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Collection of The Ohio State University Libraries, and the
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Zula
BY H. ESSELSTYN LINDLEY
BROADWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY
835 BROADWAY : : NEW YORK
Copyright, 1905
by
H. ESSELSTYN LINDLEY
All Rights Reserved
TO THE HON. S. W. BURROUGHS AND GEO. W. MOORE OF DETROIT, MICH. AND TO
MY ESTEEMED FRIEND MR. W. A. ESSELSTYN OF NEW YORK IS THIS VOLUME MOST
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Arrest. 1
II. June's Pity. 10
III. The Chastisement. 19
IV. The Escape. 29
V. Zula's Friend. 35
VI. Silvery Waves. 39
VII. The Disaster. 48
VIII. Cruel Crisp. 53
IX. Free Again. 65
X. Scott's Valet. 70
XI. Scott's Wife. 78
XII. A Cloud. 86
XIII. A Bold Plot. 94
XIV. Bright Hopes. 103
XV. Rejected. 115
XVI. A Shadowed Home. 122
XVII. The Removal. 128
XVIII. The Interview. 132
XIX. A Fatal Step. 138
XX. Mr. Le Moyne of Paris. 144
XXI. Paul and Scott. 147
XXII. Looking for a Place. 152
XXIII. June's Reason--Letter From Paul. 162
XXIV. A Scene on the Water. 176
XXV. The Elopement. 184
XXVI. The Old House at Roxbury. 194
XXVII. Insane Bessie. 199
XXVIII. Bessie's Visit. 208
XXIX. The Fortune Teller. 216
XXX. Bessie's Sad Story. 227
XXXI. Repenting at Leisure. 235
XXXII. A Bitter Atonement. 248
XXXIII. Still at Work. 262
XXXIV. A Game of Hearts. 268
XXXV. A Sad Event. 278
XXXVI. Solving the Problem. 292
XXXVII. General Explanation. 312
CHAPTER I.
THE ARREST.
"Oh, you little wretch! What are you about? You dreadfully sinful
little creature. Police, police!"
The speaker, a richly dressed woman, was just entering the spacious
dining-room, as she caught sight of a dusky little form in the act of
taking a set of silver spoons from the heavy gold-lined holder. The
child raised a pair of coal-black eyes to the lady's face as she
turned to pass out of the dining-room door, which had been left open
to let in the cool June breeze; but as she was about to cross the
threshold she was seized by the strong hands of a policeman, who had
answered Mrs. Wilmer's call, and the silver was scattered in a dozen
different directions.
"Did you ever see such a bold little creature in all your life? Who
would have thought she would dare come in here, right in broad
daylight, and steal my spoons off the table? Why, it's awful!"
"It's lucky you caught her at it," said the officer, "for she is as
quick as a deer, and saucy enough, no doubt, but never mind, we'll put
the little jade where she won't steal anything again for a day or two,
at least." He took her roughly by the shoulder in the attempt to lead
her away.
"Oh, don't be too hard on her, mother," said a young man who had
followed her into the room, "perhaps she did not know just how wicked
it was."
His fine eyes looked pityingly on the child, who could not have been
more than ten years of age.
"Oh, nonsense, sir, that is too old a story. She is old enough to have
some sense, the young gypsy. I have seen too many of these young
burglars to be fooled by 'em. It won't do to encourage 'em."
"I'll give you a 'V' if you will let her go."
"Why, Scott," said Mrs. Wilmer, "are you crazy? Indeed you must do
nothing of the kind."
"By no means," said the policeman. "She mustn't be let go to do the
same thing without a lesson to teach her what it means."
The child turned her large black eyes full upon the face of the young
man. Every feature of his face was indelibly stamped upon her memory
in that one searching glance.
"Come, don't be looking back so eagerly," said the officer, "you won't
find anything more that you can get your little brown hands on; you
can't steal the gentleman's diamond pin if you do look so sharp at
it."
The black eyes flashed indignantly and the long purple-black braid
which hung down her back shook as she raised her eyes to the
officer's face, giving her head a proud toss, and with the sauciest
pucker of the small red mouth and a scornful ring in her voice, she
said:
"I didn't know he had a diamond pin. I was only looking at his face;
it looks so kind, I'm sure I couldn't steal that, but yours don't look
kind. I guess you like to punish little girls; you look like a great
cross bear."
"Take care, I'll let you know what I am. I don't have any notion of
being kind to such little imps as you are. There's a way to take care
of little burglars."
"I ain't a burglar. I'm just as good as you are, if I am poor. I'd
rather steal than be so ugly to little girls."
They had now reached the sidewalk, where they were met by June Wilmer,
a young girl of just ten years of age, who was about to enter the
gate. She was rightly named, for she looked like a fresh June rose,
with the pink flush on her cheeks, and her blue eyes full of innocent
mirth, but the expression changed to one of pity as she looked at the
little girl who was being led away like a dumb animal.
"Why, what is the matter?" she asked, "what have you done to be taken
away by a policeman, you poor little girl?"
"She was trying to steal your mother's spoons."
"Oh, dear, that _was_ wicked, but perhaps she did not know it was, or
maybe she was hungry and wanted to sell them for something to eat."
"Oh, miss, I wouldn't get up any excuse for her," said the officer,
"she can do well enough at that herself. She stole the spoons, and she
must be punished. I'll warrant she was not a bit hungry, was you
now?" he asked, turning to the child.
"No, I wasn't hungry."
"There, you hear that, miss."
"Perhaps," said June, "if you let her go this time she will not do so
again; please do," and, turning to the little girl she asked:
"Won't you promise not to steal again if he will?"
"I can't promise that, 'cause maybe I'll have to, but, oh, lady, I
don't want to be locked up," and as she spoke the great black eyes
were turned pleadingly toward June's face. The defiant look faded
away, and a mournful expression settled around the full red lips.
"Oh, come along," said the officer, "you have your game pretty well
learned, but you can't fool me with your nonsense."
"You can lock me up if you want to," she said, as the dusky little
form was drawn to its full height. "I ain't afraid of the dark,
nohow."
"June, dear, come here; do not be seen talking to that little thief,"
said Mrs. Wilmer, as she stood on the broad veranda.
"Oh, mama," said June, as she entered the house, "don't you feel sorry
for that poor little girl?"
"Sorry? Why, no; in another moment she would have carried away every
spoon on the table, and I am astonished, June, that you should turn
champion for the little sinner."
"She certainly is steeped in crime," said Scott, "but for all that I
pity her."
"And to think," added June, "that the policeman will take her to the
station and lock her up; won't it be terrible? I wonder what kind of a
place it is anyway."
"Oh, she will no doubt be shut up until to-morrow, and if no one
appears to bail her out she will be sent to the reform school," said
Scott.
"Well, it is no more than she deserves," said Mrs. Wilmer.
"But just to think," said June, "of being locked up all night, and
perhaps her mama will be waiting for her, and the poor little girl all
alone in the dark--but she told the policeman she was not afraid."
"There is not the least doubt of that," said Mrs. Wilmer. "It is quite
likely she is accustomed to being locked up."
"I have very pleasant news for you, June," Mrs. Wilmer said; "I have
just received a dispatch by telegraph saying that Irene Mapleton will
be here in a few days. Isn't that nice?"
"I don't see anything nice about it," answered June, honestly; "she
cannot amuse me any, for she is older yet than brother Scott."
"But she sings and plays beautifully, and you cannot help loving her.
I always enjoy her society; she writes such lovely poetry, too."
"Well, I can't see anything very nice about writing poetry. I am sure
that will not amuse me at all."
"Perhaps not, but we must love Irene for Scott's sake, for you know
she will be his wife some time."
June looked thoughtful a few moments, and then asked, suddenly:
"Mama, why don't Irene's mother come with her sometimes? You know she
has been here often to stay, and she always comes alone."
"Did you not know that her mother was dead? Poor Irene is an orphan."
"I don't think she is very poor. She dresses splendidly, and she has
the most beautiful diamonds and all kinds of jewelry, and the
loveliest bonnets; oh, my, I never saw prettier ones, and the dresses,
I never saw the end of them."
"Why, June, what a little extravagant minded child you are; of course
I do not mean that Irene is poor in purse. She has all that is
necessary to gratify every wish, as regards wealth, but she has no
mother, and I think she said her father never took her into society,
and of course she lacks sympathy, just as any young girl does who is
without parents."
"Do people always have to love their brothers' wives, mama?"
"Why, no, but they should love them if they can, and I see no reason
why you or anyone else should not love Irene."
"Well, I'll try to love her if she is going to marry Scott," said
June, so submissively that it caused Mrs. Wilmer to smile.
"You need not look so solemn over it; I do not think you will have to
try very hard."
Scott, who had taken a seat by the window, and had been a silent
listener to the conversation, now addressed his mother, while a slight
cloud passed over his brow.
"I am sorry," he said, "that she is coming just now, for I am afraid
I shall find very little time to devote to ladies' society, and of
course she will expect it; and another reason is that she seems such a
stranger to me, that I shall be obliged to stand on the most rigid
formality and be her escort whether I wish it or not, but perhaps she
will think me too much a boy to waste her time with."
Irene Mapleton was two years older than Scott Wilmer, and through his
mother's influence he had paid her marked attention while she was on a
visit to a friend in the beautiful city of Detroit, her home being in
San Francisco. Her father, who had invested largely in mining stocks
and become wealthy, spared no pains to give Irene means to gratify
every wish. June had spoken truly when she said that Irene's dresses
were lovely. There never was a bow or a flower misplaced, or colors
that did not blend with perfect harmony. With the ample means she
possessed, it became a noticeable fact that no lady dressed with
greater taste than Miss Mapleton. She had paid the Wilmers a visit the
summer previous to the opening of this story, and it was then that
Mrs. Wilmer had used every means to make a favorable impression on the
mind of Irene, and to influence Scott to do the same. Scott, however,
was not the person to practice any deception, and when his mother
spoke to him in regard to being more attentive, he only smiled and
said:
"Why, mother, I shall not pretend any affection I do not feel, and I
really cannot help whether Miss Mapleton likes me or not. I will
devote all my spare time to making her visit pleasant, and that is the
best I can do."
Mrs. Wilmer replied that Scott was a strange boy, at any rate, but,
she added:
"I suppose there is no use to urge you in the matter."
"How soon will she be here, did you say?" asked June.
"In a few days, the dispatch says, and," said Mrs. Wilmer, turning to
Scott, "I suppose her father is quite anxious to have your marriage
take place as soon as convenient."
"I can see no hurry for such an event," Scott replied.
"Why, her father is so interested in his business that he has no time
to devote to her, she says, and she feels her loneliness greatly. I
hope we shall be able to keep her with us a few weeks at least. Her
father says, too, that he is afraid some other will carry off the
prize."
"She certainly should possess enough firmness not to be so easily
captured, and I should not consider it much of a prize that could be
drawn without an effort to secure it. I am decided on waiting another
year, at least."
Mrs. Wilmer said nothing more. She knew that firmness was one of the
strongest features of her son's nature, and she knew, also, that he,
as a rule, was right. He seldom settled on a matter without having
first looked it thoroughly over, and when a decision was made, no
force of argument could change his views. The closing of the curved
lips showed plainly that Scott Wilmer never surrendered to any
trifling argument. Although in nowise conceited, he yielded not to
another's opinion without first being convinced by a process of
reasoning satisfactory to himself. His face was a fine one, and
although not strikingly handsome, was wonderfully attractive and
beaming with intelligence. His auburn hair curled loosely around his
broad white brow, and his hazel eyes were clear and searching. June
often said to him:
"Please, brother Scott, don't look at me so hard; I would rather not
do as I want to than to have you look at me like that."
His love for his young sister was very strong, and he was indulgent as
far as consistency would allow, but when he found, as he often did,
that she was inclined to be self-willed, he would look at her in that
searching way, which really meant more, and had a more lasting
impression on her than harsh words could have done. June dearly loved
her brother, and she would sooner have disobeyed either parent than
her brother Scott, and when she went to Mr. Wilmer with a request
which he considered unreasonable, he would caress her and answer
carelessly:
"Oh, go and ask Scott."
Mr. Wilmer's health had become impaired by too close attention to
business, and at the present time he had retired on a comfortable
income, and the affairs of the family had inadvertently fallen upon
Scott, who, though young in years, was an adept in the transaction of
business. He possessed his father's strong ambition, and, at the
present time, was studying law, and hoped to be admitted to the bar in
another year. He was in no hurry to trouble his mind with love
affairs, and he really wished that Irene's visit could be postponed;
although he was too much of a gentleman to say so, even to his
mother.