Part 17 (2/2)
”This is an abominable business? We Lave made and paid for this long journey, and here we are in America. We cannot return, we must not proceed; we are betrayed and sold in a strange country. Mr. Sandow, you must advise us again, you mean well by us that we can see, or you would not deal such a blow at your own interest. Tell us what to do?”
A heavy, troubled breath came from the breast of the merchant. Nothing was spared him to the last detail, but he had gone too far to retreat.
”Go to the German Consul in this town,” he replied, ”and lay your case before him. As far as I know there is a German company in New York, which has also undertaken the colonization of the West, and which is under the special protection of our Consulate. Their possessions are not extremely distant from the original object of your journey, the route is almost the same. More particulars you will learn of the Consul himself; you may place implicit confidence in him, and he will a.s.sist you by every means in his power.”
The faces of the poor men cleared wonderfully at this intelligence.
”Thank G.o.d! there is some escape for us!” said the leader. ”We will start immediately so as to lose no time, and we are much indebted to you, sir, and to the young gentleman here. It is brave of you to retire from this swindling affair, as though you would not say so, we can see that it is a great loss to you. May G.o.d reward you for what you have done for us, and for our wives and children!”
He offered his hand to the merchant, who took it mechanically, and the words of farewell with which he released the people were just as spiritless.
But Gustave shook them all heartily by the hand, and rang the bell violently to summon a servant, whom he ordered to accompany them to the German Consulate and only to leave them at the door.
When they were gone, Sandow threw himself into a chair; and the agitation which had been so sternly repressed now claimed its rights; he appeared crushed beneath it.
”Father, for G.o.d's sake what is the matter?” cried Frida, throwing her arms round him, but now Gustave re-entered, his face actually beaming with triumph.
”Let him be, Frida, it will pa.s.s. You have indeed right to be proud of your father! Frank, from the moment when our countrymen stood before you, I was certain that you would in the end warn them against your own speculation, but that you would have recommended them to the other company, against which Jenkins quite lately published a most violent article in the _New York Revolver Press_, that I did not hope, and for that I must shake you by the hand?”
But Sandow waved him and his proffered hand away, and pressed his daughter to his breast. A bitter expression rested on his lips as he said--
”You don't know what Gustave has done to you, my child, nor what this hour may yet cost to your father. From to-day Jenkins will be my most unyielding enemy, and will never rest from attacking me. I have placed myself only too entirely in his hands.”
”Throw the whole thing over and come with us to Germany,” cried Gustave. ”Why should you allow yourself to be tormented and hara.s.sed by these honourable New Yorkers, when you could live happy and comfortably in your native land. When Jessie is married there will be an end of the name of Clifford, why not also wind up the firm. Of course you will lose by withdrawing from the thing, but for German ideas you are still rich enough, and there is plenty of room for activity at home.”
”What are you proposing to me!” exclaimed Sandow, irritably.
”Just what you proposed to me when you called me here. I think the best way is to turn the thing completely round. Look how Frida's face lights up at the thought of home! Naturally she will never again leave her father, wherever he may be, but it may be your lot to see her die of home-sickness some day.”
Gustave had cleverly set the most efficacious spring in motion. Sandow gave a startled look at his daughter, whose eyes certainly beamed when her home was mentioned, and who now resignedly drooped her head.
”Come, Jessie,” said Gustave, taking the arm of his betrothed, ”we will leave them alone. I must explain all this to you, for I see that you only half comprehend it, and besides I feel an urgent necessity to be again admired by you. Yesterday you did me an extraordinary amount of good.”
He led her away, and father and daughter remained alone. Frida required no explanation, he had long ago divined the circ.u.mstances, and clinging close to her father, she said with the deepest affection--
”I knew very well when we were standing that time by the sea that you could never send any one into misery!”
Sandow looked long and deeply into the dark eyes, which now beamed with love and admiration. It was the first time he did so, without reading a reproach in them, and he felt as if redeemed to a new life.
”No, my child!” said he softly, ”I could not do it, and now whatever may come, we will bear it together.”
Meanwhile Gustave and Jessie strolled arm-in-arm through the garden, but at first their talk was very serious. He told her all, screening his brother as much as possible, whom he represented as the victim of a deception which had only just become clear to him. When he had finished, Jessie said eagerly--
”Gustave, even if my money had been mixed up with this, it is unnecessary to say that we will leave it to the uncontrolled management of your brother as long as he wants it.”
”Your money has never been concerned in it,” Gustave informed her.
”Whatever Frank may be as a speculator, as a guardian, he is conscientiousness itself. He has respected your father's will to the fullest extent. You are and remain still an heiress, Jessie, but in spite of that uncomfortable peculiarity, I am resolved to marry you, and in four weeks, too.”
<script>