NEWS FOR ISHMAEL.
December's sky is chill and drear,
December's leaf is dun and sere;
No longer Autumn's glowing red
Upon our forest hills is shed;
No more beneath the evening beam
The wave reflects their crimson gleam;
The shepherd shifts his mantle's fold
And wraps him closely from the cold:
His dogs no merry circles wheel,
But shivering follow at his heel;
And cowering glances often cast
As deeper moans the gathering blast.
--_Scott._
"Ah what is good must be worked for," wrote the wisest of our sages.
Ishmael felt the truth of this, and worked hard.
His first success at the bar had been so brilliant as to dazzle and
astonish all his contemporaries; and upon the fame of that success
he prospered exceedingly.
But Ishmael well knew that if it needed hard work to win fame, it
needed much harder work to keep it.
He felt that if he became idle or careless now, his brilliant
success would prove to be but a meteor's flash, instead of the clear
and steady planet light he intended it to become.
He read and thought with great diligence and perseverance; and so he
often found a way through labyrinths of difficulty that would have
baffled any less firmly persistent thinker and worker.
And thus his success, splendid from the first, was gaining
permanency every day.
His reputation was established on a firm foundation, and be was
building it up strongly as well as highly.
Strangers who had heard of the celebrated young barrister, and had
occasion to seek his professional services, always expected to find
a man of thirty or thirty-five years old, and were astonished to see
one of scarcely twenty-two.
Ishmael was very much admired and courted by the best circles of the
Capital; but, though eminently social and affectionate in his
nature, he entered only moderately into society. Devotion to company
and attention to business were incompatible, he knew.
If there ever happened to be an alternative of a tempting evening
party, where he might be sure of meeting many congenial friends on
the one hand, and an impending case that required careful
preparation on the other, you may rely on it that Ishmael sacrificed
pleasure and gave himself up to duty. And this he did, not
occasionally, but always; in this way he earned and retained his
high position.
And, ambitious young reader, this is the only way.
Thus in useful and successful work Ishmael employed the autumn that
Claudia in her distant home was wasting in idleness and repinings.
On the first Monday in December Congress met, as usual. And about
the middle of the month the Supreme Court sat.
Therefore Ishmael was not very much surprised when one morning, just
after he had brought a very difficult suit to a triumphant
termination, he saw his friend Judge Merlin enter his private
office.
Ishmael started up joyously to greet his visitor; but stopped short
on, seeing how pale, haggard, and feeble the old man looked. And his
impulsive exclamation of: "Oh, judge, I am so glad to see you,"
changed at once to the commiserating words--"How sorry I feel to see
you so indisposed! Have you been ill long?" he inquired, as he
placed his easiest chair for the supposed invalid.
"Yes, I have been ill, Ishmael, very ill; but not long, and not in
body--in mind, Ishmael, in mind!" and the old man sank into the
chair and, resting his elbow on the office table, bowed his stricken
head upon his hand.
Ishmael drew near and bent over him in respectful sympathy, waiting
for his confidence. But as the judge continued overwhelmed and
silent, the young man took the initiative, and in A soft and
reverential tone said:
"I do hope, sir, that you have met with no serious trouble."
A deep groan was the only answer.
"Can I serve you in any way, sir? You know that I am devoted to your
interests."
"Yes, Ishmael, yes. I know that you are the most faithful of
friends, as well as the most accomplished of counselors. It is in
both characters, my dear boy, that you are wanted to-day."
"Instruct me, sir. Command me. I am entirely at your disposal."
"Even to the extent of going to Europe with me?"
Ishmael hesitated; but only because he was utterly unprepared for
the proposal; and then he answered:
"Yes, sir; if it should appear to be really necessary to your
interests."
"Oh, Ishmael! I am an old and world-worn man, and I have had much
experience; but, indeed, I know not how to break to you the news I
have to bring!" groaned the judge.
"If there is any man in the world you can confide in it is surely
myself, your friend and your attorney."
"I feel sure of that, Ishmael, quite sure of that. Well, I do not
see any better way of putting you in possession of the facts than by
letting you read these letters. When you have read them all, you
will know as much as I do," said the judge, as he drew from his
pocket a parcel of papers and looked over them. "There, read that
first," he continued, placing one in Ishmael's hand.
Ishmael opened the letter and read as follows:
"Castle Cragg, near Banff, Buchan, Scotland.
"My Dearest Father: We are all in good health; therefore do not be
alarmed, even though I earnestly implore you to drop everything you
may have in hand and come over to me immediately, by the very first
steamer that sails after your receipt of this letter. Father, you
will comply with my entreaty when I inform you that I have been
deceived and betrayed by him who swore to cherish and protect me. My
life and honor are both imperiled. I will undertake to guard both
for a month, until you come. But come at once to your wronged but
"Loving child,
"Claudia."
"Good Heaven, sir, what does this mean?" exclaimed Ishmael, looking
up, after he had read the letter.
"I do not clearly know myself. It is what I wish you to help me to
find out."
"But--when was this letter received?"
"On Monday last."
"On Monday last," repeated Ishmael, glancing at the envelope; "that
was the 5th of December; and it is postmarked 'Banff, October 15th.'
Is it possible that this important letter has been seven weeks on
its way?"
"Yes, it is quite possible. If yea look at the envelope closely you
will see that it is stamped 'Missent,' and remailed from San
Francisco, California, to which place it was sent by mistake. You
perceive it has traveled half around the world before coming here."
"How very unfortunate! and a letter so urgent as this! Sir, can you
give me any idea of the danger that threatens Lady Vincent?"
inquired Ishmael, raising his eyes for a moment from his study of
the letter.
"Read this second letter; I received it, and a third one, by the
very same mail that brought the long-delayed first one," replied the
judge.
Ishmael took this letter also, and read:
"McGruder's Hotel, Edinboro', Scotland,
"November 25, 184--.
"My Dearest Father: I wrote to you about six weeks ago, informing
you that I was in sorrow and in danger, and imploring you to come
and comfort and protect me. And since that time I have been waiting
with the most acute anxiety to hear from you by letter or in person.
Expecting this with confidence, I did not think it necessary to
write again. But, as so long a time has elapsed, I begin to fear
that you have not received my letter, and so I write again. Oh, my
father! if you should not be already on your way to my relief--if
you should be still lingering at home on the receipt of this letter,
fly to me at once! My situation is desperate; my danger imminent; my
necessity extreme. Oh, sir! an infamous plot has been hatched
against me; I have been driven with ignominy from my husband's
house; my name has gone over the length and breadth of England, a
by-word of reproach! I am alone and penniless in this hotel; in
which I know not how short the time may be that they will permit me
to stay. Come! Come quickly! Come and save, if it be possible, your
wretched child,
"Claudia."
"Heaven of heavens! how can this be?" cried Ishmael, looking up from
these fearful lines into the woe-worn face of the judge.
"Oh, I know but little more than yourself. Head this third letter."
Ishmael eagerly took and opened it and read:
"Cameron Court, near Edinboro',
"November 27, l84--,
"Judge Merlin--Sir: Your unhappy daughter is under my roof. As soon
as I heard what had happened at Castle Cragg, and learned that she
was alone and unprotected at McGruder's, I lost no time in going to
her and offering my sympathy and protection. I induced her to come
with me to my home. I have heard her story from her own lips. And I
believe her to be the victim of a cunningly contrived conspiracy.
Lord Vincent has filed a petition for divorce, upon the ground of
alleged infidelity. Therefore I join my urgent request to hers that,
if this finds you still in America, you will instantly on its
receipt leave for England. I write in great haste to send my letter
by the Irish Express so as it may intercept the steamer at
Queenstown and reach you by the same mail that carries hers of the
25th; and so mitigate your anxiety by assuring you of her personal
safety, with sympathizing friends; although her honor is endangered
by a diabolical conspiracy, from which it will require the utmost
legal skill to deliver her.
"With great respect, sir, I remain,
"Berenice, Countess of Hurstmonceux."
"You will go by the first steamer, sir," said Ishmael.
"Certainly. This is Saturday morning; one sails at noon from New
York to-day; but I could not catch that."
"Of course not; but the 'Oceana' sails from Boston on Wednesday."
"Yes; I shall go by her. But, Ishmael, can you go with me?" inquired
the judge, with visible anxiety.
"Certainly," promptly replied the young man, never hinting at the
sacrifices he would have to make in order to accompany his friend on
so long a journey.
"Thank you, thank you, my dear Ishmael! I knew you would. You will
be of great assistance. Of course we must oppose this rascally
viscount's petition, and do our best to unmask his villainy. But how
to do it? I was never very quick-witted, Ishmael; and now my
faculties are blunted with age. But I have much to hope from your
aid in this case. I know that you cannot appear publicly for Lady
Vincent; but at the same time you may be of inestimable value as a
private counselor. Your genius, acumen, and wonderful insight will
enable us to expose this conspiracy, defeat the viscount, and save
Claudia, if anything on earth can do so. Thank you, thank you, good
and noble young friend!" said the judge, taking and cordially
pressing his hand.
"Judge, you know that you are most heartily welcome to all my
services. There is no one in the world that I would work for with
more pleasure than for you," replied the young man, returning the
pressure.
"I know it, my boy. Heaven bless you!"
"And now let us arrange for our journey. As the steamer leaves
Boston on next Wednesday morning, we should leave here on Tuesday
morning at latest."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Therefore, you see, we have but three days before us; and, as the
Sabbath intervenes, we have really but two for preparation--to-day
and Monday."
"That will be sufficient."
"Yes, sir. But, judge, I must run down into St. Mary's, and take
leave of my betrothed, before starting on so long a journey."
"Oh, Ishmael, you will not have time. Suppose you should be too late
to meet the steamer?"
"I will not be too late, Judge Merlin. I will hire a horse and start
this morning. I can get fresh horses at several places on the road,
and reach the Beacon before twelve o'clock at night. I can spend the
Sabbath there, and go to church with the family. And on Monday
morning I will make an early start, so as to be here on Monday
night."
"Oh, Ishmael, it will be a great risk."
"Not at all; I shall be sure to come up in time. And, besides, you
know I must see Bee before I go," said Ishmael, with that confiding
smile that no one could resist.
"Well, well, I suppose it must be so; so go on; but only be
punctual."
"I surely will."
"And oh, by the way, Ishmael, tell Mr. Middleton all about it; that
is, all we know, which is very little, since neither Lady Vincent
nor Lady Hurstmonceux has given us any details."
"Then Mr. Middleton knows nothing of this?"
"Not a syllable. I left the neighborhood without breathing a hint of
it to any human being. I did not even think of doing so. Oh,
Ishmael, I was in a state of distraction when I left home! Think of
it! I had been tormented with anxiety for weeks before the receipt
of these letters. For, listen: you know that Claudia sailed on the
first of October. Well; I calculated it would take about two weeks
for her to reach Liverpool, and about two more weeks for a letter to
return. So I made myself contented until the first of November,
when, as I expected, I received my first letter from her. It was a
very long letter, dated at various times from the sea, and written
during the voyage, and mailed at Queenstown. Three days later I
received another and shorter letter, merely advising me of her safe
arrival in England, and mailed from Liverpool. Still three days
later a letter dated Aberdeen, and informing me of her journey to
Scotland. A whole week later--for it appeared this last letter was
much delayed on its route--I got a short letter from her dated
Banff, and telling me that she had arrived that far on her journey,
and expected to be at Castle Cragg the same evening. Now these
letters were all dated within one or two days of each other, though
there was a longer time between the reception of each; a fact, I
suppose, to be accounted for by the irregularity of the ocean mails.
The last letter, dated October 14th, did not reach me until November
12th. And after that I received no more letters, until I got these
three all by one mail. You may judge how intense my anxiety was
until these letters came; and how distracted my mind, as soon as I
had read them."
"Oh, yes, sir, yes!"
"Therefore, you see, I never thought of what was due to Middleton,
or anybody else. So just tell him all about it, but in strict
confidence; for Claudia must not become the subject of gossip here,
poor child!"
"No, sir; certainly she must not. I will bind Mr. Middleton to
secrecy before I tell him anything about it."
"Yes, and--stop a moment! You had better just show him these
letters. They will speak for themselves and save you the trouble.
Tell him that we know no more than these letters reveal."
"I will do so, Judge Merlin."
"And now, Ishmael, I must return to my hotel, where I expect to meet
my old friend, General Tourneysee. When do you start for St.
Mary's?"
"Within an hour from this."
"Well, then, call at the hotel on your way and take leave of me."
"I will do so."
"Good-by, for the present," said the judge, shaking hands with his
young friend.
As soon as Judge Merlin had left the office Ishmael sank down into
his chair and yielded up his mind to intense thought.
It was true, then, the terrible presentiment of evil that had
haunted his imagination in regard to Claudia was now realized! The
dark storm cloud that his prophetic eye had seen lowering over her
had now burst in ruin on her head! How strange! how unexplainable by
human reason were these mysteries of the spirit! But Ishmael lost no
time in fruitless speculations. He arose quickly and rang the bell.
The professor answered it.
"Morris, I wish you to go around to Bellingby's stables and ask them
to send me a good, fresh horse, immediately, to go into the country.
I shall want him for three days. Tell them to send me the brown
horse, Jack, if he is not in use; but if he is, tell them to send
the strongest and fastest horse they have."
"Yes, sir," answered the professor, hurrying off.
Ishmael went up to his chamber and packed his valise, and then
returned to the office and summoned his first clerk, told him that
he was going into the country immediately, for three days, and that
after his return he should start for Europe, to be gone for a few
weeks, and gave him instructions regarding the present conduct of
the office business, and promised directions respecting the future
administration of professional affairs when he should return from
the country before starting for Europe.
When he had got through his conference with his clerk, and the
latter had left the private office, the professor, who had come back
and was waiting his turn, entered.
"Well, Morris?"
"Well, sir, the brown horse will be here as soon as he is fed, and
watered, and saddled, and bridled. He is in good condition, sir, and
quite fresh, as he hasn't been in use for two days, sir."
"All right, professor, sit down; I have something to tell you."
"Yes, sir? Indeed, sir!" said Jim Morris, taking his seat and
feeling sure he should presently hear Mr. Worth was going down into
the country for the purpose of marrying Miss Middleton and bringing
her home. But the news that he really heard astonished him more than
this would have done.
"I shall start for Europe on Wednesday, Morris."
"You don't say so, sir!" exclaimed the old man.
"Yes; sudden business. But I promised you, professor, that if ever I
should go to Europe you should go with me, if you should please to
do so. Now I will give you your choice. You shall attend me to
Europe, or stay here and take care of my rooms while I am gone."
The professor's eyes fairly danced at the idea of crossing the
mighty Atlantic and seeing glorious old Europe; but still he had
sense of propriety and self-denial enough to say:
"I am willing to do that which will be of the most use to yourself,
sir."
"Morris, you would be of great use to me in either position. If you
should stay here, I should feel sure that my rooms were safe in the
care of a faithful keeper."
"Then, sir, I prefer to stay."
"Yes, but stop a moment. If you should go with me, I should enjoy
the trip much more. I should enjoy it myself and enjoy your
enjoyment of it also. And, besides, it would be so pleasant to feel
that I had an attached friend always with me."
"Then, Mr. Worth, as there is about as much to be said on one side
as there is on the other, I'll do whichever you prefer."
"I greatly prefer that you should go with me, professor," said
Ishmael, who read the old man's eager desire to travel.
"Then I'll go, sir; and with the greatest of pleasure."
"Can you be ready to leave for Boston on Tuesday morning, to catch
the steamer that sails on Wednesday?"
"Law, yes, sir! what's to hinder? Why, I would be ready in ten
minutes, sooner than miss going to Europe. What's to do but just
pitch my clothes into a trunk and lock it?"
"Well, Morris, I will give you time enough to pack your clothes
carefully, and mine also. There is the horse!" exclaimed Ishmael,
rising and locking his desk.
"Sure enough, there he is, and looking as gay as a lark, this bright
morning. You will have a pleasant ride, sir," said the professor,
looking from the window.
"Yes; fetch my overcoat from the passage, Morris."
"Yes, sir; here it is. But won't you take just a bit of luncheon
before you go? I am sure the ladies would get it ready for you
quick, and glad to do it."
"No, thank you, Morris. You know I ate breakfast only two hours ago,
and a very hearty one, too, as I always do. So I shall not require
anything until I get to Horsehead," said Ishmael, buttoning up his
greatcoat. Then he drew on his gloves and shook hands with the
professor.
"Good-by, Morris! God bless you! Think of going to Europe."
"Oh, sir, you may be sure I shan't think of anything else all day,
nor dream of anything else all night. To think of my seeing the
Tower of London! Well, sir, good-by! And the Lord bless you and give
you a pleasant journey," said the professor as he handed his
master's hat.