The Statesmen Snowbound

by W. W. Jacobs

  IX

  SENATOR HAMMOND'S EXPERIENCE

  "The facts that I am about to relate occurred many years ago while I wason a visit to relatives in Charleston, South Carolina. The old housewhere I was a guest stands on the Battery, and with its beautifulgardens is still one of the show places of the city.

  "It was on a warm Sunday afternoon, and I found myself alone in thehouse, the family and servants at church, and a brooding stillness thatpresaged the approach of a storm, settling over all. At that time I wasa dreamy, romantic, long-haired youth with all sorts of notions aboutthe artistic temperament, carelessness in dress, and painting miniaturesfor a living. They told me I had some talent, and I believed themthoroughly.

  "I had wandered in from the garden, my hands full of flowers for thevases in the library, when a sudden gust of wind tore through the widehall, the door shut with a bang, and I found myself face to face with myancestors. Grim gentlemen with somber faces, simpering almond-eyedbeauties in cobwebby laces; and in the place of honor a frowning hag,whose wrinkles even the flattering painter dare not hide. Time had addedto the sallowness of her complexion, and certain cracks in the canvasbut intensified her ugliness. Artistic cracks they were, too, for theyfell in just the right places, and heightened the general effectamazingly.

  "Doubtless it was from this person, thought I, that I inherited myrather nasty temper and other moral and mental infirmities. I gazed atthe lady long and earnestly, for as an ardent believer in heredity Ifelt that here I had the key to a problem which often worried me. Iresolved to look her up at once in the family records.

  "But I was saved that trouble.

  "'Young man,' piped a high, thin voice close at hand, 'in my day it wasconsidered boorish in the extreme to stare at any one as you are nowdoing. No gentleman, I am sure, would have been guilty of such a thing.But these modern manners, and modern ways are quite beyond me. Perhapsit is the mode nowadays to ape the rude youths who hung about the Londonplayhouses in my time. N'est'ce pas?'

  "I felt decidedly uncomfortable.

  "'Pardon me, I----'

  "'Stop!' said the voice, which came from the ugly one in the corner,'stop, if you please! Don't attempt to apologize or explain; it takestoo much time, and time with me is very precious just now. You see,' sheadded in milder tones, 'when one is allowed to have a say only once in acentury, and but fifteen minutes at that, one naturally wants to do allthe talking. That's perfectly reasonable, is it not? So keep quiet, mydear, and listen to me. No interruptions, if you please.

  "'I am Margaret Holmead, your blood relation. You have the Holmeadfigure, and coloring, and I knew you were one of us as soon as you cameinto the room. Well.

  "'Do you see that hussy in the ruff over there? That is Mary Darragh,Lady Benneville, my bitterest, bitterest enemy! See how she smiles atme! Deceitful minx! When I tell you all you will surely take her out ofthe room and fling her into the fire! For sixty years she has hung theretaunting me. They brought her down from the hall above just to spite me,I do believe. 'Twas done in your grandfather's time. He was a Bennevilleall over, and of course had no use for me. So for sixty long years Ihave had to face Mary Darragh and submit to her impertinence, and I tellyou I am sick of it! Why do I hate her? For a very good reason, sir. Letme tell you about it.

  "'My troubles began at the Duchess of Bolton's ball, long before I cameto this dreadful America. The King was there, and Lady Morley-Frere. Ifmy voice trembles as I mention their names, it is with rage I assureyou, and no wonder--for God knows that between them they played me ascurvy trick! Yes, these two were there, and Lord Benneville, my cousin,the handsomest man in all England--indeed, in all the world, I thought.He was tall and slight, with wavy hair, light brown, almost golden, inthe sunlight. His eyes were gray, a lovely shade, though those who hatedhim swore 'twas green. A clever supple swordsman, and to the fore in allthe rough games that men delight in. His face was very winsome, yetoften swept by varying moods. I have seen it hard and stern, and againalight with the keenest appreciation of one of my Lord Kenneth'switticisms. And, too, I have seen it tender, pleading, and melancholyalmost unto tears. Ah me!

  "'Lord Kenneth, older by several years; taller, darker, soured by agreat disappointment--so 'twas said--loved my Lord Benneville with allthe affection his selfish nature allowed. And Benneville returned itfrankly, in his open boyish fashion. They were ever together, and theiradventures and daring escapades more than once nearly threw them intoserious trouble. But what cared they, crack-brained as they were? Why,on one pitch dark night, masked and mounted, my Lords Kenneth andBenneville held up the Royal Mail, frightened the passengers almost todeath, and alarmed the whole countryside; sober folk who thought theDevil himself was abroad! But the King only smiled indulgently, andnothing came of it save much gossip at court. They were merry days forall of us; balls and routs, and parties on the river, the King sohandsome and debonair, and the world so bright with sunshine andhappiness. Youth, my dear, is a great thing; what is there to comparewith it?

  "'But I am losing time. I must hasten to the ball at the Duchess's. 'Tishardly fair, this terrible silence they have imposed upon me. A centuryat a stretch--think of it!

  "'I looked my best that night, at least every one said I did, and I hadmy mirror to tell me so too. My gown was a wondrous figured thing fromthe Indies--a soft, clinging, silken stuff that became me well. Royaltysent an armful of great purple blossoms, strange in shape and smellingravishingly. My clever Prue spent hours on my hair, with the littleLafitte for the finishing touches. My father was waiting below, and hiseyes shone with joy when he saw me; for he was proud, very proud of hisonly daughter.

  "'The King patted my cheek and said such pretty things, and kissed me.Little did I know what was to follow! Child, beware of Princes andprincely favor, for therein lies destruction!

  "'The night wore on, and the affair became gayer and more crowded. I hadbeen much with my Lord Benneville, who seemed quiet and preoccupied, yetvery tender and sweet withal. At that time there existed anunderstanding between Arthur and me. Nothing announced as yet, for mylover feared the King. His Majesty, of late, had been singularlyattentive to me. In fact, so marked had this been that the Queen'smanner toward me became more distant every day; thanks to LadyMorley-Frere, Mary Darragh, and the other busybodies who had the royalear, and hated me. If I coquetted with the King 'twas but to see myheart's real master frown, and his face grow wan and sad, for by thosevery tokens I knew that he loved me.

  "'As I say, something was wrong with my dear Lord that night, and afterI had danced twice with the King, and once with the old Duke, Bennevillecame to claim me. He took me away from the throng into a little gildedroom with scattered tables for cards, and there we were quite toourselves.

  "'"My darling," said he, "the King has honored me with a very specialmission. His Majesty deems that of all his loving subjects I am the bestfitted for this most important business," and my lover's voicehoarsened, and there was hatred in his face. "I start at once for thatfar city where the Grand Turk holds court. It is a long journey, and ahard; and who can say when I will return? I have feared this all along,sweetest one, and I have tried in vain to put off the evil day; and yet,by Heaven, I will thwart him! You shall be Lady Benneville beforesunrise! And you will, dearest?"

  "'He took me in his arms. I was trembling from head to foot; fearful,yet joyous. Mine is an emotional nature. But his next words sent a chillthrough me.

  "'"Lady Morley-Frere has promised to help me. You must leave the palacewith her, and drive straight to St. Stephens-in-the-Fields. She hasarranged it all, like the dear, clever woman she is. As for me, I am inKenneth's hands."

  "'"No! No!" I cried out suddenly, quite aghast. "Not Lord Kenneth! OGod; not that man!" I feared and hated Robert, Lord Kenneth, and knewwell that he had no liking for me. "Not Lord Kenneth," I urged.

  "'"He is my friend," said Lord Benneville gravely.

  "'So what more could I say?

  "'"Your father has gone home, tired out," he said,
by all thisfrivolity, but Lady Morley-Frere will keep you to the end; and then toMorley House with her. That at least is what she told him, and he seemedwell content."

  "'I nodded passively, but wondered, knowing as I did my father'sespecial detestation for Lady Morley-Frere. Why, they scarcely spoke!But of course my Arthur knew. There was no further time for parley,however, as several of the guests, upon gaming bent, invaded ourretreat, and we returned to the ballroom.

  "'Old Lady Morley-Frere gave me a meaning look when we met at supper,but had only the opportunity to whisper in passing, "At two o'clock; thelittle door under the green lanthorn." I knew the place well, havingoften taken chair there when the crowd pressed in front. Two o'clockcame, and we succeeded in leaving the palace quite unobserved, thanks tothe private door. It was bitterly cold and snowing hard, and we hadscarce left the court-yard when I fell to shivering, my teeth clickinglike castanets. Lady Morley-Frere, seeing my plight, held out a silverflask, and from the depths of her cloak growled out, "Drink, drink!'Twill set you right in a trice. 'Tis hot and spiced, and good for you."I obeyed her. I had hardly swallowed it before a delicious warmth stoleover me, and every nerve tingled with pleasure. I sank back into thecushions revived--exalted! Then I fell asleep. Oh, the shame of it! Theshame of it! A thousand curses upon a tipple that caused such woe! Mayeternal perdition be the portion of the giver!

  "'Strong arms enfolded me when I came to my senses. My Benneville, I wassure of it!

  "Darling," I murmured, still feeling strangely, "I have come to you.Yes, out of the storm have I come to you! Like a weary, drenched bird, Iseek rest in thy dear arms! Kiss me, my dearest, kiss me!"

  "'He kissed me again and again ... How can I go on?... There was a soundof smothered laughter--the irritating laugh of a woman I hated.... Hisface was close to mine.... I opened my eyes.... Oh, God! It was theKing!

  "'In my rage and confusion I flung him from me, and fell, half-fainting,to the floor. Then I heard my Lord Benneville say brokenly, as onecrushed by awful trouble, "Your Majesty is right. I pray you forgive myharsh words of yesterday. Fool, fool that I am to have been so tricked!O my Liege, my Liege, death would have been far preferable to this!" Andthen my dear Lord, sobbing, went out into the gray dawn, and out of mylife forever!

  * * * * *

  "'They took me from the King's chamber, and revived by the sharp air inthe street I managed to grope my way to my father's house. To _him_ Itold nothing, for he was proud of me, and should I have killed him? Yethe was much perplexed at my determination, for I never showed my face atcourt again!'

  "My relative's voice, growing weaker every moment, flickered and diedout in a hissing whisper just as the silver chime over the mantelproclaimed that her time was up. Then I must have awakened.

  "It may have been a dream, but so impressed was I by the old lady'sstory that all the rest of the week I searched for further light uponit. Into old carven chests I dived, opening package after package ofmouldy papers. In the attic trunks and boxes were rifled, until at last,about to give up in despair, I found in an old desk a letter. It was inFrench with the Benneville crest and seal, brown with age, and by nomeans easy to decipher. The place of writing, and the date, quite beyondhuman ken, so frayed and stained was the upper margin. Freelytranslated, the letter read:

  "'My Dear Old Bobby:

  "'Here we are, safe and sound. And what can I say to you, friend of friends? This last scrape was the worst of all; was it not? Worse by far than the affairs with the little Italian, or the fat Princess, eh, Bobby, my boy? Our heartfelt thanks to his Majesty, God bless him! and to Lady Morley-Frere, and to your dear self--our eternal love! Oh, Bobby, the thought of marrying that sour-visaged cousin of mine makes me ill, even now! And yet--at the time, before I told you--I felt myself slowly drifting into it. The ground seemed to be slipping from under my feet, as it were. I felt wholly lost--trapped, by Jove! She was very determined. We are here with the Ambassador until the affair blows over. My sweetest Mary joins me in love.

  "'Ever your affectionate friend,

  "'BENNEVILLE.'"

  "A dirty low trick of that fellow Benneville, I must say," said ColonelManysnifters disgustedly. "That sort of thing could never have happenedin these days. Did they ever move the Darragh woman's picture out of theroom?" he asked.

  "I believe so--some years later," replied Senator Hammond dryly; "infact, they were _all_ moved out, and hurried into the up-country forsafe-keeping. That was about the time that we boys in blue were makingit particularly unpleasant for the residents of that part of the State.I never knew the fate of the collection. I have not been South since'64."

  "Well, anyway, Senator," said the Colonel, "I see you have got a line onyour ancestors, and that's more than many of us can say. I've neverbothered about mine. Descendants are bad enough. My forebears came overto America years ago as ballast--didn't have any names, just numbers,mostly thirteen and twenty-three! That old lady you were telling usabout certainly got it in the neck, and I hope that she will evenmatters up in the other world. If she hasn't, by the time I get there Iwill do all I can to help her out--always assuming, of course, that I amgoing to the same place.

  "Now, if you gentlemen of the press will kindly step to the front andfavor us with your yarns we will all be mightily obliged to you. I haveheard nothing from any of you since 'way back in the dining-car. Someobservation about the moon, I believe."

  Mr. Callahan, the dean of the corps, blushed slightly.

  "It was O'Brien who got off the spiel about the moon. _I_ have outgrownthat sort of thing. In my younger days I might have--well, we won't behard on O'Brien. He is not a bad fellow at heart, and I believe he willtry to do better in future. Now, as it seems to be my turn atword-painting, I am going to tell you of an affair that occurred inWashington a few years ago. It has to do with a well-known society girl,an irascible father, a bad Chinaman, and a high collar--seeminglyirreconcilable elements, I'll admit, but I will do my best to mix 'emin. I had the story in sections from most of the parties concerned; awide acquaintance with the police and an intimate knowledge of theChinese quarter helping out considerably. The odds and ends, piecedtogether, make, I hope, a hearable tale."