IN FOREIGN LANDS--STRATEGY--LOVE CONQUERS.
Octavia made known to her uncle and mother the attorney's passionate
proposal and pleading--of her previous determination to go on a mission
of mercy, joining the Red Cross Society. Both pleaded with her to give
up her European trip, whatever she did with the attorney. But secretly
they wanted Octavia to accept him. Both liked him. A firm friendship
had been formed. He had successfully pleaded Elsie's case, and would
be pleased to see the match. But Octavia was of age, and marrying was
a personal matter, and every one must choose for herself.
She was firm in her decision to go, and they soon saw that further
pleading was of no use. It was only a question of short time to make
the necessary arrangements for her departure. Just before her
departure Colonel R. died. Just previous to his sickness and death, he
wrote Simon to come to see him, as he wanted to confer with him on some
important business. Simon went, and the Colonel said to him, that he
did not think he had long to live, and that in his will, he would
bequeath Octavia fifty thousand dollars in gold, and for him, Simon, to
act as her agent and trustee, until Octavia chose to make use of it.
Simon was grateful on behalf of his niece for this liberal bequest.
Colonel R. said that this would be the crowning act of atonement for
his wrong in bringing Octavia into the world. He said he had sought
forgiveness for this act, and that he felt that God, for Christ's sake,
had pardoned him; not only for this, but other wrongs. He said to
Simon that he had heard of Octavia's brilliant success in college, of
the plaudits of her teachers, press and public. If Octavia, said he,
went to Europe, it would be simply to get rid of her suitors; that hers
was an anomalous condition. She would not wed beneath herself, and the
laws of the country forbid her marrying a white man. He would now bid
farewell to his ex-foreman, for the last time, wishing him unbounded
success in life.
Colonel R.'s heirs contested the will, or that part bequeathing the
gold to Octavia, and made strenuous efforts to have the courts set it
aside. Simon again employed Elsie's ex-attorney to defend that clause
in the will. There was a fierce legal battle, but the will as a whole
was sustained, and Octavia was left independent.
Octavia now departed on her mission of mercy, Simon and Elsie believing
that they would never see her again. She was bidding farewell to home,
kindred,--to all that she held most dear. "Yes, my native land, I
leave thee, far in foreign lands to dwell." After arriving in New
York, she soon obtained passports for St. Petersburg, Russia, taking
the first steamer, and ere long, would be
"_Out on the ocean, all boundless we ride._"
After arriving in St. Petersburg, she made known her mission to the
authorities, who appointed a guard to escort her to the Russian Army,
and she was soon administering comfort to the sick and wounded. She
really proved to be an angel of mercy, as her beauty alone often
brought hope to the despairing one.
About two months after she began work as an agent of the Red Cross, she
received a telegram that her mother had died from smallpox. It is
trouble enough to lose a parent and be at her bedside, but to be in a
foreign land, with an army which is fighting another, with not a single
friend or acquaintance to comfort you, is heart-rending. This was the
severest grief of her life. But, being engrossed by her duties, her
grief was tempered. It is said that "duty is the sublimest word in the
English language." Certainly, it is the best cure for trouble, grief,
disappointments, or any of the ills of life.
Soon after this, she received a long letter of condolence from her
attorney lover, on the death of her mother. This was quite a comfort,
and she redoubled her efforts to comfort the sick, wounded, distressed,
dying soldiers around her. While engaged in her mission of mercy, she
became acquainted with Count ----, a gallant colonel in the Russian
Army. This count, like the American attorney, fell desperately in love
with her, and made it known the first opportunity, asking her hand in
marriage as soon as hostilities ceased. She repelled his offer,
telling him that among the sick, dead and dying, was no place to be
thinking about anything of that kind. The count took his defeat
philosophically, saying to his friends that he would bide his time and
renew his suit for the fair American angel of mercy, in "the sweet
by-and-by."
Octavia found time to correspond with her uncle, and her attorney
lover, telling each how she had become fond of her work, and that it
was not as objectionable as one would think.
The war finally closed, and Octavia determined to return to America,
and render comfort to the soldiers who were then fighting the Indians
on the plains. She had caught a severe cold, while discharging her
duties at the front, which resulted in pneumonia, and for days her
physician despaired of her life. Finally, he announced that the crisis
had passed, and that good nursing would soon bring her round all right,
and wired this welcome news to Simon. It required a month or more to
recuperate and gain strength. In that time, she saw from the American
papers, that the Indian war had ceased. Consequently, she decided to
remain in the Russian capital, whither she had gone after hostilities,
a year or more. She had found trouble in rightly discharging her
duties, because of her inability to speak the Russian language.
Consequently, she determined to master that, and a half dozen or more
of the principal languages of Europe, during her stay in St.
Petersburg. The signs of the times pointed to another European war,
and she would stand in need of one or more of the languages she was
studying.
Count ---- again renewed his suit with the fair Octavia, promising her
title, wealth, ease and pleasure, and as he was closely related to the
reigning family, she would have access to the pleasures of the Royal
Court of Russia. To all of his pleadings she would say nay, telling
him that she did not come to Europe hunting a husband with a title, and
that she was disgusted with the snobbery displayed by some American
girls in hunting for a husband with a title to his name. She said she
was a plain girl from Republo-Democratic America, and came to render
succor, aid and comfort to the sick, distressed, dead, wounded and
dying, of the Russian Army, and that her mission to that particular
field being ended, she was studying the various foreign languages,
while waiting for another opportunity to continue her mission of mercy.
This reply was characteristic of her. It is a fact that many American
girls, disgust the public in their chase after titled husbands--they
furnishing the wealth, and the husband, the empty title. Away with
such snobbishness! Simon kept her supplied with what funds she needed;
she was popular in society and being so exceptionally beautiful and
accomplished, she had from time to time a number of suitors, to all of
whom she would reply as she did to the Russian count. Besides, she
would be violating the trust imposed in her, and as long as she
remained an agent of the Red Cross, she would wed no man. The American
Ambassador to the Russian Court had heard of Octavia's beauty and
accomplishments, and of her refusing the Russian Count, and a number of
other desirable suitors. He said to his wife, that they must seek the
acquaintance of this wonderful American woman. They went to her hotel,
sent in their card, and received a cordial greeting. Octavia said she
was delighted to see any one from America, and especially the
Ambassador and wife. They promised to call frequently, and that they
would do all in their power to make her visit as pleasant as possible
during her stay in the city. In Russia's gay capital, she had all that
"wealth or beauty e'er gave," but there was a longing, which none of
this would satisfy. She often thought of her home in America--of her
dear uncle, of--yes, of her lover lawyer. Do what she may, she could
not efface him from her memory. She resolved to return, and await an
opportunity for service from the Red Cross. On the return voyage, her
vessel was wrecked in a storm, half of the passengers perishing, she
being among the saved, all of whom were carried to the nearest port,
from whence they were forwarded to New York. She went out and spent a
few days with Miss Mildred, who approved of her mission of mercy. She
parted with her former governess with many regrets, and was soon
caressing her uncle, in "Dixie's land." This was a joyful as well as
sad meeting. Her mother had died during her absence, and there was a
vacant chair which could never be filled. It took quite awhile to
relate her experiences in Europe, of her refusal to be Countess ----,
with wealth, ease, and all the pleasures of the Royal Court.
Simon told her that he was prouder of her now, than ever.
As was to be expected, her lover soon called, and while his
correspondence with her in Europe was only of a friendly character, he
had not despaired of making her his wife, if she ever returned. He
renewed his suit with more fervor than ever, but to all his entreaties
she would kindly but sadly say that were her environments or
circumstances different, she would bestow her hand where her heart was
already. His visits clandestinely made, were frequent. During her
absence in Europe, he had been elected State's Attorney, a responsible
and lucrative office, in which he had better opportunities to add to
his already well earned fame.
After her return, she decided to write up her experiences in Europe
minus the proposals, and publish them in one of the leading Northern
journals. This, her first attempt at writing for the press, elicited
favorable comment.
One day, while reading one of the latest novels, a messenger, nearly
out of breath, came running in with the sad news that her uncle was
dead. She hastened to the store, to find it too true. Her grief knew
no bounds. The physician who had been called pronounced his trouble,
apoplexy. She loved her uncle as she did her mother. Simon had gained
the confidence of all classes, and had built up a large lucrative
business. He was upright and honorable; just and fair in his dealings,
and his death was a public loss. There was a large funeral procession,
both white and black attending almost _en masse_.
In his will, Simon left everything to Octavia, making his book-keeper
executor, without bond. Octavia requested him to immediately settle up
the estate, turning all of Simon's property into money, which he easily
did.
She also requested him to purchase two magnificent monuments for her
mother's and uncle's grave.
Her lover continued his visits, offering what comfort he could to
Octavia. Of course propriety forbade him mentioning matrimony.
Octavia was indeed lonely now. Not a relative in the world that she
knew of. How desolate! It is true, that troubles never come singly;
as the day after her uncle's burial, she saw in the newspapers, notice
of the death and burial of her former governess, Miss Mildred. In her
loneliness, she would weep for hours at a time. But time heals all
things, and in a few months, her grief was somewhat assuaged. She made
up her mind to go North to live. At his next visit, she told the
attorney of her intention. He then brought up the "tender subject,"
again, and made the plea of his life, telling her that she was alone in
the world, and had no ties to bind her here, and to be happy the
balance of his life, he would give up his office, his practice, and
sever every tie that bound him here, and go with her anywhere on the
globe, if, by so doing, he could make her his wife. She burst into
tears because of her loneliness; tears, because of the barrier between
them; and said that it would be best for them not to marry and that he
would soon forget her, after her departure. He went away sorrowfully,
resolving to resort to strategy. The next day, the city dailies
contained the startling information, that State's Attorney ----, had
resigned his office, wound up his affairs and would leave in a few days
to make his home in one of the South American Republics. After seeing
this, Octavia threw herself on her couch, and wept bitter, bitter
tears. There is this difference in men and women when in trouble: the
former, frequently resort to drink, while the latter resort to tears.
The attorney's masterpiece of strategy was successful.
Brutus, who was still doing the chores on the place, came in while
Octavia was crying and said, "Miss Octay, what de matter?" she replied:
"Nothing of consequence." He left, and she immediately recalled him
and told him to come back in five or ten minutes, and take a note to
State's Attorney ----. He left, saying, "Yes, miss." Brutus was soon
back, when she sent the following note to the State's Attorney:
"Dear Mr. ----: I am miserable, oh, so miserable; please come to me at
once! Octavia."
It is needless to say, he went, and was exulting over his successful
strategy as he rang for admittance. She was waiting, and as he
entered, she ran into his arms, saying: "Take me anywhere. I'll be
your wife, regardless of all social laws."
To say there was a happy couple goes without saying.
In two days both left, the lawyer ostensibly for South America, and
Octavia for New York City. Both, however, drew their money from the
bank, and bought New York exchange.
They were quietly married in the metropolis of America. After marriage
he laughingly told Octavia of the deception he had practiced upon
her--that the notice in the city papers of his intended departure for
South America was only a ruse to bring her to terms; that he had made
no resignation, at that time, of his office, and that the notice was
paid for as an advertisement. He said it was a two-edged sword,
cutting both ways; at first, deceiving her, and then, the public, but
with this difference: She was undeceived, while the public still
thought he was by this time in the wilds of South America.
She embraced him, and amid a perfect shower of kisses, said: "Let the
public think as they please, the fact remains that you are my own dear
husband, whom I love better than life itself, and I am glad, oh, so
glad, that you took that means to bring me to terms. If you had not, I
might have refused you from time to time, on account of the fraction of
African blood that circulates in my veins, and you might, through
spite, have married some woman that you did not love."
He admitted that there was much philosophy in what she had said, and,
if she hadn't married him, that he might now have been in the Alabama
River. He said that he didn't wonder at those Northern men killing
themselves, and one another, about her.
Then saying, "My dear wife, let's dismiss all of those unpleasant
things of the past, and talk about the future. Where shall we 'drive
down stakes?'"
She said she would leave all that with him. While both of their means,
put together, would make a fortune, and judiciously invested, would
provide for them, the balance of their days, she was sure that a man of
his caliber would want an active life, and would go where he could find
it.
"Thank you," said he; "and that means one of the mining States of the
West, which is comparatively new."
And there they went, and he prospered as he never did before. He
located in the capital of the State, and soon was doing a good law
practice.
Octavia became the center of attraction for a large coterie of friends,
and if her husband had been of a jealous disposition, he might have
shown it.
He was successively elected alderman, mayor of the city, representative
and senator, in the State legislature, attorney-general and governor.
In after years, when several children had blessed their union, they
often spoke of their home in "Dixie's land;" of Octavia's many
hairbreadth escapes; of the Northern tragedies on her account; of the
many suitors who had received their mittens from her; of her Red Cross
life; and last, but not least, of his successful strategy in bringing
her to terms. Octavia admitted, shortly after marriage, that she
deliberately ran off to Europe, knowing that if she remained, she would
have to "marry him, to get rid of him."
They are now planning a visit to the old original home of Octavia, the
Octoroon.
THE END.