"What shall I do now?" asked Clemence of her friend, Mrs. Hardyng, as
they sat together in the parlor of the latter's residence. "My income
has stopped entirely, and I shall have but a small sum after settling
Ruth's board, which I must do soon, for I cannot leave her any longer
with Mrs. Swan."
"Why!" questioned her friend, "has she, too, gone over to the enemy?"
"Oh, no," replied Clemence; "she is still a staunch adherent. It was not
that I had in my mind, but I have been looking into my affairs lately,
and have decided that, as I can plainly do nothing here, I had better go
back to the city at once."
"And what will you do there?" queried the listener. "Excuse the liberty,
but I would like to ask, from no motive of idle curiosity, you may feel
sure, if you have any friends there?"
"None but good Mrs. Linden, and I have no claim upon her, although she
bade me come to her as to a mother, when I was weary of this
'experiment,' as she called it. I only thought she might help me to
obtain employment, and give me some advice and assistance about Ruth."
"And cannot I do both?" asked Ulrica Hardyng, sorrowfully. "Clemence,
you must surely think more of this former friend than you can of me,
since you will intrust her alone with the privilege I would give so much
to share. You have told me that this Mrs. Linden is a self-absorbed
woman, sufficient unto herself, while I am only a heart-broken creature,
isolated completely from those who were once dear to me. Shall I tell
you how I have watched and waited for this hour, when I could be of some
assistance to you, and thus bind you closer to me? Oh, I have dreamed
too long of this happiness, to have it elude my grasp. You cannot deny
me the boon of having some one again to love."
"But is it my duty, dear friend, to lay my burden upon you? Since I have
voluntarily taken it upon myself, ought I not to bear it cheerfully,
having faith that all things will work together for my good, if I only
trust Him, 'who seeth in secret?'"
"It cannot be wrong," said the elder woman. "Henceforth we will share it
together."
So it was arranged, and Clemence and little Ruth went to live beneath
the cottage roof of Ulrica Hardyng.
Meanwhile, busy tongues were rife over this new fact. Waveland had
expected an exodus from among them, of the young schoolmistress and her
little charge, and hardly, as yet, knew what to make of her remaining
quietly among them, and living down these slanderous reports. But, at
length, after this came to be an established fact, the little village
had another excitement to create a stir among its most exclusive
circles, and this was no less an event than the marriage of the
bachelor editor of the "Clarion," with a lady of no inconsiderable
literary ability, whose home was in a distant city. And, when the
curiosity of every one was roused to the highest pitch of expectancy,
the lady made her entree into the little town with great eclat.
Immediately thereafter, there was a succession of short poems, all
running upon whispering zephyrs, murmuring rivulets, and the like, and
each signed, "Euphrasia Anastasia Strain."
The newly-made bride was welcomed with a cordiality, that was
astonishing, considering the boast that her husband had once uttered in
regard to the former vows of eternal fidelity from these same ladies.
However, time works wonders, and it was evident, from the energetic
manner in which the matrons of Waveland denounced the least apparent
departure from the narrow path of virtue, that a thorough reformation
had lately taken place in their midst.
Mrs. Strain was also speedily elected to a prominent position in the
Ladies' Charitable Society, which had now got to be a regular
institution of the town, by, virtue of having now thrown upon its tender
mercies, one paralytic old woman, two little orphans, a poor young woman
out of a situation, and a reformed drunkard, who had spent a fortune in
his time, and had also the reputation of having been a "ladies' man,"
which considerably heightened their generous interest in him. The
Society had now got upon a firm foundation, and had proved itself no
scheme from the visionary brain of an enthusiast, but of a thorough,
practical character, that won for it the respect and veneration of
everybody who knew of its existence.
There was one thing to be considered, it gave its members plenty to do,
and, meanwhile, Clemence had a short respite. She had ample time, now,
to give to little Ruth, and her love for the child became stronger each
day, as always happens when we deny ourselves for others.
They took long walks together in the woods that surrounded the pretty
village. Clemence had an artist's eye, and she loved to wander amid
these scenes of beauty, that had power to calm her troubled soul as
nothing else could do.
Little Johnny Brier often joined them, and Clemence, whose heart ached
for the little creature, with the white, wan face that spoke of
suffering, used to cheer him, and try to inspire him with hope for the
future.
But he would say, fastening his wistful eyes upon her, with a look that
always gave her pain:
"I like best to have you tell me of heaven. I do not believe I shall
ever be happy in this world; but, I want to try and do right, so that
when I die, I may go to live with God and his holy angels."
"But you must not indulge in such a morbid state of feeling," Clemence
would say gravely. "If your Heavenly Father sees fit to have you labor
for Him upon earth, you should not murmur nor repine, but strive humbly
for submission. You may be sure that there is something for you yet to
accomplish. God witnesses your misery, and knows of your longing to go
to Him; but, you are not yet prepared. The discipline of life is needed
to prove that you can deny yourself for the good of others. You can show
your trust in the loving hand that guides you, by striving to bear your
present trials patiently, and in His own good time He will surely send
relief."
"Do you really think that?" was the oft repeated question, and the
troubled eyes would scan Clemence's face, till her own were filled with
blinding drops. "I try so hard to be good and patient, but I can't hope
for anything better. Something seems to stop me, when I try to pray to
be made useful in this world, and it comes right out of my heart to ask,
instead, only to let me die. Sometimes I have waited outside the
graveyard, and watched a little spot under a shady tree, where no one
ever goes, and I have thought how pleasant it would be to lie down
there, with the daisies and violets to creep over me lovingly, and never
wake again to any more pain. I don't think I would like to be happy, for
you are not, dear Miss Graystone, and I don't think some people are ever
made to be. I believe God means to make them feel how bad and wicked the
world is, so they will want to leave it and go to Him. Don't you think
He means that, when He tells us about there being no more sorrow nor
crying in heaven? Oh, dear Miss Graystone, I know you sometimes feel
just like that, for I have seen it in your eyes, and you look just as I
have often dreamed my own dear mother did. And, don't be angry, but
every night, when I say my prayer, I tell Him about you, and pray that
you may be taken away from these wicked people, you and little Ruth.
Last night I had a dream. I thought I stood upon the bank of a broad
river, and the water moaned and whispered like human voices, and came up
around me, and just as I was beginning to be afraid, a sweet, low voice
came to me, borne across the waters, and mingled with their murmur,
'fear not,' and then I thought that I knew this was the river of death
that you had told me about in the Sabbath School, and I clasped my hands
together, and cried out for my dear, dear teacher, and then the water
rose about me till, as it reached my lips, I awoke."
"Poor, little one," said Clemence, parting the boy's hair from off his
forehead, with a mother touch, and as she gazed down into the innocent
eyes, with their far-off, dreamy look, a foreboding of the future came
to her, that she put away with a shudder.
"Come, children," she said, taking a hand of each, "we will retrace our
steps homeward." She stooped and kissed the child's forehead, as she
parted from him. "Good-bye, Johnny," she said cheerfully, "be a good
boy, and try to remember all that I have told you."
The child gave the required promise, and turned away, but came back a
moment after:
"Miss Graystone," he said, standing before her, and raising his eyes
fearlessly to hers, "don't you think I have always tried to be good?"
"Yes, Johnny," she answered truthfully, "I know that you do. You are a
real little hero, and your patience and fortitude have often set me an
example, while I have grieved over the melancholy circumstances that
have made you so old in sorrow."
"Oh, thank you for that, dear, dearest Miss Graystone." The child was
sobbing convulsively, so that Clemence became frightened for him.
"Why, my poor child, you must not grieve so. I cannot bear to see you so
unhappy," she said, bending down to him, "try and smile for me once,
dear. Look now, at that cloud floating above you. See how it breaks,
revealing the blue sky beyond, and think what I told you of the cloud
with the silver lining. Don't you remember it, Johnny?"
"Remember it? oh yes," he said eagerly. "I have never forgotten a word
you have ever uttered. I believe I shall think of them just before I
die, and tell you about them in heaven. Kiss me again, please, and then
I will go. I feel better now."
Clemence drew the child again into a close embrace, and then, releasing
him, waited at a turn in the winding path, until he was out of sight.
It was about the same hour, nearly a week after, that Clemence was
walking alone, musing upon her own unhappy fate, when, startled by a
rustling of the branches near her, she turned, to behold little Johnny
Brier rushing hastily past, without looking to one side or the other,
and following the path that opened upon the margin of the lake.
A strange fear took possession of Clemence. She called several times,
"Johnny!" authoritatively, but the child sped on, unheeding. The girl
grew faint and dizzy, and though she turned to follow in the direction
in which he had gone, her limbs refused to support her, and she sank
down, nearly in a state of insensibility.
Footsteps again aroused her, and she started up with a feeling of hope
animating her to renewed effort. A moment after, Mrs. Brier appeared
upon the scene furious with rage, and flourishing in her right hand a
large whip.
A look of guilty fear overspread her face, as she beheld Clemence's
agitation.
"Have you seen Johnny?" she asked, breathlessly, Clemence pointed,
without a word, toward the water. An awful look of terror leaped into
the woman's eyes, and she turned and rushed frantically away.
When the girl could gain strength, she went after her, and there, at the
water's edge, a crowd of people were collected, uttering ejaculations of
horror over the lifeless remains of the child she had a few moments
before beheld in all the agony of the wildest despair.
A woman turned from the crowd as Clemence approached. "He ran away," she
said, "and I suppose came down here to play, and fell into the lake.
It's no fault of mine. I've warned him often enough to keep away, and
now he has only received the reward of all disobedient children."
Clemence strove to speak, and brand this woman as a murderess, in the
sight of God, but the words died on her lips, and she fell down, where
she stood, as lifeless as the still figure before them.
There had now happened to Clemence Graystone, that which, it seemed, in
her forlorn situation, was the worst that fate could inflict upon her;
her health failed entirely. She grew; sick, even "unto death." The long
days of the late summer and the early autumn passed, and she lay, in
her pale beauty, upon a couch of pain. The world, this busy, struggling,
toilsome world, seemed slipping from her grasp, and heaven was very near
to her. Her tired feet had borne her to the very brink of the dark
river, whose waters chanted their solemn requiem, as the child had told
her in his dream. She longed to follow him, and sometimes, in her
delirium, would cry out his name suddenly, with every endearing accent.
It seemed almost as if the words of the boy had been prophetic, and his
strange dream was thus to be fulfilled.
He lay now in the very spot that his childish eyes had sought longingly,
and one who remembered him came daily to place the beautiful flowers he
had loved in life above his grave. Poor little Ruth! her days passed
sadly enough. Her only friend might soon be taken from her. Her all was
centred in the slight, attenuated form, that lay tossing restlessly upon
what might be her death-bed. The little patient watcher grew each day
paler as hope died out, and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the
elder woman, she only left Clemence's bedside for her daily walk to the
graveyard.
Ulrica Hardyng cared for the two who had been so strangely committed to
her care, as though they had been the sisters God had denied her. She
hung over the sufferer, administering her medicine, and allowing none
but the doctor and the hired nurse to approach her.
"There shall be none of these rude creatures about you, my darling," she
would say determinedly; "they have done you harm enough already."
She despised these people, as was natural, from her very nature, which
was generous, but given to strong likes and dislikes, and their
treatment of the orphan girl had brought upon them her lasting contempt.
She had also before had a specimen of their tender mercies, and was
fully aware of the adverse judgment that had been passed upon her own
actions upon her advent among them. She thought, therefore, that little
good could be got from associating with any of them, though, like a real
lady, she took care to be always civil and polite to every one.
When the news of Clemence's dangerous illness was spread throughout the
town, there were many to grieve for the sweet-faced stranger, who had so
lately come among them, and there were some to wonder what would become
of her if she should linger along without finally recovering her health.
"Poor child," said Mrs. Wynn, brushing away the tears, "I have just been
to see her, and she don't look to me as if she'd last the week out. I
believe she is far more dangerous than the doctor thinks."
"And if she dies, what will they do with that girl of Lynn's?" queried
Mrs. Brier. "She'll have to come on the town. I knew it was a perfect
piece of folly for that schoolmistress to take her to support, with only
her small salary. It's just as I predicted. Her strength _has_ failed,
and she can't do nothing more. 'Be just before you are generous,' is
_my_ motto."
Mrs. Brier never said a truer word than that in her whole life, for she
had never been guilty of many generous or self-denying deeds, and no
one could accuse her of erring in that respect.
The different benevolent Societies also met, and discussed the
probability of little Ruth Lynn's being thrown upon their generosity.
They finally decided that, in case of any such calamitous ending to the
madness of Clemence Graystone, the child should be turned over to the
proper authorities of the village, and they would wash their hands of
the whole affair.
Their fears proved entirely groundless. By some inexplicable means, the
two waifs, thrown thus strangely upon the protection of Widow Hardyng,
managed to exist without either the aid or sympathy of the rest of the
town. And Clemence, as the days grew cooler, rallied, and became rapidly
convalescent.
With returning strength, came again the old anxiety for the future. She
knew that her generous hostess, though willing to share her all with
them, ought not to be thus burdened. Her means were limited, and the
strictest economy was necessary to make their narrow income meet their
present wants. Clemence realized that her illness had brought additional
expense, which she knew not how to meet. The doctor's bill alone, which
she had not the means to meet, was appalling; besides, there were others
clamoring for a settlement of their dues. Mrs. Hardyng had repeatedly
cautioned her not to retard her recovery by brooding over her unhappy
position, and had taken these obligations upon herself.
In her feeble state of health, it was impossible for Clemence to
undertake any employment. She was almost in despair. After all her
superhuman efforts, she seemed placed in a worse predicament than when
she first commenced to labor for her bread, and there was now another
dependant upon her efforts. Long before she was really able, Clemence
had begun to employ herself upon different articles of fancy work, such
as she thought she could dispose of in Waveland.
She managed, by this means, to obtain, from time to time, small sums of
money, which, if they did not materially aid her, at least made her feel
a little more independent. Among other things, which her friend
suggested that she might be able to dispose of to advantage, was a
prettily shaped basket of some frosty white material, whose glittering,
transparent beauty was relieved by bright-tinted flowers, with long,
creeping vines, and leaves of a vivid green. It took some time for its
completion, and when it was finished, Clemence hoped that its extreme
beauty would captivate the eyes of somebody who had means to pay
somewhat of its real value.
"Beautiful!" exclaimed the shop-keeper who purchased all Clemence's
articles. "I'm afraid, Miss, you won't find ready sale for it here,
though. There ain't many that can appreciate a thing like that in this
village. I would not venture to run the risk myself, but if it was
anything in the way of finery now, it would be different. If you will
embroider some of those gay scarfs and slippers, and some more of the
children's fixins, I'll buy them, for they take mightily."
"Then you don't think I can dispose of this at any rate?" asked
Clemence, despondingly. "I need the money very much."
"I know you do," said the man compassionately, gazing into the girl's
pale face. "You ought not to be working at anything after such a
dangerous illness. Perhaps you had better leave it here for a few days,
and I will see if I cannot get any orders for you."
"Very well," said Clemence, "I should be greatly obliged if you would,"
and she turned away more hopefully.
Upon her next inquiry, she found that a Mrs. Burton had desired her to
call, with specimens of her work, at her house, which, by the way, was
_the_ mansion of the place. Clemence had heard much of this lady, but
was not personally acquainted with her.
"It's all right," said the brisk, little storekeeper. "I think she is
the very one for you to go to, for she has plenty of money at her
command. She took quite a fancy to the basket of flowers, and inquired
all about you, asking if you would not call and see her directly."
Clemence gladly followed the advice thus given her, and after a walk of
about half a mile, found herself at Mrs. Burton's residence. The lady
herself came to the door. Clemence introduced herself.
"Oh, yes, you are the one Mr. Weston was speaking about, and I told him
I thought I might be able to help you in some manner."
Clemence thanked her, wondering inwardly, at the same moment, if it
_was_ as disgraceful to be poor as many people seemed to think it. This
was not the first time this thought had arisen in her mind. She had
suffered before having any experience in the matter, that, in a country
like this, where nearly all of the wealthy and influential members of
society have arisen from obscurity, that honest labor was really no
disgrace, and that if a person offered a fair equivalent for money,
either by the labor of the hands or brain, that it was a very laudable
thing to do.
But, upon having to make the trial, she had been not a little astonished
at the result. She found that if she offered her articles even below
their real value, that it was considered an act of magnanimity for the
purchaser to hand out the miserable pittance that was her due. She had
many times been told, insolently, "I do this to help you, because Mr. or
Miss, 'This, That or the Other' told me you were poor and obliged to
support yourself by this means," and this, when the one who uttered it
knew that they had got twice the worth of their money, and were
congratulating themselves over thus taking advantage of another's
necessities; nor was her own, as she well knew, by observation, an
exceptional case. Everywhere vulgarity and ignorance can flaunt itself
before the admiring eyes of the multitude, while gold hides with its
glitter every defect.
Yet, what could she do to protect herself? If she resented these
indignities with honest pride, what would become of her, and that other
who looked to her for support? Whatever it is possible for _manly_ pride
and independence to achieve, there is nothing for a woman but
submission.
Clemence Graystone had long ere this put away all hopes of earthly
happiness, and lived only by the light of an approving conscience. She
took her troubles to her Heavenly Father, and in His smile forgot that
the world frowned. She had the consciousness within her of having done
her whole duty, and she lived not for this world alone. She felt that
she was only one of the many, and she cared not for distinction among
those she despised. The fickle multitude elevate to-day and dethrone
to-morrow, leaving their once petted favorite to whatever fate may await
them.
Thoughts like these floated through Clemence's mind, as she followed
Mrs. Burton into the parlor, and took a seat.
"You have seen a good deal of trouble, I believe," said the lady,
scanning the girl's face closely. "Yes, madame," said Clemence, briefly.
"This is a world of trouble," she went on, applying her handkerchief to
her eyes. "I, too, have my full share. I am deeply afflicted. Miss
Graystone, I am an unloved wife."
She began to sob hysterically at this announcement, and to weave
backwards and forwards in her chair, while her listener shifted a little
uneasily upon her seat, wondering what could possibly be coming now.
"Yes," she said mournfully, "the man who vowed at the altar to love and
cherish the treasure committed to his keeping, has proved recreant to
the trust reposed in him. Look on this ethereal form, and upon this brow
shadowed with grief, and at these eyes that have grown dim with weeping
for one who is all unworthy of my devotion. Alas! that I should come to
this, who was once surrounded by everything that could make life a
blessing. This hand, that others prized, and sued for in vain, is
unvalued now. On my wedding day, one of my rejected suitors came to my
new-made husband, and exclaimed, in accents of deep despair,--'Charles
Burton, you have won her from those who would have devoted their whole
lives to her service, and counted it as nothing, that they might bask in
the sunlight of her presence; and I warn you, guard well the priceless
jewel. You have forever placed a bar to my happiness in this world, but
if you never cause one feeling of regret for this day to rise in that
gentle bosom, all is well. I can deny myself for one I love better than
life itself.'
"_This_ was the man whose suit I scorned, to listen to that of the
perfidious being whose name I bear. I am a miserable victim. Life is
unsupportable to me. Next spring, if my husband does not return, like
the prodigal, remorseful and repentant, I shall become a missionary, and
give my life for the cause I love."
Here came a renewal of tears and heart-rending sighs. Clemence watched
the woman in undisguised amazement, as she arose and paced the room,
wringing her hands in the most woe-begone manner imaginable. Her wild
appearance immediately suggested the idea that she might be suffering
from temporary aberration of mind.
Clemence rose with a quick thrill of fear. "Since you are indisposed for
company," she said, "perhaps you would not care to be troubled with my
little affairs at present. I can call again some time next week, if you
desire it."
"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Burton, "come again, when I am feeling better.
This pressure on my brain will be relieved. Hush! do not say more, the
servant will hear you. I am watched, and have no liberty to speak of my
troubles without watching my opportunity. Good-bye, now, you can leave
the basket until you come again, when I will remunerate you
sufficiently."
"The woman must be insane; do you not think so, Ulrica?" asked Clemence
of her friend, after she had concluded a narrative of her interview.
"Perhaps," said Mrs. Hardyng, doubtingly. "It looks like it, her talking
about being watched, but I am of the opinion that a jealous, passionate
temper has more to do with these paroxysms than anything else. She has
always had the name of ruling her husband, and her scowling, swarthy
visage, and evil-looking eyes, seem to substantiate her claim to
possessing strong, vixenish proclivities. I fancy they are quite well
matched, however, and that clouds in their domestic horizon are of every
day occurrence. Neither should I at all relish the idea of being taken
into the lady's confidence, for after they have got over their quarrel,
they will be apt to lay the blame upon a convenient third, and I should
not covet the distinction."
"Well, I have only once more to go," said Clemence, "and shall take care
to be guarded in my remarks."
Which resolution was followed to the letter, when she found herself
again in Mrs. Burton's parlor. The lady was cool and dignified when they
met, but soon relapsed into a tearful state. Clemence was again forced
to listen patiently to a long recital of Mr. Burton's shortcomings and
disagreeable qualities, both of a positive and negative order, and felt
sure before it came to an end, that she was much better acquainted with
the dark side of that gentleman's character than she cared to be.
Her position was a delicate one. Somehow, she could not help thinking,
as she looked at the face before her, that, arrayed in its pleasantest
smiles, it could, by the barest possibility, be only passable, and now
looked really hideous in its disgusting and futile rage. Really, if
there could be any excuse for such domestic infidelities as had been
pictured so graphically, Mr. Burton certainly ought to have the benefit
of them, for he seemed to be almost as much "sinned against as sinning."
As soon as she could get away without positive rudeness, she did so.
Mrs. Burton had declined to become a purchaser of her articles,
retreating from her former protestations of benevolence, under the plea
that her wretch of a husband curtailed her supply of means, in order to
gratify his own avaricious disposition.
"Just as I expected," said Mrs. Hardyng. "The true state of the case is
this: that woman is a jealous, narrow-minded, illiberal creature, with a
tongue 'hung in the middle.' She wanted to get you there simply to
satisfy her own idle curiosity, and insult you with her insolent
patronage. You have made another enemy, and that is all there is of it."
"I hope it will prove all there is of it," said Clemence, uneasily. "I
am sure I owe her no ill will, and I can't imagine why any body should
wish to injure me, for I try not to offend them, but simply wish to
mind my own business, and allow others to do the same."
Mrs. Hardyng laughed musically. "Why, child, that is the supreme cause
of all your unpopularity. You mind your own business too much for these
good people. You are not as old as I am, and you seem to have got a
one-sided view of matters and things generally. I dare say, at this
moment your unsophisticated mind harbors some such creed as this, that
if you pursue your own poor and worthy way in meekness and humility,
without obtruding yourself upon other people's notice--in short, only
ask to be left in peace to follow the bent of your own harmless
inclination, that you do not ask what it is impossible to accomplish.
But you are mistaken. There is no one so poor and humble but what these
little great people will find time to criticise and find fault with
whatever they may undertake. So, no matter how modest and unobtrusive
you are, by comporting yourself in a dignified and lady-like manner, you
offer an affront to these people, who, though themselves deficient in
every attribute of politeness and good breeding, yet are sufficiently
instructed by their dulled instincts, to realize your infinite
superiority, and hate you accordingly."
"Why, Ulrica," said Clemence, startled by her friend's vehemence, "you
quite overwhelm me. I wish, though," she added; with a sigh, "that I
could doubt the truthfulness of the picture."