USA > California > A picture of pioneer times in California, illustrated with anecdotes and stores taken from real life > Part 24
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Bob tried to soothe her by some kind words, while he hur- riedly laid the returned washing on the little table near him, when suddenly Susan's eye caught the sight of a folded dress that Bob had carefully laid alongside the clothes.
"What is this you have brought me?" she exclaimed, in a frenzy of passion, as she darted toward and seized the gar- ment.
" Oh, Missa Susan, that is the beautiful dress you left with Mrs. Weaks, the dressmaker, to be altered for you, and she gave it to me to bring to you. Oh, do not spoil it."
As Susan now shook it out to its full length, nothing could exceed its beauty and richness. Its cost was evidently up in the hundreds. The sight of it seemed to frenzy the girl beyond all control. She tried to tear it into pieces, and, failing in strength to do that, she cast it on the floor and danced on it, all the time uttering imprecations on the person who had given it to her, whoever he was. Then, snatching it up, she cast it into the fire, exclaiming, while stirring it up with the poker:
" Yes; burn, burn! I wish I had him here to burn with his miserable gift."
As the last shred of the beautiful garment turned into a gauzy cinder, she sank back into the rocking-chair, apparently almost
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in a swoon-her head, with eyes closed, resting sideways on the back of the chair, while her arms fell listlessly by her side.
Bob stood a little way off, watching her closely. "Ah," said he to himself, as he quitted the rooms, " the fit is now over. I have often seen such with these poor creatures, but that is one of the worst I ever saw. Oh, poor thing, you have a ' home,' and it is nearer to you, I am thinking, than you look for, and it is just six feet long and two feet wide. Poor, poor creature!"
After some minutes, Susan seemed to awake, as from a sleep. She opened her eyes, yawned, sat upright, pressed one hand over her forehead, and gazed thoughtfully a moment into the fire. Then said, in a quiet, calm voice:
" I believe I have been making a fool of myself, but the vile fit is over. I must now prepare myself, for he will soon be awake, and I must be ready to attend to him."
As she spoke, she walked over to her wash-stand and bathed her face and nearly her whole head for some minutes in cold water.
" Now, I feel like myself again," she exclaimed, while she commenced to dress herself with the utmost care, taking far more pains than she had any day since she had become Frank's nurse. She looked in the glass, and was evidently pleased with herself ; and, in fact, she did look very handsome, as she had dressed herself with the most becoming simplicity. Nor had she much resemblance to the wild, crazy girl of a few minutes before.
" How do you like that, Mrs. Ellen Harvey ?" she said, as she smiled in the glass. " He is your husband, and you love him, you say. Well, so do I, and have I, who saved his life, no rights? We shall see; yes, we shall see, Mrs. Ellen Harvey. But know this, I am determined he shall not escape me; I shall stop at no artifice to-win him and overcome his scruples. Sighs, tears and smiles shall all come in just in the right places." And then she added, while laughing almost aloud: "Yes; and then the devil himself will help me, for it is his work I am going to be about. Your letters, too, Mrs. Ellen Harvey, will give me some help, some idea of his character, without which, per- haps, I should fail. Yes, Mrs. Ellen Harvey; before two monthis are over I will be the ' California Mrs. Harvey,' and then I will keep you quiet by getting him to send you plenty of gold. That is all you California widows want. You see I know your
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class," she said, again laughing. " When I will appear by his side as his California Mrs. Harvey, he will be no worse than so many others who do the same and show no shame."
Just then Frank awoke and called for a drink. Susan gave it to him, with the gentlest and most winning manners. He looked bewildered at her for some minutes, and, then, closing his eyes, he was fast asleep again. From this day forward Frank's recovery was rapid. The doctor explained to him that Susan was his nurse, and was high in his praises of her, telling Frank that to her he owed his life more than to himself. Frank, though very grateful, of course, to Susan Marsh, saw the impro- priety of her remaining longer with him; but, feeling secure under the shield of his devoted love for his wife, allowed himself to be over-persuaded both by the girl herself and the doctor. Frank's letter to Ellen will explain what followed. His appearance in San Francisco, sunk to the earth with sorrow, his sending me to S- to dismiss the girl Marsh from his house, and his writing home to Ellen to come to California. He found an escort for her in a friend of his, a Mr. Dicks, who was returning to Phil- adelphia for his own wife. With bounding joy, Ellen responded to the summons, and she is now in the steamer cabin in San Francisco waiting for Frank's arrival from S -.
CHAPTER VI.
MRS. GABIT-THE WIFE'S ANGUISH.
After lunch, on the day of Ellen's arrival in San Francisco, I felt in fine spirits, and even Ellen appeared most happy. Re- collecting some business requiring my attention, I excused my- self to her, saying I would be back at five o'clock, and stay until Frank came. It appears I was not long gone when Ellen was surprised by a call from a Mrs. Gabit, a lady with whom she had a very slight acquaintance in Philadelphia. This Mrs. Gabit had come out to her husband about six months before, and was living with him now in San Francisco. She was rather good- looking and stylish in her appearance, but was a talkative and silly woman. On seeing Ellen, she came forward in the most friendly and familiar way, as though they had been dear old friends all their lives, and said: " Oh! dear Mrs. Harvey, I am soglad you have come. I declare you do look so beautiful! As handsome as I ever saw you. Oh, yes; you did right to come. I am so glad you have come. I assure you I am very glad you came. In fact, it was your duty to have come."
She said this last with a meaning look. Ellen was at first only disgusted at her uninvited familiarity, but now she began to look at her with half-puzzled astonishment. .
" Thank you, Mrs. Gabit, for your being so very glad that I came. Of course, it was my duty, as you say, to have come when my husband sent for me."
" Oh; he did send for you, then. I told Mr. Gabit so, or that you never would have come. Yes; you did the best in coming, and I am so glad."
" Really, Mrs. Gabit," said Ellen, in a haughty, but yet mod- erate tone, "I do not understand you, or why you should ex- press yourself so very glad at my coming."
" Oh, well! dear Mrs. Harvey, I only speak for your own good. Men in California, you know, are not to be trusted when their wives are away. I know that from my own sad experience."
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Ellen now rose to her feet and full height, and, with her bright eyes flashing almost fire, while her voice was steady and full of scorn in its tone, said: "Madam, if you come here to intimale anything against the honor of my husband, I will tell you that your insolence is only surpassed by the falsehood of the insinua- tion you wish to throw out, and that your further presence is most disagreeable to me."
" Oh, ho! you are assuming great airs about your husband, Mrs. Harvey," said Mrs. Gabit, also rising to her feet. " Well, I will just tell you, that he is no better than mine and other women's husbands here in California."
" Leave my presence, wretched woman!" said Ellen, in a voice of fierce command, as she stepped one step forward and stamped her slender foot on the cabin floor.
" Yes; I will go, Mrs. Harvey, but first I will just tell you that you are making a fool of yourself for nothing, for your husband did live with a woman in S --- as his wife. My husband knows all about it. When I came here I did not intend to tell you, but you made me do so by your passions. So now make the most ·of it."
As she said the last words, she was standing on the cabin stair- way, and in a moment was out of sight. At first, Ellen remained fixed to the spot where she stood, as if bound by a spell; then both her hands with a sudden nervous movement clasped her forehead, as if she sought to steady her brain. Katie, who had been present and had heard with terror all that had been said, now sprang to Ellen's side, and, throwing her arm's around her, exclaimed :
"Oh, dear Mrs. Harvey, it is all false; I know it is false. She is only trying to make every one's husband as bad as her own. You will see it is all false. Come, come," continued Katie, "sit down here near me. You must not mind the horrid woman. I know it is false. Think of how good Mr. Frank always was. He would not think a wrong act, let alone do one."
Ellen did as Katie asked her; she sat by her on the sofa and leaned her head on her shoulder. She was as pale as death, and trembled from head to foot. Katie continued to talk of the absurdity of all Mrs. Gabit had said.
" You are right, dear Katie," said Ellen, at length. "I know it must be that it is, as you say, all false; but the woman has frightened me terribly. Oh, how shall I hold out until he
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comes, or, oh, Katie, how will I meet him and be in any doubt? For," she continued in a low, half-choked, hesitating whisper, " if it were true, I could not even touch him ever again."
As she uttered the last words, she started to her feet, and, grasping Katie by the hand said, wildly: " Katie, I say I know it is false. You said you knew it was false. Oh, Katie! say so again, or I cannot wait for him to come."
Katie was terribly frightened, and again threw her arms around the form of the agitated girl, and, drawing her close to her bosom, she exclaimed:
"Oh! my dear, dear Miss Nellie, for the love of Heaven be calm, and do not give way in this frightful manner."
It was a long time since Ellen had heard that old familiar ad- dress, which Katie had used in her fright,-" Miss Nellie." It seemed to Ellen, somehow, as if it was a messenger from the past-the happy past-to assure her of Frank's innocence, and, yielding to the sweet thought, she threw herself back on the sofa, and, leaning forward, with her handkerchief over her face, found relief in a flood of tears. In a little time she became calm, and apparently lost in thought; then said, half aloud, as if talking to herself :
" I must know before he comes."
She rose, and with composed step and manner, walked to her writing desk, sat down and wrote the following note:
My dear husband, how shall I dare write what I sit down to write? Yet, I must do it. The horrid woman, Mrs. Gabit, has just been here. She in- sulted me in the grossest manner by insulting you, ever and ever loved dar- ling husband. Before I could drive her from the steamer cabin, which I was trying to do, she boldly slandered you, by saying-forgive me, darling hus- band for writing it-that you lived with a woman in S., as your wife. I know. my husband, that there cannot be even a shadow of foundation for the terrible falsehood, and now that I have told it to you, just throw this note in the fire and come to your wife. Never mention this note or the slan- derous statements, or the woman Gabit. I do not want you to demean your- self by any contradiction. All I want for a contradiction is your coming to me, your silence on the subject, and your opening your arms for me to fly to. This will be all the denial I ask for or wish for. But, Frank! Oh, my God! if the horrid creature should have told truth, never, never! let us meet again in this world. One sight of you, in that case would kill me where I stood. But, why does my pen write such horrid language? I hate it for doing so, when I am so sure the woman spoke a malicious falsehood. Come, come to me, Frank, as I have told you, and let me find rest and calm within your folded arms, for your wife is frightened within in her heart. You will find me just as you left me, your faithful, loving and devoted wife.
ELLEN HARVEY .
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When she had finished the note, she folded it with sudden haste, as if she wished to get it out of sight ; put it in an en- velope, and addressed it, "Frank Harvey, Esq., present." She then handed it to Katie in the same hurried manner, and told her to give it to me on my return, and request me to meet Frank on board the river-boat, and deliver it to him, and to say to me, or any one who asked for her, that she was not well, and was resting in her stateroom. I was surprised when Katie gave me this message and the note, but did not, just then, attach much importance to it, so I told Katie to say to cousin Ellen, that I would be back at half-past nine o'clock with Frank. Just as I was leaving the cabin, Katie whispered to me, " Wait on deck until I come." I did so, and when she came she told me all that had passed between Ellen and Mrs. Gabit. While Katie spoke, she cried and sobbed bitterly, and I found my own eyes were not dry. " But," said Katie, hesitatingly, and look- ing at me imploringly, " If it is a lie, all will be as well as ever." I turned my head away from her, and made no answer to her questioning voice.
" Oh! merciful God, it is then true," exclaimed Katie.
With all the voice I could command, I said: " Not as bad Katie, as that wretch of a woman said, for it was only for a week, and then there were extenuating circumstances, but I fear Cousin Ellen will never see any to excuse, and will be unable to forgive. Heaven and earth !" I ran on in excitement, " I do not wish that woman Gabit harm, but would it not have been most delightful if she had broken her neck, as she was coming on board the steamer ?"
" It would, indeed," sobbed poor Katie, with hearty empha- sis; " though, of course, I know it is not right to wish any one harm, but I cannot help feeling as you do, Mr. Philips."
The river-boat came in at its usual time, and I met Frank as he stepped on the wharf. As I shook hands, I said: " The steamer is in, and Ellen is here."
" Thank God ! she is safe. Is she perfectly well?" said Frank, taking my arm, and walking on with me in the direction of my store in Sansome street.
" Perfectly; and looks more beautiful than ever."
We spoke no more until we were alone in my back office. Throwing himself in a chair, Frank said:
" Henry, before I see her, she must know all."
" I supposed that would be your course," said I, handing
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him Ellen's note, and relating to him what had taken place be- tween her and Mrs. Gabit. While I did so, he buried his face in his hands, and seemed bowed down with overpowering grief. Then overcoming himself, he wiped away all signs of his weakness, saying:
" Forgive me, Henry; you shall see no more of this. I have a man's work before me, and I will meet it like a man."
He then read Ellen's note with comparative composure, saying, as he handed it back to me to read:
" Noble girl! it is my inevitable sentence, but it is only what I told you I had to expect. Her angelic purity of feeling will be shocked beyond recovery."
I read the note, and then asked him what was to be done, and went on to tell him that I had done as he directed, and engaged rooms at the Union Hotel. This was, by far, the finest hotel then in San Francisco. It stood at the corner of Kearny and Merchant streets, opposite the Plaza. After a pause, Frank said:
" To you, Henry, I must now leave all. Tell me what you advise."
I then told him to write a short note to Ellen, just to request her to go with me and take possession of her rooms at the Union, until she was calm enough to hear what he had to say in his defence.
He wrote as I advised, and I left him in wretchedness, walk- ing up and down my office, while I went on my sad and most painful mission, to take part in and witness a scene which it is even now terrible for me to recall.
As the hour came for my return to Ellen with Frank, who can paint the misery of her feelings! To her, more than life a hun- dred times hung upon the response to her note. Minutes were hours to her now-an hour was a year. She could not sit nor stand, nor stay in any one position. She knelt to pray with Katie, but with every footstep on the deck her heart would leap to her throat and almost suffocate her. Oh! who has ever stood waiting for news that was to be to them tidings of great joy or of deep sorrow, and not sickened and grew faint at the delay! At length she heard my step and knew it well, but it was not the step her heart was listening for. Pale and trembling, she started to her feet, and advanced to the middle of the cabin. As I ap- peared, she said at once:
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" Frank! He has not come? The boat is not in yet, per- haps ?"
Confused and hardly knowing what to do or say, I mechan- ically reached her Frank's note. In an instant she sprang for- ward, and, without taking the note, seized me by the collar with both hands; then looking me full in the face, with intense earnestness, she cried out, almost in a scream:
" Henry Philips, is Frank Harvey, my husband, in San Fran- cisco, and did he get my note ?"
All I could answer was the terrible word: "Yes."
Her hold on me relaxed, and leaning forward, with her hands tightly clasped before her, she continued for a moment longer to gaze in my face, as if, with a desperate effort, to find in its expression some ray of hope for her. Then an indescribable ex- pression of pain passed over her features. Hope, that sunlight of the human countenance in the darkest and dreariest hours, seemed gone from hers in an instant, and forever; and, as the dark shades of despair replaced it, she uttered a piercing cry, and fell to the cabin floor as lifeless as if death had come in re- ality to end her suffering. It was but the work of an instant to carry her to the sofa. There, with Katie's active aid, we did all that was possible to restore her to consciousness.
The Captain, who had just returned on board, hearing the loud cry, came quickly to the cabin. I took him aside, and ex- plained matters as far as I thought necessary. He appeared deeply affected, and expressed the greatest sympathy. After awhile our efforts to restore Ellen were successful, and she now sat up on the sofa, and, looking all around her, seemed unable to ascertain where she was ; then, pressing her hand on her fore- head and bending her eyes downward for a moment, as if in an effort to collect her thoughts, she suddenly started erect and ex- claimed:
" Henry! Katie! and the Captain! all here! What is the mat- ter? And where is Frank ? Oh, Henry, tell me, tell me truly, what all this means? Have I lost my senses, or did that horrid woman really come here and tell me a detestable tale that is true ?" As she spoke, a shudder seemed to pass through her frame.
" Oh, dear cousin Ellen, be calm; be yourself. You know you always told me I was your brother, and God knows I loved you as dearly as ever brother loved a sister. Things are not as bad
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as that woman told you. It is true, I cannot altogether clear Frank, but he is not deliberately guilty. He fell, but he re- covered himself almost immediately, and is now deeply peni- tent."
While I spoke, Ellen's eyes were fixed on me. At the word penitent, she drew herself up to her proudest bearing. Rising to her feet, her eyes flashed almost flaming light, and, advancing a step or two, with her little hand clenched inenacingly, she broke in:
" Penitent! Who dares to talk of my husband being penitent? Penitent ?" she repeated, with a loud laugh of scorn that it was terrible to hear. "Penitent for what? My husband, proud of his religion, proud of his honor, proud of the honor of his wife, mother and father, and of that of his whole race, now sinks to humility and penitence by a crime against the holy vow, made on bended knees before an altar he held sacred. No! no! It is im- possible! I tell you, Henry Philips, you are mistaken. I know you are mistaken. This penitent man you speak of is not my husband ; the Frank Harvey that I loved as woman never loved before, and in whose fidelity and truth I trusted with that faith and confidence that tolerates no apprehension or doubting. I want no penitent husband. I came here to meet the husband that, himself, from my childhood up, taught me to abhor false- hood and infidelity, as belonging solely to the infernal regions, and to love truth, purity and fidelity as heaven's choicest gifts and graces, and without which no man could be noble, honor- able or great. Oh, tell me," she continued, clasping her tem- ples with her hands, " where that husband is? My husband ? And let me fly to him to save, oh save, this aching brain." And again she threw herself on the sofa, with her face buried in her hands.
It was impossible to hear her and witness her great suffering and control one's feelings, try ever so much.
Katie sobbed as if her heart would break, and I did not act much better myself.
The Captain sought to hide what he could not conceal, and left the cabin. I had a duty to perform, so I struggled for com- posure. It was to do my best both for Ellen and for Frank that the circumstances would permit; so, summoning all my resolu- tion, I took my seat on the sofa, and, taking Ellen's hand gently, I said:
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" Darling Nellie, listen to me, your own loved brother."
Before I could proceed she started erect in her seat and ex- claimed :
" Who called me ' darling Nellie'? Why! that is the name he used to call me when I believed there was love and truth in his words, love and truth in all the world over wherever he and I stood together side by side. Yes; that is what he used to call me in those days when music was no music to my ear if he was not there to hear it; when sounds of mirth and laughter were meaningless to me if his voice was not mingled with it; when the brightest sunshine was gloom itself if he was not with me to enjoy it. But," she continued, " the illusion is past forever. The world looks one dark valley in which there is no love, no truth, no virtue nor honor; nothing but crime, treachery and deceit; and in which there is nothing left to make it endurable to live in. So, never let me hear that name he used to call me, and which was so dear to me before I awoke from my foolish dream of worldly happiness, into which it helped to cheat me."
Then changing her manner to a painful calmness, she turned towards me, and, with an unnatural air of self-possession, con- tinued :
" Now, Cousin Henry, what do you want me to do? I will hear you through, although my mind is made up."
Shocked as I was at the evidently unsettled state of her mind, I saw the great necessity of her leaving the steamer at once. I did not again present Frank's note, but told her of the rooms at the Union Hotel, where she would be wholly undisturbed, and alone with Katie, and used every argument in my power to induce her to go at once, and take possession of them. It was all of no avail. She declared her intention of remaining on board until the return steamer for Panama should be ready to receive passengers. Then she would take her passage and re- turn to Philadelphia. Finding it impossible to move her resolu- tion, I left her for the night with Katie, and returned to Frank. He insisted on my repeating every word she uttered, and for a description of the whole scene, although its relation cost him the bitterest agony, and sometimes almost cries of anguish. After he became more calm, I told him that Ellen had demanded the necessary funds to make all her arrangements for a return voyage. We then settled that I should again see her in the morning, and agree to her return, provided, she at once
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went to her rooms at the Union, and that I should promise to find some suitable escort, and a servant instead of Katie, whose engagement of marriage would, of course, prevent her return. I told Frank that if we succeeded in getting hier to the Union, I was not without hope. She might be induced to change her mind. Frank looked at me with a sad, helpless smile, and said: " Never! You do not half know her, Henry, if you have any such idea. However, hopeless as I know and feel the effort will be, yet I am compelled by feelings I cannot, even if I would, control to make this effort, and leave nothing undone to bring to it success. Oh, my God!" he continued, " what will become of me if she leaves without seeing or forgiving me. I am, as she says, humbled to the dust, and, I trust in God, truly peni- tent, also. Henry," he went on in a low, subdued voice, "I want you to do all you can for me, for I believe even life hangs on the result of your efforts."
By half-past 8 in the morning I was again with poor Ellen. I found her in that same cold, calm, unnatural mood in which I had left her the night previous.
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