During the short recess the queen had agreed to allow, which was granted
at the request of the Barbarian Chief, the excursionists assembled in
various little groups on different parts of the boat, while most of
them were discussing the merits of Ingomar’s story. George and the Duke
of Wellington were seated apart from the other passengers, deeply
interested in an animated discussion--the subject being the eccentric
movements of the black domino and the unusual sadness of the queen.
“My lord,” observed the king, “did you notice that the queen fainted
when those two men arrested Demar?”
“Of course I did! and that is not all--the lady in the black domino
fainted, too, when the Barbarian Chief was arrested.”
“Now, I would like very much to know who this Barbarian Chief is, and
why both of those women should manage to faint about him. I have never
been so fortunate as to have as much as one woman care enough about me
to faint for me.”
“As to that, I am decidedly of the opinion that you have lost nothing on
that score; but, between you and me, there is something mysterious
connected with that woman in the black domino. So far as the queen is
concerned, I imagine that she is one of those good-hearted, sympathetic
women, the kind who have more tears than talent--a sort of Niobe.”
“Look at that man yonder leaning against the corner of the Texas, and
see if you can discover anything singular about him.”
“Why, that is Henry of Navarre; of course there is nothing strange about
him. Why do you ask the question?”
“He is not the man who wore that uniform when we started from Memphis.”
“Why do you conclude that he is not the one who personated Navarre at
the ball?”
“He is not quite so tall, but has a more dignified carriage; and then he
does not mingle with us, or participate in any of our amusements, as the
real Navarre did. The original Napoleon has also slipped out of his
costume, and a counterfeit has slipped in; and the strangest part of the
mystery is that no one knows what has become of the parties who
originally personated Navarre and Napoleon. Now if this is done in order
to enable those men to play a little joke on the ladies, there is no
harm in it, but I suspect that some sort of mischief is afloat. I guess
it will appear in the wind-up that these two men, and the black domino,
are in some way interested in each other; and you may be sure, if they
are, that it will produce mischief.”
“The truth is, we are all engaged in playing a farce, and I am heartily
ashamed of my part of it--it reminds me of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About
Nothing.’”
“I cannot by any means indorse that idea, for I have been very much
interested in Ingomar’s story.”
“It is too tedious. Give me something lively--something to make me
laugh--such as ‘Bill Arp,’ or ‘Artemus Ward,’ ‘Don Quixote,’ or ‘Mark
Twain.’”
“I prefer love stories. I like to read about women who prefer death to a
loveless marriage, and men who are always getting into scrapes in
attempting to protect virtue.”
“I guess, then, you like the ‘Bride of Lammermoor’ and the ‘Talisman’?”
“Yes, and all the other thrilling novels written by Sir Walter Scott.”
Don Quixote now came up and joined the king and duke in the
conversation, which soon drifted back to the lady in the black domino.
“By the by,” exclaimed Don Quixote, “I think that mysterious woman is
about to stir up a row between Napoleon and Navarre. The cauldron is
boiling and bubbling furiously, and blood is on the face of the moon.”
“How do you know that blood is on the moon, when that planet is on the
other side of the globe?”
“Of course you understand I was speaking metaphorically as to that; but
really, I should not be at all surprised to hear of a requisition being
made for pistols and coffins for two. To be more explicit, I think a
duel is on the tapis.”
“Now, sir knight,” said the duke, “if you are in possession of any news
that will in any manner relieve our minds about that strange woman, I
earnestly beg you to let us hear it at once; for you know what a deluge
of curiosity she has manufactured on this boat.”
“I am very sorry to be unable to furnish any information on that point
of a reliable nature--all is conjecture as far as the black domino is
concerned; she has had a long interview with the captain. I happened to
hear enough of the conversation to convince me that Navarre and
Napoleon were the parties discussed; then the captain appeared to be
angry, and I distinctly heard him mutter an oath or two, after he parted
with the black domino. Colonel Confed informed me that a duel was likely
to be fought, and that the lady in the black domino was at the bottom of
it, but he refused to mention the names of the parties to the quarrel;
though I am convinced from what I have heard that Navarre and Napoleon
are to be the combatants.”
“I guess it will turn out to be a tempest in a teapot, or a mouse born
of a mountain,” replied the duke, as he handed the king and Don Quixote
a fresh cigar; “I wish,” continued the duke, “that Colonel Confed and
General Camphollower would cease their continual clamor about politics;
they have bored every man on this boat half to death, and each one seems
to imagine that the fate of the nation depends on his opinions.”
“They have succeeded in bridging the bloody chasm; but they have split
on the state rights question; they have generously consented that the
war shall be considered at an end.”
“Now, that indeed was very kind of them, for I dislike to hear people
continually harping on the war; but let that pass, and we will go back
to the subject. Did you tell the captain that Napoleon and Navarre were
interlopers, intruders, counterfeits, wolves in sheep’s clothing?”
“How could I impart information that I did not possess myself? What do
you mean by intruders, interlopers, etc., etc.?”
Then the duke imparted to Don Quixote the grounds of his suspicion.
“They are not the same men who personated Navarre and Napoleon at the
ball; I would risk anything on the truth of my assertion; and they are
both spotting the black domino.”
“If that is true,” replied Don Quixote, “it is our duty to mention it to
the captain without delay; and, gentlemen, I further suggest that we
combine our wits, and, if possible, prevent any hostile meeting, if such
is contemplated by any of our excursionists. In the first place, I am
opposed to the barbarous practice of dueling upon principle; then it is
prohibited by the laws of the land, and positively contrary to God’s
holy ordinances. In addition to all these objections, we must remember
that a duel might put an end to all of our innocent amusements;
therefore I wish to know whether you will co-operate with me in the
effort to prevent it?”
“We certainly think your views very correct, and will gladly join you in
your peaceful mission; but I am of the opinion that it is a false
alarm.”
It required some ten or fifteen minutes to collect the entire party, for
they were scattered about the boat, deeply interested in conversation.
Nearly every one of the maskers had been discussing the mysterious woman
in the black domino. At length the queen ascended her throne, and, after
a moment’s pause, ordered Ingomar to proceed.
“When I was conducted into the court-room by the deputy sheriff, his
Honor, Judge Flaxback, occupied the judicial bench; fixing his little
round eyes on me, he surveyed me like a snake endeavoring to charm a
bird. A large crowd of village idlers had assembled in the house,
attracted there, no doubt, by the peculiarity of the case. Flaxback
reminded me of an Egyptian mummy that I had seen in a museum. He was a
little dried-up specimen of decaying humanity, exhibiting in his person
and dress unmistakable evidence of dissipation and dilapidation. His
nose had evidently been broken with a heavy blow of some sort, for an
ugly scar was apparent running horizontally across his face, while his
nostrils flared outward, presenting rather an ugly appearance. He rested
his chin on a plank in front of his seat, and continued to gaze at me
with a lazy, half-asleep sort of a stare that caused my cheeks to burn
with indignation. Every man in the room had his eyes riveted on me,
staring with open mouth as children do at an elephant, while Flaxback
seemed to be waiting for the inspection to be completed before
proceeding with the case. When a drop of blood starts from such a man’s
heart, with a view of making a journey to his extremities to furnish a
little life to them, it bids a long adieu to its home, knowing that the
chances are ten to one in favor of its freezing to death on the way. I
sat and impatiently watched the strange looking judge, wondering why he
did not proceed to dispose of my case. He continued to eye me for full
thirty seconds, and then in a voice sounding like that made with a file
when being need to sharpen a handsaw, he ordered the clerk to read the
sheriff’s return on the writ of _habeas corpus_.
“‘No return made, sir,’ said the clerk, as he began to grab
promiscuously about, snatching up every paper in sight, and looking as
if he were hunting for a small hole to crawl into.
“‘Where’s the sheriff?’ demanded the judge, in a voice which was
evidently meant to be loud and threatening, but which really did not
amount to a respectable whine.
“‘Fact is, may it please your Honor,’ said Mr. Deediddle, ‘the sheriff
has just stepped over to Mr. Dick Sninkle’s saloon to get a glass of
_water_.’
“A smile might have been seen on the faces of a majority of the
spectators--they all knew that water did not agree with the sheriff. The
officer soon made his appearance, and the judge asked him why he had
neglected to return the writ.
“‘The writ commanded me to bring the body of Edward Demar before the
court, and here he is; what else could I do?’
“‘Mr. Clerk,’ said Flaxback, ‘enter a fine of ten dollars against Mr.
Postholder, for failing to return the writ, and unless the return is
instantly made, the fine will be doubled.’
“The sheriff was so badly confused that he did not know what he was
about; he cast an imploring look at the clerk, made a dash at a pile of
papers on the clerk’s desk, then looked up at the ceiling, like an old
duck listening for thunder when her puddle had gone dry.
“While all this nonsense was being exhibited, I was sitting there
suffering indescribable torture; every moment of time seemed to be worth
a mint of money to me, yet it was being wasted by those people as if it
were valueless. There is no telling when the farce would have ended, but
for Harry’s thoughtfulness. He took the writ, and in three minutes wrote
out the return and requested the sheriff to sign it, which he was very
glad to do; he would have signed his own death warrant then without
objection. Mr. Deediddle now made a raid to the front, and began to
address the court.
“‘Fact is, your Honor, it is unnecessary to enter into an investigation
of the circumstances connected with the murder of Mr. Clanton, as this
is purely a question of personal identity. If the prisoner at the bar
is not Edward Debar, why of course he will be discharged--fact,
sir--fact.’
“The district attorney consented that the investigation might be
confined to the question of personal identity.
“‘Swear your witness, Mr. Clerk,’ growled the judge.
“The clerk began to hunt for the Bible.
“‘Why don’t you swear your witnesses, Mr. Clerk?’ screamed the judge
impatiently.
“The clerk became more confused; he grabbed up a book which he thought
was the Bible, but when he found out that it was Mark Twain’s ‘Innocents
Abroad,’ he let it fall on the floor, and began to grab at everything in
the shape of a book.
“‘If you don’t swear these witnesses, Mr. Clerk, I’ll send you to jail!’
screamed Flaxback.
“By this time the clerk could have been passed off as a first-class
maniac; his actions were frightful; he threw out both hands in every
direction, and at last snatched up George’s Digest, and swore the
witnesses on it before he discovered his mistake.
“‘Mrs. Debar was put on the stand first. She testified to the fact that
while I was very much like her husband, I was not the man. The district
attorney put her through a rigid cross-examination--not because he
thought she was swearing falsely, but he had a suspicion that she had
aided her husband in making his escape.
“‘Mrs. Debar,’ said the district attorney, ‘didn’t you smuggle the tools
into the jail to enable your husband to effect his escape?’
“Harry sprang to his feet in a moment, his eyes flashing with anger; I
trembled, because I was afraid he was going to commit some imprudent act
that might detain us, when I was so anxious to be flying toward Lottie;
but I had cause to change my mind very soon, for he made a modest, but
eloquent, appeal to the court in behalf of the unfortunate wife, who was
in tears.
“‘I appeal to this honorable court,’ said he, ‘to protect this
unfortunate lady; her condition is such as to entitle her to the
sympathies of all good men. The law does not require her to answer
questions that would tend to criminate her; and even if the law did not
protect her, the dictates of common humanity should be a sufficient
motive to induce the honorable attorney for the State to withdraw such a
question. We must remember that we have been taught to admire the
devotion which a wife feels for her husband. A true wife will not
forsake her husband when misfortunes overtake him; but the greater his
troubles are the closer she will cling to him; and it should prompt
every true gentleman to respect the noble sentiment of love that induces
her to do it.’
“When Harry took his seat a murmur of approval was heard among the
spectators, and the district attorney said:
“‘I fully indorse the sentiments so eloquently expressed by my young
friend, and will therefore not press the question further; I will also
say to the court that I am fully satisfied that Mr. Demar has been
unjustly imprisoned. I was well acquainted with Edward Debar; and I
hesitate not to say that I never saw two men so much alike as he and Mr.
Demar; though if they were both present I think a considerable
difference might be detected. Debar had a slight scar over his left eye,
which alone would be sufficient to distinguish him from the prisoner now
at the bar. I therefore give my consent, if the court please, that Mr.
Demar may be discharged.’
“‘Let the prisoner be discharged, Mr. Sheriff,’ growled the judge, as he
ordered the officer to adjourn court, and the great farce was ended.
“No doubt the judge and all of his officers imagined that they had done
for me a very great favor in releasing me, for which it was my duty to
feel grateful. Now, I am in favor of a faithful enforcement of the laws;
but the law is often used by unworthy men as a means of oppression.
Judicial murder has been committed in the State where I was so unjustly
punished by imprisonment. The case of young Boynton, mentioned by Mr.
Wharton in his treatise on criminal law, might be cited in proof of
this. That poor boy was hung by the neck until he was dead for a crime
he did not commit. He was a mere lad, only eighteen. He was charged with
the murder of Mr. Ellis; and when he was led out by the sheriff to be
executed, he began to scream and beg the spectators to save him,
declaring before God that he was innocent. He leaped from the scaffold
into the arms of the assembled multitude, imploring them to protect
him. Poor boy! he was put to death, and before his body had mingled,
with the dust the real murderer died, and on his death-bed confessed
that he had murdered Mr. Ellis, and that young Boynton was innocent.
This scene was enacted in a county adjoining the one where I had been so
unjustly held as a prisoner. Who shall be able to repair the injury so
wrongfully inflicted on me? Who will ever know the extent of the wrong?
“Three minutes had scarcely elapsed after my release, when Harry and I
were mounted on our high-mettled steeds, and dashing down the road at a
rapid speed. I knew that if we got to the station in time to meet the
north-bound train, we would have to press our horses to their utmost
powers. Our steeds were young, vigorous and full of good mettle, and
needed no whip or spur to urge them on.
“‘Let them go as fast as you like,’ said the owner of the noble animals,
as he handed me the reins; ‘they have excellent bottom, and will carry
you as swift as the wind.’
“We had much uneven ground to pass over, many tall hills to climb and
innumerable gullies to leap, but we never halted--on, on we dashed.
“We had placed ten miles of ground between us and the village of P----
when I saw the courier coming at a gallop to meet me; his horse was
foaming with perspiration, convincing me that he had been hard pressed.
The lad dashed up, and handed me a dispatch.
“‘I had to wait two hours at the office before the answer came,’ said
the boy, as he placed the envelope in my hand.
“This time I was prepared for the awful news; hence I did not feel such
a shock as I had felt when the other dispatch was handed to me, though
the news was worse than that contained in the first telegram. But you
would probably understand matters better by hearing the telegram read;
it is from Doctor Dodson, who remained with Lottie all the time:
“‘DEAR EDDIE--Your second message was received. I deeply regret
that I have nothing but the worst news to communicate--our darling
Lottie is slowly but surely passing away. She may possibly live
twenty-four hours longer, though I think she will die to-night. I
would be so glad if you and Harry could get here before she dies,
because she expresses such great anxiety to see you. She says she
does not feel a particle of pain. God seems to be merciful in that
respect Her mind remains perfectly clear, and she converses
rationally, but most of her conversation is about you and Harry. I
believe if she could see you it would greatly relieve her mind, and
that then she would pass away without a struggle. If you could
reach home to-night you might see her before she dies. May God, in
His great mercy, give you courage and strength to bear this great
loss with becoming fortitude! DODSON.’
“As soon as I finished reading this telegram I handed it to Harry, then
told the messenger to go to the village and remain till morning, so as
to give his horse the necessary rest, and the next day to go back to the
station and get our horses and deliver them to the owner. I presented
him my fine gold watch, as a reward for his faithful services, then
dashed away as fast as my gallant steed could carry me.
“When we were within five miles of the station Harry looked at his watch
and observed:
“‘If we get to the station in time for the up-train we will have a close
race indeed; we have only twenty minutes to make the five miles.’
“I did not believe that I was doing wrong on that occasion when I urged
my noble horse forward to the very top of his speed. I knew it would
distress and press him both for us to make it in time, yet I believed he
could do it without endangering his life. My conclusions were correct;
for we did dismount at the station as the train dashed into the streets
of the little town. We gave our horses in charge of the livery stable
keeper, and stepped on the platform just as the train began to move.
“I wish I could convey to my audience a correct idea of my feelings when
I began to hope I would reach home in time to see Lottie before death
claimed her. I hastily wrote a dispatch with my pencil, intending to
have it sent forward from the next office, notifying Doctor Dodson that
we were on the train and would reach home that night. Here is the
identical telegram--I have been careful to preserve them:
“‘DEAR DOCTOR--We are aboard the train, and will be home to-night.
For Heaven’s sake don’t let my darling die before we come! Send an
answer so it will meet us at Grenada. We are due there at eight
o’clock. Tell Lottie that we are begging God to spare her dear
life. Cheer her up with hope; I can’t bear the thought of losing my
darling!’
“This dispatch was handed to the operator at the first office we
reached, who promised to forward it without delay. Then I dropped down
on my seat and spent every moment in earnest prayer.
“It was fifteen minutes past eight when the train arrived at Grenada,
and I believe that city is just one hundred miles from Memphis. That is
the place where the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad connects with the
New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago Railroad, and we would have to take
the Mississippi and Tennessee road to go to Memphis. As soon as the
train halted I hastened to the telegraph office to inquire for news, as
I was expecting an answer to my last message. I was well acquainted with
the young man who had charge of the office at Grenada--he had formerly
resided in Memphis. He was about my own age, and we had been bosom
friends for many years. I rushed into his presence and hurriedly
inquired if there was a dispatch in the office for me.
“‘Take a seat, Demar,’ said the operator, ‘you look very ill; can I do
anything for you?’
“‘Any telegram here for me?’ I exclaimed, disregarding his kind offer.
“‘Yes,’ he hesitatingly answered, ‘but you had better take a seat and
compose yourself before you read it. The news it brings is very bad,
though I infer that you have been expecting it.’
“The objects in the room seemed to be running round, a blindness began
to close over my eyes, and I felt a smothering sensation in my throat
and lungs. The operator very fortunately happened to think of a bottle
of spirits of camphor that he had bought from the drug-store that
day--he seized it and sprinkled my face and moistened my beard with the
liquid, which I believe prevented me from fainting. After a few minutes
had elapsed I requested him to give me the dispatch.
“‘You may give it to me now,’ I said, ‘because I am prepared for the
very worst.’
“He handed the envelope to me and I read the following words:
“‘MY DEAR BOY--Trust in God--He alone can comfort you now--our
darling is dying. Death began to lay his cold hands on her dear
body at four o’clock. She may linger four or five hours longer, but
I think all will be over before that time. She expressed so much
anxiety to see Viola that the sheriff very kindly consented to
bring her here, and when they met it was the most affecting scene I
ever witnessed. I fear we committed an error in allowing Viola to
come, because as soon as the sheriff started away with his prisoner
Lottie became worse, and is still rapidly failing. But how could I
have the heart to refuse to let her see Viola, when she insisted so
earnestly to have her sent for? Lottie leaves many messages of love
with us to be delivered to you when you come, provided you do not
arrive in time to receive them from her own lips.
“‘I beseech you, my dear boy, to bow submissively to the will of
God--and remember you can meet Lottie in Heaven if you try. You
will also understand that you are not the only one who grieves for
this great affliction.
DODSON.’
“‘When does the train start for Memphis?’
“‘Seven o’clock in the morning,’ replied the agent.
“‘Alas! that would be too late; all will be over before then,’ was my
reply.
“‘I believe,’ said the agent, ‘that under the circumstances the
superintendent would let you have an extra train for a reasonable
compensation. I will ask him by telegraph, if you wish it.’
‘“You are very kind, sir, and I thank you; please make the request
without delay. Tell the superintendent that money is no object--the
value of the engine and coach is offered, and will be promptly paid if
required. I beg you, sir, not to lose a moment. If you only knew how
precious time is to me now, you would be in a hurry!’
“While I was urging the agent to send the message, the clicking of the
instrument under his thumb and finger indicated the fact that the
electric fluid was dashing the request into the office at Memphis. The
dispatch was gone in three minutes. A short conversation was then
commenced between the superintendent at Memphis and the agent at
Grenada. As the clicking of the instrument carried the words to the ear
of the operator, he conveyed them to my ear by word of mouth.
“‘Is number seven there?’ inquired the superintendent.
“‘Yes,’ was the operator’s reply.
“‘Is she in good running order?’
“‘I will ascertain in a moment.’
“‘Go ask Mr. Steelbrim to come here quickly,’ said the operator to a
little negro who was dozing near the door.
“The little fellow rose up, shook himself, rubbed his eyes with his
sleeve, gaped, and staggered up against the wall and said:
“‘Sir!’
“The order was quickly repeated, and the boy walked leisurely away. It
was but a few minutes until a little dark-haired man, with long black
whiskers and large expressive eyes, entered the office. His garments
were covered with grease and smut, and his hands were thrust deep down
in his pockets, and a don’t-care sort of expression was visible on his
face.
“‘Is number seven in good running order, Mr. Steelbrim?’ inquired the
operator.
“‘Apple-pie, hunkadory, O. K.--no mistake. Never nothing wrong with that
old gal when under my command, you bet!’ was replied by the greasy
little man as he limped across the floor, for his left leg was shorter
by two inches than the other.
“‘How long before you can heat her up and be ready to make a quick run
to Memphis, Mr. Steelbrim?’
“‘Do it in less than no time, sir; the old gal’s pretty hot now--just
began to cool her off. She hain’t been in more’n ten minits; but what’s
up?’
“‘An extra train to Memphis; a quick run--very important--no time to be
lost--get ready immediately; take one coach and back down here, and the
orders will be ready.’
“‘Good! The old gal can make the run in two hours, if she has a clean
road and no bigger load than one coach. Glad to make the run--wanted to
go to Memphis anyhow--sweetheart there--want to see her--was going to
ask for leave anyway--ten minits we’ll be off like a greased streak of
lightnin’!’
“The greasy little man moved away as if he meant business.
“‘Number seven is in good order--Mr. Steelbrim anxious to make the run,’
said the operator to the superintendent by wire.
“‘Start him at 8:50 with one coach. Let him make the run in 2:30 if he
can. Order track to be cleared. Tell number four to take side track at
Sardis. Number seven will only stop two minutes at Sardis for
orders--two minutes at Hernando for same purpose--no other stop to be
made.’
“As the operator repeated this order to me hope, which I thought had
died within me, began to revive. A glimmering hope it was indeed, yet it
was a live hope that I should once more gaze on those pretty blue eyes
before death set his cold seal on them forever. I hurriedly wrote the
following message, which the operator sent to Dr. Dodson:
“‘Will leave here by special train at 8:50, and arrive at depot at
11:20; have carriage at depot. Tell Lottie we are coming. For
Heaven’s sake keep her alive till we come! Answer this at Sardis.
Don’t fail nor lose time. Will send another telegram from Sardis.’
“By the time this dispatch had been forwarded, Mr. Steelbrim had moved
his engine onto the main track, and began to back down to the depot.
“‘All right, cap; the old gal’s a-pantin’ to be off. Steam one-forty and
a-risin’. What’s the orders?’
“The operator read the orders carefully; then handed the paper to Mr.
Steelbrim.
“‘Good! All aboard!’ cried the greasy little man, as he leaped on the
cab and seized the throttle-lever.
“‘Pile on the coal, Jim; keep her a-bilin’; time’s up in three minits;
old gal’s a-champin’ her bits; but I’m the chap that’ll hold her on the
rail and let her fly directly!’
“Harry and I stepped aboard and took seats opposite each other in
silence. A dim lamp struggled for life in one corner of the coach, while
a pale light cast a gloomy appearance over the seats.
“‘Time’s up!’ exclaimed Mr. Steelbrim, as he gave the lever a backward
pull, and the engine dashed rapidly away.”