USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 11
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ing met the man who heard me open my window, and he was so unusually cordial and polite that, if I had had any doubts before of his guilt, I should at once have ceased to doubt. I did not, however, give him the slightest indication that I suspected him ; nor, until now, have I mentioned my loss to any one. Unless you think it advisable for you to know the sus- pected man, I would not mention his name for several reasons. My evidence against him is not positive, and I must find out more. He occupies, too, a high social position-his relatives being among the richest and most respectable in this county-and to accuse him without positive proof would be to bring a nest of hor- nets about my head, which, as you can understand, I am just now anxious to avoid. I want to leave here as soon as possible, to be absent until you have had ample time to get replies to the letters you will write, when I will return and, if all goes well, will then get mar- ried. I have mentioned the robbery to you because it is your duty to trace up criminals. I will only point out one way in which my man may be found. Here is a paper" (handing the document to Adair) "which contains a description, as nearly as I can remember, of the bank notes and coin lost. You will observe there are three rare gold coins-one a Spanish, one a Peru- vian, and the other a Bolivian, and each of them has a small hole near the rim. They were sometimes used by me in my sleight-of-hand exhibitions, and I happen to have a memorandum of their dates and some private marks upon them. I would like for you to keep a sharp look-out, during my absence, for these special coins. You are almost sure to come across or hear of some one of them, for but few persons know their
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value, and will be likely to exhibit them and learn their value before receiving or paying them out ; and they are much more likely to be spent, or put in circu- lation by the thief, if I am absent than if I remained here, and particularly if he thinks I will never return, of which I have not spoken to any one excepting Miss Wilmot and yourself."
"I am sorry to hear of your loss," replied Adair, " and will do all I can to find out the thief. It might, however, materially aid me to know whom you sus- pect."
" Henry Rudolph is the man," responded Brantley.
"Henry Rudolph !" exclaimed Adair. "You sur- prise me ! He is considered by many as a model young man."
"Just so ! " said Brantley. "But I know him well. He is as sly as a fox, and if he was n't such a coward, would be a very bad and a very dangerous man."
" But," said Adair, " as you have been robbed, you will require some money to travel on. Have you obtained what you require ? "
" I have not," Brantley answered. " I must sell my horse if necessary, but I would regret to do so, for I cannot travel so cheaply or pleasantly by stage coach as on horseback. I have here a fine gold watch, worth more than double the amount I require, but that I will not part with. It was presented to me by a friend, now dead and gone, whose life I once saved, as you will see from the inscription on the inside of the case " (which he opened and exhibited). "And, by the way," he continued, " here is evidence that my name is Jefferson Brantley. I had a short time ago," he went on, "a very valuable ruby ring, which you may have noticed,
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but that I have parted with-Miss Wilmot has it. She declined to receive it as a present from me, but at my earnest request consented to retain it until my return."
" What amount," asked Adair, "will you require ? ".
" About fifty dollars," was the answer.
" Give me your note," responded Adair, " for that amount payable, say, in three months, with six per cent. interest from date, and I will let you have the amount. I ask no security."
" This," said Brantley, with much earnestness, "is more than I intended to ask of you ; but I accept your offer with many thanks. And let me say this : Show- man, sportsman, stranger, whoever or whatever I may be, if we live you will find out that I, Jefferson Brant- ley, pay my debts as soon as I can, and never forget a friend."
The next morning, Brantley after bidding good-by to a few friends, among them Adair, to whom he spoke a few earnest words in an undertone, mounted his horse and rode away.
After bidding Brantley good-by, Adair went to his room and drafted the letter he proposed to write to the parties whose names Brantley had given him. This finished, he mounted his horse and started to the resi- dence of Mr. Wilmot. As he rode along, his mind naturally reverted to his selection by Miss Wilmot for the confidential work he had been asked to do. He had known her but slightly, but as, it appeared, she had been in conference with Miss Howard, the pre- sumption was that the latter had suggested him as a fit person to be trusted ; and this looked the more plausi- ble from Brantley's remark that he - Adair - " was well and favorably known to Miss Howard." But
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then there was a wide difference between being " well and favorably known " and being loved ! And War- ren Davidson ! what of him ? He had, so it was reported, gone South again. This looked as if Miss Howard had rejected his suit ! But no, it was uncer- tain. Why should she reject Davidson ? It would, doubtless, be a good match. Business had perhaps taken Davidson away from home; and he might not desire to get married yet and settle down, for he was still young. Miss Wilmot, no doubt, knew all about it, for she and Miss Howard were evidently confi- dantes, and he might be able to get the facts from her. But, no, that would not do ! What Miss Wilmot knew about the matter, she had doubtless learned under the seal of secrecy ; and it would be unfair for him to take advantage of the confidential position he now held to obtain from her Miss Howard's secrets. If he wanted to know, the straightforward and honor- able course was for him to learn them from Miss How- ard herself. But, situated as he was, it would be worse than folly for him to think about marrying, then why bother his brain about it ? Such was about the train of Adair's thoughts as lie rode slowly along, whistling in a low key. But, so intently was his mind occupied, had any one stopped him and asked if he had been whistling a hymn or a love ditty, he would doubtless have replied that, until stopped, he was not aware that he had been whistling.
CHAPTER XI.
Adair Visits Miss Wilmot-His Message to Miss Howard-Miss Wilmot's and Miss Howard's Confidential Talk-Laura. Returning Home, Meets Ada-Warren Davidson and Miss Laura-An Angry Suitor.
M ISS WILMOT, on seeing Mr. Adair ride up to the front gate and dismount, at once correctly surmised the object of his visit, and was consequently, when exchanging greetings with him, somewhat em- barrassed ; nevertheless she welcomed him most cor- dially ; and, after introducing him to her mother, who was the only other member of the family present, the two seated themselves on chairs in the yard, where they were shaded by a large black maple tree which stood but a few steps from the front door of the house.
Miss Wilmot never looked more comely than on this bright summer morning. She was, as already stated. tall and graceful. Her complexion was so very clear as to make apparent, by contrast, a few freckles on her face and neck, but this by no means detracted from her beauty.
After being seated, Mr. Adair explained his inter- view with Mr. Brantley, and asked if he had been cor- rectly informed as to her wishes ; and, having replied in the affirmative, she, with some apparent embarrass-
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ment, added : " I hope, Mr. Adair, I have not taken too great a liberty in suggesting your name to Mr. Brantley ; and, knowing you so slightly, I should not have done so, but, from more than one of my friends, I have learned of your prudence andobliging disposition."
" You have not taken too great a liberty," he replied, " and you may rely upon my best services and discretion. I should tell you," he continued, "that Mr. Brantley gave me a sketch of his life ; told me, so he said, about what he had already told you, and in addition gave me the names and addresses of five per- sons to whom I could write for information. I have drafted such a letter as I suppose should be written, and I wish you to read it, and say whether you ap- prove it."
Miss Wilmot received the letter, and after reading it said, as she returned it : " Oh, yes, that will do. But, Mr. Adair, I am sorry if you have taken the trouble to ride out here to submit the letter to me."
" It has been no trouble," he replied, " for I have business farther on, and my visit here has afforded me a pleasant rest."
"But," she added, " don't you think it rather cold and formal-I may say seemingly suspicious-for me to require such information about Mr. Brantley ? I am sure he has not deceived me."
" I have admired your prudence," Adair answered, "in requiring the information before giving him a positive answer."
" But you do not think that he is an unworthy man, and may have deceived me, do you ? " she asked.
" Miss Wilmot," he earnestly responded, "do you wish me to tell you what I think of Mr. Brantley ?"
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" Yes, please do," she answered. Then, after a momentary pause, she added : "I know you must have seen and heard much about him since he came to Salem."
"When I first heard of Mr. Brantley," said Adair, "I was told that he was a showman ; and, by some, supposed to be more of a gambler than a showman. When, therefore, I heard he was visiting you, I thought you were exposing yourself to some risk in permitting such a visitor. But I have since seen much of him, have heard much said about him, and have never seen or heard of any dishonorable act of his. I now believe him to be a man of much kindliness of heart and many admirable traits of character ; I am further convinced that he has not attempted to deceive you, or me, for had I suspected this, I certainly would not have consented to undertake the matter that brought me here. But, having said this much, I must add that I fear Mr. Brantley has entered upon what I regard as a most unfortunate and hazardous career- that of a sportsman or gambler. If he continues that career, however kind, attentive, and considerate he may desire and aim to be, the woman who, as his wife, follows his fortunes must expect to be a wanderer, to have no settled home, to be shunned by the best society, subject to violent fluctuations of fortune-perhaps rich to-day and poor to-morrow, and, worse than all, be in almost constant apprehension as to her husband's safety ; for, it may be said of most gamblers, that they carry their lives in their hands. It may sound to you harsh or unfeeling for me to speak thus; but if you were my sister, I would ask you to ponder over and weigh well all these matters before you take a step
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fraught with such life-time, if not eternal consequences as are involved in the marriage tie."
Mr. Adair spoke slowly at first, and, as he progressed, with increasing impressiveness, for he was deeply in earnest. When he spoke favorably of Mr. Brantley, and of his confidence that he had not attempted to deceive her, Miss Wilmot's face lit up as if some rem- nant of doubt or fear had been removed from her mind. When he said : "The woman who, as his wife, follows his fortunes must expect to be a wanderer," the courage and confidence of an heroic and trusting soul animated her, and it looked as if it were on her lips to say, "I will follow him to the ends of the earth." When he spoke of society shunning the gam- bler's wife, defiance of society was apparent in her flashing eye. But the appeal to her, as to " a sister," to ponder well the mighty consequences of the marriage tie, caused a deep solemnity to settle on her face, and it was some moments before she attempted any reply.
" Mr. Adair," she at last said, and her voice showed evidence of emotion, " I know not how it may be with others. It may be that a flame once kindled in a woman's heart may be extinguished, then relit by another, and made to burn as brightly and with as pure a glow as it had done before. But in my heart and brain, I feel, with a certainty that exceeds any conviction which emanates from cold reason or experi- ence, that, if this flame is extinguished in my heart, there will be-nothing-left-but ashes ! It may be that I am romantic or sentimental-many I know would tell me so,-but this much I do know, he came to me a stranger and showman-a mountebank, as some have called him -- and I have tried to reason
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calmly, to ponder seriously-have, as it were, fought against myself, and yet my heart has gone from me, and - he-has it ! But !" she exclaimed, "why should I thus speak to you ? I know not, except it be that you have spoken words which I feel to be words of 'truth and soberness'; words which I am sure have come from an honest man. You have spoken, as no one ever did before to me, of the awful solemnity of the marriage tie, and this has made me speak, and speak freely, when womanly reserve might have bid me keep silent."
Adair was surprised by the power and passion of this woman, this farmer's daughter, this almost country girl ! There might not be much twining tenderness in her nature, little of the timid devotee who worships afar off, nothing of the humility and submission of the blind votary ; but, in their stead, there was a proud though sensitive nature ; a companion whom even a strong man might at times lean upon for support ; a courage and devotion that would sustain her when most others had fainted and fallen by the wayside ; an ocean of passion, but a world of love ; and, withal, a woman, and just such a woman as Brantley would need for a wife.
In turn it was some moments before Adair spoke ; at last he said : "I see plainly that you are greatly in earnest in this matter ; and, while I would not recall one word I have said, I would have you distinctly understand that I would be far, very far from advising you or any lady to do violence to the dictates of her heart in the matter of marriage ; for I am sure it is, as a rule, by far the safest guide. But now, as regards these letters, I may tell you that Mr. Brantley himself
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approved the prudence that caused you to withhold your decision until you could obtain such information regarding him as you desire. Furthermore, when bid- ding me good-by this morning-".
" What ! has he gone ? " she interposed. " I knew that he intended going soon, but did not suppose he would do so for several days."
" Yes, he left, as I said, this morning ; and told me he would be absent long enough for me to get replies to the letters I am to write. He, however, when leav- ing, requested me to say to you that he did not wish his intention to return to be publicly known ; that, in fact, he wished it thought he would not return."
" And did he give you no reason for this, to me, seemingly strange desire ? "
" He did ; and such an explanation as would, I am sure, be perfectly satisfactory to you."
"Then," she replied musingly, "it must have grown out of something that has occurred since I saw him, for he mentioned no such desire to me. I hope nothing alarming has occurred, the knowledge of which you have thought it best to withhold from me ? "
"Nothing ; in fact, he gave me permission to ex- plain the matter to you if necessary, and I have only hesitated because of my dislike to convey unpleasant news."
Mr. Adair then explained about Mr. Brantley hav- ing been robbed ; that the thief was much more likely to put the stolen money in circulation if it was thought that Mr. Brantley would not return ; and that, because of the rare gold coins among the money stolen, it was
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hoped they would be able to trace the thief. He, however, withheld from her the name of the man suspected.
" But," she anxiously asked, "as Mr. Brantley was robbed of all his money, how did he get money to go . away on ?"
" That was loaned him by a friend."
"Excuse me, Mr. Adair," she responded, "if I ask a question I should not, but I greatly desire to know- who-that-friend-was !" And observing him to smile, as she thought, at her seeming curiosity, she quickly added : "Did you loan it to him ? "
" I did ; but the amount he required was small."
"I am delighted, and thank you sincerely !" she said with much warmth of manner. "Delighted, for it shows me that a prudent and sensible man had confi- dence enough in the man I love to loan him money. Away with the letters !"
"Nay, nay !" replied Mr. Adair. "Neither your heart, nor my judgment, nor both combined, are infal- lible. No harm can be done by sending the letters. If the replies are such as you and I expect, it will only make assurance doubly sure, and be proof to your friends of your prudence and discretion. But," he smilingly added, "I can understand that you should wish Mr. Brantley to have this proof of your confidence in him; and, with your permission, I will, on his return, inform him that at this interview you were dis- posed to require no proof, but that the letters were sent at my instigation."
" I did not give you credit," she laughingly replied, "for so clear an insight into the workings of a woman's heart."
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" In this instance," he jocularly responded, " I have perhaps displayed no particular penetration."
" If upon all occasions you could display as much, it- would be fortunate," she replied.
" How so?" he asked. "I may not fully under- stand you."
Miss Wilmot had gone a little further than she intended. She was thinking of Laura Howard, and had said to herself, " I am no longer surprised that she loves this man. And how is it that he has not read her heart ? "
" Mr. Adair," she at last said, " you have done Mr. Brantley and myself so great a favor, and in such a kindly and considerate manner, that I feel like com- mending you to all lovers in distress. And I happen to know of several-such-cases ! This, however, would be taxing you too much. You will, however, doubtless discover and relieve many such sufferers."
This reply was evasive, and Mr. Adair so considered it, but it was not for him to ask one more explicit.
"I am sure," he replied, " that I possess no skill in making such discoveries. But I hope you will not hesitate to let me know if at any time I can aid you ; or," he added after a short pause, "any of your friends who will repose such confidence in me as you have shown. But now, as I have a long ride ahead of me before my day's work is done, I must take leave of you. The letters, I will write to-night and mail them to-morrow ; and as soon as replies are received, I will call and show them to you."
" Mr. Adair," she said as she rose from her seat,
" how I do wish I could make you some fitting return - for your kindness. In this won't you assist me ?"
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"As I have not worked for wages," he answered, " I do not expect payment."
" But," she responded, " there are some debts more sacred than wages for work done, and their discharge should afford the keenest delight ! And would you not like to assist me to discharge such a debt-and to yourself ? "
" You certainly put your request in a very forcible way ; and I must, of course, assist you should I see an opportunity of doing so. And now, good-by."
"One moment !" she said, detaining him. " Will you pass by Squire Howard's this morning ? "
" I am on my way," he answered, "to the Sulphur Springs, and will pass by his house."
" Would you then," she asked, "mind stopping there for a moment, and, if Miss Laura is at home, say- ing to her that I would like much if she would ride over this evening, as I wish specially to see her ; and that I would myself ride over and see her, but all of father's horses are at work to-day."
" I will deliver your message," Mr. Adair replied ; and, after the usual good-by and handshaking, he mounted his horse and rode away. As he rode along, he could but associate in his mind Miss Wilmot's seem- ing anxiety to pay him her so-called debt, and her immediate desire to see Miss Howard ; but he could not satisfactorily make out the bearings or relations of the two points.
On his arrival at Squire Howard's, it so happened that Miss Laura was alone on the front porch. She asked him to get down and come in, but he excused himself on the plea that he had far to ride ; and, after delivering Miss Wilmot's message, and asking after the
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health of the family, continued on his way. If he could only have looked back and seen the eyes that followed him, his old resolution would certainly have been severely shaken, if not overthrown.
That afternoon Miss Wilmot and Miss Howard were alone together for an hour or more.
"Laura," began Miss Wilinot, after a few common- place questions and answers, "I could not resist the temptation to send you the message by Mr. Adair. I just felt as if I must have a talk with you and at once."
" Talk on then, and I will be an attentive listener."
"Then, to begin with, I must tell you about my interview with Mr. Adair." And tell her she did, - gave her a detailed account of all that pertained to Mr. Brantley and herself, and dwelt with much emphasis on the part Mr. Adair had played.
"And, Laura," she added, " as you well know, Mr. Adair was a comparative stranger to me. I had met him several times, but never before conversed with him, excepting in the presence of others. To tell you the truth, I had thought him a rather cold and calcu- lating, but prudent and reliable man ; and it was for these latter qualities, and my knowledge of the respect entertained for him by Mr. Brantley, and yourself particularly, that induced me to suggest him as a suit- able person to make the inquiries. But," she smilingly continued, " my opinion of him has changed. I no longer think him cold and calculating. He is frank, unassuming, kind-hearted, earnest, and sincere, and a wise counsellor and friend. When he spoke to me as if to 'a sister,' of the 'life-time, if not eternal conse- quences of the marriage tie,' I was never more sol-
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emnly impressed. I already feel as if I had known him intimately for years. Never have I met a man to whom I could speak so unreservedly about myself. He has won my confidence because I am sure he deserves it. And oh ! how I would like to repay the debt of gratitude I owe him for his kindness to Mr. Brantley in loaning him money after he had been robbed. But, Laura, you must say nothing about the robbery-not to a soul ! for, if it is kept a secret, Mr. Adair hopes to discover the thief and possibly recover the money. And now, Laura," she went on, " I have been trying to think what I could and ought to do for Mr. Adair to repay him. I am sure you love him, although you have never positively told me so. That you should love him, rather than our old friend and schoolmate, Warren Davidson, has been to me a mat- ter of much surprise, but I am no longer surprised. Now that I know Mr. Adair, I want you to love each other. The question is, Can I do anything to bring that about ? for Mr. Adair will no doubt have occasion to visit me several times about those letters."
"Emily, I am delighted," Laura answered, "to know you have been so much pleased with Mr. Adair ; I was sure you would be when you came to know him well. You have often jokingly asked me if I did not love him, and, whilst I may never have positively con- fessed that I did, I have certainly never denied it. You know of his having saved my life when a child ; that it was he who presented me with my beautiful emerald ; that it was his image I tried to conjure up and paint in my picture. When I first saw him, as a man, I thought I could see much in him of great worth ; it may have been that my heart instructed my
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brain-certain it is, I-loved him ! You know that last summer he rescued me from drowning. After that, I, for a time, felt-what might perhaps be called a superstitious conviction-that as he had been so he was to be the guardian of my life, and with my life also of my love. In this conviction I gave loose rein to my love, and was carried whirling along in a seventh heaven of delight, never dreaming of any check. For how could there be any check ? Had not Providence brought him to me, and had not the same Power twice notably preserved me for him ? But my superstitious conviction was a delusion or a snare. I now see it, and feel it. Mr. Adair has not deceived me. I believe him incapable of deceiving any one. I have been led on by a kind of will-o'-the-wisp, and have no one to blame but myself. Emily," she concluded in a some- what husky voice, " he does not love me, and must not know that I love him."
"Stop, stop !" cried Emily ; " I have come across a love that is worthy of the name, -a veritable romance and not a sickly tale; another gem, like that you wear around your neck, and not a showy pebble ; a living life, and not an animated corpse ! And such a love must not be permitted to sacrifice itself, nor to wander, like some poor little ewe lamb. away from its fold. See here, Laura ! there are many persons who think you are engaged to Warren Davidson ! I would be sorry to do Warren any injustice, but, from the way he has often spoken to me of you-as if you were almost certain to be his wife some day,-I am half inclined to think he has himself given rise to these reports, in order to keep other suitors away from you. Now, Mr. Adair may, and doubtless lias heard these reports, and
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