Part 23 (2/2)
He met and hailed Elisha, told him in a few words what had pa.s.sed, and added:
”Go on to the city, Elisha! Go to my dear Fannie! Tell her, if she can still hear your words, that I shall be with her in two hours, or die in the effort. No! do not tell her a word to alarm her! Say I will certainly be with her in two hours! For I will! despite of earth and h--ll, I will!”
Valentine galloped swiftly toward home, reached the lawn gate, sprang from his horse, secured the bridle, and hastened up to the house. There was no one in front; he entered the hall, looked into the dining-room; it was empty; he ran in, poured out a gla.s.s of brandy, drank it at a draught, and pa.s.sed through the house to the back piazza, where he found his master, pacing up and down the floor. Mr. Waring had grown heated and angry between the frequent potations and the irritations of the day.
”Well, sir!” he said, turning abruptly to Valentine, ”what now? How dare you enter my presence again, after your insolent conduct of this afternoon?”
”Master Oswald, I am very sorry if, in my great trouble, I was surprised into saying anything wrong. Will you read this note, sir?” said Valentine, trying, for Fannie's dear sake, to quell the raging storm in his bosom.
Oswald Waring took the note with a jerk, tore it open impatiently, and, casting his eyes over it with a scornful curl of his lip, tossed it away, exclaiming:
”Tus.h.!.+ Major Hewitt is a fool! Where did you get that, sir?”
Valentine hesitated.
”I ask you where you got that note, sir?”
”From Major Hewitt's own hand, Master Oswald,” replied Valentine, at last.
”By ----! don't prevaricate with me, sir! Where did you see Major Hewitt, then? That is the question!”
Again Valentine was silent.
”What the demon do you mean, sir, by treating my questions with this contemptuous silence?” demanded Mr. Waring, angrily.
”Master Oswald!” began Valentine, seriously, impressively; ”I will answer your question truly; but, first, let me beg you, let me pray you, by all your hopes of salvation, to listen to me favorably; for I swear to you by all my faith in Heaven, that it is the very last time I will make the appeal!”
”I am glad to hear it, you troublesome, confoundedly spoiled rascal! For it is the very last minute that I will bear to be trifled with!”
”I met Major Hewitt on the bridge----”
”On the bridge! On the bridge! Why, you insolent scoundrel; do you dare to stand there and tell me to my face that, in direct violation of my command, you attempted to go to town?”
”Sir! sir! listen to me! my worst fears are confirmed! My poor Fannie is dying, as I feared she might die--alone! deserted! dying not only of pestilence, but of famine and thirst, and every extremity of wretchedness! She sent a faithful messenger, praying me to come and see her once more, but once more, to close her eyes and receive the orphan child. Oh! could I disregard such an appeal as that? would not any man, or, I was about to say, any beast, risk life, and more than life, if possible, to obey such a sacred call? I would have periled my soul! Can you blame me?”
”They turned you back! They did right! Thank Heaven that I am disposed to consider that sufficient punishment under the circ.u.mstances and am ready to forget your fault. Go, leave me, sir--stop! into the house! not out of it! you're not to be trusted, sir.”
A volcano seemed burning and raging in the young man's breast; nevertheless, he controlled himself with wonderful strength, while he still pleaded his cause.
”Major Hewitt felt my position, sir! He had compa.s.sion on me, and wrote that note. Give heed to it, sir! The time may come when, on your own deathbed, or by the sickbed of one you love, and fear to lose, and pray for, it may console and bless you to remember the mercy you may now show me; the Good Being has said, 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' Give me the permit, sir! let me go and comfort my dying Fannie! Oh! I do beseech you!”
”Will you have done worrying me? Major Hewitt is an old dotard! The mercy you selfishly crave for yourself would be cruelty to all the other negroes! Once more, and for the last time, I tell you, and I swear it by all the demons, I will not give you the permit!”
”Then, by the justice of Heaven, I will go without it!”
”What?”
”I will go without it! If I cannot pa.s.s the bridge, I will swim the river! Aye, if it were a river of fire!” exclaimed Valentine, losing all self-control, and breaking into fury.
”Why, you audacious villain! You shall not stir from this house!”
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