The Tragedy of Wild River Valley

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XIII.

  It was a bright June morning, redolent of the breath of roses andhoneysuckle in full bloom, sweet with the songs of birds; and nowheresweeter or lovelier than at Lakeside, where gentle breezes sighed inthe tree-tops and glad sunbeams danced on the waters of the lake.

  The grandmother's face expressed placid contentment as she went abouther daily round of household duties; Ronald was in almost gay spirits,averring that he had not felt so well at any time before sincereceiving his wounds; the children were full of mirth and jollity,running hither and thither about the garden and lawn, gatheringflowers for the parlor vases, feeding the chickens, hunting eggsin the barn, and doing various little services for the older membersof the family. Their sister noticed their efforts with smiles andwords of commendation, talked cheerfully, even gayly, to hergrandmother and Ronald, and went about attending to her many duties andresponsibilities in her usual prompt and energetic fashion; yet herheart was heavy and her cheek pale.

  "Miriam, dear child," Mrs. Heath said at length, "you are not well."

  "I'm not sick, granny dear," was the smiling rejoinder; "a slightheadache is all that ails me, and a walk will relieve it, I think; so,as a few things are wanted from the stores, and I can be spared fromthe field, I'm going into town."

  "That's right," responded her grandmother; "and don't hurry yourself,for it's early, and you'll have plenty of time to walk leisurely--tocall on Mrs. Jasper, too; and I wish you would, for we haven't heard orseen anything of her or the doctor for some days."

  "I shall if I have time, grandma," replied Miriam, drawing on hergloves--for she had just entered the room attired for her walk. "I amvery fond of Serena, as you know, and a talk with her is always a realtreat."

  She did her errands first, then turned in the direction of Dr. Jasper'spretty vine-covered and rose-embowered cottage.

  Serena met her at the door, gave her a warm embrace, and seated her inan arm-chair on the shaded porch, taking another by her side.

  At their feet lay the little garden, gay with flowers, that separatedthe house from the street. Perry was amusing himself there trundling atoy wheelbarrow up and down the walks. He dropped it to run to Miriamto claim a kiss, asking eagerly if Bertie and Olly were coming, too.

  "Not to-day, my little man," Miriam said, bestowing the caress, andkeeping her arm about him. "How is little sister?" she asked.

  "Oh, dus splendid!" he exclaimed, his dark eyes dancing with pleasure;"her's de nicest 'ittle sister ever was."

  "He's very fond of her," Serena remarked, with satisfaction. "And sheis a lovely little darling, if her father and mother are competent tojudge of her charms," she added, with her low, silvery laugh.

  "And am I not to be treated to a sight of her?" asked Miriam, lightly.

  "Yes, indeed. She is taking her morning nap; but I think we can take apeep at her ladyship without waking her," Serena said, rising, andleading the way through the hall to the cosey sitting-room beyond,where, in a dainty crib, the babe lay sleeping--a plump, fair,golden-haired, blue-eyed little creature some three months old.

  "What a darling!" exclaimed Miriam, half under her breath as the twobent over the little one with eyes full of loving admiration.

  "Isn't she? the dear, tiny, helpless thing!" murmured Serena, justtouching her lips to the velvet cheek. "Ah, Miriam dear, how happy Iam!" she sighed, when they had gone back to the porch and resumed theirseats. "I couldn't wish anything better for you than such a wifehoodand motherhood as mine: two such darling children, and a husband sotenderly careful of his wife, so kind and affectionate as mine."

  "I am very glad for you, Serena," Miriam said in reply. "I think youhave won a prize in the matrimonial lottery; but I can scarcely expectto do so well; therefore, my better plan will be to remain single."

  "Oh, no, indeed you must not! I am very sure you can do--perhaps notquite, but very nearly as well, if you choose," returned Serena, with alaughing glance into her friend's face. "He's deeply in love, Mirry;there's no doubt about it; the doctor and I have both seen it for sometime past."

  "You are talking in riddles," Miriam said, smiling and blushing inspite of herself. Then a look of keen distress came into her face.

  "Mirry, you are in trouble," Serena said, taking her friend's hand andsqueezing it affectionately in her own. "Tell me what it is, dear, andlet me sympathize, and help, too, if I can."

  "I came, intending to tell you," faltered Miriam, "and to ask advice ofthe doctor--not professional; but it's partly a business matter, and Ican't bear to speak of it to Ronald or Sandy; though, indeed, Icannot--oh, it would be impossible!--I never, never could; there is,after all, but one course open to me; and yet--and yet--"

  "What is it, dear?" asked Serena, as Miriam broke off abruptly, hidingher face in her hands, while the hot blood mounted to her very hair."If it's anything Alonzo can help you in, he will do it most gladly, Iam sure. He's away for to-day at Fairfield, or near there; I expectedhim home this morning, but had a telegram awhile ago saying he couldn'tleave a very sick patient till to-morrow. Oh," arriving at an inklingof the truth by a sudden intuition, "it's that horrid Bangs! I know itis! Have him? No, of course you couldn't! 'twould be worse than deathby far!"

  "Yes, Serena; oh, a thousand times worse!" Miriam exclaimed, droppingher hands and fixing anguished eyes on her friend's face. "But oh, youdon't know what mischief--not to me only, but to those dearer thanmyself--he now has it in his power to do!"

  "What, Mirry? what can he have it in his power to do to you in thisfree country?" queried Serena, both look and tone expressing surpriseand dismay, along with some slight incredulity.

  "He holds a mortgage on Lakeside; and as I am not able to meet even thefull interest at present, he can foreclose and rob us of the home ourfather made for us--the dear home where we were all born, and wherefather and mother died. Is not that a hard alternative?" Miriam asked,hot tears streaming from her eyes.

  "Dreadful! dreadful! But has he actually threatened it? has he presumedto offer himself to you? He who isn't fit to wipe the dust from yourshoes!" she added, in wrathful accents.

  "Yes; he has done both," sighed Miriam; then went on to tell of aninterview held with Bangs on the previous afternoon in the groveadjacent to the house at Lakeside.

  Feeling entitled to an hour of recreation, after many spent inoverseeing the men in the field, and attending to domestic duties aboutthe house, she had gone to the grove with a book, and while pleasinglyabsorbed in its contents had been surprised by a visit from Bangs, who,in spite of a reception of studied coldness, had forced his societyupon her and made her an offer of his hand, professing to have alreadybestowed his heart upon her.

  "Heart, indeed!" exclaimed Serena, in hot indignation; "he doesn't ownanything worthy of the name. I hope you told him so."

  "Not exactly that," Miriam said, with the ghost of a smile; "but myreply was as unequivocal and decided a rejection of his suit as I knewhow to make it. Then he grew furious, and haughtily informed me that hewould find means to compel me to accept him or he would ruin the wholefamily, as he had bought the mortgage from Mr. Himes, and couldforeclose when he pleased."

  "Himes!" exclaimed Serena. "Oh, did you hear the news that wastelegraphed from Fairfield this morning?"

  "No; what was it?"

  "That Mr. Himes was attacked on his raft shortly before daylight,robbed, and nearly murdered."

  "Oh, how dreadful! But he was not quite killed?"

  "No; he was insensible when found; but they succeeded in restoring himto consciousness, so that he was able to tell that his robber andintended murderer was that Phelim O'Rourke who was suspected ofcommitting the Lakeside burglary, but cleared by Bangs swearing to an_alibi_. I don't believe a word of that _alibi_, and never did; and nowhope that they will get the rascal into custody and find some of yourmarked notes on him or in his possession somewhere."

  Miriam drew a long breath. "Oh, if that should happen!" she cried,"I--I think it would he
lp me to get out of Bangs's power."

  "I do believe it would!" exclaimed Serena, her eyes sparkling at thethought. "But whether that happens or not, Alonzo is sure to find a wayof escape for you. Miriam, he's the best and kindest-hearted man thatever was made. I used to think I was fond of Perry's father--PerryGolding, Sr.--but it was nothing to compare to my love for hissuccessor."

  "I am so glad," Miriam said, smiling sympathetically into the speaker'seyes, "for the doctor is worthy of all the love you can give him, andit makes you both so happy. You have never told me anything about Mr.Golding. He was killed in the war--in battle--was he not?"

  "No; he joined the Confederate army in spite of the strongestopposition on my part, and after a while I had word that he was sick ina hospital down in Alabama, and though I hurried there as fast aspossible, he was dead before my arrival--dead and buried; they showedme his grave, and gave me his clothes, but wouldn't let me remove thebody.

  "I went home in deep grief, for I had been quite attached to poorPerry. But he wasn't the man Dr. Jasper is; he would get drunkoccasionally, and then be cross and unreasonable; sometimes actuallyabusive."

  She broke off with a sudden exclamation, "Oh, see what a crowd iscoming down the street! I wonder what it means?"

  They sprang to their feet and stood gazing intently at an approachingparty of horsemen, followed by a motley crowd of men and boys on foot.

  As they drew near enough for the recognition of faces, Miriam remarked,in a low tone, to her companion, "That is Mr. Duncan, the countysheriff, riding at the head; and he has a prisoner in charge. Can itbe?--yes, yes, it is Phelim O'Rourke! Oh, how thankful I am that theyhave caught him--the would-be murderer of that poor old man!"

  "So am I; but why do they bring him here? Why not take him toFairfield? so much nearer as it is to the place where he did thedreadful deed."

  "Because this is the county town, and the jail is here. He richlydeserves hanging; but capital punishment has been abolished in thisState. Besides, if his victim doesn't die it wouldn't be a hangingmatter in any State--ought not to be, of course."

  "There'll be a trial, anyhow," remarked Serena, "and Bangs will, Ipresume, do his best to defend the scoundrel again; but I hope he willnot be able to save him from the penitentiary."

  The crowd had passed, and Miriam found it was time for her to go home.The friends parted affectionately, Serena exhorting Miriam to be braveand cheerful, for the doctor would surely find a way to help her out ofher trouble.

  Miriam walked briskly on, hardly looking to the right or left, for herthoughts were very busy with her personal difficulties and thestartling events of the morning. So it was a surprise when she wassuddenly addressed by a man's voice speaking in gentlemanly accents,"Excuse me, madam, but can you direct me to the house of Dr. Jasper?"and turning her head, perceived a stranger standing, hat in hand, byher side.

  "Yes," she said; "it is that pretty house yonder, on the other side ofthe street, nearly two squares below here, and with roses andhoneysuckle climbing over the front porch."

  "Thank you," he returned, with a low bow, and hurried away in thedirection indicated.

  "I wonder who he is?" thought Miriam, sending a backward glance afterthe retreating figure. "Somebody wanting the doctor, I suppose. Dearme! why didn't I think to tell him that he is out of town and will notreturn till to-morrow?"

  It was too late for that now, so she dismissed the stranger from herthoughts and hastened on her way, feeling that she had already lingeredtoo long.

  Perry had gone back to his play, and Serena was still seated in theporch, with a bit of sewing in her hand, stitching industriously andsoftly humming a snatch of song in the fulness of her content and joyin the thought of her loved husband and two darling children, when thegate opened, and lifting her head at the sound, she saw a tall man ofmilitary bearing stride in, snatch up Perry, and give him a vigoroushug and kiss.

  "Don't, man! oo dus et me be!" cried the little fellow, struggling torelease himself.

  Setting him on his feet again, the stranger passed quickly up the porchsteps and stood before Serena. She glanced up into his bearded face insurprised inquiry, sprang to her feet, and stepped back a pace or two,her heart beating wildly, the color suffusing her face, then suddenlyretreating, and leaving it of a death-like pallor.

  "Don't you know me?" he asked, with a slightly scornful curl of the lip.

  "Yes," she answered, slowly, her voice trembling with agitation;"it's--George Golding, the brother of my former husband, Perry'sfather."

  "No; it's not George, but Perry himself. I'm your husband, Serena, andyou're my wife. My claim is stronger than Jasper's, and he'll have togive you up to me."

  A look of anguish swept over her wan face, and she clutched at achair-back for support.

  "It isn't true," she said, hoarsely; "it can't be true, for PerryGolding died three years ago. I went to the hospital to nurse him, buthe was dead before I got there; they told me so, and they showed me hisgrave and gave me his clothes."

  "'Twas all a lie, then," he asserted, "for here I am, alive and well,and I've come for my wife, and intend to have her, too--her and my son."

  "I'll not go with you!" she cried, the color returning to her cheek andher eyes flashing with anger. "I tell you my former husband is dead,and you--you are an impostor!"

  "Am I?" he said, coolly, helping himself to a chair. "Sit down andlisten to what I have to say in proof of my identity."

  She dropped into her seat again, and he went on to speak of some thingsknown only to him and herself. He succeeded in convincing her; she knewand acknowledged that he was the husband she had so long believed to bein his grave, so long ceased to mourn, but it was with bitter sobs andtears that she did so; she drew herself away when he would haveembraced her, and bade him leave her--at least for the present.

  Perry had joined them, and stood by his mother's side, glancingwonderingly from one to the other. Presently he doubled up his fist andshook it in his father's face. "Go 'way, bad man!" he said, fiercely;"oo make my mamma cry. Go 'way! I'll tell my papa on oo, and he'll whipoo!"

  "He'll have a big job on his hands if he attempts that," Golding said,regarding the little fellow with an amused smile. "But I'm your papa,my man."

  "No, oo ain't!" cried the child, backing away as he would have takenhim by the hand.

  Just then an infant's cry came from within the house

  "There! oo've waked the baby--my 'ittle sister--oo bad ole man! Go 'waydis minute!" cried Perry, with a stamp of his baby foot, while Serenarose hurriedly, ran into the sitting-room, snatched her babe from itscrib, and, straining it to her breast, turned and faced Golding, whohad followed her in.

  "Yours?" he queried, with an angry flush on his cheek.

  "Yes, mine," she said, firmly, soothing it with tenderest caresses; "myown precious darling."

  "Jasper's brat, eh? She'll have to be left behind when you go with me."

  "Then I'll never go with you! Leave my baby, indeed! never, never whileI draw the breath of life!"

  "Now, see here, Serena," he said, in a tone of expostulation, "you knowyou're not Jasper's wife, and can't be while I live."

  She turned on him fiercely. "What right had you to go away and leave mefor three years to believe you dead and buried? If you had ever writtenme a line or sent a message even by some one else, this would neverhave happened. You are responsible for it all, and you have no right toclaim me now. Where have you been all these years?"

  "In Mexico. I've made money enough to enable us to live in comfort andeven luxury, and I thought to share it with you and our boy."

  "Money!" she cried, with ineffable scorn; "you would bribe me withmoney to leave this darling," gazing down at her babe with tear-dimmedeyes, an expression of unspeakable love and tenderness stealing overher features, "and--and the husband who has been far, far more tenderand true than ever you were, Perry Golding."

  "Not your husband, madam; he can't be that while I live; and now thatyou know that I am living,
you will leave him at once if you are a--thevirtuous woman I always took you to be."

  "Go! leave me this moment!" she cried, imperiously. "You, and youalone, are to blame for this dreadful state of things!"

  "I go," he said, bowing himself out; "but you and Jasper will hear fromme again."

  "Oh, how cruel, how cruel he is!" she sobbed, sinking into a lowrocker. "He knew I was married again; he had heard it; and why couldn'the stay away and leave me in peace? Oh, it would break my heart toleave Alonzo, and you, my precious, precious baby!" clasping it close,and covering its face with kisses and tears.

  "Don't cry, mamma; the naughty man's gone," said Perry, creeping to herside and putting an arm around her neck; "don't cry; he sha'n't comeback any more; I'll watch the gate, and if I see him coming, I'll runand lock the door."

  "Oh, Perry, we can't keep him out!" she sighed, hugging and kissing thelittle prattler, while the big tears rolled down her cheeks. "Whatshall I do?"

  "Send for papa to come right away."

  "So I will," she said, laying her babe in the crib again, and going toher writing-desk. "Run to the kitchen, Perry, dear, and tell Annie Iwant her."

  Taking a slip of paper from the desk, she wrote a message:

  "Come home; I have urgent need of you."

  Annie was at her side before the last word was penned. The girl hadoverheard a part of the interview between her mistress and thestranger, and was full of excitement and curiosity.

  "Oh, Mrs. Jasper, what's wrong?" she exclaimed. "Was that one o' themburglars threatenin' you? They're gettin' so bold, nobody knows whatthey won't do next."

  "No; he was not a burglar," Serena answered, speaking with as entirecomposure as she could command. "I want you to take this slip of paperto the telegraph office and ask them to send the message I have writtenon it to Dr. Jasper, at Fairfield, as promptly as possible. Here is themoney to pay for it."

  Mr. Himes had recovered sufficiently to be told of the arrest ofO'Rourke, with all the fruits of the robbery of the raft in hispossession; for so hot had been the pursuit that the villains had foundno opportunity for a division of the spoils.

  The old man received the news with exultation, declaring his intentionto prosecute to the utmost extent of the law, and at once engagedCaptain Charlton as his attorney.

  The latter was preparing to leave for Prairieville, Dr. Jasperintending to remain behind till the next day, when Serena's telegramwas handed him. He could not imagine what was amiss at home; but herassertion that she had urgent need of him was sufficient to work animmediate change in his plans. Consigning his Fairfield patients to thecare of another physician, he drove back to Prairieville with Charlton,and about the middle of the afternoon alighted at his own door.

  Little Perry greeted him with a welcoming shout. "Oh, papa, I'm so gladyou've comed! A naughty man comed here and made mamma cry, and shedoesn't stop. But oo won't let him come any more; will oo, papa?"

  "I shall certainly not allow anybody to trouble mamma if I can help it,my boy," returned the doctor, hurrying into the house.

  Serena met him, all bathed in tears, and threw herself sobbing into hisarms.

  "My darling!" he exclaimed, in surprise and concern, "what is wrong?what can have happened to distress you so?"

  "Oh, Alonzo, the worst, the very worst thing you can imagine! PerryGolding is not dead--there was some strange mistake; he is here; intown; and--and he claims me as more his than yours. But oh, I loveyou--only you; and it will kill me if I have to go back to him!"

  "It is beyond belief!" he cried, aghast. "Surely the fellow is animpostor!"

  "No; I thought so at first; but he proved his identity to me beyond adoubt. Oh, tell me, have I not a right to choose between you and clingto the one I love best--the one who will let me have both mychildren?--for he would force me to leave my baby behind."

  "Then he is utterly unworthy of you!" exclaimed the doctor, in hotindignation.

  "Then you will not let him tear me away from you?" she sobbed, clingingcloser to him.

  "It would be like submitting to having my heart torn out," he groaned;"but oh, my dear, I cannot yet see what can be done--how I canrightfully ignore his claim to you, my heart's idol! Let me think," headded, releasing her from his embrace and beginning to pace the floor.

  "He deserted me and left me for three years to believe him dead andburied," she said. "I think I've heard that was considered sufficientground for divorce."

  "According to man's enactments, yes; but, dearest," gazing on her witha look of yearning tenderness, "we who profess to be God's followersand children must abide by the law of God, who permits divorce for butone cause. Ah," with a brightening countenance as a sudden recollectioncame to him, "I do remember now to have heard, before we left your oldhome, that Perry Golding had given you that one cause!"

  "Is it so?" she cried, half breathlessly. "I had not known it, though Ican well believe it may have been true. Tell me about it, please."

  He did so.

  "And you will tell him?" she said, when he had finished his story; "andsurely he must see at once that he has no longer any rightful claim tome, and will go away and leave us in peace."

  "There will have to be a divorce," replied the doctor. "I hope he maybe induced to join in asking for it, in which case, if I am not verymuch mistaken, the judge can grant it without bringing the affair intocourt."

  "And if he won't join in the request?" she asked, almost holding herbreath to listen for his reply.

  "You may have to sue for divorce, bringing your proof of maritalinfidelity and desertion."

  "Oh, horrible!" she cried, shuddering, and hiding her face; "to haveall that dragged before the public!"

  "Dearest, do not distress yourself," he said, tenderly, and withemotion; "we will hope that alternative may not be forced upon you."