“Time was gliding on unusually slow--it always does when we want it to
go fast, and never fails to gallop when we want it to walk. A fortnight
had stolen by since my last interview with the interesting Miss
Tadpoddle. Dabbs and Tadpoddle were still working like beavers, but
accomplishing nothing that anybody wanted them to do. Everything they
did seemed to add new links to the strong chain of evidence against Miss
Bramlett. Public sentiment, which at first had been strong in favor of
her innocence, had undergone a radical change, and was now as strong
against her as it had been in her favor. I hate public sentiment--I
detest it, for it is a heartless tyrant, anyway, as often wrong as
right, and always on extremes. Miss Tadpoddle and Miss Clattermouth
were, to a great extent, responsible for the sudden change in public
sentiment. Their busy tongues had never been idle for a moment.
“‘I declare,’ said Miss Clattermouth, ‘the meanest thing Miss Bramlett
did was to attempt to involve Mr. Bowles in her scheme of murder. He is
a thoughtless, jolly, good-hearted young man, unsuspicious by nature,
and the very kind of a man to be deceived by such a honey-tongued hussy
as Viola Bramlett.’
“‘Indeed,’ observed Miss Tadpoddle, ‘I agree with you there. He is one
of those confiding, unsuspicious sort of men, easily played on by such
an adventuress. My brother was inclined to censure him but you know the
simplicity of the good soul--he does not draw the proper distinctions in
such cases. He is one of the best officers in the secret service, but he
owes most of his success to my judgment. I often make the rounds with
him, and as to Miss Bramlett’s case, I think I may say without
exaggeration (for I never exaggerate) that but for my valuable aid, he
never would have secured the proof necessary to convict her. And then,
he was inclined to think that Mr. Bowles was as much to blame as Miss
Bramlett; but I defended Bowles--I thought it was my duty to do it. I
convinced him that it was his duty to let Bowles alone. The truth is, he
was about to have him arrested, but I made him consent to use Mr. Bowles
as a witness against Miss Bramlett, as I thought his evidence would be
indispensable on the trial.’
“‘Oh! I am so delighted to hear it,’ replied Miss Clattermouth; ‘do you
know, Jemima, that I think you are the dearest creature on earth? How
could we manage our affairs without you? Bowles is a dear, good
fellow--a little wild, I admit, but all young men, you know, must sow
their crop of wild oats. I mean to tell him how you have been serving
him. He comes to see me quite often, and he should know what a good
friend he has in you. I am sure he will make a liberal donation to our
Tramp Reform Association as soon as he is advised of your friendly
intercession in his behalf. He handles lots of money, and we must get
him to take an interest in our affairs.’
“‘Yes, I dare say he will make us a liberal donation if you will explain
the case to him. If Viola Bramlett was fool enough to give her money to
him, that’s no reason why we should not have a share of it. We will get
the inns on Bowles, and if we are wise we will make good use of our
advantage, but I shall depend on your cleverness to manage the money
matter. By the way, what do you think of Charlotte Wallingford?’
“‘She is very pretty, and possesses good talent, but is ruining her
character by her friendship for Viola Bramlett. She has no right to
thrust herself among respectable people after staying in jail with that
unnatural and cruel murderess. She pretends to think that Miss Bramlett
is innocent, and for my part, she is welcome to her opinion, if it will
do her any good, though she will get a lofty fall when the trial comes
off. I am told that they have made a concert room of the jail, and are
continually thumping away on an old guitar, and singing sentimental
songs. I hate such romantic, pretty doll-babies, anyway, and I know it
would make me sick to witness their doings.’
“‘But, speaking of Lottie Wallingford, I don’t think she ever will marry
Ed Demar. He thinks she loves him, but it is my opinion that she is
merely playing with him. I can’t believe she loves anybody but herself.
She likes to be different from other women. That is the reason she
sticks to Viola Bramlett--it is because everybody else has forsaken her.
She imagines it will create quite a sensation. She likes to make herself
conspicuous, talks with lawyers and politicians, makes a display of
learning, holds herself above our Tramp Reform Association, quotes
poetry, plays the guitar, and sings lovesick songs. Oh, I despise such
women! It is my character to hate ’em. No, no! she ain’t going to marry
Ed Demar--he is too sober and practical to fill her bill. She will set
her cap for a poet or a politician, or some such worthless trash. Demar
knows Viola Bramlett is guilty, and would leave her to her fate but for
Charlotte Wallingford; he has been tied to her apron string. As for her,
I expect if the whole truth were known, she is no better than Viola
Bramlett.’
“For me to tell all the tales of slimy slander that were put in
circulation by Miss Tadpoddle and her friends, would occupy too much
time and would bore my audience. Suffice it to say that Lottie’s
spotless name came out unscathed. It was impossible to keep her in
ignorance of the reports that were being circulated by those malicious
old hags, though I had done my best to do it. They always managed
somehow to let the parties slandered know of the fact. At any rate, such
was the case in this instance; but to my utter astonishment, Lottie
seemed to be unmoved by it. No evidence of anger or annoyance was
exhibited by her, and she smiled derisively, remarking that if it
afforded Miss Tadpoddle pleasure to wag her tongue she had no objections
to urge against it.
“One bright, sunny evening, when the atmosphere was soft and
invigorating,--I think it was about three weeks after Harry had started
for California--I was strolling alone in Doctor Dodson’s flower garden,
busily occupied in castle building. I did not like the state of affairs,
and I wanted to steal away and be alone, so as to sum up things and see
if I could make a sure guess as to the future. The painful situation in
which Lottie was placed was a source of great uneasiness to me, and I
began to think it was my duty to extricate her if possible. I had
mentioned the subject to Mr. Rockland, and he promised to endeavor to
persuade Lottie to cease her sojourn at the jail, for he agreed with me
that the proof fixed Viola’s guilt beyond question. But when he
mentioned the subject to Lottie she peremptorily refused to abandon Miss
Bramlett, vowing that she was innocent, and that she never would forsake
her. I had another interview with Dabbs and Tadpoddle, who had
discovered a new batch of evidence that appeared to settle the question
as to Viola’s guilt so completely that it was useless to make any
further fight in her behalf. The truth is, I had lost all hopes at last,
and the main question to be considered now was how to get Lottie away
from the jail. I was well aware of the fact that I was treading on
dangerous ground when I ventured to talk to her about Viola’s guilt. I
took a seat on a low wooden bench in the arbor, and gave the rein to my
thoughts. They strayed back to my boyhood days, when I was tramping
along the road with Lottie by my side; then they dashed off to
California and endeavored to interview Harry. My fancy next snatched up
Lottie’s lovely image and placed it before me--then my heart grew light.
I tried to fasten my thoughts on that dear image, but couldn’t do it;
for in spite of me, they would wander off to unpleasant subjects. A
dozen little birds gave me a serenade with their delightful melody, as
they perched among the vines over the top of the arbor, and I tried to
induce my mind to interview the sweet little songsters, but it refused.
The fact was, my thoughts seemed bent on mischief, that is to say they
appeared to be determined to make me miserable, because instead of
dwelling on Lottie and the birds, they went off after Miss Tadpoddle and
Miss Clattermouth and came lugging them back to my arbor.
“I began to watch the sun as it was going down among the trees on the
Arkansas side of the river, looking like a huge ball of fire, and my
thoughts must have gone down with the sun, for I stretched myself out on
the bench and soon was sound asleep. I dreamed that I was in Heaven, and
that a beautiful angel, who had been there long before my arrival, met
me at the outer gate, and announced herself as the guide, who had been
sent out to escort me in, and to show me the charming beauties of the
place. She conducted me along the main street for some distance, where
solid blocks of gold constituted the pavement; then she led me through a
beautiful landscape thickly studded with green trees, whose foliage gave
forth the most delicious perfume. After wandering through those
delightful groves for some time, she brought me to the banks of a
beautiful river, whose bosom was covered with little boats, gliding over
the smooth surface of the water. Each boat contained a band of angels
who were singing hymns of praise to the great King of Heaven. My guide
conducted me to a lovely spot near the banks of the beautiful river, and
instructed me to take a seat on a bench of gold, that was furnished with
cushions of exquisite pattern. The spot was covered with strange-looking
flowers, whose perfume filled all the air with a sweet scent. My guide
then informed me that there was an angel in Heaven who had been watching
and waiting for me a long while; that she had been besieging the great
Throne with her prayers in my behalf; and she told me to keep my seat
and wait a short time, and she would inform the angel of my arrival. She
then spread out her golden wings and flew to the northern part of
Heaven; then as soon as she disappeared, I was seized with a drowsy
feeling, and I lay down on the soft cushions, and soon was asleep. After
a while I thought that the flowers overhead began to fall gently down on
me. I felt them softly touching my cheek. My guide returned, accompanied
by another angel. Oh, she was the most charming creature that I had ever
seen! Her beautiful form was robed in spotless white, with long waves of
golden hair flowing unconfined about her shoulders. Her large blue eyes
gazed down on me, while tears of joy trembled in them. I thought she
touched my cheek with the beautiful feathers at the tip of her wing. I
shouted for joy and woke myself, and Lottie was standing over me
tickling my nose with her handkerchief. There stood the angel exactly as
I had seen her in Heaven, only she was dressed in blue silk instead of
white, and minus the wings.
“‘Get up, old sluggard,’ she said, ‘you have slept long enough; I have
been waiting over an hour for you to wake, but I think you would have
slept here all night if I had not tickled your nose with my
handkerchief.’
“‘Oh, Lottie, I have had such a delicious dream; I have been in Heaven;
I cannot realize the fact that I am on earth; you were there, too; you
were an angel with wings so white and beautiful!’
“‘I hope your dream will come true, when old Time shall settle accounts
with us.’
“‘So do I; and I think my dream is a good omen. Sit down, and let me
take a good look at you. You appear so fresh and beautiful this
evening.’
“‘I notice that you have not forsaken your old inclinations to flatter
me.’
“‘No, it is no flattery, I assure you. Pardon me, but I must be
permitted to give expression to my happiness in some way, else I could
not endure it.’
“She took a seat by my side, while her beautiful eyes looked up into my
face; a joyful tear trembled on the long lashes.
“‘How is it, darling,’ I at last inquired, as I pressed her hand to my
lips, ‘that you are looking so fresh and bright, when you have been
constantly in attendance at the jail? I was afraid it would make you
ill.’
“‘The performance of a duty always gives me health and happiness, no
matter how much the labor is.’
“‘How is Miss Bramlett to-day?’
“‘She is quite well physically; but in great mental distress.’
“‘I suppose that is caused by the discovery of the new batch of evidence
that was lately made against her.’
“‘What are you talking about? Don’t you know that she is grieving
herself to death about Harry?’
“‘Indeed, no; and I cannot understand why she should think of him, after
having driven him from her presence.’
“‘That only goes to show how little you know about a woman’s heart;
Viola Bramlett is not thinking of her own situation, but her mind is all
the time on Harry.’
“‘Don’t you think it is high time she was worried a little about her own
condition? The date is near at hand when the grand jury will assemble;
and it is certain that they will find a bill, then she will be compelled
to stand her trial.’
“‘Indeed, I am glad to know that the day is near at hand when we shall
get rid of this business.’
“‘Do you think Miss Bramlett will be ready for the trial when the time
arrives?’
“‘Oh, yes; I see no reason why she should not; everything has been
arranged except what I was telling you about Helen Herndon, and that I
shall intrust to you.’
“‘Do you think it worth while to send me to Vicksburg on a wild goose
chase?’
“‘Don’t talk that way--you must go at once; I have got some information
about her, but not quite all I want. You will find Helen Herndon’s
mother lives near the city of Vicksburg, and you must go there for the
information which I want.’
“‘I’ll go anywhere or do anything to please you, but don’t give me
anything to do that will keep me away very long.’
“‘Oh, no; I could not do that; but you can soon get back, and then we
are ready for the trial.’
“‘Are you as hopeful now, Lottie, as to the result of the trial, as you
were at first?’
“‘To be candid with you, I must confess that I am not. That Philadelphia
detective has managed to excite public sentiment against Viola; it was
very unfortunate that Harry should have employed him. He may be a good
officer, but he had his mind satisfied that Viola was guilty, and he
could not divest himself of it; he was so blinded by his prejudice that
he could not see any evidence except such as would operate against her.
Some people in this city will be greatly surprised when the trial comes
off: things will come to light that will startle some who are now
dreaming in fancied safety.’
“‘Does Miss Bramlett know about this late discovery of evidence that was
made by Dabbs?’
“‘She knows nothing about anything of a disagreeable nature that my
prudence could keep from her. I did my best to stop all those floating
rumors from reaching her ears, but in spite of all my efforts, Miss
Tadpoddle and Miss Clattermouth will occasionally come to the jail and
spout venom worse than that snake which bit me on the wrist; but it was
very gratifying to me to see that Viola treated it with scorn. She would
be happy if she were reconciled with Harry.’
“‘Lottie, when I was in Heaven a while ago, I did not see any angels
that in any respect resembled Miss Tadpoddle--though my guide did not
take me to the gossiping department.’
“‘Stop, Eddie! don’t use levity now, please--the occasion demands
serious thought; let Miss Tadpoddle and her friend, Miss Clattermouth,
enjoy their tattling proclivities--they are more to be pitied than
condemned. The truth is, I am really sorry for them, because they never
knew the pleasures of true love. No one ever gazed down on either of
those poor old maids with such a look of love as is now bent on me. We
should let the mantle of charity conceal their faults, and look more
closely after our own. For my part, I am sincerely sorry for people who
have none to love them. What a lonely, unhappy existence must theirs
be!’
“‘Lottie, I do honestly believe you have the best heart that ever
throbbed in woman’s breast.’
“‘You never were more mistaken in all your life, because I have no heart
at all--a naughty old thief slipped in and stole it.’
“‘It was only a swap, and you got the worst of the bargain; but such as
it is it belongs to you--no one can dispute your title. But really I
would give anything for your charitable disposition; I don’t think I
ever heard you speak ill of any one.’
“‘As to that, I have endeavored to do to others as I would have them do
to me. I think it is a good rule not to speak at all about our
neighbors unless we can say something in their favor. We all have
faults, and we are not so apt to discover our own as we are to detect
those of others. Miss Clattermouth and her friend, Miss Tadpoddle,
really believe that Viola is a murderess; they think that they are
discharging nothing more than a plain duty when they try to convince
other people that it is true. But let us change the subject--we must
discuss our plans for the future. When can you start for Vicksburg?’
“‘To-morrow morning, if you wish it; you are my commander-in-chief now,
and you will find me always obedient.’
“‘Thank you; make it to-morrow then.’
“‘Let me understand exactly what I am going for.’
“‘A few miles from the city of Vicksburg you will find a widow lady
residing on a farm--her name is Fanny Totten. This lady had a daughter
named Victoria, who eloped with a man of disreputable character many
years ago. Now you must find out the name of the man with whom she
eloped, and get some one who was acquainted with Victoria Totten to come
to Memphis to testify to her identity. You must take plenty of funds
with you to defray all expenses; I want you, if possible, to secure one
of her pictures and bring it to me; also procure some of her
manuscript--anything which will enable an expert to identify her
handwriting. You will have to be very cautious or you will arouse the
suspicion of Miss Totten’s friends. This woman has been traveling under
various names, and you must commence at her mother’s house and trace her
to every place where she has been since she left her mother’s roof. I
don’t think you will find any difficulty in that respect, for she has
not covered up her tracks quite as well as she might have done.’
“‘Is she the one you think committed the murder?’
“‘Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no falsehoods. Do what I bid you
and wait for the result.’
“‘Lottie, you are a real lawyer, and I hope you will clear your client;
but the evidence against Viola rises higher and higher every day, and it
will be an up-hill business.’
“‘I dare say you are right in regard to the up-hill part, but as to my
being a lawyer, I make no pretensions in that line--I merely wish to
serve my friend; but let that pass, and tell me what is this new
evidence which you say has been resurrected.’
“‘Have you not heard it?’
“‘Not from a source entitled to much credit. I want to hear it from
you.’
“‘Another witness--a respectable gentleman--will swear that he met Miss
Bramlett at Ben Bowles’ private apartment late at night about ten days
before her brother was murdered.’
“‘The man who swears that will commit perjury, and shall be punished for
it.’
“‘I must be permitted to remind you that Miss Tadpoddle will also swear
that Viola was there.’
“‘I never shall believe she will swear it until I hear her do it with my
own ears.’
“‘She told me she would, and you may depend on her doing it; and the
worst of it is, she will swear that she heard Miss Bramlett ask Bowles
how much strychnine it would take to produce death. Oh, Lottie, what
will be your fate if Viola should be found guilty? It makes me tremble
to think of the awful consequences of such an unfortunate event--it
would ruin all of us.’
“‘Eddie, don’t be alarmed; remember the old adage, “Sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof.” It will be time enough to lament the
catastrophe when it occurs.’
“‘True enough, but I should like to see the man who never dreaded
approaching evil.’
“‘You must learn a little more philosophy, master a little more
patience, and don’t give credit to all you hear; but come--you must take
me back to the jail. I promised Viola I would return before nine; and
she would be disappointed if I failed.’
“I escorted her to the jail, and took my leave to return home and spend
the night in sweet dreams about Lottie. What she could want with the
private history of Miss Totten was a question that puzzled me. Who was
Miss Totten? Who was assisting Lottie in secret was another problem I
could not solve. It was evident to my mind that she was working in
conjunction with some one behind the scenes. I was inclined to be angry
because I had not been told everything. Why should they not confide in
me? Wasn’t I as anxious to see Miss Bramlett’s innocence established as
any one could be? Before I reached home I had worked myself into a
towering passion, and had resolved to demand an explanation as soon as I
should return from Vicksburg. Doctor Dodson met me at the front hall
door, and I knew as soon as my eyes met his that he had something to say
to me of importance.
“‘Ah, ha! here we come, my boy! glad to see you--walk in. I have
something to say to you, my boy--trouble brewing. Ah, ha! real trouble
ahead--something must be done--no time to swap horses now, my boy.
Lottie’s reputation is in danger--she must be saved--no wishy-washy work
now. That dear girl is infatuated with Miss Bramlett; she must leave the
jail at once, else she is a ruined woman. See to it, my boy--you are the
man to do it--don’t you see? Ah, ha! you are the one to take her away
from the jail. All sorts of scandalous tales afloat about Miss Bramlett;
investigation says they are too true. Society will condemn Lottie; her
name has already been mentioned unfavorably. Ah, ha! my boy, somebody
will be killed before this business is ended.’
“‘Show me the villain who has dared breathe a word of suspicion on the
fair name of my Lottie!’
“‘Hush, hush! my boy, that’s not the way to talk; let us take the proper
steps to save her--she must not be permitted to associate with Miss
Bramlett another day. I can’t see what Rockland means by allowing her to
stay in jail with that unfortunate woman.’
“‘Mr. Rockland has done his best to induce Lottie to return home, but
she positively refused to do it. I have been pleading with her also, but
it does no good; she vows never to forsake Viola until she gets out of
the trouble.’
“‘Pshaw! Ed, it is nonsense to talk about getting Miss Bramlett out of
the scrape; she has fallen into a pit of infamy so deep that no power on
earth can lift her out of it. Ah, ha! don’t you see it, my boy? She has
not only committed a most cruel murder, but she has been guilty of other
detestable crimes which I would blush to name. While I pity the poor
girl, I am unwilling to see Lottie ruined by a foolish friendship for
her. Society will not draw the proper distinctions in such cases. At
first I did not believe Miss Bramlett guilty, but after full
investigation I was forced to change my opinion--all the lawyers in
Memphis cannot clear her. Ragland is very much to blame for this state
of affairs; he has not done his duty as guardian to his brother’s
daughter. Ah, ha! my boy, don’t you see? The fact of the business is,
Ragland is no account--drinks and gambles all the time, instead of
looking after his business. I can’t understand what induced Bramlett to
name Ragland as the guardian of his children. Anyway, I suppose he was
ignorant of his bad habits. Mrs. Ragland is worse than her husband:
thinks of nothing but self, dresses like an empress, and spends her time
at theatres, balls and on the streets, instead of looking after her
household affairs. How could anything be expected of Miss Bramlett when
left, as she was, a young, giddy girl, in the hands of such people as
Ragland and his wife? That’s the reason I pity the poor girl more than I
condemn her. I mean to petition the Governor to pardon her; he will do
it without hesitation; he was here the other day, and was introduced to
Lottie. I heard him say she was the most charming woman he ever had met;
he was delighted with her music, and says she possesses the brightest
mind of any woman he ever saw. The Governor is a great friend of
Rockland, and we shall have no difficulty in procuring a pardon for Miss
Bramlett. Ah, ha! Eddie, my boy, don’t you see, poor thing, she must be
pardoned; no use to try to clear her by a jury--proof too strong. You
might as well try to storm Gibraltar with pop-guns as to get an
acquittal in court. But above all other considerations, we must separate
Lottie from Miss Bramlett.’
“‘I don’t believe it can be done,’ was my reply. ‘I think Lottie never
will leave Viola while she is in prison; but if you will accompany me to
the jail early in the morning we will try what can be done. I am going
to start for Vicksburg on the 10:30 train to-morrow, and if we see
Lottie it must be early.’
“‘All right, my boy; we will see her in the morning. She must come away
from that jail; but good-night; see if you can’t stir up a sensible
dream to-night that will show you how to manage Lottie in the morning.’
“We were at the jail by seven o’clock on the following morning, for the
purpose of trying to induce Lottie to go back to her home. Doctor Dodson
stated the object of our visit, at the same time telling Lottie how her
reputation was being injured by her association with Miss Bramlett.
“I saw her fair cheeks turn as red as blood, and knew she was angry,
though no one would have thought so from her language. She cast an
appealing glance at me; I could read her thoughts as plain as print.
“‘Doctor Dodson,’ said Lottie, as she laid her hand on his shoulder and
looked up into his face, ‘would it be charitable, would it be Christian
duty, to forsake a friend merely because that friend had been forsaken
by the world? It seems to me that that would be the very time when a
true friend would stick closer. Now, my dear doctor, you know how much I
respect you; you are well aware of the fact that no one has a higher
regard for your opinions than I have; nay, you know how much Eddie and I
love you--it would make me miserable indeed if I were to incur your
displeasure; I believe that when you have looked at both sides of the
case with an impartial eye you’ll not be angry with me for refusing to
forsake my unfortunate friend in this dark hour of her troubles. You say
that my reputation has already suffered injury by my association with
Viola Bramlett. I regret very much to hear it. I am sorry indeed that my
reputation is so feeble as to be crippled by such puny assaults. I have
been flattering myself with the idea that an honest woman’s reputation
could withstand all such assaults and come out unscathed. But if it is
true that my character has been damaged by my friendship for Miss
Bramlett, it would not repair the damage for me to forsake her now. I
must be permitted to have my own way in this matter, and at no distant
day you will rejoice with me for having done so.’
“I saw tears trembling in Lottie’s eyes as she looked up imploringly
into Doctor Dodson’s face.
“‘By Jove, child, you shall have your own way!’ said the doctor, as he
pressed a kiss on her brow; ‘you shall do as you like, and I shall cram
this fist down the throat of any scamp who dares to speak a word against
you. I admire your fidelity to your friend, my child. Ah, ha! that I
do. Miss Bramlett was fortunate in securing such a friend; what does
anybody want with a friend except when he is in trouble? Ah, ha! don’t
you see, Eddie, my boy? We’ll go back now. Let Lottie alone; she has got
more sense than both of us. Ah, ha! can’t you see how it is yourself? Go
along and do exactly what she tells you to do. She is pilot of this
boat, Eddie, ah, ha! you see it, don’t you?’
“I started to Vicksburg at 10:30, and was absent from home a little over
three weeks. I, however, succeeded in securing all the information that
Lottie wanted, though I had to make a trip to New Orleans before I found
it.