THE EATON FAMILY.
"There is an American family on board--some persons whom the Harringtons
have met before in the South, and who have attempted to renew the
acquaintance. The old people seem to me very coarse, common-place
persons--planters from the interior of Louisiana--rich and vulgar; but
the daughter is beautiful--a blonde, with lovely hair, full of sunshine,
and eyes of that deep purplish blue which one seldom sees after
childhood. Her figure is petite but finely rounded. She has all the
health and freshness of a child, with the sweetest graces of womanhood.
Yes, I can say this, and acknowledge the charm of her beauty, though she
has given me the most wretched day I ever passed in my life.
"James Harrington had known her before, and was rejoiced at the meeting.
When he saw her across the deck my hand was on his arm, for we were
walking together. The start he gave shook off my hold and, with both
hands extended, he went to meet her, glad as I had never seen him
before.
"The girl blushed like a rose, and came forward to meet him, quite half
way, smiling up in his face as I had never dared to smile through all
the months of our domestic intercourse. My heart turned cold. I felt a
strange contraction about my mouth as if all the blood were retreating
from the lips, which would not syllable a word when he brought the young
lady towards me and presented her.
"She looked at me earnestly, like a child who felt itself repulsed, and
stood silent as if expecting me to come out of my reticence and receive
her as every one evidently did.
"At last I spoke with an effort, and I dare say brusquely, for I felt
that my voice sounded forced and cold.
"'You are an old friend--you have known Gen. Harrington and his family
before?' I said.
"'Oh yes,' she answered, smiling up at James. 'We are old friends. How
long is it, Mr. Harrington, since you taught me to ride? Indeed, Miss
Crawford, I think he has taught me almost everything worth knowing that
I can boast of.'
"I made an effort to smile, and answered in the insincerity of my pain,
that it must have been a pleasant task to instruct so lovely a pupil.
"She laughed sweetly, and replied in her childish fashion, 'He used to
say as much, but I am sure it was only to encourage me.'
"Just then her father crossed the deck, radiant with pleasure, and
shouted a greeting as he came. He was a large, heavy man, robust and
genial, overshadowed by a broad Panama hat, and flourishing a large
white handkerchief in his hand, as if it had been the star spangled
banner, which was to open the heart of every American he met.
"'Hallo! We have overtaken them at last, have we, Miss Lucy? Now I hope
you are satisfied. How are you, Harrington? Did not expect to see us in
this part of the world, I dare say? Is the General and Mrs. Harrington
on board? Of course I might have known as much from a sight of this
young lady. The General's ward, I suppose.' Here Mr. Eaton took off his
Panama hat and made an elaborate bow, which I returned, striving to meet
his cordiality, with some show of interest.
"'Well, this is comfortable,' he said, fanning himself with the broad
rim of his hat, 'of all countries in the world Spain is the one where an
American likes to meet an American best. I don't understand one word of
their lingo, and our courier isn't much better off--hates the Spaniards
so that he never would learn their language, in hopes that it might keep
any one from bringing him here. But he is a good fellow, can be trusted
with untold gold. Language or no language, I wasn't going to do without
him. But it is awkward work trying to make these Spaniards understand.
Ask what you will and they answer all alike, Kiem Sabe, as if that was
the answer to an honest question. Oh my boy, I'd give twice the money we
got for her, that I hadn't sold you that girl Zillah. When we took her
to Cuba she pitched in and learned the language right smart; wonderful
girl that; have you got her yet, Harrington?'
"'She came with us to Spain,' said Harrington, looking a good deal
disturbed, 'but you forget she was General Harrington's purchase. I
believe my mother took a fancy to her.'
"'Your mother! Why bless your soul, she never saw the girl till General
Harrington took her home. He said that _you_ had urged him to buy her;
come, come, don't blush up like that, what the deuce do I care who
fancied the girl, she was a great bargain to any one.'
"'Are you speaking of Zillah?' said Miss Eaton, languidly. 'What a
pretty creature she was. It seemed a shame to keep her with the other
negroes. I remember often and often visitors mistook her for me.'
"'But that was before they had seen you, Lucy. The girl is well enough,
but no one could mistake her for you. Such coal black hair, eyes like
velvet. Yes, yes, the girl was a beauty,--one good reason why I was
willing to sell her.'
"James Harrington was so annoyed by the conversation, that he walked
away frowning. I had never seen his noble face darken so unpleasantly
before.
"Miss Eaton laughed, and followed him with a pair of sparkling eyes,
that had a world of mischief in them.
"'Something wrong I see. That girl will keep things stirring wherever
she is; knows a heap, and far too handsome for my plantation; glad to
get rid of her, if the truth must be told. Women folks were fools enough
to teach her to read and write, after that she took the bits into her
own mouth, and learned every thing. What do you think I would do with a
fancy slave like that?'
"'Father, you cannot see, but General Harrington is coming,' said Miss
Eaton.
"'Oh, ho! my old friend, how is the lady?'
"'Mrs. Harrington is quite well, the voyage has done her a world of
good, long enough for a chance at health you understand. That is why we
selected a sailing vessel. It isn't going to sea at all when you get
into the steamers. Where is James? I thought he came this way, his
mother wants him.'
"'Oh, I am to blame, I drove him off talking about that girl Zillah.'
"'Come this way,' said the General hastily, 'I wish to surprise Mrs.
Harrington, she will be rejoiced to know that you are here.'
"They went away together. I saw General Harrington stop his friend after
they got out of hearing, and talk with him earnestly as if expostulating
about something. Then I saw Mr. Eaton clap his hand on the General's
shoulders, nod his head half a dozen times, and move on as if some
matter had been amicably settled between them. From that day, I never
heard Mr. Eaton mention the girl Zillah again. Was it because James
Harrington seemed so displeased with the subject?
"I was left alone with the young lady, who seemed so sweet and good that
it was impossible to look upon her with anything but kindness. Yet I
never turned towards her without a nervous thrill that almost held my
breath; every line of her face, and graceful curve of her form, seemed
burned on my memory from the first moment I saw her. Was this jealousy?
What had I to be jealous of? A fair girl whom he had known well, and was
pleased to see in a strange country, where friends are few and unusually
welcome, surely I am not so weak or wild as to give myself up to an
unreasonable and unreasoning fancy like that."