During all the period of Hettie's confinement around the sick bed of
William Andrews, David saw nothing of her; he felt satisfied that she
would not disclose what her brother had communicated to her. The efforts
which, in the mean time, he was to make for the recovery of the lost
document, were much relaxed by the interview with his father, as related
in a former chapter. He saw now that his ultimate object might be
gained, and suffered his selfish feelings to work their hateful purpose.
He continued his attentions to William and his mother, and did much to
supply to them the absence of Hettie.
Reports are easily set in motion, and, as every one is willing to keep
them moving, it is not strange that they spread so fast. Thus it began
to be whispered that Mr. Tracy and Hettie Brown were engaged to be
married; and although no one had any license for saying so, nor was it
actually the case, yet so it was said, and David among the rest listened
to the story. It took him not altogether by surprise, and only confirmed
him in his purpose to accomplish the plan proposed by his father.
The effort William had made to communicate the terrible secret which
harassed his mind, enfeebled as it was by disease, had nearly proved
fatal to him. The excitement produced by the thought of having the
matter made public, with all its consequences to himself and others,
together with the physical effort he was obliged to make in order to
explain things fully to his sister, brought on a recurrence of his
unfavorable symptoms, and as soon as Hettie could be spared from the
dying room of William Andrews, she was again at her mother's home,
although so exhausted in mind and body as to be able to do little else
than watch by his bedside.
'I could not come as soon as I expected,' said David Cross as he entered
the cottage of the Widow Brown; 'but we shall have time enough for a
good ride yet.'
David looked very pale, and his voice trembled as he spoke, but Hettie
did not notice it, for she was busy putting on her things. She had made
an engagement with him that morning to take a drive; she felt that she
needed the recreation, and as she supposed matters were well understood
between them, hesitated not in accepting such an act of kindness.
'I think you had better not drive far, David, for it will soon be night,
and William has not been so well to-day.'
'No, no, aunty, we shan't go far, or at least we shan't stay long, for
Bony is in good spirits.'
Hettie sprang into the buggy, and Dave drove off at his usual rapid
pace.
The rendezvous that Cross had spoken of in his conversation with his
son, was situated in the midst of the thickest and least frequented part
of the pines. It had once been used as a tavern, in days before Mr.
Cross set up in his more public situation. Of late years, it became the
haunt of all who wished to have a frolic as they called it--in other
words, a low debauch; and scenes of riot were enacted there which even
Cross himself did not approve. It was a lone place, and far from any
settlement; of course no restraint was put upon those who wished thus to
degrade themselves. It was also the chosen place for their marriage
scenes; these seldom, if ever, taking place at the home of either party.
Two old and miserable-looking beings kept the house, such as it was, and
on occasion of an assemblage, gave matters up to the company to do as
they pleased, their business being merely to deal out plenty of liquor
from behind an old counter in one corner of the room.
'I think we have gone far enough, David; I fear William will begin to be
restless.'
'I am only going as far as the house you see yonder. I must stop and
water Bony, and as he is so restless, if you will step in and talk a
moment to the old people, I will hurry all I can, and then we will be
home in less than no time.'
As they drove up, Hettie knew that she had not seen the place before;
but hesitated not to do as she was requested, although the house was
very forbidding in its appearance.
'You've come airly,' said the old hag who sat just within the door,
smoking a short black pipe. Hettie, not understanding her allusion,
looked at her in some surprise, without making a reply.
'I say you've come rather airly; the folks ain't none on 'em got along
yet.'
'What folks do you mean, granny?'
'Ay, ay, I see you're jist like the rest of the galls, you want to keep
it secret as long as you can. We know all about it though; but you're
goin' to have a smart un; Dave's a good feller.'
Hettie, supposing the old woman to be a little deranged, merely smiled,
and walked into the room. David had driven his horse away, as she
supposed, for the purpose of watering--Poor girl! she was in a trap, and
soon her light and happy spirit would be writhing in agony.
'Are you ready, David? but where is the horse?' seeing that he had not
driven to the door, but come into the room where she was, his
countenance pale, and with an aspect that alarmed her. 'Has any thing
happened, David? You are not well?'
'Come in the other room, Hettie.' She followed, but a strange foreboding
of some evil flashed upon her mind, and so affected her in her then
debilitated state, that she was glad to sit down on a long low bench,
which ran along under the windows, at the same time fixing her
penetrating eyes full on the young man. He took a seat beside her, and
turning his head from her--
'I want to talk with you, Hettie, on that subject which you and I have
had up between us lately.'
'What, David; about the trunk? have you heard of it?'
'No, there isn't much chance of doing any thing about that just now; but
you know what I said to you some time ago about our being married.'
'That I supposed was all settled, David. I told you frankly when you
first spoke to me, that it could never be; why should you bring it up
again? I meant what I said, and I feel just as I did then.'
'But it is not all settled: I have been thinking of you all my life,
Hettie, and you know how intimate we have been, and when I think of your
marrying some one else, as it is said you are going to do, I can't stand
it, Hettie, no how; and there is no use of talking about it.'
'But you surely would not wish to marry me if I did not love you, David;
and that I tell you now, as I told you before, I do not as I expect to
love the man whom I would give my hand to. You have been always very
kind to me, and to my family, and we all think much of you, and would do
any thing in our power for you, but on this subject I must beg of you to
urge me no further, for it can never be.'
David now rose and stood up before her. He took one of her hands, at
which she made no resistance, but he felt that it was cold as marble,
and lay in his grasp like a lifeless thing. He saw also that the color
had left her cheek, and that her lips were of a purple hue; the eyes
alone retained their life, and gazed at him with an earnestness that he
had never met from Hettie's eyes before.
'You must listen a moment to me, Hettie. I now ask you, once again, if
you will marry me. I can take good care of you. My father has agreed to
let me have money enough to purchase a handsome place, and we will go
away from these dreary woods. Your mother and brother shall accompany
us, if they will, and our home shall be theirs. I have invited the folks
round, and the minister is sent for; in a short time they will be here.
I want you to consent, and let it all go off smooth; but consent or not,
Goble shall marry us when he comes, and then I should like to see the
man that will separate you from me.'
Hettie was not prepared for this; she knew well what were the strange
and uncouth customs in that region; but little had she dreamed that they
could ever be brought thus to bear upon her. A thousand thoughts rushed
into her mind of the most appalling nature. She feared that her conduct
towards this young man had not been sufficiently guarded. She had
mistaken his character, and now that she was in his power it was
revealed to her in colors too glaring to be misunderstood. But her
courage did not forsake her. She was well aware that resistance would be
of no avail: she cast her thoughts to heaven, and prayed most earnestly
that God would make a way for her out of this trouble, in comparison
with which death itself would be a welcome messenger. She resolved that
there should be no misunderstanding of her feelings. She withdrew her
hand, and after a moment's pause, replied:--
'Your conduct, David, is as strange as it is ungenerous--unmanly. You
have deceived me by coming to this place; you have taken me away from
all help of friends. I am a woman, weak, and in your power; but I tell
you now plainly, I despise you for your meanness. I shall protest most
solemnly in the presence of your pretended minister, that I will never
own you for a husband. No: I would sooner suffer the most excruciating
torments, and die the bitterest death, than do one thing, by word or
deed, that could give you a claim to me.'
David Cross writhed under this address; but Hettie could not have
pursued a course more likely to confirm him in his purpose. He was cut
to the heart, and resolved upon revenge. He cared not now for her
love--she should be his slave.
As evening gathered over them, groups of females began to gather in the
room; and as she cast her eye over them, not one countenance did she
recognize as having ever seen before. They were arrayed in all sorts of
fanciful styles; their dark complexions set off by pink, blue, yellow,
and green dresses, according to the taste of the owner. Their untamed
characters were too clearly visible in their rude behavior; and as they
gathered around the suffering girl, the only sense they manifested of
feeling was a hard, unmeaning smile, and a wink at each other,
signifying that there was sport at hand. In the outer room, also, began
to be heard the boisterous laugh of men, and the rattling of glasses on
the counter, mingled with the harsh sounds of a violin, scraped by a
negro, who had grown grey in the service, attending upon all the orgies
of the country round. Little did Hettie, until that moment, ever think
that there could be grouped within a few miles of her mother's dwelling
a scene so nearly allied in her mind to the doings of the bottomless
pit; and as the merriment increased with the exciting potions that were
dealing out, her trembling spirit could only hang its hope on an unseen
hand. She had made up her mind as to the course she intended to pursue.
Resistance would be in vain; nor would an apparent opposition or
repugnance to the performance of the ceremony avail any thing. She
should therefore do as requested until the pretended ceremony began, and
then would most solemnly protest against the violence done to her, and
warn all present that her friends would prosecute to the utmost all who
had a hand in the wickedness.
As the groups were coming in, she anxiously looked among them for a face
that she knew, and at length espied one that was familiar, dressed in
rather poorer garments than the rest; a young woman whom she had in some
measure befriended. She soon caught her eye, and beckoned to her--
'Sally, will you get me a drink of cold water?' The young woman flew
with alacrity to do her bidding. As she came near with the cup of water,
Hettie spoke kindly to her, made a few inquiries, and then whispered in
a very guarded manner a few words. The girl appeared much astonished,
looked full at Hettie, and then towards David Cross, who was busily
engaged at another part of the room. She then carried away the cup, and
left the house.
Inquiries now began to be made after the minister.
'Goble ain't so hungry for his job as he is sometimes; he ought to have
been here half an hour ago.'
'He's getting old, Joe; he can't move as he once did. He'll be along,
though, by and by--no fear of Goble.'
The old negro, after a while, being pretty well warmed up with the
liquor, kept up an incessant jingle on his crazy instrument, bobbing his
old grey head about, and occasionally stamping violently with his foot,
as he became excited by his own melody. In different parts of the room a
couple might be seen shuffling away rapidly with their feet, tossing
their arms up and down as they held each other's hands, swaying their
bodies in all directions, and performing all sorts of uncouth gestures;
until, exhausted by the exercise, they would slap their feet hard on the
floor, let go of hands, swing round, and with a loud shout which was
echoed by an uproarious laugh throughout the room, mingle again with the
crowd.
How long these scenes continued, Hettie could not tell, nor did she heed
them much; her mind was too painfully oppressed in anticipation of what
she might yet be called to go through.
Henry Tracy had just returned from a visit to some of his charge, and
was quietly seated in his study, when the Widow Andrews, putting her
head carefully around the casement of the open door, said in a very low
voice,
'There's two of the Sheldrakes out here; they want to see the
minister.'
'Two what, Mrs. Andrews?'
'Sheldrakes--there's two on 'em, and they're round the corner by the big
tree; they won't come in, but they say they want to see the minister.'
Henry stepped to the window, expecting to see he hardly knew what; there
were, indeed, two uncouth looking figures, but he recognised them at
once as inhabitants of the barrens.
'Are those two men the persons you allude to, Mrs. Andrews.'
'Yes, there they are--there's two on 'em; they're the real Sheldrakes,
the critters are.'
Without waiting to inquire into the peculiar meaning of the term, he
went out immediately to them, and asked in his pleasant manner.
'Were you inquiring for me?'
'We's wanting to see the minister; there's a little job to be done up
our way, and as the regular hand is sick we've come to git you.'
Henry had become quite familiar with these rude sons of the forest, and
therefore their appearance and manners were not at all surprising to
him.
'What kind of a job is it you have on hand, my friends?'
'Oh, it's a little weddin' job; a couple of young un's want hitchin
together; and Dave sent us for Goble, but the old crittur's got the
rhumatiz, so he can't go no how; and as we thought it warn't no matter
who does it, so as it's done, we've come arter you.'
'What David? David Cross! He is not going to be married, is he?'
'But you won't speak of it; so if you will be about dusk at the corner
of the north road, we'll be there and show you the way.'
'I will be there; but you must not lose me in your wild country;'
smiling as he said it.
'Never fear, sir, we'll take you safe and bring you back safe, and there
shan't be a hair o' your head hurt; only you must'nt mind if the boys is
noisy a little; but when they see it ain't Goble that's among 'em
they'll behave more decenter, for they set store by you, minister, all
over.'
At the appointed time Henry was on the spot; a thick fog had settled
around as evening approached, and the two guides were obliged very soon
to light their pine knots. As Henry followed on through the thick
woods, had it not been that he was somewhat accustomed to scenes of the
kind, he might have felt no little uneasiness; for the men were wild
looking figures, their long streaming hair, rude garments, dark, Indian
countenances, together with the flaming brands throwing their pitchy
glare upon the huge trunks of the giant pines through which they
threaded their way, while all beyond the little circle of light in which
they walked was a wilderness of darkness--the whole scene required no
little confidence for one to be quite at ease. The men followed no
beaten road, but were guided in their course by marks known only to
themselves.
The sound of the violin and the hum of voices were at length heard, and
lights were seen close at hand.
'Have you got him, Harry?'
'Aye, aye; but tell 'em to stop their noise.' And the tidings could be
heard flying from mouth to mouth; the violin ceased, and all was hushed.
The room in which the ceremony was to be performed was spacious enough
to contain a large assembly. It was nearly filled; the men and women
standing promiscously in a dense mass, occupied about two-thirds of the
apartment, leaving a clear space sufficiently large for those more
immediately connected with the performance; within this stood a number
of the younger females with their arms locked, and forming a complete
ring encircling those who were intended to be the bride and groom.
Hettie had followed, as she had been requested, on the announcement of
the ministers approach; but the excitement under which she labored was
so great, that it required her utmost energy to sustain herself without
assistance, and she would have died before she would have sought it from
him who stood beside her; to have lost her physical or mental powers at
such a time, she knew would have been the end of hope for her. She stood
with her face covered, as the only way she could command herself, and
her agonized spirit poured out its terrible necessities to Him, who she
believed could alone help her. As Henry Tracy entered the room, a buzz
of astonishment ran through the assembly; the circle of girls opened and
extended itself, so as to permit him to be immediately before the
couple. He smiled, as he looked at David Cross, but casting his eye
quickly to her who stood beside him, the smile flew away, and a deadly
sickness came over him. He saw not her face, for it was still covered,
but those raven locks, and that lovely form, he had seen too often not
to recognise at once. For a moment he stood petrified with amazement,
unable to utter a syllable, or do any thing but gaze, almost with
horror, upon the terrible apparition which had thus risen before him.
Hearing the movement around her, and supposing the ceremony was about to
begin, Hettie sent one long, silent cry to heaven for aid, and then
uncovered her face. Had an angel from that bright world appeared for her
rescue, it could not have been more surprising to her than the sight of
Henry Tracy. She clasped her hands together, fixed her eye full upon
him, and uttering a scream of delight, flew towards him.
'Oh, save me! save me!'
'Where is she? where is she?' and a woman broke into the room. 'Where is
my child?' And Henry Tracy laid the fainting girl in her mother's arms,
and assisted in bearing her from the room into the open air.
When David Cross saw Henry Tracy enter the room, accompanied by the two
men whom he had commissioned to procure the services of Mr. Goble, he
know at once that his design was frustrated. His countenance was deadly
pale, and he cast a glance of fury at the two men, but he durst not vent
his anger either in words or actions there. The mighty spell which
Henry's influence exerted, even in this waste region, was too evident in
the perfect stillness which reigned the moment he entered the room, and
the looks of reverence that beamed even from those wild and untamed
countenances.
As Hettie darted from his side, he made his way through the crowd to an
end door of the building, and with feelings which none might envy, was
soon on his way towards his father's house. One by one the company slunk
away, when they found that the proceedings were at an end, and in
silence groped through the darkness towards their several homes.
When Hettie awoke to consciousness, Henry was bending over her, while
her mother sat by her side, smoothing her beautiful forehead, and
putting back the dark locks which kept falling over it.
All was still; she listened for those terrible sounds which had well
nigh driven her reason; but no sound could she hear, except the sweet
voice of Henry.
'You feel better now?'
'Oh, yes; but how has it all come about?'
'We must ask you that, my dear?' said her mother; 'it is all a mystery,
a great mystery to us.'
'Sally went for you then, mother? I was fearful it would all be over
before she could get there.'
'Yes, my dear, and she is now sitting with your brother until we get
home.'
'Do let us go, then, for I am so anxious to get away from this terrible
place--but there--what is that!' and Hettie darted a wild glance towards
the door. Henry and her mother looked at each other.
'There is nothing here, Hettie--no one beside your dear mother and
myself.'
'Oh--well--I am so glad!'
Henry said nothing of his fears; but a terrible thought came into his
mind; which was more and more confirmed by an occasional wild glance of
her eye. 'Her mind has been injured, or she is about to be visited with
severe illness.'
The mother probably did not think as far as he did, although she felt
that there was need for immediate departure.
'Are you able to walk, my dear? if so, we had better be going.'
'Oh yes, to be sure, mother.' And she quickly rose from the rude bed on
which she had been laid; but no sooner did she attempt to stand, than
her trembling limbs gave way. Henry caught her, and again laid her to
rest: she was evidently ill already, and no time must be lost in getting
away from that miserable abode.
The men who had accompanied Henry were still in waiting to conduct him
home. By their aid a litter was constructed; and while the anxious
mother bore the torch to light them through the gloom, Henry with his
two guides carried the suffering girl.
It was a sad journey that for Henry Tracy. The wild and incoherent
remarks which Hettie made, the deathly pallor of her countenance, and
the quick flashing of her eye, which he discerned as the light
occasionally fell upon her features, confirmed his worst fears.
By his persuasion, the widow consented that she should be taken to Mr.
Rutherford's, her own humble home offering no suitable convenience for
another invalid.
The ways of God appear unequal only to those who judge prematurely, or
without taking into the account that this world is not the end. God sees
as we do not: His design in all the dealings of His judgments and His
mercies here towards those who love Him, is to make them trust in Him,
and cast their thoughts, too prone to settle on this vale of tears and
be content with earth, upwards, towards that better, purer home in
heaven.