"EITHER she is seeking to enhance her value, or else she is not thegirl I imagined her to be at all," was Willard Merwyn's conclusionas he sat on a crag high upon the mountain's side. "Whicheversupposition is true, I might as well admit at once that she is themost fascinating woman I ever met. She IS a woman, as she claims tobe. I've seen too many mere girls not to detect their transparentdeceits and motives at once. I don't understand Marian Vosburgh;I only half believe in her, but I intend to learn whether there isa girl in her station who would unhesitatingly decline the wealthand position that I can offer. Not that I have decided to offerthese as yet, by any means, for I am in a position to marry wealthand rank abroad; but this girl piques my curiosity, stirs my blood,and is giving wings to time. At this rate the hour of our departuremay come before I am ready for it. I was mistaken in one respectthe first evening I met her. Lane, as well as Strahan and others,would marry her if they could. She might make her choice from almostany of those who seek her society, and she is not the pretty littleBohemian that I imagined. Either none of them has ever touched herheart, or else she knows her value and vantage, and she means tomake the most of them. If she knew the wealth and position I couldgive her immediately, would not these certainties bring a differentexpression into her eyes? I am not an ogre, that she should shrinkfrom me as the only incumbrance."
Could he have seen the girl's passion after he left her he wouldhave understood her dark look at their parting. Hastily seekingher own room she locked the door to hide the tears of anger andhumiliation that would come.
"Well," she cried, "I AM punished for trifling with others. Hereis a man who seeks me in my home for no other purpose than his ownamusement and the gratification of his curiosity. He could not denyit when brought squarely to the issue. He could not look me in theeyes and say that he was my honest friend. He would flirt with me,if he could, to beguile his burdensome leisure; but when I definedwhat some are to me, and more would be, if permitted, he found nobetter refuge than gallantry and evasion. What can he mean? whatcan he hope except to see me in his power, and ready to accept anyterms he may choose to offer? O Arthur Strahan! your wish now iswholly mine. May I have the chance of rejecting this man as I neverdismissed one before!"
It must not be supposed that Willard's frequent visits to theVosburgh cottage had escaped Mrs. Merwyn's vigilant solicitude, buther son spoke of them in such a way that she obtained the correctimpression that he was only amusing himself. Her chief hope wasthat her son would remain free until the South had obtained thepower it sought. Then an alliance with one of the leading familiesin the Confederacy would accomplish as much as might have resultedfrom active service during the struggle. She had not hesitated toexpress this hope to him.
He had smiled, and said: "One of the leading theories of the day isthe survival of the fittest. I am content to limit my theory to asurvival. If I am alive and well when your great Southern empire takesthe lead among nations there will be a chance for the fulfilmentof your dream. If I have disappeared beneath Southern mud therewon't be any chance. In my opinion, however, I should have tenfoldgreater power with our Southern friends if I introduced to them anEnglish heiress."
His mother had sighed and thought: "It is strange that thiscalculating boy should be my son. His father was self-controlledand resolute, but he never manifested such cold-blooded thought ofself, first and always."
She did not remember that the one lesson taught him from hisvery cradle had been that of self-pleasing. She had carried outher imperious will where it had clashed with his, and had weaklycompensated him by indulgence in the trifles that make up a child'slife. SHE had never been controlled or made to yield to others inthoughtful consideration of their rights and feelings, and did notknow how to instil the lesson; therefore--so inconsistent is humannature--when she saw him developing her own traits, she was troubledbecause his ambitions differed from her own. Had his hopes anddesires coincided with hers he would have been a model youth inher eyes, although never entertaining a thought beyond personal andfamily advantage. Apparently there was a wider distinction betweenthem, for she was capable of suffering and sacrifice for the South.The possibilities of his nature were as yet unrevealed.
His course and spirit, however, set her at rest in regard to hisvisits to Marian Vosburgh, and she felt that there was scarcelythe slightest danger that he would compromise himself by seriousattentions to the daughter of an obscure American official.
Willard returned from his brief absence, and was surprised at hiseager anticipation of another interview with Marian. He calledthe morning after his arrival, and learning that she had just goneto witness a drill of Strahan's company, he followed, and arrivedalmost as soon as she did at the ground set apart for militaryevolutions.
He was greeted by Marian in her old manner, and by Strahan inhis off-hand way. The young officer was at her side, and a numberof ladies and gentlemen were present as spectators. Merwyn took acamp-stool, sat a little apart, and nonchalantly lighted a cigar.
Suddenly there was a loud commotion in the guard-house, accompaniedby oaths and the sound of a struggle. Then a wild figure, armed witha knife, rushed toward Strahan, followed by a sergeant and two orthree privates. At a glance it was seen to be the form of a tall,powerful soldier, half-crazed with liquor.
"--you!" exclaimed the man; "you ordered me to be tied up. I'lllarn you that we ain't down in Virginny yet!" and there was recklessmurder in his bloodshot eyes.
Although at that moment unarmed, Strahan, without a second's hesitation,sprung at the man's throat and sought to catch his uplifted hand,but could not reach it. The probabilities are that the youngofficer's military career would have been ended in another second,had not Merwyn, without removing his cigar from his mouth, caughtthe uplifted arm and held it as in a vise.
"Stand back, Strahan," he said, quietly; but the young fellow wouldnot loosen his hold. Therefore Merwyn, with his left hand upon thecollar of the soldier, jerked him a yard away, and tripped him upso that he fell upon his face. Twisting the fellow's hands acrosshis back, Merwyn said to the sergeant, "Now tie him at your leisure."
This was done almost instantly, and the foul mouth was also stoppedby a gag.
Merwyn returned to his camp-stool, and coolly removed the cigarfrom his mouth as he glanced towards Marian. Although white andagitated, she was speaking eager, complimentary, and at the sametime soothing words to Strahan, who, in accordance with his excitablenature, was in a violent passion. She did not once glance towardsthe man who had probably saved her friend's life, but Strahan cameand shook hands with him cordially, saying: "It was handsomely andbravely done, Merwyn. I appreciate the service. You ought to be anofficer, for you could make a good one,--a better one than I am,for you are as cool as a cucumber."
Others, also, would have congratulated Merwyn had not his mannerrepelled them, and in a few moments the drill began. Long beforeit was over Marian rose and went towards her phaeton. In a momentMerwyn was by her side.
"You are not very well, Miss Vosburgh," he said. "Let me drive youhome."
She bowed her acquiescence, and he saw that she was pale and alittle faint; but by a visible effort she soon rallied, and talkedon indifferent subjects.
At last she said, abruptly: "I am learning what war means. It wouldseem that there is almost as much danger in enforcing disciplineon such horrible men as in facing the enemy."
"Of course," said Merwyn, carelessly. "That is part of the risk."
"Well," she continued, emphatically, "I never saw a braver act thanthat of Mr. Strahan. He was unarmed."
"I was also!" was the somewhat bitter reply, "and you did not eventhank me by a look for saving your friend from a bad wound to saythe least."
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Merwyn, you were armed with a strengthwhich made your act perfectly safe. Mr. Strahan risked everything."
"How could he help risking everything? The infuriated beast wascoming towards you as well as him. Could he have run away? You arenot just to me, or at least you are very par
tial."
"One can scarcely help being partial towards one's friends. Iagree with you, however; Mr. Strahan could not have taken any othercourse. Could you, with a friend in such peril?"
"Certainly not, with any one in such peril. Let us say no moreabout the trifle."
She was silent a moment, and then said, impetuously: "You shallnot misunderstand me. I don't know whether I am unjust or not. I doknow that I was angered, and cannot help it. You may as well knowmy thoughts. Why should Mr. Strahan and others expose themselvesto such risks and hardships while you look idly on, when you soeasily prove yourself able to take a man's part in the struggle?You may think, if you do not say it, that it is no affair of mine;but with my father, whom I love better than life, ready at anymoment to give his life for a cause, I cannot patiently see utterindifference to that cause in one who seeks my society."
"I think your feelings are very natural, Miss Vosburgh, nor doI resent your censure. You are surrounded by influences that leadyou to think as you do. You can scarcely judge for me, however.Be fair and just. I yield to you fully--I may add, patiently--theright to think, feel, and act as you think best. Grant equal rightsto me."
"Oh, certainly," she said, a little coldly; "each one must choosehis own course for life."
"That must ever be true," he replied, "and it is well to rememberthat it is for life. The present condition of affairs is temporary.It is the hour of excited impulses rather than of cool judgment.Ambitious men on both sides are furthering their own purposes atthe cost of others."
"Is that your idea of the war, Mr. Merwyn?" she asked, lookingsearchingly into his face.
"It is indeed, and time will prove me right, you will discover."
"Since this is your view, I can scarcely wonder at your course,"she said, so quietly that he misunderstood her, and felt that shehalf conceded its reasonableness. Then she changed the subject,nor did she revert to it in his society.
As August drew to its close, Marian's circle shared the feverishsolicitude felt in General Pope's Virginia campaign. Throughoutthe North there was a loyal response to the appeal for men, andStrahan's company was nearly full. He expected at any hour theorders which would unite the regiment at Washington.
One morning Mr. Lane came to say good-by. It was an impressivehour which he spent with Marian when bidding her perhaps a finalfarewell. She was pale, and her attempts at mirthfulness were forcedand feeble. When he rose to take his leave she suddenly coveredher face with her hand, and burst into tears.
"Marian!" he exclaimed, eagerly, for the deep affection in hisheart would assert itself at times, and now her emotion seemed towarrant hope.
"Wait," she faltered. "Do not go just yet."
He took her unresisting hand and kissed it, while she stifled hersobs.
"Miss Marian," he began, "you know how wholly I am yours--"
"Please do not misunderstand me," she interrupted. "I scarcelyknow how I could feel differently if I were parting with my twinbrother. You have been such a true, generous friend! Oh, I am allunstrung. Papa has been sent for from Washington, and we don't knowwhen he'll return or what service may be required of him. I onlyknow that he is like you, and will take any risk that duty seemsto demand. I have so learned to lean upon you and trust you that ifanything happened--well, I felt that I could go to you as a brother.You are too generous to blame me that I cannot feel in any otherway. See, I am frank with you. Why should I not be when the futureis so uncertain? Is it a little thing that I should think of youfirst and feel that I shall miss you most when I am so distraughtwith anxiety?"
"No, Miss Marian. To me it is a sacred thing. I want you to knowthat you have a brother's hand and heart at your disposal."
"I believe you. Come," she added, rising and dashing away hertears, "I must be brave, as you are. Promise me that you will takeno risks beyond those required by duty, and that you will write tome."
"Marian," he said, in a low, deep voice, "I shall ever try to dowhat, in your heart, you would wish. You must also promise that ifyou are ever in trouble you will let me know."
"I promise."
He again kissed her hand, like a knight of the olden time.
At the last turn of the road from which he was visible she wavedher handkerchief, then sought her room and burst into a passion oftears.
"Oh," she sobbed, "as I now feel I could not refuse him anything.I may never see him again, and he has been so kind and generous!"
The poor girl was indeed morbid from excitement and anxiety. Herpale face began to give evidence of the strain which the timesimposed on her in common with all those whose hearts had much atstake in the conflict.
In vain her mother remonstrated with her, and told her that she was"meeting trouble half-way." Once the sagacious lady had venturedto suggest that much uncertainty might be taken out of the futureby giving more encouragement to Mr. Merwyn. "I am told that he isalmost a millionnaire in his own right," she said.
"What is he in his own heart and soul?" had been the girl's indignantanswer. "Don't speak to me in that way again, mamma."
Meanwhile Merwyn was a close observer of all that was taking place,and was coming to what he regarded as an heroic resolution. Exceptas circumstances evoked an outburst of passion, he yielded to habit,and coolly kept his eye on the main chances of his life, and thesemeant what he craved most.
Two influences had been at work upon his mind during the summer.One resulted from his independent possession of large property. Hehad readily comprehended the hints thrown out by his lawyer that,if he remained in New York, the times gave opportunity for arapid increase in his property, and the thought of achieving largewealth for himself, as his father had done before him, was growingin attractiveness. His indolent nature began to respond to vitalAmerican life, and he asked himself whether fortune-making in hisown land did not promise more than fortune-seeking among Englishheiresses; moreover, he saw that his mother's devotion to the Southincreased daily, and that feeling at the North was running higherand becoming more and more sharply defined. As a business man inNew York his property would be safe beyond a doubt, but if he wereabsent and affiliating with those known to be hostile to the North,dangerous complications might arise.
Almost unconsciously to himself at first the second influence wasgaining daily in power. As he became convinced that Marian wasnot an ordinary girl, ready for a summer flirtation with a wealthystranger, he began to give her more serious thought, to study hercharacter, and acknowledge to himself her superiority. With everyinterview the spell of her fascination grew stronger, until at lasthe reached the conclusion which he regarded as magnanimous indeed.Waiving all questions of rank and wealth on his part he would becomea downright suitor to this fair countrywoman. It did not occur tohim that he had arrived at his benign mood by asking himself thequestion, "Why should I not please myself?" and by the oft-recurringthought: "If I marry rank and wealth abroad the lady may eventuallyremind me of her condescension. If I win great wealth here and liftthis girl to my position she will ever be devoted and subservientand I be my own master. I prefer to marry a girl that pleases mein her own personality, one who has brains as well as beauty. Whenthese military enthusiasts have disappeared below the Southernhorizon, and time hangs more heavily on her hands, she will findleisure and thought for me. What is more, the very uncertaintiesof her position, with the advice of her prudent mamma, will inclineher to the ample provision for the future which I can furnish."
Thus did Willard Merwyn misunderstand the girl he sought, so strongare inherited and perverted traits and lifelong mental habits.He knew how easily, with his birth and wealth, he could arrange amatch abroad with the high contracting powers. Mrs. Vosburgh hadimpressed him as the chief potentate of her family, and not at allaverse to his purpose. He had seen Mr. Vosburgh but once, and thequiet, reticent man had appeared to be a second-rate power. He hadalso learned that the property of the family was chiefly vested inthe wife. Of course, if Mr. Vosburgh had been in the city, Merwynwould have addressed him first, but
he was absent and the time ofhis return unknown.
The son knew his mother would be furious, but he had alreadydiscounted that opposition. He regarded this Southern-born lady asa very unsafe guide in these troublous times. Indeed, he cherisheda practical kind of loyalty to her and his sisters.
"Only as I keep my head level," he said to himself, "are they safe.Mamma would identify herself with the South to-day if she could,and with a woman's lack of foresight be helpless on the morrow.Let her dream her dreams and nurse her prejudices. I am my father'sson, and the responsible head of the family; and I part with nosolid advantage until I receive a better one. I shall establishmamma and the girls comfortably in England, and then return to acity where I can soon double my wealth and live a life independentof every one."
This prospect grew to be so attractive that he indulged, like Mr.Lanniere, in King Cophetua's mood, and felt that one American girlwas about to become distinguished indeed.
Watching his opportunity he called upon Mrs. Vosburgh while Marianwas out of the way, formally asking her, in her husband's absence,for permission to pay his addresses; and he made known his financialresources and prospects with not a little complacent detail.
Mrs. Vosburgh was dignified and gracious, enlarged on her daughter'sworth, hinted that she might be a little difficult to win byreason of the attentions she had received and her peculiar views,yet left, finally, the impression that so flattering proposalscould not be slighted.
Merwyn went home with a sigh of relief. He would no longer approachMarian with doubtful and ill-defined intentions, which he believedchiefly accounted for the clever girl's coldness towards him.
CHAPTER XIV.
OMINOUS.
An Original Belle Page 15
