USA > California > A picture of pioneer times in California, illustrated with anecdotes and stores taken from real life > Part 57
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Jane now appeared, with a cup of tea for Minnie.
" Oh, thank you, Jane," said Minnie, as she sat up and took the cup; " that is just what I was wishing for."
" I believe I will take one also, Jane," said Walter, " just to keep Miss Minnie company."
Jane looked pleased, and brought Walter his cup. As they sipped their tea, they enjoyed each other's company until Jane announced the evening meal. As they left the tea-table, a gen- tleman and lady called to see about their daughter's taking music lessons. Minnie, with pleasure, accepted the new pupil, and was very much pleased at the call, as it helped to calm her- self and Walter, and restore them to their usual current of thought and feeling. The visitors seemed very much attracted by the brother and sister, and extended their visit until bed- time. After the visitors left, the brother and sister, as was their habit, joined in their devotions; and on that night, instead of the usual kiss at parting, Walter threw his arms around his sister and kissed her over and over. Without a word being spoken on either side, except the low-murmured " God bless you, darling!" from each to the other, they parted for the night. There was an undefined fear lingering around Minnie's heart, most likely from Ward's threats. After turning from side to side for half an hour, she arose from her bed, lit her lamp, and went to Jane's room. She asked her to come and sleep with her, and Jane at once complied. Minnie's nerves grew quiet, and she
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fell asleep; but her slumber was terribly uneasy. In her dreams, her father and mother were again near her. They were, she thought, leaning over her, and both were weeping and looking with pity and sorrow at her. " Oh, darling father and mother, why do you weep?" she said. " Poor Minnie!" they answered; " we cannot help it; for to-morrow will be to you a day of horror such as you have not yet known, and we come once more to remind you that your safety and Walter's safety depend on your full and unwavering reliance in God. He alone can save you. Courage, Minnie, courage!"
Minnie started up in her sleep, and called aloud: "Mother! father! kiss me! bless me!"
Jane now started up, saying: " Miss Minnie, you must have had a terrible dream!"
" Oh, yes, Jane, I had. Please join me in some prayers," and Minnie was trembling in every limb, " that I may have courage and be a woman; for surely something terrible is com- ing upon me."
" Oh, Miss, do not let dreams frighten you so. You know we must not mind dreams. They are all foolishness."
" No, no, Jane; I do not mind dreams, but yet I am fright- ened; and surely there is no harm in praying to God to strengthen me, if harm does come."
" Oh, no; of course not, Miss Minnie."
And, as always, her prayers seemed answered, and courage and confidence were restored to her. For the remainder of the night, she slept soundly, and arose in the morning strengthened and refreshed. Walter, too, felt composed, and willing to meet any trouble that might come with cool courage. This was soon tested. As the banking hour approached, he thought it best to go and see Captain Fitzgerald, to make sure that he would take up the note the moment the bank opened.
" Good-bye, dear Minnie," said he; " I will be back in a little while. I am only going to Captain Fitzgerald's, and will come directly back. If that villain, Ward, should call on any pre- tence, do not let him in, or show yourself, and do not leave the house until I come."
On receiving Minnie's assent, Walter took his way to Stock- ton street, where Captain Fitzgerald lived. He had not gone more than a block when he observed two men following him. He put back his hand to see if his revolver was all right in place,
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and then waited until they came up. As they neared him, he recognized them to be the two policemen to whom Ward had in- troduced him the morning after the robbery of Ward's safe.
" Good-morning, Mr. Wagner," said one of the men.
Walter returned his salutation, saying:
" What is new, boys ?"
" Oh, nothing, Mr. Wagner; but we have an unpleasant duty to perform."
" And what is that?" said Walter, a little startled.
Then the fellow acting as spokesman explained that they had a warrant for his arrest on the charge of forgery, and, on Wal- ter's asking on whose complaint the warrant was issued, he was told on that of Macondray & Co. He then said he would go with them, but that he wished first to go back to his own house to in- form his sister. This they positively refused to let him do. Then he said he wanted them to take him first to the law office of Hall McAllister. This they also refused, saying their instruc- tions were positive to take him to the County Prison direct, and that from there he could send for any one he wanted to see. They then asked him for his revolver, which he unbuckled from his waist and handed over. They continued along Stockton street west, until they reached the corner of Broadway. Then, just as they were apparently turning towards the prison, a boy stepped up to them, and, addressing the policemen, said:
" The Chief wants you to bring your prisoner to the blue cot- tage on Telegraph Hill, where he can stay until he gets his bail bonds."
" Aye, aye," said the policemen.
Then turning to Walter, he said:
" I suppose the Chief wants to spare you from going to the common jail until you get your bonds. That is all."
There was a confused idea in Walter's mind that something was wrong. So he stopped short, and said:
" I demand to see your warrant before I stir another foot, and I have some doubts as to your being policemen."
" Oh, you doubt us, do you ? Well, here is the warrant, all in due form. And look here," said the policeman, as he threw open his coat and displayed the city police star on his breast. " Do you now doubt, Mr. Wagner ?"
Walter read the warrant for his arrest over, and could see nothing wrong about it. So, without further words, he resumed
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his walk between the two policemen, who did not stop until they reached Robert Wells & Co.'s rickety blue shanties, on the south- west side of Telegraph Hill. They entered one of them, and the door was locked behind them. Walter found himself in the presence of Brown, with four or five villainous-looking men lounging around, with pistols and bowie-knives dangling in their belts. No one appeared to notice Walter's presence but Brown, who addressed Walter, saying:
" Oh, Wagner, I am sorry for your trouble, I assure you; but Captain Ward will be here soon, and will, he tells me, propose a way of settling this disagreeable business."
Walter now comprehended his position.
" I see I am the victim of Ward's and your villainous treach- ery, which may end in my death and that of my sister; but, in that event, I have the satisfaction of knowing that the world is not large enough for you and your cowardly villains to hide yourselves in; for my countrymen will pursue you by land and sea, until they avenge our fates."
" Wagner, the time to talk that stuff has passed. So I advise you to take things coolly. I have nothing whatever to say to you. My duty is to keep you safe until Captain Ward comes, and to do that I will have to request you to let these men put those irons on," pointing, as he spoke, to a pair of shackles and handcuffs lying on the floor.
" Villain, you dare not!" said Walter, as he threw himself into an attitude of defence, with his back to the wall.
In an instant, half a dozen revolvers were aimed at his body. Brown gave a chuckling laugh, as he said:
"Do you want to die right now, Wagner, or wait to have a talk with Ward ? You can do just as you prefer, my dear sir. Those irons will go on, or you die now, sure."
" If I were alone in the world, I would die right here in a fight with you and your Sydney hounds, but-"
" You have no need to finish the sentence, Wagner, I know what you would say, and your conclusion is a correct one; you wish to live to save your sister, if possible. Boys, put the irons on."
Two of the ruffians laid their revolvers aside, took up the irons and fastened them on Walter's legs and wrists. While this was doing, Walter made no resistance whatever, not even speaking; but seemed lost in thought. Brown then turned to his men and said:
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" Put up your revolvers, boys."
And all obeyed, and resumed their former crouching positions around the room.
" Wagner," said Brown, " if you were not such a powerfully- built man, I would have spared you this indignity; but Ward is now in a game that will not allow us to run the least risk; so you must excuse us."
" Miserable, cowardly, treacherous wretch, do not again dare to address me a word! I would rather be here in ignominious irons, in the power of murderers and robbers like yourself and Ward, than to be either of you and free, a thousand, a thousand times!"
" Oh, that is all a matter of taste, Wagner; but I advise you to keep hard names to yourself, and act more patiently." And again Brown laughed.
Walter turned away, and seated himself near a window. He remained gazing out, in anxious and terribly mournful thoughts of Minnie.
" Oh ! what if they seize her in the house !" he kept repeat- ing to himself. " They might kill the hired girl, and no one would hear Minnie's screams."
And now he recollected Minnie's warning words: "Never to lose confidence in God." So with his whole heart he implored God for her safety, asking nothing for himself. Now he sees a hack winding slowly up the hill, in the direction of the blue cot- tages. His heart leaps with convulsive terror, he knows not why. Brown has observed the hack also, and, turning to Walter, says:
" Wagner, prepare yourself for a surprise ; for that hack, if I am not much mistaken, contains your sister !"
Walter leaped to his feet, and, raising his shackled arms above his head, struck them with all his force against the cottage wall, · exclaiming:
" Great, merciful God! guard and save her !"
" Not a hair of her head shall be harmed," said Brown, "if you and she comply with an honorable proposition Captain Ward will make you this evening on board the Blue Bell; for now we have to be off there."
Walter groaned, as he said:
" I told you, villain, not to speak to me !"
His eyes remained riveted on the carriage. It now neared the rickety cottage steps. Brown threw open the door, saying:
" Here, Wagner, take a seat by your sister ; there is not a mo-
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ment to lose ! Here, you fellows; help Mr. Wagner to the hack. Take an arm each, and hold him up while he goes down the steps."
As Walter hobbled down, thus supported, his heart sank with- in him, for he hears a suppressed cry of agony from the car- riage.
" Darling Minnie," he exclaims; " how did the villains deceive you, so as to get you into their power ?"
" Oh, dear Walter, did you not send for me? Did you not write this ?" handing Walter a note as she spoke.
" Oh, Minnie, it is a vile, wicked forgery !"
" In with you !" cries Brown, laughing. " You can talk over that matter with your sister in the carriage."
In Walter was helped, or thrust; Brown and two of his gang taking seats in the hack also. Down the hill they now dashed, until they reached the beach, where Meiggs' wharf was afterwards built; then along the shore, westward, they drive, until they come to a little cove, where a boat and four men were found, evidently waiting for them. Minnie and Walter were hurried into the boat, and, just as they were ready to shove off, Brown said:
" Now, Wagner, it is my duty to tell you, that if you or your sister cry out while we are passing either ship or boat, I will order you gagged in the roughest way. And if I should fail in that, I will not hesitate to have you shot dead in your seats, for we are engaged in no child's play now, you understand ?" Then he continued to the driver of the carriage:
" Tom, return that carriage to Orrick Johnson's stable, on Kearny street, and answer no questions as to where you have been ; and then send Johnny Lucky to the Captain, and let him tell the Captain that all worked to a charm-the warrant for ar- rest, and his note to the lady; and that we have gone on board all right." To the crew of the boat he then gave the order:
" Shove off, my lads, and give way !"
As the boat shot out into the bay, Minnie sat close to Walter, with one arm around his waist, and the other crossing his breast, her hand resting on his opposite shoulder. While thus fondly holding him, she looked up into his face, her eyes burning bright with the light of faith and hope, as she whispered:
" Courage ! darling ; courage ! God is near us in His almighty power, and will not fail us if we trust Him with unfaltering faith."
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CHAPTER XXIV.
MISS SCOTT AND LIZZIE-THE STRUGGLE.
Let us be lookers-on for an hour or so in Miss Scott's highly respectable boarding-house. Miss Scott, a most estimable maiden lady, with the true American spirit of enterprise, came, late in life, to San Francisco, in the eventful days of which we write, and opened a fashionable boarding-house on Montgomery street. She was good-hearted and kind in her disposition, made many friends in her new home, and was more than usually suc- cessful in the sort of enterprise she undertook.
We now stand in the entry of her nicely-furnished house, the evening of the day before Walter and Minnie were kidnaped, as related in the last chapter. It is candle light, and after the even- ing meal Miss Scott, as it should appear, was just closing a con- versation with a nice-looking young English girl. It is hard to judge with certainty, as we look at this young person, whether she is a young married lady, or an unmarried young lady; but a lady judge would say she was the former. She is in fine health, and has a very interesting expression on her handsome face. Miss Scott says :
" I am sorry, Miss Lawson, to press the matter, because I never had a boarder I liked better than yourself; but three of my lady boarders have drawn my attention to the matter, and I can no longer be blind to the fact that Captain Ward should fulfill his promise to you, and have the marriage ceremony openly acknowl- edged by him, or that you should find a new boarding-house. You say he is coming here to-morrow. Tell him what I say, and he will undoubtedly come to a conclusion. Tell him if there is one day's more delay about it, that I will send for your father and brothers, and request them to find you a new boarding-house; for I am too poor, Miss Lawson, to be able to run any risk about the character of my boarding-house." With trembling, quiver- ing lips, and in a very low voice, Miss Lawson answers:
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" Well, Miss Scott, I will do as you say; but, dear Miss Scott, do not let them talk badly of me; it almost kills me to hear such things as you have to-day told me of. To-morrow I will either show you the certificate of marriage, or I will quietly change my boarding-house."
And Lizzie, raising her handkerchief to her eyes, and sobbing audibly, entered her room. Lizzie Lawson had always the best of everything in Miss Scott's boarding-house; she had a nice par- lor, or sitting-room, of her own, besides a snug bed-room, both on the first floor of the house; all of which was regularly paid for in advance by her father. She now passed through her little sitting-room into her bed-room, and, throwing herself into a chair, seemed for awhile in an agony of grief. Then she drops into deep thought, and seems to grow more calm. After awhile, she arose, bathed her face, and took pains to arrange her toilet properly. She has made up her mind not to join the other lady boarders for that evening, in the parlor, as she had always done heretofore. So she threw herself into a chair, and took a book to read. But this was a failure, for she could not understand one word she read. So, laying her book down, she is lost in thought. Now, she starts; for she hears the front door bell ring. In a moment more a knock comes on her sitting-room door. She knows the knock well, and flies to the door to admit her father. He is dressed in his best, as he always is when he comes to see Lizzie.
" Father," she says, in a deep, soft voice, as she draws him in by the hand she has caught in both of hers. She closes the door, and then flings both arms around his neck and whispers, as she kisses his hard, brown cheek over and over:
" Darling, darling father! I am glad you came." The old sea- man's arms clasped her close, as he says, in a low, but half alarmed voice:
" Is anything the matter with my little Lizzie ? Has any one dared to harm my little queen ?"
" No, dear father; but I am so glad you came, I don't know exactly why, but I am so glad." And, as they are both seated on the sofa, she kisses him and again clasps his great, huge frame, in her delicate, white arms, while she lets her head rest on his bosom. Lizzie, though always kind and affectionate to her father when they met, had never been so demonstrative before, and Jack had always considered his daughter so far above himself in edu-
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eation, religion and social standing, that he seemed happy in just standing at a distance, looking up to her in admiration, while he loved her to almost worship. He was proud of her for being so far above himself in everything, and seldom went to see her, fearing that he might, in some way, drag her down to his own humble level. As they are seated now, he feels that he is the great oak, and she the frightened bird, seeking shelter from some real or fancied impending storm.
"Tell me, Birdie," he said, " who has frightened my little craft so that it runs into this rough harbor for shelter ?"
" Yes, dear father," she said, smiling sadly; "the harbor might be rough to a craft that did not know it and had no pilot to steer it in, but here is the pilot of your little craft." And, as she spoke, she laid her hand on her heart, " and to-night I but obey the helm in that pilot's hands when I run into this harbor for shelter; for oh, dear father, something tells me that to-mor- row will be for me a storm from daylight until dark, that is to decide my fate in this world!"
" Strange, Birdie, why you should have such thoughts; but one thing is sure, what decides your fate decides mine also. But tell me, Birdie," and now a dark, uneasy look came in Jack's face as he spoke, " why do you fear, and what do you fear ?"
Lizzie did not at onee answer; but, wiping the moisture from her forehead with her handkerchief, she seemed trying to col- lect her thoughts. Then she said :
" Does the Blue Bell sail to-morrow, father ?"
" Yes, of course Birdie ; but surely the Captain has told you, and-"'
" He has told me nothing, father, and has not been to see me for ten days."
" Ha !" said Jack, rising to his feet, with his elenehed right hand lifted, as if to strike, " does he dare to think that he ean slight-but no, no, he cannot; for, Birdie, I would tear him limb from limb, if he did, and he must know that I would."
" Dear father, be calm. Sit by me, and advise me."
" Yes, Birdie, I will ; and let me ask you now, has he never asked you to be his wife ?"
" Asked me, father !" exclaimed Lizzie, in sudden excitement. " Oh, yes; over and over again. And when I consented, I wanted to tell you and the boys, but he would not let me, and made me promise not to tell you or the boys; and then he was so
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kind, and said he loved me so that he could not keep away from me." Now Lizzie laid her hand on her father's shoulder, and rested her head against his breast, with her face averted, as she proceeded in a low voice: " Then one day, he got me to go with him on my knees and swear to be his wife, and he swore that he was my husband forever more. Oh, do not blame me, father. I believed him, and he promised to bring the Rev. Mr. Vermeyr to perform the ceremony, and then he did not bring him, and put me off, on one excuse or another, from day to day; and then he staid away for days and days, and got angry when I spoke about Mr. Vermeyr, and said if I bothered him so, he would not come back; and then he staid whole weeks away. And, oh, father, I am so unhappy, and was so frightened to-night, for Miss Scott told me that if Captain Ward did not marry me at once, I must find another boarding-house."
As Lizzie ceased to speak, she covered her face with both of her hands, and gave way to a fit of uncontrolled weeping. Jack clasped her in his arms, exclaiming :
" Birdie, darling, do not cry in that way. It is all my fault. The boys warned me, but I would not believe them." Then in a husky, low voice, he added: "The parson shall come to- morrow, and the ceremony shall be performed, or the sharks will fight for his body in the bay. This I swear to you, my poor Birdie."
" Oh, father, I do not want that, for-for he may yet do right, as I got a note from him to-day, saying he would be here to see me to-morrow morning."
" Oh ! then he wrote to you that he would be here to-morrow, did he, Birdie? That looks better, and as you say, he may do right yet. Yes, yes; it must be that he intends to bring the parson with him, for he dare not take the Blue Bell out of the Heads, if you do not walk the quarter-deck his wife, and queen of our ship. So, have courage, Birdie; all may yet be right, and the boys and I will see you through."
Lizzie now grew more calm, and Jack walked up and down the little parlor, as if in thought of all he had heard; and sometimes there was a terrible, fierce expression on his countenance. At length he stopped, and, turning to Lizzie, he said:
" I tell you, Birdie, I will not let the boys know this, until after you see the Captain, to-morrow, and then, if all goes right, we will never tell them." Then Jack leaned his head down to-
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wards Lizzie's, and in a slow, measured voice, continued: " But, if he fails you, they shall know all, and then it will be better for him if he had never been born .! "
" Well, dear father, tomorrow will decide all; I did love him once, but now some way I have a terrible fear of him, but I may be wrong, and he may be all right yet; but to-morrow will de- cide, as I said before. So come, dear father, in the afternoon, and bring the boys with you, for I so long to see them."
" All right, Birdie, I will, I will; and now you must have cour- age, and when you are talking to the Captain you must be bold and plain with him; and recollect that you have a father and brothers who will stand by you to the last. And here," con- tinued Jack, taking from his belt a beautiful ivory-handled dag- ger, sheathed in a red morocco case, mounted with gold, “ I bought this for you to wear when you were installed queen of our ship, but you may as well take it now, for it is not out of place with any lady here in a new country." As Lizzie eagerly reached for the dagger, her hand slightly trembled, and her cheek grew a little pale. She laid it on the table, saying:
" Thank you, father; it is beautiful." Then, seeing that Jack was preparing to leave, she said: "Have you to go so soon, father ?"
" Yes, Birdie; I am going on board the Blue Bell to-night, for I do not want the Captain to know I was here."
" Well, good-night, darling father," said Lizzie, in a low, half-faltering voice, as she laid her hand on his shoulder, " and -- and-well, I just wanted to say, that if anything did happen, you know, to either of us, so that-so that we never did happen to meet again, you know," and now both her arms were around the old man's neck, and her lips were close to his ear, as she went on: " I want to tell you that you must never think that I did not love and thank you, every day of my life, for all your hard work for me to make me happy, and that with my last breath I will bless and pray for you. I could not let you go, darling father, to-night, without telling you this; but do not mind, for all may be well yet, you know." The old man tried to control his voice to speak, but something choked it down, and he could not utter a word. " Do not fear for me, darling father, and feel so badly," Lizzie murmured, while floods of tears ran down her cheeks. " Your Birdie will be brave; so do not fear. This hor- rid fear that haunts me to-night will pass away, and, when you
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come to-morrow, you will find me the same as always, you know. So, good-night, darling father, and take care of yourself, for my sake."
Not a word could Jack utter; one long, silent embrace, and he was making his way towards the city front, where the boat of the Blue Bell was awaiting him. As Lizzie now stood alone, near the table, with the dagger drawn from its sheath in her hands, there was a strange, bitter smile in her face, as she touched her finger to its sharp, needle-like point. Then, with a start, as if some horrid thought had crossed her mind, she returned it to its case, and hurriedly thrust it into the drawer of her work-table. Then she walked up and down the room with folded arms, in deep thought, saying to herself:
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