Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

says I, Mr. Grizzle, what?' and says he, 'How do you like the name of Grizzle?' and I said, all of a tremble, that he knew it was a favorite name of mine, and then, what do you think he went on-Because,' said he, 'me and my partner was goin' to get a sign painted, and we're undecided whether to have it "Wigg & Grizzle," or "Wigg & Co." Wigg don't think Grizzle's a purty name for gilt letters; but if you like it, Malvina, that's enough.' I was mad as a hop-toad, and got right up, for the clock was strikin', and I knew I'd get a scoldin' in the mornin', but he put his arm around me and pulled me down again, and says he, "Tain't as sweet a name as your'n, Malvina, but if you'll exchange your'n for it, I'll have it painted on that sign in big gold letters as bright as the sun.'"

[ocr errors]

"Well," said Sam, who had been listening rather restlessly, "I should call that decidedly neat, mother,-not at all awkward. Sho! I remember that sign, -the same we had over the store in Greenwich-street."

"But what did Miss Cameron say, Sammy?"

The pride of Rose Villa kicked a yellow crysanthemum in the face, smiled, and looked foolish.

"What did she say? You don't look as if she'd give you the mitten. Did she say 'yes,' out and out?"

66

Well, no. She's to give me an answer to-night."

"Then it's as good as yes, for girls are mighty short and crusty when they mean no. It don't take 'em half so long to say no, as it does to give consent. It's their nature to hold back, Sammy. Law! when your pa really did ask, after keepin' me waitin' all winter, you'd better believe I didn't jump into his arms for the askin'. "Twas a full week before that matter of the sign was settled."

Sam said nothing of the vehement refusal he had at first received; in fact, it appeared to him of no consequence compared with the last sentence spoken by Miss Cameron.

"She ain't nigh as well off as you,

Sammy, but she's the most lady-like girl, I know, and so sweet and good. I've been right-down jealous of Mrs. Cameron with them two sweet girls, and if she'll give one of 'em to us, they shan't have reason to repent it, my boy. No, indeed! Lissa Cameron will step right into our hearts as well as our house. Sammy, son, I'm proud of you. -I wish your pa was to home to hear the news," and Mrs. Grizzle wiped her eyes, and beamed afresh upon her darling.

66

'But, mother, please don't say a word about it yet. Of course I'm as good as accepted, but the lady hasn't said the word yet, and what if she should back out?

Sam's eyes rested on the river with a meditative and melancholy expression, which rendered them perfectly beautiful, in his mother's opinion. She did not see how Miss Cameron could resist him, and was not disposed to abate her congratulations.

"I hope she'll give you a decided answer to-night, for I long to give the dear girl a good squeeze, and welcome her to my family."

"There's Mr. Dassel coming over, mother. Let's talk of something else. Somehow, I've been infernally jealous of him. He's pumped me often, to find out what my intentions were; and I'd told him, quick enough, if I hadn't had a feeling that he was trying to cut me out. But she told me, to-day, she shouldn't marry him. I tell you, I breathed easier after that! I don't see how any girl can resist him, if he's a mind to make himself agrecable. Sometimes I'm in love with him myself.”

"So be I," said the good matron, laughing and flushing. "He's a born gentleman. He don't forget to make himself agreeable to the married ladies as well as the young ones. Then, he's so pure, and so womanish in his feelings. There ain't any thing bad in his gallantry, which is what makes it so delightful. Really, now, he feels as nigh to me as if he was my adopted son. I scarcely think of his being a baron, and all that. Look at him

[ocr errors]

1

beautiful, walking along in the sunlight, his hair and heard glistening like amber!"

[ocr errors]

Sho, mother, leave them compliments to the girls. I wish I was as handsome, though, and had such a walk. I've tried to carry my cane in his style, but I'm afraid I can't come it, after all."

The object of all this adulation opened the gate, and came up to the group in his graceful, princely way. It would have been impossible for the coldest critic to deny the magnificence of his personal appearance, or to refuse to acknowledge the magnetic power which breathed from his presence. Those dark-blue eyes, so like a child's in clear, limpid beauty, turned from mother to son.

66

Why are you both so bright? Is it the sunshine, or is it some good news?"

"We'd better ask you the same question," responded Mrs. Grizze; "you fairly dazzled us as you came along."

"Oh, then it must be borrowed lustre. I've been in the company of a beautiful woman all the morning. She has been singing for me-German music and poetry at that, and I've enjoyed it."

stayed out another hour or two as well as not. That horse Miss Cameron drives goes altogether too fast to suit me."

"Come along, my children," urged the matron, going towards the house. "Pierre told me he was making chickensalad for lunch, and I've been thinkin' of it the last two hours."

"How fine it is to be one of your children, and be treated so handsomely," remarked Louis, walking by her side.

"Really now!" she answered, much gratified. "I don't see why I didn't have a larger family, when I'm so fond of 'em," she went on. "But I hope it'll soon be larger. Daughters-in-law are the next best thing to daughters,—and I know Grizzle will act like a fool, he'll be so tickled when he begins to have grandchildren."

Dassel bit his lip. He knew of whom she was thinking as the future mother of her grandchildren, and a little thrill of disgust ran along his delicate nerves at thought of the mingling of such diverse elements. Would Bettine ?-could Bettine? and he glanced aside at Sam, that new-made gentleman, with an expression which would not have been flattering had it been seen. He laughed a little, sardonic laugh. If the girl

"Thank goodness, 'twasn't Lissa," could console herself with Sam Grizzle muttered Sam to himself.

"Have you had lunch, Mr. Dassel ? 66 No, I've not. Mrs. Cameron waited for her daughter, who was out, and I came away just as the bell rang."

"Well, I've been waitin' for Sam. So, we'll all go in now and have something. I begin to feel faint myself. Sam and Miss Lissa was out a-ridin' together, you see, and both was late.”

The fond mother could not refrain from this slight hint at the important affairs in meditation.

"Oh, indeed," murmured Dassel, with a swift glance at Sam's burning face, whose eye met his own with a look of mingled bashfulness and triumph; "it's a pleasant day for a drive; I don't blame them for prolonging it to the verge of hunger."

"I don't feel any particular amount of appetite," said Sam. "I could have

for his desertion, she would be better off, surely, in a worldly sense, than as his wife she could hope to be.

How much remorse was mingled with this consoling reflection does not appear. It was not enough to injure his appreciation of the salad, to which he did moderate and deliberate justice, after his habit; while Sam, quivering inwardly with excitement, found himself cheated out of his usual excellent appetite.

Susie was at the table, seated next to Mr. Dassel. He started, and changed color, when she, with a blushing shyness which betrayed the folly of her precocious little heart, leaned towards him, and slipping her hand into his arm, pressed it to gain his attention, and whispered eagerly,

"Do you know, Mr. Dassel, if they have had a letter from Robbie?"

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

66

"Oh, not any. Only he's a neighbor, you know, and I-promised not to forget to inquire."

"Exactly. Well, I will keep you informed. As soon as a letter arrives you shall hear of it. Probably there will be one for you also."

"No, there will not," regretfully. "Robbie wouldn't promise to correspond with me, though I asked him to."

"Unkind and ungallant! positively rude!" said the man of the world, with an amused smile. "To refuse a lady!"

"I think Robbie Cameron is very gentlemanly," replied Susie, with some indignation. "I should not have asked him. I should have waited for him to ask me. That is what women must always do-wait, and be silent," with a little sigh.

"I've been proposing to her, madame, and she runs away, in anger."

"If she was a few years older, Baron, but you'll not wait. We're not all blind at Rose Villa. We know what's about to happen. How curious it would turn out if we should all become one family, as it were,—wouldn't it, now?" The baron bowed and smiled, glancing at poor blushing Sammy.

That afternoon, when Grizzle, senior, came home to dinner, he brought a note from Miss Bayles to his wife, which said that she could spare Saturday to put the finishing touches to that lady's portrait, if the diamonds were home and ready to be painted.

It seems Mrs. Grizzle's jewels had been at Ball & Black's for some alterations in the setting, and had not been, as yet, transferred, in all their costly splendor, to the portrait.

"Why, yes," said the matron, reading the note over aloud at the table, "I can spare Saturday. You mustn't forget to call for them dimonds to-morrow, Grizzle,-and do be careful of 'em. They cost too much money to lose,—twelve thousand dollars in all, Mr. Dassel. You know you looked at 'em one day."

"You'll want them Monday, also, for Miss Bulbous' soirée dansante, will you not?" asked Mr. Dassel.

"To be sure. I forgot to tell you,

"Who taught you that, Miss Griz- Grizzle, about the party. Miss Bulbous zle?" gives one before she goes back to town.

"My own observation, Monsieur le She said it was to be a small affair; Baron."

"Ah! but warm-hearted little ladies like you cannot always be so discreet. You made love to Robbie."

"Who told you so?" her cheeks flaming up.

"Who but Robbie? I'm afraid he laughed at you, my dear. If I were you I would have my revenge. Marry me, now, and show him that you do not are for him."

Susie did not hear this last consolatory advice; her breast was choked with rage and grief; to hide her tears, she jumped from her chair and ran out of the room.

"What's the matter with Susie?"

but she never does things by halves. The whole neighborhood will be there, at least. Yes, I shall want my dimonds, and don't you forget 'em, Grizzle. Look-a-here, Sam, what are you going off before the desert for, I'd like to know?"

"Oh, I ain't," said that young gentleman, coming back to his chair. "I was just looking out to see if it was fairly dark yet."

"Time enough, and to spare," said his mother, winking at Mr. Dassel, "The Camerons hain't finished their dinner yet. You mustn't go over before eight o'clock. Are you intending tc spend the evening there, Mr. Dassel ?"

[blocks in formation]

She was

and a little more experience, I could shine in society. He would see it !— he-" but why follow the wild thoughts of a heart, which, in its misery, strove to gain a grain of comfort from unprofitable sources.

The moonless darkness deepened about the world; it was cloudy-no stars were in the sky; look where she would, there was nothing bright but Rose Villa, nearly all of whose windows flashed with light. She leaned her cold forehead against the colder glass, staring out with eyes, which, if the hopeful lover over there could have seen, would have startled him. Suddenly the door, opening upon a side-porch, was thrown wide by a servant, and Dassel stood one moment on the threshold, the full blaze of a hall-chandelier falling upon him, revealing the graceful outline of his tall figure, the floating, golden hair and tawny beard, the smiling, handsome face; then the door closed, and all was dark; but she heard the echo of his step on the gravelled paths.

In the meantime, a solitary watcher was looking across into the cheerful gorgeousness of those windows. Lissa Cameron had stolen from their dinner before the courses were half served, to the darkness and loneliness of the library, which had not yet been lighted, and stood within the curtains of a window which overlooked Rose Villa. enduring the severest struggle of her life, save one. One other wretched afternoon she had been in a wilder tumult of conflicting feeling than now. As she thought of that afternoon, of all she had suffered since, of the future, she wrung her hands together in a silent passion of misery. The moonless darkness deepened, and ing train, thundering over the road, Rose Villa shone out brightly.

"They are warm-hearted," she murmured, "and they will give me money to do as I please. I can change many things about the house,-soften down their vulgarity, after a time-and they will be very kind to me. I can relieve my father of my support, so that he can do more for Milla and Robbie. Milla can remain at home under mother's care, and that will please Louis, who has always seemed so happy in our family-circle.

"I shall never marry any one for love, and why not this good-natured simpleton, and show Louis how I despise love, and can live without it? We will have a diamond-wedding, we will patronize him and Milla,-I will always be able to dress superbly. I believe with dress,

"I shall die," moaned Elizabeth; "he has killed me."

She sank on her knees, because strength failed her, looking out into the night with strained, burning eyes; the echo of his step died away; she heard the shriek and uproar of an approach

which lay, out of sight, along the river, below the lawn; then, again, all was silence and darkness, save the glaring windows of Rose Villa, which, like bold eyes, seemed to laugh at her agony.

She knelt there in the shadow until the door again opened, and the halllamp, this time, beamed upon Sam Grizzle, coming forth, she well knew upon what errand. Oh, where should she go? what should she do to escape? There was no escape for her. What mattered it? To get away-only to get away from this house, where he came, where Milla's happy contentment mocked her!-yes, to get away from these maddening things, she would fly even into Sam Grizzle's arms.

That calmness which is of despair settled down upon the storms which

nad tossed her nature. Presently she beard the door-bell, and Sam's voice asking for her. If she had placed her finger on her wrist then, her pulse would have flowed evenly beneath its touch. She did not wait to be summoned, but glided out of the library into the parlor, and said good-evening to Sam with a grave smile, which turned him beetcolor instantly. He would have dropped down on his knees, at meeting this smile, had not Mr. and Mrs. Cameron entered in time to prevent such an oldfashioned proceeding.

Lissa had said nothing to her mother of the proposal she had received. She felt that her mother would disapprove of it, because she could not blind those loving eyes to the impulses which alone could urge her to accept it. So the parents, unaware of the fervor of Sam's wish that they were otherwise engaged, and seeking to assist their daughter in the task of entertaining their stupid but well-meaning young visitor, exerted themselves to have him feel at ease.

It was a dull evening. Milla came in for a few moments, but Mr. Dassel was not coming, and she had sat so long at the piano during the day that she was very tired and glad to slip out and give herself up to the care of old Sabrina. Sam was difficult to entertain. His mood was a mingled one, light and dark, like that new-fashioned triumph of cookery called marble-cake, and like that, on the whole, sweet. He answered with a broad smile to each and every remark, even when Mrs. Cameron asked him if he had noticed, in the evening papers, the death of a young gentleman, at Yonkers, by drowning, while bathing. Yet, while his face beamed like a sun-flower, he evidently was ill at ease. Whenever Lissa's eye by any chance met his, he made mysterious signs of distress, which, unstrung as were her nerves by the ordeal through which she had passed, struck upon them with the force of something intensely ludicrous. She laughed so much that her serene, gentle mother looked at her in surprise with reproof in her eyes.

Thus do tragedy and comedy play side by side in the drama of life.

In the midst of her wretchedness, Lissa's hysterical humor was caught by every trifle. Her father, with a man's ignorance of a woman's nature, was delighted to see his favorite so bright and well. Not that she looked as she did during those happy summer-wecks, when such a roseate atmosphere of joy hovered about her; but to have her playful and mirthful was a gain. He did not wonder at her being amused with Sam Grizzle, who might have made the Sphinx laugh with some of his agreeabilities.

At last the silvery voice of the libraryclock called ten. Sam cast a side-look of despair at Miss Cameron, and re marked,

"Don't let me keep you up beyond your common time, Mr. Cameron. Somehow, I don't feel sleepy, and if Miss 'Lizabeth would favor me with a little music, I could get along without your troubling yourselves."

The look which her father turned upon the guilty parties caused Lissa to beat a retreat to the piano. Her face was red, and her voice choked as she said,

"I will give you one song, and then you must go, Mr. Grizzle."

Sam smiled as usual, and came forward to turn the music.

"Now, Miss Lissa, you don't treat me fair," in a voice which he thought was as low as it was reproachful. "I shan't sleep a wink to-night, if you don't do as you promised."

Her hands ran over the keys, bending her head as if to read the notes before her, as she answered,

"Excuse me, Mr. Grizzle, the time has been so very brief. I have not talked with my mother. I cannot answer you to-night. Please go home, for I have thought so much my head aches."

"But when?" persisted the suitor. "Come, now, I'm in an awful way—”

"Well, why not say Monday evening. at the party? If I wear a camelia in my hair, it will mean 'yes.'"

« IndietroContinua »