USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 22
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For a moment Mr. Rudolph appeared dumfounded, then became petulant, and finally angry. He insisted that she should reconsider her decision ; that she should think of her position as his wife; and that he was no trifler, but deeply in earnest. But promptly and firmly she met and checked every advance. Finally, as we have said, he lost his temper, and declared that he was
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sure some secret, sneaking enemy of his had been slan- dering him, and that he was sure he knew the man who had done so. Again he was checked, nay, cowed, and this time by blue eyes that flashed with indig- nation.
"Mr. Rudolph,"-these were the words that accom- panied the flashes, -" no man has spoken evil or disre- spectfully of you to me. My decision is based on no words spoken of you, but upon the dictates of my own mind and heart ; and I must decline to listen to another word from you on this subject."
And so the interview ended. Mr. Rudolph, as he rode back to town, was no longer the cool, collected man of " resources." By turns he was half-crazed by disappointment and anger, and his eyes soon became slightly bloodshot. Then, too, his appehensions and fears were greatly aroused ; for having been slighted by "a d- saddler," and rejected by " a poor far- mer's daughter," it was evident that the " model gen- tleman " and mau of " resources " did not occupy the enviable position he had supposed. But, as the venoni in him arose, the words that came into his mind were : " Those who oppose me will rue the day."
It was some time after Mr. Rudolph's departure before Miss Howard was sufficiently composed to sit down and think deliberately over all that had occurred. First, the interview with Mr. Rudolph had been an exceedingly unpleasant one, but, being unavoidable, she was glad it was over ; and she had no fear that he would ever reopen the subject, as Warren Davidson had so often done. But could it be possible that, notwithstanding her denial, Mr. Rudolph would still think that some male friend of hers had been slandering him to her ?
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And who was the gentleman he had suspected ? It was-so she thought-probably, almost certainly, Mr. Adair ! And could it be that the disappointed and enraged man would work some harm or injury to him who was suspected ? And how strange that Warren Davidson and Henry Rudolph had both suspected the same gentleman of the same offence-speaking evil of them to her ; and this, too, when, as she knew, he was innocent. It could not be that they looked upon such a man as a common slanderer ; they must have thought that Mr. Adair loved her, and yet there was, alas, 110 foundation for this in fact. Then that hurried remark of Mr. Adair's : "Would you have me avoid a risk ? If so, then the sooner I leave you the better ; so your friend in the next room would say." What could he have meant ? Did he think it a risk to be with her ? But what risk could it be? Certainly not a bodily risk. Could he-could he have meant that he feared losing his heart, as " the friend in the next room " had done ? But did he know what Mr. Rudolph was there for ? what he was going to offer her ? And could it be that he, Mr. Adair, believed her to be in love with that man ? " Oh ! will he never-never understand me, nor I him ? " such was the suppressed cry of her faithful, loving heart.
But household duties demanded her attention ; and, as she went about her work, she turned these questions over and over again in her mind, until the arrival of Miss Wilmot. But we must now return to Mr. Adair.
CHAPTER XXII.
Adair at Wilson's House-His Interview with Miss Catherine- Her Perplexity and Appeal to Adair-His Compliance- Simon Wright, the Great Preacher - Wilson's Return Home-Adair and Wilson.
JOSEPH ADAIR, after his hurried departure from the presence of Miss Howard, rode rapidly away, his mind being in a state of unusual excitement. The presence of that man Rudolph in a room in private conversation with Laura Howard angered him. It was the pure with the impure, the lovely with the detestable, the innocent with the crafty and vicious. He almost felt that he should have thrown aside all re- straint, all sentimental considerations, and should then and there have exposed the man. But then came the more sober second thought. Why should he take this matter so to heart? Must this battle in his heart go on, getting fiercer and fiercer, instead of subsiding ?
A rapid ride of about two hours brought him to the house of James Wilson ; he had never been there, and had never seen the " dreaded man." He dismounted, and, after hitching his horse, was approaching the house when an elderly lady, who had observed him, came forward and met him on the front porch. He knew her to be Mrs. Wilson, from Duncan's description.
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After introducing himself as " Mr. Adair, of Salem," he asked if Mr. Wilson was at home, and was told that he was not ; that he had gone out after dinner, but would probably be back in a few hours ; and was asked if he would not come in, be seated, and await Mr. Wil- son's return. On entering, he was introduced by Mrs. Wilson to her daughter, Catherine, who greeted him most cordially.
Supposing that the ladies might know him to be the Deputy Sheriff of the county, and to relieve their minds of any embarrassment occasioned by his visit, Mr. Adair, addressing Mrs. Wilson, said : "I am the Deputy Sheriff, but I have no official business with Mr. Wilson. The object of my visit is to learn about the sale of a negro man named Mingo. I now have hired, as a cook, a negro woman named Viney, whom I expect soon to purchase. From her I learned that Mingo, her husband, is soon to be sold, and she is anxious for me to purchase him, that the two may be together. And if you, madam, can give me the infor- mation I desire, it will not be necessary for me to await Mr. Wilson's return."
This explanation seemed to relieve Mrs. Wilson's mind of some anxiety, and she replied : " Oh, as to the sale of Mingo, my daughter here can give you more information than I can ; for, since the death of my son, to whom Mingo belonged, he has been in her service or at her command. But, Mr. Adair, you have not been to dinner, have you ? "
" No, madam ; but I would not give you the trouble to prepare any for me."
" It will be no trouble ; and, if you will excuse me, I will have your horse put up and fed, and will soon
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have some dinner prepared for you." And, without awaiting any remonstrance, she left the room.
This was Mr. Adair's opportunity ; and he quickly took from his pocket the notes handed him by Duncan and Miss Howard ; and, presenting them to Miss Wilson, he said, " I was requested to deliver these to you."
Miss Wilson at once recognized the handwriting, and, after hurriedly reading Mr. Duncan's note intro- ducing Mr. Adair, she, in very earnest tones, said : " I am so glad, Mr. Adair, to know you. I have often heard your name mentioned by Mr. Duncan and by my friend, Miss Laura Howard, and I have really desired to see and know you."
" Then the desire has been a mutual one," replied Mr. Adair. "I know fully the story of my friend Duncan's fortunate acquaintance with you, and I have desired much to know the young lady in whom he is so deeply interested. And I should here tell you that I have also a verbal message for you from Mr. Duncan."
" Speak freely, Mr. Adair, now that we are alone."
" Mr. Duncan requested me to say to you that he desired to leave Salem in a week or two to visit his brother ; that, before going, he wished to see you ; and that if you could arrange to see him he wished to know when and where."
"I greatly desire to see Mr. Duncan before he leaves," she replied ; "but, before I can determine when and where, will you excuse me while I read my letter from Miss Howard ?"
On Adair indicating assent, she opened the letter and read, apparently with deep interest, for several
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minutes before she slowly refolded the letter, her mind being so abstracted that it was some moments before she spoke.
" Yes, I will see Mr. Duncan," she said, " at noon, on next Wednesday, at the home of Squire Howard ; for I must see Laura also." Then, after a thoughtful pause, she added : "But, Mr. Adair, I wish your advice. You are Mr. Duncan's friend ; you are Laura's friend; and I am sure you would be my friend."
" I would gladly serve you if I could ; only let me know how I can do so," was the prompt response.
"To you, I will speak freely," she said. "But, first, permit me to ask if you know Mr. Henry Rudolph, and if he is your friend ? "
" I know him well ; but, to be frank, I do not like him."
" I am glad to know that, for I can now speak with the more freedom. But, another question : Do you know of his having recently visited Miss Laura Howard ? "
This unexpected question about a matter that was causing him so much uneasiness, rekindled his anxiety, but, repressing it as well as he could, he answered : " He was at the Squire's when I arrived there to-day, in conversation with Miss Laura, and he was there when I left."
" Mr. Adair," said Miss Wilson, with much earnest- ness, " I have reason to believe Mr. Rudolph to be a- bad man. Once I met Mr. Duncan, by appointment, at Squire Howard's. On my ride there I was attended by Mingo. A mile or two from the Squire's house I met a gentleman whom I thought to be Mr. Rudolph, but I was not certain. After passing, I called to Mingo
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and asked him if he knew who the gentleman was. He answered that it was Mr. Rudolph, and that my father knew him very well. I had been at Squire Howard's but a short while, and was in conversation with Mr. Duncan, when, somewhat to my surprise, Mr. Rudolph entered the house. During his short stay he seemed to watch me as closely as he could ; and, when talking with Miss Laura, was inquisitive regarding Mr. Duncan and myself. He has since vis- ited my father twice. During his first visit he solicited an introduction to me, which was accorded him by my father. The impressions he made upon me were un- favorable. On the occasion of his second visit, his atten- tions to me were so very marked as to be displeasing and even offensive. After he had gone, my father good- humoredly asked me what I thought of Mr. Rudolph. I answered by expressing a candid and unfavorable opinion of him-saying, among other things, that he impressed me as a 'mercenary schemer '; whereupon my father laughed quite heartily, and said I was a better judge of men than he supposed, and wound up by saying : 'Kitty, Mr. Rudolph tells me he is very much pleased with you, and has intimated that, if your dower was made large enough, he might consent to become my son-in-law.' My reply was : 'Father, say to Mr. Rudolph, for me, that if I were a slave he might have money enough to buy me, but not enough to induce me to become his wife.' "
As Miss Wilson uttered her closing sentence Mr. Adair could see from her flashing eyes and indignant tones how intensely in earnest she was. Adair, who was ever a good listener, was now deeply interested, and did not interrupt her.
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" Mr. Rudolph now knows;" she resumed, " that his mercenary scheme, as regards myself, is a failure. But my father now knows of my interview with Mr. Dun- can, and I believe Mr. Rudolph gave him the informa- tion. My father has asked me about Mr. Duncan- who, and what he is? I told him Mr. Duncan was a friend of Squire Howard's, what his business was, and that he was in partnership with you. He seemed so strangely and strongly prejudiced against Mr. Duncan that I am confident Mr. Rudolph spoke very disparag- ingly of him ; or it may be that my father knows Mr. Duncan to be -- "
" George McGregor," interposed Adair, on observ- ing her to hesitate, "who, when searching for his brother, was so generously assisted by you."
" Thank you, Mr. Adair," she said. "I am glad to find you know so well the way in which Mr. Duncan and I became acquainted. But may I ask if Mr. Dun- can has spoken freely to you of my father? And do you know what manner of man my father is, by many, reputed to be ? "
" Mr. Duncan has given me," answered Adair, "a minute account of his stay in your father's house ; and of his conversations with your father, yourself, and Mingo. He, however, never uttered one unkind word to me about your father ; but from him, as well as from other sources, I have heard of unfavorable rumors re- garding your father."
"I thank you for speaking frankly and yet so kindly," replied Miss Wilson, "for I may now speak with less restraint. Then to resume : my father may know Mr. Duncan to be identical with George Mc- Gregor, towards whom he has a strong antipathy, since
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he suspects that it was through him-the ' spy,' as he calls him-that suspicion has recently been aroused against him. But if my father does not know this, he may and probably will soon find it out through Mr. Rudolph, or some one else. Besides, if there was no danger of his obtaining the information, I could never hope to obtain his consent to my marriage to Mr. Dun- can until he had seen and known him, when he would certainly recognize him as George McGregor. The question, then, is, would it not be better that my father should be informed of the facts ? And now, Mr. Adair, you can understand why I spoke of my anxiety to see Miss Howard. She knows Mr. Duncan and Mr. McGregor to be identical. Mr. Rudolph, it appears, frequently visits her ; he is cunning and unscrupulous, and may profess to know much more about Mr. Duncan than he really does, and thus throw her off her guard, and obtain some information from her. I wished, there- fore, not only to guard her on this point, but, further, to let her know the true character of the man she is re- ceiving and treating as a friend, for if she knew him as I do, pure as her nature is, I am sure she would no longer permit his visits."
" Is there no danger "-Adair could not resist the inquiry-" that she may have received him in a ten- derer capacity than that of a friend ? "
" What ! as a lover ?" she exclaimed. " No, never ! never ! There is no danger of that ! I believe her heart to be unchangeably given to another -- and to one who is worthy of her, but who is, apparently, blind to the fact-not aware of the treasure that might be his."
" I must, Miss Wilson, admit that your words relieve 22
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my mind of much anxiety. I know Mr. Rudolph bet- ter perhaps than any one else, and know him to be an unprincipled man : and learning, only a few days ago, of the attention he was showing Miss Howard, and" that his purpose was doubtless to woo her, I thought, as you have just expressed it, that she should know the character of the man, and I am assured that, before the sun goes down to-day, she will know enough to put her on her guard."
" I am glad to hear that," responded Miss Wilson. " And, that being the case, there is no necessity for my seeing her ; but I will write her a few lines before you leave, if you will be kind enough to deliver my note to her."
" With pleasure !" Adair answered. "And now as regards your father : I am clearly of opinion that no good purpose can be served, and much harm might result, from keeping him in ignorance of your relations to Mr. Duncan-provided you have made up your mind to become Mr. Duncan's wife, as I hope you have, and as, I know, Mr. Duncan certainly expects. And, right here, let me say that I know George Duncan well ; that your father is wrong in regarding his act as that of a spy ; for, on the contrary, it was that of a brave man and an affectionate brother to enter your father's house as he did ; and not only do I esteem him as an honest, industrious, and intelligent man, but the heart that is in him has drawn me towards him as if he were my brother."
"Oh, a thousand thanks for such words ! " exclaimed Miss Wilson. " And, Mr. Adair, know you this ! My heart, my hand, and, if need were, my life are George Duncan's ; his wishes shall be my wishes.
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But, Mr. Adair, it would pain me much to be disobedi- ent to my father's commands, or even his wishes ; for, whilst the world may think or suspect evil of him, I have only known him as a kind, indulgent, and loving father. Hence I am exceedingly anxious to obtain his consent to my union with Mr. Duncan. And, oh, Mr. Adair, I do so wish you could speak to him of Mr. Duncan as you have just spoken to me."
" If I thought my words would have any influence with your father, I would gladly speak to him, and serve my friend and yourself the best I could."
"I am sure your words would have much weight with him," she replied, with peculiar emphasis, " and I will tell you why. Last night there stayed with us a preacher named Simon Wright. He and my father were friends many years ago. Mr. Wright is said to be a great preacher, and he is certainly bold and zeal- ous in the cause of his Master. He did not hesitate to give my father a kindly but pointed lecture, and before retiring for the night asked permission to hold family prayers. Such a thing never happened in my father's house before, but the permission was accorded him ; he prayed, and a more forcible and earnest prayer I never heard. Somewhat to my surprise, I must confess, my father not only treated Mr. Wright kindly but with great consideration. And now I come," she contin- ued, her eyes aglow with pleasurable excitement, " to a singular and pleasing incident relating to you, Mr. Adair. In the course of conversation, my mother and myself being present, Mr. Wright asked my father if he knew a Mr. Joseph Adair of Salem, who, he under- stood, was the Deputy Sheriff of the county. My father laughingly replied that he knew of the man, but
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was not personally acquainted with him ; adding, that he was happy to say there had been no occasion for visits from that officer. 'That's right ! I'm glad to hear it !' said Mr. Wright, and he then continued. 'Some years ago I knew nearly every one in and around Salem, but I suppose this Mr. Adair must be a comparatively new-comer.' ' Yes,' answered my father, ' he came to Salem about a year ago and opened a sad- dlery shop, and seemed to be prospering ; but, owing to bad health, he gave a journeyman in his employ, named Duncan, an interest in and the management of the business, and he, Adair, is now Deputy Sheriff.' ' Well,' said Mr. Wright, 'he's a downright good man. And, Mr. Wilson,' he added very emphatically, ' if ever you come across him, you must treat him well, and you know how to do that !' 'Why so?' my father asked. 'A short time ago,' answered Mr. Wright, 'I got a letter from my sister, the widow of Marion Kent, saying that money-loving old Johnson Keep (God help him !), having sued my father for a balance due by him, as security for his dead son-in-law, sent down this Mr. Adair to levy upon the little farm stock my poor old father has left ; but when the officer got there, and saw the age and infirmity of the old man, and that he and my sister were almost entirely dependent upon the labor of her son-a boy some fif- teen years old, -he did not make the levy, but paid off the debt himself, upon the boy's promise to return the amount-and, mark this ! as soon as he conveniently could without detriment to the wants of his mother and grandfather. And not only so, but he has since fur- nished the boy with some farming implements. And now, Mr. Wilson,' added the preacher with much
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vehemence, and slapping my father familiarly on the shoulder, 'that is what I call practical Christianity, which, after all, is the kind that best fits us for this life and for the life to come. And there is another, and an immeasurable life ! as sure as yonder river rolls on to the mighty ocean.' 'And what,' asked my father, ' was the amount of the debt paid off by Mr. Adair ?' ' It was, I believe, only some seventy dollars,' was the reply, 'but that is no small sum for a poor man such as I suppose Mr. Adair to be from what you have told me.' My father then left the room, and in a few min- utes returned and handed to Mr. Wright the seventy dollars, telling him to send it to the boy to pay off his debt. But Mr. Wright replied : 'No, Mr. Wilson, this offer does credit to your heart, and I thank you for it ; but I want the boy to work and make the money and pay off that debt himself ; he will then never for- get the lesson, and in God's providence it will make him a better and more useful man.' 'I don't know,' responded my father, ' but that you are about right,' and then added : " It was well done on Adair's part, and I certainly will, if I ever come across him, remem- ber your request.' And just to think," continued Miss Wilson, " that all this was only last evening, and that you, Mr. Adair, are here to-day ! Does it not look providential ? And can you now be surprised that I should think your words would have much weight with my father ?"
Adair remained silent and thoughtful for several mo- ments ; he was thinking of some anonymous lines he once memorized :
" A pebble, in the streamlet thrown,
Hath turn'd the course of many a river ;
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A dewdrop, on the tiny plant, Hath warp'd the giant oak forever."
So now, that little and seemingly unimportant trans- action of his with the boy, Elijah Kane Kent, had come to the knowledge of James Wilson, and had strangely opened the way for him to approach that dreaded man, speak plainly to him, and possibly accomplish a great good. Then, replying to Miss Wilson, he said, " I see-I see," he spoke abstract- edly, but resumed with much decision : "Yes, I will see your father, and will talk with him ; but tell me what you wish me to try and do, and I will do my best."
"Instead of my meeting Mr. Duncan at Squire Howard's, I would so like to have him come here."
"But suppose, when I have spoken to your father, he should be so displeased as to forbid your seeing Mr. Duncan again, what then ? Would it prevent you from keeping your appointment on Wednesday next ?"
Miss Wilson paused for some moments before she replied : "It would not. But in that event it would be better for me to meet Mr. Duncan at Colonel Lov- ell's than at Squire Howard's. But, Mr. Adair," she resumed after a thoughtful pause, " on reflection, I can see that, in speaking to my father, your task would be a delicate one, and possibly involve you in some trou- ble. I must ask you to excuse my want of considera- tion, on the ground of my great anxiety and doubt as to what course I ought to pursue. I therefore release you from your promise."
" Ah, but you forget," he replied, "that I, too, am much concerned in what so deeply concerns my friends.
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Delicate as the task looks to be, it may prove less diffi- cult than we suppose. How would this plan do? For me to say to your father that Mr. Duncan knows you, and desires permission to visit you ; that before grant- ing such permission, it was but right he should know that Mr. Duncan and Mr. McGregor are one and the same ; then truly represent Mr. Duncan's character ; and, in conclusion, ask him, before giving me an answer, to see you and learn your wishes in the matter ? "
" Then you are really willing to undertake the task ? " she asked, her face kindling with anxiety.
"I am," answered Mr. Adair, as if there were no difficult task imposed upon him.
Extending her hand, she said : " You are indeed a true friend. Speak to my father ; say what you think best ; then, if you can, send him to me. I have only trembled to break the ice-to make any disclosure, but that once done I will have no fears. But," she con- tinued, " your dinner will soon be ready, when I will ask you to excuse me, and I will write a few lines to Miss Laura. I will see you again after your talk with my father, and I will then let you know definitely where and when I will see Mr. Duncan. And as to Mingo," she added, " he will have to be sold soon, but I do not know when-that my father can tell you. I had resolved he should not be taken from the county, or pass into the hands of any one he was disinclined to belong to ; and, if necessary, I intended getting my good friend, Colonel Lovell, to buy him for me. But, as you will own his wife, it is far better that you should own him. You must see and talk with him. He is honest, faithful, and remarkably intelligent. I will
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regret much to see him go ; but, if I am soon to have another home, I would prefer that Mingo should not remain here."
" If I buy Mingo," replied Mr. Adair, " I must first know that he is satisfied for me to do so. If he after- wards becomes dissatisfied I will agree to let you have him, when you get your new home, at a price not exceeding that paid by me, or I will permit him to find another master. I would like to see and talk with him before leaving; and, besides, I have a message for him from Viney."
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