USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 24
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" Yes, I would like to be at the meeting ; and it would afford me much pleasure to have Miss Laura's company down."
"Oh," said Mrs. Lovell, "I want to write her a note for you to deliver or send, and I will urge her to come."
The following morning, soon after breakfast, Adair bade his kind friends good-by, and, mounting Ben Simon, rode away. The evening and the morning prayer of Colonel Lovell, and the quiet, happy family and playful children he had left behind him, occasion- ally occupied his thoughts ; but neither the prayers, nor the family ; nor the hills, valleys, and forest scen-
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ery; nor the skipping squirrels, the fleet, wild turkeys, and bounding deer-some of which were often seen, - nor yet his official business which had brought him into the neighborhood and had yet to be attended to, could long win his rebellious thoughts from Miss Laura, and the prospective ride the next Sunday.
It was late in the afternoon when Adair, dusty and tired, dismounted at Squire Howard's.
The Squire, who was in the front yard, observing Adair's approach, met him at the front gate and said : " Ah, Joseph, both you and your horse look as if you had done a hard day's work. Come in and rest, and I will have your horse put up and fed. Can you not stay with us to-night ? "
" Thank you, Squire," answered Adair, "but I must return to town this evening. Yet, as I remained with Colonel Lovell last night, and have some mes- sages for the ladies, I will remain long enough to let my horse rest and be fed." He was ever more thoughtful about his horse-that he was well fed and cared for-than he was about himself.
Adair was conducted by the Squire directly to Mrs. Howard's room ; and when he entered, unannounced- for the Squire was ever a thoughtless man in regard to matters of mere etiquette, -he found Mrs. Howard and her two daughters all busily employed. After the usual cordial welcome, and learning that Adair had been to dinner, the kind matron said to him : "Joseph, you must have had a hard day's ride, for you look tired."
" I have ridden a good distance to-day," he replied, "but, thanks to my good horse, I am not much fatigued ; but I am very dusty, would like to wash my hands and face, and, if you will excuse me, I will walk
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out to the block "-in the backyard-" and have a wash."
"Very well," replied Mrs. Howard," you will find the pan on the block, and Ada will bring you a towel, etc."
On the block-a section sawn from the trunk of a large tree, and used on washing days for batting cloth- ing-Adair found a large tin pan, and filling it with water from the well, he pulled off his coat, and, throw- ing it upon the grass, was about to proceed with his ablutions when Ada, with a towel, soap, etc., came up. Looking around, she observed a letter upon the grass, near Mr. Adair's coat, and, picking it up, saw that it was addressed to " Miss Laura Howard."
"Oh, ho !" she exclaimed, " here is a letter for Sister Laura, which must have fallen from the pocket of your coat."
" Yes," replied Adair, " that is one from Miss Wil- son, and I am glad it was not lost, for I am quite sure it contains some news which will surprise and greatly please your sister."
" Oh, then, won't you let me run and tell her you have such a letter ? " Ada imploringly asked.
" You may take the letter to her, if you wish," he answered. And away ran the excited girl, leaving the towel, etc., on the block.
When Adair re-entered the room, Miss Howard had read the letter, and was somewhat excited by its con- tents. Her cheeks were tinged by a rich glow, and her pretty blue eyes brightened as she exclaimed : " Oh, you have some strange and good news for me from Miss Wilson !"
"Does not your letter tell you all you wish to know ? " Adair asked.
" No-no !" was the eager answer. " The letter is
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an interesting one, but has a postscript saying : 'All is changed, and I will request Mr. Adair to explain all, as I have not time to write.' "
" But here I have another letter for you, which may furnish you with the information you desire ; and, while you read it, I will deliver the verbal message I have for your mother from Mrs. Lovell."
Adair then turned, and talked for some time with the Squire and Mrs. Howard ; and not only delivered his messages, but answered a number of questions in regard to the Colonel and his family, and about the news of the Hurricane neighborhood.
As soon as there was a pause in the conversation, Miss Laura, addressing her mother, said : "This letter is from Sister Harriet ; and " -handing it to her- "you must read it. You will see she writes about all her children."
Mrs. Howard took the letter, and, while a general conversation was carried on by the Squire and Adair, read it, and noted a passage which ran thus: "The Rev. Simon Wright will preach at the Big Spring Meet- ing-house on Sunday next, at II o'clock A.M. Kitty Wilson will be there, and writes to me to try and get you to come. She, no doubt, wants to talk to you about the happy results of Joseph's visit to her father. He, Joseph, has promised Andrew and me to be at the meeting, and has said he would be happy to escort you if you wish to come. Please Come." Mrs. Howard was by no means a scheming, match-making mother ; she was only a plain, straightforward, frank woman, and knowing Mr. Adair so intimately, and having such a warm regard for him, she did not hesitate to turn to him and say :
"Joseph, Harriet writes that you have promised
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Andrew and her to be at the Big Spring Meeting- house on Sunday next to hear the distinguished Simon Wright preach. Harriet also asks Laura to come, as Miss Wilson, who will be present, wishes much to see her ; and that you have kindly consented to accompany Laura if she will go."
"So I did," replied Adair. Then addressing Miss Laura, he continued : " And, if you would like to go, I would be very glad to come by on Sunday morning and go with you."
" Thank you ; I would like much to go, and will be pleased to have your company. And now, Mr. Adair," Miss Laura added, " I must remind you of the explan- ation of Miss Wilson's letter I was to receive from you."
"I suppose, Joseph," interposed Mrs. Howard, " that is not for us all to hear ; and you and Laura can step into the next room."
There was no help for it ; destiny or something else was driving him along ; but on he went, apparently without reluctance, and was soon seated with Miss Laura alone, almost in the very spot where, the day before, he had seen her seated alone with Henry Rudolph. The effect was to recall vividly to his mind that scene, and the storm of emotions it had awakened in his breast as he rode away. This by no means served to increase his composure, nevertheless, with a pleasant smile and no outward indications of trepi- dation, he said to his attentive listener :
" Well, my message to you from Miss Wilson might be spun out into a long story, but its substance can be compressed into a very few words."
"Then, let it be a 'long story,' instead of a 'few words,' " she replied with persuasive earnestness.
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" But the day is now far advanced," he rejoined in an apologetic tone, "and I am expected home. Be- sides, if a 'long story ' should fully explain what Miss Wilson wishes to talk with you about, would you not then prefer not to take so long a ride as to the Big Spring ?- for it is quite twenty miles there and back. And would you not then prefer that I should release you from your promise to go with me ? "
"Mr. Adair," she answered,-and there was a shadow of pain on her face and in her tones, for it flashed upon her sensitive mind that possibly he wished to avoid the engagement, -" I really wish to attend the meeting ; and had I been indisposed to take so long a ride, I should, at once, have asked you to excuse me. And if you promised to attend the meeting only to accommodate me, by your company, I hope you will frankly admit it, and I will certainly excuse you, as I know you have so much riding to do."
" My questions were perhaps awkwardly put, and may admit of such an interpretation as you seem to have given them ; but, surely, Laura, you know I only meant to learn your wishes ; and, now that I know them, I frankly tell you I will be glad to go with you."
He had spoken calmly and earnestly; had called her simply Laura, for the first time-had so called her nat- urally, perhaps unwittingly ; and, although his words conveyed a slight reproof, they were pleasant to her ears.
"Forgive me, Mr. Adair," she quickly replied ; "it was I that was perhaps awkward, if not unjust." Then, with a bright smile which dispelled all shadows she added, " But now for the message !"
" Will you excuse me if I give you but the substance
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this evening," he said, " and leave the longer story, if you care to hear it, for Sunday as we ride along ? And as the ride would be a long one for you, would you not prefer to go in a buggy ? I will drive my old comrade, Ben Simon."
" As you like," was the gracious answer. "I would enjoy the drive ever so much ; and it would, no doubt, be some relief to you, since you have so much riding to do. And I must be satisfied with the substance of the story at present ; but I warn you that I will have a hundred questions to ask you on Sunday."
"Then, a drive it shall be !" responded Adair. Then followed a short, clear, and modest statement of his visit to the Wilsons, and its results. In conclusion he said : " Miss Wilson further requested me to say that, when Mr. Duncan visited her, she hoped to return with him this far, and spend a day or two with you."
Miss Laura had listened with almost breathless interest to the account given her ; and when Mr. Adair had concluded, she said : "In visiting and talking to Mr. Wilson, as you must have done, you ran a risk few persons would have incurred for the sake of others. But you are back safely ; and I am so glad you were able to remove the only barrier to the happiness of Mr. Duncan and Catherine. But, Mr. Adair," she added after a short pause, " I fear you have other risks to run. I am sure you will pardon me if I venture to warn you to be on your guard against Mr. Henry Rudolph. When you were here yesterday, he was here. I had received him as a gentleman, not know- ing his true character. But he will visit me no more. After he had gone, a friend came to see me and told
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me that about him which greatly surprised me, although I had never held him in much esteem. Then, too, Miss Wilson, in the letter you brought me, warns me against receiving him as a friend. I do not believe," she continued with emphasis, " he will ever show himself your open enemy, but I have reason to believe he may be your secret foe, and therefore would I beg you to be on your guard."
There was so much frankness and confidence in her words-such manifest interest felt in his safety, that Adair was thrown off his guard. "My dear Laura," he exclaimed, " I thank you for what you have said -- for having spoken so freely to me of Mr. Rudolph. I know him to be a bad man. As an open enemy I should not fear him, nor do I apprehend any trouble from his machinations ; but I promise you to be on my guard. We will talk over these matters fully on Sun- day. I must now leave."
He felt that it was time he was going-that he was, in his then frame of mind, liable to be too deinonstra- tive, and go he did-that is, into the next room ; and after bidding all a more affectionate good-by than usual, he mounted Ben Simon, and, riding slowly along, un- consciously whistled a low, soft air.
And Miss Laura ! She was left with a wildly flut- tering heart, but more hopeful than she had been for many a day. Of course she did n't whistle, nor did she sing. for there was that observant, loving, teasing, pleading sister Ada, who wanted to know " all about it." And we expect she succeeded, for she was heard to say : " Oh, my ! his saying 'Dear Laura.' But why did you let him stop ? Why didn't you wind him up, and keep him going ? "
CHAPTER XXIV.
Adair's Return Home-He Tells the Little Ones a Little Story -His Message to Duncan-He Visits Benton-Benton Rants about Another Young Grecian Hero-He Talks Seriously about the Mysterious Note.
W THEN Joseph Adair arrived at home and observed the sad, pale face of his sister, his conscience almost smote him for certain thoughts and hopes which, on his ride from Squire Howard's, he had per- mitted to linger in his mind. "No, no," he thought, " my home must be her home ; and these little ones- bless their souls !- must be cared for and educated." And, as the little ones came around him, climbed on his knees, gave him their sweet little kisses, and reminded him of the tale he was to think up and tell them (which he had forgotten all about), he could but wish to be excused, and hurry off to see Duncan and deliver his batch of news; but no, he must keep his promise to the " chicks," and so it was arranged that he was to tell them the tale after supper.
While the brother, sister, and three children were at the table, the sad face of the widow was occasionally lit up by transient smiles, and the little ones were very good. Soon Viney came in with a fresh supply of nicely browned, hot waffles, of which she knew her
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" Mahs Jo" to be very fond ; and the master told her that he had seen Mingo, who was well ; and that he would, before he went down to the shop, call at the kitchen and tell her of the message Mingo had sent her.
When the supper was over, the tale was told to the three eager little listeners. It was about three little boys-"just about your ages," he said, whose good mother had died, and whose father had gone away to a far country ; that those little boys then lived with three old men, two of whom were blind ; and how the old blind men could walk about, feeling their way along with their staffs ; and how good they-the three old men-were to the three little boys. Then, that in a few more years, the three good old men passed away. Did they die ? Yes ; and the little boys did n't then have one home, but were separated, and how sorry they were ! But at last they grew up to be men ; and one of them lived away off in North Carolina, and was married, and had some children who were cousins of theirs ; and another of the brothers was their father ; and he-Uncle Jo-was the other and youngest of the brothers.
The little tale was not intended to be pathetic, but there were so many questions asked by the curious little ones, to some of which sad answers had to be given, and so it came about that, before the tale was ended, there were some little tears in the eyes of little ones, and some big tears in the eyes of a widowed mother, who had entered the room and heard a part of the little tale. And all this made the brother and uncle feel that it would be a relief to him if he too could shed some tears, but his eyes were dry and hot,
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and after receiving three more little kisses, he arose and walked towards the kitchen.
Then there was the story to Viney, and although it was short and ended exactly as she had hoped and prayed it would, yet she too had much to do to keep her spectacles undimmed ; but then her tears were tears of gratitude and thankfulness. Oh, how earn- estly she thanked her " Mahs Jo," and told him how "shore " she was that he would never regret buying Mingo, for he-Mingo-was "a mi'ty handy man." But the master listened for only a few moments, and then walked rapidly towards the shop, where he found Duncan alone.
"Heigh, ho ! back are you? And all safe and sound ! And some news for me, I hope ? Heigh ?" was Duncan's salutation.
" Yes, Duncan," replied Adair. " I am back again, and have some news for you. But, as my story may be rather a long one, let us go to my room."
When the two friends were in Adair's room, a candle lit, and each of them seated, Adair took from his pocket-book the note from Miss Wilson, and, handing it to Duncan, said, "That will tell you my most im- portant news."
Duncan at the first glance recognized the handwrit- ing of Miss Wilson, and, hastily opening it, read the few lines it contained. At first there was a look of blank astonishment upon his face ; then with a quick movement, leaning forward and looking fully in the face of his friend, " Adair," he gasped, "I don't-I don't fully understand ! What does it mean ? "
"It means," replied Adair very deliberately, "I presume, what I was authorized to say to you, namely,
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that Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and their daughter, Miss Catherine, would be pleased to have you visit them as a friend, or, if you prefer it, as a suitor for the hand of the young lady."
" What !" exclaimed Duncan, springing to his feet. "Look here, old fellow ! no joking ! Is that Simon- pure earnest ? "
" Yes, Duncan, Simon-pure," was the smiling answer.
"Yes, yes," ejaculated Duncan, "but still I don't understand."
" Well, sit down," said Adair, jocularly, " and keep cool, and I'll tell you all about it."
Duncan obeyed ; and, pulling out his handkerchief and wiping the perspiration from his forehead, said, " Yes-go on-tell me all about it."
Adair at once began his story-a plain, unvarnished account of his visit to the Wilsons. He was repeat- edly interrupted by questions and exclamations. When he came to depict the scene where Miss Wilson, in the presence of her father and mother, advanced and deliv- ered the verdict-the message he, Adair, was to convey to him, Duncan,-the latter, who had listened and ques- tioned and shot out his exclamations with some degree of composure, could hold in no longer, and springing to his feet :
" Well done !" he exclaimed ; and, after actually pirouetting half around the room, hurriedly took his seat and said : " I had to do it, to work off steam, or the boiler would have burst !"
When finally the story was ended, Duncan became thoughtful, even grave, and said : " And now, Adair, what shall I say to thank you ? For if I knew every
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word in our language, and exactly when and how to use it, I could not fully express what I feel."
" All right !" answered Adair, "you 've said enough, and can leave me to imagine the rest. Besides, I have another little matter to tell you about."
"Oh, yes, your visit to Miss Wilmot, and the warn- ing to Miss Laura ! I am anxious to know about that."
" Well, that is not what I had in my mind, but I may as well begin there. First, then, I did, yesterday morning, see Miss Wilmot ; and, after I had spoken to her about Henry Rudolph, she thought, as we did, that Miss Laura should be informed of his true charac- ter, and proposed to go and see her that evening. After leaving Miss Wilmot, intending to be at Colonel Lovell's during the day, I rode by the Squire's, and who should I find there, talking to Miss Laura, but Rudolph ! I confess it made me feel like exposing and denouncing him then and there ! But I did n't. It was well, however, that I stopped, for not only had Mrs. Howard a small parcel to send Mrs. Lovell, but Miss Laura, learning that I was going to Mr. Wil- son's, entrusted me with a letter she had written to Miss Catherine. And now I come to the 'other little matter ' I referred to awhile ago."
Adair then related the conversation between Miss Wilson and himself regarding Rudolph, what her father had said to her about Rudolph, etc.
" The d- villain !" Duncan hissed ; then added proudly : "But Kitty understood him ! And what reply did Mr. Wilson make to the wretch ? "
" That I do not know ; he did not perhaps inform his daughter. But I can tell you what reply she
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requested him to make : 'Tell Mr. Rudolph, from me, she said, 'that if I were a slave he might have money enough to buy me, but not enough to induce me to become his wife.''
" Bravo - bravo !" exclaimed Duncan. " But, Adair, you have not yet told me what you think of my Kitty."
" Well," said Adair, smilingly, "as I happen to have formed a very high estimate of her character and worth, I can risk the expression of an honest opinion. The varying shades of beauty are much a matter of taste or fancy : but that Miss Wilson is very attractive, both in form and features, few men would, I think, deny. That she is very thoughtful and intelligent, there is no doubt. But I can pay her no higher or juster compliment than to quote a remark Mingo made to me about her : 'My y'ung missus,' said he, 'hes bin mi'ty good ter me ; she is spir'ted, but she don't ax or 'spect, even frum a poor nigger, more dan is right.' In other words, Duncan, I do most heartily congratulate you on having chosen such a young lady to be your wife, and on your having secured not only her esteem and confidence but her unbounded love : for she would go with you, Duncan, if need be, to the world's end."
Duncan grasped the hand of his friend and gave it a warm pressure. Then, after a short and thoughtful pause, he said : " And you saw and talked with Mingo, and will, I hope, be able to buy him."
In reply Adair informed him of his talk with Mr. and Miss Wilson on the subject, of Mingo's earnest desire to be with his wife, and of the promise he, Adair, had made to both Mingo and Viney.
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" Well, well," said Duncan, "that 's more good news ; and I'm sure you will, as Viney says, find Mingo 'a mi'ty handy man.' But, Adair," he resumed, speaking with much feeling and earnestness, " there is one thing more wanting to fill up the meas- ure of my satisfaction, and, upon an occasion like this, I am sure you will excuse me for referring to it. Inexpressibly happy as I am in my own love, and in anticipation of the full measure of earthly joy that awaits me, on the occasion of my unopposed union with Miss Wilson, I yet lack the assurance of seeing you similarly blessed."
"Thank you, Duncan, thank you." said Adair. "I know you wish me well. But I must wait ; nor is it wise for me to encourage hopes, since it makes waiting all the more difficult. But, Duncan," he resumed, " I should tell you the Rev. Simon Wright is to preach at the Big Spring Meeting-house, on Sunday next. I am anxious to hear the great preacher ; and, at Mrs. Lovell's suggestion, I came by the Squire's and asked Miss Laura to accompany ine. She readily agreed to do so ; and expects to see Miss Wilson there. We will drive down in a buggy. I should also tell you," he continued, " that at Miss Wilson's request, I informed Miss Laura of the success of my mission, and I assure you she was greatly delighted at the removal of what she said was the 'only barrier to the happiness of your- self and Miss Catherine.' Furthermore," he continued after a short pause, "it is now certain that what between Miss Wilmot's visit, and a letter from Miss Wilson, of which I was the bearer, Miss Laura's eyes have been thoroughly opened as to the character of Henry Rudolph, whom, it appears, she has never held
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in esteem, and he will visit her no more. I am also now well assured that Miss Laura is not, and never has been, engaged to Warren Davidson, as I at one time considered certain. And now you see, Duncan, how the case stands. If my purpose was to try and win the heart and hand of Miss Laura, fewer obstacles present themselves than I have supposed, but I have made no effort to do so, for reasons heretofore stated to you, and which are of no less binding and restraining weight now than then."
Duncan felt that it was useless to argue the case ; that his friend was not to be influenced in this matter by other's arguments or appeals ; that Adair would continue to ponder over the matter as he had done ; and that his final decision would be based on his own sense of duty. Besides, he, Duncan, thought the case was progressing slowly it might be, but favorably ; and he anticipated happy results from that drive in the buggy to the meeting, and the stimulating effect of propinquity, "I am glad," he at last said, " that Miss Laura knows the good news from Wilsondom, and that Rudolph will annoy her no more. And," he added after a short pause, "should you see Kitty at the Big Spring, you will please say to her that I will try and be at her father's house on Tuesday morning next, about II o'clock. On my return here I will get ready as soon as I can to start on my journey to see my brother, with whom I purpose remaining about one week, and then return here with all speed. And I hope to get married as soon after my return as it may suit Kitty."
Adair promised, if he saw Miss Wilson at the meet- ing, to deliver his friend's message, and if not to send
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her word through Colonel Lovell or his wife. And, after a few minutes' conversation about business affairs, the two friends parted for the night.
Adair's first care the next day was to see Judge Gil- roy and secure the buggy for his drive on the following Sunday ; and, having succeeded in this, he went to the Clerk's office to make his friend Benton a short visit. He found that worthy hard at work-writing ; but, as soon as Adair entered, he threw down his goose-quill pen, and, springing to his feet, exclaimed :
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