USA > California > A picture of pioneer times in California, illustrated with anecdotes and stores taken from real life > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
" Oh, yes, dear Walter; so I do, but with this danger hanging over our good name, how could I consent to listen to him until that danger was past ?"
596
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
Walter at once threw his arm around his sister's waist, and, stooping, kissed her forehead, saying in a low voice:
" Now, I understand darling Minnie, your view of your duty under the circumstances, and I suppose you could give him no ex- planation of your refusal to listen to him, and that he went off considering himself rejected for good. Oh, darling sister, how sorry I am for you both!"
" I am sorry for poor James, Walter; but he was so generous that he said he would come for a final answer in one month."
" Oh, then he will come back for your answer in a month. How noble of him ! What reason did you give him for not explaining to him what your difficulty was ?"
" I told him I could give him none, and he forebore to ask me further."
" Dear Minnie, he is indeed generous and truly noble; and God grant that we may be able when he comes back to explain all to his full satisfaction."
" Then, dear Walter, you approve of all I did, and think I could not have done otherwise ? for I have kept thinking and thinking of poor James. He looked so sorrowful and hurt, when I told him it was impossible for me to explain, and it gives me comfort to have you think I could not have acted in any other way."
"No, no, dear Minnie; you could not have acted differently, no matter what the consequences were. I understand your views fully, Minnie, and it is my own. If James De Forest was to come forward to-morrow and take up that note, and in that way destroy all evidence against me, a lingering doubt might remain in his mind of my truth, even against his own will; and that would be intolerable to both of us. No, when my darling Min- nie consents to change her name, all shall know that the one she lays aside is as bright and untarnished as the one she accepts in its place."
Minnie now sits up, and, wiping away tears that had forced themselves on her cheek, she turned to her brother, and, pushing back his clustering brown hair from his forehead, kissed it, say- ing:
" Oh, Walter, I feel so much better since I have had this un- derstanding with you."
" Well, Minnie, this is a terrible time of trial for you ; but you must try and bear up and be the brave little woman you always
597
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
have been. I am a man, but somehow I seem to draw my courage from you; and it was always so, as far back as I can recollect. Minnie, can you explain it to me, that when a diffi- culty or a trial comes, I look to you for confidence and courage, and you never fail me ?
" Walter dear, a woman was not given physical strength to battle and fight in the world and overcome great physical diffi- culties, as men can; but our dear mother always taught me that the woman's place was to stand close to the father, husband, or brother, in all dangers, and inspire them with moral courage and confidence in God, to the utmost of her ability; and that God had gifted her with peculiar power to enable her to fulfill this, her destiny; and that a woman who shrank from this duty, or failed in this, her part, was just no woman at all. So, dear Walter, if I sometimes have been of some use to you, when you were beset by difficulties, I deserve no credit for it; for I but did my simple duty, the neglect of which would have been criminal."
" Oh, how clearly I see that our dear mother was right, Min- nie; and yet there are foolish men, and foolish women, too, who would, if they were permitted, drag women away from this holy and ' better part' she has been assigned to, and in their pride and folly would rush the whole sex into the field of party poli- tics, with all its bitter dissensions, often corrupting and degrad- ing to the strongest men, whose duty compels them not to flinch from the necessary contest, be it ever so fierce, rough, or dis- tasteful to them."
"I trust, dear Walter, the number of such misguided persons of either sex is very small, and may long continue so."
" I heartily join with you in that wish, dear sister; and now, to go back to our own immediate business, I was just reminding you that it was your time of trial; and I want you to prepare for a disagreeable scene sure to come before you to-morrow."
" Ah !" said Minnie a little startled, sitting up and looking into Walter's face: " What is it, dear Walter ?"
" Well, dear Minnie, not to keep you in suspense, Captain Ward to-day intimated to me that he was a suitor for your hand. I at once told him that in that matter you were your own mis- tress. 'Then,' said he, 'you have no objection to my speak- ing to Miss Minnie herself ?' I said, ' None in the world.' So he will undoubtedly see you on the subject to-morrow."
" Why, Walter, the man cannot have common sense to make
598
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
such a proposal ; for I have in every way rejected his attentions in the most marked way!"
" Well, dear Minnie, you will have to give him an answer he cannot misunderstand; and that will end it, of course."
" Well, Walter, I am glad you told me, because I will prepare myself, and I will try not to wound his feelings more than I can help."
Then Minnie proposed to Walter that he and she should go to- gether and see Father Maginnis, and disclose to him, as a friend, their exact position in regard to this note, and tell him of the se- curity they could give to raise the two thousand dollars.
" And," said Minnie, " he will know we are telling him the truth, and perhaps he will find some one who has the money who will be willing to lend it to you."
After a moment's reflection, Walter agreed to the proposition, and the more they discussed it, the more hopes they had of its success. So the brother and sister separated that evening; if not in happy spirits, yet hopeful, and were both soon resting in sweet, refreshing sleep, which they so much needed after the ex- citement of the day, and yet more to bring physical strength for the more terrible struggle of to-morrow. But let no one fear that our little heroine will falter, let the trials impending be ever so great ; for she is of the true type of our California pioneer women, of whom we are proud to think ; for they are the glory of California's early history as an American State.
CHAPTER XXI.
A NOTE FROM CAPTAIN WARD-"A BOAT AHOY!"
Walter and Minnie arose early in the morning following their consultation in regard to the note, as related in the last chapter, and Walter started out at daybreak to see De Forest, before he left for home. He was only just in time to have a shake-hands, and to exchange good wishes, as the steamer shoved off.
" Tell Minnie," said De Forest, in a whisper, " I will be here on the appointed day, if she does not call me sooner, through you, Walter."
" All right, all right, James. God bless you and bring you back safe !"
And now the steamer was dashing out towards the Golden Gate. After they had passed out into the open sea, while De Forest was walking the quarter-deck, lost in his thoughts of Minnie, a sailor came up to him, saying:
" Excuse me, sir; is your name De Forest ?"
" Yes ; what do you want with me ?"
" Oh, nothing, sir; but a gentleman gave me this letter and told me to give it to you before the steamer should leave the wharf ; but I forgot it, sir."
James took the letter, tore it open, and read in astonishment as follows:
FRIEND DE FOREST :- I know you are mortified at my having won, in the contest between us for the hand of a lovely girl, and I write this to assure you that I have no ill-will towards you, and, as you are an old friend of my wife, that is to be, I would be very glad if you would stay over just two days, and favor us with your company, on the occasion of the interesting ceremony which is to unite Miss Minnie Wagner and myself in bliss for life. If Min- nie was near me while I write, I know she would join with me in this request. Hoping you will remain and favor us, I subscribe myself
Your obedient servant.
JOHN WARD.
600
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
As De Forest finished reading this note, he flung it on the deck and stamped on it, saying:
" You are a lying villain! What you write is false! Yes; as false as Satan is himself!"
Then he threw himself on the gunwale of the steamer, with his head resting against the main rigging, while over and over he exclaimed:
" Of course it is false! Of course there is not a word of truth in it! No; it is just written to annoy and worry me; but I don't mind it in the least, for I know it is false!"
Then he turned to look where the note yet lay on the deck, saying, as he reached for it:
" Let me see what the vile wretch does say; I almost forget already."
Then he read it over carefully twice, and, while doing so, turned pale, and again red.
" I do not doubt Minnie. No; I cannot doubt her; but I fear some infernal plot against her; something that she has some knowledge of, but could not tell me without violating some- body's confidence. Oh, why did I not stay in San Francisco ? Yet the villain expected me to get this note before the steamer left; so he does not fear my presence there. Oh, can or could there be any truthin it? Great Heavens! it is impossible! No, no; poor Minnie is the victim of some infernal plot! Oh, why am I not back in San Francisco? I will question the fellow who handed me the note; he may be in with this villain, Ward. I must get it all out of him."
De Forest now put the letter in his pocket, and went to the Captain's office. The Captain invited him in, and, after some conversation, the Captain sent for the sailor who had handed the note to De Forest. The sailor appeared, and looked fright- ened. The Captain, showing him the letter he had given De Forest, said:
" Iwant to know the exact truth about this letter. Where did you get it? who gave it to you? and what did the person say when he gave it? Nothing but the truth will save you from trouble; so out with it !"
" Captain, I do not know the man who gave me the letter; but he paid me five dollars to hand it to this gentleman, and told me not to give it until we were outside the heads, but to tell the gen- tleman that I had forgotten to give it to him, as I was told to do,
601
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
before the steamer left the wharf. That is the truth, Captain; the same as if I was sworn to tell it. I know nothing of what is in the letter, and nothing but just as I have told you. And, if you wish, Captain, I will give up the five dollars I got for the job."
" No, no," said De Forest; " keep the five dollars; I am satis- fied with your story, as you now tell it."
So the sailor was dismissed, and De Forest, thanking the Cap- tain, left to think over the matter under this new light.
" Ah!" said he, as he paced the quarter-deck, " I now see the fellow did not expect or wish me to stay in San Francisco. Oh, it must be that there is some infernal plot against Minnie; for, as to her ever marrying that fellow, that is out of the question; she would die first; I have not a shadow of a doubt about that. Oh, I must get back in some way and somehow! Oh, God will save her! But my heart aches. I must get back. Oh, how can I do it? Yes, I will see the Captain; for I cannot endure this terrible uncertainty."
So De Forest had another interview with the Captain of the steamer, which resulted in the Captain's agreeing to put him on board the first craft they met bound for San Francisco. Early the next morning they fell in with a vessel bound for San Fran- cisco. She was the brig May Day, Marshal, master. De Forest was soon on board of her, and was politely received by both the Captain and his wife, whom he found to be a very agreeable lady. De Forest still continued in great anxiety of mind, but felt better satisfied, now that his face was turned towards Min- nie, who, it appeared to him, was in some great trouble, con- tending against some terrible wicked plot of Ward's.
" Oh !" he would exclaim as he reflected on it, "when I saw her in such an agony of mind that night before I left, why did I come away? Oh, I fear I was selfish. Poor Minnie ! Poor Minnie ! can you ever forgive me ?"
Then sometimes he would fall into deep thought, and Ward's terrible, wolfish eyes would gleam before him as plainly as he ever saw them. And then he would fancy he heard Minnie scream, and her cry would seem to come over the dark waters to him, calling for help, just as he heard her the night he saved her from Wild. Then he would leap to his feet and gaze all over the waters around him, so fearfully lonesome, and listen and listen, as if in fact he expected to hear Minnie's wild call for help to
602
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
reach him. The wind seemed all ahead. The May Day labored hard, but made very poor progress. As every half-day passed, De Forest's imagination became more and more excited, and fashioned yet more terrible pictures to his vision of Minnie's ne- cessity for help.
" Oh, why did I leave ! Oh, why did I leave !" he constantly repeated, as he tried to overcome the increasing alarm that seemed to gather around his heart, in spite of himself. So passed the first, second and third days on board the May Day. Night closed in, and De Forest was in a feverish excitement. He tried to argue with himself of the absurdity of his fears and feelings ; but he could not command calmness of thought or mind. He lay down in his berth to sleep, but his eyes and ears were ner- vously sensitive, and, if he but dozed, a frightful vision of Ward with Minnie in his power came with such vividness before him, that he would start up, sitting erect in his berth, covered with cold perspiration, repeating as he wiped it away:
" Oh, Minnie ! Poor Minnie ! why did I leave you ? why did I leave you ? Can you ever forgive me ?"
Then he would lean his head over the side of his berth, and, peering with his eyes wide open through the darkness up the cabin hatchway, he would listen and listen, though his common sense told him he could hear nothing of her, who now so mys- teriously haunted his imagination. As the first ray of the morn- ing light appeared, De Forest left his berth, and now as he walked the quarter deck, he was yet feverish and almost wild with excitement. There was a dense fog on the sea, so that it was impossible to see any object twenty rods from the vessel. He suddenly stopped in his walk, dropped his head to a listen- ing attitude, and, laying his hand on the arm of the Captain, who happened to be passing, he exclaimed :
" Hark ! Captain. Did you hear nothing ?"
The Captain stopped, and listened also; but could hear noth- ing but the dashing of the waves around the brig
" What do you think you heard ?" asked the Captain. " Not breakers, surely; for, by my reckoning-and I know my reckon- ing is all right-I am far out at sea, safe from all such dangers."
" Oh, no, Captain; not breakers; but I thought I heard a loud, terrible cry, as if of some one calling for help; and," continued De Forest, lowering his voice, " it seemed to me as if a woman's voice was there."
603
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
" Oh, it must be imagination, Mr. De Forest; you do not look well. You slept badly, for I heard you groan two or three times, and my wife says you cried out loudly in your sleep. You had better take something to steady your nerves, Mr. De Forest. Suppose we have a glass of brandy ? I have some that is very nice."
" Oh, thank you, Captain, I am all right; I suppose it was a fancy; yet, strange, I heard it very plainly."
" Well, Mr. De Forest, we cannot see any distance through this fog; but, as soon as ever it rises, we will take a good look all around; for, of course, many a poor fellow has been starved to death in an open boat before now."
The breakfast bell rang, and De Forest followed the Captain to the table, swallowed two cups of coffee, one after the other, while scarcely eating anything, and then returned to the deck, which now seemed to have a sort of fascination for him. Again he suddenly stops from his walk, and, throwing himself into the same listening attitude as before, he exclaimed:
" My God! I heard it again!"
" What was it like ?" said the Captain.
" Oh, it seemed like a woman's cry for help. I am sure I heard it; I cannot be mistaken."
" Well, Mr. De Forest, my ears are good sea-ears, and I heard nothing. However, the fog is clearing away; so we will soon see."
The fog now raised, and the whole expanse of the sea was visible; but nothing appeared in sight.
De Forest still looked with intense excitement in all directions, and to satisfy him, more than from any lingering doubt that De Forest might be right, the Captain ordered a man up in the rig- ging with a glass in hand, telling him to take a careful look around the whole distance in sight. De Forest watched the sailor, as he slowly passed the glass around the horizon, as though his own life depended on the result. At length the sailor cried out:
" A boat ahoy!"
" A boat ?" exclaimed the Captain and De Forest, in one breath.
" Yes; a boat with a red signal out, but nothing to be seen stirring. Aye, yes; something now moves in the bow of the boat."
604
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
De Forest became as pale as death, as the sailor spoke, and, without saying a word, he turned his eyes on the Captain. The Captain understood him, and instantly called to the look-out:
" Hold the boat in view until I get the brig in the right course to overhaul her."
" Aye, aye, sir," came back from the look-out. In five min- utes more the May Day was bearing down on the boat, now plainly in sight to all, and all saw a figure, like that of a man or boy, jumping up and down in the boat as if frantic with joy, and then a wild cry is heard by every one on the May Day. De Forest leans over the the side of the brig, his eyes fixed on the boat, his arms outstretched, unconscious of everything around him, saying all the time, he knew not why: " Poor Minnie ! poor Minnie ! why did I leave you ? Oh, why did I leave you ?"
CHAPTER XXII.
A VISIT TO FATHER MAGINNIS-CAPTAIN WARD'S PROPOSAL.
As soon as Walter returned from seeing De Forest off in the Oregon steamer, Minnie and he ate their breakfast, and then started arm-in-arm to see Father Maginnis. They found him as usual busily engaged about the asylum.
.. Well, well," said he, " what is it that brings you both here this morning, when you know how my time is taken up ?"
The brother and sister did not mind this sort of reception, as they now understood the good man perfectly. They knew he was rough in manners, but kind in heart to overflowing.
" Can you give us half an hour of your time, Father ?" said Walter.
" Half an hour; tut, tut ! What do you want of so much ? But go on, and I will stay, if I can, to hear you out ; only be as quick as possible."
Then Walter gave him a history of the robbery and the forged note, and of his present position. Father Maginnis kept his eyes on Walter the whole time he was speaking, as if he wanted to read every expression on his face. As Walter finished, he said :
" Why, you are very simple. If your story is true, and I be- lieve it is, these fellows Ward and Brown have your lost gold ; and if this note is a forgery, they have fixed the whole thing up to get more money out of you, or get some hold on you for some purpose."
" Why, Father, I find it hard to think so badly of these men as that !"
" Tut, tut ! There are bad men in the world, as well as good. Ward and Brown are the men who took your money, as sure as you are sitting there ; and they are after something now, so look out for them ; and, if I am right, they will try and get this note out of the bank before you can pay it. Then they will have a power over you that might give you great trouble."
606
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
" Father, you surprise me, and the more so because sister Min- nie here takes your view of the matter."
Walter then explained that he had the Hilton notes, and all their new furniture, to secure the payment of the two thousand dollars, if he could find some one who had it to lend.
" Well, Walter, I will ask John Sullivan to let you have the money, and I think he will do it."
Just then the bell rang, and Father Maginnis went to the door himself. It was some fifteen minutes before he reappeared. As he entered, he said :
" The person whom I have just let in is an old sea Captain of the name of Fitzgerald. He is a good man, and is rich, and has not much to do with his money but to live on it. He often lends me money when I want it for the asylum, so I have just asked him to lend you the two thousand dollars, and he says he will if I say so. I will bring him in, Walter, and let you speak to him yourself, as to how you propose to secure the money."
" Thank you, Father; I will do so."
So Father Maginnis called his visitor in, and introduced him to Walter and Minnie. He was a fine-looking old man, and seemed robust in health, and had a very benevolent countenance. Walter showed the Hilton notes, explained all about them, and gave Edmund Allen as reference as to Hilton's standing, and stated besides that he would store their piano at a warehouse, and give the warehouse receipt to the Captain as additional se- curity. The Captain said he would not take the young lady's piano; but Father Maginnis said :
" Yes, Captain, you must, or I will not let you lend the money."
So it was all settled, and Captain Fitzgerald agreed to call that afternoon at Allen Wheeler & Co.'s and make the necessary in- quiry of them as to Hilton's standing; and if all was satisfactory, he promised to take up the note at the bank the first thing in the morning, and Walter gave him a written order on the bank for the note. Thanking Father Maginnis and the Captain both, they were about to leave, when Father Maginnis said :
" Come back here, Minnie, and sing some of those Irish songs you have for the Captain."
Poor Minnie, she was not much in singing humor; but, with a bright smile, she said:
" Certainly, if the Captain would like to hear them."
ยท
607
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
" Of course, Miss Minnie, I would like to hear a good Irish song at any time."
So the Father led the way into the Sisters' Orphan Asylum parlor, where there was a handsome piano. The very fact that Minnie's heart was sad and anxious filled her fine voice now with the deepest melody. At the Captain's request, she sang some of Moore's beautiful songs, and others that the Captain called to her mind, concluding with the "Wearing of the Green." The Captain seemed enraptured, and often had much to do to conceal his emotion. When Minnie had concluded, he took her hand to wish her good-bye, and, as he did so, said:
" Miss Minnie, have you any Irish blood in your family ?"
" Oh, yes, Captain; my mother was born in Ireland, and I learned all those songs from her."
" Why, Miss Minnie, you do not know what a strange feeling came over me while you were singing; for, when I was young, I had a dear sister who used to sing those very songs, and I could almost believe that you were she while you sat at the piano."
The good Captain could not command his voice further, so he turned away. Father Maginnis, seeing the state of things, broke in with:
" Well, well; I have lost too much time; so be off with you all." And, turning to Walter, he continued: " Be sure and not forget to send the warehouse receipt to the Captain; and, Walter, look out for those men I told you about."
As Walter was abont to answer, he exclaimed:
" Be off, I tell you; I have something else to do besides talk- ing."
The Captain now stepped up, and said:
" Mr. Wagner, you need not trouble yourself about the piano or warehouse receipt. I will not touch it, no matter what Father Maginnis here says. I know my own business, and I will not tonch the warehouse receipt."
Walter was about to remonstrate, but the Captain waved his hand, saying:
" No, no; I would even lend you the money without those notes, if that was necessary. Do not touch your sister's piano, or I will not lend the money."
" Well, well," said Father Maginnis, " let him have his own way. There is no managing an Irishman, anyway. They are all as obstinate as mules. So be off!"
608
PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
Captain Fitzgerald laughed, and said in a half-whisper to Minnie: " Father Maginnis was never obstinate himself, we all know, Miss Minnie."
Then Minnie again reached her hand to the Captain, saying with the sweetest smile:
" Will you not come and see us, Captain ?"
" Thank you, my dear young lady. It will make me most happy to do so."
" Be off, be off!" shouted Father Maginnis. And so they parted.
As the brother and sister walked home, they were silent for a while. Then Minnie looked up into Walter's face, and he saw tears on her cheek, as she said:
" What a good, kind friend God has sent us ! I feel so much encouraged, Walter, and so much more happy, now that we are almost sure of the payment of the note."
" Yes, dear Minnie; I understand your feelings perfectly, God is surely with us in our trouble."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.