquired Black Donald, in a voice of thunder. + +"I mean that it hangs over you--that it is imminent! That it is not +to be escaped! Oh, man, call on God, for you have not a minute to +live!" + +The outlaw gazed on her in astonishment. + +Well he might, for there she stood paler than marble--sterner than +fate--with no look of human feeling about her, but the gleaming +light of her terrible eyes, and the beading sweat upon her death- +like brow. + +For an instant the outlaw gazed on her in consternation, and then, +recovering himself he burst into a loud laugh, exclaiming: + +"Ha, ha, ha! Well, I suppose this is what people would call a piece +of splendid acting! Do you expect to frighten me, my dear, as you +did Craven Le Noir, with the peas!" + +"Say 'Lord have mercy on my soul'--say it. Black Donald--say it. I +beseech you!" she prayed. + +"Ha, ha, ha, my dear! You may say it for me! And to reward you, I +will give you, such a kiss! It will put life into those marble +cheeks of yours!" he laughed. + +"I will say it for you! May the Lord pity and save Black Donald's +soul, if that be yet possible, for the Saviour's sake!" prayed +Capitola, in a broken voice, with her foot upon the concealed and +fatal spring. + +He laughed aloud, stretched forth his arms and rushed to clasp her. + +She pressed the spring. + +The drop fell with a tremendous crash! + +The outlaw shot downwards--there was an instant's vision of a white +and panic-stricken face, and wild, uplifted hands as he disappeared, +and then a square, black opening, was all that remained where the +terrible intruder had sat. + +No sight or sound came up from that horrible pit, to hint of the +secrets of the prison house. + +One shuddering glance at the awful void and then Capitola turned and +threw herself, face downward, upon the bed, not daring to rejoice in +the safety that had been purchased by such a dreadful deed, feeling +that it was an awful, though a complete victory! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE NEXT MORNING. + + + Oh, such a day! + So fought, so followed and so fairly won + Came not till now to dignify the times. + Since Caesar's fortunes. + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +Capitola lay upon the bed, with her face buried in the pillow, the +greater portion of the time from two o'clock until day. An +uncontrollable horror prevented her from turning lest she should see +the yawning mystery in the middle of the floor, or hear some awful +sound from its unknown depths. The very shadows on the walls thrown +up wildly by the expiring firelight were objects of grotesque +terror. Never--never--in her whole youth of strange vicissitude, had +the nerves of this brave girl been so tremendously shaken and +prostrated. + +It was late in the morning when at last nature succumbed, and she +sank into a deep sleep. She had not slept long when she was aroused +from a profound state of insensibility by a loud, impatient knocking +at her door. + +She started up wildly and gazed around her. For a minute she could +not remember what were the circumstances under which she had laid +down, or what was that vague feeling of horror and alarm that +possessed her. Then the yawning trapdoor, the remnants of the +supper, and Black Donald's coat, hat and boots upon the floor, drove +in upon her reeling brain the memory of the night of terror! + +The knocking continued more loudly and impatiently, accompanied by +the voice of Mrs. Condiment, crying: + +"Miss Capitola--Miss Capitola--why, what can be the matter with her? +Miss Capitola!" + +"Eh? What? Yes!" answered Capitola, pressing her hands to her +feverish forehead, and putting back her dishevelled hair. + +"Why, how soundly you sleep, my dear! I've been calling and rapping +here for a quarter of an hour! Good gracious, child what made you +oversleep yourself so? " + +"I--did not get to bed till very late," said Capitola, confusedly. + +"Well, well, my dear, make haste now, your uncle is none of the +patientest, and he has been waiting breakfast for some time! Come, +open the door and I will help you to dress, so that you may be ready +sooner." + +Capitola rose from the side of the bed, where she had been sitting, +and went cautiously around that gaping trap door to her chamber +door, when she missed the key, and suddenly remembered that it had +been in Black Donald's pocket when he fell. A shudder thrilled her +frame at the thought of that horrible fall. + +"Well--well--Miss Capitola, why don't you open the door?" cried the +old lady, impatiently. + +"Mrs. Condiment, I have lost the key--dropped it down the trap-door. +Please ask uncle to send for some one to take the lock off--and +don't wait breakfast for me." + +"Well, I do think that was very careless, my dear; but I'll go at +once," said the old lady, moving away. + +She had not been gone more than ten minutes, when Old Hurricane was +heard, coming blustering along the hall and calling: + +"What now, you imp of Satan? What mischief have you been at now? +Opening the trap-door, you mischievous monkey! I wish from the +bottom of my soul you had fallen into it, and I should have got rid +of one trial! Losing your key, you careless baggage! I've a great +mind to leave you locked up there forever." + +Thus scolding, Old Hurricane reached the spot and began to ply +screw-drivers and chisels until at length the strong lock yielded, +and he opened the door. + +There a vision met his eyes that arrested his steps upon the very +threshold; the remains of a bacchanalian supper; a man's coat and +hat and boots upon the floor; in the midst of the room the great, +square, black opening; and beyond it standing upon the hearth, the +form of Capitola, with disordered dress, dishevelled hair and wild +aspect! + +"Oh, uncle, see what I have been obliged to do!" she exclaimed, +extending both her arms down toward the opening with a look of +blended horror and inspiration, such as might have sat upon the +countenance of some sacrificial priestess of the olden time. + +"What--what--what!" cried the old man, nearly dumb with amazement. + +"Black Donald was in my room last night. He stole from his +concealment and locked the door on the inside and withdrew the key, +thus locking me in with himself, and--" She ceased and struck both +hands to her face, shuddering from head to foot. + +"Go on, girl!" thundered Old Hurricane, in an agony of anxiety. + +"I escaped harmless--oh, I did, sir--but at what a fearful price!" + +"Explain! Explain!" cried Old Hurricane, in breathless agitation. + +"I drew him to sit upon the chair on the rug, and"--again she +shuddered from head to foot, "and I sprang the trap and precipitated +him to--oh, heaven of heavens!--where? I know not!" + +"But you--you were unharmed?" + +"Yes--yes!" + +"Oh, Cap! Oh, my dear Cap! Thank heaven for that!" + +"But, uncle, where--oh, where did he go?" inquired Capitola, almost +wildly. + +"Who the demon cares? To perdition. I hope and trust, with all my +heart and soul!" cried Old Hurricane, with emphasis, as he +approached and looked down the opening. + +"Uncle, what is below there?" asked Capitola anxiously, pointing +down the abyss. + +"An old cellar, as I have told you long ago, and Black Donald, as +you have just told me. Hilloe there! Are you killed, as you deserve +to be, you atrocious villain?" roared Old Hurricane, stooping down +into the opening. + +A feeble distant moan answered him. + +"Oh, heaven! He is living! He is living! I have not killed him!" +cried Capitola, clasping her hands. + +"Why, I do believe you are glad of it!" exclaimed Old Hurricane, in +astonishment. + +"Oh, yes, yes, yes! For it was a fearful thought that I had been +compelled to take a sacred life! to send an immortal soul unprepared +to its account!" + +"Well! his neck isn't broken, it appears, or he couldn't groan; but +I hope and trust every other bone in his body is! Mrs. Condiment, +mum! I'll trouble you to put on your bonnet and walk to Ezy's and +tell him to come here directly! I must send for the constable," said +Old Hurricane, going to the door and speaking to his housekeeper, +who, with an appalled countenance had been a silent spectator of all +that had passed. + +As soon as the old woman had gone to do her errand he turned again, +and stooping down the hole, exclaimed: + +"I say, you scoundrel down there! What do you think of yourself now? +Are you much hurt, you knave? Is everyone of your bones broken, as +they deserve to be, you villain? Answer me, you varlet!" + +A low, deep moan was the only response. + +"If that means yes, I'm glad to hear it, you wretch. You'll go to +the camp-meeting with us again, won't you, you knave? You'll preach +against evil passions and profane swearing, looking right straight +at me all the time, until you bring the eyes of the whole +congregation upon me as a sinner above all sinners, you scoundrel? +You'll turn me out of my own bed and away from my own board, won't +you, you villain? Won't you, precious Father Grey? Oh, we'll Father +Grey you! Demmy, the next time a trap-door falls under you, you +rascal, there shall be a rope around your neck to keep you from the +ground, precious Father Grey!" + +"Uncle! Uncle! that is cowardly!" exclaimed Capitola. + +"What is cowardly, Miss Impertinence?" + +"To insult and abuse a fallen man who is in your power! The poor man +is badly hurt, may be dying, for aught you know, and you stand over +him and berate him when he cannot even answer you!" + +"Umph, umph, umph; Demmy, you're--umph, well, he is fallen, fallen +pretty badly, eh? and if he should come round after this, the next +fall he gets will be likely to break his neck, eh?--I say, you +gentleman below there--Mr. Black Donald--precious Father Grey-- +you'll keep quiet, won't you, while we go and get our breakfast? do, +now! Come, Cap, come down and pour out my coffee, and by the time we +get through, Old Ezy will be here." + +Capitola complied, and they left the room together. + +The overseer came in while they were at breakfast, and with his hair +standing on end, listened to the account of the capture of the +outlaw by our heroine. + +"And now saddle Fleetfoot and ride for your life to Tip-Top and +bring a pair of constables," were the last orders of Old Hurricane. + +While Mr. Ezy was gone on his errand, Major Warfield, Capitola and +Mrs. Condiment remained below stairs. + +It was several hours before the messenger returned with the +constables, and with several neighbors whom interest and curiosity +had instigated to join the party. + +As soon as they arrived, a long ladder was procured and carried up +into Capitola's chamber, and let down through the trap-door. +Fortunately it was long enough, for when the foot of the ladder +found the floor of the cellar, the head rested securely against the +edge of the opening. + +In a moment the two constables began singly to descend, the foremost +one carrying a lighted candle in his hand. + +The remaining members of the party, consisting of Major Warfield, +Capitola, Mrs. Condiment, and some half dozen neighbors, remained +gathered around the open trap-door, waiting, watching, and listening +for what might next happen. + +Presently one of the constables called out: + +"Major Warfield, sir!" + +"Well!" replied Old Hurricane. + +"He's a-breathing still, sir; but seems badly hurt, and may be a- +dying, seeing as he's unsensible and unspeakable. What shall we do +long of him?" + +"Bring him up! let's have a look at the fellow, at any rate!" +exclaimed Old Hurricane, peremptorily. + +"Just so, sir! but some of the gem-men up there'll have to come down +on the ladder and give a lift. He's a dead weight now, I tell your +honor!" + +Several of the neighbors immediately volunteered for the service, +and two of the strongest descended the ladder to lend their aid. + +On attempting to move the injured man he uttered a cry of pain, and +fainted, and then it took the united strength and skill of four +strong men to raise the huge insensible form of the athlete, and get +him up the ladder. No doubt the motion greatly inflamed his inward +wounds, but that could not be helped. They got him up at last, and +laid out upon the floor a ghastly, bleeding, insensible form, around +which every one gathered to gaze. While they were all looking upon +him as upon a slaughtered wild beast, Capitola alone felt +compassion. + +"Uncle, he is quite crushed by his fall. Make the men lay him upon +the bed. Never think of me; I shall never occupy this room again; +its associations are too full of horrors. There, uncle, make them at +once lay him upon the bed." + +"I think the young lady is right, unless we mean to let the fellow +die," said one of the neighbors. + +"Very well! I have particular reasons of my own for wishing that the +man's life should be spared until he could be brought to trial and +induced to give up his accomplices," said Old Hurricane. Then, +turning to his ward, he said: + +"Come along, Capitola. Mrs. Condiment will see that your effects are +transferred to another apartment." + +"And you, friends," he continued, addressing the men present, "be so +good, so soon as we have gone, to undress that fellow and put him to +bed, and examine his injuries while I send off for a physician; for +I consider it very important his life should be spared sufficiently +long to enable him to give up his accomplices." And so saying, Old +Hurricane drew the arm of Capitola within his own and left the room. + +It was noon before the physician arrived. When he had examined the +patient he pronounced him utterly unfit to be removed, as besides +other serious contusions and bruises, his legs were broken and +several of his ribs fractured. + +In a word. It was several weeks before the strong constitution of +the outlaw prevailed over his many injuries, and he was pronounced +well enough to be taken before a magistrate and committed to prison +to await his trial. Alas! his life, it was said, was forfeit by a +hundred crimes, and there could be no doubt as to his fate. He +maintained a self-possessed good-humored and laughingly defiant +manner, and when asked to give up his accomplices, he answered +gaily: + +That treachery was a legal virtue which outlaws could not be +expected to know anything about. + +Capitola was everywhere lauded for her brave part in the capture of +the famous desperado. But Cap was too sincerely sorry for Black +Donald to care for the applause. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A FATAL HATRED. + + + "Oh, heaven and all its hosts, he shall not die!" + + "By Satan and his fiends, he shall not live! + This is no transient flash of fugitive passion, + His death has been my life for years of misery, + Which, else I had not lived, + Upon that thought, and not on food, I fed, + Upon that thought, and not on sleep, I rested, + I came to do the deed that must be done, + Nor thou, nor the sheltering angels could prevent me." + + --MATURIN. + + +The United States army, under General Scott, invested the city of +Mexico. + +A succession of splendid victories had marked every stage of their +advance, from the seacoast to the capital. Vera Cruz had fallen; +Cerro-Gordo had been stormed and passed: Xalapa taken; the glorious +triumph of Churubusco had been achieved. The names of Scott, Worth, +Wool, Quitman, Pillow and others were crowned with honor. Others +again, whose humble names and unnoticed heroism have never been +recorded, endured as nobly, suffered as patiently, and fought as +bravely. Our own young hero, Herbert Greyson, had covered himself +with honor. + +The war with Mexico witnessed, perhaps, the most rapid promotions of +any other in the whole history of military affairs. + +The rapid ascent of our young officer was a striking instance of +this. In two years from the time he had entered the service, with a +lieutenant's commission, he held the rank of major, in the--Regiment +of Infantry. + +Fortune had not smiled upon our other young friend, Traverse Rocke-- +partly because, being entirely out of his vocation, he had no right +to expect success; but mostly because he had a powerful enemy in the +Colonel of his regiment--an unsleeping enemy, whose constant +vigilance was directed to prevent the advancement and insure the +degradation and ruin of one whom he contemptuously termed the +"gentleman private." + +Now, it is known that by the rules of military etiquette, a wide +social gulf lies between the Colonel of the regiment and the private +in the ranks. + +Yet, Colonel Le Noir continually went out of his way to insult +Private Rocke, hoping to provoke him to some act of fatal +insubordination. + +And very heavy was this trial to a high spirited young man like +Traverse Rocke, and very fortunate was it for him that he had early +been imbued with that most important truth, that "He who ruleth his +own spirit is greater than he who taketh a city." + +But, if Colonel Le Noir crossed the gulf of military etiquette to +harass the poor young soldier, Major Greyson did the same thing for +the more honorable purpose of soothing and encouraging him. + +And both Herbert and Traverse hoped that the designs of their +Colonel would be still frustrated by the self-command and patience +of the young private. + +Alas! they did not know the great power of evil! They did not know +that nothing less than Divine Providence could meet and overcome it. + +They fondly believed that the malignity of Le Noir had resulted in +no other practical evil than in preventing the young soldier's well- +merited advancement, and in keeping him in the humble position of a +private in the ranks. + +They were not aware that the discharge of Traverse Rocke had long +ago arrived, but that it had been suppressed through the diabolical +cunning of Le Noir. That letters, messages and packets, sent by his +friends to the young soldier, had found their way into his Colonel's +possession and no further. + +And so, believing the hatred of that bad man to have been fruitless +of serious, practical evil, Herbert encouraged his friend to be +patient for a short time longer, when they should see the end of the +campaign, if not of the war. + +It was now that period of suspense and of false truce between the +glorious 20th of August and the equally glorious 8th of September, +1847--between the two most brilliant actions of the war, the battle +of Churubusco and the storming of Chapultepec. + +The General-in-Chief of the United States forces in Mexico was at +his headquarters in the Archiepiscopal palace of Tacubaya, on the +suburbs, or in the full sight of the city of the Montezumas, +awaiting the issue of the conference between the commissioners of +the hostile governments, met to arrange the terms of a treaty of +peace--that every day grew more hopeless. + +General Scott, who had had misgivings as to the good faith of the +Mexicans, had now his suspicions confirmed by several breaches on +the part of the enemy of the terms of the armistice. + +Early in September he despatched a letter to General Santa Anna, +complaining of these infractions of the truce, and warning him that +if some satisfactory explanations were not made within forty-eight +hours he should consider the armistice at an end, and renew +hostilities. + +And not to lose time, he began on the same night a series of +reconnaisances, the object of which was to ascertain their best +approach to the city of Mexico, which, in the event of the renewal +of the war, he purposed to carry by assault. + +It is not my intention to pretend to describe the siege and capture +of the capital, which has been so often and eloquently described by +grave and wise historians, but rather to follow the fortunes of an +humble private in the ranks, and relate the events of a certain +court-martial, as I learned them from the after-dinner talk of a +gallant officer who had officiated on the occasion. + +It was during these early days in September, while the illustrious +General-in-Chief was meditating concluding the war by the assault of +the city of Mexico, that Colonel Le Noir also resolved to bring his +own private feud to an end, and ruin his enemy by a coup-de-diable. + +He had an efficient tool for his purpose in the Captain of the +company to which Traverse Rocke belonged. This man, Captain Zuten, +was a vulgar upstart thrown into his command by the turbulence of +war, as the scum is cast up to the surface by the boiling of the +cauldron. + +He hated Traverse Rocke, for no conceivable reason, unless it was +that the young private was a perfect contrast to himself, in the +possession of a handsome person, a well cultivated mind, and a +gentlemanly deportment--cause sufficient for the antagonism of a +mean and vulgar nature. + +Colonel Le Noir was not slow to see and to take advantage of this +hatred. + +And Captain Zuten became the willing coadjutor and instrument of his +vengeance. Between them they concocted a plot to bring the +unfortunate young man to an ignominious death. + +One morning, about the first of September, Major Greyson, in going +his rounds, came upon Traverse, standing sentry near one of the +outposts. The aspect of the young private was so pale, haggard and +despairing that his friend immediately stopped and exclaimed: + +"Why Traverse, how ill you look! More fitted for the sick list than +the sentry's duties. What the deuce is the matter?" + +The young soldier touched his hat to his superior and answered +sadly, "I am ill, ill in body and mind, sir." + +"Pooh!--leave off etiquette when we are alone, Traverse, and call me +Herbert, as usual. Heaven knows, I shall be glad when all this is +over and we fall back into our relative civil positions towards each +other. But what is the matter now, Traverse? Some of Le Noir's +villainy again, of course." + +"Of course. But I did not mean to complain, Herbert; that were +childish. I mus' endure this slavery, these insults and persecutions +patiently since I have brought them upon myself." + +"Take comfort, Traverse. The war is drawing to a close. Either this +armistice will end in a permanent peace, or when hostilities are +renewed our General will carry the city of Mexico by storm, and +dictate the terms of a treaty from the grand square of the capital. +In either event the war will soon be over, the troops disbanded, and +the volunteers free to go about their business, and Doctor Traverse +Rocke at liberty to pursue his legitimate profession," said Herbert, +cheerfully. + +"It may be so; I do not know. Oh, Herbert, whether it be from want +of sleep and excessive fatigue--for I have been on duty for three +days and nights--or whether it be from incipient illness, or all +these causes put together, I cannot tell, but my spirits are +dreadfully depressed! There seems to be hanging over me a cloud of +fate I cannot dispel. Every hour seems descending lower and blacker +over my head, until it feels like some heavy weight about to +suffocate or crush me," said Traverse, sadly. + +"Pooh, pooh! hypochondria! cheer up! Remember that in a month we +shall probably be disbanded, and in a year--think of it, Traverse +Rocke--Clara Day will be twenty-one, and at liberty to give you her +hand. Cheer up!" + +"Ah, Herbert, all that seems now to be more unsubstantial than the +fabric of a dream. I cannot think of Clara or of my mother without +despair. For oh, Herbert, between me and them there seems to yawn a +dishonored grave! Herbert, they talk, you know, of an attack upon +the Molino-del-Rey, and I almost hope to fall in that charge!" + +"Why?" inquired Major Greyson, in dismay. + +"To escape being forced into a dishonored grave! Herbert, that man +has sworn my ruin, and he will accomplish it!" said Traverse, +solemnly. + +"For Heaven's sake, explain yourself!" said Herbert. + +"I will. Listen! I will tell you the history of the last three +days," said Traverse; but before he could add another word the +sentry that was to relieve his guard approached and said: + +"Captain Zuten orders you to come to his tent instantly." + +With a glance of significance, Traverse bowed to Herbert and walked +off, while the sentinel took his place. + +Herbert saw no more of Traverse that day. At night he went to +inquire for him, but learned that he had been sent with a +reconnoitering party to the Molino-del-Rey. + +The next day, on seeking Traverse, he understood that the young +private had been despatched on a foraging expedition. That night, +upon again inquiring for him, he was told that he had been sent in +attendance upon the officers who had borne secret despatches to +General Quitman, at his quarters on the Acapulco road. + +"Traverse is right. They mean to ruin him. I see how it is, exactly. +When I saw Traverse on guard, two days ago, he looked like a man +exhausted and crazed for want of sleep, and since that time he has +been night and day engaged in harassing duty. That demon, Le Noir, +with Zuten to help him, has determined to keep Traverse from sleep, +until nature is thoroughly exhausted, and then set him upon guard, +that he may be found sleeping on his post. That was what the boy +meant when he talked of the cloud that was hanging over him, and of +being forced into a dishonored grave, and when he hoped, poor +fellow, to fall in the approaching assault upon the Molino-del-Rey! +I see it all now. They have decided upon the destruction of +Traverse. He can do nothing. A soldier's whole duty is comprised in +one word--obedience, even if, as in this instance, he is ordered to +commit suicide. Let them hatch their diabolical plots. We will see +if the Lord does not still reign, and the devil is not a fool. It +shall go hard, but that they are 'hoist with their own petard!'" +said Herbert, indignantly. + +Early the next morning he went to the tent of Captain Zuten and +requested to see Private Traverse Rocke, in whom, he said, he felt a +warm interest. + +The answer of Colonel Le Noir's tool confirmed Herbert's worse +suspicions. + +Touching his cap with an air of exaggerated deference, he said: + +"As you think so much of the young fellow, Major, I am very sorry to +inform you, sir, that he is under arrest." + +"Upon what charge?" inquired Herbert, calmly, concealing the +suspicion and indignation of his bosom. + +"Upon a rather bad one, Major--sleeping on his post," replied the +officer, masking his exultation with a show of respect. + +"Rather bad! The penalty is death," said Herbert, dryly. + +"Yes, sir--martial law is rather severe." + +"Who charges him?" asked Herbert, curtly. + +"The Colonel of our regiment, sir," replied the man, scarcely able +to conceal his triumph. + +"An accusation from a high quarter. Is his charge supported by other +testimony?" + +"Beg pardon, Major, but is that necessary?" + +"You have answered my question by asking another one, sir. I will +trouble you for a direct reply," said Herbert with dignity. + +"Then, Major, I must reply--yes." + +"What testimony? I would know the circumstances?" + +"Well, sir, I will tell you about it," said the officer, with ill- +concealed triumph. "Private Traverse Rocke had the early morning +watch--" + +"After his return from the night ride to Acapulco?" + +"Yes, sir. Well, Colonel Le Noir and myself in going our rounds this +morning, just before sunrise, came full upon the young fellow, fast +asleep on his post. In fact, sir, it required a hearty shake to +awaken him." + +"After ninety-six hours' loss of sleep, I should not wonder." + +"I know nothing about that, sir. I only know that Colonel Le Noir +and myself found him fast asleep on his post. He was immediately +arrested." + +"Where is he now?" inquired Herbert. + +"In one of the Colonel's extra tents, under guard," replied the +officer. + +Herbert immediately went to the tent in question, where he found two +sentinels, with loaded muskets, on duty before the door. They +grounded arms on the approach of their superior officer. + +"Is Private Traverse Rocke confined within there?" he inquired. + +"Yes, sir," + +"I must pass in to see him." + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but our orders are strict, not even to +admit an officer, without a written order from our Colonel," said +the sentinel. + +"Where is the Colonel?" + +"In his tent, sir." + +Herbert immediately went on to the fine marquee occupied by Colonel +Le Noir. + +The sentinel on duty there at once admitted him, and he passed on +into the presence of the Colonel. + +He saluted his superior officer with cold military etiquette, and +said: + +"I have come, sir, to ask of you an order to see Private Traverse +Rocke, confined under the charge of sleeping on his post." + +"I regret to say, Major Greyson, that it cannot be done," replied Le +Noir, with ironical politeness. + +"Will you have the kindness to inform me, sir, upon what pretext my +reasonable request is refused?" asked Herbert, coldly. + +"I deem it quite unnecessary to do so, sir," answered the Colonel, +haughtily. + +"Then I have no more to do here," replied Herbert, leaving the tent. + +He immediately threw himself into his saddle and rode off to the +Archiepiscopal palace of Tacubaya, where the General-in-Chief had +fixed his headquarters. + +Here he had to wait some little time before he was admitted to the +presence of the gallant commander, who received him with all the +stately courtesy for which that renowned officer is distinguished. + +Herbert mentioned the business that had brought him to the general's +presence, the request of a written order to see a prisoner in strict +confinement for sleeping on his post. + +The commander whose kind heart was interested in the welfare of all +his soldiers, made some inquiries into the affair, of which Herbert +proceeded to give him a short history, without, however, venturing, +as yet, directly to charge the Captain or the Colonel with +intentional foul play; indeed to have attempted to criminate the +superior officers of the accused man would then have been most +unwise, useless and hurtful. + +The General immediately wrote the desired order and passed it to the +young officer. + +Herbert bowed and was about to retire from the room, when he was +called back by the General, who placed a packet of letters in his +hand, saying that they had arrived among his despatches, and were +for the prisoner, to whom Major Greyson might as well take them at +once. + +Herbert received them with avidity, and on his way back to the +Colonel's tent he examined their superscription. + +There were three letters-all directed to Traverse Rocke. On two of +them, he recognized the familiar handwriting of Marah Rocke, on the +other he saw the delicate Italian style of a young lady's hand, +which he readily believed to be that of Clara. + +In the midst of his anxiety on his friend's account rejoiced to have +this one little ray of comfort to carry him. He knew that many +months had elapsed since the young soldier had heard from his +friends at home--in fact, Travers never received a letter unless it +happened to come under cover to Herbert Greyson. And well they both +knew the reason. + +"How very fortunate," said Herbert, as he rode on, "that I happened +to be at the General's quarters to receive these letters just when I +did; for if they had been sent to Colonel Le Noir's quarters or to +Captain Z.'s, poor traverse would never have heard of them. However, +I shall no distract Traverse's attention by showing him these +letters until he has told me the full history of his arrest, for I +wish him to give me a cool account of the whole thing, so that I may +know if I can possible server him. Ah, it is very unlikely that nay +power of mine will be ale to save him if indeed, and in truth, he +did sleep upon his post," ruminated Herbert, as he rode up to the +tent where the prisoner was confined. + +Another pair of sentinels were on duty in place of those who had +refused him admittance. + +He alighted from his horse, was challenged, showed his order, and +passed into the tent. + +There a sight met him that caused the tears to rush to his eyes--for +the bravest is always the tenderest heart. + +Thrown down on the mat at the back of the tent lay Traverse Rocke, +pale, haggard and sunken in the deep, deep sleep of utter +exhaustion. Even in that state of perfect abandonment, prostration +and insensibility, the expression of great mental anguish remained +upon his deathly countenance; a mortal pallor overspread his face; +his thick, black curls, matted with perspiration, clung to his +hollow temples and cheeks; great drops of sweat beaded upon his +corrugated brow; a quiver convulsed his mouth and chin; every +circumstance betrayed how severely, even in that swoonlike state, he +suffered. + +Herbert drew a camp-stool and sat down beside his mat, resolving not +to break that greatly needed rest, but to wait patiently until the +sleeper should awake. + +Again, I say that I know nothing about mesmerism, but I have seen +strange effects produced quite unconsciously by the presence of one +person upon another. And in a few minutes after Herbert took his +seat beside Traverse, it was noticeable that the face of the sleeper +lost its look of pain, and his rest grew deep and calm. + +Herbert sat watching that pale, calm, intellectual face, thanking +heaven that his mother, in her distant home, knew nothing of her +boy's deadly peril and praying heaven that its justice might be +vindicated in the deliverance of this victim from the snares of +those who sought his life. + +For more than an hour longer Traverse slept the deep sleep of +exhaustion, and then calmly awoke. On seeing Herbert sitting beside +him, he smiled sadly, saying: + +"You here, Herbert? How kind of you to come. Well, Herbert, you see +they have succeeded, as I knew they would. That was what I wished to +tell you about when I was abruptly ordered away. I do believe it was +done on purpose to prevent my telling you. I really think I have +been surrounded by spies to report and distort every word and look +and gesture. If our company had only watched die enemy with half the +vigilance with which they watched me, that party of emigrants would +not have been cut off on the plains." + +"Traverse," said Herbert solemnly taking the hand of his friend, +"were you caught sleeping on your post?" + +"Ah, sleeping like death, Herbert." + +Herbert dropped the hand of his friend, covered his face with his +own, and groaned aloud, "He could not help it!" + +"I told you that they had resolved upon my death, Herbert. I told +you that I should be pushed into a shameful grave!" + +"Oh, no, no, the Lord forbid! But tell me all about it, Traverse, +that I may understand and know how to proceed," said Herbert, in a +broken voice. + +"Well, I need not tell you how I have been insulted, oppressed and +persecuted by those two men, for you know that already." + +"Yes, yes!" + +"It really soon became apparent to me that they were resolved, if +possible, to exasperate to desert, to retort, or to commit some +other fatal act of insubordination or violence. Yet, for the sake of +my dear mother and of Clara, I did violence only to my own natural +manhood, and bore it all with the servility of a slave." + +"With the submission of a saint, dear Traverse; and in doing so you +followed the divine precept and example of Our Saviour, who, when +accused, railed upon and buffeted, 'opened not his mouth.' And in +His forbearance, dear Traverse, there was as much of God-like +dignity as there was of saintly patience. Great self-respect is as +often manifested in forbearance as in resentment," said Herbert, +soothingly. + +"But you see it availed me nothing. Here I am, under a charge to +which I plead guilty, and the penalty of which is--death!" replied +Traverse in despair. + +"Tell me how it was, Traverse. Your persecutions and your patience I +knew before, but what are the circumstances that led to your present +position? That your misfortune is the result of a concerted plan on +the part of Le Noir and his tool, I partly see, but I wish you to +put me in possession of all the facts, that I may see in what manner +I may be able to assist you." + +"Ah, Herbert, I thank you, most faithful of friends, but I doubt +whether you can assist me in any other manner than in being kind to +my poor mother and my dear Clara when I am gone--for ah, old +playmate, the act can be too surely proved upon me, and the penalty +is certain--and it is death!" said the poor boy, deeply sighing. + +Herbert groaned, and said: + +"But tell me, at least, the history of the four days preceding your +arrest." + +"I will. Let me see--this is Friday. Well, until this morning's +fatal sleep, I had not slept since Sunday night. Monday was passed +in the usual routine of military duty. Monday evening I was sent on +a reconnoitering expedition to the old castellated Spanish fort of +the Casa de Mata, that occupied the whole night. On Tuesday morning +I was selected to attend the messenger who went with the flag of +truce into the city to carry our General's letter of expostulation +to Santa Anna, which employed the whole day. On Tuesday night, +without having had an hour's rest in the interval, I was put on +guard. Wednesday morning I was sent with a party to escort an +emigrant caravan across the marsh to the village of Churubusco. +Wednesday afternoon you saw me on guard and I told you that I had +not slept one hour for three days and nights." + +"Yes, you looked ill enough to be ordered on the sick list." + +"Yet, listen. Thoroughly exhausted as I was, on Wednesday night I +was ordered to join a party to go on a secret reconnoitering +expedition to the Molina-del-Rey. On Thursday morning I was sent out +with another party on a foraging tour. On Thursday night I was sent +in attendance upon the officer who carried despatches to General +Quitman. On Friday morning I was set on guard between the hours of +four and eight!" + +"Oh, heaven, what an infamous abuse of military authority!" +exclaimed Herbert, indignantly. + +"Herbert, in my life I have sometimes suffered with hunger, cold and +pain, and have some idea of what starving, freezing and torture may +be, but among all the ills to which flesh is heir, I doubt if there +is one so trying to the nerves and brain of man as enforced and +long-continued vigilance, when all his failing nature sinks for want +of sleep. Insanity and death must soon be the result." + +"Humph! Go on. Tell me about the manner of their finding you," said +Herbert, scarcely able to repress his indignation. + +"Well, when after--let me see--eighty-four--ninety--ninety six hours +of incessant watching, riding and walking, I was set on guard to +keep the morning watch between four o'clock and eight, 'my whole +head was sick and my whole heart faint'; my frame was sinking; my +soul could scarcely hold my body upright. In addition to this +physical suffering was the mental anguish of feeling that these men +had resolved upon my death, and thinking of my dear mother and +Clara, whose hearts would be broken by my fall. Oh! the thought of +them at this moment quite unmans me. I must not reflect. Well, I +endeavored with all the faculties of my mind and body to keep awake. +I kept steadily pacing to and fro, though I could scarcely drag one +limb after the other, or even stand upright; sleep would arrest me +while in motion, and I would drop my musket and wake up in a panic, +with the impression of some awful, overhanging ruin appalling my +soul. Herbert, will you think me a miserably weak wretch if I tell +you that that night was a night of mental and physical horrors? +Brain and nerves seemed in a state of disorganization; thought and +emotion were chaos; the relations of soul and body broken up. I had +but one strong, clear idea, namely, that I must keep awake at all +costs, or bring shameful death upon myself and disgrace upon my +family. And even In the very midst of thinking this I would fall +asleep." + +"No power within yourself could have prevented it; indeed, you had +to drop into sleep or death!" + +"I pinched myself, I cut my flesh, I burned my skin, but all in +vain. Nothing could withstand the overwhelming power of sleep that +finally conquered me, about five o'clock this morning. Then, in the +midst of a delightful dream of mother and Clara and home, I was +roused up by a rude shake, and awoke to find my musket fallen from +my hands, and my Captain and Colonel standing over me. It was +several minutes before I could travel back from the pleasant land of +sleep and dreams and realize my real position. When I did I had +nothing to say. The inevitable ruin I felt had come, and crushed me +into a sort of dumb despair. Nor did my superior officers reproach +me--their revenge was too perfect. The captain called a sergeant to +take my gun, and I was marched off to my present prison. And, +Herbert, no sooner was I left alone here than sleep overcame me +again, like a strong man, and despite all the gloom and terror of my +situation, despite all of my thoughts of home and mother and Clara, +I slept like a tired child. But this awakening. Oh! this awakening. +Herbert!" + +"Be of good courage. Let us hope that heaven will enable us to +confound the plots of the evil, and save you!" + +"Ah, Herbert, that will be impossible. The duty of a soldier is +clear and stern; his punishment if he fails in it, swift and sure. +At the word of command he must march into the very jaws of death, as +is right. He must die or madden for the want of rest, rather than +fall asleep on his post, for if he does, his punishment is certain +and shameful death. Oh, my mother! Oh, Clara! Would heaven I had +fallen at Vera Cruz or Churubusco, rather than live to bring this +dreadful sorrow upon you," cried Traverse, covering his convulsed +face with his hands. + +"Cheer up, cheer up, old comrade. All is not lost that is +endangered, and we shall save you yet!" + +"Herbert, you know it is impossible." + +"No, I do not know any such thing!" + +"You know that I shall be tried to-day and shot tomorrow! Oh, +Herbert, never let my dear ones at home know how I shall die. Tell +them that I fell before Chepultepec--which will be literally true, +you know. Oh, my mother! Oh, my dear Clara, shall I never see you +more? Never hear your sweet voices calling me? Never feel the kind +clasp of your hands again? Is this the end of a life of aspiration +and endeavor? Is this the comfort and happiness I was to bring you?- +-early bereavement, dishonored names and broken hearts?" + +"I tell you, no! You shall be saved! I say it!" + +"Ah, it is impossible." + +"No, it is only very difficult--so very difficult that I shall be +sure to accomplish it!" + +"What a paradox." + +"It is a truth. Things difficult--almost to impossibility--can +always be accomplished. Write that upon your tables, for it is a +valuable truth. And no cheer up, for I bring you letters from Clara +and your mother." + +"Letters! from Clara! and mother! Oh, give them to me!" exclaimed +the young man eagerly. + +Herbert handed them, and Traverse eagerly broke the seals, one after +another, and devoured the contents. + +"They are well! They are well and happy! Oh, thank God they are so. +Oh, Herbert, never let them know how I shall die! If they think I +fell honorably in battle, they will get over it in time, but if they +know I died a convict's death it will break their hearts. Oh, +Herbert, my dear friend, by all our boyhood's love, never let my +poor mother and dear Clara know the manner of my death!" cried +Traverse, in an imploring voice. + +Before he could say another word or Herbert could answer, an orderly +sergeant entered and put into Major Greyson's hands a paper that +proved to be a summons for him to attend immediately at headquarters +to serve upon a court-martial, to try Private Traverse Rocke upon +the charge of sleeping on his post. + +"This is done on purpose to prevent me becoming a witness for the +defense!" whispered Herbert to his friend, "but take courage. We +will see yet whether you shall succeed!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE COURT-MARTIAL. + + + I wish I could + Meet all accusers with as good excuse, + As well as I am certain I can clear + Myself of this. + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +Pursuant with the general orders issued from headquarters, the +court-martial, consisting of thirteen officers, convened at +Tacubaya, for the trial of Traverse Rocke, private in the--Regiment +of Infantry, accused of sleeping on his post. + +It was a sultry morning, early in September, and by seven o'clock +the drum was heard beating before the Archiepiscopal palace, where +it was understood the trial, involving life or death, would come +off. + +The two sentinels on guard before the doors and a few officers off +duty, loitering about the verandas, were the only persons visible +near the well-ordered premises, until the members of the court- +martial, with the prosecutors and witnesses, began to assemble and +pass in. + +Within a lofty apartment of the building, which was probably at one +time the great dining-hall of the priests, were collected some +twenty persons, comprising the court-martial and its attendants. + +An extension table covered with green cloth occupied the middle of +the long room. + +At the head of this table sat General W., the president of the +court. On his right and left, at the sides of the table, were +arranged the other members according to their rank. + +At a smaller table, near the right hand of the President, stood the +Judge Advocate or prosecutor on behalf of the United States. + +At the door stood a sentinel on guard, and near him two or three +orderly sergeants in attendance upon the officers. + +The Judge Advocate opened the court by calling over the names of the +members, beginning with the President and ending with the youngest +officer present, and recording them as they responded. This +preliminary settled, orders were despatched to bring the prisoner, +prosecutor and witnesses into court. + +And in a few minutes entered Colonel Le Noir, Captain Zuten, Ensign +Allen and Sergeant Baker. They were accommodated with seats near the +left hand of the President. + +Lastly, the prisoner was brought in guarded, and placed standing at +the foot of the table. + +Traverse looked pale, from the severe effects of excessive fatigue +and anxiety, but he deported himself with firmness and dignity, +bowed respectfully to the court, and then drew his stately form up +to its fullest height, and stood awaiting the proceedings. + +The Judge Advocate at the order of the President, commenced and read +the warrant for holding the court. He then read over the names of +the members, commencing as before, with the President, and +descending through the gradations of rank to the youngest officer, +and demanded of the prisoner whether he had any cause of challenge, +or took any exception to any member present, and if so, to declare +it, as was his privilege. + +Traverse lifted his noble head and keen eyes, and looked slowly +around, in turn, upon each officer of the court-martial. + +They might all be said to be strangers to him, since he knew them +only by sight--all except his old acquaintance, Herbert Greyson, who +sat first at the left hand of the President, and who returned his +look of scrutiny with a gaze full of encouragement. + +"I find no cause of challenge, and take no exception to any among +the officers composing this court," answered Traverse, again bowing +with such sweetness and dignity in tone and gesture that the +officers, in surprise, looked first at the prisoner and then at each +other. No one could doubt that the accused, in the humble garb of a +private soldier, was nevertheless a man of education and refinement- +-a true gentleman, both in birth and breeding. + +As no challenge was made, the Judge Advocate proceeded to administer +to each of the members of the court the oath prescribed in the +Articles of War, to the intent that they should "try the matter +before them, between the prisoner and the, United States, according +to the evidence, without fear, favor or affection." + +This oath was taken by each member holding up his right hand and +repeating the words after the officer. + +The court then being regularly constituted, and every preliminary +form observed, the Judge Advocate arose and directed the prisoner to +listen to the charge brought against him, and preferred by the +Colonel of his Regiment, Gabriel Le Noir. + +Traverse raised his head and fixed his eagle eyes upon the +prosecutor, who stood beside the Judge Advocate, while the latter in +an audible voice read the accusation, charging the prisoner with +wilful neglect of duty, in that he, the said Traverse Rocke, on the +night of the first of September, being placed on guard at the +northwestern outpost of the Infantry quarters, at Tacubaya, did fall +asleep upon his post, thereby endangering the safety of the +quarters, and violating the 46th Article of War. + +To which charge the prisoner, in a firm voice, replied: + +"Not guilty of wilful neglect of duty, though found sleeping upon my +post." + +The Judge Advocate then cautioned all witnesses to withdraw from the +court and come only as they were called. They withdrew, and he then +arranged some preliminaries of the examination, and called in-- +Captain Zuten, of the--Regiment of Infantry. + +This witness was a short, coarse-featured, red-haired person of +Dutch extraction, without intellect enough to enable him to conceal +the malignity of his nature. + +He testified that on Thursday, the first of September, Traverse +Rocke, private in his company, was ordered on guard at the +northwestern out post of the quarters, between the hours of four and +eight a.m. That about five o'clock on the same morning, he, Joseph +Zuten, in making his usual rounds, and being accompanied on that +occasion by Colonel Gabriel Le Noir, Lieutenant Adams and Ensign +Baker, did surprise Private Traverse Rocke asleep on his post +leaning against the sentry box with his musket at his feet. + +This witness was cross-examined by the Judge Advocate, who, it is +known, combines in his own person the office of prosecutor on the +part of the United States and counsel for the prisoner, or rather, +if he be honest, he acts as impartial inquirer and arbiter between +the two. + +As no new facts were gained by the cross-examination, the Judge +Advocate proceeded to call the next witness, Colonel Le Noir. + +Here, then, was a gentleman of most prepossessing exterior, as well +as of most irreproachable reputation. + +In brief, his testimony corroborated that of the foregoing witness, +as to the finding of the prisoner asleep on his post at the time and +place specified. In honor of his high social and military standing, +this witness was not cross-examined. + +The next called was Lieutenant Adams, who corroborated the evidence +of former witnesses. The last person examined was Ensign Baker, +whose testimony corresponded exactly to that of all who had gone +before him. + +The Judge Advocate then briefly summed up the case on the part of +the United States--first by reading the 46th Article of War, to wit, +that: + +"Any sentinel who shall be found sleeping on his post, or shall +leave it before he shall be regularly relieved, shall suffer death," +etc., etc., etc. + +And secondly, by reading the recorded evidence to the effect that: + +Traverse Rocke had been found by competent witnesses sleeping on his +post. + +And concluded by saying: + +"Gentlemen, officers of the court-martial, here is the law and here +is the fact both proven, and it remains for the court to find a +verdict in accordance with both." + +The prisoner was then put upon his defence. + +Traverse Rocke drew himself up and said, that the truth, like the +blessed sun, must, on its shining forth, dispel all clouds of error; +that, trusting in the power of truth, he should briefly relate the +history of the preceding seven days. And then he commenced and +narrated the facts with which the reader is, already acquainted. + +Traverse was interrupted several times in the course of his +narrative by the President, General W., a severe martinet, who +reminded him that an attempt to criminate his superior Officers +would only injure his cause before the court. + +Traverse, bowing, as in duty bound to the President at every fresh +interruption, nevertheless proceeded straight on with his narrative +to its conclusion. + +The defence being closed, the Judge Advocate arose, as was his +privilege, to have the last word. He stated that if the prisoner had +been oppressed or aggrieved by his superior officer, his remedy lay +in the 35th of the Articles of War, providing that any soldier who +shall feel himself wronged by his captain shall complain thereof to +the Colonel of his Regiment. + +To this the prisoner begged to reply that he had considered the +Colonel of his Regiment his personal enemy, and as such could have +little hope of the issue, even if he had had opportunity afforded +him, of appealing to that authority. + +The Judge Advocate expressed his belief that this complaint was +vexatious and groundless. + +And here the evidence was closed, the prosecutor, prisoner and +witnesses dismissed, and the court adjourned to meet again to +deliberate with closed doors. + +It was a period of awful suspense with Traverse Rocke. The prospect +seemed dark for him. + +The fact of the offence and the law affixing the penalty of death to +that offence was established, and as the Judge Advocate truly said, +nothing remained but for the court to find their verdict in +accordance to both. + +Extenuating circumstances there were certainly; but extenuating +circumstances were seldom admitted in courts-martial, the law and +practice of which were severe to the extent of cruelty. + +Another circumstance against him was the fact that it did not +require an unanimous vote to render a legal verdict, but that if a +majority of two-thirds should vote for conviction, the fate of the +prisoner would be sealed. Traverse had but one friend in the court, +and what could his single voice do against so many? Apparently +nothing: yet, as the prisoner on leaving the court-room, raised his +eyes to that friend, Herbert Greyson returned the look with a glance +of more than encouragement--of triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE VERDICT. + + + We must not make a scare-crow of the law, + Setting it up to frighten birds of prey; + And let it keep one shape till custom makes it, + Their perch and not their terror. + + --SHAKESPEARE. + +The members of a court-martial sit in the double capacity of jurors +and judges; as jurors they find the facts, and as judges they award +the punishment. Yet their session with closed doors was without the +solemn formality that the uninitiated might have supposed to attend +a grave deliberation upon a matter of guilt or innocence involving a +question of life or death. + +No sooner were the doors closed that shut out the "vulgar" crowd, +than the "high and mighty" officials immediately fell into easy +attitudes, and disengaged conversation upon the weather, the +climate, yesterday's dinner at General Cushion's quarters, the +claret, the cigars and the Mexican signoritas. + +They were presently recalled from this easy chat by the President, a +severe disciplinarian, who reminded them rather sharply of the +business upon which they had convened. + +The officers immediately wheeled themselves around in the chairs, +facing the table, and fell into order. + +The Judge Advocate seated himself at his detached stand, opened his +book, called the attention of the court, and commenced and read over +the whole record of the evidence and the proceedings up to this +time. + +The President then said: + +"For my own part, gentlemen, I think this quite a simple matter, +requiring but little deliberation. Here is the fact of the offence +proved, and here is the law upon that offence clearly defined. +Nothing seems to remain for us to do but to bring in a verdict in +accordance with the law and the fact." + +Several of the elder officers and sterner disciplinarians agreed +with the President, who now said, + +"I move that the vote be immediately made upon this question." + +To this, also, the elder officers assented. And the Judge Advocate +was preparing to take the ballot, when one of the younger members +arose and said: + +"Mr. President and gentlemen, there are mitigating circumstances +attending this offence, which, in my opinion, should be duly weighed +before making up our ballot." + +"Lieutenant Lovel, when your hair has grown white in the service of +your country, as mine has, and when your skin is mottled with the +scars of a score of well-fought fields, you will find your soft +theories corrected by hard experience, and you will know that in the +case of a sentinel steeping upon, his post there can be no +mitigating circumstances; that nothing can palliate such flagrant +and dangerous neglect, involving the safety of the whole army; a +crime that martial law and custom have very necessarily made +punishable by death," said the President, sternly. + +The young lieutenant sat down abashed, under the impression that he +had betrayed himself into some act of gross impropriety. This was +his first appearance in the character of juror and judge; he was +literally unaccustomed to public speaking, and did not hazard a +reply. + +"Has any other gentleman any views to advance before we proceed to a +general ballot?" inquired the President. + +Several of the officers whispered together, and then some one +replied that there seemed to be no reason why the vote should not be +immediately taken. + +Herbert Greyson remained perfectly silent. Why he did not speak +then, in reply to this adjuration--why, indeed, he had not spoken +before, in support of Lieutenant Lovel's views in favor of his +friend, I do not know to this day, though I mean to ask him the +first time I have the opportunity. Perhaps he wished to "draw the +enemy's fire," perhaps he was inclined to dramatic effects; but +whatever might have been the motive, he continued silent, offering +no obstacle to the immediate taking of the vote. + +The Judge Advocate then called the court to order for the taking of +the ballot, and proceeded to question the members in turn, +commencing with the youngest. + +"How say you, Lieutenant Lovel, is the prisoner on trial guilty or +not guilty of the offence laid to his charge?" + +"Guilty," responded the young officer, as his eyes filled with tears +of pity for the other young life against which he had felt obliged +to record this vote. + +"If that is the opinion of one who seems friendly to him, what will +be the votes of the other stern judges?" said Herbert Greyson to +himself, in dismay. + +"What say you, Lieutenant Adams--is the prisoner guilty or not +guilty?" said the Judge Advocate, proceeding with the ballot. + +"Guilty!" + +"Lieutenant Cragin?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Lieutenant Evans?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Lieutenant Goffe?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Lieutenant Hesse?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Captain Kingsley?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Captain McConkey?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Captain Lucas?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Captain O'Donnelly?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Captain Rozencrantz?" + +"Guilty!" + +"Major Greyson?" + +"NOT GUILTY!" + +Every officer sprang to his feet and gazed in astonishment, +consternation and indignant inquiry upon the renderer of this +unprecedented vote. + +The President was the first to speak, breaking out with: + +"Sir! Major Greyson! your vote, sir, in direct defiance of the fact +and the law upon it, is unprecedented, sir, in the whole history of +court-martial!" + +"I record it as uttered, nevertheless," replied Herbert. + +"And your oath, sir! What becomes of your oath as a judge, of this +court?" + +"I regard my oath in my vote!" + +"What, sir?" inquired Captain McConkey, "do you mean to say that you +have rendered that vote in accordance with the facts elicited in +evidence, as by your oath you were bound to do?" + +"Yes." + +"How, sir, do you mean to say that the prisoner did not sleep upon +his post?" + +"Certainly I do not; on the contrary, I grant that he did sleep upon +his post, and yet I maintain that in doing so he was not guilty!" + +"Major Greyson plays with us," said the President. + +"By no means, sir! I never was in more solemn earnest than at +present! Your honor, the President and gentlemen judges of the +court, as I am not counsel for the prisoner, nor civil officer, nor +lawyer, of whose interference courts-martial are proverbially +jealous, I beg you will permit me to say a few words in support, or +at least, I will say, in explanation of the vote which you have +characterized as an opinion in opposition to fact and law, and +unprecedented in the whole history of courts-martial." + +"Yes, it is! it is!" said General W., shifting uneasily in his seat. + +"You heard the defense of the prisoner," continued Herbert; "you +heard the narrative of his wrongs and sufferings, to the truth of +which his every aspect bore testimony. I will not here express a +judgment as to the motives that prompted his superior officers, I +will merely advert to the facts themselves, in order to prove that +the prisoner, under the circumstances, could not, with his human +power, have done otherwise than he did." + +"Sir, if the prisoner considered himself wronged by his captain, +which is very doubtful, he could have appealed to the Colonel of his +Regiment!" + +"Sir, the Articles of War accord him that privilege. But is it ever +taken advantage of? Is there a case on record where a private +soldier ventures to make a dangerous enemy of his immediate superior +by complaining of his Captain to his Colonel? Nor in this case would +it have been of the least use, inasmuch as this soldier had well- +founded reasons for believing the Colonel of his regiment his +personal enemy, and the Captain as the instrument of this enmity." + +"And you, Major Greyson, do you coincide in the opinion of the +prisoner? Do you think that there could have been anything in common +between the Colonel of the regiment and the poor private in the +ranks, to explain such an equalizing sentiment as enmity?" inquired +Captain O'Donnelly. + +"I answer distinctly, yes, sir! In the first place, this poor +private is a young gentleman of birth and education, the heir of one +of the most important estates in Virginia, and the betrothed of one +of the most lovely girls in the world. In both these capacities he +has stood in the way of Colonel Le Noir, standing between him and +the estate on the one hand, and between him and the young lady on +the other. He has disappointed Le Noir both in love and ambition. +And he has thereby made an enemy of the man who has, besides, the +nearest interest in his destruction. Gentlemen, what I say now in +the absence of Colonel Le Noir, I am prepared to repeat in his +presence, and maintain at the proper time and place." + +"But how came this young gentleman of birth and expectations to be +found in the ranks?" inquired Captain Rosencrantz. + +"How came we to have headstrong sons of wealthy parents, fast young +men of fortune, and runaway students from the universities and +colleges of the United States in our ranks? In a burst of boyish +impatience the youth enlisted. Destiny gave him as the Colonel of +his regiment his mortal enemy. Colonel Le Noir found in Captain +Zuten a ready instrument for his malignity. And between them both +they have done all that could possibly be effected to defeat the +good fortune and insure the destruction of Traverse Rocke. And I +repeat, gentlemen, that what I feel constrained to affirm here in +the absence of those officers, I shall assuredly reassert and +maintain in their presence, upon the proper occasion. In fact I +shall bring formal charges against Colonel Le Noir and Captain +Zuten, of conduct unworthy of officers and gentlemen!" + +"But it seems to me that this is not directly to the point at +issue," said Captain Kingsley. + +"On the contrary, sir, it is the point, the whole point, and only +point, as you shall presently see by attending to the facts that I +shall recall to your memory. You and all present must, then, see +that there was a deliberate purpose to effect the ruin of this young +man. He is accused of having been found sleeping on his post, the +penalty of which, in time of war, is death. Now listen to the +history of the days that preceded his fault, and tell me if human +nature could have withstood the trial?" + +"Sunday night was the last of repose to the prisoner until Friday +morning, when he was found asleep on his post." + +"Monday night he was sent with the reconnoitering party to Casa-de- +Mata." + +"Tuesday he was sent with the officer that carried our General's +expostulation to Santa Anna. At night he was put on guard." + +"Wednesday he was sent with another party to protect a band of +emigrants crossing the marshes. At night he was sent with still +another party to reconnoiter Molina-del-Rey." + +"Thursday he was sent in attendance upon the officer that carried +despatches to General Quitman, and did not return until after +midnight, when, thoroughly worn out, driven indeed to the extreme +degree of mortal endurance, he was again on a sultry, oppressive +night, in a still, solitary place, set on guard where a few hours +later he was found asleep upon his post--by whom? The Colonel of his +regiment and the Captain of his company, who seemed bent upon his +ruin--as I hold myself bound to establish before another court- +martial." + +"This result had been intended from the first! If five nights' loss +of sleep would not have effected this, fifteen probably would; if +fifteen would not, thirty would; or if thirty wouldn't sixty would!- +-and all this Captain Zuten had the power to enforce until his +doomed victim should fall into the hands of the provost-marshal, and +into the arms of death!" + +"And now, gentlemen, in view of all these circumstances, I ask you-- +was Traverse Rocke guilty of wilful neglect of duty in dropping +asleep on his post? And I move for a reconsideration, and a new +ballot!" + +"Such a thing is without precedent, sir! These mitigating +circumstances may be brought to bear on the Commander-in-Chief, and +may be embodied in a recommendation to mercy! They should have no +weight in the finding of the verdict," said the President, "which +should be in accordance with the fact and the law." + +"And with justice and humanity! to find a verdict against this young +man would be to place an unmerited brand upon his spotless name, +that no after clemency of the Executive could wipe out! Gentlemen, +will you do this! No! I am sure that you will not! And again I move +for a new ballot! " + +"I second the motion!" said Lieutenant Lovel, rising quite +encouraged to believe in his own first instincts, which had been so +favorable. + +"Gentlemen," said the President sternly, "this thing is without +precedent! In all the annals of courts-martial, with out +precedent.!" + +"Then, if there is no such precedent, it is quite time that such a +one were established, so that the iron car of literal law should not +always roll over and crush justice! Gentlemen, shall we have a new +ballot?" + +"Yes! yes! yes!" were the answers. + +"It is irregular! It is illegal! It is unprecedented! A new ballot? +Never heard of such a thing in forty years of military life! Lord +bless my soul, what is the service coming to!" + +"A new ballot:! a new ballot! a new ballot!" was the unanimous cry. + +The President groaned in spirit, and recorded a vow never to forgive +Herbert Greyson for this departure from routine. + +The new ballot demanded by acclamation had to be held. + +The Judge Advocate called the court to order and began anew. The +votes were taken as before, commencing with the young lieutenant, +who now responded sonorously: + +"Not guilty!" + +And so it ran around the entire circle. + +"Not guilty!" "Not guilty!" "Not guilty!" were the hearty responses +of the court. + +The acquittal was unanimous. The verdict was recorded. + +The doors were then thrown open to the public, and the prisoner +called in and publicly discharged from custody. + +The court then adjourned. + +Traverse Rocke threw himself upon the bosom of his friend, +exclaiming in a broken voice: + +"I cannot sufficiently thank you! My dear mother and Clara will do +that!" + +"Nonsense!" said Herbett laughing; "didn't I tell you that the Lord +reigns, and the devil is a fool? This is only the beginning of +victories!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE END OF THE WAR + + + Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, + Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; + Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, + Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. + Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front, + And now instead of mounting barbed steeds, + To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, + He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber, + To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +Ten days later Molina-del-Rey, Casa-de-Mata, and Chapultepec had +fallen! The United States forces occupied the city of Mexico, +General Scott was in the Grand Plaza, and the American standard +waved above the capital of the Montezumas! + +Let those who have a taste for swords and muskets, drums and +trumpets, blood and fire, describe the desperate battles and +splendid victories that led to this final magnificent triumph! + +My business lies with the persons of our story, to illustrate whom I +must pick out a few isolated instances of heroism in this glorious +campaign. + +Herbert Greyson's division was a portion of the gallant Eleventh +that charged the Mexican batteries on Molina-del-Rey. He covered his +name with glory, and qualified himself to merit the command of the +regiment, which he afterwards received. + +Traverse Rocke fought like a young Paladin. When they were marching +into the very mouths of the cannon they were vomiting fire upon +them, and when the young ensign of his company was struck down +before him, Traverse Rocke took the colors from his falling hand, +and crying "Victory!" pressed onward and upward over the dead and +the dying, and springing upon one of the guns which continued to +belch forth fire, he thrice waved the flag over his head and then +planted it upon the battery. Captain Zuten fell in the subsequent +assault upon Chapultepec. + +Colonel Le Noir entered the city of Mexico with the victorious army, +but on the subsequent day, being engaged in a street skirmish with +the leperos, or liberated convicts, he fell mortally wounded by a +copper bullet, and he was now dying by inches at his quarters near +the Grand Cathedral. + +It was on the evening of the 20th of September, six days from the +triumphant entry of General Scott into the capital, that Major +Greyson was seated at supper at his quarters, with some of his +brother officers, when an orderly entered and handed a note to +Herbert, which proved to be a communication from the surgeon of +their regiment, begging him to repair without delay to the quarters +of Colonel Le Noir, who, being in extremity, desired to see him. + +Major Greyson immediately excused himself to his company, and +repaired to the quarters of the dying man. + +He found Colonel Le Noir stretched upon his bed in a state of +extreme exhaustion and attended by the surgeon and chaplain of his +regiment. + +As Herbert advanced to the side of his bed, Le Noir stretched out +his pale hand and said: + +"You bear no grudge against a dying man, Greyson?" + +"Certainly not," said Herbert, "especially when he proposes doing +the right thing, as I judge you do, from the fact of your sending +for me." + +"Yes, I do; I do!" replied Le Noir, pressing the hand that Herbert's +kindness of heart could not withhold. + +Le Noir then beckoned the minister to hand him two sealed packets, +which he took and laid upon the bed before him. + +Then taking up the larger of the two packets, he placed it in the +hands of Herbert Greyson, saying: + +"There, Greyson, I wish you to hand that to your friend, young +Rocke, who has received his colors, I understand?" + +"Yes, he has now the rank of ensign." + +"Then give this parcel into the hands of Ensign Rocke, with the +request, that being freely yielded up, they may not be used in any +manner to harass the last hours of a dying man." + +"I promise, on the part of my noble young friend, that they shall +not be so used," said Herbert as he took possession of the parcel. + +Le Noir then took up the second packet, which was much smaller, but +much more firmly secured, than the first, being in an envelope of +parchment, sealed with three great seals. + +Le Noir held it in his hand for a moment, gazing from the surgeon to +the chaplain, and thence down upon the mysterious packet, while +spasms of pain convulsed his countenance. At length he spoke: + +"This second packet, Greyson, contains a--well, I may as well call +it a narrative. I confide it to your care upon these conditions-- +that it shall not be opened until after my death and funeral, and +that, when it has served its purpose of restitution, it may be, as +far as possible, forgotten. Will you promise me this?" + +"On my honor, yes," responded the young man, as he received the +second parcel. + +"This is all I have to say, except this--that you seemed to me, upon +every account, the most proper person to whom I could confide this +trust. I thank you for accepting it, and I believe that I may safely +promise that you will find the contents of the smaller packet of +great importance and advantage to yourself and those dear to you." + +Herbert bowed in silence. + +"That is all, good-by. I wish now to be alone with our chaplain," +said Colonel Le Noir, extending his hand. + +Herbert pressed that wasted hand; silently sent up a prayer for the +dying wrong-doer, bowed gravely and withdrew. + +It was almost eight o'clock, and Herbert thought that he would +scarcely have time to find Traverse before the drum should beat to +quarters. + +He was more fortunate than he had anticipated, for he had scarcely +turned the Grand Cathedral when he came full upon the young ensign. + +"Ah! Traverse, I am very glad to meet you! I was just going to look +for you. Come immediately to my rooms, for I have a very important +communication to make to you. Colonel Le Noir is supposed to be +dying. He has given me a parcel to be handed to you, which I +shrewdly suspect to contain your intercepted correspondence for the +last two years," said Herbert. + +Traverse started and gazed upon his friend in amazement, and was +about to express his astonishment, when Herbert, seeing others +approach, drew the arm of his friend within his own, and they +hurried silently on toward Major Greyson's quarters. + +They had scarcely got in and closed the door and stricken a light +before Traverse exclaimed impatiently: + +"Give it me!" and almost snatched the parcel from Herbert's hands. + +"Whist! don't be impatient! I dare say it is all stale news!" said +Herbert, as he yielded up the prize. + +They sat down together on each side of a little stand supporting a +light. + +Herbert watched with sympathetic interest while Traverse tore open +the envelope and examined its contents. + +They were, as Herbert had anticipated, letters from the mother and +the betrothed of Traverse--letters that had arrived and been +intercepted, from time to time, for the preceding two years. + +There were blanks, also, directed in a hand strange to Traverse, but +familiar to Herbert as that of Old Hurricane, and those blanks +inclosed drafts upon a New Orleans bank, payable to the order of +Traverse Rocke. + +Traverse pushed all these latter aside with scarcely a glance and +not a word of inquiry, and began eagerly to examine the long- +desired, long-withheld letters from the dear ones at home. + +His cheek flamed to see that every seal was broken, and the fresh +aroma of every heart-breathed word inhaled by others, before they +reached himself. + +"Look here, Herbert! look here! Is not this insufferable? Every fond +word of my mother, every delicate and sacred expression of--of +regard from Clara, all read by the profane eyes of that man!" + +"That man is on his deathbed, Traverse, and you must forgive him! He +has restored your letters." + +"Yes, after their sacred privacy has been profaned! Oh!" + +Traverse handed his mother's letters over to Herbert, that his +foster brother might read them, but Clara's "sacred epistles" were +kept to himself. + +"What are you laughing at?" inquired Traverse, looking up from his +page, and detecting Herbert with a smile upon his face. + +"I am thinking that you are not as generous as you were some few +years since, when you would have given me Clara herself; for now you +will not even let me have a glimpse of her letters!" + +"Have they not been already sufficiently published?" said Traverse, +with an almost girlish smile and blush. + +When those cherished letters were all read and put away, Traverse +stooped down and "fished up" from amidst envelopes, strings and +waste paper another set of letters which proved to be the blanks +inclosing the checks, of various dates, which Herbert recognized as +coming anonymously from Old Hurricane. + +"What in the world is the meaning of all this, Herbert? Have I a +nabob uncle turned up anywhere, do you think? Look here!--a hundred +dollars--and a fifty, and another--all drafts upon the Planters' +Bank, New Orleans, drawn in my favor and signed by Largent Dor, +bankers!--I, that haven't had five dollars at a time to call my own +for the last two years! Here, Herbert, give me a good, sharp pinch +to wake me up! I may be sleeping on my post again?" said Traverse in +perplexity. + +"You are not sleeping, Traverse!" + +"Are you sure?" + +"Perfectly," replied Herbert, laughing. + +"Well, then, do you think that crack upon the crown of my head that +I got upon Chapultepec has not injured my intellect?" + +"Not in the slightest degree!" said Herbert, still laughing at his +friend's perplexity. + +"Then I am the hero of a fairy tale, that is all--a fairy tale in +which waste paper is changed into bank notes and private soldiers +prince palatines! Look here!" cried Traverse, desperately, thrusting +the bank checks under the nose of his friend, "do you see those +things and know what they are, and will you tell me that everything +in this castle don't go by enchantment?" + +"Yes, I see what they are, and it seems to me perfectly natural that +you should have them!" + +"Humph!" said Traverse, looking at Herbert with an expression that +seemed to say that he thought the wits of his friend deranged. + +"Traverse," said Major Greyson, "did it never occur to you that you +must have other relatives in the world besides your mother? Well, I +suspect that those checks were sent by some relative of yours or +your mother's, who just begins to remember that he has been +neglecting you." + +"Herbert, do you know this?" inquired Traverse, anxiously. + +"No, I do not know it; I only suspect this to be the case," said +Herbert, evasively. "But what is that which you are forgetting." + +"Oh! this--yes, I had forgotten it. Let us see what it is!" said +Traverse, examining a paper that had rested unobserved upon the +stand. + +"This is an order for my discharge, signed by the Secretary of War, +and dated--ha-ha-ha--two years ago! Here I have been serving two +years illegally, and if I had been convicted of neglect of duty in +sleeping on my post, I should have been shot unlawfully, as that +man, when he prosecuted me, knew perfectly well!" exclaimed +Traverse. + +"That man, as I said before, lies upon his deathbed! Remember, +nothing against him! But that order for a discharge! now that you +are in the way of promotion and the war is over, will you take +advantage of it?" + +"Decidedly, yes! for though I am said to have acquitted myself +passably well at Chapultepec--" + +"Gloriously, Traverse! You won your colors gloriously!" + +"Yet for all that my true mission is not to break men's bones, but +to set them when broken. Not to take men's lives, but to save them +when endangered! So to-morrow morning, please Providence, I shall +present this order to General Butler and apply for my discharge." + +"And you will set out immediately for home?" + +The face of Traverse suddenly changed. + +"I should like to do so! Oh, how I should like to see my dear mother +and Clara, if only for a day! but I must not indulge the longing of +my heart. I must not go home until I can do so with honor!" + +"And can you not do so now? You, who triumphed over all your +personal enemies and who won your colors at Chapultepec?" + +"No, for all this was in my legitimate profession! Nor will I +present myself at home until, by the blessing of the Lord, I have +done what I set out to do, and established myself in a good +practice. And so, by the help of heaven, I hope within one week to +be on my way to New Orleans to try my fortune in that city." + +"To New Orleans! And a new malignant fever of some horrible, unknown +type, raging there!" exclaimed Herbert, + +"So much the more need of a physician! Herbert, I am not the least +uneasy on the subject of infection! I have a theory for its +annihilation." + +"I never saw a clever young professional man without a theory!" +laughed Herbert. + +The drum was now heard beating the tattoo, and the friends separated +with hearts full of revived hope. + +The next morning Traverse presented the order of the Secretary to +the Commander-in-Chief and received his discharge. + +And then, after writing long, loving and hopeful letters to his +mother and his betrothed, and entreating the former to try to find +out who was the secret benefactor who had sent him such timely aid, +Traverse took leave of his friends, and set out for the Southern +Queen of Cities, once more to seek his fortune. + +Meantime the United States army continued to occupy the City of +Mexico, through the whole of the autumn and winter. General Butler, +who temporarily succeeded the illustrious Scott in the chief +command, very wisely arranged the terms of an armistice with the +enemy that was intended to last two months from the beginning of +February, but which happily lasted until the conclusion of the +treaty of peace between the two countries. + +Colonel Le Noir had not been destined soon to die; his wound, an +inward canker from a copper bullet, that the surgeon had at length +succeeded in extracting, took the form of a chronic fester disease. +Since the night, upon which he had been so extremely ill to be +supposed dying, and yet had rallied, the doctors felt no +apprehensions of his speedy death, though they gave no hopes of his +final recovery. + +Under these circumstances there were hours in which Le Noir bitterly +regretted his precipitation in permitting those important documents +to go out of his own hands. And he frequently sent for Herbert +Greyson in private to require assurances that he would not open the +packet confided to him before the occurrence of the event specified. + +And Herbert always soothed the sufferer by reiterating his promise +that so long as Colonel Le Noir should survive the seals of that +packet should not be broken. + +Beyond the suspicion that the parcel contained an important +confession, Herbert Greyson was entirely ignorant of its contents. + +But the life of Gabriel Le Noir was prolonged beyond all human +calculus of probabilities. + +He was spared to experience a more effectual repentance than that +spurious one into which he had been frightened by the seeming rapid +approach of death. And after seven months of lingering illness and +gradual decline, during the latter portions of which he was +comforted by the society of his only son, who had come at his +summons to visit him, in May, 1848, Gabriel Le Noir expired a +sincere penitent, reconciled to God and man. + +And soon afterward, in the month of May, the treaty of peace having +been ratified by the Mexican Congress at Queretaro, the American +army evacuated the city and territory of Mexico. + +And our brave soldiers, their "brows crowned with victorious +wreaths," set out upon their return to home and friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE FORTUNATE BATH + + + Heaven has to all allotted soon or late + Some lucky revolution of their fate; + Whose motions if we watch and guide with skill + (For human good depends on human will) + Our fortune rolls as from a smooth descent. + And from the first impression takes its bent. + Now, now she meets you with a glorious prize, + And spreads her locks before her as she flies. + + --DRYDEN. + + +Meanwhile, what had our young adventurer been doing in all these +months between September and June! + +Traverse, with his two hundred dollars, had set out for New Orleans +about the first of October. + +But by the time he had paid his traveling expenses and fitted +himself out with a respectable suit of professional black and a few +necessary books, his little capital had diminished three-quarters. + +So that when he found himself settled in his new office, in a highly +respectable quarter of the city, he had but fifty dollars and a few +dimes left. + +A portion of this sum was expended in a cheap sofa-bedstead, a +closed washstand and a spirit lamp coffee boiler, for Traverse +determined to lodge in his office and board himself--"which will +have this additional advantage," said the cheerful fellow to +himself--"for besides saving me from debt, it will keep me always on +hand for calls." + +The fever, though it was October, had scarcely abated; indeed, on +the contrary, it seemed to have revived and increased in virulency +in consequence of the premature return of many people who had fled +on its first appearance, and who in coming back too soon to the +infected atmosphere, were less able to withstand contagion than +those who remained. + +That Traverse escaped the plague was owing not so much to his +favorite "theory" as to his vigorous constitution, pure blood and +regular habits of temperance, cleanliness and cheerful activity of +mind and body. + +Just then the demand was greater than the supply of medical service. +Traverse found plenty to do, and his pleasant, young face and +hopeful and confident manners won him great favor in sick rooms, +where, whether it were to be ascribed to his "theory," his +"practice" or to the happy, inspiring influence of his personal +presence, or to all these together, with the blessing of the Lord +upon them, it is certain that he was very successful in raising the +sick. It is true that he did not earn five dollars in as many days, +for his practice, like that of almost every very young professional +man, was among the indigent. + +But what of that? What if he were not running up heavy accounts +against wealthy patrons? He was "giving to the poor," not money, for +he himself was as poor as any of them; but his time, labor and +professional skill; he was "giving to the poor;" he was "lending to +the Lord," and he "liked the security." And the most successful +speculator that ever made a fortune on 'change never, never invested +time, labor or money to a surer advantage. + +And this I would say for the encouragement of all young persons in +similar circumstances--do not be impatient if the "returns" are a +little while delayed, for they are so sure and so rich that they are +quite worth waiting for, nor will the waiting be long. Give your +services cheerfully, also, for "the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." + +Traverse managed to keep out of debt; he regularly paid his office +rent and his laundress' bill; he daily purchased his mutton chop or +pound of beefsteak and broiled it himself; he made his coffee, swept +and dusted his office, put up his sofa-bed, blacked his boots; and +oh! miracle of independence, he mended his own gloves and sewed on +his own shirt buttons, for you may depend that the widow's son knew +how to do all these things; nor was there a bit of hardship in his +having so to wait upon himself, though if his mother and Clara, in +their well-provided and comfortable home at Willow Heights, had only +known how destitute the young man was of female aid and comfort, how +they would have cried! + +"No one but himself to mend his poor dear gloves! Oh--oh-boo-hoo- +oo!" + +Traverse never alluded to his straitened circumstances, but boasted +of the comfort of his quarters and the extent of his practice, and +declared that his income already exceeded his outlay, which was +perfectly true, since he was resolved to live within it, whatever it +might be. + +As the fever began to subside Traverse's practice declined, and +about the middle of November his "occupation was gone." + +We said that his office was in the most respectable locality in the +city; it was, in fact, on the ground floor of a first-class hotel. + +It happened that one night, near the close of winter, Traverse lay +awake on his sofa-bedstead, turning over in his mind how he should +contrive to make both ends meet at the conclusion of the present +term and feeling as near despondency as it was possible for his +buoyant and God-trusting soul to be, when there came a loud ringing +at his office bell. + +This reminded him of the stirring days and nights of the preceding +autumn. He started up at once to answer the summons. + +"Who's there?" + +"Is Doctor Rocke in?" + +"Yes, what's wanted?" + +"A gentleman, sir, in the house here, sir, taken very bad, wants the +doctor directly, room number 555." + +"Very well, I will be with the gentleman immediately," answered +Traverse, plunging his head into a basin of cold water and drying it +hastily. + +In five minutes Traverse was in the office of the hotel, inquiring +for a waiter to show him up into 555. + +One was ordered to attend him, who led the way up several flights of +stairs and around divers galleries, until he opened a door and +ushered the doctor immediately into the sick room. + +There was a little, old, dried-up Frenchman in a blue nightcap, +extended on a bed in the middle of the room and covered with a white +counterpane that clung close to his rigid form as to a corpse. + +And there was a little, old, dried-up Frenchwoman in a brown merino +gown and a high-crowned muslin cap who hopped and chattered about +the bed like a frightened magpie. + +"Ou! Monsieur le Docteur!" she screamed, jumping at Traverse in a +way to make him start back; "Ou, Monsieur le Docteur, I am very +happy you to see! Voila mon frere! Behold my brother! He is ill! He +is verra ill! He is dead! He is verra dead!" + +"I hope not," said Traverse, approaching the bed. + +"Voila, behold! Mon dieu, he is verra still! He is verra cold! He is +verra dead! What can you, mon frere, my brother to save?" + +"Be composed, madam, if you please, and allow me to examine my +patient," said Traverse. + +"Ma foi! I know not what you speak 'compose.' What can you my +brother to save?" + +"Much, I hope, madam, but you must leave me to examine my patient +and not interrupt me," said Traverse, passing his hand over the +naked chest of the sick man. + +"Mon Dieu! I know not 'exam' and 'interrup'! and I know not what can +you mon frere to save!" + +"If you don't hush parley-vooing, the doctor can do nothink, mum," +said the waiter, in a respectful tone. + +Traverse found his patient in a bad condition--in a stupor, if not +in a state of positive insensibility. The surface of his body was +cold as ice, and apparently without the least vitality. If he was +not, as his sister had expressed it, "very dead," he was certainly +"next to it." + +By close questioning, and by putting his questions in various forms, +the doctor learned from the chattering little magpie of a +Frenchwoman that the patient had been ill for nine days; that he had +been under the care of Monsieur le Doctor Cartiere; that there had +been a consultation of physicians; that they had prescribed for him +and given him over: that le Docteur Cartiere still attended him, but +was at this instant in attendance as accoucheur to a lady in extreme +danger, whom he could not leave; but Doctor Cartiere had directed +them, in his unavoidable absence, to call in the skilful, the +talented, the soon to be illustrious young Docteur Rocque, who was +also near at hand. + +The heart of Traverse thrilled with joy. The Lord had remembered +him! His best skill spent upon the poor and needy who could make him +no return, but whose lives he had succeeded in saving, had reached +the ears of the celebrated Dr. C., who had with the unobtrusive +magnanimity of real genius quietly recommended him to his own +patrons. + +Oh! well, he would do his very best, not only to advance his own +professional interests, and to please his mother and Clara, but also +to do honor to the magnanimous Doctor C.'s recommendation! + +Here, too, was an opportunity of putting in practise his favorite +theory; but first of all it was necessary to be informed of the +preceding mode of treatment and its results. + +So he further questioned the little, restless magpie, and by +ingeniously framed inquiries succeeded in gaining from her the +necessary knowledge of his patient's antecedents. He examined all +the medicines that had been used, and informed himself of their +effects upon the disease. But the most serious difficulty of all +seemed to be the impossibility of raising vital action upon the +cold, dead skin. + +The chattering little woman informed him that the patient had been +covered with blisters that would not "pull," that would not +"delineate," that would not, what call you it--"draw!" + +Traverse could easily believe this, for not only the skin, but the +very flesh of the old doctor seemed bloodless and lifeless. + +Now for his theory! What would kill a healthy man with a perfect +circulation might save the life of this dying one, whose whole +surface, inch deep, seemed already dead. + +"Put him in a bath of mustard water, as hot as you can bear your own +hand in and continue to raise the temperature slowly, watching the +effect, for about five minutes. I will go down and prepare a cordial +draught to be taken the moment he gets back to bed," said Doctor +Rocke, who immediately left the room. + +His directions were all but too well obeyed. The bathing tub was +quickly brought into the chamber and, filled with water as hot as +the nurse could bear her hand in then the invalid was hastily +invested in a slight bathing gown and lifted by two servants and +laid in the hot bath. + +"Now, bring quickly, water boiling," said the little, old woman, +imperatively. And when a large copper kettleful was forthcoming, she +took it and began to pour a stream of hissing, bubbling water in at +the foot of the bath. + +The skin of the torpid patient had been reddening for a few seconds, +so as to prove that its sensibility was returning, and now when the +stream from the kettle began to mix with the already very hot bath, +and to raise its temperature almost to boiling, suddenly there was +heard a cry from the bath, and the patient, with the agility of +youth and health, skipped out of the tub and into his bed, kicking +vigorously and exclaiming: + +"Brigands! Assassins! You have scalded my legs to death!" + +"Glory be to the Lord, he's saved!" cried one of the waiters, a +devout Irishman. + +"Ciel! he speaks! he moves! he lives! mon frere!" cried the little +Frenchwoman, going to him. + +"Ah, murderers! bandits! you've scalded me to death! I'll have you +all before the commissaire!" + +"He scolds! he threatens! he swears! he gets well! mon frere!" cried +the old woman, busying herself to change his clothes and put on his +flannel nightgown. They then tucked him up warmly in bed and put +bottles of hot water all around, to keep up this newly stimulated +circulation. + +At that moment Dr. Rocke came in, put his hand into the bath-tub and +could scarcely repress a cry of pain and of horror--the water +scalded his fingers! What must it have done to the sick man? + +"Good heavens, madam! I did not tell you to parboil your patient!" +exclaimed Traverse, speaking to the old woman. Traverse was shocked +to find how perilously his orders had been exceeded. + +"Eh bien, Monsieur! he lives! he does well! voila mon frere!" +exclaimed the little old woman. + +It was true: the accidental "boiling bath" as it might almost be +called, had effected what perhaps no other means in the world could- +-a restored circulation. + +The disease was broken up, and the convalescence of the patient was +rapid. And as Traverse kept his own secret concerning the accidental +high temperature of that bath, which every one considered a fearful +and successful experiment, the fame of Dr. Rocke spread over the +whole city and country. + +He would soon have made a fortune in New Orleans, had not the hand +of destiny beckoned him elsewhere. It happened thus: + +The old Frenchman whose life Traverse had, partly by accident and +partly by design, succeeded in saving, comprehended perfectly well +how narrow his escape from death had been, and attributed his +restoration solely to the genius, skill and boldness of his young +physician, and was grateful accordingly with all a Frenchman's noisy +demonstration. + +He called Traverse his friend, his deliverer, his son. + +One day, as soon as he found himself strong enough to think of +pursuing his journey, he called his "son" into the room and +explained to him that he, Doctor Pierre St. Jean, was the proprietor +of a private insane asylum, very exclusive, very quiet, very +aristocratic, indeed, receiving none but patients of the highest +rank; that this retreat was situated on the wooded banks of a +charming lake in one of the most healthy and beautiful neighborhoods +of East Feliciana; that he had originally come down to the city to +engage the services of some young physician of talent as his +assistant, and finally, that he would be delighted, enraptured if +"his deliverer, his friend, his son," would accept the post. + +Now Traverse particularly wished to study the various phases of +mental derangement, a department of his professional education that +had hitherto been opened to him only through books. + +He explained this to his old friend, the French physician, who +immediately went off into ecstatic exclamations of joy as, "Good! +Great! Grand!" and "I shall now repay my good child! my dear son! +for his so excellent skill!" + +The terms of the engagement were soon arranged, and Traverse +prepared to accompany his new friend to his "beautiful retreat," the +private madhouse. But Traverse wrote to his mother and to Clara in +Virginia, and also to Herbert Greyson in Mexico, to apprise them of +his good fortune. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE MYSTERIOUS MANIAC. + + + Stay, jailer, stay, and hear my woe; + She is not mad, who kneels to thee, + For what I am, full well I know, + And what I was, and what should be; + I'll rave no more in proud despair-- + My language shall be calm tho' sad + But yet I'll truly, firmly swear, + I am not mad! no, no, not mad! + + --M.G. LEWIS + + +It was at the close of a beautiful day in early spring that Traverse +Rocke, accompanying the old doctor and the old sister, reached the +grove on the borders of the beautiful lake upon the banks of which +was situated the "Calm Retreat." + +A large, low, white building surrounded with piazzas and shaded by +fragrant and flowering southern trees, it looked like the luxurious +country seat of some wealthy merchant or planter rather than a +prison for the insane. + +Doctor St. Jean conducted his young assistant into a broad and cool +hall on each side of which doors opened into spacious rooms, +occupied by the proprietor and his household. The cells of the +patients, as it appeared were up-stairs. The country doctor and the +matron who had been in charge during the absence of the proprietor +and his sister now came forward to welcome the party and report the +state of the institution and its inmates. + +All were as usual, the country doctor said, except "Mademoiselle." + +"And what of her--how is Mademoiselle--?" + +"A patient most interesting, Doctor Rocke," said the old Frenchman, +alternately questioning his substitute and addressing Traverse. + +"She has stopped her violent ravings, and seems to me to be sinking +into a state of stupid despair," replied the substitute. + +"A patient most interesting, my young friend! A history most +pathetic! You shall hear of it some time. But come into the parlor, +and you, Angele, my sister, ring and order coffee," said the old +Frenchman, leading the way into a pleasant apartment on the right of +the hall, furnished with straw matting upon the floor and bamboo +settees and chairs around the walls. + +Here coffee was presently served to the travelers, who soon after +retired for the night. + +Traverse's room was a large, pleasant apartment at the end of a +wide, long hall, on each side of which were the doors opening into +the cells of the patients. + +Fatigued by his journey, Traverse slept soundly through the night; +but early in the morning he was rudely awakened by the sounds of +maniac voices from the cells. Some were crying, some laughing aloud +some groaning and howling and some holding forth in fancied +exhortations. + +He dressed himself quickly and left his room to walk down the length +of the long hall and observe the cells on each side. The doors were +at regular intervals, and each door had in its center a small +opening to enable the proprietor to look in upon the patients. + +As these were all women, and some of them delicate and refined even +in their insanity, Traverse felt shocked at this necessary, if it +were necessary, exposure of their sanctuary. + +The cells were, in fact, small bedrooms that with their white-washed +walls and white-curtained beds and windows looked excessively neat, +clean and cool, but also, it must be confessed, very bare, dreary +and cheerless. + +"Even a looking-glass would be a great benefit to those poor girls, +for I remember that even Clara, in her violent grief, and mother in +her lifelong sorrow, never neglected their looking-glass and +personal appearance," said Traverse to himself, as he passed down +the hall and resolved that this little indulgence should be afforded +the patients. + +And except those first involuntary glances he scrupulously avoided +looking in through the gratings upon those helpless women who had no +means of secluding themselves. + +But as he turned to go down the stairs his eyes went full into an +opposite cell and fell upon a vision of beauty and sorrow that +immediately riveted his gaze. + +It was a small and graceful female figure, clothed in deep black, +seated by the window, with her elbow resting upon the sill and her +chin supported on her hand. Her eyes were cast down until her +eyelashes lay like inky lines upon her snow-white cheek. Her face, +of classic regularity and marble whiteness, bore a ghastly contrast +to the long eyelashes, arched eyebrows and silken ringlets black as +midnight. She might have been a statue or a picture, so motionless +she sat. + +Conscious of the wrong of gazing upon this solitary woman, Traverse +forced his looks away and passed on down-stairs, where he again met +the old doctor and Mademoiselle Angele at breakfast. + +After breakfast Doctor St. Jean invited his young assistant to +accompany him on a round of visits to the patients, and they went +immediately up to the hall, at the end of which Traverse had slept. + +"There are our incurables, but they are not violent; incurables +never are! Poor Mademoiselle! She has just been conveyed to this +ward," said the doctor, opening the door of the first cell on the +right at the head of the stairs and admitting Traverse at once into +the presence of the beautiful, black-haired, snow-faced woman, who +had so much interested him. + +"This is my friend, Doctor Rocke, Mademoiselle; Doctor, this is my +friend, Mademoiselle Mont de St. Pierre!" + +Traverse bowed profoundly, and the lady arose, curtsied and resumed +her seat, saying, coldly: + +"I have told you, Monsieur, never to address me as Mademoiselle; you +persist in doing so, and I shall never notice the insult again." + +"Ten thousand pardons, madame! But if madame will always look so +young, so beautiful, can I ever remember that she is a widow?" + +The classic lip of the woman curled in scorn, and she disdained a +reply. + +"I take an appeal to Monsieur Le Docteur--is not madame young and +beautiful?" asked the Frenchman, turning to Traverse, while the +splendid, black eyes of the stranger passed from the one to the +other. + +Traverse caught the glance of the lady and bowed gravely. It was the +most delicate and proper reply. + +She smiled almost as gravely, and with a much kinder expression than +any she had bestowed upon the Frenchman. + +"And how has madame fared during my absence so long? The servants-- +have they been respectful? Have they been observant? Have they been +obedient to the will of madame? Madame has but to speak!" said the +doctor, bowing politely. + +"Why should I speak when every word I utter you believe, or affect +to believe, to be the ravings of a maniac? I will speak no more," +said the lady, turning away her superb dark eyes and looking out of +the window. + +"Ah, madame will not so punish her friend, her servant, her slave!" + +A gesture of fierce impatience and disgust was the only reply +deigned by the lady. + +"Come away; she is angry and may become dangerously excited," said +the old doctor, leading the way from the cell. + +"Did you tell me this lady is one of the incurables?" inquired +Traverse, when they had left her apartment. + +"Bah! yes, poor girl, vera incurable, as my sister would say." + +"Yet she appears to me to be perfectly sane, as well as exceedingly +beautiful and interesting." + +"Ah, bah; my excellent, my admirable, my inexperienced young friend, +that is all you know of lunatics! With more or less violence of +assertion, they every one insist upon their sanity, just as +criminals protest their innocence. Ah, bah! you shall go into every +cell in this ward and find not one lunatic among them," sneered the +old doctor, as he led the way into the next little room. + +It was indeed as he had foretold, and Traverse Rocke found himself +deeply affected by the melancholy, the earnest and sometimes the +violent manner in which the poor unfortunates protested their sanity +and implored or demanded to be restored to home and friends. + +"You perceive," said the doctor, with a dry laugh, "that they are +none of them crazy?" + +"I see," said Traverse, "but I also detect a very great difference +between that lovely woman in the south cell and these other +inmates." + +"Bah! bah! bah! She is more beautiful, more accomplished, more +refined than the others, and she is in one of her lucid intervals! +That is all; but as to a difference between her insanity and that of +the other patients, it lies in this, that she is the most hopelessly +mad of the whole lot! She has been mad eighteen years!" + +"Is it possible?" exclaimed Traverse, incredulously. + +"She lost her reason at the age of sixteen, and she is now thirty- +four; you can calculate!" + +"It is amazing and very sorrowful! How beautiful she is!" + +"Yes; her beauty was a fatal gift. It is a sad story. Ah, it is a +sad story. You shall hear it when we get through." + +"I can connect no idea of woman's frailty with that refined and +intellectual face," said Traverse coldly. + +"Ah, bah! you are young! you know not the world! you, my innocent, +my pious young friend!" said the old doctor, as they crossed the +hall to go into the next wing of the building, in which were +situated the men's wards. + +Traverse found nothing that particularly interested him in this +department, and when they had concluded their round of visits and +were seated together in the old doctor's study, Traverse asked him +for the story of his beautiful patient. + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. + +"It is a story miserable, as I told you before. A gentleman, +illustrious, from Virginia, an officer high in the army, and +distinguished in the war, he brought this woman to me nearly three +years ago. He informed me that--oh, bien! I had better tell you the +story in my own manner. This young lady, Mademoiselle Mont de St. +Pierre, is of a family noble and distinguished--a relative of this +officer, illustrious and brave. At fifteen Mademoiselle met a man, +handsome and without honor. Ah, bah! you understand! at sixteen the +child became a fallen angel! She lost her reason through sorrow and +shame. This relative--this gentleman, illustrious and noble, tender +and compassionate--took her to the seclusion of his country house, +where she lived in elegance, luxury and honor. But as the years +passed her malady increased; her presence became dangerous; in a +word, the gentleman, distinguished and noble, saw the advertisement +of my 'Calm Retreat,' my institution incomparable, and he wrote to +me. In a word, he liked my terms and brought to me his young +relative, so lovely and so unfortunate. Ah! he is a good man, this +officer, so gallant, so chivalrous; but she is ungrateful!" + +"Ungrateful!" + +"Ah, bah! yes; it is the way of lunatics! They ever imagine their +best friends to be their worst enemies. The poor, crazed creature +fancies that she is the sister-in-law of this officer illustrious! +She thinks that she is the widow of his elder brother, whom she +imagines he murdered, and that she is the mother of children, whom +she says he has abducted or destroyed, so that he may enjoy the +estate that is her widow's dower and their orphans' patrimony. That +is the reason why she insists on being called madame instead of +mademoiselle, and we indulge her when we think of it! " + +"But all this is very singular!" + +"Ah, bah! who can account for a lunatic's fancies? She fs the +maddest of the whole lot. Sometimes she used to become so violent +that we would have to restrain her. But lately, Doctor Wood tells +me, she is quite still; that we consider a bad sign; there is always +hope for a lunatic until they begin to sink into this state," said +the doctor, with an air of competency. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE MANIAC'S STORY, + + + A scheming villain forged the tale + That chains me in this dreary cell, + My fate unknown, my friends bewail, + Oh, doctor, haste that fate to tell! + Oh, haste my daughter's heart to cheer, + Her heart, at once, 'twill grieve and glad + To know, tho' chained and captive here, + I am not mad! I am not mad! + + --M. G. LEWIS. + + +There is some advantage in having imagination, since that visionary +faculty opens the mental eyes to facts that more practical and +duller intellects could never see. + +Traverse was young and romantic, and deeply interested in the +doctor's beautiful patient. He, therefore, did not yield his full +credulity to the tale told by the "relative illustrious" to the old +doctor, as to the history and cause of the lady's madness, or even +take it for granted that she was mad. He thought it quite possible +that the distinguished officer's story might be a wicked +fabrication, to conceal a crime, and that the lady's "crazy fancy" +might be the pure truth. + +And Travers had heard to what heinous uses private madhouses were +sometimes put by some unscrupulous men, who wished to get certain +women out of their way, yet who shrank from bloodshed. + +And he thought it not impossible that this "gentleman so noble, so +compassionate and tender," might be just such a man, and this +"fallen angel" such a victim. And he determined to watch and +observe. And he further resolved to treat the interesting patient +with all the studious delicacy and respect due to a refined and +accomplished woman in the full possession of her faculties. If she +were really mad, this demeanor would not hurt her, and if she were +not mad it was the only proper conduct to be observed toward her, as +any other must be equally cruel and offensive. Her bodily health +certainly required the attendance of a physician, and Traverse had +therefore a fair excuse for his daily visits to her cell. + +His respectful manners, his grave bow, and his reverential tone in +saying-- + +"I hope I find you stronger to-day, Madam," seemed to gratify one +who had few sources of pleasure. + +"I thank you," she would answer, with a softened tone and look, +adding, "Yes" or "No," as the truth might be. + +One day, after looking at the young physician some time, she +suddenly said: + +"You never forget. You always address me by my proper title of +Madam, and without the touch of irony which others indulge in when +'humoring' me, as they call it! Now, pray explain to me why, in +sober earnest, you give me this title?" + +"Because, Madam, I have heard you lay claim to that title, and I +think that you yourself, of all the world, have the best right to +know how you should be addressed," said Traverse, respectfully. + +The lady looked wistfully at him and said: + +"But my next-door neighbor asserts that she is a queen; she insists +upon being called 'your majesty.' Has she, then, the best right to +know how she should be addressed?" + +"Alas! no, Madam, and I am pained that you should do yourself the +great wrong to draw such comparisons." + +"Why? Am not I and the 'queen' inmates of the same ward of +incurables, in the same lunatic asylum?" + +"Yes, but not with equal justice of cause. The 'queen' is a +hopelessly deranged, but happy lunatic. You, Madam, are a lady who +has retained the full possession of your faculties amid +circumstances and surroundings that must have overwhelmed the reason +of a weaker mind." + +The lady looked at him in wonder and almost in joy. + +"Ah! it was not the strength of my mind; it was the strength of the +Almighty upon whom my mind was stayed, for time and for eternity, +that has saved my reason in all these many years! But how did you +know that I was not mad? How do you know that this is anything more +than a lucid interval of longer duration than usual?" she asked. + +"Madam, you will forgive me for having looked at you so closely, and +watched you so constantly, but I am your physician, you know--" + +"I have nothing to forgive and much to thank you for, young man. You +have an honest, truthful, frank, young face! the only one such that +I have seen in eighteen years of sorrow! But why, then, did you not +believe the doctor? Why did you not take the fact of my insanity +upon trust, as others did?" she asked, fixing her glorious, dark +eyes inquiringly upon his face. + +"Madam, from the first moment in which I saw you, I disbelieved the +story of your insanity, and mentioned my doubts to Doctor St. Jean-- +" + +"Who ridiculed your doubts, of course. I can readily believe that he +did. Doctor St. Jean is not a very bad man, but he is a charlatan +and a dullard; he received the story of my reported insanity as he +received me, as an advantage to his institution, and he never gave +himself the unprofitable trouble to investigate the circumstances. I +told him the truth about myself as calmly as I now speak to you, but +somebody else had told him that this truth was the fiction of a +deranged imagination, and he found it more convenient and profitable +to believe somebody else. But again I ask you, why were not you, +also, so discreetly obtuse?" + +"Madam," said Traverse, blushing ingenuously, "I hope you will +forgive me for saying that it is impossible any one could see you +without becoming deeply interested in your fate. Your face, Madam, +speaks equally of profound sorrows and of saintly resignation. I saw +no sign of madness there. In the calm depths of those sad eyes, +lady, I knew that the fires of insanity never could have burned. +Pardon me that I looked at you so closely; I was your physician, and +was most deeply anxious concerning my patient." + +"I thank you; may the Lord bless you! Perhaps he has sent you here +for my relief, for you are right, young friend--you are altogether +right; I have been wild with grief, frantic with despair, but never +for one hour in the whole course of my life have I been insane." + +"I believe you, Madam, on my sacred honor I do!" said Traverse, +fervently. + +"And yet you could get no one about this place to believe you! They +have taken my brother-in-law's false story, indorsed as it is by the +doctor-proprietor, for granted. And just so long as I persist in +telling my true story, they will consider me a monomaniac, and so +often as the thought of my many wrongs and sorrows combines with the +nervous irritability to which every woman is occasionally subject, +and makes me rave with impatience and excitement, they will report +me a dangerous lunatic, subject to periodical attacks of violent +frenzy; but, young man, even at my worst, I am no more mad than any +other woman, wild with grief and hysterical through nervous +irritation, might at any time become without having her sanity +called in question." + +"I am sure that you are not, nor ever could have been, Madam. The +nervous excitement of which you speak is entirely within the control +of medicine, which mania proper is not. You will use the means that +I prescribe and your continued calmness will go far to convince even +these dullards that they have been wrong." + +"I will do everything you recommend; indeed, for some weeks before +you came, I had put a constraint upon myself and forced myself to be +very still; but the effect of that was, that acting upon their +theory they said that I was sinking into the last or 'melancholy- +mad' state of mania, and they put me in here with the incurables." + +"Lady," said Traverse, respectfully taking her hand, "now that I am +acquainted in some slight degree with the story of your heavy +wrongs, do not suppose that I will ever leave you until I see you +restored to your friends." + +"Friends! ah, young man, do you really suppose that if I had had +friends I should have been left thus long unsought? I have no +friends, Doctor Rocke, except yourself, newly sent me by the Lord; +nor any relatives except a young daughter whom I have seen but twice +in my life!--once upon the dreadful night when she was born and torn +away from my sight and once about two years ago, when she must have +been sixteen years of age. My little daughter does not know that she +has a poor mother living, and I have no friend upon earth but you, +whom the Lord has sent." + +"And not in vain!" said Traverse, fervently, "though you have no +other friends, yet you have the law to protect you. I will make your +case known and restore you to liberty. Then, lady, listen: I have a +good mother, to whom suffering has taught sympathy with the +unfortunate, and I have a lovely betrothed bride, whom you will +forgive her lover for thinking an angel in woman's form; and we have +a beautiful home among the hills of Virginia, and you shall add to +our happiness by living with us." + +The lady looked at Traverse Rocke with astonishment and incredulity. + +"Boy," she said, "do you know what you are promising--to assume the +whole burden of the support of a useless woman for her whole life? +What would your mother or your promised wife say to such a +proposition?" + +"Ah! you do not know my dear mother nor my Clara--no, nor even me. I +tell you the truth when I say that your coming among us would make +us happier. Oh. Madam, I myself owe so much to the Lord and to His +instruments, the benevolent of this world, for all that has been +done for me. I seize with gratitude the chance to serve in my turn +any of His suffering children. Pray believe me!" + +"I do! I do, Doctor Rocke! I see that life has not deprived you of a +generous, youthful enthusiasm," said the lady, with the tears +welling up into her glorious black eyes. + +After a little, with a smile, she held out her hand to him, saying: + +"Young friend, if you should succeed in freeing me from this prison +and establishing my sanity before a court of justice, I and my +daughter will come into the immediate possession of one of the +largest estates in your native Virginia! Sit you down, Doctor Rocke, +while I tell you my true story, and much, very much more of it than +I have ever confided to any human being." + +"Lady, I am very impatient to hear your history, but I am your +physician, and must first consider your health. You have been +sufficently excited for one day; it is late; take your tea and +retire early to bed. To-morrow morning, after I have visited the +wards and you have taken your breakfast, I will come, and you shall +tell me the story of your life." + +"I will do whatever you think best," said the lady. + +Traverse lifted her hand to his lips, bowed and retreated from the +cell. + +That same night Traverse wrote to his friend Herbert Greyson, in +Mexico, and to his mother and Clara, describing his interesting +patient, though as yet he could tell but little of her, not even in +fact her real name, but promising fuller particulars next time, and +declaring hi intention of bringing her home for the present to their +house. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +END OF THE LADY'S STORY. + + + Of the present naught is bright, + But in the coming years I see + A brilliant and a cheerful light, + Which burns before thee constantly. + + --W. D. GALLAGHER + + +At the appointed hour the next morning Traverse Rocke repaired to +the cell of his mysterious patient. + +He was pleased to find her up, dressed with more than usual care and +taste and looking, upon the whole, much better in health and spirits +than upon the preceding day. + +"Ah, my young hero, it is you; you see that I am ready for you," she +said, holding out her hand. + +"You are looking very well this morning," said Traverse, smiling. + +"Yes, hope is a fine tonic, Doctor Rocke." + +She was seated by the same window at which Traverse had first seen +her, and she now beckoned the young doctor to come and take a seat +near her. + +"My story is almost as melodramatic as a modern romance, Doctor +Rocke," she said. + +Traverse bowed gravely and waited. + +"My father was a French patriot, who suffered death in the cause of +liberty when I, his only child, was but fourteen years of age. My +mother, broken-hearted by his loss, followed him within a few +months. I was left an orphan and penniless, for our estate was +confiscated." + +"Ah, your sorrows came early and heavily indeed," said Traverse. + +"Yes; well, a former servant of my father held an humble situation +of porter on the ground floor of a house, the several floors of +which were let out to different lodgers. This poor man and his wife +gave me a temporary home with themselves. Among the lodgers of the +house there was a young Virginian gentleman of fortune, traveling +for pleasure and improvement; his name was Mr. Eugene Le Noir." + +"Le Noir!" cried Traverse, with a violent start. + +"Yes--what is the matter?" + +"It is a familiar Virginia name, Madam, that is all; pray go on." + +"Mr. Le Noir was as good and kind as he was wise and cultivated. He +used to stop to gossip with old Cliquot every time he stopped at the +porter's room to take or to leave his key. There he heard of the +poor little orphan of the guillotine, who had no friend in the world +but her father's old servant. He pitied me, and after many +consultations with Father and Mother Cliquot, he assumed the +position of guardian to me, and placed me at one of the best schools +in Paris. He lingered in the city and came to see me very often; but +always saw me in the presence of Madame, the directress. I clung to +him with affection as to a father or an elder brother, and I knew he +loved me with the tender, protecting affection that he would have +given a younger sister, had he possessed one. Ah! Doctor Rocke, tell +me, besides yourself, are there many other men in your State like +him?" + +"I knew but one such; but go on, dear Madam." + +"When I had been to school some months he came to me one day +scarcely able to conceal his woe. He told me that his father was ill +and that he should have to sail in the first packet from Havre, and +that, in fact, he had then come to take leave of me. I was wild with +grief, not only upon his account but upon my own, at the prospect of +losing him, my only friend. I was but a child, and a French child to +boot. I knew nothing of the world; I regarded this noble gentleman, +who was so much my superior in years as in everything else, as a +father, guardian or elder brother; so in an agony of grief I threw +myself into his arms, sobbing and weeping bitterly and imploring him +not to break my heart by leaving me. It was in vain Madame the +Directress exclaimed and expostulated at these improprieties. I am +sure I did not hear a word until he spoke. Putting me out of his +arms, he said:" + +"I must go, my child; duty calls me." + +"Then take me with you; take your poor little one with you, and do +not pull her out of your warm, good heart, or she will wither and +die like a flower torn up by the roots!" I cried, between my sobs +and tears. + +"He drew me back to his bosom and whispered:" + +"There is but one way in which I can take you with me, my child. +Will you be my wife, little Capitolie?" + +"Capitola!" cried Traverse, with another great start. + +"Yes! Why? What is the matter now?" + +"Why, it is such an odd name, that is all! Pray proceed, Madam." + +"We were married the same day, and sailed the third morning +thereafter from Havre for the United States, where we arrived, alas! +only to find the noble gentleman, my Eugene's father, laid in his +grave. After Mr. Le Noir's natural grief was over we settled down +peaceably to our country life at the Hidden House--" + +"The Hidden House!" again exclaimed Traverse Rocke. + +"Yes! that is another odd name, isn't it? Well, I was very happy. At +first when I understood my real position, I had been afraid that my +husband had married me only from compassion; but he soon proved to +me that his love was as high, as pure and as noble as himself. I was +very happy. But one day, in the midst of my exultant joy, a +thunderbolt fell and shattered my peace to destruction forever! Oh, +Doctor Rocke, my husband was murdered by some unknown hand in his +own woods, in open day! I cannot talk of this!" cried the widow, +breaking down, overwhelmed with the rush of terrible recollections. + +Traverse poured out a glass of water and handed it to her. + +She drank it, made an effort at self-control, and resumed: + +"Thus, scarcely sixteen years of age, I was a widow, helpless, +penniless and entirely dependent--upon my brother-in-law, Colonel +Gabriel Le Noir, for by the terms of their father's will, if Eugene +died without issue the whole property descended to his younger +brother, Gabriel. To speak the truth, Colonel Le Noir was +exceedingly kind to me after, my awful bereavement, until a +circumstance was discovered that changed all our relations. It was +two months after my husband's death that I discovered, with mingled +emotions of joy and sorrow, that heaven had certainly destined me to +become a mother! I kept my cherished secret to myself as long as it +was possible, but it could not indeed be long concealed from the +household. I believe that my brother-in-law was the first to suspect +it. He called me into his study one day, and I obeyed like a child. +And there he rudely questioned me upon the subject of my sacred +mother-mystery. He learned the truth more from my silence than from +my replies, for I could not answer him." + +"The brute! the miserable hound!" ejaculated Traverse. + +"Oh, Doctor Rocke, I could not tell you the avalanche of abuse, +insult and invective that he hurled upon my defenseless head. He +accused me of more crimes than I had ever heard talk of. He told me +that my condition was an impossible one unless I had been false to +the memory of his brother; that I had dishonored his name, disgraced +his house and brought myself to shame; that I should leave the roof, +leave the neighborhood and die as I deserved to die, in a ditch! I +made no reply. I was crushed into silence under the weight of his +reproaches." + +"The caitiff! The poltroon! Ah, poor stranger, why did you not leave +the house at once and throw yourself upon the protection of the +minister of your parish or some other kind neighbor?" + +"Alas! I was a child, a widow and a foreigner all in one! I did not +know your land or your laws or your people. I was not hopeful or +confident; I had suffered so cruelly and I was overwhelmed by his +abuse." + +"But did you not know, dear lady, that all his rage was aroused only +by the fact that the birth of your child would disinherit him?" + +"Ah, no! I was not aware, at that time, that Gabriel Le Noir was a +villain. I thought his anger honest, though unjust, and I was as +ignorant as a child. I had no mother nor matronly friend to instruct +me. I knew that I had broken no command of God or man; that I had +been a faithful wife, but when Gabriel Le Noir accused me with such +bitter earnestness I feared that some strange departure from the +usual course of nature had occurred for my destruction. And I was +overwhelmed by mortification, terror and despair!" + +"Ah, the villain!" exclaimed Traverse, between his teeth. + +"He told me at last that to save the memory of his dead brother he +would hide my dishonor, and he ordered me to seclude myself from the +sight of all persons. I obeyed him like a slave, grateful even for +the shelter of his roof." + +"A roof that was your own, as he very well knew. And he knew, also, +the caitiff! that if the circumstance became known the whole State +would have protected you in your rights, and ejected him like a +cur." + +"Nay, even in that case no harm should have reached him on my +account. He was my husband's brother." + +"And worst enemy! But proceed, dear lady." + +"Well, I secluded myself as he commanded. For four months I never +left the attic to which he had ordered me to retreat. At the end of +that time I became the mother of twins--a boy and a girl. The boy +only opened his eyes on this world to close them again directly. The +girl was living and healthy. The old nurse who attended me had an +honest and compassionate face; I persuaded her to secrete and save +the living child, and to present the dead babe to Colonel Le Noir as +the only one, for the suspicions that had never been awakened for +myself were alarmed for my child. I instinctively felt that he would +have destroyed it." + +"The mother's instinct is like inspiration," said Traverse. + +"It may be so. Well, the old woman pitied me and did as I desired. +She took the dead child to Colonel Le Noir, who carried it off, and +afterward buried it as the sole heir of his elder brother. The old +woman carried off my living child and my wedding ring, concealed +under her ample shawl. Anxiety for the 'fate of my child caused me +to do what nothing else on earth would have tempted me to do--to +creep about the halls and passages on tiptoe and under cover of the +night and listen at keyholes," said the lady, blushing deeply at the +recollection. + +"You--you were perfectly right, Mrs. Le Noir! In a den of robbers, +where your life and honor were always at stake, you could have done +no otherwise!" exclaimed Traverse, warmly. + +"I learned by this means that my poor old nurse had paid with her +liberty for her kindness to me. She had been, abducted and forced +from her native country together with a child found in her +possession, which they evidently suspected, and I knew, to be mine. +Oh, heaven! the agony then of thinking of what might be her unknown +fate, worse than death, perhaps! I felt that I had only succeeded in +saving her life-doubtful good!" + +Here Mrs. Le Noir paused in thought for a few moments and then +resumed. + +"It is the memory of a long, dreary and hopeless imprisonment, my +recollection of my residence in that house! In the same manner in +which I gained all my information, I learned that it was reported in +the neighborhood that I had gone mad with grief for the loss of my +husband and that I was an inmate of a madhouse in the North! It was +altogether false! I never left the Hidden House in all those years +until about two years ago. My life there was dreary beyond all +conception. I was forbidden to go out or to appear at a window. I +had the whole attic, containing some eight or ten rooms, to rove +over, but I was forbidden to descend. An ill-looking woman called +Dorcas Knight, between whom and the elder Le Noir there seemed to +have been some sinful bond was engaged ostensibly as my attendant, +but really as my jailer. Nevertheless, when the sense of confinement +grew intolerable I sometimes eluded her vigilance and wandered about +the house at night." + +"Thence, no doubt," said Traverse, "giving rise to the report that +the house was haunted." + +Mrs. Le Noir smiled, saying: + +"I believe the Le Noirs secretly encouraged that report. I'll tell +you why. They gave me a chamber lamp inclosed in an intense blue, +shade, that cast a strange, unearthly light around. Their ostensible +reason was to insure my safety from fire. Their real reason was that +this light might be seen from without in what was reputed to be an +uninhabited portion of the house, and give color to its bad +reputation among the ignorant of being haunted." + +"So much for the origin of one authenticated ghost story," said +Traverse. + +"Yes, and there was still more circumstantial evidence to support +this ghostly reputation of the house. As the years passed I had, +even in my confined state, gathered knowledge in one way and +another--picking up stray books and hearing stray conversation; and +so, in the end I learned how gross a deception and how great a wrong +had been practised upon me. I was not wise or cunning. I betrayed +constantly to my attendant my knowledge of these things. In +consequence of which my confinement became still more restricted." + +"Yes, they were afraid of you, and fear is always the mother of +cruelty," said Traverse. + +"Well, from the time that I became enlightened as to my real +position, all my faculties were upon the alert to find means of +escaping and making my condition known to the authorities. One night +they had a guest, Colonel Eglen, of the army, Old Dorcas had her +hands full, and forgot her prisoner. My door was left unlocked. So, +long after Colonel Eglen had retired to rest, and when all the +household were buried in repose, I left my attic and crept down to +the chamber of the guest, with no other purpose than to make known +my wrongs and appeal to his compassion. I entered his chamber, +approached his bed to speak to him, when this hero of a hundred +fields started up in a panic, and at the sight of the pale woman who +drew his curtains in the dead of the night, he shrieked, violently +rang his bell and fainted prone away." + +"Ha! ha! ha! he could brave an army or march into a cannon's mouth +easier than meet a supposed denizen of another world! Well, Doctor +Johnson believed in ghosts," laughed Traverse. + +"It remained for me to retreat as fast as possible to my room to +avoid the Le Noirs, who were hurrying with head-long speed to the +guest-chamber. They knew of course, that I was the ghost, although +they affected to treat their visitor's story as a dream. After that +my confinement was so strict that for years I had no opportunity of +leaving my attic. At last the strict espionage was relaxed. +Sometimes my door would be left unlocked. Upon one such occasion, in +creeping about in the dark, I learned, by overhearing a conversation +between Le Noir and his housekeeper, that my long lost daughter, +Capitola, had been found and was living at Hurricane Hall! This was +enough to comfort me for years. About three years ago the +surveillance over me was so modified that I was left again to roam +about the upper rooms of the house at will, until I learned that +they had a new inmate, young Clara Day, a ward of Le Noir! Oh, how I +longed to warn that child to fly! But I could not; alas, again I was +restricted to my own room, lest I should be seen by her. But again, +upon one occasion, old Dorcas forgot to lock my door at night. I +stole forth from my room and learned that a young girl, caught out +in the storm, was to stay all night at the Hidden House. Young girls +were not plentiful in that neighborhood, I knew. Besides, some +secret instinct told me that this was my daughter: I knew that she +would sleep in the chamber under mine, because that was the only +habitable guest-room in the whole house. In the dead of night I left +my room and went below and entered the chamber of the young girl. I +went first to the toilet table to see if among her little girlish +ornaments, I could find any clue to her identity. I found it in a +plain, gold ring--the same that I had intrusted to the old nurse. +Some strange impulse caused me to slip the ring upon my finger. Then +I went to the bed and threw aside the curtains to gaze upon the +sleeper. My girl--my own girl! With what strange sensations I first +looked upon her face! Her eyes were open and fixed upon mine in a +panic of terror. I stooped to press my lips to her's and she closed +her eyes in mortal fear, I carried nothing but terror with me! I +withdrew from the room and went back, sobbing, to my chamber. My +poor girl next morning unconsciously betrayed her mother. It had +nearly cost me my life." + +"When the Le Noirs came home, the first night of their arrival they +entered my room, seized me in my bed and dragged me shrieking from +it!" + +"Good heaven! What punishment is sufficient for such wretches!" +exclaimed Traverse, starting up and pacing the narrow limits of the +cell. + +"Listen! They soon stopped both my shrieks and my breath at once. I +lost consciousness for a time, and when I awoke I found myself in a +close carriage, rattling over a mountain road, through the night. +Late the next morning we reached an uninhabited country house, where +I was again imprisoned, in charge of an old dumb woman, whom Le Noir +called Mrs. Raven. This I afterwards understood to be Willow +Heights, the property of the orphan heiress, Clara Day. And here, +also, for the term of my stay, the presence of the unknown inmate +got the house the reputation of being haunted." + +"The old dumb woman was a shade kinder to me than Dorcas Knight had +been, but I did not stay in her charge very long. One night the Le +Noirs came in hot haste. The young heiress had been delivered from +their charge by a degree, of the Orphans' Court, and they had to +give up her house. I was drugged and hurried away. Some narcotic +sedative must have been insinuated into all my food, for I was in a +state of semi-sensibility and mild delirium during the whole course +of a long journey by land and sea, which passed to me like a dream, +and at the end of which I found myself here. No doubt, from the +excessive use of narcotics, there was something wild and stupid in +my manner and appearance that justified the charge of madness. And +when I found that I was a prisoner in a lunatic asylum, far, far +away from the neighborhood where at least I had once been known I +gave way to the wilder grief that further confirmed the story of my +madness. I have been here two years, occasionally giving way to +outbursts of wild despair, that the doctor calls frenzy. I was +sinking into an apathy, when one day I opened the little Bible that +lay upon the table of my cell. I fixed upon the last chapters in the +gospel of John. That narrative of meek patience and divine love. It +did for me what no power under that of God could have done. It saved +me! It saved me from madness! It saved me from despair! There is a +time for the second birth of every soul; that time had collie fur +me. From that hour, this book has been my constant companion and +comfort. I have learned from its pages how little it matters how or +where this fleeting, mortal life is passed, so that it answers its +purpose of preparing the soul for another. I have learned patience +with sinners, forgiveness of enemies, and confidence in God. In a +word, I trust I have learned the way of salvation, and in that have +learned everything. Your coming and your words, young friend, have +stirred within my heart the desire to be free, to mingle again on +equal terms with my fellow beings, and above all, to find and to +embrace my child. But not wildly anxious am I even for these earthly +blessings. These, as well as all things else, I desire to leave to +the Lord, praying that His will may be mine. Young friend, my story +is told." + +"Madam," said Traverse, after a thoughtful pause, "our fates have +been more nearly connected than you could have imagined. Those Le +Noirs have been my enemies as they are yours. That young orphan +heiress, who appealed from their cruelty to the Orphans' Court, was +my own betrothed. Willow Heights was her patrimony and is now her +quiet home where she lives with my mother, and where in their names +I invited you to come. And take this comfort also; your enemy no +longer lives: months ago I left him ill with a mortal wound. This +morning the papers announce his death. There remains, therefore, but +little for me to do, but to take legal measures to free you from +this place, and restore you to your home. Within an hour I shall set +out for New Orleans, for the purpose of taking the initiatory steps. +Until my return then, dear lady," said Traverse, respectfully taking +her hand--"farewell, and be of good cheer!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN. + + + Thus far our fortune keeps an onward course, + And we are graced with wreaths of victory. + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + +Leaving Mrs. Le Noir, Traverse went down to the stable, saddled the +horse that had been allotted to his use, and set off for a long +day's journey to New Orleans, where late at night he arrived, and +put up at the St. Charles. + +He slept deeply from fatigue until late the next morning, when he +was awakened by the sounds of trumpets, drums and fifes, and by +general rejoicing. + +He arose and looked from his windows to ascertain the cause, and saw +the square full of people in a state of the highest excitement, +watching for a military procession coming up the street + +It was the United States troops under their gallant commanders, who +had landed from the steamboats that morning and were now marching +from the quays up to their quarters at the St. Charles. + +As they advanced, Traverse, eagerly upon the lookout, recognized his +own regiment. + +Traverse withdrew from the window, hurriedly completed his toilet, +and hastened down-stairs, where he soon found himself face to face +with Herbert, who warmly grasping his hand, exclaimed: + +"You here, old friend? Why, I thought you were down in East +Feliciana, with your interesting patient!" + +"It is for the interest of that 'interesting patient' that I am +here, Herbert! Did I tell you, she was one of the victims of that +demon Le Noir?" + +"No: but I know it from another source. I know as much, or more of +her, perhaps, than you do!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Traverse, in surprise. + +"Yes! I know, for instance, that she is Capitola's mother, the long- +lost widow of Eugene Le Noir, the mistress of the Hidden House, and +the ghost who drew folks' curtains there at night." + +"Then you do know something about her, but how did you arrive at the +knowledge?" + +"By the 'last dying speech and confession' of Gabriel Le Aoir, +confided to me to be used in restitution after his decease. But, +come! There is the second bell. Our mess are going in to breakfast; +join us and afterwards you and I will retire and compare notes," +said Herbert, taking the arm of his friend as they followed the +moving crowd into the breakfast parlor. + +After the morning meal was concluded the friends withdrew together +to the chamber occupied by Traverse Rocke, where they sat down for +mutual explanations. + +Herbert first related to Traverse all that had occurred from the +time that the latter left the city of Mexico, including the arrival +of Craven Le Xoir at the dying bed of his father, the subsequent +death and funeral of Colonel Le Noir, and the late emigration of +Craven, who to avoid the shame of the approaching revelation, joined +a party of explorers bound for the recently discovered gold mines in +California. + +"The civilized world is then rid of two villains at once," said the +uncompromising Traverse. + +Herbert took from his pocket the confession of Colonel Le Noir, +which he said he was now at liberty to use as he thought proper for +the ends of justice. That certain parts of the disclosure intimately +concerned Traverse Rocke, to whom he should therefore read the +whole. The confession may be briefly summed up as follows: + +The first item was that he had sought to win the affections of Marah +Rocke, the supposed wife of Major Ira Warfield; he had sedulously +waylaid and followed her with his suit during the whole summer; she +had constantly repulsed and avoided him; he, listening to his own +evil passions, had bribed her maid to admit him in the dark to +Marah's cabin, upon a certain night when her husband was to be +absent; that the unexpected return of Major Warfield who had tracked +him to the house, had prevented the success of his evil purpose, but +had not saved the reputation of the innocent wife, whose infuriated +husband would not believe her ignorant of the presence of the +villain in her house; that he, Gabriel Le Noir, in hatred as well as +in shame, had forborne until now to make the explanation, which he +hoped might now, late in life as it was, bring the long-severed pair +together, and establish Marah Rocke and her son in their legal and +social rights. + +The second item in the black list of crime was the death of his +elder brother, whom he declared he had not intended to kill. He said +that, having contracted large debts which he was unable to pay he +had returned secretly from his distant quarters to demand the money +from his brother, who had often helped him; that, meeting his +brother in the woods, he made this request. Eugene reproached him +for his extravagance and folly, and refused to aid him; an encounter +ensued, in which Eugene fell. He, Gabriel Le Noir, fled pursued by +the curse of Cain, and reached his own quarters before even his +absence had been suspected. His agency in the death of his brother +was not suspected even by his accomplice in other crimes, the outlaw +called Black Donald, who, thinking to gain an ascendency over one +whom he called his patron, actually pretended to have made way with +Eugene Le Noir for the sake of his younger brother. + +The third item of confession was the abduction of the nurse and babe +of the young widow of Eugene, the circumstances of which are already +known to the reader. + +The fourth in the dreadful list comprised the deceptions, wrongs and +persecutions practised upon Madame Eugene Le Noir, and the final +false imprisonment of that lady under the charge of insanity, in the +private madhouse kept by Doctor Pierre St. Jean, in East Feliciana. + +In conclusion, he spoke of the wrongs done to Clara Day, whose +pardon, with that of others, he begged. And he prayed that in +consideration of his son, as little publicity as was possible might +be given to these crimes. + +During the reading of this confession, the eyes of Traverse Rocke +were fixed in wonder and half incredulity upon the face of Herbert, +and at its conclusion he said: + +"What a mass of crime! But that we may not dare to question the +mercy of the Lord, I should ask if these were sins that he would +ever pardon! Herbert, it appals me to think of it!" + +Then, after deep thought, he added: + +"This, then, was the secret of my dear mother's long unhappiness. +She was Major Warfield's forsaken wife. Herbert, I feel as though I +never, never could forgive my father!" + +"Traverse, if Major Warfield had wilfully and wantonly forsaken your +mother, I should say that your resentment was natural and right. Who +should be an honorable woman's champion if not her own son? But +Major Warfield, as well as his wife, was more sinned against than +sinning. Your parents were both victims of a cruel conspiracy, and +he suffered as much in his way as she did in hers," said Herbert. + +"I always thought, somehow, that my dear mother was a forsaken wife. +She never told me so, but there was some-thing about her +circumstances and manners, her retired life, her condition, so much +below her deserts, her never speaking of her husband's death, which +would have been natural for her to do, had she been a widow--all, +somehow, went to give me the impression that my father had abandoned +us. Lately I had suspected Major Warfield had something to do with +the sad affair, though I never once suspected him to be my father. +So much for natural instincts," said Traverse, with a melancholy +smile. + +"Traverse," said Herbert, with the design of drawing him off from +sad remembrances of his mother's early trials. "Traverse, this +confession, signed and witnessed as it is, will wonderfully simplify +your course of action in regard to the deliverance of Madame Le +Noir." + +"Yes; so it will," said Traverse, with animation. "There will be no +need now of applying to law, especially if you will come down with +me to East Feliciana and bring the confession with you." + +"I will set out with you this very morning, if you wish, as I am on +leave. What! To hasten to the release of Capitola's mother, I would +set out at midnight and ride straight on for a week!" + +"Ah! there is no need of such extravagant feats of travel. It is now +ten o'clock; if we start within an hour we can reach the 'Calm +Retreat' by eleven o'clock to-night." + +"En avant, then," exclaimed Herbert, rising and ringing the bell. + +Traverse ordered horses, and in twenty minutes the friends were on +the road to East Feliciana. + +They reached the "Calm Retreat" so late that night that there was +none but the porter awake to admit them. + +Traverse took his friend up to his own dormitory, saying, +laughingly: + +"It is an unappreciable distance of time since you and I occupied +the same bed, Herbert" + +"Yes; but it is not the first, by five hundred times. D' you +remember, Traverse, the low attic where we used to sleep and how on +stormy nights we used to listen to the rain pattering on the roof, +within two or three inches of our faces, and how we used to be half +afraid to turn over for fear that we should bump our heads against +the timbers of the ceiling?" + +"Yes, indeed," said Traverse. + +And thereupon the two friends launched into a discussion of old +times, when the two widows and their sons lived together--the two +women occupying one bed, and the two boys the other. And this +discussion they kept up until long after they retired, and until +sleep overtook them. + +The next morning Traverse conducted his friend down to the breakfast +parlor, to introduce him to Doctor St. Jean, who, as soon as he +perceived his young medical assistant, sprang forward exclaiming: + +"Grand ciel! Is this then you? Have you then returned? What for did +you run away with my horse?" + +"I went to New Orleans in great haste, upon very important business, +sir." + +"Grand Dieu! I should think so, when you ride off on my horse +without saying a word. If it had been my ambling pony I should have +been in despair, I! Your business so hasty and so important was +accomplished, I hope." + +"Yes; I did my errand with less trouble than I had anticipated, +owing to the happy circumstance of meeting my friend here, who has +come down hither connected with the same business." + +"Ah! vera happy to see your friend. In the medical profession, I +suppose?" + +"No, sir; in the army. Allow me to present him. Major Herbert +Greyson, of the -th Regiment of Cavalry." + +"Ou! ay! Grand ciel! This is the brave, the distinguished, the +illustrious officer, so honorably mentioned in the dispatches of the +invincible Taylor and the mighty Scott!" said the little Frenchman, +bowing his night-capped head down to his slippery toes. + +Herbert smiled as he returned the bow. And then the little French +doctor, turning to Traverse said: + +"But your business, so important and so hasty, which has brought +this officer so illustrious down here--what is it, my friend?" + +"We will have the honor of explaining to Monsieur le Docteur, over +our coffee, if he will oblige us by ordering the servant to retire," +said Traverse, who sometimes adopted, in speaking to the old +Frenchman, his own formal style of politeness. "Go, then, John!" + +"Oui, oui, certainement! Allez donc, John!" + +As soon as the man had gone, Traverse said: + +"I propose to discuss this business over our coffee, because it will +save time without interfering with our morning meal, and I know that +immediately afterwards you will go your usual round of visits to +your patients." + +"Eh bien! proceed, my son! proceed!" + +Traverse immediately commenced and related all that was necessary +concerning the fraud practised upon the institution by introducing +into it an unfortunate woman, represented to be mad, but really only +sorrowful, nervous and excitable. And to prove the truth of his +words, Traverse desired Herbert to read from the confession the +portion relating to this fraud, and to show the doctor the signature +of the principal and the witness. + +To have seen the old French doctor then! I rejoice in a Frenchman, +for the frank abandon with which he gives himself up to his +emotions! Our doctor, after staring at the confession, took hold of +the top of his blue tasseled night-cap, pulled it off his head and +threw it violently upon the floor! Then remembering that he was +exposing a cranium as bald as a peeled potato, he suddenly caught it +up again, clapped it upon his crown and exclaimed: + +"Sacre! Diable!" and other ejaculations dreadful to translate, and +others again which it would be profane to set down in French or +English. + +Gabriel Le Noir was no longer an officer illustrious, a gentleman +noble and distinguished, compassionate and tender; he was a robber +infamous! a villain atrocious, a caitiff ruth, and without remorse! + +After breakfast the doctor consented that his young hero, his little +knight-errant, his dear son, should go to the distressed lady and +open the good news to her, while the great Major Greyson, the +warrior invincible, should go around with himself to inspect the +institution. + +Traverse immediately repaired to the chamber of Mrs. Le Noir, whom +he found sitting at the window, engaged in some little trifle of +needlework, the same pale, patient woman that she had first appeared +to him. + +"Ah, you have come! I read good news upon your smiling face, my +friend! Tell it! I have borne the worst of sorrows! Shall I not have +strength to bear joy?" + +Traverse told her all, and then ended by saying: + +"Now, dear madame, it is necessary that we leave this place within +two hours, as Major Greyson's regiment leaves New Orleans for +Washington to-morrow, and it is advisable that you go under our +protection. We can get you a female attendant from the St. Charles." + +"Oh, I can be ready in ten minutes! Bless you, I have no fine lady's +wardrobe to pack up!" replied Mrs. Le Noir, with a smile. + +Traverse bowed and went out to procure a carriage from the next +village. And in half an hour afterwards the whole party took leave +of Doctor Pierre St. Jean and his "institution in-comparable," and +set forth on their journey to New Orleans, whence in two days +afterwards they sailed for the North. And now, dear reader, let you +and I take the fast boat and get home before them, to see our little +Cap, and find out what adventures she is now engaged in, and how she +is getting on. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +CAPITOLA A CAPITALIST. + + + Plumed victory + Is truly painted with a cheerful look, + Equally distant from proud insolence + And sad dejection. + + --MASSINGER. + + +How glad I am to get back to my little Cap, for I know very well, +reader, just as well as if you had told me, that you have been +grumbling for some time for the want of Cap. But I could not help +it, for, to tell the truth, I was pining after her myself, which was +the reason that I could not do half justice to the scenes of the +Mexican War. + +Well, now let us see what Cap has been doing--what oppressors she +has punished--what victims she has delivered--in a word, what new +heroic adventures she has achieved. + +Well, the trial of Donald Bayne, alias Black Donald, was over. Cap, +of course, had been compelled to appear against him. During the +whole course of the trial the court-room was crowded with a curious +multitude, "from far and near," eager to get sight of the notorious +outlaw. + +Black Donald, through the whole ordeal, deported himself with a +gallant and joyous dignity, that would have better become a triumph +than a trial. + +He was indicted upon several distinct counts, the most serious of +which--the murder of the solitary widow and her daughter in the +forest cabin, and the assassination of Eugene Le Noir in the woods +near the Hidden House--were sustained only by circumstantial +evidence. But the aggregate weight of all these, together with his +very bad reputation, was sufficient to convict him, and Black Donald +was sentenced to death. + +This dreadful doom, most solemnly pronounced by the judge was +received by the prisoner with a loud laugh, and the words: + +"You're out o' your reckoning now, cap'n! I never was a saint, the +Lord knows, but my hands are free from blood guiltiness! There's an +honest little girl that believes me--don't you?" he said, turning +laughingly to our little heroine. + +"Yes, I do!" said Cap, bursting into tears; "and I am sorry for you +as ever I can be, Donald Bayne." + +"Bother! It was sure to come to this first or last, and I knew it! +Now, to prove you do not think this rugged hand of mine stained with +blood, give it a friendly shake!" said the condemned man. And before +Old Hurricane could prevent her, Capitola had jumped over two or +three intervening seats and climbed up to the side of the dock, and +reached up her hand to the prisoner, saying: + +"God help you, Donald Bayne, in your great trouble, and I will do +all I can to help you in this world. I will go to the Governor +myself, and tell him I know you never did any murder." + +"Remove the prisoner," said the judge, peremptorily. + +The constables approached and led away Black Donald. + +Old Hurricane rushed upon Cap, seized her, and, shaking her +fiercely, exclaimed, under his breath: + +"You--you--you--you New York hurrah boy! You foundling! You +vagabond! You vagrant! You brat! You beggar! Will you never be a +lady? To go and shake hands with that ruffian!" + +"Sure, uncle, that's nothing new; I have shaken hands with you often +enough!" + +"Demmy, you--you--you New York trash, what do you mean by that?" + +"Of course I mean, uncle, that you are as rough a ruffian as ever +Donald Bayne was!" + +"Demmy, I'll murder you!" + +"Don't, uncle; they have an uncivilized way here of hanging +murderers," said Cap, shaking herself free of Old Hurricane's grasp, +and hastening out of the court-room to mount her horse and ride +home. + +One night after tea, Capitola and her uncle occupied their usual +seats by the little bright wood fire, that the chilly evening and +keen mountain air made agreeable, even in May. + +Old Hurricane was smoking his pipe and reading his paper. + +Cap was sitting with her slender fingers around her throat, which +she, with a shudder, occasionally compressed: + +"Well, that demon Black Donald will be hanged the 26th of July," +said Old Hurricane, exultingly, "and we shall get rid of one +villain, Cap." + +"I pity Black Donald, and I can't bear to think of his being hanged! +It quite breaks my heart to think that I was compelled to bring him +to such a fate!" + +"Oh, that reminds me! The reward offered for the apprehension of +Black Donald, to which you were entitled, Cap, was paid over to me +for you. I placed it to your account in the Agricultural Bank." + +"I don't want it! I won't touch it! The price of blood! It would +burn my fingers!" said Cap. + +"Oh, very well! A thousand dollars won't go a-begging," said Old +Hurricane. + +"Uncle, it breaks my heart to think of Black Donald's execution! It +just does! It must be dreadful, this hanging! I have put my finger +around my throat and squeezed it, to know how it feels, and it is +awful. Even a little squeeze makes my head feel as if it would +burst, and I have to let go! Oh, it is horrible to think of!" + +"Well, Cap, it wasn't intended to be as pleasant as tickling, you +know. I wish it was twenty times worse! It would serve him right, +the villain! I wish it was lawful to break him on the wheel--I do!" + +"Uncle, that is very wicked in you! I declare I won't have it! I'll +write a petition to the Governor to commute his sentence, and carry +it all around the county myself!" + +"You wouldn't get a soul to sign it to save your life, much less +his." + +"I'll go to the Governor myself, and beg him to pardon Donald +Bayne!" + +"Ha! ha! ha! the Governor would not do it to save all our lives, and +if he were to do such an outrageous thing he might whistle for his +reelection!" + +"I declare, Donald Bayne shall not be hanged--and so there!" said +Cap, passionately. + +"Whe-ew! You'll deliver him by the strength of your arm, my little +Donna Quixota." + +"I'll save him one way or another, now mind I tell you! He sinned +more against me than against anybody else, and so I have the best +right of anybody in the world to forgive him, and I do forgive him! +And he shan't be hanged I I say it!" + +"You say it! Ha! ha! ha! Who are you, to turn aside the laws?" + +"I, Capitola Black, say that Donald Bayne, not having deserved to be +hanged, shall not be hanged! And in one way or another I'll keep my +word!" + +And Cap did her best to keep it. The next morning she mounted Gyp +and rode up to Tip Top, where she employed the village lawyer to +draw up a petition to the Governor for the commutation of Donald +Bayne's sentence. And then she rode all over the county to try to +get signatures to the document. But all in vain. People of every age +and condition too thoroughly feared and hated the famous outlaw, and +too earnestly wished to be entirely and forever rid of him, to sign +any petition for a commutation of his sentence. If a petition for +his instant execution had been carried around it would have stood a +much better chance of success. + +Cap spent many days in her fruitless enterprise, but at last gave it +up--but by no means in despair, for-- + +"I'll save his life, yet! by one means or another! I can't change +clothes with him as I did with Clara; he's too big, but one way or +other I'll save him," said Cap, to herself. She said it to no one +else, for the more difficult the enterprise the more determined she +was to succeed, and the more secretive she grew as to her measures. + +In the mean time the outlaw, double-ironed, was confined in the +condemned cell, the strongest portion of the county jail. All +persons were strictly prohibited from visiting him, except certain +of the clergy. + +They did all they could to bring the outlaw to a sense of his +condition, to prepare him to meet his fate and to induce him to make +a confession and give up the retreat of his band. + +And Donald listened to them with respect, acknowledged himself a +great sinner, and knelt with them when they knelt to pray for him. + +But he denied that he was guilty of the murders for which he had +been doomed to die, and he utterly refused to give up his old +companions, replying to the ministers in something like these words: + +"Poor wretches! They are no more fit to die than I am, and a +condemned cell, with the thought of the scaffold before him, are not +exactly the most favorable circumstances under which a man might +experience sincere repentance, my masters!" + +And so, while the convict listened with docility to all that the +ministers had to say, he steadily persisted in asserting his own +innocence of the crimes for which he was condemned, and in his +refusal to deliver up his companions. + +Meantime, Capitola, at Hurricane Hall, was doing all she could to +discover or invent means to save the life of Black Donald. But still +she said no more about it even to Old Hurricane. + +One evening, while Cap was sitting by the fire with her thoughts +busy with this subject, her uncle came in saying: + +"Cap, I have got some curiosities to show you!" + +"What are they?" said Cap, languidly. + +"A set of burglar's tools, supposed to belong to some member of +Black Donald's band! One of my negroes found them in the woods in +the neighborhood of the Devil's Punch Bowl! I wrote to the sheriff +concerning them, and he requested me to take care of them until he +should have occasion to call for them. Look! Did you ever see such +things?" said Old Hurricane, setting down a canvas bag upon the +table and turning out from it all sorts of strange looking +instruments--tiny saws, files, punches, screws, picks, etc., etc., +etc. + +Cap looked at them with the most curious interest, while Old +Hurricane explained their supposed uses. + +"It must have been an instrument of this sort, Cap, that that blamed +demon, Donald, gave to the imprisoned men to file their fetters off +with!" he said, showing a thin file of tempered steel. + +"That!" said Cap. "Hand it here! Let me see it!" And she examined it +with the deepest interest. + +"I wonder what they force locks with?" she inquired. + +"Why, this, and this, and this!" said Old Hurricane, producing a +burglar's pick, saw and chisel. + +Cap took them and scrutinized them so attentively that Old Hurricane +burst out into a loud laugh, exclaiming: + +"You'll dream of house-breakers to-night, Cap!" and taking the +tools, he put them all back in the little canvas bag, and put the +bag up on a high shelf of the parlor closet. + +The next morning, while Cap was arranging flowers on the parlor +mantelpiece, Old Hurricane burst in upon her with his hands full of +letters and newspapers, and his heart full of exultation--throwing +up his hat and cutting an alarming caper for a man of his age, he +exclaimed: + +"Hurrah, Cap! Hurrah! Peace is at last proclaimed and our victorious +troops are on their way home! It's all in the newspapers, and here +are letters from Herbert, dated from New Orleans! Here are letters +for you, and here are some for me! I have not opened them yet! +Hurrah, Cap! Hurrah!" + +"Hurrah, Uncle! Hurrah!" cried Cap, tossing up her flowers and +rushing into his arms. + +"Don't squeeze me into an apoplexy, you little bear," said Old +Hurricane, turning purple in the face, from the savage hug of Cap's +joyful arms. "Come along and sit down with me, at this table, and +let us see what the letters have brought us." + +They took their seats opposite each other at a small table, and Old +Hurricane threw the whole mail between them, and began to pick out +the letters. + +"That's for you, Cap. This is for me," he said, pitching out two in +the handwriting of Herbert Greyson. + +Cap opened hers and commenced reading. It was in fact Herbert's +first downright, practical proposal of marriage, in which he begged +that their union might take place as soon as he should return, and +that as he had written to his uncle by the same mail, upon another +subject, which he did not wish to mix up with his own marriage, she +would, upon a proper opportunity, let her uncle know of their plans. + +"Upon my word, he takes my consent very coolly as a matter of +course, and even forces upon me the disagreeable duty of asking +myself of my own uncle! Who ever heard of such proceedings? If he +were not coming home from the wars, I declare I should get angry; +but I won't get upon my dignity with Herbert--dear, darling, sweet +Herbert. If it were anybody else, shouldn't they know the difference +between their liege lady and Tom Trotter? However, as it's Herbert, +here goes! Now, I suppose the best way to ask myself of uncle, for +Herbert, will be just to hand him over this matter. The dear knows +it isn't so over and above affectionate that I should hesitate. +Uncle," said Cap, pulling Old Hurricane's coat sleeve. + +"Don't bother me, Cap," exclaimed Major Warfield, who sat there, +holding a large, closely written document in his hand, with his +great round eyes strained from their sockets, as they passed along +the lines with devouring interest. + +"Well, I do declare! I do believe he has received a proposal of +marriage himself," cried Cap, shooting much nearer the truth than +she knew. + +Old Hurricane did not hear her. Starting up with the document in his +hand, he rushed from the room and went and shut himself up in his +own study. + +"I vow, some widow has offered to marry him," said Cap, to herself. + +Old Hurricane did not come to dinner, nor to supper. But after +supper, when Capitola's wonder was at its climax, and while she was +sitting by the little wood fire that that chilly evening required, +Old Hurricane came in, looking very unlike himself, in an humble, +confused, deprecating, yet happy manner, like one who had at once a +mortifying confession to make, and a happy secret to tell. + +"Cap," he said, trying to suppress a smile, and growing purple in +the face. + +--"Oh, yes! You've come to tell me, I suppose, that you're going to +put a step-aunt-in-law over my head, only you don't know how to +announce it," answered Capitola, little knowing how closely she had +come to the truth; when, to her unbounded astonishment, Old +Hurricane answered: + +"Yes, my dear, that's just it!" + +"What! My eyes! Oh, crickey!" cried Cap, breaking into her newsboy's +slang, from mere consternation. + +"Yes, my dear, it is perfectly true!" replied the old man, growing +furiously red, and rubbing his face. + +"Oh! oh! oh! Hold me! I'm 'kilt!'" cried Cap, falling back in her +chair in an inextinguishable fit of laughter, that shook her whole +frame. She laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks. She wiped +her eyes and looked at Old Hurricane, and every time she saw his +confused and happy face she burst into a fresh paroxysm that seemed +to threaten her life or her reason. + +"Who is the happy--Oh, I can't speak! Oh, I'm 'kilt' entirely!" she +cried, breaking off in the midst of her question and falling into +fresh convulsions. + +"It's no new love, Cap; it's my old wife!" said Old Hurricane, +wiping his face. + +This brought Capitola up with a jerk! She sat bolt upright gazing at +him with her eyes fixed as if In death. + +"Cap," said Old Hurricane, growing more and more confused, "I've +been a married man more years than I like to think of! Cap, I've-- +I've a wife and grown-up son! Why do you sit there staring at me, +you little demon? Why don't you say something to encourage me, you +little wretch?" + +"Go on!" said Cap, without removing her eyes. + +"Cap, I was--a jealous--passionate--Demmy, confession isn't in my +line. A diabolical villain made me believe that my poor little wife +wasn't good!" + +"There! I knew you'd lay it on somebody else. Men always do that," +said Cap, to herself. + +"He was mortally wounded in Mexico. He made a confession and +confided it to Herbert, who has just sent me an attested copy. It +was Le Noir. My poor wife lived under her girlhood's name of Marah +Rocke." Old Hurricane made a gulp, and his voice broke down. + +Cap understood all now, as well as if she had known it as long as +Old Hurricane had. She comprehended his extreme agitation upon a +certain evening, years ago, when Herbert Greyson had mentioned Marah +Rocke's name, and his later and more lasting disturbance upon +accidentally meeting Marah Rocke at the Orphans' Court. + +This revelation filled her with strange and contradictory emotions. +She was glad; she was angry with him; she was sorry for him; she was +divided between divers impulses to hug and kiss him, to cry over +him, and to seize him and give him a good shaking! And between them +she did nothing at all. + +Old Hurricane was again the first to speak, + +"What was that you wished to say to me, Cap, when I ran ray from you +this morning?" + +"Why, uncle, that Herbert wants to follow your example, and--and-- +and--" Cap blushed and broke down. + +"I thought as much. Getting married at his age! A boy of twenty- +five!" said the veteran in contempt. + +"Taking a wife at your age, uncle, an infant of sixty-six!" + +"Bother, Cap! Let me see that fellow's letter to you." + +Cap handed it to him and the old man read it. + +"If I were to object, you'd get married all the same! Demmy! you're +both of age. Do as you please!" + +"Thank you, sir," said Cap, demurely. + +"And now, Cap, one thing is to be noticed. Herbert says, both in +your letter and in mine, that they were to start to return the day +after these letters were posted. These letters have been delayed in +the mail. Consequently we may expect our hero here every day. But +Cap, my dear, you must receive them. For to-morrow morning, please +the Lord, I shall set out for Staunton and Willow Heights, and go +and kneel down at the feet of my wife, and ask her pardon on my +knees!" + +Cap was no longer divided between the wish to pull Old Hurricane's +gray beard and to cry over Him. She threw herself at once into his +arms and exclaimed: + +"Oh, uncle! God bless you! God bless you! God bless you! It has come +very late in life, but may you be happy with her through all the +ages of eternity!" + +Old Hurricane was deeply moved by the sympathy of his little madcap, +and pressed her to his bosom, saying: + +"Cap, my dear, if you had not set your heart upon Herbert, I would +marry you to my son Traverse, and you two should inherit all that I +have in the world! But never mind, Cap, you have an inheritance of +your own. Cap, Cap, my dear, did it ever occur to you that you might +have had a father and mother?" + +"Yes! often! But I used to think you were my father, and that my +mother was dead." + +"I wish to the Lord that I had been your father, Cap, and that Marah +Rocke had been your mother! But Cap, your father was a better man +than I, and your mother as good a woman as Marah. And Cap, my dear, +you vagabond, you vagrant, you brat, you beggar, you are the sole +heiress of the Hidden House estate and all its enormous wealth! What +do you think of that, now? What do you think of that, you beggar? +cried Old Hurricane." + +A shriek pierced the air, and Capitola starting up, stood before Old +Hurricane, crying in an impassioned voice: + +"Uncle! Uncle! Don't mock me! Don't overwhelm me! I do not care for +wealth or power; but tell me of the parents who possessing both, +cast off their unfortunate child--a girl, too! to meet the +sufferings and perils of such a life as mine had been, if I had not +met you!" + +"Cap, my dear, hush! Your parents were no more to blame for their +seeming abandonment of you, than I was to blame for the desertion of +my poor wife. We are all the victims of one villain, who has now +gone to his account, Capitola. I mean Gabriel Le Noir. Sit down, my +dear, and I will read the copy of his whole confession, and +afterwards, in addition, tell you all I know upon the subject!" + +Capitola resumed her seat, Major Warfield read the confession of +Gabriel Le Noir, and afterwards continued the subject by relating +the events of that memorable Hallowe'en when he was called out in a +snow storm to take the dying deposition of the nurse who had been +abducted with the infant Capitola. + +And at the end of his narrative Cap knew as much of her own history +as the reader has known all along. + +"And I have a mother, and I shall even see her soon! You told me she +was coming home with the party--did you not, Uncle?" said Capitola. + +"Yes, my child. Only think of it! I saved the daughter from the +streets of New York, and my son saved the mother from her prison at +the madhouse! And now, my dear Cap, I must bid you good night and go +to bed, for I intend to rise to-morrow morning long before daylight, +to ride to Tip Top to meet the Staunton stage," said the old man, +kissing Capitola. + +Just as he was about to leave the room he was arrested by a loud +ringing and knocking at the door. + +Wool was heard running along the front hall to answer the summons. + +"Cap, I shouldn't wonder much if that was our party. I wish it may +be, for I should like to welcome them before I leave home to fetch +my wife," said Old Hurricane, in a voice of agitation. + +And while they were still eagerly listening, the door was thrown +open by Wool, who announced: + +"Marse Herbert, which I mean to say, Major Herbert Greyson;" and +Herbert entered and was grasped by the two hands of Old Hurricane, +who exclaimed: + +"Ah, Herbert, my lad! I have got your letters. It is all right, +Herbert, or going to be so. You shall marry Cap when you like. And I +am going to-morrow morning to throw myself at the feet of my wife." + +"No need of your going so far, dear sir, no need. Let me speak to my +own dear girl a moment, and then I shall have something to say to +you," said Herbert, leaving the old man in suspense, and going to +salute Capitola, who returned his fervent embrace by an honest, +downright frank kiss, that made no secret of itself. + +"Capitola! My uncle has told you all?" + +"Every single bit! So don't lose time by telling it all over again! +Is my mother with you?" + +"Yes! and I will bring her in, in one moment; but first I must bring +in some one else," said Herbert, kissing the hand of Capitola and +turning to Old Hurricane, to whom he said: + +"You need not travel far to find Marah. We took Staunton in our way +and brought her and Clara along--Traverse!" he said going to the +door--"bring in your mother." + +And the next instant Traverse entered with the wife of Major +Warfield upon his arm. + +Old Hurricane started forward to meet her, exclaiming in a broken +voice: + +"Marah, my dear Marah, God may forgive me, but can you--can you ever +do so?" And he would have sunk at her feet, but that she prevented, +by meeting him and silently placing both her hands in his. And so +quietly Marah's forgiveness was expressed, and the reconciliation +sealed. + +Meanwhile Herbert went out and brought in Mrs. Le Noir and Clara. +Mrs. Le Noir, with a Frenchwoman's impetuosity, hurried to her +daughter and clasped her to her heart. + +Cap gave one hurried glance at the beautiful pale woman that claimed +from her a daughter's love and then, returning the caress, she said: + +"Oh, mamma! Oh, mamma! If I were only a boy instead of a girl, I +would thrash that Le Noir within an inch of his life! But I forgot! +He has gone to his account." + +Old Hurricane was at this moment shaking hands with his son, +Traverse, who presently took occasion to lead up and introduce his +betrothed wife, Clara Day, to her destined father-in-law. + +Major Warfield received her with all a soldier's gallantry, a +gentleman's courtesy and a father's tenderness. + +He next shook hands with his old acquaintance, Mrs. Le Noir. + +And then supper was ordered and the evening was passed in general +and comparative reminiscences and cheerful conversation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +"THERE SHALL BE LIGHT AT THE EVENTIDE."--Holy Bible. + + + They shall be blessed exceedingly, their store + Grow daily, weekly more and more, + And peace so multiply around, + Their very hearth seems holy ground. + + --MARY HOWITT. + + +The marriage of Capitola and of Herbert and that of Clara and of +Traverse was fixed to take place upon the first of August, which was +the twenty-first birthday of the doctors daughter, and also the +twenty-fifth anniversary of the wedding of Ira Warfield and Marah +Rocke. + +German husbands and wives have a beautiful custom of keeping the +twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage by a festival, which they +call the "Silver Wedding." And thus Major Warfield and Marah +resolved to keep this first of August, and further to honor the +occasion by uniting the hands of their young people. + +There was but one cloud upon the happiness of Capitola; this was the +approaching execution of Black Donald. + +No one else seemed to care about the matter, until a circumstance +occurred which painfully aroused their interest. + +This was the fact that the Governor, through the solicitation of +certain ministers of the gospel who represented the condemned as +utterly unprepared to meet his fate, had respited him until the +first of August, at which time he wished the prisoner to be made to +understand that his sentence would certainly, without further delay, +be carried into effect. + +This carried a sort of consternation into the heart of every member +of the Hurricane Hall household! + +The idea of Black Donald being hanged in their immediate +neighborhood upon their wedding day was appalling! + +Yet there was no help for it, unless their wedding was postponed to +another occasion than that upon which Old Hurricane had set his +heart. No one knew what to do. + +Cap fretted herself almost sick. She had cudgeled her brains to no +purpose. She had not been able to think of any plan by which she +could deliver Black Donald. Meantime the last days of July were +rapidly passing away. + +Black Donald in the condemned cell maintained his firmness, +resolutely asserting his innocence of any capital crime and +persistently refusing to give up his band. As a last motive of +confession, the paper written by Gabriel Le Noir upon his death-bed +was shown him. He laughed a loud, crackling laugh, and said that was +all true, but that he, for his part, never had intended to harm a +hair of Capitola's head; that he had taken a fancy to the girl when +he had first seen her, and had only wanted to carry her off and +force her into a marriage with himself; that he had pretended to +consent to her death only for the purpose of saving her life. + +When Cap heard this she burst into tears and said she believed it +was true. + +The night before the wedding of Capitola and Herbert, and Clara and +Traverse, and of the execution of Black Donald, came. + +At Hurricane Hall the two prospective bridegrooms were busy with Old +Hurricane over some papers that had to be prepared in the library. + +The two intended brides were engaged, under the direction of Mrs. +Warfield, in her dressing-room, consulting over certain proprieties +of the approaching festival. But Capitola could give only a half +attention to the discussion. Her thoughts were with the poor +condemned man who was to die the next day. + +And suddenly she flew out of the room, summoned her groom, mounted +her horse, and rode away. + +In his condemned cell Black Donald was bitterly realizing how +unprepared he was to die, and how utterly impossible it was for him +to prepare in the short hours left him. He tried to pray, but could +form no other petition than that he might be allowed, if possible, a +little longer to fit himself to meet his Creator. From his cell he +could hear the striking of the great clock in the prison hall. And +as every hour struck it seemed "a nail driven in his coffin." + +At eight o'clock that night the warden sat in his little office, +consulting the sheriff about some details of the approaching +execution. While they were still in discussion, a turnkey opened the +door, saying: + +"A lady to see the warden." + +And Capitola stood before them! + +"Miss Black!" exclaimed both sheriff and warden, rising in surprise, +gazing upon our heroine, and addressing her by the name under which +they had first known her. + +"Yes, gentlemen, it is I. The truth is, I cannot rest tonight +without saying a few words of comfort to the poor man who is to die +to-morrow. So I came hither, attended by my groom, to know if I may +see him for a few minutes." + +"Miss Black, here is the sheriff. It is just as he pleases. My +orders were so strict that had you come to me alone I should have +been obliged to refuse you." + +"Mr. Keepe, you will not refuse me," said Capitola, turning to the +sheriff. + +"Miss Black, my rule is to admit no one but the officers of the +prison and the ministers of the gospel, to see the condemned! This +we have been obliged to observe as a measure of safety. This +convict, as you are aware, is a man of consummate cunning, so that +it is really wonderful he has not found means to make his escape, +closely as he has been watched and strongly as he has been guarded." + +"Ah, but Mr. Keepe, his cunning was no match for mine, you know!" +said Capitola, smiling. + +"Ha-ha-ha! so it was not! You took him very cleverly! Very cleverly, +indeed! In fact, if it had not been for you, I doubt if ever we +should have captured Black Donald at all. The authorities are +entirely indebted to you for the capture of this notorious outlaw. +And really that being the case, I do think it would be straining a +point to refuse you admittance to see him. So, Miss Black, you have +my authority for visiting the condemned man in his cell and giving +him all the comfort you can. I would attend you thither myself, but +I have got to go to see the captain of a militia company to be on +the scene of action to-morrow," said the sheriff, who soon after +took leave of the warden and departed. + +The warden then called a turnkey and ordered him to attend Miss +Black to the condemned cell. + +The young turnkey took up a lamp and a great key and walked before, +leading the way down-stairs to a cell in the interior of the +basement, occupied by Black Donald. + +He unlocked the door, admitted Capitola, and then walked off to the +extremity of the lobby, as he was accustomed to do when he let in +the preachers. + +Capitola thanked heaven for this chance, for had he not done so she +would have to invent some excuse for getting rid of him. + +She entered the cell. It was very dimly lighted from the great lamp +that hung in the lobby, nearly opposite the cell door. + +By its light she saw Black Donald, not only doubly ironed but +confined by a chain and staple to the wall. He was very pale and +haggard from long imprisonment and great anxiety. + +Cap's heart bled for the poor banned and blighted outlaw, who had +not a friend in the world to speak a kind word to him in his +trouble. + +He also recognized her, and rising and coming to meet her as far as +the length of the chain would permit, he held out his hand and said: + +"I am very glad you have come, little one; it is very kind of you to +come and see a poor fellow in his extremity! You are the first +female that has been in this cell since my imprisonment. Think of +that, child! I wanted to see you, too, I wanted to say to you +yourself again, that I was never guilty of murder, and that I only +seemed to consent to your death to save your life! Do you believe +this? On the word of a dying man it is truth!" + +"I do believe you, Donald Bayne," said Capitola, in a broken voice. + +"I hear that you have come into your estate. I am glad of it. And +they tell me that you are going to be married to-morrow! Well! God +bless you, little one!" + +"Oh, Donald Bayne! Can you say God bless me, when it was I who put +you here?" + +"Tut, child, we outlaws bear no malice. Spite is a civilized vice. +It was a fair contest, child, and you conquered. It's well you did. +Give me your hand in good will, since I must die to-morrow!" + +Capitola gave her hand, and whilst he held it, she stooped and said: + +"Donald, I have done everything in the world I could to save your +life!" + +"I know you have, child. May yours be long and happy." + +"Donald, may your life be longer and better than you think. I have +tried all other means of saving you in vain; there is but one means +left!" + +The outlaw started violently, exclaiming: + +"Is there one?" + +"Donald, yes! There is! I bring you the means of deliverance and +escape. Heaven knows whether I am doing right--for I do not! I know +many people would blame me very much, but I hope that He who forgave +the thief upon the cross and the sinful woman at his feet, will not +condemn me for following His own compassionate example! For Donald, +as I was the person whom you injured most of all others, so I +consider that I of all others have the best right to pardon you and +set you free. Oh, Donald! Use well the life I am about to give you, +else I shall be chargeable with every future sin you commit!" + +"In the name of mercy, girl, do not hold out a false hope! I had +nerved myself to die!'" + +"But you were not prepared to meet your Maker! Oh, Donald! I hold +out no false hope! Listen, for I must speak low and quick. I could +never be happy again if on my wedding-day you should die a felon's +death! Here! here are tools with the use of which you must be +acquainted, for they were found in the woods near the Hidden House!" +said Capitola, producing from her pockets a burglar's lock-pick, +saw, chisel, file, etc. + +Black Donald seized them as a famished wolf might seize his prey. + +"Will they do?" inquired Capitola, in breathes anxiety. + +"Yes--yes--yes! I can file off my irons, pick every lock, drive back +every bolt, and dislodge every bar between myself and freedom with +these instruments! But, child, there is one thing you have +forgotten: suppose a turnkey or a guard should stop me? You have +brought me no revolver!" + +Capitola turned pale. + +"Donald, I could easily have brought you a revolver; but I would +not, even to save you from to-morrow's death! No, Donald, no! I give +you the means of freeing yourself, if you can do it, as you may, +without bloodshed! But, Donald, though your life is not justly +forfeited, your liberty is, and so I cannot give you the means of +taking any one's life for the sake of saving your own! " + +"You are right," said the outlaw. + +"Listen further, Donald. Here are a thousand dollars! I thought +never to have taken it from the bank, for I would never have used +the price of blood! But I drew it to-day for you. Take it--it will +help you to live a better life! When you have picked your way out of +this place, go to the great elm-tree at the back of the old mill, +and you will find my horse, Gyp, which I shall have tied there. He +is very swift. Mount him and ride for your life to the nearest +seaport, and so escape by a vessel to some foreign country. And oh, +try to lead a good life, and may God redeem you, Donald Bayne! +There--conceal your tools and your money quickly, for I hear the +guard coming. Good-by--and again, God redeem you, Donald Bayne!" + +"God bless you, brave and tender girl! And God forsake me if I do +not heed your advice!" and the outlaw pressed the hand she gave him +while the tears rushed to his eyes. + +The guard approached; Capitola turned to meet him. They left the +cell together and Black Donald was locked in for the last time! + +"Oh, I hope, I pray, that he may get off! Oh, what shall I do if he +doesn't! How can I enjoy my wedding to-morrow! How can I bear the +music and the dancing and the rejoicing, when I know that a fellow +creature is in such a strait! Oh, Lord grant that Black Donald may +get clear off to-night, for he isn't fit to die!" said Cap to +herself, as she hurried out of the prison. + +Her young groom was waiting for her and she mounted her horse and +rode until they got to the old haunted church at the end of the +village, when drawing rein, she said; + +"Jem, I am very tired. I will wait here and you must just ride back +to the village, to Mr. Cassell's livery stable, and get a gig, and +put your horse into it, and come back here to drive me home, for I +cannot ride." + +Jem, who never questioned his imperious little mistress's orders, +rode off at once to do her bidding. + +Cap immediately dismounted from her pony and led him under the deep +shadows of the elm tree, where she fastened him. Then taking his +face between her hands, and looking him in the eyes, she said: + +"Gyp, my son, you and I have had many a frolic together, but we've +got to part now! It almost breaks my heart, Gyp, but it is to save a +fellow creature's life, and it can't be helped! He'll treat you +well, for my sake, dear Gyp. Gyp, he'll part with his life sooner +than sell you! Good-by, dear, dear Gyp." + +Gyp took all these caresses in a very nonchalant manner, only +snorting and pawing in reply. + +Presently the boy came back, bringing the gig. Cap once more hugged +Gyp about the neck, pressed her cheek against his mane, and with a +whispered "Good-by, dear Gyp," sprang into the gig and ordered the +boy to drive home. + +"An' leab the pony, miss?" + +"Oh, yes, for the present; everybody knows Gyp--no one will steal +him. I have left him length of line enough to move around a little +and eat grass, drink from the brook, or lie down. You can come after +him early to-morrow morning." + +The little groom thought this a queer arrangement, but he was not in +the habit of criticising his young mistress's actions. + +Capitola got home to a late supper and to the anxious inquiries of +her friends she replied that she had been to the prison to take +leave of Black Donald, and begged that they would not pursue so +painful a subject. + +And, in respect to Cap's sympathies, they changed the conversation. + +That night the remnant of Black Donald's band were assembled in +their first old haunt, the Old Road Inn. They had met for a twofold +purpose--to bury their old matron, Mother Raven, who, since the +death of her patron and the apprehension of her captain, had +returned to the inn to die--and to bewail the fate of their leader, +whose execution was expected to come off the next day. + +The men laid the poor old woman in her woodland grave, and assembled +in the kitchen to keep a death watch in sympathy with their +"unfortunate" captain. They gathered around the table, and, foaming +mugs of ale were freely quaffed for "sorrow's dry," they said. But +neither laugh, song nor jest attended their draughts. They were to +keep that night's vigil in honor of their captain, and then were to +disband and separate forever. + +Suddenly, in the midst of their heavy grief and utter silence a +familiar sound was heard--a ringing footstep under the back windows. + +And every man leaped to his feet, with looks of wild delight and +questioning. + +And the next instant the door was flung wide open, and the outlaw +chief stood among them! + +Steve stopped rolling and curled himself around Black Donald's neck, +exclaiming: + +"It's you--it's you--it's you!--my dear, my darling--my adored--my +sweetheart--my prince!--my lord!--my king!--my dear, dear captain!" + +Steve, the lazy mulatto, rolled down upon the floor at his master's +feet, and embraced him in silence. + +While Demon Dick growled forth: + +"How the foul fiend did you get out?" + +And the anxious faces of all the other men silently repeated the +question. + +"Not by any help of yours, boys! But don't think I reproach you, +lads! Well I know that you could do nothing on earth to save me! No +one on earth could have helped me except the one who really freed +me--Capitola!" + +"That girl again!" exclaimed Hal, in the extremity of wonder. + +Steve stopped rolling, and curled himself around the feet of his +master and gazed up in stupid astonishment. + +"It's to be hoped, then, you've got her at last, captain," said +Demon Dick. + +"No--heaven bless her!--she's in better hands. Now listen, lads, for +I must talk fast! I have already lost a great deal too much time. I +went first to the cave in the Punch Bowl, and, not finding you +there, came here at a venture, where I am happy to meet you for the +last time--for to-night we disband forever!" + +"'Twas our intention, captain," said Hal, in a melancholy voice. + +Black Donald then threw himself into a seat at the head of the +table, poured out a mug of ale, and invited his band to pledge him. +They gathered around the table, filled their mugs, pledged him +standing, and then resumed their seats to listen to the last words +of their chief. + +Black Donald commenced and related the manner of his delverance by +Capitola; and then, taking from his bosom a bag of gold, he poured +it upon the table and divided it two into equal portions, one of +which he handed to "Headlong Hal," saying: + +"There, Hal, take that and divide it among your companions, and +scatter to distant parts of the country, where you may yet have a +chance of earning an honest livelihood! As for me, I shall have to +quit the country altogether, and it will take nearly half this sum +to enable me to do it. Now I have not a minute more to give you! So +once more pledge your captain and away!" + +The men filled their mugs, rose to their feet, and pledged their +leader in a parting toast and then: + +"Good luck to you all!" exclaimed Black Donald, waving his hat +thrice above his head with a valedictory hurrah. And the next moment +he was gone! + +That night, if any watchman had been on guard near the stables of +Hurricane Hall, he might have seen a tall man mounted upon +Capitola's pony, ride up in hot haste, dismount and pick the stable +lock, take Gyp by the bridle and lead him in, and presently return +leading out Fleetfoot, Old Hurricane's racer, upon which he mounted +and rode away. + +The next morning, while Capitola was dressing; her groom rapped at +the door and, in great dismay, begged that he might speak to Miss +Cap one minute. + +"Well, what is it, Jem?" said Capitola. + +"Oh, Miss Cap, you'll kill me! I done been got up long afore day and +gone to Tip-Top arter Gyp, but somebody done been stole him away +afore I got there!" + +"Thank heaven!" cried Capitola, to little Jem's unspeakable +amazement. For to Capitola the absence of her horse meant just the +escape of Black Donald! + +The next minute Cap sighed and said: + +"Poor Gyp! I shall never see you again!" + +That was all she knew of the future! + +That morning while they were all at breakfast a groom from the +stables came in with a little canvas bag in his hand, which he laid, +with a bow, before his master. + +Major Warfield took it up; it was full of gold, and upon its side +was written, in red chalk: + +"Three hundred dollars, to pay for Fleetfoot.--Black Donald, +Reformed Robber." + +While Old Hurricane was reading this inscription, the groom said +that Fleetfoot was missing from his stall, and that Miss Cap's pony, +that was supposed to have been stolen, was found in his place, with +this bag of gold tied around his neck! + +"It is Black Donald--he has escaped!" cried Old Hurricane, about to +fling himself into a rage, when his furious eyes encountered the +gentle gaze of Marah, that fell like oil on the waves of his rising +passion. + +"Let him go! I'll not storm on my silver wedding day," said Major +Warfield. + +As for Cap, her eyes danced with delight--the only little clouds +upon her bright sky were removed. Black Donald had escaped, to +commence a better life, and Gyp was restored! + +That evening a magnificent old-fashioned wedding came off at +Hurricane Hall. + +The double ceremony was performed by the bishop of the diocese (then +on a visit to the neighborhood) in the great salon of Hurricane +Hall, in the presence of as large and splendid an assembly as could +be gathered together from that remote neighborhood. + +The two brides, of course, were lovely in white satin, Honiton lace, +pearls and orange flowers. "Equally," of course, the bridegrooms +were handsome and elegant, proud and happy. + +To this old-fashioned wedding succeeded a round of dinners and +evening parties, given by the wedding guests. And when all these +old-time customs had been observed for the satisfaction of old +friends, the bridal party went upon the new-fashioned tour, for +their own delight. They spent a year in traveling over the eastern +continent, and then returned home to settle upon their patrimonial +estates. + +Major Warfield and Marah lived at Hurricane Hall and as his heart is +satisfied and at rest, his temper is gradually improving. As the +lion shall be led by the little child, Old Hurricane is led by the +gentlest woman that ever loved or suffered, and she is leading him +in his old age to the Saviour's feet. + +Clara and Traverse live at Willow Heights, which has been repaired, +enlarged and improved, and where Traverse has already an extensive +practice, and where both endeavor to emulate the enlightened +goodness of the sainted Doctor Day. + +Cap and Herbert, with Mrs. Le Noir, live at the Hidden House, which +has been turned by wealth and taste into a dwelling of light and +beauty. As the bravest are always the gentlest, so the most high- +spirited are always the most forgiving. And thus the weak or wicked +old Dorcas Knight finds still a home under the roof of Mrs. Le Noir. +Her only retribution being the very mild one of having her relations +changed in the fact that her temporary prisoner is now her mistress +and sovereign lady. + +I wish I could say "they all lived happy ever after." But the truth +is I have reason to suppose that even Clara had sometimes occasion +to administer to Doctor Rocke dignified curtain lectures, which no +doubt did him good. And I know for a positive fact that our Cap +sometimes gives her "dear, darling, sweet Herbert," the benefit of +the sharp edge of her tongue, which, of course, he deserves. + +But notwithstanding all this, I am happy to say that all enjoy a +fair amount of human felicity. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Madcap, by Emma D. E. N. Southworth + |