Dulcibel: A Tale of Old Salem

by Henry Peterson

  CHAPTER V.

  Leah Herrick's Position and Feelings.

  I have classed Leah Herrick among the domestics; but her position wasrather above that. She had lived with the Widow Sands, Jethro's aunt,since she had been twelve years old, assisting in the housework, andreceiving her board and clothing in return. Now, at the age of twenty,she was worth more than that recompense; but she still remained on theold terms, as if she were a daughter instead of a servant.

  She remained, asking nothing more, because she had made up her mind tobe Jethro's wife. She had a passion for Jethro, and she knew that Jethroreciprocated it. But his aunt, who was ambitious, wished him to lookhigher; and therefore did not encourage such an alliance. Leah washowever too valuable and too cheap an assistant to be dispensed with,and thus removed from such a dangerous proximity, besides the widowreally had no objection to her, save on account of her poverty.

  Leah said nothing when she saw that Jethro's attentions were directed inanother direction; but without saying anything directly to Dulcibel,she contrived to impress her with the fact that she had trespassed uponher rightful domain. For Leah was a cat; and amidst her soft purrings,she would occasionally put out her velvety paw, and give a wicked littlescratch that made the blood come, and so softly and innocently too, thatthe sufferer could hardly take offence at it.

  Between these sharp intimations of Leah, and the unpleasant revelationsof the innate hardness of the young man's character, which resulted fromthe closer intimacy of a betrothal, Dulcibel's affection had beengradually cooling for several months. But although the longed-forestrangement between the two had at length taken place, Leah did notfeel quite safe yet; for the Widow Sands was very much put out about it,and censured her nephew for his want of wisdom in not holding Dulcibelto her engagement. "She has a good house and farm already, and she willbe certain to receive much more on the death of her bachelor uncle inEngland," said the aunt sharply. "You must strive to undo that foolishhour's work. It was only a tiff on her part, and you should have criedyour eyes out if necessary."

  And so Leah, thinking in her own heart that Jethro was a prize for anygirl, was in constant dread of a renewal of the engagement, and ready togo to any length to prevent it.

  Although a member of the "circle" that met at the minister's house, Leahwas not so regular an attendant as the others; for there were no menthere and she never liked to miss the opportunity of a privateconversation with Jethro, opportunities which were somewhat limited,owing to the continual watchfulness of her mistress. Still she wentfrequently enough to be fully imbued with the spirit of their doings,while not becoming such a victim as most of them were to disorderednerves, and an impaired and confused mental and moral constitution.