The arrest of Ingomar had the effect to cast a gloom over the entire
party, who were beginning to feel deeply interested in his history. All
were seated in a circle round the queen, waiting in silence to hear what
was to be said next. The queen was making a desperate effort to conceal
her emotions, but without effect. The two officers sat staring at each
other, evidently very much embarrassed, while Ingomar was the only one
who appeared calm and unconcerned. The mysterious lady in the black
domino was leaning on the arm of the old gentleman with the long white
beard. She seemed to be anxiously watching the two officers and Ingomar,
while she stood near the corner of the pilot house, about thirty feet
from where the queen and her party were seated. The strange conduct of
the lady in the black domino had excited the curiosity of every
passenger on the boat, and when Ingomar was arrested under a charge of
willful murder it was hard to tell which feeling had the upper hand,
curiosity or indignation. If Ingomar had intimated a wish to have the
two officers put ashore in a canebrake it would have been done; in fact,
Ivanhoe made a proposition to that effect, but Ingomar wouldn’t hear to
it.
“No, my friends, it is my wish that these two officers should be treated
with the utmost courtesy; they are only executing the process which the
law has placed in their hands; but I would beg to admonish them that
handcuffs are not made for gentlemen. The law considers all men
innocent until their guilt is established; and, as I have already
stated, this case is by no means unfamiliar to me. It is really a part
of the little story which I have been telling; and I promise to tell you
all about it before I am done. I guess I can easily conclude the
narrative by the time we shall reach Vicksburg; but I must relate
circumstances and incidents in the order in which they introduced
themselves into my story. About three weeks after I had departed from
Vicksburg (where I had gone, as I have heretofore stated, to hunt up
certain facts which Lottie thought were necessary,) the grand jury
returned into the criminal court a true bill against Viola Bramlett,
charging her with willful murder, and the day for the trial was agreed
on. Mr. Rockland had made the necessary arrangements with the
attorney-general, who was quite a young man, but possessed a high order
of intellect. He was a good lawyer, but differed from other prosecuting
attorneys in one respect. Nearly all State attorneys imagine that it is
their duty to prosecute with a vengeance every unfortunate creature
against whom a bill may be found. But attorney-general Quillet was ever
ready to enter a _nolle prosequi_ when the proof justified it. I was
overwhelmed with astonishment one morning to see Harry Wallingford come
walking into my office, looking like a corpse. His beard was long and
uneven; the hair on his head tangled and unsightly; his clothes were
soiled and hung loosely about his body; and his face had no signs of
blood in it; his eyes were sunk deep in their sockets, and had a wild,
restless stare about them. He held out his thin, bony hand as he dropped
into a chair, like one who was very tired.
“‘What on earth caused you to return so soon, Harry?’ I inquired.
“‘My uncle was dead when I reached California, and had willed all his
property to his business partner. The will had been presented, proved
and probated before I arrived; consequently I had nothing to detain me,
so I set out for home; and here I am, as poor as Lazarus, broken down in
mind and body, and desperate enough to commit suicide if it was not
cowardly to do it. Tell me the news, Ed; though mind you, I am not
prepared for good news--I could not bear it; but if you have anything
very unpleasant, please let me hear it.’
“‘I beg you will not talk that way--you horrify me. I have no bad
news--at least, nothing worse than you have already heard. The day for
the trial is fixed, and Lottie is still hopeful; but you know she is by
nature sanguine. So far as my own views are concerned, I am frank to say
that I am not at all hopeful. When I talk to Lottie she inspires me with
hope; but when I talk with Dabbs and Tadpoddle, they extinguish all.
They have both been required to enter into recognizance for their
appearance as witnesses against Viola. Mr. Rockland and Doctor Dodson
have determined to enter a plea of insanity; and then if she is not
acquitted, they are confident that they can induce the Governor to grant
a pardon. The Governor was here a few weeks ago and spent the night with
Mr. Rockland. When Lottie was introduced to him he was perfectly
fascinated with her; and she very adroitly managed to induce the
Governor to go with her to the jail next morning. She succeeded in
persuading him to be introduced to Miss Bramlett, and he expressed great
solicitude for her--praised Lottie very much, and when he left he
intimated a wish to see Miss Bramlett come out of her troubles
unscathed. I have no doubt that he will pardon Viola if she is found
guilty. But, by the by, Harry, how came your uncle to will all his money
to his partner, after having promised to give it to you?’
“‘Indeed, I don’t know; the fact is, I have quit trying to investigate
the causes of things of late. I was not at all surprised when I was told
that such a will had been made. The will was made several years ago; and
it is possible that my uncle may have contemplated the making of another
one in my favor; but his death was very sudden, and wholly unexpected.
He had been in declining health, but his condition was considered by no
means critical; he was seized with paralysis, and was totally
unconscious until death ensued. His fortune was a very large one,
supposed to be several hundred thousands, consisting of cash, mining and
bank stocks. The will was witnessed by three reputable men, and there
was no ground to doubt its proper execution. I took the advice of able
lawyers--had them to investigate the case--and they told me that it
would be folly to attempt to overthrow the will.’
“‘What a pity it was you did not start there when your uncle first wrote
requesting you to come!’
“‘What a pity it was that such a wretch as I was ever born!’
“‘Harry, don’t talk so; let us hope for brighter days.’
“‘Hope and I have long since parted company, and Misfortune rules the
roost with me now. The goddess of fortune is supposed to be blind, but
that is a grand mistake, else how could she throw her darts with such
unerring aim at my poor carcass?’
“‘Harry, you have met with many disappointments, I admit, but you know
the sun always shines brighter after a storm; and I believe if you will
put your trust in God, do your duty with a brave heart, and command your
passions, you will secure happiness yet.’
“‘Don’t lecture me, Ed--I can’t bear it; I have committed many errors, I
confess, but it is too late to mend the matter now. The truth is, I am
nothing but a walking bulk of errors anyway, and the sooner I die, the
better it will be for the living.’
“‘Dear Harry, you distress me beyond measure by talking so; it shows a
lack of courage--a disposition to shrink from trouble when it comes.’
“‘No doubt you think so; it is very easy to philosophize about other
people’s troubles; but let the whirlwind sweep away all your hopes of
happiness and dash you down to the very lowest pit of despair, then you
would talk differently. You love Lottie, I know.’
“‘Ah, Harry, I adore her, I worship her--she is the light of my
existence--the delight of my soul--my very heart’s idol--my angel, my
Heaven, my all!’
“‘Very well; suppose she were to betray you, and sink into a slough of
infamy as deep as that in which Viola has sunk--could you then lecture
so eloquently on patience and hope?’
“‘I beseech you not to talk that way; it sounds like a sacrilege to me.
You don’t state a supposable case. My Lottie is as pure as an angel in
Heaven.’
“‘So I was foolish enough to think about Viola. I had as much faith in
her as you have in Lottie. I loved her as well as it is possible for you
to love my sister. I believe God has sent this awful curse upon me for
worshiping one of his creatures instead of Him. Don’t talk to me about
the honesty of women. How could you expect me to have faith in them,
since Viola’s fall? Ed, I am not a murderer at heart, but that damnable
villain, Bowles, must be punished. If he will fight me, he shall have a
fair chance; if not, he must take the consequences. You know he first
insulted Lottie, and I knocked him down with a stick for it. He then
swore he would have revenge, if he took a life-time to get it. And when
he found out that I loved Viola, he began to invent schemes to ruin her,
and you know the result, alas! too well. He is a shrewd, calculating,
cold-hearted villain, and I dare say no girl left like Viola,
unprotected, could withstand his devilish plans. I will do Viola the
justice to say that I still think she was virtuous; but what can a poor
orphan girl do when such a cruel villain as Bowles arrays his plans for
her destruction? Druggists will compound medicines for money that will
steal away the thinking faculties of the brain, and when that is done,
the victory is easily won. How is it that our laws will allow such a
villain to march in triumph over the ruined hopes of honest men? But
enough of this, Ed. I’ll settle with Mr. Bowles.’
“‘Harry, you certainly don’t mean to challenge him, do you?’
“‘That is exactly what I mean to do; and if he refuses to fight, then I
shall punish him as he deserves.’
“‘Are you willing to violate the laws of the land? Are you not aware of
the fact that it is made murder by our laws to kill a man in a duel?’
“‘A curse on the law that protects the villain who destroys the
confiding, innocent orphan girl, as Bowles has destroyed poor Viola! A
double curse on the law that protects such a sneaking, cowardly villain.
No, Ed, it is no use to discuss this matter, because my mind is made
up.’
“‘Don’t you know that the code of honor, as some men call it, is no
longer considered the code of honor?’
“‘I know that Henry Clay fought his duel with John Randolph, of
Roanoke. I know that Commodore Barron killed Commodore Decatur in a
duel. General Jackson killed Dixon in a duel. Prentiss wounded Foote in
a duel. General Sam Houston shot General White in a duel. I know that
General Albert Sidney Johnson shot his man in a duel. Aaron Burr killed
Alexander Hamilton in a duel. I know that Chambers killed Lake in a
duel. The world did not condemn these men for fighting duels, and why
should it single me out as an especial object for condemnation?’
“‘Well, Harry, you can’t deny making me a solemn promise that you would
not seek a quarrel with Bowles until after Viola’s trial.’
“‘I believe I did make such a promise; but I trust you will release me
from it, as things have changed so greatly since it was made.’
“‘No, you must wait until after the trial, and then I will withdraw all
objections to your management of Bowles.’
“‘On one condition, I will renew the promise.’
“‘What’s that?’
“‘You are to agree not to interfere with me and my plans for a
settlement with Bowles after Viola’s trial is over.’
“‘I make the promise on those terms. Now you had better go home, change
your dress and seek rest, for you appear greatly wearied.’
“He left my office then with an unsteady step, and I did not see him any
more that day. Another source of trouble now began to lower in my
pathway. Coming from an unexpected direction, so far as it affected me
individually, it was greater than any I had ever before experienced.
Trouble divested of mystery may be endured, but when it takes us by
surprise, and we feel the blow, but know not who dealt it, it is
somewhat hard to bear. Such was the blow that fell on me. I could feel
it, but couldn’t see it. An impenetrable cloud of mystery began to
gather around me, mixing itself up with all matters in which I was
interested. Something near two hundred yards east of Mr. Rockland’s
residence, and on the same side of the street, was a small, two-story
brick dwelling-house, situated in the middle of a small inclosure,
containing, I suppose, about a quarter of an acre of ground. The plot of
land was inclosed with pine plank, not over three and a half feet high.
That part of the lot which lay in front of the house, constituting the
front yard, was thickly set with short, untrimmed shrubbery, while the
other had been used as a vegetable garden. There were only four rooms in
the house, two in the lower and two in the upper story, and a narrow
hall separated the two lower rooms; a pair of steep stairs commenced on
the lower floor near the door and ended on the back side of the house,
on the upper floor. The building itself stood in a low, flat place,
surrounded with rising ground on all sides, and particularly in the
rear, where a tall bluff rose up fully as high as the top of the house.
The low, marshy ground where the building was located, and the unsightly
surroundings, rendered it very undesirable as a residence; I suppose it
was owing to this fact that it was most of the time unoccupied. There
were no locks to the doors, and the house had for a long time been
uninhabited, save by some lonely tramp who now and then sought a night’s
lodging in it.
“‘I have thought it expedient to give a minute description of this
dismal old house, because it has somewhat to do with my history. About
the time Harry returned from California, a rumor began to circulate
among the negroes (who are by nature very superstitious) to the effect
that the house was haunted by ghostly visitors every night. Of course
this story was not believed by any except very ignorant persons; but the
matter began to attract some attention, nevertheless, because those who
did not believe in ghosts were of the opinion that perhaps the house was
being used by thieves and counterfeiters. At any rate, it was very
certain that one of the upper rooms was occupied every night by some
one, for a dim light was often seen gliding about the apartment. This
mysterious circumstance was the usual topic of conversation among Mr.
Rockland’s servants. The coachman was an old, gray-headed negro named
Zack. He was as full of superstitions as he could be crammed, and he
vowed that he had seen a ghost, all robed in white, with long, black
hair streaming down her back, and a face as white as snow. One evening I
met Harry in the street, not very far from the mysterious house; he cast
on me an inquiring look, and spoke as if irritated about something.
“‘What woman is that who is staying in that old brick house?’
“‘How should I know?’
“‘I don’t ask you how you know, but I demand a sensible answer.’
“I was thunderstruck by his manner, for it was evident that he was very
much enraged about something.
“‘Why do you not make me an answer?’ he again demanded, his voice still
rising with anger.
“‘Really, Harry, upon my word of honor I don’t know,’ I replied mildly.
“‘I don’t believe you, sir,’ he exclaimed as he stamped his foot on the
ground. ‘Be cautious how you attempt to deceive me--I am not in the
humor to be fooled with by anybody now.’
“‘Harry, I implore you, tell me what you mean?’
“‘Don’t you be uneasy about what I mean; you shall know to your sorrow
ere long, or my name is not Harry Wallingford. I am not such a simpleton
as you have imagined, as you’ll find out one of these days. I am not a
coward, nor am I a bully, but under certain circumstances I would kill a
man. I am heartily sick of these sentimental hypocrites who pretend to
be a man’s friend when before his face, but sneak round and stab him in
the dark!’
“‘Harry, are you mad?’
“‘No; but I would to Heaven I were; then I could not see and know of the
corruption and villainy that boils and bubbles up on every hand. We are
in the very middle of a deep sea of treachery and corruption. I thought
I had one honest friend; but alas! it was all a mistake, no one will do
to trust; they are all hypocrites!’
“‘Harry, you do me grievous wrong to say that; for I swear by everything
I hold sacred that never have I, either by word, thought or deed,
intentionally injured you. I call upon you in the name of our old
friendship--I ask you as a man of honor--I pray you in the name of dear
Lottie, whom we both love--I ask in the name of our dead mother--nay, I
ask in the name of God, for an explanation of this unmerited insult
which you have thrust upon me!’
“‘I warn you now, sir, that I will not permit you to speak of my dear
sister Lottie. She is not for such as you, and the sooner you realize
the fact the better it will be for you. It shall be my business to
protect her; and you may be sure I am able and willing to do it. If ever
I see you in my sister’s company again, you will hear it thunder louder
than you ever heard it before. I give you fair notice now; and if you
value your life, let me advise you not to forget what I am saying. I
know you are ready with an explanation, but your oily tongue won’t save
you in this instance.’
“‘Harry, do you mean what you say? Don’t you know that it would kill me
to give Lottie up? You would not have our engagement broken off, would
you?’
“‘It seems that you are rather dull of comprehension to-day. I thought
my language was exceedingly plain. Didn’t I tell you that my sister was
not for your sort? How could I use language less ambiguous?’
“My ire was now roused to the highest pitch, and I made a desperate
struggle to smooth it down. To some extent I succeeded, but not
entirely.
“‘I never will surrender my claims to Lottie--never, never! If all the
black imps from the infernal regions, with Satan at their head, were
here to oppose me, I would not yield my just claim to her hand!’
“‘I am truly glad to hear you talk with so much spirit and
determination, because I was afraid that you were cowardly. I know how
to manage a brave man, but a coward puzzles me; therefore, we’ll see
whether you marry my sister or not. There are honest gentlemen in this
city, worthy in all respects, who love her, and, when I want her to
marry, she can find a husband who won’t betray her.’
“‘In Heaven’s name, what have I done?’
“‘I have no more business with you just now, sir. You will oblige me by
going about yours, if you have any; if, however, you have no business,
you had better go, anyway, as I am done with you for the present.’
“Harry waved his hand haughtily for me to leave, and I thought I had to
oblige him. I never had seen him in such a terrible passion before. Of
all the troubles that I had ever encountered, this was by long odds, the
greatest. To think that Harry Wallingford, the only brother of my
betrothed bride, was becoming my deadly enemy, caused my heart almost
to die within my breast. Hadn’t we been bosom friends from early
boyhood? Hadn’t we endured our sorrows together, and enjoyed our
triumphs jointly? Wouldn’t I risk my life, and everything else, to serve
him? What had I done to justify the application of such insults to me?
As I walked toward my office I felt more depressed than I ever had felt
before. Something whispered in my mind a horrible tale of woes to come.
I knew that some sneaking villain had been at work, but as to who he was
or what he had done, I was totally ignorant. I thought it best to go and
see Lottie at once. I then turned my steps in the direction of Mr.
Rockland’s residence, hoping to have an interview with Lottie before she
saw her brother, but I was too late. Harry had been with her for over an
hour before I arrived, and I did not know what communications he had
made to her until a long time afterward. If I had been advised in that
respect, an ocean of trouble might have been avoided. Lottie met me at
the front gate and led me into her flower garden. The moment my eyes
looked upon her I discovered that something serious had occurred. It was
plain to be seen she had been weeping.
“‘For Heaven’s sake, Eddie,’ she whispered, as she took my arm, ‘don’t
go into the house! Harry is there, and in such a passion as I never
witnessed before, and I pray Heaven I never shall again. What on earth
have you done to offend him?’
“‘Nothing whatever, that I am aware of. I met him in the street a short
while ago, and he abused me terribly, swore that I never should marry
his sister, and threatened to kill me if ever he saw me in your company
again.’
“‘Oh, Eddie, go quickly; yonder he comes now; he is crazy with poison;
keep out of his way until he is in a condition to listen to reason!’
“I would have obeyed Lottie by leaving at once, but it was too late; for
Harry was within twenty paces of us before she saw him. He was walking
rapidly toward me, while his eyes glared with anger.
“‘I suspected you would disregard the warning I gave you, though I had
no idea you would have the boldness to do it so soon; but this is as
good a chance to settle the matter as one could wish. Take that for your
impudence, you hypocritical sneak!’
“And before the words were uttered, he slapped me on the mouth with his
open hand. I raised my arm to strike him, but Lottie caught me:
“‘Don’t strike him, Eddie; he don’t know what he is doing!’
“My arm fell harmless by my side; and if he had given me a dozen blows
then, I could not have resented it. How could I have the heart to strike
my darling’s brother when her eloquent tongue was pleading his case? If
it had been any other man, I should have pounded him half to death, but
he was Lottie’s only brother, and she loved him, and that was enough. I
resolved then and there that I never would hurt him, no matter what he
might do. I could have tied him without an effort, because he was a mere
skeleton, anyway.
“‘Oh, brother, has it come to this?’ exclaimed Lottie, as she stood
trembling and weeping between us. ‘How could you have the heart to
strike our Eddie? How could you be so cruel as to strike those lips that
have uttered so many kind words to you? Have you forgotten the fact that
I owe my life to those lips which are now smarting from your cruel
blow?’
“‘Lottie,’ screamed Harry, as he seized her by the arm and dashed her
back roughly against the wall of the summer-house, ‘don’t you know that
Ed Demar is a deceitful coward who has betrayed you?’
“‘No, no! ten thousand times no!’ replied the dear girl, as the tears
streamed down her cheeks. ‘If God ever created an honest man, it is my
Eddie! Don’t I know him? Haven’t I been with him through sorrow and
through joy; and don’t I know his honest heart? No, brother Harry, no
one can shake my confidence in him--nothing ever shall make me doubt
him!’
“‘I tell you, sister, you must and shall cease to receive visits from
that deceitful wretch; when I tell you he is a traitor to you, I only
say that which I know of my own knowledge, I only inform you of what I
beheld with my own eyes. This is no hearsay evidence; this is no report
of a detective; but it is a fact I beheld myself.’
“‘Dear brother, I beg you to hush; you are laboring under some
unaccountable delusion; your trouble has been so great that it has
clouded your judgment. You know that no sister ever loved a dear brother
as I love you. I am sure that you would not tell a willful falsehood
under any circumstances; but I implore you to let this matter drop for
the present. Wait until you have time for reflection. It is so easy to
commit irreparable errors--so easy to do things that cannot be undone.
Listen to your devoted sister, won’t you?’
“‘If you will drive that cowardly sneak from my sight I promise you to
let the matter drop for the present; but if he remains here another
moment, I cannot answer for the consequences.’
“‘Please leave us now, Eddie,’ said Lottie, as she laid her hand on my
arm, and cast on me an imploring look. Leave him with me until I can
pacify him, and then I will send for you, when he will hear an
explanation. You have not betrayed me, have you, Eddie?’
“‘Before high Heaven, I answer, No!’
“‘I believe you, and will always trust you.’
“‘What are you whispering to that hypocrite for? Why don’t you order him
to leave here as I have directed? You had better not tax my patience too
far!’
“I thought it best to leave him with Lottie, hoping that she would be
able to keep him quiet until his better judgment should come to his
assistance. As I made my way toward my office, I began to ponder over
what had occurred, and you may be sure that my thoughts were anything
but pleasant. My cheeks burned with indignation when I thought of the
blow I had received, and I felt my self-respect leaving me. I began to
feel that I had acted cowardly in submitting to such treatment. Who but
an arrant coward would have quietly taken such an insult from mortal
man? Then on the other hand, I argued the case thus: How could I strike
the brother of Lottie, when I know how dearly she loves him? Did she not
beg me not to return the blow? How could I do anything against her wish?
Then I thought of his feeble health, and the great troubles he had
endured, and finally satisfied myself that I had acted right in not
punishing him. But the mystery in which the whole affair was clothed
puzzled and perplexed me; and the more I discussed the matter in my
mind, the greater grew my curiosity. Could it be possible that Harry was
laboring under a mental hallucination? or was some enemy of mine at work
to undermine me? Could it be that Mr. Heartsell was at work in secret to
turn Lottie against me, in order to secure the prize himself? Those
questions, and a thousand others of a similar character, came trooping
across my mind, until my brain seemed to be on fire. The course that
Lottie had pursued had the effect to counterbalance the influence that
the other circumstances were producing. She refused to distrust me, and
I believed that they never would be able to shake her confidence in me.
I felt that I could endure any amount of misery so long as she was my
friend and remained true to me.
“I must now tell you of an event that had transpired on the night before
the rupture between Harry and myself--a thing about which I was not
informed until a long time after it happened. It was not until after the
great mischief had been done that I was advised of its cause. If I had
been informed at the proper time, irreparable misfortunes could have
been prevented. But perhaps I had better proceed to tell what it was
that had enraged Harry against me. Early on the morning of the day
previous to that on which he had insulted and struck me, Mr. Heartsell
called to see him, stating that he had some private communications to
make to him. They went into the summer-house and took seats on the
wooden bench--the very spot where Lottie first promised to be my wife.
“‘Mr. Wallingford,’ began Mr. Heartsell, as soon as they were seated,
‘the communication which I propose to make will not be pleasant for you
to hear, yet I honestly believe it is my duty to tell you. Of course you
are aware of the relations heretofore existing between myself and your
charming sister. I loved her very devotedly, and, as you know, asked her
to marry me, but she declined, very candidly informing me that she loved
Doctor Demar. The frank manner in which she answered my offer of
marriage, and the courteous manner in which she treated me, rather
increased my affection for her. To be more plain, I still love your
sister, and would make any sacrifice to secure her happiness. I had
reconciled myself to my fate, and was willing to bear my disappointment
with becoming fortitude so long as I had reason to hope that your sister
would be happy. But when I became convinced that she was about to marry
a man who was unworthy of her--a man who (to say the least) is a
hypocritical scoundrel, I determined to make known to you what I had
discovered. Edward Demar is either married to another woman, or he is
living with her unlawfully.’
“‘Mr. Heartsell, I would not believe such a story if you were to bring a
dozen men to swear it! I have known Ed Demar from boyhood to this day,
and if he is not an honest man, I must confess that there are none.’
“‘I did not expect you to believe it, for, to be candid with you, I
would not have believed it myself had I not seen it with my own eyes. I
can readily understand the fact that such confidence as you have placed
in Demar is very hard to shake, but you can see for yourself, if you
think enough of your sister’s happiness to induce you to do it.’
“‘How do you mean that I may see for myself?’
“‘Ed Demar brought a beautiful woman with him from Philadelphia, and as
I have already told you, she is either his wife or his mistress--I don’t
know which. He has her hidden in that old brick house, just over yonder,
in that flat. She has lately been moved in that house; he had her
concealed in another part of the city, but he has lately moved her to
that old building. I think they are making arrangements to elope, as I
have overheard some of their conversations. He is to visit her to-night
at ten o’clock; and if you wish to satisfy yourself as to the truth of
my statements, I will go with you to a spot where you can see with your
own eyes.’
“‘Heartsell,’ said Harry, as he rose from his seat, his eyes flashing
with anger, ‘if you have slandered Demar, I will take your life--and if
he has betrayed my sister, I’ll kill him!’
“‘Very good; you may take my life and welcome, if you find my statement
false. Will you go with me to-night, so as to make the test as to who is
to be killed?’
“‘Yes, I will; but I despise to play the spy or eavesdropper.’
“‘So do I--so does any gentleman; but how can you catch a traitor
without doing it?’
“‘True, true! but where shall we meet?’
“‘Here, at this very spot; meet me here at 9:30, and you shall be
convinced. By the by, let us compare our time, so as to make no
mistake.’
“After the two watches were compared and set with each other, Heartsell
took his leave, while Harry sat immovable and silent, with a mind full
of gloomy thoughts: Could it be true that Edward Demar was the
treacherous hypocrite Heartsell represented him to be? His heart
fluttered with emotions of anger when he thought of the effect such a
blow would have on Lottie. Harry loved Lottie with all his heart, and
woe to the man who dared to betray her. Harry was at the rendezvous
promptly, and had only been there a few moments when he saw Heartsell
approaching.
“‘How long have you been here, Wallingford?’ inquired Heartsell as he
approached.
“‘Only a moment,’ was the whispered reply.
“‘Speak low, Heartsell, my sister is in the garden, and I don’t want her
to know anything about this business.’
“‘Alas, Wallingford, she will hear it soon enough, Heaven knows!’
“‘Yes, and it will be a fearful blow to her, indeed; for she loves Demar
devotedly; but I cannot believe he is the treacherous scoundrel you
think he is.’
“‘I did not believe it either until I was forced to; but come, it is
time we were going.’
“‘I feel ashamed of myself, Heartsell.’
“‘Why?’
“‘Because this is the first time I ever did anything on the sly; I think
we are engaged in a very small business.’
“‘If you love your sister, how can you consider it a small business to
take steps to rescue her from the clutches of an unworthy villain?’
“‘Of course not, but these steps ought to be taken openly and not in the
dark.’
“‘True enough; but don’t they always employ detectives to catch the
thief?’
“‘Yes; the best detectives are the shrewdest thieves.’
“While this conversation was progressing, Harry and his companion were
walking quietly toward the gloomy old house--their arms locked in each
other. The moon was struggling through the clouds that were moving
briskly from the south toward the north, every now and then coming out
between them and spreading a temporary light over the earth.
“‘This is a most favorable night for our business, Wallingford,’
observed Heartsell, as the moon darted out between the two dark clouds,
lighting up the road nearly as bright as day.
“‘Why so?’
“‘Because we will be able to see all we wish.’
“‘What do you mean? You talk is if it would afford you pleasure to
witness the downfall of Demar.’
“‘Pshaw! Wallingford, you don’t know me; I merely meant to say that it
was a favorable night to detect this rascal in his treachery. I assure
you I should be gratified to find it all a mistake.’
“‘It seems to me impossible for it to be anything else but a mistake;
and I feel my cheeks burning with shame--I feel degraded at the
underhanded, sneaking course we are pursuing.’
“‘I don’t doubt it; I can readily understand the reason--you thought
your friend Demar was honest, and that his pretended love for your
sister was all reality; but wait a while, and see if you don’t change
your opinion of him. By the way, here we are--that is the house. We had
better turn off to the right, and take up our position back of the
building. By standing on the bluff there we can observe what transpires
within, for there are several glasses broken out of the rear windows,
and this will enable us to get a full view of the interior. Come this
way, Wallingford; we’ll hide ourselves behind this tree, where we will
be on a level with the second story, and in hearing distance of the
room. By the way, there she is now, watching for him; speak very low,
else she will hear us; she is remarkably pretty; don’t you think so?’
“‘Yes, but she looks as pale as death, and appears to be very sad.’
“‘Ah, yes, poor lady, I dare say she has cause to be sad; no doubt she
has been betrayed by that scoundrel, and is now beginning to realize her
situation. See! she is preparing supper for some one.’
“‘Hush, Heartsell, I hear footsteps coming this way--listen, don’t you
hear them?’
“‘Yes, and, by the way, that is he, now; stand close behind this tree,
or he will see us, for he is coming directly toward us. A plague on the
moon! I wish it would get behind that cloud--I fear he will see us.
Look! she is coming down to meet him. He is getting over the fence at
the corner yonder, and will pass within ten feet of us. Now take a good
look at his face as he comes along this way, and tell me who he is.’
“‘That is Ed Demar, beyond all doubt.’
“‘Of course it is; but see, he has stopped, and seems to be watching for
some one. Now he is moving this way again. Hark! what noise was that?’
“‘He made it with his cane by tapping on the plank fence. I dare say it
was a signal to notify the woman of his arrival, for she is going out to
meet him.’
“‘Look, Wallingford, he has taken her in his arms! How does that suit
you for a husband for your sister?’
“‘I’ll kill him, if they hang me as high as Haman for it!’
“‘Dear Eddie,’ exclaimed the woman as she threw herself into the man’s
arms, ‘what made you stay away so long? I have been lonesome and
miserable; I cannot endure this suspense much longer--it is killing me.
When will you take me away from this horrible place, darling?’
“‘Within two or three days at farthest, my dear,’ was the reply, as he
pressed her again to his heart.
“‘What would your sister think of this hypocritical scoundrel if she
knew what he was?’
“‘Don’t mention my sister’s name in connection with the double-faced
traitor; she shall not be annoyed with him any more, you may depend on
that; but hark! he is speaking to her; let us listen.’
“‘Has any one been here to-day, Mollie?’ said the man as he led her into
the house.
“‘No one has been in the house, but I saw a man standing on the bluff
there yesterday, and thought from his conduct he was watching the
premises.’
“‘I dare say he was, because I begin to suspect that we are watched; and
this makes me the more anxious to get away from here.’
“‘Come in, dear; I know you are hungry, and I have prepared you a nice
supper with my own hands. I have made you a cup of strong tea, and
broiled you a mutton-chop.’
“‘You are very thoughtful, Mollie, and I consider myself eminently
blessed by your love--I feel that I am unworthy of such good fortune. I
don’t think I could endure my troubles but for the sustaining influence
of your love and encouragement.’
“‘Oh, Eddie, if we could escape to some distant land where no one would
know us--where we could feel safe, how happy we should be!’
“‘Yes, darling, and that is precisely what I mean to do soon; I would do
it now, but there is an unfortunate little affair that detains me here,
though I will get it off my hands speedily.’
“As soon as the man had dispatched his supper the woman removed the
dishes and returned to where her lover sat, and began to play with his
long, shaggy hair. It was evident from her conduct that she loved him
devotedly, for she ever and anon bent over and stamped a kiss on his
lips, while her long, black hair fell unconfined about his face.
“‘Let us leave this place, Heartsell,’ whispered Harry; ‘I shall die
with disgust; I cannot command my feelings much longer. Oh, what a shame
it is to see what I have beheld to-night! I have often seen my sister
kiss that rascal’s lips and shower a thousand endearing expressions on
him. He made her believe he loved her, and I have heard him swear by
everything sacred that he never cared for any other woman. I don’t
believe it would be wrong to shoot him down like a dog, though I mean to
give him a chance for his life. He or I must leave the world, and that
very soon. Heartsell, Lottie must know of this affair.’
“‘Yes, I think it best to tell her everything. Poor girl! it will nearly
kill her; I deeply sympathize with her, and would freely lay down my
life to secure her happiness.’
“‘You shall marry her if you want her, because you have saved her. I
think she will be guided by my wishes when she finds how she has been
deceived in that man.’
“‘Wallingford, if she would love me as she has loved that unworthy
scoundrel I would be the happiest man on earth.’
“‘She can’t fail to love you when she learns how you have worked to save
her; but come, we must go now; we can discuss that matter at another
time.’
“‘Wait a moment; they are drawing the curtains down--there, they have
put out the light.’
“Heartsell and Harry remained by the tree until after midnight; darkness
and silence pervaded the premises, and it was certain that the parties
had retired, when they turned and walked back to Mr. Rockland’s.
“‘Good-night, Wallingford,’ said Heartsell, ‘I’ll see you again early in
the morning.’
“‘Good night, Heartsell, don’t fail to come early.’
“Harry went to his room, but found it useless to try to sleep; therefore
he spent the night in arranging his plans for the morrow.