The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life
Page 9
CHAPTER VII.
THE CRUEL THUNDERBOLT.
"Belle, what does this mean? How dare that fellow pollute your lips witha kiss?" angrily asked Mr. Hamblin as the door closed behind him.
"Father," replied Belle quickly, "George Alden is a noble man, andinspired by honorable impulses. His touch is not pollution."
Senator Hamblin was filled with rage; his face became scarlet; his lipstrembled, and raising his hand he exclaimed:
"Go to your room! If he dares to repeat the scene of this evening I willsend the presumptuous puppy adrift. No employe of mine must presume uponstealing my treasure. My daughter must select her companions from ahigher circle than that of book-keepers."
Suddenly Mrs. Hamblin entered, and beholding Belle with hands claspedover her eyes, and hearing her sobs, placed an arm lovingly about herneck, and asked:
"What is it, Belle, darling?"
"What is it?" exclaimed the father; "it is this: she would throw awaythe honor of the family on that beggar, Alden!"
"Oh, Darius! think of what you say. Are you ignorant of the events ofthe day, or is your heart turned to stone? Poor child, she has savedthe lives of your boys and proved herself full of heroism. The scenesshe passed through to-day would have prostrated a person of ordinarycharacter. Husband, you little know what a brave and noble daughter youhave."
Senator Hamblin tried to calm himself. He walked to and fro severaltimes, and then, halting before his wife, asked:
"What do you mean? If anything remarkable has occurred please inform me."
As Mrs. Hamblin related the incidents of the day, the cold, hardexpression of her husband's countenance gradually softened. He forgotfor a moment his personal ambition, forgot that the sweet girl beforehim had not only disobeyed but actually defied him, forgot the handsomeMannis and the audacity of the poor bank clerk Alden. As he listened tothe thrilling recital of Belle's experience, the father predominated,and from his heart, in spite of its hard political crust, burst naturalfeelings. When his wife had finished he arose, went to Belle, lovinglyplaced his arms about her, and said:
"You are a noble girl, and I am proud of you. There, wipe away thosetears. Your young heart is too good to carry a load of sorrow. The day'sexcitement has been too much for you. Give me a kiss and go to yourroom. A night's rest will refresh you."
Belle, raising her head, gazed into her father's face, and saw there theold look of love and affection that it wore before he became absorbedin public life; the cold, cruel lines disappearing, he was again thecompanion of her childhood. A flood of joy filled her heart, and shegave her father a look and embrace that would have reformed any parentnot a politician.
"Good-night, darling," said the Senator, when released by his daughter."Go to your room now. To-morrow you shall have a day of pleasure. Iexpect a friend to spend the day and dine with us."
Belle left the room accompanied by her mother, and the proud man wasalone.
"She is a noble character," the Senator exclaimed as he paced thefloor. "And Alden--curse him!--is worthy of her admiration. Still, sois Mannis. When she meets him she cannot help admiring him. But she isproud and sensitive. She must be moulded by kind treatment; force andarbitrary measures won't do. She is full of the 'no surrender' spirit ofher father, bless her. I must try strategy."
Belle entered her room, followed by her mother, and closing the doorthrew herself into a chair, and burst into tears.
"Oh, mother, what trials I am having! Ever since we arrived heresomething has been occurring to make me unhappy. What have I done todeserve it? Papa is not the same man he used to be; he thinks even hisown flesh and blood must bow to his ambition. Poor George has fallenunder his displeasure, merely for the sin of loving me. Why should wehave any hearts at all?" Then she told all that had taken place betweenherself and George Alden, and when she referred to the scene at theparlor door she sobbed as if her heart would break.
Her mother, who had suffered worse and longer than her daughter by theremorseless ambition that was demanding the entire sacrifice, comfortedthe weeping girl as only a mother could, and an hour later sleep endedfor the day the sorrows of both.
The next morning opened bright and beautiful, the Hamblins as usualappearing at the breakfast-table. Belle's exploit of the previous dayhad been noised about the neighborhood, and she found herself the centreof attraction at the Lakeside, and the little boys Geordie and Williecame in for a share of honor. Belle bore her honors meekly. Unlike herfather, hers was not a character to be excited by public applause.Besides, her mind was preoccupied, and her eyes often strayed towardCleverdale Camp. While gazing in that direction she saw a little boatenter the bay and a gentleman step from it upon the beach, where herfather warmly greeted him, and then escorted him to her and her mother.
"Mr. Mannis, I take pleasure in introducing you to Mrs. Hamblin and mydaughter, Miss Belle."
The guest bowed to both, and said: "Ladies, I feel you are hardlystrangers to me, for my friend here, your honored husband and father, isan old acquaintance in the forum of politics and at the State capital."
"We are always glad to meet Mr. Hamblin's friends," replied the elderlady, "and he has often spoken of you; you are very welcome, sir."
Mannis bowed his acknowledgments and then turned to Belle.
"Miss Hamblin, allow me to congratulate you on your narrow escapeyesterday, and express my admiration of your noble exploit. It isfortunate that you had learned to use the oar, but few even of youngladies who row would have the courage to undertake so hazardous a trip.Do you know your praises are being sung far and near?"
"Belle is a brave girl," said the Senator, "and I am proud of her. Don'tblush, Belle, you are too modest."
"But, papa, what did I do? I could no more resist the impulse that sentme out than you could help reaching forth your hand and snatching one ofthe boys from an approaching locomotive."
"Say what you will, Miss Hamblin, the world gives every human beingcredit for the brave deeds they perform, and your modesty will notenable you to avoid being praised for your heroism."
The conversation continued for a long time. Belle, like a true woman,enjoyed the society of a gentleman, and as Mannis had perfect mannersand was a fluent conversationalist, the moments passed most agreeably.The Senator was delighted by the grace with which his daughterentertained his guest, and with great satisfaction he noticed that thehandsome Assemblyman was greatly interested in the girl. Not a word onpolitical topics had been spoken; for a deeper game was being played bythe proud father, who in believing that he held a winning hand forgotthat his stake was his own flesh and blood.
After dinner the two gentlemen went to enjoy a quiet smoke on theveranda of the gentlemen's sitting-room. Mannis was profuse incompliments regarding the Senator's family, all of which were extremelygratifying to the honorable gentleman. Gradually the subject of theapproaching campaign came up, and Mannis disclosed that Daley had urgedhim to espouse his cause against Hamblin.
"I told him from the first I was with you, and now repeat it morestrongly than before. I am more friendly to you now than ever."
"Thanks, Mannis, and if I can do anything to advance your interest youcan always command me," replied the Senator.
Just then little Willie came running to his father, who took him uponhis knee. The child's bright blue eyes and head of handsome brown curlsalways attracted attention, which his amusing lisp was quite sure tohold. Twining his little arms about his papa's neck, he began talkingin a manner so amusing that the practical Mannis at once took a greatliking to him, and Willie reciprocated it, so that Mannis was stillfurther impressed by the Hamblins in general.
As the party chatted a storm-cloud arose, but no one seemed to noticeit. The green was covered with children, little Willie among them, andas he danced with all the joyousness of healthy childhood he seemedthe leader of the little party. The cloud grew larger, but no one wasalarmed, for sudden and short visits from storm-clouds are not unusualat Lake George. Suddenly, however, ther
e was a flash, a ball of fireappearing over the house and then dashing swiftly down. The shock for aninstant prostrated all who were near by, but they slowly recovered--allbut one; little Willie lay motionless upon the grass.
Senator Hamblin sprang from the piazza, seized the little form, pressingit to his bosom, and exclaimed:
"Willie--my child--speak to me! Wake up, my son! look into your father'sface!" But the little form was silent, for Willie was face to face withhis Father in heaven.
The lifeless form was carried into the parlor, and the family thatprosperity had almost estranged from its head seemed united again by itsterrible grief.
NOTE.--A casualty like the one described in this chapter occurred at Lake George, in the summer of 1877, the victim being a little girl of nine years. The author has borrowed the incident, describing the electric phenomenon as related to him by several persons who were sitting or standing by the child when the terrible thunderbolt dropped from the clouds.