CHAPTER XX.
THE SAILOR BOY'S DOOM.
"With gentle hand and soothing tongue She bore the leech's part; And while she o'er his sick bed hung He paid her with his heart."--SCOTT.
The sunshine of a breezy June morning fell pleasantly into the chamberof the invalid. It was a bright, airy room--a perfect paradise of a sickchamber--with its snowy curtained bed, its tempting easy-chair, itswhite lace window curtains fluttering softly in the morning air. Theodor of flowers came wafted through the open casement; and the merrychirping of a bright-winged canary, hanging in the sunshine, filled theroom with its cheerful music.
Reclining in the easy-chair, gazing longingly out at the glorioussunshine, sat the young sailor whose life Gipsy had saved. His heavydark hair fell in shining waves over his pale, intelligent brow; and hislarge blue eyes had a look of dreamy melancholy that few female heartscould have resisted.
Suddenly his eye lighted up, and his whole face brightened, as a clear,sweet voice, singing a gay carol, met his ear. Gipsy still retained herold habit of singing as she walked; and the next moment the door opened,and she stood, like some bright vision, before him, with cheeks glowing,eyes sparkling, and her countenance bright and radiant from her morningride; her dark purple riding-habit setting off to the best advantage herstraight, slight; rounded form; and her jaunty riding-hat, with itslong, sweeping, sable plume, giving her the air of a young mountainqueen, crowned with vitality, and sceptered with life and beauty.
"Oh, I have had such a charming canter over the hills this morning," shecried, with her wild, breezy laugh. "How I wished you had been wellenough to accompany me. Mignonne fairly flew, leaping over yawningchasms and rocks as though he felt not the ground beneath him. But I amforgetting--how do you feel this morning?"
"Much better, sweet lady. Who could be long ill with such a nurse?" hereplied, while his fine eyes lit up with admiration and gratitude.
Gipsy, be it known, had installed herself as the nurse of the youngsailor; and, by her sleepless care and tender nursing, had almostrestored him from death to life. And when he became convalescent, shewould sit by his bedside for hours, reading, talking, and singing forhim, until gratitude on his part ripened into fervent love; while sheonly looked upon him as she would on any other stranger--taking aninterest in him only on account of his youth and friendliness, andbecause she had saved his life.
"Well, I'm glad to hear it, I'm sure! I want you to hurry and get well,so you can ride out with me. Are you a good horseman?"
"Yes, I think so," he said, smiling.
"Because, if you're not, you mustn't attempt to try our hills. It takesan expert rider, I can tell you, to gallop over them without breakinghis neck."
"Yet _you_ venture, fairest lady."
"_Me?_ Ha, ha! Why, I've been on horseback ever since I was two yearsold. My horse is my other self. I could as soon think of living withoutlaughing as without Mignonne."
"Then, sweet lady, you will kindly be my teacher in the art of riding."
"Oh, I wouldn't want better fun; but look here, Mr. Danvers, don't be'sweet lady'-ing me! I ain't used to it, you know. People generally callme 'Monkey,' 'Imp,' 'Torment,' 'Wretch,' and other pet names of a likenature. But if you don't like any of them, call me Gipsy, or GipsyGower, but don't call me 'sweet lady' again. You see, I never couldstand nicknames."
"And may I ask you why you have received those names?" inquired theyoung midshipman (for such he was), laughing.
"Why, because I _am_ an imp, a wretch, and always was--and always willbe, for that matter. I believe I was made to keep the world alive. Why,everybody in St. Mark's would be dead of the blues if it weren't forme."
"Yes; I have heard of some of your wild antics. That good old lady, Mrs.Gower, was with me last night, and we had quite a long conversationabout you, I assure you."
"Poor dear aunty, she's at her wits' end, sometimes, to know what to dowith me. And, by that same token, here she comes. Speak of somebody, andhe'll appear, you know."
Mrs. Gower opened the door, flushed and palpitating with her walkup-stairs. Poor Mrs. Gower was "waxing fat" with years; and it was noeasy task for her to toil her way up the long staircase of Sunset Hall.
"Oh, Gipsy, my dear!" she exclaimed, all in a glow of pleasurableexcitement, "guess who's come!"
"Who, who?" cried Gipsy, eagerly.
"Archie!"
Up sprang Gipsy, flew past Mrs. Gower, and was down the stairs in atwinkling.
"Archie! who the deuce is he?" thought the young midshipman, with ajealous twinge.
"You seem to have brought Miss Gower pleasant news," he remarked, by wayof drawing her out, after he had answered her inquiries about hishealth.
"Why, yes, it's natural she should be glad to meet her old playmate,"replied the unsuspecting old lady.
"Ah! her old playmate. Then she has known him for a long time?"
"Yes; they were children together, grew up together, and were alwaysfond of one another. It has always been my dearest wish to see themunited; and I dare say they will be yet."
The youth's face was turned to the window as she spoke, or good Mrs.Gower might have been startled by his paleness. As he asked no morequestions, the worthy old lady began to think he might wish to be leftto himself; so, after a few general directions to be sure and take careof himself and not catch cold, she quitted the room.
Meantime, Archie and Gipsy were holding a very animated conversation inthe parlor below. Archie was relating how he had undertaken a veryimportant case, that would call him from home for four or five months;and that, when it was over, he would be rich enough to set up anestablishment for himself, and return to St. Mark's to claim his littlebride.
"And now, Gipsy," he concluded, "what mischief have you beenperpetrating since I saw you last? Who have you locked up, or shot, orran away with since?"
In reply, Gipsy related the story of the wreck, and went into ecstasieson the beauty of Mr. Harry Danvers, U. S. N. Archie listened with asavage frown, that grew perceptibly more savage every moment. Gipsy sawit, and maliciously praised him more and more.
"Oh, Archie, he's the handsomest fellow I ever met. So agreeable andpolite, with such a beautiful, melancholy countenance!"
"Oh, curse his melancholy countenance!"
"For shame, sir! How can you speak so of my friends? But it's just likeyou. You always were a cross, disagreeable old thing--now then!"
"Yes; I'm not such a sweet seraph as this agreeable and polite young sonof Neptune," said Mr. Rivers, with a withering sneer. "Just let me catchsight of his 'beautiful, melancholy countenance,' and maybe I'll spoilits beauty for him."
"Now, Archie, you're real hateful. I'm sure you'll like him when you seehim."
"Like him! Yes, I'd like to blow his brains out."
"No, you mustn't, either; he's too handsome to be killed. Oh, Archie,when he laughs he looks so charming!"
"Confound him! _I'll_ make him laugh on the other side of his mouth!"growled the exasperated Archie.
"He's got _such_ a sweet mouth and _such_ lovely white teeth!" continuedthe tantalizing fairy.
"I wish he and his white teeth were at the bottom of the Red Sea!" burstout Archie, in a rage.
"Why, Mr. Rivers, you're positively jealous!" said Gipsy, looking verymuch surprised indeed.
"Jealous! Yes, I should think so. You are enough to drive any onejealous. Suppose I began raving about young ladies--their 'melancholycountenances,' and 'sweet mouths,' and 'white teeth,' and all suchstuff--how would you like it, I want to know?"
"Why, I shouldn't care."
"You wouldn't? Oh, Jupiter Olympus! Only hear _that_!" exclaimedArchie, striding up and down in a towering passion. "That shows all youcare about _me_! Going and falling in love with the first old tarrysailor you meet! I won't endure it! I'll blow my brains out--I'll----"
"Well, don't do it in the house, then. Pistols make a noise, and mightdisturb Mr. Danvers."
Archie fell into a chair with a deep gr
oan.
"There, don't look so dismal. I declare, you give me a fit of the bluesevery time you come to see me. Why can't you be pleasant, and laugh?"
"Laugh!" exclaimed poor Archie.
"Yes, _laugh_! I'm sure you used to be forever grinning. Poor, dear Mr.Danvers is sick, yet _he_ laughs."
"Mr. Danvers again!" shouted Archie, springing to his feet. "May Lucifertwist Mr. Danvers' neck for him! I won't stay another minute in thehouse. I'll clear out, and never see you more. I'll never enter yourpresence again, you heartless girl!"
"Well, won't you take a cup of coffee before you go?" said Gipsy, withher sweetest smile.
"Hallo, Jupiter! Jupiter, I say, bring round my horse. And now, mostfaithless of women, I leave you forever. Life is now a blank to me; and,ere yonder sun sets, I shall be in eternity."
"Is it possible? Won't you write when you get there, and let me know ifit's a good place for lawyers to settle in?"
Oh! such a groan as followed this! Casting a tragical look of despair atGipsy, who sat smiling serenely, Archie rushed from the house.
Ten minutes later he was back again. Gipsy had stretched herself on asofa, and was apparently fast asleep.
"Heartless girl!" exclaimed Archie, shaking her; "wake up, Gipsy!"
"Oh! is it you?" said Gipsy, drowsily opening her eyes. "What did youwake me up for? I thought you had started on your journey to eternity."
"Gipsy, shall I go?"
"Just as you please, Archie--only let me go to sleep, and don't botherme."
"Oh, Gipsy!--you cruel coquette! won't you bid me stay?"
"Well, _stay_, then! I wish to goodness you wouldn't be such a pest."
"Gipsy, tell me--do you love me or Mr. Danvers best?"
"I don't love either of you--there, now! And I tell you what, ArchieRivers, if you don't go off and let me get asleep, I'll never speak toyou again. Mind that!"
With a deep sigh, Archie obeyed, and walked out of the room with a mostdejected expression of countenance. No sooner was he gone than Gipsysprang up, and, clapping her hands, danced round the room--her eyessparkling with delight.
"Oh, it's such fun!" she exclaimed. "Poor, dear Archie!--if I haven'tmade him a victim to the 'green-eyed monster!' Mr. Danvers, indeed! Asif that dear, good-natured Archie wasn't worth all the Mr. Danvers thatever adorned the quarterdeck! Oh! won't I flirt, though, and make the'distinguished Mr. Rivers' so jealous, that he won't know whether he'sstanding on his head or his heels! If I _am_ to settle down into ahum-drum Mrs. Rivers some day, I'll have as much frolic as I can beforeit. So, Master Archie, look out for the 'wrath that's to come;' for youragonies won't move me in the least."
And never did any one keep her word more faithfully than Gipsy. Duringthe fortnight that Archie was to stay with them she flirted unmercifullywith the handsome young midshipman, who was now able to ride out, quiteunconscious of all the hopes she was rousing in his bosom. Poor Gipsy!little did she dream that, while she rode by his side, and bestowed uponhim her enchanting smiles, and wore the colors he liked, and sang thesongs he loved, to torment the unhappy Archie, that he, believing herserious, had already surrendered his heart to the bewitching sprite, andreposed in the blissful dream of one day calling her his!
Archie Rivers _was_ jealous. Many were the ferocious glances he castupon the young sailor; and many and dire were his threats of vengeance.But Gipsy, mad girl, only listened and laughed, and knew not that_another_ pair of ears heard those threats, and would one day use themto her destruction.
But matters were now drawing to a crisis. The young midshipman was nowquite restored to health, and found himself obliged to turn his thoughtstoward his own home. Archie's fortnight had elapsed; but still helingered--too jealous to leave while his rival remained.
One bright moonlight night the three were gathered in the cool, wideporch in front of the mansion. Gipsy stood in the doorway--her whitedress fluttering in the breeze--binding in her dark, glossy curls awreath of crimson rosebuds, given her a few moments previous by Mr.Danvers. All her smiles, and words, and glances were directed towardhim. Archie was apparently forgotten.
"Please sing one of your charming songs, Miss Gipsy; this is just thehour for music," said Mr. Danvers.
"With pleasure. What shall it be?--your favorite?" inquired Gipsy,taking her guitar and seating herself at his feet.
"If you will be so good," he replied, his eyes sparkling with pleasureat her evident preference.
Archie's brow grew dark. He hated the sailor's favorite song, because it_was_ his favorite. This Gipsy well knew; and her brown eyes twinkledwith mischief, as she began, in her clear, sweet voice:
"'Sleeping, I dream, love--I dream, love, of thee; O'er the bright waves, love, floating with thee; Light in thy soft hair played the soft wind, Fondly thy white arms around me were twined; And as thy song, love, swelled o'er the sea, Fondly thy blue eyes beamed, love, on me.'"
She hesitated a moment, and looked up in his face, as though reallyintending the words for him. He was bending over her, pale andpanting--his blue eyes blazing with a light that brought the crimsonblood in a rosy tide to her very temples. She stopped abruptly.
"Go on!" he said, in a low voice.
She hesitated, glanced at Archie, and seeing the storm-cloud on hisbrow, the demon of mischief once more conquered her better nature, andshe resumed:
"'Soon o'er the bright waves howled forth the gale, Fiercely the lightning flashed on our sail, And as our frail bark drove through the sea, Thine eyes, like loadstones, beamed, love, on me. Oh, heart, awaken!--wrecked on lone shore, Thou art forsaken!--dream, heart, no more.'"
Ere the last words were uttered, Archie had seized his hat and rushedfrom the house; and Danvers, forgetting everything save the entrancingcreature at his feet, clasped her suddenly in his arms, and passionatelyexclaimed:
"Oh, Gipsy! my love! my life, my beautiful mountain sprite!--can you,will you love me?"
With a wild, sharp cry of terror and anger, she broke from his arms, andsprang back, with flashing eyes.
"Back, sir, back!--I command you! How _dare_ you attempt such a libertywith me?"
How beautiful she looked in her wrath, with her blazing eyes, andcrimson cheeks, and straight little form drawn up to its full height, insurprise and indignation.
He stood gazing at her for a moment--amazed, thunderstruck at thechange. Then, seeing only her enchanting beauty, he took a step forward,threw himself at her feet, and broke forth passionately:
"Gipsy, I love you--I worship you. Have you been mocking me all thistime?--or do you love me, too?"
"Rise, sir! I have neither been mocking you, nor do I love you! Rise!rise! Kneel not to me!"
"And I have been deceived? Oh, falsest of false ones! why did you learnme to love you?"
"Mr. Danvers, don't call me names. As to the learning you to love _me_,I never attempted such a thing in my life! I'd scorn to do it," shesaid, indignantly; but even while she spoke, the blood rushed in a fierytorrent to her face, and then back to her heart, for she thought of allthe encouragement her merciless flirtation must have given him.
"You did, Gipsy, you know you _did_!" he vehemently exclaimed. "Everyencouragement that could be given to a lover, you gave to me; andI--fool that I was--I believed you, never dreaming that I should find aflinty, hardened flirt in one whom I took to be a pure-hearted mountainmaiden."
Had Gipsy felt herself innocent of the charge, how indignantly she wouldhave denied it. But the consciousness of guilt sent the crimson oncemore to her brow, as she replied in a low, hurried tone:
"Mr. Danvers, I have done wrong! Forgive me! As heaven is my witness, Idreamed not that you cared for me. It was my mad, wild love of mischiefbrought all this about. Mr. Danvers, it is as yet a secret, but Mr.Rivers is my betrothed husband. Some fiend prompted me to make himjealous, and to accomplish that end I--I blush to say it--flirted withyou; alas, never dreaming you thought anything of it. And now that Ihave acknowledged my faul
t, will you forgive me, and--be my friend?"
She extended her hand. He smiled bitterly, and passed her withouttouching it. Then leaving the house, he mounted his horse and gallopedfuriously away. Prophetic, indeed, were the words with which her songhad ended--words that came pealing through the dim aisles of the forestafter him, as he plunged frantically along:
"Oh, heart, awaken!--wrecked on lone shore, Thou art forsaken!--dream, heart, no more!"
Gipsy stood still in the porch, cold and pale, awaiting his return. Butthough she waited until the stars grew dim in the sky, he came not.Morning dawned, and found her pale with undefined fear, but still he wasabsent.
After breakfast, Archie came over, still angry and sullen, after theprevious night's scene, to find Gipsy quieter and more gentle than hehad ever seen her before in her life.
"I wish he would come! I wish he would come!" cried her wild, excitedheart, as she paced up and down, until her eyes grew bright and hercheeks grew burning hot, with feverish watching and vague fear.
"You look ill and excited, Gipsy. A canter over the hills will do yougood," said Archie, anxiously.
She eagerly assented, and leaping on Mignonne's back, dashed away at atremendous pace, yet could not go half quick enough to satisfy herrestless longing to fly, fly, she knew not where.
"Where are you going, Gipsy?" cried Archie, who found some difficulty tokeep up with the break-neck pace at which she rode.
"To the Black Gorge," was her reply, as she thundered over the cliff.
"Why, Gipsy! what possesses you to go to that wild place?" said Archie,in surprise.
"I don't know--I feel as if I must go there! Don't talk to me, Archie! Ibelieve I'm crazy this morning!"
She flew on swifter than ever, until they reached the spot--a huge,black, yawning gulf among the hills. She rode so close to the fearfulbrink that Archie's heart stood still in horror.
"Are you mad, Gipsy?" he cried, seizing her bridle-rein and forcing herback. "One false step, and your brains would be dashed out against therocks."
But, fixing her eyes on the dark chasm, she answered him only by a wild,prolonged shriek, so full of piercing anguish that his blood seemedcurdling in his veins, while, with bloodless face and quivering finger,she pointed to the gulf.
He leaped from his horse and approached the dizzy edge. And there asight met his eyes that froze his heart with horror.
"Great God!" he cried, springing back, with a face deadly white. "Ahorse and rider lie dead and mangled below!"
A deadly faintness came over Gipsy; the ground seemed reeling aroundher, and countless stars danced before her eyes. For a moment she wason the verge of swooning, then by a powerful effort the tide of liferolled back, and she leaped from her horse and stood by his side.
"It is impossible to reach the bottom," cried Archie, in a voice lowwith horror. "A cat could hardly clamber down those perpendicularsides."
"I can do it, Archie; I often went up and down there when a child,"exclaimed Gipsy; and ere Archie could restrain her, the fearless girlhad caught hold of a stunted spruce tree and swung herself over the edgeof the appalling gorge.
Archie Rivers scarcely breathed; he felt as though he scarcely livedwhile she rapidly descended by catching the matted shrubs growing alongits sides. She was down at last, and bending over the mangled formbelow.
"Gipsy! Gipsy! do you recognize him?" cried Archie.
She looked up, and he saw a face from which every trace of life seemedto have fled.
"Yes," she replied, hoarsely. "_It is Danvers!_ Ride--ride for your lifeto Sunset Hall, and bring men and ropes to take him up!"
In an instant he was in the saddle, and off. In less than an hour hereturned, with half the population in the village after him, whom thenews of the catastrophe had brought together.
Ropes were lowered to Gipsy, who still remained where Archie had lefther, and the lifeless form of the young man drawn up. Gipsy, refusingall aid, clambered up the side, and the mournful cavalcade set out forSunset Hall.
He was quite dead. It was evident he had fallen, in the darkness, intothe gorge, and been instantly killed. His fair hair hung, clotted withblood, round his forehead: and a fearful gash in the temple showed thewound whence his young life had flowed away. And Gipsy, feeling asthough she were his murderess, sat by his side, and, gazing on thestill, cold form, shed the first bitter tears that had ever fallen fromher eyes. By some strange coincidence, it was in that self-same spot thedead body of Barry Oranmore had been found.
Poor Gipsy! The sunshine was fast fading out of her sky, and the cloudsof fate gathering thick and fast around her. She wept now foranother--knowing not how soon she was to weep for herself.
Sharing Her Crime: A Novel Page 21
