Part 21 (1/2)

”Yes, Missus”; and after some hesitation and audible e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns from Sam they gained the highway and an hour after drove up to the door of the St. Clair's.

”What the deuce does this mean!” exclaimed the old gentleman as Mrs.

Belmont entered the parlor with haggard looks and her long black hair in disorder about her face. The sad story was soon told amid sobs and exclamations from her hearers.

”What possessed you to remain down to the beach at such a late hour?”

interrogated Mr. St. Clair angrily. ”One could almost suspect you of design.”

”My dear husband,” said the wife; ”do not be too ras.h.!.+ The question is, what can we do for the poor girl?”

”Send to headquarters of the police immediately! The place must be thoroughly searched by moonlight and continued until she is found!”

All this time Mrs. Belmont sat like one who had suddenly lost the power of motion, while her keen, dark eyes seemed to burn the carpet at her feet. At last she arose and with the dignity of former days walked from the room, and her carriage was soon after heard rolling away from the door.

”You have offended your cousin Mr. St. Clair,” said the wife.

”I do not care if I have! She had no business to be out in such a place without being better attended at any rate!”

”Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d must not hear of this to-night,” continued the good lady musingly as her husband left the room. ”How can I tell her! It is terrible!”

Day after day was the search continued but with no success. Mrs. Belmont had closed her doors against all visitors, taking the precaution, however, to station her servants where they would be able to bring her the first news concerning the missing one. Mr. g.a.y.l.o.r.d reached Savannah in time to join in the search and administer consolation to his newly-afflicted wife.

CHAPTER XXI.

BREAKING OF HOME TIES.

Let the human soul wander where it will with its burden of guilt; let it try as best it can to hide its deformity under the covering of complacency, the eye that never slumbers is upon it and an accusing conscience will continue to repeat ”thy sin shall find thee out!” Poor Mrs. Belmont! Step by step had she been led forward on the path where she little expected to walk, but in her stepping down from true womanhood she had been met by the spirit of evil and he had guided her tremblingly on.

The third evening after the close of our last chapter a tall figure in feminine attire might have been seen in the street opposite her residence. A half hour after, the side door of that house opened softly and closed again as a closely-veiled woman emerged into the darkness.

Pa.s.sing down the main avenue it came to a street more unfrequented where the two met and walked on together a few moments in silence. At last stopping suddenly the voice of Mrs. Belmont inquired in a subdued tone, ”Well--what are you going to say? _Quick!_”

”I'se goin' to tell ye. I took the gal down to the boat, but 'twas a mighty hard tug. She didn't make no fuss tho', so I took off the handkerchief and told her to be aisy and I'd treat her well. Then came lots of questions but I didn't tell her nothin'. The sea was mighty high and I know'd there was no gettin' to the s.h.i.+p, so I jest hugged the sh.o.r.e as near as I dast to 'til I got away where n.o.body could find us, then I pulled up where I know'd was good shelter to wait for the tide, when gorry! I'd no more than sot foot on a hard rock than the gal sprung to her feet and was off quick as a wink! How she got her hands untied n.o.body knows! But she couldn't ha' kept up five minutes for the wind was risin' and the waves was _awful_, so I reckon there's no more trouble for n.o.body!”

”You are a blunderer!” gasped his listener.

”I'se done my best, that's all!”

”Here--take that--and remember next week you go to Charleston as a volunteer to fight, and if you get shot so much the better for you! This is the bounty to be given your family! Go--and let me and this transaction die from your memory forever! _Go!_”

They separated and Mrs. Belmont returned to her home with the same stealthy tread as that with which she had left it. Alone in her chamber the wretched woman listened once more long and helplessly to the terrible upbraidings of conscience!

”I did not intend all this,” she cried. ”O, no! The stain of _murder_ cannot be found on my soul! I only thought--the great Judge knows I would never have injured my own flesh and blood! The great Judge!” she repeated, while a tremor ran through her frame. ”Yes, He knows I did not mean all this! I was compelled--having taken the first step there was no retreating! Ah, that first act! Whither will it lead me?”

In the morning the storm had pa.s.sed and Mrs. Belmont came forth to light and life more rigid and stern than before. It was said that ”her sorrows had made her grave; yet more grand and dignified,” and soon the ”presumptuous” whispers of blame were hushed, for one so _n.o.ble_ as the ”Mistress of Rosedale” _could not_ be guilty of crime! And the wave of public opinion closed over the scene and the waters of social life were calm again.

George St. Clair had remained in Charleston during these excitements, watching the progress of other scenes even more sad and cruel, yet free from the plague spots of crime, and bearing aloft the banner held to be of glory and honor for the reason that a nation, not an individual, had demanded the sacrifice of many lives, not one! South Carolina had drawn her ample robes more closely about her and with one pitiful leap had plunged over the fearful precipice down into the dark and unexplored depths of the yawning chasm of disunion, dragging after her a few of her unfortunate sisters. No wonder they stood and trembled upon the brink when it was once reached, for there were mysteries wholly unlooked for which seemed to lose their golden tints upon nearer approach and a.s.sume the dignity of practical realities. The little ”affair” at Fort Sumter somehow had cast a shadow of foreboding over more than one chivalric heart.

Col. St. Clair met his commanding officer the morning after the surrender of the little half-starved garrison, standing alone viewing through his gla.s.s the n.o.ble fort with the new emblem of glory floating over it.