SANS SOUCI'S LAST FUN.
"The inconceivable idiots!" said Thurston, as he strode on through the
park of Luckenough, "to fancy that any one with eyes, heart and brain,
could possibly fall in love with the 'Will-o'-the-wisp' Jacquelina, or
worse, that giglet, Angelica; when he sees Marian! Marian, whose least
sunny tress is dearer to me than are all the living creatures in the
world besides. Marian, for whose possession I am now about to risk
everything, even her own esteem. Yet, she will forgive me; I will earn
her forgiveness by such devoted love."
He hurried on until he reached an outer gate, through which old Oliver
was driving a cart loaded with wood. As if to disencumber himself, he
threw his game bag and valuable fowling piece to the old man, saying:
"There, uncle; there's a present for you," and without waiting to hear
his thanks, hurried on, leaping hedges and ditches, until he came to the
spot where he had left his horse tied since the morning. Throwing
himself into his saddle, he put spurs to his horse, and galloped away
toward the village, nor drew rein until he reached a little tavern on
the water side. He threw his bridle to an hostler in waiting, and
hurrying in, demanded to be shown into a private room. The little parlor
was placed at his disposal. Here, for form's sake, he called for the
newspaper, cigars and a bottle of wine (none of which he discussed,
however), dismissed the attendant, and sat waiting.
Presently the odor of tar, bilge water, tobacco and rum warned him that
his expected visitor was approaching. And an instant after the door was
opened, and a short, stout, dark man in a weather-proof jacket, duck
trousers, cow-hide shoes, and tarpaulin hat entered.
"Well, Miles, I've been waiting for you here more than an hour," said
Thurston, impatiently.
"Ay, ay, sir--all right. I've been cruising round, reconnoitering the
enemy's coast," replied the man, removing the quid of tobacco from his
mouth, and reluctantly casting it into the fire.
"You are sure you know the spot?"
"Ay, ay? sir--the beach just below the Old Fields farmhouse."
"And south of the Pine Bluff."
"Ay, ay, sir. I know the port--that ain't the head wind!" said Jack
Miles, pushing up the side of his hat, and scratching his head with a
look of doubt and hesitation.
"What is, then, you blockhead?" asked Thurston, impatiently; "is your
hire insufficient?"
"N-n-n--yes--I dunno! You see, cap'n, if I wer' cock sure, as that 'ere
little craft you want carried of wer' yourn."
"Hush! don't talk so loud. You're not at sea in a gale, you fool. Well,
go on. Speak quickly and speak lower."
"I wer' gwine to say, if so be I wer' sure you wer' the cap'n of her,
why then it should be plain sailing, with no fog around, and no breakers
ahead."
"Well! I am, you fool. She is mine--my wife."
"Well, but, cap'n," said the speaker, still hesitating, "if so be that's
the case, why don't she strike her colors to her rightful owner? Why
don't you take command in open daylight, with the drums a-beating, and
the flags a-flying? What must you board her like a pirate in this way
fur? I've been a-thinkin' on it, and I think it's dangerous steering
along this coast. You see it's all in a fog; I can't make out the land
nowhere, and I'm afraid I shall be on the rocks afore I knows it. You
see, cap'n, I never wer' in such a thick mist since I first went to sea.
No offense to you, cap'n!"
"Oh, none in the world! No skillful pilot will risk his vessel in a fog.
But I have a certain golden telescope of magic powers. It enables you to
see clearly through the thickest mist, the darkest night that ever fell.
I will give it to you. In other words, I promised you five hundred
dollars for this job. Come, accomplish it to-night, and you shall have a
thousand. Is the mist lifting?"
"I think it is, cap'n! I begin to see land."
"Very well! now, is your memory as good as your sight? Do you recollect
the plan?"
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Just let me hear you go over it."
"I'm to bring the vessel round, and lay to about a quarter of a mile o'
the coast. At dusk I'm to put off in a skiff and row to Pine Bluff, and
lay under its shadow till I hear your signal. Then I'm to put to shore
and take in the--the--"
"The cargo."
"Ay, ay, sir, the cargo."
Leaving the two conspirators to improve and perfect their plot, we must
return to the breakfast parlor at Luckenough. The family were assembled
around the table. Dr. Grimshaw's dark, sombre and lowering looks, enough
to have spread a gloom over any circle, effectually banished
cheerfulness from the board. Marian had had no opportunity of reading
her note--she had slipped it into her pocket But as soon as breakfast
was over, amid the bustle of rising from the table, Marian withdrew to a
window and glanced over the lines.
"My own dearest one, forgive my haste this morning. I regret the
necessity of leaving so abruptly. I earnestly implore you to see me once
more--upon the beach, near the Pine Bluffs, this evening at dusk. I have
something of the utmost importance to say to you."
She hastily crumpled the note, and thrust it into her pocket just as
Jacquelina's quizzical face looked over her shoulder.
"You're going to stay all day with me, Marian?"
"Yes, love--that is, till after dinner. Then I shall have to beg of Mrs.
Waugh the use of the carriage to go home."
"Well, then, I will ride with you, Marian, and return in the carriage."
All the company, with the exception of Mrs. Waugh, Marian and
Jacquelina, had left the breakfast-room.
Mrs. Waugh was locking her china closet, and when she had done, she took
her bunch of keys, and turning to Marian, said:
"Hebe, dear, I want you to go with me and see poor old Cracked Nell. She
is staying in one of our quarters. I think she has not long to live, and
I want you to talk to her."
"Now?"
"Yes, dear, I am going to carry her some breakfast. So, come along, and
get your mantle," said the good woman, passing out through the door.
Marian followed, drawing out her pocket handkerchief to tie over her
head; and as she did so, the note, unperceived by her, fluttered out,
and fell upon the carpet.
Jacquelina impulsively darted upon it, picked it up, opened, and read
it. Had Jacquelina first paused to reflect, she would never have done
so. But when did the elf ever stop to think? As she read, her eyes began
to twinkle, and her feet to patter up and down, and her head to sway
from side to side, as if she could scarcely keep from singing and
dancing for glee.
"Well, now, who'd a thought it! Thurston making love to Marian! And
keeping the courtship close, too, for fear of the old miser. Lord, but
look here! This was not right of me? Am I a pocket edition of Miss Nancy
Skamp! Forbid it, Titania, Queen of the Fairies! But I didn't steal
it--I found it! And I must, oh! must plague Grim a little with this!
Forgive me, Marian, but for the life and soul of me, I can't help
keeping this to plague Grim! You see, I promised to pay him when he
charged me with swallowing an assignation, and now if I don't pay him,
if I don't make him perspire till he faints, my name is not Mrs.
Professor Grimshaw! Let's see! What shall I do! Oh! Why, can't I pretend
to lose it, just as Marian lost it, and drop it where he'll find it? I
have it! Eureka!" soliloquized the dancing elf, as she placed her
handkerchief in the bottom of her pocket, and the note on top of it, and
passed on to the drawing-room to "bide her time."
That soon came. She found the professor and the commodore standing in
the middle of the room, in an earnest conversation, which, however,
seemed near its close, for as she took her seat, the commodore said:
"Very well--I'll attend to it, Nace," and clapped his hat upon his head,
and went out, while the professor dropped himself into a chair, and took
up a book.
"Oh, stop, I want to speak to you a minute, uncle." cried Jacquelina,
starting up and flying after him, and as she flew, pulling out her
handkerchief and letting the note drop upon the floor. A swift, sly,
backward glance showed that Grim had pounced upon it like a panther on
its prey.
"What in the d----l's name are you running after me for?" burst forth
the old man as Jacko overtook him.
"Why, uncle, I want to know if you'll please to give orders in the
stable to have the carriage wheels washed off nicely? They neglect it.
And I and Marian want to use it this afternoon."
"Go to the deuce! Is that my business?"
Jacquelina laughed; and, quivering through every fibre of her frame with
mischief, went back into the drawing-room to see the state of Grim.
To Jacquelina's surprise she found the note lying upon the same spot
where she had dropped it. Dr. Grimshaw was standing with his back toward
her, looking out of the window. She could not see the expression of his
countenance. She stooped and picked up the note, but had scarcely
replaced it in her pocket before Dr. Grimshaw abruptly turned, walked up
and stood before her and looked in her face. Jacquelina could scarcely
suppress a scream; it was as if a ghost had come before her, so blanched
was his color, so ghastly his features. An instant he gazed into her
eyes, and then passed out and went up-stairs. Jacquelina turned slowly
around, looking after him like one magnetized. Then recovering herself,
with a deep breath she said:
"Now I ask of all the 'powers that be' generally, what's the meaning of
that? He picked up the note and he read it; that's certain. And he
dropped it there again to make me believe he had never seen it; that's
certain, too. I wonder what he means to do! There'll be fun of some
sort, anyway! Stop! here comes Marian from the quarters. I shouldn't
wonder if she has missed her note, and hurried back in search of it.
Come! I'll take a hint from Grim, and drop it where I found it, and say
nothing."
And so soliloquizing, the fairy glided back into the breakfast-room, let
the note fall, and turned away just in time to allow Marian to enter,
glance around, and pick up her lost treasure. Then joining Marian, she
invited her up-stairs to look at some new finery just come from the city.
The forenoon passed heavily at Luckenough. When the dinner hour
approached, and the family collected in the dining-room, Dr. Grimshaw
was missing; and when a messenger was sent to call him to dinner, an
answer was returned that the professor was unwell, and preferred to keep
his room.
Jacquelina was quivering between fun and fear--vague, unaccountable
fear, that hung over her like a cloud, darkening her bright frolic
spirit with a woeful presentiment.
After dinner Marian asked for the carriage, and Mrs. Waugh gave orders
that it should be brought around for her use. Jacquelina prepared to
accompany Marian home, and in an hour they were ready, and set forth.
"You may tell Grim, if he asks after me, that I am gone home with Marian
to Old Fields, and that I am not certain whether I shall return to-night
or not," said Jacquelina, as she took leave of Mrs. Waugh.
"My dear Lapwing, if you love your old aunty, come immediately back in
the carriage. And, by the way, my dear, I wish you would, either in
going or coming, take the post-office, and get the letters and papers,"
said Mrs. Waugh.
"Let it be in going, then, Mrs. Waugh, for I have not been to the
post-office for two days, and there may be something there for us also,"
said Marian.
"Very well, bright Hebe; as you please, of course," replied good
Henrietta.
And so they parted. Did either dream how many suns would rise and set,
how many seasons come and go, how many years roll by, before the two
should meet again?
The carriage was driven rapidly on to the village, and drawn up at the
post-office. Old Oliver jumped down, and went in to make the necessary
inquiries. They waited impatiently until he reappeared, bringing one
large letter. There was nothing for Luckenough.
The great double letter was for Marian. She took it, and as the carriage
was started again, and drawn toward Old Fields, she examined the
post-mark and superscription. It was a foreign letter, mailed from
London, and superscribed in the handwriting of her oldest living friend,
the pastor who had attended her brother in his prison and at the scene
of his death.
Marian, with tearful eyes and eager hands, broke the seal and read,
while Jacquelina watched her. For more than half an hour Jacko watched
her, and then impatience overcame discretion in the bosom of the fairy,
and she suddenly exclaimed:
"Well, Marian! I do wonder what can ail you? You grow pale, and then you
grow red; your bosom heaves, the tears come in your eyes, you clasp your
hands tightly together as in prayer, then you smile and raise your eyes
as in thanksgiving! Now, I do wonder what it all means?"
"It means, dear Jacquelina, that I am the most grateful creature upon
the face of the earth, just now; and to-morrow I will tell you why I am
so," said Marian, with a rosy smile. And well she might be most grateful
and most happy, for that letter had brought her assurance of fortune
beyond her greatest desires. On reading the news, her very first thought
had been of Thurston. Now the great objection of the miser to their
marriage would be removed--the great obstacle to their immediate union
overcome. Thurston would be delivered from temptation; she would be
saved anxiety and suspense. "Yes; I will meet him this evening; I cannot
keep this blessed news from him a day longer than necessary, for this
fortune that has come to me will all be his own! Oh, how rejoiced I am
to be the means of enriching him! How much good we can both do!"
These were the tumultuous, generous thoughts that sent the flush to
Marian's cheeks, the smiles to her lips, and the tears to her eyes; that
caused those white fingers to clasp, and those clear eyes to rise to
Heaven in thankfulness, as she folded up her treasured letter and placed
it in her bosom.
An hour's ride brought them to Old Field Cottage. The sun had not yet
set, but the sky was dark with clouds that threatened rain or snow; and
therefore Jacquelina only took time to jump out and speak to Edith,
shake hands with old Jenny, kiss Miriam, and bid adieu to Marian; and
then, saying that she believed she would hurry back on her aunty's
account, and that she was afraid she would not get to Luckenough before
ten o'clock, anyhow, she jumped into the carriage and drove off.
And Marian, guarding her happy secret, entered the cottage to make
preparations for keeping her appointment with Thurston.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, at Luckenough, Dr. Grimshaw kept his room until late in the
afternoon. Then, descending the stairs, and meeting the maid Maria, who
almost shrieked aloud at the ghastly face that confronted her, he asked:
"Where is Mrs. Grimshaw?"
"Lord, sir!" cried the girl, half paralyzed by the sound of his
sepulchral voice, "she's done gone home 'long o' Miss Marian."
"When will she be back, do you know?"
"Lord, sir!" cried Maria, shuddering, "I heerd her tell old Mis', how
she didn't think she'd be back to-night."
"Ah!" said the unhappy man, in a hollow tone, that seemed to come from a
tomb, as he passed down.
And Maria, glad to escape him, fled up-stairs, and never paused until
she had found refuge in Mrs. L'Oiseau's room.
One hour after that, Professor Grimshaw, closely enveloped in an ample
cloak, left Luckenough, and took the road to the beach.