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EVELINE MANDEVILLE.
Or, The Horse Thief Rival
by
ALVIN ADDISON
Author of "The Rival Hunters."
Cincinnati:
Published by U. P. James,
167 Walnut Street.
1837
CHAPTER I.
"Why do you persist in refusing to receive the addresses of Willard Duffel,
when you know my preference for him?"
"Because I do not like him."
"'Do not like him,' forsooth! And pray, are you going to reject the best
offer in the county because of a simple whim? the mere fancy of a
vain-headed, foolish and inexperienced girl? I did not before suppose that
a daughter of mine would manifest such a want of common sense."
"Whether my opinions of men are made up of that rare article so
inappropriately called 'common sense' or not, is a question I shall not
attempt to decide; it is sufficient for me to know that I have my 'likes
and my dislikes,' as well as other folks, and that it is my _right_ to have
them."
"Oh, yes! _you_ have rights, but a _parent_ has not, I suppose!"
"You know very well, father, that I do not deserve an insinuation of that
kind from you: I have always regarded your wishes, when expressed, save in
this one instance, and I have too much at stake, in so serious a matter, to
lightly throw aside my own opinions."
"Yes, yes, you have been the most obliging of daughters, to hear your own
story; but no sooner does a point of any moment come up, upon which we
happen to disagree, than my wishes are as nothing--a mere school-girl whim
is set up in opposition to them, and that, too, without even a shadow of
reason! A _very_ dutiful child, truly."
"Father, how _can_ you talk so? You surely are but trying me; for you
_know_ I do not merit the rebuke conveyed by your words and manner."
"Why not?"
"Why do I?"
"Because you are willfully disobedient."
"No, not _willfully_ but _sorrowfully_ disobedient to your wishes. Glad,
indeed, would I be if I could comply with them, but I cannot. Nor should
you expect me to, until you show some good grounds why you entertain them."
"Have I not already done so repeatedly? Have I not told you that Duffel's
prospects are fairer than those of any other young man of your
acquaintance? Is he not wealthy? Has he not one of the best farms in the
country? What more do you want?"
"A man of principle, not of property."
"And is not Duffel a man of principle? Is he not strictly honorable in all
his dealings?"
"He may or may not be honest in his dealings; I do not allude to business,
but _moral_ principle, and in this I think he is decidedly wanting."
"Why do you think so?"
"His actions and manners impress me with such a belief; I _feel_ it more
than _see_ it, yet I am as fully satisfied on that point as if he had told
me in so many words that he had no regard for the restraints of morality
and religion, save such as a decent respect for the customs and opinion of
society enjoins."
"Mere fancy again! I'd like to know if you expect to live in any of the
air-castles you are building?"
"I think there is not quite as much probability of my inhabiting one of
them as there is of Duffel's incarceration in the penitentiary."
"What do you mean, girl?"
"To be plain, I do not believe Duffel's wealth was honestly obtained, or is
honestly held. You have heard of the Secret Gang of Horse Thieves, I
suppose. Well, I overheard this immaculate Duffel of yours, without any
intention on my part, conversing with a 'hale fellow well met,'--no other
than the stranger you yourself suspected of being a villain--and from the
tenor of their remarks, they belong to some clique of rascals. I could not
gather a very distinct idea as to what the organization was formed to
accomplish, for I could not hear all that was said; but I learned enough to
satisfy myself that all was not right. I had not mentioned the circumstance
before, for the simple reason that I wished to obtain stronger evidence
against the parties, but you have my secret--act upon it as you think
best."
This conversation will sufficiently explain itself. A father desires his
daughter to marry against her will, because a wealthy suitor proposes for
her hand, but she cannot accede to his wishes, because, we presume, she has
a romantic notion that _love_ ought to have something to do, in making
matrimonial connections.
The father was somewhat taken aback by the revelations of the daughter at
the close of their interview, and left her to ponder on the subject, and,
if possible, to ascertain the truth as to the guilt or innocence of the
parties suspected.
Duffel, from some source, obtained an inkling of how matters stood, and
seeing the father, had a long interview with him in private. What was the
purport of his part of the conference, and the object he had in view, may
be gathered from the following passage between father and daughter.
"So, ho, my girl, you thought to deceive me concerning young Duffel, did
you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You would have me believe him a horse-thief and a bird for the
penitentiary?" he went on, without seeming to notice her interposition.
"Well, your well-devised scheme has failed of its object, and I have at
once revealed to me its purpose and end, and its originator."
"I do not understand you, sir!"
"Oh, no! very ignorant all of a sudden! You forgot one of the most material
portions of your revelation to me the other day, and that was _the name of
your confederate_ in concocting that story of the guilty associations of
Willard Duffel."
"I had no associate, and I have never mentioned the circumstance to a
living soul except yourself. Now, please be equally frank, and tell who
your confederate is in this plot to make your daughter out a hypocrite and
a liar?"
The father was startled by this bold demand, which, indeed, opened his eyes
to the enormity of his child's wickedness, if his charges against her were
true; but he had set his face to one point, and not being easily turned
aside from a purpose, proceeded:
"I am not to be deceived by a show of indignation and virtue, when it is
assumed for effect. You need not put yourself to the trouble of a denial or
confession; I know who is associated with you to traduce Duffel; it is no
other than the one who stands between you and the man of my choice--a poor
beggarly fellow, to whom you have taken a fancy because of his
worthlessness, I suppose. You understand who I mean. Well, he shall stand
between me and my wishes--or rather between you and good fortune--no
longer."
Indignation, surprise, wonder, fear, resentment, and a hundred other
emotions filled the mind of the daughter during the delivery of this
address; but amid them all, there was a purpose as fixed as that of her
sire's to have a voice in the matter of her own disposal. But before
anything further transpired, the father cast his eyes out of the open
window, and seeing a gentleman approaching, said:
"There comes that beggarly dog now! I must go and meet him."
And without further ceremony or explanation, he immediately left the house.
It would be a difficult task to portray the feelings of the daughter at
this moment. She saw that her father was incensed, but the sorrow that this
circumstance would otherwise have engendered in her bosom, was lost in the
feeling that an outrage had been perpetrated upon her rights and
sensibilities, and she felt the blood of indignation coursing through her
veins, and mounting her temples and brow. How could she help these
emotions, when she _knew_ that injustice had been done--that she had been
insulted by an implication of falsehood, when she was conscious of a free,
full and honorable rectitude of purpose, and that, too, by her own father!
These thoughts rushed through her mind with lightning speed, and the tears
forced themselves to her eyes--tears half of sorrow, half of anger.
But now a new source of anxiety, mixed with alarming apprehensions, took
possession of her distracted mind. Her father had left the house abruptly,
and looking in the direction he had taken, she beheld him in violent
conversation with Charles Hadley, the only man for whom she had ever
entertained sentiments of tender regard, the only one to whose "tale of
love" she had listened with quickened pulses and beating heart, the only
one to whom she had plighted her faith, with whom exchanged vows of love
and constancy. And her parent had just termed him beggarly! What could be
the cause of his dislike? and for what purpose had he sought the young man
in so strange and unaccountable a mood? and what was the nature of the
interview between them?
Such were the thoughts that hurried across the mind of the young girl; and,
hardly knowing what she did, she stole up to her chamber-window, which was
in full view of the gentlemen, and placing her ear in a listening attitude,
bent all her energies to gain a knowledge of what was said; and, having so
much at stake, we must excuse the exceptionable act.
"It is not worth while for you to deny it, Hadley, as I have the most
positive proof of your designs."
These were the first words that greeted the daughter's ears, and they sent
a chill to her heart. She knew that her lover was impetuous, and feared the
charge made against him, which she could not but perceive was a grave one,
would cause him to commit some rash or unguarded act, the results of which,
in the existing state of affairs, would be unfortunate. His reply, however,
was calm, and his manner cool and self-possessed, and she listened to the
remainder of the conversation with breathless attention and intensely
absorbed interest.
"Pray, sir, will you be so kind as to give me the name of the individual
who has dared to accuse me of a base plot? You certainly cannot refuse so
small a request, and yet of such great importance to me, as it gives me the
only possible chance of clearing myself from the groundless charges
preferred against me so invidiously."
"I do not feel disposed to reveal the name of my informant, as it would
lead to an unpleasant rencounter, and result in no good. Suffice it to say,
he enjoys my entire confidence, and that I give to his words the fullest
credit."
"Sir, I must consider this a very strange course for a gentleman to pursue.
You are evidently laboring under a serious mistake, and it would give me
the greatest pleasure to convince you of the fact, would you allow me to do
so; but as I cannot do that, will you permit me to hold a moment's
conversation with your daughter?"
"Why, sir, it was to prevent that very thing that I met you here. No, I
cannot grant your request; and hereafter you will please consider my
daughter as a stranger, and my door as closed against you! Not a word, sir;
not a word--my resolution is taken unchangeably. I can not and will not
permit my child to associate with those whom I know to be unworthy. Sir, I
will hear no word of explanation! Go!"
Hadley felt the unkindness and injustice of Mandeville's remarks, and had
he merely consulted his own feelings, he would have retired at once, and
never again intruded himself upon the society of one who could show himself
so destitute of the characteristics of a gentleman. But there was another
than himself that must suffer should he go, as his feelings prompted, from
the premises of her father forever. Love was all-powerful in his breast at
that hour, and choking down the rising emotions of anger and excitement, he
attempted to reason with the stern man before him.
"But you surely," he commenced, "do not mean to drive me from your door
without a hearing? You certainly are too much of a gentleman for that."
"I mean, sir, that I will allow no base, thieving miscreant to enter my
house; nor will I permit a daughter of mine to hold intercourse with such
villains! And more than that, I will tell you, sir, that I am not to be
dictated to, as to whose company I shall keep, or whom admit to my house,
by any such worthless, gallows-deserving scamp as yourself!"
This was more than Hadley could bear. He had resolved not to become
excited, but anger rose in his bosom in spite of his will, and he answered
in deep, excited tones:
"Sir, no man can apply such epithets to me and go unchastised. I demand a
recantation of your unfounded charges, and an apology for their utterance."
And as he spoke he assumed a menacing attitude. Rage at once filled the
breast of Mandeville, and instantly rendered him altogether ungovernable.
He raised his clenched fist, as if to strike the young man, and hissed
savagely between his set teeth:
"Insolent villain! do you dare to insult me thus at my own door! Away in a
moment, or I'll smite you to the earth without another word!"
Hadley stood still.
"Go, vile dog! I say; go!" and he drew back his arm to strike.
At this moment, a piercing shriek arrested the attention of both gentlemen.
It was a deep wail of agony, as though it came from a crushed heart. It
emanated from the house, and the first motion of the two in conversation
was to start forward in that direction; but recalling the words of the
proprietor, that he was never to enter his dwelling again, Hadley paused
and turned away, but loitered about the premises till he saw the father
ride off in great haste toward the nearest village, and speedily return,
quickly followed by a physician; then he left, with a vague feeling of
dread laboring at his heart.