USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 23
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"I will arrange that you see him. I will also tell him of your goodness, and of your kind offer to me ; and I am sure he will be delighted to go with you."
Mrs. Wilson here entered, and invited Mr. Adair to dinner in an adjoining room. She was sorry, she said, that she could not give him a better dinner, owing to the hour, etc. The dinner was, however, a really good one, and Mr. Adair told her he would show her that he thought so by doing ample justice to his appetite. Miss Wilson explained to her mother that she wished to write a note to her friend, Miss Laura Howard, in reply to one she had received from her by Mr. Adair, and asked to be excused from attendance at the dinner table. After the daughter had left, Mrs. Wilson chatted quite freely upon general topics, but did not refer, excepting incidentally, to her husband, nor was any reference made to Mr. Duncan. She, however, ventured to express the hope that Mr. Adair would buy Mingo, who was a " good servant," and she would be "glad to know he was with his wife."
The meal over, Adair returned to the room in which he had before been seated, and had not long to wait
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before Mr. Wilson entered, and was introduced, by his wife, to Mr. Adair. Mr. Wilson manifested not the slightest surprise at finding the Deputy Sheriff in his house, -for he had doubtless been apprised of his ar- rival,-and shook hands with him in the most cordial manner.
After a few minutes of general conversation (Mrs. Wilson having left the room), Adair explained to Mr. Wilson the nature of his business in reference to Mingo, and his reasons for wishing to buy him. In reply, Mr. Wilson stated that a Mr. Richard Anderson, a school- mate and friend of his son Penn, was the executor of the latter's estate ; that, by the will, the executor was empowered to sell Mingo at public auction on the first day of January next, unless in the meanwhile he could find a purchaser at the price which he had fixed, which was nine hundred dollars.
"But, Mr. Wilson," said Adair, " do you not think nine hundred dollars a high price for a negro man who is, I am told, about thirty years of age ? "
" That is about Mingo's age," Mr. Wilson answered, "and it seems a full price, but he is healthy, strong, and a good worker, and will, no doubt, bring that price. However, as you will own his wife, I would like you to buy him, and I will, myself, see Ander- son, and may be able to induce him to take something less."
"But how about the payments ?" Adair asked. " Will cash be required, and when ? For, before pay- ing the amount, it may be necessary for me to make some arrangement to get the money."
"'Oh, I don't think there will be any trouble about that," Mr. Wilson answered. " I can, no doubt,
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arrange that for you ; in fact, I have some money to loan ; and, if you require to borrow, I could probably let you have the amount you need."
Adair was somewhat surprised at such an intimation, and his first thoughts were : " What does this mean ? Does he wish to get me in his power ?" But, without betraying his surprise, he promptly replied : "I thank you, Mr. Wilson, for your intimation ; but I hope it will not be necessary for me to become a borrower even if I buy Mingo. I would, however, like to know what rate of interest you would require."
" I have some money out at twelve, ten, and some even as low as eight per cent.," he answered, "and I could perhaps accommodate you at eight."
" Thank you," said Adair. " Eight per cent. is considered a moderate rate; but, although I have never tried, I think I can borrow as much as I am likely to require at six per cent."
" Well," replied Mr. Wilson, "it is better to earn six per cent. than to let one's money remain idle ; and, if you require to borrow, you might come and see me."
" Thank you," responded Adair, " I will bear it in mind."
Mr. Wilson then asked some questions as to who were likely to become candidates for the "Legisla- ture " (the lower house), the State Senate, and for Congress. Adair answered, so far as he could, and the conversation soon became quite animated, but entirely friendly. Upon some points, both as to men and meas- ures, they were in accord, while on others they materi- ally differed. Wilson, when animated, was a good talker, and a man of even more ability than Adair had
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supposed, and he was evidently much interested in the discussion, for such the conversation soon became. Wilson was interested because in Mr. Adair he had found a man who not only frankly but forcibly pre- sented his views-which, to him, was unusual, for most men with whom he came in contact apparently sought to agree rather than argue with him. Besides, Adair possessed such a fund of information, and was so well posted on all political subjects, that Wilson was both interested and instructed.
But Adair, seeing a fitting opportunity, said : " But. Mr. Wilson, pleasant as it is to sit here and talk with you, I must not forget that time flies, and that there is yet a private matter about which I wish to speak with you."
" All right, sir," responded Mr. Wilson good- humoredly, " I am ready to listen."
CHAPTER XXIII.
Adair's Appeal to Wilson for Duncan-The Effect-Hearty Congratulations-Wilson as a Fond Father-Miss Cather- ine's Notes-Mingo Made Happy-Adair at Col. Lovell's -A Flattering Invitation-Adair at Squire Howard's- His Letter and Message for Miss Laura-Her Surprise and Pleasure.
A DAIR could but feel some misgivings as to the result of the disclosure and application he was about to make to Mr. Wilson ; but, having freely agreed to undertake the task, he did not hesitate to speak.
" Mr. Wilson," he said, " my friend and partner in business in Salem, Mr. George Duncan, knows your daughter, and honors and admires hier. He wishes permission to visit here as a suitor for her hand. But, before granting him this permission, it is but right that you should know that he was once, for several days, in your house, under the assumed name of George Mc- Gregor. If you, sir, do not know the motive for his disguise I can fully explain it ; and, I am sure, you will then admit that, so far from acting unworthily, he showed himself to be a brave man and a most devoted brother."
" I have thought of the man as a d- spy !"
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exclaimed Wilson, emphatically, "who went from my house and put in circulation false reports about me ; so that my liberty, if not my life, has been placed in jeop- ardy. But," he added more mildly, " I may not fully understand the case, and will listen to your explana- tion."
Adair then explained "the case" as. frankly and fully as possible, and, in conclusion, said : " And now, sir, I am sure, as I said before, you will agree with me that Mr. Duncan acted like a brave man and a devoted brother. And I would add that, I am sure, if he has, since he left your house, entertained any hostile feel- ings towards you, he has never, at least to me, given utterance to them. And, sir," he continued with im- pressive earnestness, "you should remember that, before Mr. Duncan ever entered your house, reports to your prejudice were in circulation. I speak plainly, but it is best I should do so, for I would urge upon you to consider that, if your liberty or your life is endan- gered, by open or secret foes, there is, in addition to the natural uncertainty of life, the more reason why you-a father, with a young, beautiful, and intelligent daughter -- should desire to see her well and happily married to a man in every way worthy of her. But, sir, I would not have you decide this matter without consultation with your daughter ; go to her, learn her wishes, her feelings, for it is her happiness that may be involved in this matter, and then give me your answer."
Wilson rose from his seat, and paced slowly across the room several times before he turned to Adair and said : "Sir, I find I did not understand the case fully. You, sir, have spoken like a brave man and a true
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friend. I honor and thank you for it. If you will excuse me, and keep your seat, I will speak with my wife and daughter, and then give you my answer."
For nearly half an hour Adair sat alone, a prey to contending thoughts and emotions, amid which were those ever recurring thoughts of Laura Howard. And Miss Wilson's positive declaration ! " What ! love Rudolph ! No, never ! never ! Her heart is, I be- lieve, unchangeably given to another, who is appa- rently blind to the fact-not aware of the treasure that might be his." Could it be possible that he was that other-that "blind " one? The very thought made him rise and pace the room for several moments ; when, hearing footsteps approaching, he resumed his seat ; and, a moment later, Mr. Wilson and his wife and daughter entered.
Then and there was a sight worthy of the pencil of an artist, the genius of a poet, or the consideration of a philosopher or moralist. That masterful, self-willed, dreaded, and almost outlawed man now momentarily tamed into a genial gentleman, a considerate husband, and a fond and proud father ; the rough, hard outlines of his ordinarily stern and stoical face giving place to smiles and a condescending benevolence. And that prematurely aged, cowed, and timid wife ! her very look was the seeming embodiment of a prayer that this happy moment might be the beginning of a secure, peaceful, and contented old age. And that young and beautiful daughter ! it was not that a placid smile illumined her expressive face; it was not the glad light that shone in her large hazel eyes ; it was more than these-it was the peace of mind, the thankful spirit, and, above all, the all-pervading sense of an
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innocent love freed from all shackles, which were apparent in her every tone, and gesture, and look.
Approaching Mr. Adair, and extending her hand, Miss Wilson, in a clear, calm voice, said : " Mr. Adair, my dear father has told me of what you said to him ; and I have told him, and my dear mother, all! And they have freely permitted me to come and give you the answer to be conveyed to Mr. Duncan. That answer is, 'To come when he may, and he will meet with such a welcome from us all as he desires.' "
The sedate lines of Adair's face relaxed into a whole- souled, gladsome smile, his black eyes fairly coruscated, and, so carried away was he by his delight, that, after shaking hands with the daughter, the mother, and the father, he gave expression to his feelings by turning to Mrs. Wilson and saying : "Madam, I do, with all my heart, congratulate you all ! I know George Dun- can as well as one man can know another, and I have never known a more honorable gentleman, a truer friend, nor a more unselfish man."
" I am sure, Mr. Adair," replied Mrs. Wilson, " we will all have reason to thank you for your visit to- day."
" Yes," said Mr. Wilson, with much animation, a broad smile softening his burly face, -" yes, Mr. Adair, after that speech of yours, this Kitty of mine had but little difficulty in melting the heart of her stern old father ; and so you must, to please her, send that part- ner of yours to see us. And tell him," he added, with a merry twinkle in his eye, "to be careful and not sprain his ankle on the way."
Mr. Wilson's effort at pleasantry was duly acknow- ledged by smiles and glances at Miss Kitty, whose face
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put on an extra tinge from modest blushes ; never- theless she passed through the entire ordeal with a composure that showed how deeply and earnestly her feelings had been enlisted in the matters at issue.
After the pleasant conversation had continued for some minutes longer, Mr. Adair remarked that it was time for him to be riding ; whereupon Mr. Wilson said : " But you do not think of returning to Salem to-night ? "
"No, sir," answered Adair ; " I will spend the night with my friend Colonel Lovell."
"But," Miss Wilson asked, "do you know the way?" And being told that he had never travelled the road, she said : "Then you must have a guide. And, father, do you not think Mingo had best go with Mr. Adair ? "
" Yes," answered her father, "for what was once the road was so blocked up by the great hurricane that you, Mr. Adair, would never find your way through the fallen and tangled timber. Besides, you want to see and talk with Mingo." Then calling to the negro boy, Toby, he told him to tell Mingo to bring out the gentleman's horse, and to be ready to go and show the way to Colonel Lovell's.
" And now, Mr. Adair," said Miss Wilson, "if you will excuse me, I will add a few lines to my letter to Miss Laura Howard."
" By-the-way, Mr. Adair," said Mr. Wilson, in a brusque but kindly manner, "as you are not a married man, there 's the young woman for you -- Miss How- ard ! She has been mighty kind to Kitty, and I'm sure she 's a prize worth winning."
"Thank you, Mr. Wilson," replied Adair, with some
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embarrassment, "I know Miss Howard well, and I agree with you that she is a prize worth winning."
Miss Wilson heard Mr. Adair's reply, and, leaving the room, was soon in her own apartment adding the postscript to her letter, which ran thus :
"P. S .- All is changed. Mr. Adair has wrought almost a miracle ! He has talked with father, and now George is free to come and see me-all difficulties are removed. I have often blessed the day I first knew you ; now I bless this day and Mr. Adair's coming. Dear Laura, he must be yours ! I have not time to write more, and will tell Mr. Adair to explain all to you, for I am sure his explanation will be more interest- ing to you than mine could possibly be."
Then she wrote another short note. It was addressed to Mr. George Duncan, and was as follows :
"DEAR MR. DUNCAN :
" Your friend has executed his mission with marvel- lous success ; he will tell you all. I have only time to say Come ! and come soon ! and be welcomed by us all. Ever your
"C. W."
Then there was a third short note which ran thus : "DEAR MRS. LOVELL :
" Mr. Adair will tell you some good news about me. Father has half promised to go with me to the Big Spring on Sunday next to hear Mr. Wright preach. Could you not induce Mr. Adair to come to the meet- ing with Laura? It might do so much good, and I want much to see her.
"Ever your grateful
" C. W."
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Returning to the room where Mr. Adair was, she found her father had gone out; and the mother, think- ing her daughter might have some private messages to send by Mr. Adair, considerately withdrew from the room for a few minutes.
" And now, Mr. Adair," said Miss Wilson, when they were alone, "let me assure you I will never cease to thank you for what you have said and done to-day. To make others happy, I doubt not, affords you some measure of happiness, but, oh ! how far it must fall short of that happiness which you have brought to me and will convey to Mr. Duncan, to whom you will please deliver this note, which you may read before delivering. And, as you will see my good friend Mrs. Lovell, you will please hand her this note" -- handing it to him-" in which I have told her you would tell her some good news about me. She has indeed been a kind friend to me, thinks highly of Mr. Duncan, and I am sure she will be delighted by what you have to tell her. And here," she added, handing him another note, " is my letter to my dear friend Laura. In the postscript, I have said to her that, thanks to you, all my plans have been changed ; that Mr. Duncan can now come to see me ; that I have not time to explain, but would ask you to do so. And I wish you to tell her all ; and, further, that when Mr. Duncan comes to see me, I may return with him as far as her house, and stay with her for a day or two."
Of course Adair promptly, and apparently with per- fect willingness, consented to deliver the letters and messages ; but really he felt that to deliver the message to Miss Laura would cost him more anxiety and trepida- tion than his talk to the dreaded Jim Wilson ; how- ever, there was no help for it.
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But now his horse was ready and Mingo was at the gate ; to which Mr. Wilson and the ladies accompanied him. After shaking hands with Mrs. and Miss Wilson and bidding theni good-by, and receiving pressing invi- tations to come and see them whenever he was in the neighborhood, Adair was about turning away when Miss Wilson, speaking in an undertone, said : "Oh, Mr. Adair, I have spoken to Mingo, and he seems much pleased. And," she added, her face lit up by a radiant smile, " you must be sure and remember-my father's advice, and the prize." But, before Mr. Adair could catch her meaning and make reply, she stepped back by her mother's side ; so he only looked and smiled his " I will," for there was no danger of his for- getting ; as for acting upon her advice, that was another matter.
Mr. Wilson, in introducing Mingo to Mr. Adair, merely said : "Mr. Adair is thinking about buying you Mingo, as he will also own your wife."
Mingo's only reply was a forward inclination of the head and a quick " Yas, sir."
Adair was about to take leave of Mr. Wilson with a more kindly feeling for him than he ever supposed he would entertain for one of such bad repute. His feel- ings were more those of pity than of hatred-detest- ation of the man's bad qualities, mingled with the conviction that there were redeeming features in his character ; that he was one who might have been great and good, but who, perhaps, in some thoughtless or unguarded moment, had wandered or been enticed from the straight and narrow path into forbidden ways, and had not the moral courage to turn from his depraved and downward course.
" Mr. Wilson," he said, aside, "before leaving, I
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wish to say that as you were a stranger to me, and having heard much to your prejudice, I came here with some misgivings as to the reception I would meet with ; but you, and your wife and daughter, have treated me so kindly that I can but believe you are a better man than you have credit for."
Wilson, grasping Adair's extended hand, replied : " I like to hear a man talk as you do, for I believe you to be sincere. Now mark what I say !"- and here he held himself proudly erect, and, with a steady look into Adair's eyes, continued-" I never professed to be a saint, nor am I worthy to be called a good man, for I have done many wrong things in my day ; and never have I realized this more sensibly than I do now ! But, sir, the devil that was in me was never so black as he has been painted. And, sir, I wish to say that, before your coming, I heard that of you which inclined me in your favor ; and I am glad to have seen and known you. Come and see us again-come when you may, and your reception will be such as it has been to-day."
And so the two men parted. Adair, mounting his horse, and waving with his hand an adieu to the ladies, rode off : Mingo on foot, taking long strides and leading the way.
Adair's mind was so occupied by the events of the day that it was some minutes before he spoke to Mingo. Then, after delivering Viney's message, he added : "And now, Mingo, you have heard that I think of buying you and Viney. Would you like me to do so ?"
" Yes, Mahs Jo, bofe Viney an' me w'u'd be mit'y glad ; an' I'd do de best I c'u'd ; an' I'm shore I c'u'd
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please yer. Viney an' me 's bin apart mos' ever since we was married ; and it 'ud be mi'ty good in yer, Mahs Jo, ef yer 'd buy us bofe, so's we c'u'd be togeder."
"Mr. Anderson asks a big price for you, Mingo, but he may knock off fifty or one hundred dollars."
"Oh, Mahs Jo," pleaded the poor fellow, "please don't let de diffuns in de price keep yer frum buyin' me ! I's got a little money now, and I 's shore I c'u'd make sum more, an' I'd pay de diffuns myse'f."
"All right !" was the kind reply, " I won't let the difference in price keep me from buying you ; nor will I require you to pay it. Viney is a good servant, and I will be glad to see you and her together. Besides, you once did my partner, Mr. Duncan, a great favor, which he has not forgotten, and he wants me to buy you."
" Thankee, Mahs Jo. An' my y'ung missus, she 's tol' me Mr. Duncan wus yer par'ner. An' Mahs Jo, I don' de bes' I c'u'd fur him ; kase, yer see, my y'ung missus, who 'as bin mi'ty good ter me, she tho't a mi'ty sight o' Mr. Duncan."
" And, Mingo, I can tell you, Mr. Duncan thinks a ' mighty sight ' of your young mistress ; and I'm not surprised at it, since I have seen her. And, Mingo, you will probably see Mr. Duncan here in a few days, on a visit to her."
"Oh, Mahs Jo, 'scuse me ! but will it be safe fur him ter come here ? Dus Mahs Jim know ?"
" Yes, Mr. Wilson knows-I told him, to-day, all about Mr. Duncan being the same man who, under another name, stayed in his house several days, and what he came here for ; and Mr. Wilson has agreed to let him come and see Miss Catherine."
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" 'Scuse me, Mahs Jo, but did yous git Mahs Jim ter promis' dat ? "
"Yes, I talked to him, and he afterwards had a long talk with his wife and daughter, and I'm sure he will now be glad to have Mr. Duncan come."
" Well ! I is glad ter hear dat. De day o' wunders aint over yit. An', Mahs Jo, please 'scuse me ag'in ; but Mr. Duncan an' Miss Kitty, they 's likely ter marry aint dey ? leastways I hope so, fur I thinks Mr. Duncan a mi'ty nice gem'man ; an' I wants ter see my y'ung missus git a good husban' an' leave dis here place, kase dar 's a heap o' bad people 'round here."
" Yes, Mingo, I hope and believe they will get mar- ried ; and, if so, your young mistress will get a kind, good husband ; and, I am equally sure, she will make Mr. Duncan a good wife."
"Dat she will, Mahs Jo, dat she will ! Miss Kitty is high spir'ted, but she don't ax, or 'spect, even frum a poor nigger, more dan is right."
A higher panegyric, so Adair thought, could not have been pronounced upon any lady than Mingo's upon his young mistress.
When in sight of Colonel Lovell's house, Adair halted ; and, after receiving Mingo's messages to Viney, and his dutiful respects to Mr. Duncan, he handed him a dollar, which the black respectfully and gratefully received. Then taking Mr. Adair's ex- tended hand, and with a warm " Good-by, Mahs Jo," started back with a light heart, and a step as firm and elastic as if he had but begun his walk.
Adair's reception by Colonel Lovell and his wife was all that hospitality, backed by a warm personal regard for their visitor, could suggest ; but there was no dis-
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play-no interruption to ordinary duties, and the visi- tor was made to feel at home. Soon after his arrival, Adair delivered the parcel and message from Mrs. Howard, and the note from Miss Wilson. The " news " from the latter, when told, was heard with delight by Mrs. Lovell, and she warmly congratulated Joseph on the part he had played in the matter. The Colonel had listened in his usually quiet manner, but said he was glad to hear the "news," that he doubted not it would lead to a happy marriage, and hoped it would have a good influence on Wilson.
" That reminds me," spoke up Mrs. Lovell, "that Kitty says, in her note, that her father has half-prom- ised to go with her next Sunday and hear the Rev. Simon Wright preach at the Big Spring Meeting- house."
" Wilson subscribed very liberally," remarked the Colonel, " for erecting the building, but I have never known him to attend a meeting there. I would be glad to see him there. And, Joseph, I would be glad to see you there. Simon Wright is an able preacher, and would interest you. Besides, he wants to see and know you. He was with us an hour or more this morning, and mentioned a service you had rendered his father, whom he has now gone to visit, but will return and preach for us on Sunday."
"And Laura, too," said Mrs. Lovell, " would so like to hear Brother Wright" (brother in the same church) " and would be so delighted to meet Kitty, and hear the 'good news.' Now, Joseph, why can't you come by father's, and bring Laura down with you to the meeting ? "
" A good suggestion," added the Colonel.
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Adair was, in common parlance, "in a fix." He wished to see Simon Wright and hear him preach ; the thought of bringing Miss Howard and Miss Wilson together pleased him ; and it would certainly afford him pleasure to do anything to gratify Colonel Lovell and his wife. Moreover, to be asked by Mrs. Lovell to accompany her sister was an expression of confi- dence and esteem not to be lightly disregarded ; the meeting was on Sunday, and he could not plead busi- ness engagements ; and then, the fact was, he would like to take the ride with Miss Laura. On the other hand, the only objection that occurred to his mind was that it would be trying and hazardous-in a word, he was afraid ; of course not afraid of Miss Laura, but of himself-afraid that he could not be thrown in her company alone and not tell her of his great-well, make some speech that he had been trying to resolve not to make. But duty and inclination alike demanded him to face the ordeal, and, after some hesitation, he replied :
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