Lindley Murray

“ Zula drew from her pocket the same little pistol which she had carried in her childhood days, and pointing it upward, she said in a clear, firm voice:
“Do not threaten me, Crisp; you see I carry something besides marks.”
“Keep still, Crisp, keep still,” old Meg said, in a frightened whisper.
Scott Wilmer arose to his feet. His attitude commanded the most profound silence. Old Meg sank cowering in her chair, while Crisp dared not so much as raise his eyes.
“Meg,” Scott said, “if you were a man instead of an aged woman, I should deal with you as you deserve and the law would show you no mercy. ”

“ He went to the door of the tent and bade Zula good-bye, then wandered away through the woods.
“Oh, dear,” said Zula to herself, with eyes filling with tears; “why cannot I stay with some one who is kind to me? I wish I could get back home to dear Mr. and Mrs. Platts, and I will, too, some day. How kind they were to me. If I ever get a chance to hurt Crisp I’ll do it. I believe I’ll kill him.” ”

“ No word escaped her lips; but a slight groan followed every stroke of the whip. The little soft hands were locked tightly together and the face grew paler and paler, as the strokes left their marks deep and red.
“I’ll take the pride out of you, my young queen; you dare not run away again,” said Crisp, growing more and more angry, and giving vent to his demoniac ire in heavier strokes. As the lash sunk into the flesh a deeper paleness crept over Zula’s face, a heavy groan escaped her, and “Oh, Crisp,” was spoken in a tone full of agony. ”

“ What they wanted couldn't but be to get at the Frenches, and what Miss Lindeck above all wanted, baffled of it otherwise, with so many others of the baffled, was to get at Mr. French—for all Mr. French would want of either of them!—still more than Murray did. It was not till after she had got home, got straight into her own room and flung herself on her face, that she yielded to the full taste of the bitterness of missing a connection, missing the man himself, with power to create such a social appetite, such a grab at what might be gained by them. ”

“ The hardest of all is to leave my loved ones. Will you try to meet me? You have been a good wife, and I leave you my blessing. Meet me in that world, where we shall never part again.”
Mrs. Wilmer could not speak, and only heart-rending sobs broke the stillness of that death chamber.
“God bless you, my children,” he said, turning his eyes toward them. “You have been very dear to me. June, love and trust your brother, as ever you have, and Scott, take good care of your mother and sister. I can die easy leaving all in your care. June, my little darling June, what a blessing you have been to me. ”

“ But again he straightened himself. “Would I gain applause as a woman, think you?”
“If it’s play acting, have done with it,” growled Lindley, whose wound was hurting; who, in reality, was almost fainting from loss of blood. “You’ve saved my life as well as your own, Johan. But we’ll touch on that later. There’s no fear, is there, that your dead man will come to life?”
The boy for the first time raised his eyes to Lindley’s face. Even in the darkness he could see that it was ghastly white and drawn with pain. A nervous cry burst from his lips, and he stretched both arms toward Lindley. ”

“ One winter morning, when his daughter Mary was about twenty years old, Mr Lindley, a thin, unobtrusive figure in his black overcoat and his wideawake, went down into Aldecross with a packet of white papers under his arm. He was delivering the parish almanacs.
A rather pale, neutral man of middle age, he waited while the train thumped over the level-crossing, going up to the pit which rattled busily just along the line. A wooden-legged man hobbled to open the gate, Mr Lindley passed on. ”

“ He will find that the old gypsy can put a curse on him that will last a lifetime.”
Old Meg lit her pipe and placing one hand under her chin she formed about as disgusting a picture as one could imagine.
“Crisp,” she said, while her face took on a still more intense look of hatred, “I could kill that jade, to think that she can be a lady through my managing and me a beggar. I hate her, and I could grind her to powder.”
“Hate her,” said Crisp, “don’t I hate her, the sneak that she is? Hain’t I got reason to hate her for setting the trap that she set for me, that night? ”

“ It is of your own seeking. It is yours to end when you please. I am in no hurry, and the road lies ahead of you.” The lad halted his horse, but Lindley also drew rein.
“Answer straight who and what you are,” he cried. “I am cousin to Master James Ogilvie, and I have a right to demand an answer to those questions.”
“Ah! A straight question always merits an answer, Master—Master——But I know not your name,” said the boy. “I’m called Johan, and I’m bonded for a term of years to a man who has many names, and who plays many parts.”
“You are one of the play actors, then!” burst from Lindley’s lips. ”

“ A half sad smile passed over June’s lips as she said:
“Oh, I shall never be brave like Scott; few people are.”
“I wish I were like Scott.”
June’s lily white face fairly blazed with crimson, and Guy, seeing her confusion, begged her pardon.
If Mr. Linton were just like him, she thought she could have received his attentions with a great deal more pleasure. Mr. Linton had written to her that he should see her in New York, but she hoped he would remain at home; she had no desire to see him now, especially since the unpleasant affair of the elopement. ”

“ She did not say that Rene should have remembered the great responsibility that was resting on her, although she blamed her fully as much as she did her admirers; but she was Scott’s wife, and for his sake she would screen her as much as she could.
“Many men live for the society that surrounds them,” said Mr. Linton.
“As for society,” said June, speaking with emphasis, “it will not support me or make my happiness, and 120 though I am fond of it, and love to have my friends near me, I think the rules of propriety should be adhered to in all cases.” ”

“ Lindley urged. “You’re sadly worn and tired now. I saw last night that you were quite spiritless and lacking in heart! To-night, I see it even plainer.”
“Oh, ’tis naught but the work I have to do,” Johan answered, wearily.
“The work?” questioned Lindley. “Is it a new part you have to play?”
“Ay, that’s it,” sighed Johan; “a new part, a man’s part and a woman’s part all in one! It’s a most difficult part, indeed.” He was muttering the words to himself, and, under his cloak, Lindley could see his hands twisting nervously.
“Forgive me, lad!” Lindley’s tone was conscience-stricken. ”

“ Platts and his family returned home. Mary was there to receive them, and very glad to see them.
It happened one day that Mary, having an unusual amount of work on hand, had requested Zula to go on an errand for her, to which she, ever ready to oblige, at once consented. It was nearing twilight and as Zula started to return home she was met by Crisp, who at once recognized her in spite of her changed countenance and neat attire.
“Oh, so I have found you. I have looked all over for you,” he said. “Maam wants to see you awful bad; she is so sick and she knows she is going to die ”

“ I wish I were like you, Carrie, but I can’t be no matter how hard I try.”
“Oh, don’t wish to be like me. Sue Haines says I haven’t enough spunk ever to amount to anything in the world; but mama says it does not take spunk to amount to a good woman, and that, she says, is worth everything.”
“I think so, too,” said Zula, drying her eyes.
“We are all going to the island to-morrow,” said Guy. “There is to be an excursion, and I suppose we shall have any amount of fun.”
“Oh, won’t that be grand!” said Zula. “I do so love to be on the water.” ”

“ Old Meg, who stood watching the proceedings, now advanced, and said:
“Stop, Crisp, not so hard; don’t you see you are killing her?”
Zula’s head sank upon her breast and an ashen paleness overspread her face.
“Yes, stop,” said a voice close behind him, and at that moment a form appeared among the trees.
“Who are you?” Crisp asked, angrily.
“It matters not who I am, but I command you to cease your cruelty, and untie that poor girl. Shame on a man who would commit such a cowardly deed. If you have a spark of manhood about you let her go.” ”

“ You see why, don’t you?” said Crisp.
“Yes, I see why; about the only hold we had is gone unless we come right out and tell all we know, and that would be putting us in a nice pickle, wouldn’t it?” said Meg.
“Well, I’m bound to get even with that fiend if it takes my own neck.”
“There’s no use losing your neck if you work the business right,” said Meg.
“She feels mighty fine since Zu is out of the way,” said Crisp, “and she don’t care whether she died in the asylum or not, so she’s gone. It’s a devilish good piece o’ luck, anyway.” ”

“ When last I saw you, you were lamenting, the obduracy of some fair one, if I remember right.”
“Alas and alack, no, I’ve not won her,” mourned Lindley, his Irish eyes and his Irish lips losing their laughter. “I’m in a fair way never to win her, I think. In my case, though, it’s the father that’s wax in the daughter’s hands. ’Tis a long time since he gave his consent to my wooing the maid, but the maid will not be wooed. She knows how to have her own way, and has always known it and always had it, too. She tyrannized over me when she was a lass of six and I was a lad of ten. ”

“ Lindley, ’tis about a friend of your own, too—a friend who was with you here not a week ago.”
“I—I care not for your news, whatever it may be, whomever it may be about,” groaned Lindley, who was near the end of his endurance.
“Master Lindley’s met with highwaymen,” interrupted Johan. “Perchance ’tis the Black Devil himself. He’s wounded and has need of your skill, not of your news.”
“Met with my Lord Farquhart!” cried honest Marmaduke. “But that’s impossible. My Lord Farquhart’s been in prison these twelve hours and more, denounced by his cousin, the Lady Barbara Gordon!” ”

“ Scott and Le Moyne left the house, and as the door closed after them Meg arose, and standing before Crisp, with lips fairly purple with rage, and eyes from which gleamed the fire of hatred, she said:
“Crisp, we may as well get our money and go. There’s another one on our track, and there is no use to try to hide it any longer. They’ll shut the whole of us up.”
“They never will; we’ll slip away first.” ”

“ Linton to turn in another direction she heard Max saying in a tender way:
“Poor darling! It is so hard to live with an uncongenial nature, isn’t it? I am so sorry for you.”
June did not hear Irene’s reply, but she wondered how she could bear such flattery, or how she could hear 117 her noble husband spoken of in such a slanderous way, and she thought she must speak to some one on the subject, but to whom she did not know.
“Miss Wilmer,” Mr. Linton said again, “if you knew how much I loved you you would at least condescend to reply when I tell you so.” ”

“ The child raised a pair of coal-black eyes to the lady’s face as she turned to pass out of the dining-room door, which had been left open to let in the cool June breeze; but as she was about to cross the threshold she was seized by the strong hands of a policeman, who had answered Mrs. Wilmer’s call, and the silver was scattered in a dozen different directions.
“Did you ever see such a bold little creature in all your life? Who would have thought she would dare come in here, right in broad daylight, and steal my spoons off the table? Why, it’s awful!” ”

“ Scott arose and walked slowly up and down the room. His face had grown very grave, and his lips were pressed firmly together. At length he stopped before Paul, and grasping both his hands tightly in his own, and looking straight down in the boy’s face, he said:
“Paul, my boy, I cannot give you up; it is useless to try. You are a part of my home. Mother and June look to you in all their troubles, and now when all is darkest with me, will you leave me in still greater darkness? Paul, I have never made a confidant of any one, but to you I have confided more than to any other.” ”

“ If he had lingered a minute or two longer he would have heard Miss Lindsay’s voice calling out in some anxiety, and Laura Mowbray’s silvery accents replying:
‘Yes; here I am, Miss Lindsay—it is so much cooler out of doors. My headache is almost quite gone, thank you; the cool sea-breeze has driven it away. How did you enjoy your party? How I wish I could have gone with you!’
But before Laura reached the house, Alec was once more far out in the loch. He wished to be alone, to indulge the sweet intoxication which was burning in his veins. ”

“ June replied.
Miss Elsworth was seated in her cozy parlor when a visitor was announced.
“Ah, Mr. Wilmer,” she said, with a smile that went straight to his heart, “I am glad to see you. I have a little business to transact that takes a lawyer’s head to accomplish, though I am not partial to that class of men.”
“I am sorry,” he said, as he took the chair she offered him. He had not intended to fall in love with her, and he had said to himself that he would not allow it; but, alas for his intentions. He really had never known what love was until now. ”

“ Zula looked up, but there was neither love nor fear in the gaze that fell on her mother’s face. She had grown reckless as to fear, and so accustomed to the pain inflicted by the strokes of the lash, that had she been commanded to receive fifty, she would have betrayed no emotion.
“Come, you lazy thing, you may as well make yourself useful; you are good for nothing anyway, so you may help to make music for the dance.” ”