USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 21
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" Thank you, Mrs. Howard," responded Adair, "I am kept very busy, but will find time to bring sister out to see you."
Here Miss Laura entered, and Mrs. Howard with- drew to attend to some household duties. The letter which Miss Laura handed to Mr. Adair was addressed to Mrs. Andrew Lovell, but in the lower left-hand cor- ner was written : " For C. W." ; observing which, he said : " If this is for Miss Catherine Wilson, I expect to see her before I do your sister, and could hand it to her in person if you so wish."
"It is for her, and I will thank you to deliver it to her in person," she replied. "But how came you to-"
Observing her pause, he said : " You were going to ask me how I came to guess the letter was for Miss
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Wilson. I know, through Mr. Duncan, of your friend- ship for her ; and I am now the bearer of a message from him to her : you can guess the balance."
"But, Mr. Adair," she replied, with an expression of anxiety in her tones, "you do not intend going to Mr. Wilson's house, do you? Will you not be run- ning a great risk ? "
" What !" Adair hurriedly answered. "Would you have me avoid a risk ? If so, the sooner I leave you the better-so your friend in the next room would doubt- less say." And without awaiting her reply, he said " Good-by," and was off.
As he passed to the gate he met Ada, who said to him : " My wise little head says for you to come and see us as soon as you can-remember it."
A moment later Adair was riding rapidly down the road.
CHAPTER XXI.
Henry Rudolph Visits Laura Howard-Ada Enters-Rudolph Nonplussed - He Becomes Uneasy, and Determines to "Arrange Matters "-Adair's Unexpected Arrival, Strange Speech, and Hurried Departure-Rudolph's Appeal.
T HE day following Mr. Henry Rudolph's interview with Warren Davidson, the former arrayed himself in his finest suit ; and, standing before the mirror in his room, and carefully adjusting the bosom ruffles of his shirt, he was firmly persuaded that he was indeed a man of "resources "-that being his favorite mental metaphor for indicating his physical, mental, and finan- cial attractions. When he mounted his fine horse and rode forth to conquer the heart of Miss Laura Howard, he had no misgivings as to his success. As he rode along, he did what many a young gentleman does in like circumstances-that is, framed nice and gallant speeches to be made to the young lady, imagined her replies, and then framed his telling rejoinders ; oblivi- ous of the fact that it would be impossible to carry out such a programme so as to produce more than a skele- ton of what was intended for a thing of beauty.
Miss Howard received Mr. Rudolph very affably, as was her wont with all-old and young, rich and poor. But without dreaming of it-in fact supposing the very
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reverse would be the result-Mr. Rudolph made a mis- take at the very outset, by dressing in a very " swell " style,-for there were such creatures as swells then as now. This was at once observed by Miss Howard, and, woman-like, she jumped to the conclusion that her visitor was very vain. Now vanity may, at least to a moderate extent, be excusable in a lady, particu- larly if she is young and pretty, but the almost uni- versal decision of the female sex is against the vain man. And that observant and frolicsome younger sis- ter, Miss Ada, sought the first opportunity she could find to whisper, " Oh, sister Laura, is n't hie distress- ingly fixed up? his bosom ruffles ! watch them wave ! He expects to make a sensation to-day."
After the usual greetings, inquiries as to the health of the family, and some remarks concerning the weather, Mr. Rudolph felt that the Court was now open and ready for the transaction of business. It should be understood that he had read some law books ; not with a view of practising at the bar, for there was no necessity for a gentleman in his position to undergo the drudgery of such a profession ; but he wished it understood that he had acquired a fair know- ledge of the law, not merely as an accomplishment, but as being essential to one whose business transactions were of such importance as to call for an intimate acquaintance with the forms, etc., of legal documents. He was likewise a very general attendant at the ses- sions of the Circuit and County Courts, and took quite a lively interest in every case involving matters of a personal nature, particularly such as exposed the stupidity, weakness, or vice of litigants. Hence it was that, on the present occasion, Mr. Rudolph felt some-
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what as if the position was similar to a trial before a Court ; and as he was to plead his own case, and was a man of such " resources," he had no fears as to the result of the trial.
" Well, Miss Laura," he began, " I have not had the pleasure of seeing you so often of late as I have wished. You have not, I believe, visited town for some time ? "
" Mother, Ada, and I were in a town a few days ago on a visit to Mrs. Adair."
This reply was not the one Mr. Rudolph had imag- ined. There was to have been some pleasing acknow- ledgment on Miss Howard's part of his anxiety to see her. Then, the claims of Warren Davidson were to have been the first inquired into. True, Davidson had told him of his having abandoned his suit, but then Davidson might, for aught he knew, have been only trying to hoodwink him-may have had some purpose to serve in deceiving him ; besides, lying was generally considered excusable when young men were questioned about affairs of the heart. But this mention of the name of Mrs. Adair was an unexpected opening, and suggested an investigation into the position of that possible rival, Mr. Joseph Adair.
"Oh, indeed," said Mr. Rudolph-for he rarely exclaimed : he was too cool and collected for that. " You called to see Mrs. Adair, did you ? And do tell me what kind of a person you found her ? "
"A very quiet and pleasant lady ; but, having so recently lost her husband, she is very sad ; and, besides, is in such delicate health that our visit, from no fault of hers, was somewhat depressing."
" Oh, Miss Laura," replied the complimentary Mr.
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Rudolph, " you are so very sympathetic that you take, perhaps, an exaggerated view of other people's troubles. Mrs. Adair will doubtless soon be as lively as most young widows.".
" We may certainly hope," responded Miss Howard, "that time will assuage her grief, as it does that of others. If it were not so life would be a burden to the bereaved."
Again there had been no response to his compliment- ary allusion to her sympathetic nature ; and his face- tious reference to gay widows had brought forth only a platitude on life's sorrows.
" But," he replied, " Mrs. Adair was certainly very fortunate in having a brother-in-law to provide her with such a home, and he will no doubt soon learn how to cheer her."
" Mr. Adair is certainly a generous, thoughtful, and considerate man. He has well performed a brother's part towards Mrs. Adair and her children."
"Oh," said Mr. Rudolph, wincing under the out- spoken commendation of his possible rival, "you remind me that Mr. Adair is one of your particular friends."
" Yes ; and not of mine only, but of my father and every member of the family," was the frank reply.
" His position in your estimation, Miss Laura, is certainly to be envied," ventured Mr. Rudolph.
"'Charity,' we are told, 'envieth not,'" was the prompt reply of Miss Howard, but there was no malice or uncharitableness in her tones.
Mr. Rudolph, however, felt that her response to his pointedly complimentary remark was uncharitable ; and came to the conclusion that he had better drop
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that branch of the " case," for the present, and take time to give it more thought. Then mentally referring to his original programme, he said : " Ah, Miss Laura, have you seen anything lately of your old friend, Warren Davidson ? "
" Yes," she answered, " he was out to see me a few days ago."
" Warren has seemed to me a little troubled of late," Mr. Rudolph ventured to say; and, with rather a knowing look, but in a tone meant to be jocular, he added : " And I should not be surprised if you have had something to do with it."
"Oh, Mr. Rudolph, how can you say so? What makes you think so?" That was the reply, or some- thing equivalent, which was down on his programme ; but, instead, Miss Howard spoke slowly and plainly, and there was suppressed fire in her words as she said : "Sir, if Warren Davidson has chosen to make a con- fidant of you, and has told you of his troubles, I would not have you violate that confidence because of any questions of mine."
"Oh," replied Mr. Rudolph, "you must not think I was blaming you for the trouble Warren has had. That he should have fallen in love with you does not surprise me ; and if you have chosen to decline his pro- posal, you of course had a perfect right to do so, and he has no right to complain. In fact, I have no doubt that most of his troubles have been brought upon him by his dissipation and extravagance. None of us are so rich but that prudence and circumspection should characterize our conduct."
That speech was a part of Mr. Rudolph's pro- gramme. True, it did not exactly fit as a reply to Miss
-
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Laura's reference to the obligations of a confidant, but he did not care to discuss that point-was, in fact, anxious to avoid it. But the speech was an important one, and must be delivered : and that sage remark of his-of course coming from him it could not be a platitude-as to how one's conduct should be regulated, was expected to be very effective. He was not pre- pared for the answer he received.
" Mr. Rudolph," Miss Laura replied with a coldness and formality very unusual with her, "I thought I expressed the views all gentlemen entertained regard- ing the sacredness of confidential communications, but it appears I was mistaken. You have spoken as if your information regarding Warren and myself was direct and positive, and hence, I presumed, confiden- tial. On the other hand, if your information is not confidential and correct, you have, apparently, assumed to know what you have only thought or guessed at. Then again, your gratuitous remarks about Warren sound to me somewhat ungenerous, coming, as they do, from one who has been regarded as his intimate friend. You have said, 'None of us are so rich but that prudence and circumspection should characterize our conduct,' and I would add that it should also char- acterize ' our conversation.' "
Pointed as the thrust was, it did not wound Mr. Rudolph as it would have wounded a more sensitive man ; but, being jealous of his reputation, he could not rest under such an imputation. It was, therefore, with more than his usual animation that he rejoined :
"Ah, Miss Laura, you do me an injustice, from which, I am sure, your kind heart will recoil when you have heard me. My information I regarded as correct,
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but it was not imparted to me in confidence-I gave no promise of secrecy. What I have said of Warren Davidson was dictated by no unworthy motive ; on the contrary, it was-was my warm regard-for yourself- my deep interest in your welfare, that induced me to let you know the weakness-the true character of the man who was-who was a-a frequent visitor of yours. Hence, I cannot think myself amenable to your implied charge of a lack of circumspection in my conversation."
"The exaction of a pledge of secrecy," rejoined Miss Laura, spiritedly, " should not be necessary to make private conversations confidential communications. If, as you say, Warren is extravagant, it doubtless arises from the natural warmth and generosity of his nature, which, by most persons, is regarded as commendable rather than blameworthy. If he is intemperate it is to be deplored, but it is frequently the fault of young, sociable, and wealthy gentlemen ; but, however deplor- able, it is yet less so than such faults as have their origin in the heart, and are evidence of a depraved nature."
"Really, Miss Laura," replied Mr. Rudolph, " you are indeed an able advocate, and you surprise and, I may add, charm me by the acuteness of your intellect and the warmth and generosity of your nature, as shown in entertaining such charitable views."
" But, sir, if I am to be commended for entertaining and expressing charitable views, what would you say of one who entertains and expresses opposite views ?"
" But, really, Miss Laura, you must not suppose I have been actuated by any unkind or unworthy motive in anything I have said. Words spoken in a friendly chat, such as ours, should not be regarded as the words
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of a written contract. There is a charm in unre- strained conversation that would be destroyed if we had to be more guarded. And I can hardly regret having spoken as I did, since it has been the means of my dis- ; covering your admirable traits, to which I have before alluded."
" I can but accept your disclaimer of unkind and unworthy motives. But, sir, I must say that the charm of conversation should depend on the utterance of hon- est opinions, views, and sentiments ; and I should be very sorry to think that you had disguised your own, and had only sought to obtain an expression of mine."
This thrust made Mr. Rudolph feel decidedly uncom- fortable, and caused his smooth, sallow face to color a little. He quickly came to the conclusion to change the topic, and was vainly trying to recall the next item on his programme when Miss Laura called to her sister Ada, who chanced to pass the door, and asked her to bring the knitting she, Laura, had left on the table in her mother's room. There was so much of freemasonry between these sisters that Ada suspected at once that Laura's object was to get her into the room and detain her. When Ada entered with the knitting, one glance from her sister was enough to make her take a seat near her sister's side, open the little reticule that hung on her arm, and take out her own knitting. This gave Mr. Rudolph time to collect his thoughts, and remen- ber the next item on his programme, but the presence of Miss Ada made it necessary to introduce another change ; and as Miss Laura seemed in no hurry to come to his relief, by introducing some fresh topic, he finally made a start by addressing Miss Ada, and say- ing, " What an industrious couple you are !" 21
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"I'm not sure of that," replied Ada. "Sister Laura does n't seem to mind it, but as for me, I abom- inate knitting ; it is such slow work-one stitch at a time. If I were half as rich as you are, I'm sure I. would have somebody do all my knitting for me."
" Ah !" thought Mr. Rudolph, "that's the way to talk ; that reference to my riches is a most timely and happy one." There was then a movement of his lips and cheeks which showed his sound and regular but discolored teeth ; it was evidently meant for a very bland smile, but it fell far short of that pleasing expres- sion. He then slowly said : " And so, Miss Ada, you want to be rich, do you ? and avoid the drudgery of work, and thus have time for more pleasing and, with some, more profitable employment."
" But, Mr. Rudolph, is not profitable employment work ? "
" Oh, of course ; but, you understand, that was not exactly the sense in which I meant it."
" Ah, I understand," said Miss Laura. " You did not say there was a difference, you only meant us to infer it."
It was rarely Ada had heard her sister speak in such a sarcastic tone, and this, conjointly with Laura's desire for her to remain in the room, convinced her that Laura had been provoked by something Mr. Rudolph had said ; and, knowing her sister's kindliness and good nature, this hint was enough to put the spirited Ada on her mettle.
"Miss Laura," replied Mr. Rudolph, " my phrase- ology may not have been strictly accurate, but my meaning, I should have thought, would be clear. There is work that may aptly be denominated drudg-
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ery, which we all wish to avoid ; and a higher or nobler work which may be denominated employment ; and, since it calls for the exercise of the higher and nobler faculties, may yield both pleasure and profit."
He had spoken as if he thought it necessary to show his courage and power, and crush out the memory of his previous discomfiture, and he imagined this he had done effectually by his lucid explanation clothed in such majestic words.
" What may seem as drudgery to one, may to an- other seem the most pleasing employment," calmly replied Miss Laura.
" And, Mr. Rudolph," interposed Ada, "suppose what you call drudgery paid the largest profits, don't you think you would prefer it to the 'nobler employ- ment,' which calls for the exercise of the 'higher faculties ' ? "
Mr. Rudolph was vexed again, but he rallied ; and, replying to Miss Ada, said : "That I am desirous of making profits I frankly confess ; but it is that I may secure an honorable independence ; that, when I have been so fortunate as to secure a wife, I may be able to place her above and beyond the necessity of doing any work that she dislikes."
Mr. Rudolph was calm and cool again-was emi- nently pleased with his reply, for he had fitly intro- duced the very point to which he desired to call Miss Laura's attention. But he was disappointed that she made no reply.
"Oh !" exclaimed the teasing Ada, "then, when you 'secure ' a wife, you expect to be 'independent,' and make her an ornament rather than a helpmate ? But, I fear, you would not long find either 'pleasure ' or ' profit ' in such an experiment."
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" Oh, you impudent jade !" thought Mr. Rudolph, but, of course, he did not say it, for he was a man of "resources," and must show it. Charitably sparing the "jade," he went again through that facial opera-" tion intended for a smile, and said : " Ah, Miss Ada, come tell us, if you were rich, what use you would make of your wealth ? "
" Oh, vain little mortal that I am, of course I would spend much of it for fine clothes," was the prompt answer.
Mr. Rudolph was now warm-very warm, and his bosom ruffles fluttered. And even Miss Laura gave her sister a quick glance, which was understood ; but the spirited girl looked, but did not speak out, her words : "Humph ! What harm have I done ? I only spoke about myself; and, if I have stepped on his toes, it was not my fault, but because his toes were where they should not be."
Mr. Rudolph soon pleaded some pressing business engagement, and took leave of the young ladies, " hop- ing, however," so he said, "to have the pleasure " of seeing them again very soon, and that "really " his visit had been a " charming one."
When he had ridden away, Ada burst into a hearty laugh, and exclaimed : "Oh, those ruffles ! wer' n't they just distressingly captivating. But now, sister, sit right down and tell me all about it."
And Laura did tell her, word for word, as nearly as she could remember, the conversation between Mr. Rudolph and herself, not forgetting to emphasize his numerous complimentary remarks.
The narration ended. Ada looked soberly at her sister and said, " What do you think he came here for ? "
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" To make us a friendly visit," was the smiling answer.
"Oh, fudge !" exclaimed the merry Ada, in a tone of mock seriousness. "You know better than that ! If it had been a mere social visit, he would never have . dressed up so, nor would he have been so profuse in his compliments. He never was so before, was he ? "
"No ; not to me. You can answer for yourself."
"Oh, fudge ! No one ever compliments me-except one."
" And who is that one?" But the moment Laura had asked this question, she wished she had not done so, for she suspected Ada referred to Mr. Adair, the mention of whose name she had tried to avoid.
" Oh, you know who it is," Ada answered. "And he does n't compliment me ; he only tells me what he thinks-that I've got a wise little head, etc. But, sister, suppose Mr. Ruffled Bosom keeps on coming here, and asks you to soothe his heart by pressing your warm cheek against his frills : and afterwards urges you to quit your life of 'drudgery ' and accept the 'nobler employment ' of becoming his laundress, what will you do ?"
"Drudge on !" answered Laura, emphatically, " and you know it. Don't you remember what mother once told us of that man ? That she had known him from his early boyhood, and that he was deceitful, cunning, and unprincipled. I then thought she was most too hard upon him, but I have since observed him attent- ively, and the more I see of him the more I am con- vinced mother was about right in her judgment."
"As she usually is," said Ada, dancing out of the room.
Mr. Rudolph, as he rode home, was depressed, for
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the preliminary proceedings in his suit had not been conducted so successfully as he anticipated. But he was a proud man, and was now aroused and determined to succeed. Miss Laura had, he thought, never before looked so beautiful; and then, too, she was more sprightly than he had thought her ; just the kind of a young lady it would be a feather in any gentleman's cap to win ; and win her he must and would ; there were more ways than one to win a woman's heart ; and he was the man of "resources "-" Never say die." "Nil desperandum.". "Labor omnia vincit." (He knew a little Latin.)
He continued his visits to Miss Howard but, at each succeeding one he was more guardedly received. He was slow to discover that she was holding him at bay, for he suspected it was a " trick of hers" to whet his desires by opposition. First one thing and then an- other had prevented him from making a positive avowal of his love and an offer of his hand ; when he had done so, he was still sure the " case " would be decided in his favor, for the Squire was comparatively poor, while he was rich. But he was growing impatient. That little matter of Brantley's was troubling him ! He was almost sorry he had " got even with him " in the way he did. He could not learn whether Brantley intended returning-he feared he would. Adair, too, had of late treated him very coolly ; this might be because of his, Rudolph's, attentions to Miss Laura ; but Brantley liked Adair, and it was possible he had told Adair of his loss ; and then,-d -- it, -within an hour after he, Rudolph, had paid Davidson the money, Davidson was in the Clerk's office paying Adair some taxes ; and it had been only since then that Adair had treated him
--
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with so much coolness. He had thought it would be a capital plan, and easy of accomplishment, to win Adair over to his side ; he had made him a flattering propo- sition to take him in as a partner-to elevate him, in the social scale, from a saddler and Deputy Sheriff to a merchant with a capitalist as copartner, and yet the plan had miscarried-had, in fact, been coolly received, and promptly and positively declined. It was, there- fore, doubly important that he should arrange matters with Miss Laura at once, and he resolved that he would dilly-dally no longer.
And it was to " arrange matters." that he was at the house of Squire Howard when Adair called there on his way to Hurricane. Miss Howard was heartily tired of Mr. Rudolph's visits ; was surprised that he had not discovered the fact, and was reluctantly driven to the conclusion that the shortest, if not the only, way to put an end to his visits, was to give her suitor-for such she now knew him to be-an opportunity to settle the matter. So, after consultation with her mother, and an understanding with Ada, she was alone with Mr. Rudolph, and he was slyly approaching the case, when, lo and behold, Mr. Adair was announced ! It did credit to the nerves of the man of "resources" that, in the circumstances, he met Mr. Adair with so slight a show of embarrassment. But when, as he believed, Mr. Adair had declined to take his hand ; when he saw how cordially not only the two daughters but the mother greeted " the saddler," his heart was on fire ; and, if his thoughts had been written out in plain words, there would have been several sentences not only bristling with profanity, but hinting at some direful consequences.
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It was some minutes after Mr. Adair had left, before Miss Howard could compose herself sufficiently to re-enter the room where Mr. Rudolph remained seated. The sight of Mr. Adair-his earnest, anxious face, his hurried and strange words and sudden departure, had awakened a host of anxious thoughts and conjectures in her mind. And then, at such a moment, to have to return to that room ! Oh-it was too trying !
Mr. Rudolph observed the pale and anxious face of Miss Howard as she entered, and it but increased the fury of the storm that was raging within him. He was now in no humor for honeyed words, but it was " now or never," and he made his declaration. He was in earn- est, and as sincere as it was in his nature to be, but he was neither eloquent, persuasive, nor pathetic. It is, however, but fair to say that he was not permitted to argue his " case" ; for, as soon as he had advanced far enough to state his major premise, he was interrupted by Miss Howard. She spoke calmly but earnestly ; said she had feared that the purpose of his visit was to make such a declaration ; that she had hoped he would have discovered how entirely useless it was for him to expect a favorable response, and thus have spared her and himself ; that she did not and never could favor his suit, and must ask that no more be said upon the subject, now or at any future time.
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