When Leo Gordon celebrated her twenty-second birthday, Judge Dent,
appreciating the importance of familiarizing her with the business
details and technicalities of commercial usage, incident to the
management of her large estate, had insisted upon terminating his
guardianship, and transferring to her all responsibility for the future
conduct of her financial affairs. New books were placed in her hands,
in which he required her to keep systematically and legibly all her
accounts; she drew and signed her own checks, and semi-annually
furnished for his inspection a neat balance-sheet.
As adviser, and agent for the collection of dividends and rents, the
change or renewal of investments, he maintained only a general
supervision, and left her untrammelled the use of her income. As a
dangerous innovation upon time-honored customs, which under the ante
bellum regime, had kept Southern women as ignorant of practical
business routine, as of the origin of the Weddas of Ceylon, Miss Patty
bitterly opposed and lamented her brother's decision; dismally
predicting that the result must inevitably be the transformation of
their refined, delicate, clinging "Southern lady", into that abhorred
monster--"a strong-minded independent business woman".
Intensely loyal to the social standard, usages and traditions of an
aristocracy, that throughout the South had guarded its patrician ranks
with almost Brahmin jealousy, she sternly decried every infringement of
caste custom and etiquette. Nature and education had combined to
deprive her of any adaptability to the new order of things; and she
rejected the idea that "a lady should transact business", with the same
contemptuous indignation that would have greeted a proposition to wear
"machine-sewed garments", that last resort of impecunious plebeianism.
However unwelcome Leo had found this assumption of the grave duties of
mature womanhood, she met the responsibility unflinchingly, and
gathered very firmly the reins transferred to her fair hands for
guidance. Judge Dent and Miss Patty were the last of their family,
except the orphan niece who had been left to their care, and as their
earthly possessions would ultimately descend to her, she had been
reared in the conviction that their house was her only home.
Study and travel, potent factors in the march of progress, had so
enlarged the periphery of Leo's intellectual vision, that she
frequently startled her prim aunt, by the enunciation of views much too
extended and cosmopolitan to fit that haughty dame's Procrustean limits
of "Southern ladyhood". Blessed with a discriminating governess and
chaperon, who while fostering a genuine love of the beautiful, had
endeavored to guard her pupil from straying into any of those
fashionable "art crazes", which in their ephemeral exaggeration
approach caricatures of aestheticism, Leo became deeply imbued with the
spirit of classic literature and art; and grew especially fond of the
study of Greek and Roman architecture.
Believing that the similarity of climate in her native State, justified
the revival of an archaic style of building, she ardently desired and
finally obtained her uncle's consent to the erection (as an addition to
the Dent mansion), of a suite of rooms, designed in accordance with her
taste, and for her own occupancy. Hampered by no prudential economic
considerations, and fearless of criticism as regarded archaeological
anachronisms, Leo allowed herself a wide-eyed eclecticism, that
resulted in a thoroughly composite structure, eminently satisfactory at
least to its fastidious owner. A single story in height, it contained
only four rooms, and on a reduced scale resembled the typical house of
Pansa, except that the flat roof rose in the center to a dome.
Constituting a western wing of the old brick mansion which it adjoined,
the entrance fronting north, opened from a portico with clustered
columns, into a square vestibule; which led directly to a large,
octagonal atrium, surrounded by lofty fluted pillars with foliated
capitals that supported the arched and frescoed ceiling. In the centre,
a circular impluvium was sunk in the marble paved floor, where in
summer a jet of spray sprang from the water on whose surface lily pads
floated; and in winter, shelves were inserted, which held blooming pot
plants, that were arranged in the form of a pyramid. The dome
overarching this, was divided into three sections; the lower frescoed,
the one above it filled with Etruscan designs in stained glass; the
upper, formed of white ground glass sprinkled with gilt stars
representing constellations, was so constructed, that it could be
opened outward in panels, and thus admit the fresh air.
On the east side of this atrium, Leo's bed-room connected with that
occupied by Miss Patty in the old house; and opposite, on the west, was
a large square Pompeian library, with dark red dado, daintily frescoed
panels, and richly tinted glowing frieze. At the end of this apartment,
and concealed by purple velvet curtains lined with rose silk, an arch
opened into a small semi-circular chapel or oratory, lighted by stained
glass windows, whose brilliant hues fell on a marble altar upheld by
two kneeling figures; and here lay the family Bible of Leo's
great-grandfather, Duncan Gordon, with tall bronze candelabra on each
side, holding wax candles. At the right of two marble steps that led to
the altar, was spread a rug, and upon this stood an ebony reading-desk
where a prayer-book rested. Filling a niche in the wall on the left
side, the gilded pipes of an organ rose to meet a marble console that
supported a Greek cross.
In order to secure an unobstructed vista from the front door, that
portion of the building which corresponded to the ancient tablinum, was
used merely as an aviary, where handsome brass cages of various shapes
showed through their burnished wires snowy cockatoos, gaudy paroquets,
green and gold canaries, flaming red and vivid blue birds, and one huge
white owl, whose favorite perch when allowed his freedom, was a bronze
Pallas on a projecting bracket.
Conspicuous among these, was a peculiar cage made of tortoise shell,
ivory and silver wire, which Leo had assigned to a scarlet-crested,
crimson-throated Australian cockatoo. Beyond this undraped rear
vestibule stretched the peristyle, a parallelogram, surrounded by a
lofty colonnade. The centre of this space was adorned by a rockery
whence a fountain rose; flower beds of brilliant annuals and coleus
encircled it like a mosaic, and the ground was studded with orange and
lemon trees, banana and pineapple plants; while at the farther side
delicate exotic grape vines were trained from column to column.
In summer this beautiful court was entirely open to the sky, but at the
approach of winter a movable framework of iron pillars was erected,
which supported a glass roof, that sloped southward, and garnered heat
and sunshine. Neither chimneys nor fireplaces were visible, but a
hidden furnace thoroughly warmed the entire house, and in each
apartment the registers represented braziers of classic design.
Except for the external entrances, doors had been abolished; portieres
of plush, satin, and Oriental silk closed all openings in winter; and
during long sultry Southern summers were replaced by draperies of lace,
and wicker-work screens where growing ivy and smilax trained their cool
green leaves, and graceful tendrils. Wooden floors had accompanied the
doors to Coventry; and everywhere squares of marble, and lemon and blue
tiles showed shimmering surfaces between the costly rugs, and fur robes
scattered lavishly about the rooms. Surrounded by a gilded wreath of
olive leaves, and incised on an architrave fronting the vestibule, the
golden "Salve" greeted visitors; just beneath it, on an antique shaped
table of topaz-veined onyx, stood a Vulci black bowl or vase, decorated
in vermilion with Bacchanal figures; and this Leo filled in summer with
creamy roses, in winter, with camellias. Where the shrines and Lares
stood in ancient houses, a square, burnished copper pedestal fashioned
like an altar had been placed, and upon it rose from a bed of carved
lilies, a copy in white marble of Palmer's "Faith".
From the front portico, one could look through the vestibule, the
atrium, the aviary, and on into the peristyle, where among vine
branches and lemon boughs, the vista was closed by a flight of stone
steps with carved cedar balustrade, leading up to the flat roof, where
it sometimes pleased the mistress to take her tea, or watch the sunset.
In selecting and ordering designs for the furniture, a strict adherence
to archaic types had been observed; hence the couches, divans, chairs,
and tables, the pottery and bric-a-brac, the mirrors and draperies,
were severely classic.
An expensive whim certainly, far exceeding the original estimate of its
cost; and Miss Patty bewailed the "wicked extravagance of squandering
money that would have built a handsome church, and supported for life
two missionaries in mid-China"; but Judge Dent encouraged and approved,
reviving his classical studies to facilitate the successful
accomplishment of the scheme. When the structure was completed and Leo
declared herself perfectly satisfied with the result, it was her uncle
who had proposed to celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday by a mask-ball
in which every costume should be classic, distinctively Roman or Greek;
and where the mulsum dispensed to the guests should be mixed in a
genuine Cratera.
To this brilliant fete, one cloudless June night, friends from distant
States were invited; and fragrant with the breath of its glowing roses,
the occasion became memorable, embalmed forever in Leo's happy heart,
because then and there, beside the fountain in the peristyle, she had
pledged her hand and faith to Mr. Dunbar.
Sitting to-day in front of the library window, whence she had looped
back the crimson curtains, to admit the November sunshine, Leo was
absorbed in reading the description of the private Ambar-valia
celebrated by Marius at "White Nights". Under the spell of the Apostle
of Culture, whose golden precept: "BE PERFECT IN REGARD TO WHAT IS HERE
AND NOW," had appealed powerfully to her earnest exalted nature, she
failed to observe the signals of her pet ring-doves cooing on the ledge
outside. Finally their importunate tapping on the glass arrested her
attention, and she raised the sash and scattered a handful of rice and
millet seed; whereupon a cloud of dainty wings swept down, and into the
library, hovering around her sunny head, and pecking the food from her
open palms. One dove seemed particularly attracted by the glitter of
the diamond in her engagement ring, and perched on her wrist, made
repeated attempts to dislodge the jewel from its crown setting.
Playfully she shook it off several times, and amused by its
pertinacity, finally closed her hands over it, and rubbed her soft
cheek against the delicate silvery plumage.
"No, no, you saucy scamp! I can't afford to feed you on diamonds from
my sacred ring! Did you get your greedy nature from some sable Dodonean
ancestress? If we had lived three thousand years ago, I might be
superstitious, and construe your freak into an oracular protest against
my engagement. Feathered augurs survive their shrines. Clear out! you
heretic!"
As she tossed it into the garden and closed the window, the portiere of
the library was drawn aside, and her maid approached, followed by a
female figure draped in a shawl and wearing a lofty turban.
"Miss Leo, Aunt Dyce wants to see you on some particular business."
"Howdy do, Aunt Dyce? It is a long time since you paid us a visit.
Justine, push up a chair for her, and then open the cages and let the
birds out for an hour. What is the matter, Aunt Dyce, you look
troubled? Sit down, and tell me your tribulations."
"Yes, Miss Leo, I am in deep waters; up to my chin in trouble, and my
heart is dragging me down; for it's heavier 'an a bushel of lead. You
don't remember your own ma, do you?"
"I wish I did; but I was only five months old when I lost her."
"Well, if she was living to-day, she would stretch her two hands and
pull me out of muddy waves; and that's why I have come to you. You see,
Miss Marcia and my young Mistiss, Miss Ellice, was bosom friends,
playmates, and like sisters. They named their dolls after one another,
and many a time your ma brought her wax doll to our house, for me to
dress it just like Miss Ellice's, 'cause I was the seamstus in our
family, and I always humored the childun about their doll clothes. They
had their candy pullins, and their birthday frolics, and their shetlan'
ponies no bigger 'an dogs, and, oh Lord! what blessed happy times them
was! Now, your ma's in glory, and you is the richest belle in the
State; and my poor young mistiss is in the worst puggatory, the one
that comes before death; and her child, her daughter that oughter be
living in style at 'Elm Bluff', like you are here, where is she? Where
is she? Flung down among vilyans and mallyfactors, and the very
off-scourings of creation, in the penitenchery! Tears to me like, if
old mistiss is as high-headed and proud as she was in this world, her
speerit would tear down the walls and set her grandchild free. When I
saw that beautiful young thing beating her white hands agin the iron
bars, it went to my heart like a carving knife, and--"
Dyce burst into tears, and covered her face with her apron, Leo patted
her shoulder softly, and essayed to comfort her.
"Don't cry so bitterly; try to be hopeful. It is very, very sad, but if
she is innocent, her stay in prison will be short."
"There ain't no 'ifs'--when it comes to 'cusing my mistiss' child of
stealing and murdering. Suppose the sheriff was to light down here this
minute, and grab you up and tell folks 'spectable witnesses swore you
broke open your Uncle Mitchell's safe, and brained him with a handi'on?
Would you think it friendly for people to say, if she didn't they will
soon turn her aloose? Would that be any warm poultice to your hurt
feelin's? It's the stinging shame and the awful, disgrace of being
'spicioned, that you never would forgive."
"Yes, it is very dreadful, and I pity the poor girl; but it seems that
appearances are all against her, and I fear she will find it difficult
to explain some circumstances."
"If your ma was here to-day, she wouldn't say that. When she was a
friend, she was stone deaf and mole blind to every evil report agin
them she loved. Miss Marcia would go straight to that jail, and put her
arms 'round Miss Ellice's child, and stand by her till her last breath;
and the more she was pussecuted, the closer she would stick. Miss Leo,
you must take your ma's place, you must heir her friendship just like
you do her other property. I have come to you, 'cause I am going away
to New York, and can't feel easy 'till you promise me you will do what
you can. Miss Ellice is laying at the pint of death, and her poor child
is so deestracted about her needing comforts, that I tole her I'de go
on an' nuss her ma for her, 'till she was sot free and could hurry
back. I dreampt last night that ole mistiss called me and Bedney, and
said 'Take good care of Ellice'; and I got right out of bed and packed
my trunk. I'm just from the penitenchery, and that poor tormented child
don't know me, don't know nothing. Trouble have run her plum crazy, and
what with brain fever and them lie-yers, God only knows what's to
become of her. Handi'ons ain't the only godforsaken things folks are
murdered with. Miss Leo, promise me you will go to see her while I am
gone, and 'tend to it that she has good nussing."
"I will do what is possible for her comfort; and as it will be an
expensive journey to you, I will also help you to pay your passage to
New York. How much money--"
"I don't want your money, Miss Leo. Bedney and me never is beholdin' to
nobody for money. We was too sharp to drap our savings in the
'Freedman's Bank', 'cause we 'spicioned the bottom was not soddered
tight, and Marster's britches' pocket was a good enough bank for us. We
don't need to beg, borrow, nor steal. As I tole you, I was the
seamstress, and just before Miss Ellice run away from the school, ole
mistiss had a fine lot of bran-new clothes made ready for her when she
come home to be a young lady. She never did come home, and when ole
mistiss died I jist tuck them new clothes I had made, and packed 'em in
a wooden chist, and kept 'em hid away; 'cause I was determed nobody but
Miss Ellice should wear 'em. I've hid 'em twenty-three years, and now
I've had 'em done up, and one-half I tuck to that jail, for that poor
young thing, and the rest of 'em I'm gwine to carry to Miss Ellice.
They shan't need money nor clothes; for Bedney and me has got too much
famly pride to let outsiders do for our own folks; but Miss Leo, you
can do what nobody else in this wide world can. I ain't a gwine to walk
the devil 'round the stump, and you mustn't take no 'fence when I jumps
plum to the pint. Mars Lennox is huntin' down Miss Ellice's child like
a hungry hound runs a rabbit, and I want you to call him off. If he
thinks half as much of you as he oughter, you can stop him. Oh, Miss
Leo, for God's sake--call him off--muzzle him!"
Leo rose haughtily, and a quick flush fired her cheek; but as she
looked at the old woman's quivering mouth and streaming eyes,
compassion arrested her displeasure.
"Aunt Dyce, there are some things with which ladies should not meddle;
and I cannot interfere with any gentleman's business affairs."
"Oh, honey! if Miss Marcia was living, she wouldn't say that! She would
just put her arm round Miss Beryl and tell Mars Lennox: 'If you help to
hang my friend's child, you shan't marry my daughter!' Your ma had
pluck enuff to stop him. Mark what I say; that poor child is innercent,
and the Lord will clear up everything some day, and then He will
require the blood of them that condemned the innercent. Suppos'n
appearances are agin her? Wasn't appearances all agin Joseph's bruthren
when the money and the silver cup was found in their bags, and them
afleein home? And if the 'Gyptian lie-yers could have got their claws
on that case, don't you know they would have proved them innercent boys
guilty, and a hung em? Oh, I am afeerd of Mars Lennox, for he favors
his pa mightily; he has got the keenest scent of all the pack; and he
went up yonder, and 'cused, and 'bused, and browbeat and aggervated and
tormented that poor, helpless young creetur,'till she fell down in a
dead faint on the jail floor; and sence then, the Doctor says her mind
is done clean gone. Don't get mad with me, Miss Leo; I am bound to
clare my conscience, and now I have done all I could, I am gwine to
leave my poor young mistiss' child in God's hands, and in yourn, Miss
Leo; and when I come back, you must gim'me an account of your
stewudship. You are enuff like Miss Marcia, not to shirk your duty; and
as you do, by that pussecuted child, I pray the Lord to do by you."
She seized Leo's hand, kissed it, and left the room.
For some moments Leo sat, with one finger between the creamy leaves of
her favorite book, but the charm was broken; her thoughts wandered far
from the stories of Apuleius, and the oration of Aurelius, and after
mature deliberation, she put aside the volume and rang the library bell.
"Justine, is Mrs. Graham here?"
"She is coming now; I see the carriage at the gate."
"Do not invite her into Aunt Patty's room, until I have seen her. Tell
Andrew to harness Gypsy, and bring my phaeton to the door; and Justine,
carry my felt hat, driving gloves and fur jacket to Aunt Patty's room."
Confined to her bed by a severe attack of her chronic foe, inflammatory
rheumatism, Miss Dent had sent for her dearest friend and faithful
colleague in church work, Mrs. Graham, who came to spend a day and
night, and discuss the affairs of the parish.
"Aunt Patty, Mrs. Graham is in the parlor, and as I am well aware you
can both cheerfully dispense with my society for the present, I am
going into town. Dyce Darrington has been here, and I have promised to
go and see that unfortunate girl who is in prison."
"Leo Gordon, you don't mean to tell me that you are going into the
penitentiary!"
"Why not?"
"It is highly improper for a young lady to visit such places, and I am
astonished that you should feel any inclination to see the countenances
of the depraved wretches herded there. I totally disapprove of such an
incomprehensible freak."
"Then I will hold the scheme in abeyance, until I ask Uncle Mitchell's
advice. I shall call at his office, and request him to go with me."
"Don't you know that the Grand Jury brought in a true bill against that
young woman? She is indicted for murder, robbery and the destruction of
her grandfather's will. Mitchell tells me the evidence is overwhelming
against her, and you know he was disposed to defend her at first."
"Yes, Aunty. I am aware that everything looks black for the unfortunate
girl; but I learn she is very ill, and as it cannot possibly injure me
to endeavor to contribute to her physical comfort. I shall go and sec
her, unless Uncle Mitchell refuses his consent to my visit to the
prison."
"But, Leo, what do you suppose Mr. Dunbar will think and say, when he
hears of this extraordinary procedure?"
"Mr. Dunbar is neither the custodian of my conscience, nor the guardian
and dictator of my actions. Good-bye, Aunty dear. Justine, show Mrs.
Graham in."
"Mr. Dunbar will never forgive such a step; because, like all other
men, no matter how much license he allows himself, he is very exacting
and fastidious about the demeanor of his lady-love."
"I shall not ask absolution of Mr. Dunbar, and I hope my womanly
intuitions are a safer and more refined guide, than any man's
fastidiousness. Remember, Aunt Patty, religion's holiest work consists
in ministering to souls steeped in sin. Are we too pure to follow where
Christ led the way?"