SCOTTIE was leaning on the arm of Ivanhoe, as they promenaded the deck,
conversing in subdued tones.
“Have you noticed that lady with black silk domino and yellow mask?”
“No; what about her?”
“That’s she leaning on the arm of the old gentleman with long, white
whiskers. I suppose he is her father. Her movements have a mystery about
them that excited my curiosity. She has been listening to Ingomar
attentively all the time, yet she never speaks a word to any one, except
the old gentleman, nor does she mingle with our party; yet she follows
Ingomar wherever he goes, as though she was a spy on his track.”
“Indeed! that is strange; and to add to the mystery, I see that those
two seedy men have kept close to Ingomar all the time, and appear to be
in earnest conversation, which is always carried on in whispers. I think
something unusual will develop itself soon.”
“So do I; but I hope it will be nothing against Ingomar; I believe he is
a perfect gentleman.”
“I hope you may be right there; but it won’t do to judge by
appearances.”
“Look, look! see that woman in the black domino! she is pointing at
Ingomar now, and whispering to the old gentleman. I heard her say in a
whisper to the same person last night that the suspense was killing her;
now, what could that mean?”
“You are too much for me there; but we must wait patiently for further
developments; meantime, let us get our party together and hear more of
Ingomar’s story.”
“Yes, yes; I am anxious to hear more; go see the queen, and ask her to
order the tale continued.”
“About five weeks after Harry had been hurt Mr. Bramlett came into his
room, and after talking for a few minutes on general topics, he handed
him a roll of bank bills, containing one thousand dollars.
“‘Take this, my brave little hero,’ said he, ‘as a present from Viola;
and if ever the time comes when you should need a friend, just write to
me, and I promise you that I will respond.’
“‘You are very, very kind, sir,’ said Harry, as he bit his lips, and it
was plain to be seen that he was deeply offended, on handing the money
back; ‘I hope you won’t think me rude, sir, but I can’t take your
money.’
“I was greatly vexed at Harry’s conduct; here was money enough to answer
all our demands; it seemed to me that no one but a crazy person would
refuse such a sum.
“‘Why, my little friend,’ said Mr. Bramlett, ‘you must allow me to show
my gratitude in some way; and how could I do it any better than by
helping you with ready money? You must think of your little sister; she
must be taken care of; and how can you do it unless you have money to
pay her board and buy her clothes?’
“‘I can work for her, sir, and so can Eddie; we shall both work for her;
I should feel like a beggar, sir, if I were to take your money.’
“‘All a mistake, I assure you; I have an ample fortune; you saved the
life of my darling Viola, and you must allow me to do something to show
my gratitude.’
“‘I was not thinking of money, sir, when I saved your daughter; I was
thinking of her.’
“‘No doubt, no doubt you were; but you have suffered much on account of
the gallant deed, and I shall be deeply mortified if you refuse to allow
me a chance to show how much I feel the obligation.’
“‘I am very sorry, sir, to hear you say that; but really, I cannot take
any money.’
“‘Suppose then, we make a trade. Let me loan you three thousand dollars
at five per cent. interest, taking your note, with Edward as security,
on condition that you use the money in completing the education of
yourself, your sister and Edward; then you study law, and when you begin
to make money at your profession, you shall pay my money back with
interest. What say you to that?’
“‘That would be worse; it would be receiving the money under false
pretenses; I can readily understand the kindness that prompts you to
make the offer, but as I never should be able to pay your money back, it
would not be right for me to take it.’
“Mr. Bramlett left the room rather abruptly; he was vexed at Harry’s
obstinacy, and when he went into his wife’s room he said: ‘That foolish
boy refuses to accept any aid from me; I declare it is too bad; it is a
shame to see them start out afoot again; he is the most high-strung
chap I ever saw; I’ll resort to strategy; I’ll employ some agent to look
after those children.’
“‘Allow me to make a suggestion,’ said Mrs. Bramlett to her husband; ‘as
we are going to Memphis, anyway, you might procure a situation for the
boys with some of your business friends in Memphis, and then you could
place money with your agent and have it paid to them in such sums as
they need, making them believe all the while that they are earning it;
that would keep them from feeling that they are objects of charity, for
to tell you the truth, I rather admire their high-strung notions, as you
call them. Of course they are too young to be of much service to
anybody, but it would encourage them if they could be made to think that
they were earning their support.’
“‘Thank you, dear, for the suggestion; it is the very thing. We will go
to Memphis to-morrow, and the matter shall be arranged.’
“Of course, we were ignorant of this arrangement, and did not find it
out for many years afterward. I was at that time unable to support
Harry’s independent views, and tried to argue the question with him, but
it was a failure on my part.
“‘I should despise myself,’ said he, ‘if I were to take the kind
gentleman’s money, knowing that I never should be able to pay it back.
Then, perhaps, it would displease our uncle if he knew we had accepted
money in the way of charity.’
“He went so far as to refuse to take the train with Mr. Bramlett until
that gentleman promised to furnish him employment as soon as we should
reach Memphis, by which we could re-imburse him for the money advanced
to pay our fare; and I don’t believe he would have done that but for the
influence brought to bear on him by Viola, who threw her arms about his
neck and declared that she would cry her eyes out unless he went with
her to Memphis.
“When we arrived at Memphis, Mr. Bramlett took us to the Worsham House,
promising to inquire for our uncle on the next day; and when he came
back, after having gone out for that purpose, and informed us that our
uncle had gone to California, with a view of making it his permanent
home, we began to realize the fact that we were now left all alone and
must think and act for ourselves.
“‘What are we to do now, Harry?’ I inquired.
“‘We must seek employment at once,’ said he, ‘and we must lose no time
about it either. You stay with Lottie, and I’ll go out and see what we
can get to do.’
“Harry returned after three hours’ absence, and the look of
disappointment that appeared on his face convinced me of his failure
before he told it.
“‘No one seems to want us,’ he said gloomily, as he dropped exhausted on
a chair. ‘I have met nothing but disappointment at every point; but I
will try again, when I get rested.’
“Lottie wiped the perspiration from his brow with her handkerchief, and
ran her fingers through his hair.
“You must get some work for me to do, too, Harry; you know how nicely I
can sew, and how neatly I can cut and fit a lady’s dress. I shall make a
great deal of money, if you’ll only get the work for me to do.’
“‘I know you would, Lottie, but no one will give us work. I fear,
because we are strangers here, and people don’t like to trust strangers,
you know.’
“‘Papa has gone out to hunt work for you to do, Harry,’ said Viola, as
she pushed Lottie gently away from her brother; ‘you go and stay with
Eddie there, Miss Lottie, and leave me to look after Harry. I shall be
jealous, you know, if you pay so much attention to my hero. Speaking of
work, I heard papa say to mamma that he would find a good place for you
to live at before he left the city; then we are going to New Orleans,
and then we are going to Havana, and then we are going to come back here
to see you; and then won’t we have lots of fun?’ And stooping down with
her mouth to Harry’s ear she said: ‘I’ve got something nice for you, but
you must come with me to my room before I show it to you, because Eddie
and Lottie are not to see it at all, so come along now.’
“Of course Harry went, and he was not prepared for the surprise which
she gave him, for she held up a large golden locket swinging to a heavy
gold chain. ‘There it is; isn’t it pretty? Papa gave seventy-five
dollars for it, and you must accept it as a present from me. You see it
has got my picture in it. I thought maybe you would like my picture to
look at when I am gone; for I’m sure I should like very much to have
yours to look at when I am so far away from you.’
“‘I shall wear this pretty picture next to my heart as long as I live,
and I shall always love the darling who gave it to me.’
“‘You must get your picture made, and give it to me before I go away,
won’t you?’
“Harry did not know what answer to make, for he knew that it required
money to have a picture made, and money was not his.
“‘Maybe so,’ he said sadly.
“‘O! don’t say that; you must not by any means refuse me your picture.’
“‘You shall have it as soon as I can earn the money to pay for it.’
“‘Never mind the money, I’ll get that from papa; he always gives me
money when I ask him.’
“‘I should rather pay for it with my own money; then it would be a
present from me.’
“I persuaded Harry to remain at the hotel until I should make a tour
through the city to try my luck in seeking employment. I went from house
to house, from one end of Main street to the other, asking at all places
for work; and then I went on Front row, and tried every business house
for employment, willing to do anything to make an honest living. I
offered to drive a dray, or to roll barrels, or any sort of work that
anybody might want done; but no one seemed to care to employ me. I
suppose it was my green and seedy appearance that went against me, and I
was returning to the hotel, completely overcome with fatigue and
disappointment, when I heard a familiar voice call my name.
“‘Ah, ha! here we are again, Eddie, old fellow; you are the very chap I
was looking for. Ah, ha! Eddie, what good luck?’
“I was seized by both hands, and looking up, saw the kind eyes of old
Doctor Dodson bent on me. No one will ever know how my sad heart leaped
for joy when I heard his kind words.
“‘Yes, yes. Ah, ha! You were the very lad I wished to see. I have just
come to Memphis with a view of making it my home; I have bought a
drug-store, and mean to practice my profession here, and sell drugs
also, and I mean to put you in the store as my clerk, etc., etc. Ah, ha!
Eddie; yes, yes; you see it all now, don’t you?’
“I was so overjoyed with the news that I was unable to answer then; but
as soon as I could collect my ideas I thanked him and promised to accept
his kind offer. It was agreed that I should commence business with the
doctor on the next morning.
“‘Ah, ha! Eddie, all settled, you see; that’s business. I mean to make a
great doctor out of you one of these days. You’ve got a splendid head
for a doctor. Ah, ha! that you have, my boy. There now, you may go until
to-morrow, and then to business, you know.’
“I hastened to the hotel to impart the good news to Harry and Lottie,
and I must say that I had risen at least one hundred per cent, in my own
estimation. Wouldn’t I now be able to support Lottie, and Harry, too? I
imagined that I should be able to support them with all ease; but that,
of course, was one of the childish dreams which often found lodgment in
my simple brain. When I returned to the hotel and imparted the good news
to Harry and Lottie, it made me very happy to see how much pleasure it
gave them. Meantime Mr. Bramlett had been arranging his plans, or rather
executing the plans he had determined on previously. He was seated in
the office of Mr. Rockland, an eminent lawyer, who had for many years
been his agent and adviser.
“‘Mr. Rockland,’ said Mr. Bramlett, ‘this is a delicate matter, and I
trust you with its management; and I may as well tell you now that it
will require some strategy, and much skill, to make the plan work
smoothly. I have never met with three such children. They are as proud
as Lucifer, and as independent as if they had the wealth of the
Rothchilds; and if they ever should suspect that the money comes from
me, the whole business goes overboard certain.’
“‘I see,’ said the lawyer. ‘I think I shall be able to manage the
business so as to accomplish what you wish. If I understand you
correctly, Mr. Bramlett, you want those children properly educated, and
then you want the boys to be put to the law as soon as their education
shall have been completed.’
“‘Just so, Mr. Rockland; you understand me correctly. I feel under great
obligations to young Mr. Wallingford, and have offered to show it by
aiding him, but he rejects my offer merely through pride; therefore I
mean to help him in this secret manner. I beg you not to stand back on
account of money--draw on me for all that may be necessary, and the cash
will come.’
“‘The description you have given of those children convinces me that my
task will be rather an agreeable one; because pride and independence are
by no means evil qualities, unless possessed by ignorant people; and
they are far from being ignorant, judging from what you have told me.
Mrs. Rockland will be glad to receive them, as we have no children of
our own; consequently, she leads rather a lonely existence; so you may
consider the matter settled.’
“‘Here is a card for Harry Wallingford,’ said a bell-boy, as he dipped
his head in the door.
“Harry read as follows:
“‘HARRY WALLINGFORD:
“‘SIR--Please call at my office immediately. I wish to see you on
important business. Respectfully,
N. ROCKLAND.’
“Harry went to the office without delay, while his mind was crowded with
conjectures as to what kind of business was to be discussed. He found
Mr. Rockland seated near a table covered with a huge mass of papers,
busily engaged looking over them, and when Harry entered the office the
old lawyer fixed his eyes on him for a moment as if measuring his worth.
“‘Take a seat, little man; I suppose you are Harry Wallingford?’
“‘Yes, sir.’
“‘Mr. Bramlett was speaking to me about you, and, by the by, he has
given you a very favorable recommendation, and I have concluded to offer
you employment, if we can agree on terms. I want a boy to help me in my
office, and you shall have the place, if you think it will suit you.’
“‘I shall be glad, sir, to get the place, and shall try to please you.’
“‘Very good; I shall not be able to offer you very large wages.’
“‘I could not expect it, sir.’
“‘Then to come to the point, I propose to board and clothe you and your
sister for the work you and she can do. She can be a sort of companion
to Mrs. Rockland. You see we have no children, therefore your sister
will no doubt be able to help Mrs. Rockland in many ways; meantime she
can go to school; so can you; but then you will have to work very hard,
because I shall require you to work mornings and evenings, and sometimes
late at night. This, you know, must be understood before we close the
contract. If I board, clothe and educate you and your sister, you see it
will require all the money that you and she could earn.’
“‘I am afraid, sir, we shall not be able to earn enough to pay for all
that.’
“‘I’ll risk that; but you’ll find I shall keep you very busy. And then I
must find a situation for your step-brother.’
“‘He has found a situation with Doctor Dodson, sir.’
“‘Oh! has he? That’s lucky; then we are all right; is it a bargain
between us?’
“‘Yes, sir; and I am very thankful. When do you wish me to commence?’
“‘Stay with Mr. Bramlett until he starts to New Orleans, then bring your
sister to my house, and we shall go to work.’
“When Harry came back his handsome face was beaming with pleasure; and
while relating what had occurred, he did not fail to congratulate Lottie
on the chances which she would have of securing an accomplished
education. Fortune seemed to have made up her mind on this occasion to
shower her brightest smiles on us all at once. Had she not provided us
with good homes, kind friends and all we could expect or wish for? And
right here I feel it to be my duty to express my thanks to old bob-tail
Robert; for it was all brought about by him. What a slice of good luck
it was that caused him to take a fancy to Lottie on that eventful night
when he came to our camp and began to lick her hand! I suppose Madame
Fortune had prompted him to do it. We never knew who was old Bob’s
master before he concluded to cast his lot with us, but from his ‘lean
and hungry look’ we inferred that he had been serving a cruel master,
and that he was out on a foraging expedition when he happened to come
upon our camp. The night was dark, and I suppose he came near enough to
see Lottie’s sweet face, as she sat gazing into the fire, and here is
the substance of what I imagine passed through old Bob’s mind as he
peered into Lottie’s face with his one eye:
“‘I am very hungry; the fact is, I am about to perish for food; my
master is unkind and cruel; instead of giving me food, he gives me
nothing but blows and curses, and I believe I shall run away from him,
and seek me another master. That little girl has a beautiful
countenance, and I expect she has a kind heart, and I think she would
have compassion on a poor old hungry dog like me; I believe I’ll venture
up to her, and lick her hand, and maybe she will give me a bone to gnaw
on. Oh! how I wish I had a beautiful tail to wag, in order to make her
pity me. I am afraid my ugliness will frighten her, and if it does, I
shall be driven off, and then shall get no bone; but my poor stomach is
so empty, and my mouth waters so, that I shall venture up at all
hazards. If she drives me away it can’t make matters worse, and if she
is kind and gives me a bone, I’ll follow her, for her sweet face leads
me to think she’ll do to tie to.’
“Immediately after having the unuttered conversation with himself, old
Bob ventured up and licked Lottie’s hand; the result was he got a medium
supper, and found that the favorable opinion he had formed as to the
kindness of her heart was by no means too extravagant. We know what
followed--at least we know that Bob followed Lottie, and we further know
that his fondness for rabbits led us to the gravel pit, which led us to
the gravel train which carried Harry to the embankment, where he saved
the life of Viola, whose father caused Mr. Rockland to give us good
homes, and this proves that it is better to give a poor dog kindness
than kicks. Now who knows what might have happened to us if old Bob had
not trusted to Lottie’s kind face that night, or if she had taken a
stick and beaten him? I dare say we should have been wandering about the
streets of Memphis, friendless, houseless, and penniless; working for
our daily bread, and sleeping in some filthy, sickly den, while dear
Lottie would have been dressed in rags. But now, through her kindness to
poor old one-eyed, tailless Bob, she has got a splendid home, good
friends, fine clothes, and bright prospects unfolding themselves for the
future. Who will venture to deny that old Bob was possessed of good
judgment? Who will say that he did not make a good selection, when he
concluded to take Lottie for his mistress and protector?
“‘Well, here we are. Ah, ha! Eddie,’ said Doctor Dodson next morning,
when he met me at the door of his new drug-store. ‘I suppose you are
ready for business? Ah, ha!’
“‘Yes, sir.’
“‘Good, my boy, good!’
“Then he began to instruct me as to the duties I was to perform, and
teaching me the names of the various kinds of drugs. I went to work with
the determination to succeed, and to please my kind-hearted employer. It
was but a few months before I knew the names of all the drugs, and could
make up the prescriptions with skill and safety; I was very proud to
find that the doctor was pleased with me. The doctor’s wife was as kind
to me as if she had been my own mother, and, all things considered, I
had a happy home, and was contented.
“Harry and Lottie were delighted with their new situations; but I did
not see them as often as I wished, though I went with Lottie to church
occasionally, and sat in the same pew with her, and read my prayers in
her book, and then mixed drugs and built air castles the remainder of
the week. But I am getting tired of talking about children, and I expect
my hearers are tired of it, too, and I shall therefore say but little
more about it. If I have bored you with too much talk of dogs and
children, I beg pardon, and promise to make a long leap over the space
of seven years. They were years of happiness to me--so were they to
Lottie and Harry. Lottie is eighteen, and more beautiful than ever. The
large dreamy eyes are the same, but the tall, queenly form has filled
out, presenting a model that an artist would delight to paint from. The
stamp of intellect was sparkling on her white brow, and she was (as I
thought then, and think now) the most charming girl that my eyes had
ever looked upon. Harry had made rapid progress in his legal studies,
and would be ready to enter on his professional career by the time he
was twenty-one; while I was an overgrown, awkward young man, rather shy,
and sneaky when in the presence of strangers; though I had studied
closely, and Doctor Dodson said I would some day be a great physician.
It was arranged that I should attend the lectures in Philadelphia, and I
thought it best to have an understanding with Lottie before I left. I
had never asked her to be my wife. I became jealous and unhappy because
Lottie was surrounded by devoted admirers, many of whom were men of
wealth and high social standing; and I was alarmed lest I should after
all lose the great prize. But let us rest a while, and I’ll tell more
about it in the next chapter.”